Hound 109 sorry if you find some of my statements to be inaccurate:
Seems I hit a nerve, which with the topic is completely understandable...
I've noticed the security line is not consistent on when they let you in, so although it probably is most of the time 1/2 hour before, I have been let in an hour before as well and even 15 minutes before once (I think Early Entry and Grad Nights cause the biggest variances). And I wait at security and at the gate by myself, it is usually 20 minutes before the gate opens that my family comes. I concede that 30 minutes is probably the most common wait at the gate, but as with any line it always feels longer, doesn't it?
As far as line cutters are victims? and the children with disability comments, yes they can be victims as I said. People are not always aware that a child has a disability because it doesn't physically show, but they may just think the child is a brat, or the parents are not parenting, when indeed the child has a behavioral or mental disability they may not recognize, and they are judging the child and/or the parents making them "victims" for what they perceive as line cutting. The statements were meant to be understood together. So although you stated, "NO ONE READING THIS THREAD WOULD EVER HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A CHILD WITH A DISABILITY JOINING THE FAMILY IN LINE." I think plenty of times people (myself included) have a problem with families joining the line or the way they are acting (screaming, hitting, "disobeying") when they don't realize the children have a disability because it isn't apparent, all I was getting at is giving people the benefit of the doubt is much more stress-relaxing than getting wound up over something someone else is doing (NOTE: I do not claim I always follow my own advice, but generally when I let things slide off my back when it isn't essential to my life rather than get upset when I can't/won't do anything about it anyway, I have a better day...and lower blood pressure!). While most can play with their children, take pictures, etc... with the blessing of all in line as you suggest, not everyone can, and if you simply get upset with someone because they show up 10 minutes before the gate opens and joins someone in line, my point was you indeed could be in the wrong as you are judging them for something you can't see or don't know. Granted, many just do not care and are intentionally rude, for which I offer no excuse, but my comments were meant to open the possibility that in various situations it is reasonable and understandable to meet a group at the entrance if all situations are known. (again I only mean this for the entrance gate, in lines if disabilities do exist, they can go get a pass at City Hall and not wait in lines anyway, but you have to get in to
Disneyland to get the pass).
Line cutting is indeed encouraged in other cultures. I have ridden plenty of mass transportation in other countries, and believe me in some places it doesn't matter who is in front of the door when it opens, it matters who can get into that door before it closes (and I do include Washington DC and New York City in that mindset/culture)! Not to mention shopping at markets in certain countries where food, clothing is limited, it doesn't matter if you are in front or back it matters who grabs it and pays for it (same thing applies to Black Friday sales in toy stores I've found

). Granted most of us don't come from that culture, but just like personal space, your culture can indeed influence your behavior when it comes to worrying about who is in line, or when you join your party.
I apologize for splitting hairs, and don't mean to be confrontational, but felt if an all-caps line by line refutation pointing out disagreements/inaccuracies in my post was necessary, I might as well defend my position.
No offense taken, and no offense intended.
To end with a lightehearted moment:
To quote my favorite "line reference" in the movie Michael (John Travolta):
"That was around the time I invented standing in line."
"You invented standing in line?"
"Before everybody milled around. It was a mess."
"So one day I said, 'Why not make a line?'"
"For what?"
"To get in."