waiting in line for photos

[fcrouch]

Is it OK for me to wait in a line (when I know it is going to be a long wait - I've seen some on the boards as being 30-60 minutes) and then have my wife check back every so often - and then bring our daughter in when she won't have to wait too long? so she can stay in the club, at the pool, etc. - obviously if she wasn't there when I made it to the front of the line we wouldn't wait (and I guess I'd have my picture with Goofy?) I don't see that this is impolite and it doesn't increase anyone else's wait?

 

[KAMLEM]

To me that doesn't seem very practical. The pools and kids' clubs are not very close to the lobby where the photos are taken.

 

[MB MinnieGirl]

For the photos taken in the Atrium area outside of Triton's.... either before or after our dinner....we did just that! My DD4 would walk around on deck 4 or outside with her grandparents. They were never very far away and checked back about every 10 minutes. When I was closer into the line - she stayed with me and all was great for the photo! This worked especially well after dinner (we had early seating) when she was already tired of sitting down and needed to get up and move about. And no, I don't think anyone considered it rude. As a matter of fact - others were doing the same thing.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Or just try to get there at the beginning. We went at 5 because we had 11 in our photo and my dad had a rotten back. He didn't want to stand around too long. We talked to the people at Shutters and they said they start setting up around 5, so we got there right at 5, all dressed and ready to go. Then we had 50 minutes to kill drinking the free drinks they give out on formal night! (kids get shirley temple type drinks)
Robin M.

 

[dletz]

I don't think it's a big deal if it's one child, maybe even 2. However if 1 person stands in line and there are more than 2 kids who come at the last minute and they each want a seperate photo, I don't think it is right. We didn't realize prior to our first cruise that you had to get in line before the stated time as often they would have the lines closed already. When we finally realized this we would get in line early. One night we figured we had plenty of time, we ended up being half an hour late for dinner. But after spending well over an hour in line I wasn't getting out of line. We go a great pics of our daughter all dressed up with Mickey and Minnie so it was well worth it.

They base when to cut the line off based on how long the line is. I'm not sure what would happen if they cut the line off and it's time for the character to go in, since I'm not sure what the rules are on the cruise, if they will stay until the whole line is finished. I know that nothing is worse than standing in line for an hour and having a ton of people jump in front of you. One or two is acceptable, more than than in my opinion is not.

Besides which I feel that waiting in line is an important lesson to learn. We bought my daughter a notebook/calander datebook type thing a couple of years ago. I put twistable type pencil/crayons in it and gave it to her. It has a strap on it, so she would take it with her and when she got bored in line, she'd open it up and draw. When waiting line for characters or other things I show her how long the line is and ask her if she really wants to wait. If do give her wiggle room, etc. On the cruise we one person would walk around a bit with her and check back in, but at DL/WDW I don't do this, and didn't want her to get too used to being able to get into line the last minute.

Of course she's been going to DL since she was a baby so she's had a lot of practice waiting in line these last 5 years.

 

[brack]

Originally posted by fcrouch
(and I guess I'd have my picture with Goofy?)

My DW and I have gone on 4 DCL cruises without kids (our DS is 31 years old and married for 10!) and we line up for a picture with the characters. Some of the kids and parents think I'm crazy but I have a great collection of pictures with my "friends".