Trying to avoid nasty looks

[lovndisney12]

We have a CP package for 12/23. Even with the package, my understanding is we need to line up about 45 minutes in advance. Does the entire party need to wait in line (there are just 4 of us) or can one person hold our place while the others do a little more sightseeing - or just wait nearby in a more comfortable place?

 

[EarsAndTiaras]

If I was standing behind you & your party included elderly people, very small children, or someone with a disability, I would think nothing of it.

If your party included two able-bodied adults & two able-bodied teenagers, my reaction would be quite different.

Sorry.

 

[Baklava]

In general I suggest asking if there's a reason your party needs special consideration to not wait in line.

"Grandma can't stand that long," is a good reason. "Timmy is 3 and needs to go to the bathroom," is a good reason. "I would have more fun somewhere else," is generally not. Able-bodied adults and older kids who don't want to stand in line can meet you at the back of the queue.

 

[Traveliz]

I have been in that line more than once and honestly in that time it seems the people in it all converse, have a good time and are rather laid back. Generally we have all started out in the line but then someone runs over here to see that or buy this, get a drink, etc. I would not need to know your reason. That short of a wait time ( I know it doesn't seem like it's short) doesn't give you enough time to really do anything substantial.

Liz

 

[Magpie]

If you line up 45 minutes in advance, you'll see that line start moving within 15 minutes, or even less, especially if it's the first show! So, it's really not as bad a wait as it sounds. And it's quite comfortable, leaning on the railing, looking out over the lagoon.

That said, I have no issue with a parent taking a child or two off to look at the nearby showcase (which would be you, I suppose). I don't even care if one or two adult people want to join someone in line. I usually leave my own husband in line, so I can get us a drink while we're waiting, and no one's ever given me a dirty look. If you're not sure, you could just ask the folks immediately behind you in line, "Do you mind if I take the kids over to look at Japan?"

On the other hand, we did get rather cranky about the family of 9, seven of whom didn't join the line in front of us until it started moving. That was not cool. I may have commented rather loudly to my husband that they probably wouldn't get to all sit together, given we were lined up back to Morocco. I did get a dirty look, then. And, as it happens, I was wrong. They all got to sit together - in the very last row!

 

[lovndisney12]

Thanks everyone! I assumed we should all wait in line (and are more than able) but saw some other posts to the contrary. So I just wanted to double check what normal protocol was for the CP line. I've been on the flip side and know how frustrating it can be when a large group steps in front of you!

 

[JimmyV]

When Anna and Elsa first started doing meet-and-greets in Norway, the line formed at 9:00 (when World Showcase wasn't even open yet) and grew to a steady 4-5 hour wait. Norway was overwhelmed with people and it became a choke point. Soon thereafter, CMs announced to people in line that only one member of the family needed to wait in line, and the rest of the party could do other things. A sub-group of society soon formed, known as the "Frozen Dads". The dads waited in line while the rest of the family went about their business. And no one seemed to complain, because everyone was of like mind. The same thing could apply to CP. If everyone in line agrees to honor the "honor system" and decides that only one person per party needs to wait in line, then everyone would be affected equally and no one would be breaching any protocol or etiquette. So I would give that a try. In a loud voice, ask all of those around you if it would make more sense for only one person per group to wait in line, with everyone agreeing to meet back in line at a certain amount of time before the show starts. If everyone (or the majority) agrees to the same protocol, then you will have established the "accepted protocol". And those who refuse to participate have no one but themselves to blame. After all, having everyone wait in line isn't the most efficient way of doing it. It certainly isn't the only way of doing it. It is just done because no one is bold enough to think outside the box to offer the better solution. Disney would much rather have more people roaming WS buying food, drinks and souvenirs than waiting in a static line.

 

[PrincessJo]

I think you should do whatever is best for your family and don't worry about the people around you and their nasty looks.

Our best friends have a son who is 19. He had a heart transplant and a double lung transplant when he was 9. You can't tell by just looking at him, but he gets winded easily and has trouble standing for long periods. When they do stuff like this, they get nasty looks, but don't feel like they should have to explain it to EVERYONE as it's none of their business.

I don't care what everyone else thinks. But that's just me

 

[DisneyWishes14]

IMHO, everyone in that line has the package, so everyone gets a seat. It's not like you are jumping a ride line and making the people behind you wait longer nor is it a show standby line where line cutting will take seats away from those who were waiting behind you. I think I would have everyone in your party line up initially and see how you feel. If it's not comfortable or someone wants to walk around a bit, I would simply tell the people who have lined up behind you that a few in your party are leaving and will be right back so they don't feel like you are cutting ahead of them. For an event where everyone in that line is getting in, I don't really see the big deal.

 

[dae3dae3]

When Anna and Elsa first started doing meet-and-greets in Norway, the line formed at 9:00 (when World Showcase wasn't even open yet) and grew to a steady 4-5 hour wait. Norway was overwhelmed with people and it became a choke point. Soon thereafter, CMs announced to people in line that only one member of the family needed to wait in line, and the rest of the party could do other things. A sub-group of society soon formed, known as the "Frozen Dads". The dads waited in line while the rest of the family went about their business.

No way I would stand in line for my Wife. If she wanted to take the girls to see them so bad then she could be a Frozen Mom while I take the girls to have fun in the park.

 

[DebbieB]

I was in line for Whoopi Goldberg about an hour before last Saturday. Some people did leave the line to get food or restroom breaks or whatever. I would show up with everyone and then some could leave and come back. I wouldn't cut the line with several people at the last minute.

 

[DisneyOma]

When Anna and Elsa first started doing meet-and-greets in Norway, the line formed at 9:00 (when World Showcase wasn't even open yet) and grew to a steady 4-5 hour wait. Norway was overwhelmed with people and it became a choke point. Soon thereafter, CMs announced to people in line that only one member of the family needed to wait in line, and the rest of the party could do other things. A sub-group of society soon formed, known as the "Frozen Dads". The dads waited in line while the rest of the family went about their business. And no one seemed to complain, because everyone was of like mind. The same thing could apply to CP. If everyone in line agrees to honor the "honor system" and decides that only one person per party needs to wait in line, then everyone would be affected equally and no one would be breaching any protocol or etiquette. So I would give that a try. In a loud voice, ask all of those around you if it would make more sense for only one person per group to wait in line, with everyone agreeing to meet back in line at a certain amount of time before the show starts. If everyone (or the majority) agrees to the same protocol, then you will have established the "accepted protocol". And those who refuse to participate have no one but themselves to blame. After all, having everyone wait in line isn't the most efficient way of doing it. It certainly isn't the only way of doing it. It is just done because no one is bold enough to think outside the box to offer the better solution. Disney would much rather have more people roaming WS buying food, drinks and souvenirs than waiting in a static line.

No, you really need a CM to state this as policy (as per the Frozen situation) not a consensus of the crowd. The CMs might have different instructions (as in, don't let anyone past a certain point, etc) that would conflict with the crowd concensus.

I think you should do whatever is best for your family and don't worry about the people around you and their nasty looks.

Our best friends have a son who is 19. He had a heart transplant and a double lung transplant when he was 9. You can't tell by just looking at him, but he gets winded easily and has trouble standing for long periods. When they do stuff like this, they get nasty looks, but don't feel like they should have to explain it to EVERYONE as it's none of their business.

I don't care what everyone else thinks. But that's just me

If a guest has trouble with stamina (standing for long periods is a stamina issue) then WDW's standard recommendation is to use an ECV or wheelchair. How does the BF's son handle all the other standing and waiting, like in queues?

 

[JimmyV]

No, you really need a CM to state this as policy (as per the Frozen situation) not a consensus of the crowd. The CMs might have different instructions (as in, don't let anyone past a certain point, etc) that would conflict with the crowd concensus.

Not really. Like-minded people are always free to choose how they want to act. There is nothing that a CM could or would do to stop a group from doing what I suggest. Remember that CMs act almost always on complaints. If everyone is of like mind, then there wouldn't be any complaint.

 

[disnut8]

We have a CP package for 12/23. Even with the package, my understanding is we need to line up about 45 minutes in advance. Does the entire party need to wait in line (there are just 4 of us) or can one person hold our place while the others do a little more sightseeing - or just wait nearby in a more comfortable place?

Two different things here. And I'm suggesting all four of you get into the line at the same time and then decide on whoever is leaving for whatever reason.

"do a little more sightseeing" - Mom to Dad - "I'm going take Sally and Jimmy over to X so they can see that, you stay here and hold our place in line and we'll be back. If the line goes in, just hold some seats for us and I'll call/text you about it after we are done".

"waiting in a more comfortable place" - Mom to Dad - "Jimmy is not going to stand in one place for the next 45 minutes so I'll take him and Sally over to the fountain area so they can run around and once the line starts to be let in, we'll come back".

Completely different reactions from all kinds of people so choose wisely

 

[DisneyOma]

Not really. Like-minded people are always free to choose how they want to act. There is nothing that a CM could or would do to stop a group from doing what I suggest. Remember that CMs act almost always on complaints. If everyone is of like mind, then there wouldn't be any complaint.

If there's a cutoff point where guests are not allowed back into a queue area at a certain point, and it is manned by CMs, then it doesn't matter what the group says if the CMs have to keep an area from being entered. The group isn't involved in the situation because they are not at the access point.

 

[kittyab]

Its one thing for you to get in line so the rest of your party can use the wash room and rejoin you but for them to go shopping etc... Umm no.

 

[mchelle77]

Other than him leaving quickly to get beers for us, and then me leaving quickly to bring our daughter to the bathroom, the three of us waited in line. My husband, who is on his feet all day for 2-3 days straight each weekend as a wedding vendor and has a bad knee (regular cortisone shots) was perfectly fine sitting on the ground with us when he couldn't stand anymore. Do this to easily avoid the issue you're worrying about.

 

[Love Tink]

In situations like this - non ride lines like character lines, food lines, or show lines, I sometimes ask the nearby CM if it is okay for my kids to wait elsewhere and join me when I get near the front. They almost always say yes. (I can actually only think of one exception and the CM was "overruled" by her supervisor, who happened to overhear.)

I know I am in the minority with this but I don't see the reason to trap everyone when it isn't a situation where ride vehicles are being filled. It seems that the vast majority on the Dis think everyone should wait the entire time in every line, but I have never understood why. I think people just don't like the idea that anyone is "getting away with something" that they don't or won't do themselves - regardless of whether it actually affects them in any tangible way.

I guarantee that being trapped in a confined space with my three boys (two of which have AD/HD and are basically incapable of not talking and not moving) is something everyone wants to avoid.

 

[piccolopat]

This is really no different than the issue about cutting lines. If someone is on line for CP with their family and needs to take a quick bathroom break or get a drink for a child, I don't think most people would mind because they were already on line in front of them. When one person is on line but the rest of the family was never on line and is off doing other things, it is rude for them to cut in. Even though everyone with the dining package gets a seat, if all of the families in front of you did this it could mean the difference between getting a great seat and a poor seat. How is that fair? Instead of having the rest of your party off doing something else, why can't you all join the line at the end? After all, everyone with a dining package gets a seat.

 

[AllyBri]

Everyone show up together wait till the next party in back of you shows up and then do the breakaway, this way the people in back of you know that you are not alone and the others will be back.
Just my op but 45 minutes before is not a lot of time, especially if you are doing one of the later shows. This is very important they usually start letting guests in 1/2 hour before so make sure everyone is back on time.