Waiting in line for characters...slight rant

[cypressmom]

I have little/no tollerance for rude people and have no problem directing them to the back of the line. I've raised my children to be polite and wait their turn, and it's not fair to them to have other kids or adults weasle their way to the front.

 

[1-disneyfan]

I have little/no tollerance for rude people and have no problem directing them to the back of the line. I've raised my children to be polite and wait their turn, and it's not fair to them to have other kids or adults weasle their way to the front.

Could not have said it any better


Kris

 

[californiamomof4grls]

You catch more bees with honey so this is what you say. Once you speak up every other mother in line will follow your lead and a few grumpy dads too!
"OH I'm sorry friends! The line is back there. (BIG SMILE) It gets kind of crazy when the characters are out." (put your hand on one of you kids backs keep smiling) Body language says a lot by putting your hand there and looking these people friendly but stearnly in the eyes your saying I'm not passive and I'm not backing down. They will back up. And other families will start to chime in. They might not be as nice as you but the point is getting across. You don't have to get loud or look like your going to kick some butt. If they continue they look like more of an ***. I have been a preschool teacher for many years and I have had to correct parents as well as their kids for rude behavior. But as long as you smile when you do it they don't take offense! Sometimes people get lost in the moment and need to be woken up!

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry, people put their kids in a picture with YOU? That's just wrong and almost funny. It might be fun to try to get a collection of photos of myself with random kids.....or at least, wouldn't that be a great scavenger hunt item? (Picture with yourself, a character, and some random kid?)

Oh yes, they did! It was a long time ago, but it happened. In fact, I'll have to dig up the picture and show you all. We had planned on getting in a group picture with Eeyore and, I think, Tigger. So we were going to all pose together - which would be faster than trying to section off and take different photos with each character. When we went up for our turn, we saw this pushy parent hurl her kids up to stand next to one of the characters in our photo!! When we saw this, we kind of turned to just focus on one character, in hopes that maybe the kids would be seen in our picture. But they were seen in it, and I am sure we were seen in theirs. Ugh! And I think it may have even happened one other time, where I was taking a picture of my friend with a character, and she was already standing next to whoever it was, and some child bolted out of the crowd and ran up to get in the shot, so my friend stepped back and out of the way.

Some people are crazy at DLR!

With Pluto, he was out in the main area with a handler, we saw him walk out so we were two of the first in line, along with a few others. Yet we ended up being two of the last to get our picture. Finally the CM kinda grabbed DH's arm and pulled us into our picture because there was a group that just wouldn't leave. They wanted every person in their group to get a pic on their own, then in different combos, and every pic had to be taken on their camera as well as by the photopass girl.

Almost identical situation with Aladdin. He had just come out as were walking by so we got in line behind two groups. The first group was fine, pose click bye. The second group was like the one I mentioned for Pluto, only these people didn't speak english so when anyone said anything it didn't really make a difference. Aladdin was on his own, no photopass person or anything, and I felt bad for him. He looked like he really wanted to just push them away so other people could come in. When DH got to him, Aladdin said something to him...i don't remember what exactly but along the lines "thought i'd never get to meet you, buddy."

See, my friends and I are the "pose click bye" people that you speak of!! I like to get my character photos - and I will continue to get them no matter who thinks adults without kids shouldn't be getting them! But I hate to hold people up. I don't want to think I am taking too long and making people wait. So we are fast about it. If we stop for PhotoPass and there is no one else in line, then great. The photographer can snap away and take as many as he or she can stand. But if there is a line, we only get 2 or 3 photos and we are off and running. If we are taking our own personal photos, and we see other people approaching to get the same shots, we hurry up and move on. It's just common courtesy.

When we encountered the big group of people who decided to take 20 photos in front of Partners a couple of years back, and who, as soon as we got our turn to get up there and take our photos (because the PhotoPass guy asked them to move out of the way!!), decided that they weren't done yet and needed to get even more shots in every possible combination, I was about to haul off and say something.....especially when the, ahem, young lady in the group decided to get so close to our shot that she was touching my arm, and then snapped at me when I opened my mouth to ask her to move over just a smidge because she was annoyed that our PP photographer asked them to move!!

In actuality, if this stupid group of people, and especially this one girl who was really inconsiderate, had just let us take our little 2 or 3 photos in front of the Partners statue, they would have been rid of us - quickly. But because they held us up for so long, by the time we had what we thought was our "turn," they were going to take more photos just to spite us, I think.

 

[Karlzmom]

I guess I'm glad to know its not "just us." I had to deal with people trampling my 4 year old who waited patiently for HIS turn, only to have people push through him as he approached the characters, or jump in while he is doing his greeting...ok, I get that he's a bit "slow"...meaning he doesn't run up and grab the character, but its not like we were there with him spending 10 mins playing shy. He just warms up a bit...and clearly it was more important to run him over to get their pic and run to the next "magic" than to take turns. I started to think I was wrong, because it happened so frequently that it must be "acceptable" to just mob the solo characters....
Part of me really likes that the characters still just run around DL without handlers, seems more natural - but I do appreciate the order around a greeting at WDW.

 

[magicalfoursome]

I am surprised to hear that characters are left without a handler in DL. I have never seen a character without someone to assist them in WDW. It must be awkward for a character to keep track of who was in line next or to have to tell a child it is not their turn-- I am guessing they do not. DL really should supply a handler as there are many people who do not feel they nor their children need to wait in line. One time a mom was trying to push her child thru the line and I politely but firmly told her that that she needed to wait in the line like everyone else.

 

[Raindown]

I am surprised to hear that characters are left without a handler in DL.

I know, but it seems to usually work out with people forming a line on their own. I felt bad for Mary and Bert once though. They were trying to make to an exit from near the castle and they were just getting mobbed. Mary was walking and signing, staying very polite. I'm sure it gets taxing.

I don't interact with people on their way out.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I am surprised to hear that characters are left without a handler in DL.

It's not all characters. In fact, it seems to be pretty random. When we first went to get a picture with Sully, he did have a handler - one who had just closed the line and told us that Sully would be back in 30 mins. When we came back in 30 mins, Sully was out, but no handler.

We saw Jasmine in Adventureland by Aladdin's Oasis, and she had a Photopass photographer and a handler with her.

We saw lines forming for characters in Town Square, and many times they had handlers. Yet when Mickey came out Monday morning, a handler came with him, but then disappeared.

They also have handlers in the pre-arranged meet and greets (Mickey's house in toontown, etc). As I said, most of the time they do have handlers and everything's fine. But sometimes they don't...it seems random.

It must be awkward for a character to keep track of who was in line next or to have to tell a child it is not their turn-- I am guessing they do not.

Actually, they do. Sully, Mr. Incredible, and Woody all pointed the parents to the back of the line when they tried to push their children ahead. Belle also did this last year when we saw her in front of the Train Station.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I also want to clarify...my issue isn't with the excited children...my issue is with the parents who are pushing their children to the front of the line.

I totally get kids getting excited and just running forward not thinking about it. I don't understand parents pushing their way in front of people for their kids...as if the other people (with kids or not) aren't just as excited to get a picture with the character.

 

[Had2stopLurking]

I find that the people at DL tend to stand in lines for characters much better than in WDW. At least some characters in DL can still walk around without handlers, but at WDW, it's a nightmare of people rushing and shoving their kids if the character doesn't have a handler.

I'm not sure if it's because DL is more of a "local" park, so people are used to seeing the characters and forming their own lines (of course you still get the people that just run up to them, but the locals will usually mention that there is a line).

WDW is a nightmare when it comes to meeting characters (in my opinion). Geesh, I remember getting my picture taken with that Sunkist Orange at WDW (wayyyy back in the day before it became a "me/my snowflake" society).

Does anyone else remember that orange that used to walk around WDW?

 

[Angel Ariel]

I also feel bad for the characters who get hounded as they're trying to get backstage. That's got to be hard for them.

We saw Mickey Sunday night, but when we saw he was heading out we were liek "OK, we'll try again tomorrow." Karma ended up working out, since we were second in line for him the next morning.

But he was getting hounded the whole way to the backstage area. Poor Mickey

 

[chrissiecutie]

On my son's 1st trip we were lucky enough to see lots of characters. For some reason, he really latched on to Pluto and had just bought a stuffed Pluto at the shop in Toontown, when who do I see right outside? You guessed it, Pluto!

So DS and I are lucky enough to get in "line" (more of a circle really) and Pluto picks my DS out of the crowd. I'm sure it had something to do with the cute Pluto stuffed animal he had just bought. Anyways, the handler decided Pluto needed to move to a better location, Pluto grabbed my son's hand and led him on a walk around Toontown. It was THE cutest thing and DS still talks about how Pluto picked him and only him.

Well....let me just say, I had SO many rude parents trying to separate my son from Pluto. One mother actually grabbed my son's arm and tried to pull him away from Pluto. Folks, I think DL almost had it's first "mom on mom" brawl that afternoon!

When Pluto stopped walking, he turned around to face me so that I could get a picture. The very same mother then shoves her little girl in on the other side and starts trying to take a picture! I calmly looked at her and said if she wanted to keep her camera in one piece then she had better learn some manners. And oh yeah...see that linebacker sized man behind me, that's my hubby and if you so much as touch my child again, we will be arranging your funeral.

Now people, up to this point I had tried to be civil and was in fact very polite in stating that it was MY child's turn with Pluto. I looked to Pluto's handler for assistance and I assured the mother that if she would just wait a few moments we would be done and then she could have at it. I'm normally a very calm and levelheaded person who doesn't like to "make waves".

At the mention of "arranging for this woman's funeral" if she touched my child again- it was then and ONLY then that the handler came forward and took this woman aside. She then was "redirected" to another section of Toontown and her poor little girl missed out on getting a photo with Pluto.

So the point of this story is...teach your child and YOU some manners. DS still remembers the rude little girl who kept trying to get in on his picture with Pluto. I have to remind him and say that she really didn't know any better and was just following her mother's example.

As another PP said, children will get super excited when they see their beloved charcters. As their parents its our job to show them what to do and how to conduct themselves. Common courtesy and manners are sorely lacking in our world today....but that's another rant....

BTW, I did get a few AWESOME pics of DS with Pluto. <---

 

[MattsPrincess]

So DS and I are lucky enough to get in "line" (more of a circle really) and Pluto picks my DS out of the crowd. I'm sure it had something to do with the cute Pluto stuffed animal he had just bought. Anyways, the handler decided Pluto needed to move to a better location, Pluto grabbed my son's hand and led him on a walk around Toontown. It was THE cutest thing and DS still talks about how Pluto picked him and only him.

I could almost understand her wanting to "hurry you along" if you guys had just been taking your time on your own, like some of the groups me and other posters have mentioned. But that wasn't the case, you guys didn't have any control over what the character did. It's not like you were shoving your son onto him and pushing him along behind when they were walking. Pluto picked YOUR son, tried to make him feel special and have a little extra magic (ya know, what disney is about) and this lady tried to ruin it! I'd have to assume she felt like you guys had already had enough time with him since they walked together, but even that she tried to take away. I'm glad the CM did something, even if it was a bit belated. I'd like to think that at least the little girl got a lesson in how not to behave. Glad you still got great pics though!

 

[chrissiecutie]

I could almost understand her wanting to "hurry you along" if you guys had just been taking your time on your own, like some of the groups me and other posters have mentioned. But that wasn't the case, you guys didn't have any control over what the character did. It's not like you were shoving your son onto him and pushing him along behind when they were walking. Pluto picked YOUR son, tried to make him feel special and have a little extra magic (ya know, what disney is about) and this lady tried to ruin it! I'd have to assume she felt like you guys had already had enough time with him since they walked together, but even that she tried to take away. I'm glad the CM did something, even if it was a bit belated. I'd like to think that at least the little girl got a lesson in how not to behave. Glad you still got great pics though!

Yes! There we were waiting in the non-line like everyone else and Pluto picked my son. I certainly had nothing to do with it and it was a truely special moment for my son. Frankly, I think this mom was upset that her girl wasn't picked. But like I said, I really think the stuffed Pluto he was holding had alot to do with why he was picked.

When the handler decided Pluto was at the location he was supposed to be at, she then helped Pluto turn around (he had a string of kiddos behind & around him) and Pluto pulled my son into his arms for a picture. See my picture on the side! It was then that this mother's rudeness got severely out of control.

I feel very sorry for her daughter who missed out on getting a photo and honestly, I don't believe any lesson was learned here. It's a shame but probably the reality of the entire situation.

Proper behavior starts with good parenting. How can you expect your children to wait patiently and not cut in line if you don't teach them how to do so? Personally, I would never allow my son to behave this way and I wouldn't act this way either. If he were being rude and out of control and I was not able to correct this behavior immediately, then we just would have walked away. This is how your children learn the lessons they need....but now I'm on my soap box and I better hop off before someone kicks me off...

My other main issue besides the extremely RUDE mother, was the lack of awareness on the handlers part. I said something to her at the time and she saw the entire situation unfolding and I can't help but wonder why she didn't step in before it escalated. Why did she wait until I had to threaten this woman not to touch my son, before the handler actually took action??

 

[rentayenta]

The lack of waiting in line protocol is one of the main reasons we still do character meals. I just cannot stand the behavior of many parents.

 

[tink929]

We've been three times now and I'm always amazed at people's behavior! Sometimes I feel bad for my daughter because she will respectfully wait and has actually lost a couple opportunities because of line cutters. Of course, karma seems to come around again, because she's had some really special interactions with characters too - especially Pluto and Aladdin.

And we specifically tell her she can't bother a character if they're going in for a snack or break (when they're heading backstage) but it still shocks me to see mothers shoving their kids after a character that is obviously leaving the area!

 

[esk]

You are all describing standard behavior at DisneyLand Paris.....The Brits and Germans will line up, very orderly, and wait their turn, but there are other cultures that will not. I have had my toddlers shoved, pushed, moved aside, knocked down by adults and children alike.

I speak English and can get a bathroom, doctor and dinner in about 5 other languages, but I found that a glare, strong tone of voice and invading personal space gets my point across.

At one point, going onto It's a Small World (huge open loading area, going into the lines), a swarm of teenagers ran up from behind, pushed us aside to get into the turnstiles, and knocked my DD3 to the ground. I grabbed on girls arm, kicked her hard, and told her to learn some manners. I pointed to my daughter, on the ground crying, and squeezed her arm hard and told her she'd better watch out, if she did that to any other children. Don't know how much English she spoke but she slunk away pretty fast. DH was absolutely mortified.

I have actually tripped people who shove my children, then when they look back and glare, I smile sweetly at them. I mean, not my fault they tripped over my foot, is it?

Handlers are only as involved as they want to be. At DisneyParis, saw a nasty little boy shove a candy wrapper up Perla's "nose" and the handler did nothing. Perla kept turning away from him but he kept doing it....he was about 9 or 11. Finally she gave the boy a little push and started walking away. The handler just stared into space most of that time.

 

[chrissiecutie]

You are all describing standard behavior at DisneyLand Paris.....The Brits and Germans will line up, very orderly, and wait their turn, but there are other cultures that will not. I have had my toddlers shoved, pushed, moved aside, knocked down by adults and children alike.

I speak English and can get a bathroom, doctor and dinner in about 5 other languages, but I found that a glare, strong tone of voice and invading personal space gets my point across.

At one point, going onto It's a Small World (huge open loading area, going into the lines), a swarm of teenagers ran up from behind, pushed us aside to get into the turnstiles, and knocked my DD3 to the ground. I grabbed on girls arm, kicked her hard, and told her to learn some manners. I pointed to my daughter, on the ground crying, and squeezed her arm hard and told her she'd better watch out, if she did that to any other children. Don't know how much English she spoke but she slunk away pretty fast. DH was absolutely mortified.

I have actually tripped people who shove my children, then when they look back and glare, I smile sweetly at them. I mean, not my fault they tripped over my foot, is it?

Handlers are only as involved as they want to be. At DisneyParis, saw a nasty little boy shove a candy wrapper up Perla's "nose" and the handler did nothing. Perla kept turning away from him but he kept doing it....he was about 9 or 11. Finally she gave the boy a little push and started walking away. The handler just stared into space most of that time.

LOL...Esk....thank you for making me feel like I'm not alone. I think sometimes parents, mothers especially, are afraid to cross that line. I would have hated to be that girl who pushed your child down!

 

[esk]

You know, I read my post after I posted it and thought "Oh no, people will think I'm this nutcase who goes around tripping people and assualting teenagers!"

I usually turn the other cheek at pushing and shoving, but when an adult-size person knocks down a 2-4 year old, looks back, sees the child on the ground and keeps walking, or even worse laughing, just makes me mad. That child can't do anything, but I surely can!

 

[tholczer]

How many of those lines were organized, though? I don't know about you all, but when I'm in a mass of waiting people, I have a pretty good idea of who was before me. But as those people go for their picture and leave, and then more people come and take their place, I get a little lost as to where I am in the line. I've been tapped on the shoulder before and told that it wasn't my turn, which I respond to with an apology. And 100% of the times that I've had to tap someone on the shoulder and say, "I'm sorry, but we were ahead of you", the person responded with their own apology.

Mostly, I believe, people are just doing the best they can with large crowds and chaos and small children. There are some exceptions, of course. But unless you say something, you'll never know if those people who cut in front of you are rude or just unaware.

Tracy