The Line Leaners

[Phrank40]

We were in line to get fish and chips a few months ago at the booth in England, there were maybe a dozen people in line. I was at the end of the line when a man got in line behind me. It was sort of funny/uncomfortable because when the man got in line he stood what I thought was a little to close to my back. I thought "Okay, as the line moves along he will give me a little more space". Nope, every time we moved he kept the same close distance to me. Don't know if cultural, but when we got to counter and I heard him place his order with a foreign accent. Guess he was perfectly comfortable with his 5-6 inch distance from me, but I need a new more inches.

Phrank

 

[WDWendy]

Line leaners annoy the daylights out of me. I know that they are probably just excited and cannot wait to get on the ride, but it is so much more enjoyable to have a little space to enjoy the scenery while you wait. It's not like you get there any faster by crowding. Sometimes I will leave extra space between myself and the person ahead of me...this drives a true line leaner absolutely insane. They eyeball the space rabidly wondering why you haven't crowded forward yet!

 

[Pixiedusttravel]

This isn't exactly considered "line leaning" but something that really bothered me when we were at Epcot in May was the way they handle the lines at Test Track. That is one huge mess!!

We rode it 3 times on our trip, and each time there was someone in the "pre-ride room" that almost got into a fight with someone when the room emptied into the wait line on the other side. Lots of shoving and pushing. Very un-disney like.

They really need to do something about the way you line up for that ride.....Just my HO!

 

[Stacey2grls]

This is a topic that totally irritates me! People think I'm nuts when I say "my personal space" but I don't care. It just drives me insane when I go on line at the supermarket and somebody behold me is breathing down my neck! Why do some people feel the need to do that? Why would they want to be so close to a total stranger? But I have to say there is one other thing that drives me crazy too, and that is people who stare! I think that is so rude. Ok, I feel better I have gotten this off my chest!

 

[SuperGurl]

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!"

I really like this episode! I love Seinfeld!

 

[missj171]

Im not sure this is cultural - i think its just rude!

Plus queueing does tend to make people a bit competitive, we all talk on here about how to get into the queues fastest, FP strategies etc. etc. - although being pushed up against someone won't make you get on the ride any quicker it seems just part of the selfish competition to get on the ride quickest!

Equally annoying (to me at least!) is when the people in front of you haven't noticed the queue move on&are standing there with a huge gap between them and the next people - do you subtly bump into them, or just stand there until they realise and have others bump into you.

I think 'standing in line' is just a environment of immense frustration, especially on a hot crowded day at WDW, 10 mins can seem like forever and someone being a little too close for comfort can seem like practically assault!

I personally, a Brit who has travelled around Europe and the US, wouldnt say this is a cultural behaviour that Americans are exempt from, its just rudeness that crosses all culturual boundaries!!

 

[bicker]

Im not sure this is cultural

I'm surprised to see a person from the UK saying that. Admissions and acknowledgements from actual southern (European) Continentals and folks from the Middle East, (not to mention my own personal experinece) have led me to believe is that there is definitely a cultural aspect to this.

 

[LadyLuc361]

Line Leaners can come from any culture. I haven't read this entire thread, but I have a funny story I want to share.

DBF and I were at WDW last May and we were waiting right at the entrance of the World Showcase (in between the Friendship Docks for them to open up the seating for Illuminations). It's a great place to watch Illuminations, but you have to wait a while for them to let you in there for some reason. DBF is obsessed with Illuminations so we were there like an hour early just so we could get a great spot.

About 15 minutes before we were able to get into the chained off area, this British woman who was probably about 65 years old came pushing her way up right next to me. That being said, I get uncomfortable when people I don't know crowd me. When the CM was about to drop the rope for the seating area, the British woman elbowed me and pushed her way infront of me. Well, I respect my elders but I wasn't going to take that (age is a privledge not an entittlement) so when the CM dropped the rope I *gently* pushed my way past this woman. Well she said "Well excuuuuuuseee me", and I said "You elbowed me to get in front" and she said "well, I am from England!" (like it was an excuse to push!)

It was a funny experience. It irritated me when it first happened, but now we laugh about it. Please don't flame me anyone, I don't go around pushing people older than me. I just lightly nugged her, but she did elbow me! (not that it makes me nugging her right)

 

[tink too]

On our last visit in December 2004, when DD3 was finally not afraid of the characters, we had 2 "incidents" concerning line-leaners. Both times, they were American not "foreigners" like us! (We're Scottish).

While waiting in line at County Bounty for WTP & friends, we were second in line, we left plenty of space as did the family behind us. Problem was the guy in front had a huge child carrier/rucksack on his back (think Army kit size!) and he kept stepping back and back and back - until he was quite a distance away from the rope and in our "space"! As we had nowhere to go, he ended up hitting our little one on the head with their child several times and didn't seem to notice at all!

The other instance was at AK waiting to see Donald - again second from the front of the line. Donald's companion announced that he only had time to see 1 more person so the lady behind me threw her son in front of me and our stroller and pushed me aside so she could take her photos! As her son was leaving, Donald turned to go and waved goodbye and his companion said "Donald, there is one more person you have to meet before your break - this little girl has been waiting a while to see you." She seemed really angry that we still got to meet with Donald and get his autograph.

However, I agree that certain cultures have no idea of personal space. When we visited DLP, many other Europeans crowded round the characters which meant that no-one got photos with them just photos of characters and loads of strangers They had no qualms about shoving DD, who was 1 at the time, out of the way, either! Some Europeans find it amusing that British folk queue - they don't seem to do that all over the continent!

 

[seashoreCM]

As we had nowhere to go, he ended up hitting our little one on the head with their child several times and didn't seem to notice at all!
...
Donald's companion announced that he only had time to see 1 more person so the lady behind me threw her son in front of me and our stroller and pushed me aside so she could take her photos!
...
They had no qualms about shoving DD, who was 1 at the time, out of the way, either!

You gotta stand up for your little 'uns.

! Some Europeans find it amusing that British folk queue

They do? Or only at home?

the British woman elbowed me and pushed her way infront of me. and she said "well, I am from England!" :

 

[QueenOfCelts]

After a while with the same person, I even take my backpack off and swing it around so that it would hit the person.

So you are telling us you hit them on purpose????????
I am thinking hitting people with your backpack is a very very bad idea.

 

[okapi]

OK, OK, I've got it all planned now: Line leaners will first hear a subtle, "It's a small world after all..." from me, then some bouncing as the volume goes up, and if they're still leaning, I'll start swinging my arms around, maybe even try to grab their hand and swing it too, belting out "It's a small, small world!" while grinning maniacally at them! Think that'll do the trick???

I think you may have something there, but before swinging your arms put hands on hips like Donald Duck and back up and turn a few times- I found that always worked really well with basketball intimidators. And seems to work really well in lines.

I've used my DH as a human shield - "Honey, please stand here, because they keep bumping into me and don't get that there's no place to go, thank you. " (he's really good at dissuading the recalcitrant).

Beyond the lines, though, I think the worst is the STROLLER into the back of the legs, that's where I draw the line. I used to be more tolerant, but people use strollers as weapons. And you know who you are with your excuses about how you didn't see, blah, blah. I know because I still have the scar. To these people - show no mercy

 

[TheRustyScupper]

every time we moved, some member of the family behind us leaned on us! We would move to the left side of the path, and one of them would follow over and be leaning on us soon.

1) I have seen this before.
2) I usually give them one warning.
3) Afterward, I frequently reach into my back pocket.
4) Of course, I throw an elbow when I reach around my back.
5) Ooops, excuse me, I am sorry about that!

 

[Marseeya]

Geez, all the stress and aggravation! And what's with all the passive aggressive attacks -- elbowing, backpack smacking, glaring...

How difficult would it be to say, "Excuse me, would you please not lean on me?" or "Pardon me, would you please give me a little more space?"

 

[Martha7]

I wonder if the same tendency to crowd everyone continues when the line leaners get into their cars. We need to follow them out to their cars to see if they're also tailgaters! Since it's too hard to know which of them drove, rode the bus, etc., we're going to have to develop a special lime green sticker, which we'll casually adhere to their backs. Then, the DISers who happen to be leaving the park and going to their cars, can just start following them and update the rest of the board here. Once the line leaners learn that they've been ID'd, maybe they'll cut the rest of us some slack!

 

[CarolynNC]

Geez, all the stress and aggravation! And what's with all the passive aggressive attacks -- elbowing, backpack smacking, glaring...

How difficult would it be to say, "Excuse me, would you please not lean on me?" or "Pardon me, would you please give me a little more space?"

I have to agree with you. I just read this entire thread thinking why can't you just ask nicely. You don't have to be rude. You don't have to be mean. You just have to ask nicely. It doesn't always work but most times people are unaware of our needs. It's amazing what some quiet conversation can accomplish. If you find it doesn't work, then try not to focus on the problem. Smile at the person behind you and take your thoughts elsewhere.

 

[Lizzybee]

You could break into song, that's a technique I used to gain control of my kids from time to time when they forget proper store manners (ie, act up in the grocery store and mom starts singing R E S P E C T). For line leaners you could start a rendition of "Lean on me"

"Lean on me
When the line's long
your backpack's too heavy
and you're not feeling so strong
Lean on me ...
etc

Whether you're a good vocalist or not, bursting into song in a public area like that usually gains you some "personal" space, after all people have to back up a little to look at you like you are crazy.

 

[KCMiller]

I have to agree with you. I just read this entire thread thinking why can't you just ask nicely. You don't have to be rude. You don't have to be mean. You just have to ask nicely. It doesn't always work but most times people are unaware of our needs. It's amazing what some quiet conversation can accomplish. If you find it doesn't work, then try not to focus on the problem. Smile at the person behind you and take your thoughts elsewhere.

Very well said! What's wrong with nicely saying something? Disney magic, after all . . .

Truth be told, I sometimes get too close to the people in front of me, and I sometimes get too far away from the people in front of me, and I sometimes am juuuuuust right.


KC