What is the difference between a line and a queue?

[married2mm]

or are they the same?!

 

[uccats97]

They are the same.

 

[mbdavidson]

Nothing really, but in my opinion, a queue has things to look at and/or interact with while you are waiting, that are themed with the ride, (Peter Pan, Mine Train, Big Thunder) and a line is just a line (Small World, Spaceship Earth).

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Agree with other posters, they are (mostly) the same. I'd just say a line could be a group of people anywhere, but I tend to see a queue as specifically a designated area for people to line up for their turn.

A line can form anywhere, but in my mind, a queue is a (more) permanently designated place for a line, where each person waits to be attended. All WDW rides have queues. The theme park bus stops at WDW have queues (metal rails). Queue is popular in British speech.


Kids at school line up to walk through the halls, but it isn't really a queue. They aren't waiting for their turn, they are just in a line to walk in an orderly way. Though sometimes kids in schools ARE asked to queue up when they are in the cafeteria waiting for their lunch.

To queue is also to line up (esp in a queue), as a verb.

 

[randumb0]

American term vs British IMO

 

[winnieofpooh]

Yeah I always thought this was just an American vs. British thing lol

 

[evilqueenmindy]

One is harder to spell.

 

[Liljo22]

In business terms, a queue is an organized path strategically setup for a purpose and a line is any group of people together for the same purpose.

 

[married2mm]

One is harder to spell.

Absolutely.

 

[OKW Lover]

or are they the same?!

A queue is for those who don't want deal with being "in line" or "on line".

 

[CAS239]

I played Rollercoaster Tycoon growing up and their line/queue to wait in for a ride is referred to as a queue...so I've always called it a queue. Though they're the same.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

No difference.
More just a preference of which word to use.
Many international people tend to use the word queue.
I'm from WNY and we generally say line although when typing I tend to say queue lol.

 

[Iowamomof4]

I played Rollercoaster Tycoon growing up and their line/queue to wait in for a ride is referred to as a queue...so I've always called it a queue. Though they're the same.

Funny note, as I began reading this thread I went to my desktop to see if I had RCT2 installed and discovered I do. Then I continued reading and got to your post!

 

[MomDoc_99]

At least in the US, places with "queues" are almost always more expensive than places that just have "lines".

 

[Tiki_Sara]

For this Brit living in NJ, I use one in the UK and one in the US. Some guy once actually corrected me when I asked him if he was at the end of the queue. Rude arsehole.

 

[goofyernmost]

I recently wrote a short book entitled "What's a queue and why do I have to stand in it". It's just a compilation of many years of travel with my parents, my family and myself. Don't run to Amazon to get it, I never had it published it was just for my family (i.e. Grandkids) Pulitzer Prize winner if I put it out to the public, I'm sure.

 

[AngiTN]

American term vs British IMO

Yeah I always thought this was just an American vs. British thing lol

This has always been my first thought
Other than at theme parks
Theme parks have queues
Everything else is based on geography. In the UK you get in a queue to buy a ticket. In the US you get in a line

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I disagree that queue is exclusive to British dialects. Some American dialects also use the word queue, especially to distinguish a line from a queue.

There isn't a hard distinction between line and queue, it is more of a soft distinction. If you use line instead of queue everyone knows what you mean, but a line tends to be less formal.

Most cafeteria style eateries have queues. Even if nobody is waiting ahead of your party, you still have to walk through a queue. A line usually only exists while multiple people are waiting.

 

[VandVsmama]

They're the same. Line = queue.

 

[AngiTN]

I disagree that queue is exclusive to British dialects. Some American dialects also use the word queue, especially to distinguish a line from a queue.

There isn't a hard distinction between line and queue, it is more of a soft distinction. If you use line instead of queue everyone knows what you mean, but a line tends to be less formal.

Most cafeteria style eateries have queues. Even if nobody is waiting ahead of your party, you still have to walk through a queue. A line usually only exists while multiple people are waiting.

Must be regional. We get in line at a cafeteria around these parts. Nobody says go get in the queue. They say go get in line. Even if no one else is there