The Line Leaners

[peter11435]

Unfortunatly what many would consider personal space, Disney considers room for five more people.

 

[Aidensmom]

How about the people who lean on your stroller (with your child in it even) while you are watching a parade, or waiting in line for the monorail? I don't usually let my 3 year old son be rude, but when he tells someone "Hey, don't touch my stroller" I don't say a thing.

 

[LSUDis]

I totally agree with these posters, but I have another thought on this. I just got back, and I found that if you give the person in front of you some space, say a foot or two, someone will slide right in front of you. Can you believe it?

I guess people think that if there is a space there, then they are free to get in it even if you were next. One man at Epcot stepped right in front of my two kids and me as we neared Soarin' almost tripping us all. We were just giving the people in front of us a few steps in case they fell or something when he darted right between us and the people in front of us. Then, he proceeded to gesture to his family (who was behind us and several more people) to come up and join him.

 

[seashoreCM]

(copied from a novel)

As he made his way down the aisle towards the plane door Steve with [DW] Laura and [DS9] George preceding, stopped in front of [DS11] David's row. George held the sandwich bag at David, "David, would you take this?"

"No I don't want to carry your junk".

George continued to hold the bag up at David's face. David batted the bag to the ground and stepped on it.

Steve slowly started to bend his knees so he could reach down and pick up the bag. The expression on his face changed to sadness. When he was growing up his family was not starving but there was not enough food at dinnertime that he could have all he wanted. So he was quite sensitive when his own family members wasted food.

A balloon inches from Steve's head popped. Steve, startled, jumped straight up. The passengers behind him were literally breathing down his neck and Steve's broad shoulder caught one man's jaw. Steve heard a click of teeth gnashing together followed by a muffled "Ow!"

Steve did not say anything to the person behind him because the squashed sandwiches were foremost on his mind. He bent down again from the waist putting his head between his sons' heads and said in a hoarse whisper, "The two of you, you really like to make Daddy sad don't you?" Out of the corner of his eye he saw the man behind him also bend down, picking what looked like a white pencil eraser off of the carpet. It was a tooth fragment.

Laura chimed in, "That was a perfectly good sandwich you stepped on"

"I'm sorry Dad, I'm sorry, Mom" David said as he picked up the bag with the sandwiches and gave it to Laura.

Steve turned his face towards George.

"Sorry Daddy" George said.

By now Steve had forgotten about the passenger behind him whom he bumped with his shoulder. He reached into the overhead bin and retrieved David's suitcase, handing it to David. They resumed walking towards the plane door.

............

"Hey dad, do you think we will get to the park when they open early for resort residents"

"Don't know, boys, but you can help." Steve opened the refrigerator and took out the two tuna fish sandwiches that the boys had crushed the previous day.

"We're having these for breakfast. I don't eat very fast so if you two help me finish them off, we will get going sooner." Steve did not want to take them to the park for lunch because they would be unrefrigerated all morning long.

"That looks yucky", David said.

Steve replied, "Now who threw the lunch bag on the floor yesterday and stepped on it?"

*************

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[SuperGurl]

I can't just ignore the line leaners. There was an incident when I was in line at Cedar Point and there was a guy standing behind me and kept pressing against me. When I realized that this was no accident and what he was really trying to do was feel me up I went off on him! I will not allow any line leaner to lean on me. The moment it happens, I will have to say something right away.

 

[leighmidd]

A lady posted here that she was extremely claustorphobic (how do you spell this?) and if someone got too close to her in line she would let out a teeny-tiny toot! I LOVE THIS! I'm definitely gonna have to skip the Beano on my next trip and see how this works.

For those who are so disappointed in the Americans wanting their personal space, telling us to get used to other cultures and accept their eccentricities --- I'm sorry, but you are in America now. Learn our ways and embrace them. Wear deodorant, don't open your big box of smelly food in the middle of the park for everyone to enjoy the lovely aroma, and DON'T STAND SO DERN CLOSE! We like our space, we appreciate our space, we NEED our space, so please, purty please, get OUT OF IT, or we're gonna toot on you!

Thank you!

 

[LindsayDunn228]

The ultimate for me is when someone leans on the pushbars to my wheelchair. Thankfully it's only happened a handfull of times. I very discreetly postition myself to push and then move forward really quick. They are like, "Hey!!!" I respond with, "Maybe next time you will keep your hands off me!!"

I mean honestly, would you come up to a complete stranger and just prop your elbow up on their shoulder?? Well my wheelchair is a part of my personal space so keep your paws off!!!!

 

[lovethattink]

I think some people just don't have a concept of personal space. It sounds like you took it in stride.

My ds11 is one of these people. It drives us and his friends nuts. When he talks to someone, he gets all up in their personal space. Seeing him walk with his friends or with one of us, his shoulder touches the person. Eating dinner with him, we feel like magnets. He'll start out at his own spot at the table and slowly get pulled towards the person next to him. We were at Pecos Bill's the other day. 15 minutes into lunch, he was smack beside ds(1) and complaining that ds(1) was touching his food. We told him to look at where he was sitting. He moved back to his original spot and said he didn't realize he migrated over there. In line at attractions, I have to constantly remind him we all need our space. We do this with a gentle nudge so that we don't embarass him. The sad part is that he has no clue he in our space.

 

[GaTech]

We had a family of line leaners/back bumpers behind us just the other day waiting for It's a Small World. Because we lost our personal space behind us, we stayed 6-7 feet behind the people in front of us. I can't count the number of times they bumped into me thinking I should move forward. I took it as a challenge to run interference for the rest of my family. The more they bumped me the more I would wait to move up. The light bulb finally went off and they realized what they were doing and I was bump free the rest of the wait.

 

[Tishke]

Line leaners drive me nuts!! I don't mind the occasional bump, I know I bump people sometimes, but when someone is leaning all over me causing me to knock into my family or other guests, then I get a little more frustrated. Usually DH and I wind up switching places and he turns around and gives them "the look" and it usually stops.

 

[jeannej]

I have asked a person or two to get off me. Of course, in the politest possible way. However, I do get annoy with the people who have to have yards and yards of space that hold up the movement of the line.

jeannej

 

[stevenpensacola]

Reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Elaine's new boyfriend is a "close-talker".

Close Talker - one who speaks to a person at point blank range (usually with both peoples' noses less than a foot away from the other)

The Close Talker - Jerry’s parents are visiting and Elaine brings her new boyfriend, Aaron, over. He’s a "close talker" and invites Jerry’s parents out on the town. Kramer goes to get his clothes at this vintage clothing store. Morty suggests selling his old raincoats (the "executive"). Morty and Kramer think they can make a bundle selling these things. George gets the idea that his father has some clothing in the attic to sell. Meanwhile, Aaron keeps taking the Seinfelds everywhere and she gets mad. She’s wondering why this young guy wants to hang out with these old fossils. The clothes George brings have moths and the guy has to take the clothes out back to the alley and burn them. George wants the Seinfelds to take this kid to Paris to get out of a Big Brother situation. At the end, Aaron goes ape over the Seinfelds well-being. "This ring could buy one more dinner, this watch, one more outing!"

 

[jennyl772003]

OK, first I HATE LEANERS. They drive me nuts. I don't need to smell your "been walking all day in the parks in August where it is 90degrees with 100% humidity" armpits close up.

That being said... My DS is visually impaired. He has NO concept of personal space. He is a close talker (will actually touch forheads if you let him), and a leaner (will bump into people, stand practically on top of them, practically have his face on their butt). We are trying to teach him to keep an arms length between himself and the person in front of him, but it is hard for him.

I can understand how it might be hard for some cultures and certain people to give up their Leaningness.

 

[buzz2400]

don't think I am mean or rude but this is what I do. I have a backpack that is usually filled. I leave some space between myself and ds. when someone gets too close (and it is not always foreigners) I back up a little pushing my backback into the person behind me. Sadly they never get the message. I will do this over and over again to the same person and they keep right on top of me. Don't people know that you are not going to get on the ride any faster. I go every summer and it is too hot to stand on top of each other. I wish I had the guts to say something even politely but I always come across as mean so I keep my mouth shut and keep backing up. After a while with the same person, I even take my backpack off and swing it around so that it would hit the person. I only do this if I have been standing in line for a very long time with the same person riding my butt.

 

[Laurajean1014]

People bumping you is memorable to you?

When I was a teenager it bothered me, but as I matured it doesn't bother me. Especially, since I've had children (they are always poking, stepping on toes, pulling my hair with lollipop,etc.) and (as far as I am concerned), they are generally good kids.

Now if I get a poke, I ignore it.

No-one can make me angry, only I can. I am in control of my feelings and I will not allow anyone to spoil my "magical day."

 

[Laurajean1014]

don't think I am mean or rude but this is what I do. I have a backpack that is usually filled. I leave some space between myself and ds. when someone gets too close (and it is not always foreigners) I back up a little pushing my backback into the person behind me. Sadly they never get the message. I will do this over and over again to the same person and they keep right on top of me. Don't people know that you are not going to get on the ride any faster. I go every summer and it is too hot to stand on top of each other. I wish I had the guts to say something even politely but I always come across as mean so I keep my mouth shut and keep backing up. After a while with the same person, I even take my backpack off and swing it around so that it would hit the person. I only do this if I have been standing in line for a very long time with the same person riding my butt.

You may need to try another technique - the "backpack bump" doesn't seem to work. JK

 

[nuke]

I could have written the original post. I was so aggravated after only one day in the parks last week.

My strategy is to have my purse hanging at my side. If someone is right up my butt I will turn quickly to talk to DS or DH and they will get smacked with my purse. It usually gets them to back off. If not I may just get a little clumsy and take a step back into them accidentally on purpose.

I really hate when strangers are in my personal space and I teach my child to give people their space.

 

[Laurajean1014]

I have asked a person or two to get off me. Of course, in the politest possible way. However, I do get annoy with the people who have to have yards and yards of space that hold up the movement of the line.

jeannej

How or what do you say?

 

[Dalton5]

This topic actually made me laugh out loud (my kids thought I lost it)
I know how I am...I can't stand anybody too close to me, my own family included..just my own mental state...I guess I will have to up my dosage of anti-anxiety medicine before our trip or I will be a basket case

 

[Aidensmom]

don't think I am mean or rude but this is what I do. I have a backpack that is usually filled. I leave some space between myself and ds. when someone gets too close (and it is not always foreigners) I back up a little pushing my backback into the person behind me. Sadly they never get the message. I will do this over and over again to the same person and they keep right on top of me. Don't people know that you are not going to get on the ride any faster. I go every summer and it is too hot to stand on top of each other. I wish I had the guts to say something even politely but I always come across as mean so I keep my mouth shut and keep backing up. After a while with the same person, I even take my backpack off and swing it around so that it would hit the person. I only do this if I have been standing in line for a very long time with the same person riding my butt.

Someone complained about this behavior on another thread!