Whole group wait in line for a show?

[TulipMom]

As I'm making final touches to our touring plan for our upcoming trip, I have a question. Does our entire group of 6 (4 adults, 2 preschoolers) have to be in line for shows like The Lion King or Finding Nemo? I'm not necessarily looking for the ability to ride other rides at that time, but it would be nice to allow the kids to maybe get a treat while a few of us waited in line. Is that even allowed and possible? And if so, is it considered rude to let kids join the line later?

 

[jon18uk]

Personally I think everyone needs to be in line together otherwise it is counted as queue jumping, in my opinion. Particularly if the line is enclosed so getting back to your family involves pushing past others.

 

[Jennasis]

The whole group should wait together IMO.

 

[CAS239]

I would strongly suggest being all in line together. You don't want to be "those" people cutting people in line to get back to your party. And once the theaters are opened, if you're not with your party you run a good risk of not being able to sit together. For some shows they say on the overhead to keep your party together if you want to sit together.

And it's just courtesy to those around you in line. I hate being in line and then minutes before you go in, more people step in front of you to get back with their party. So you very well could go get treats or wait until doors open, but just know you'll be pushing past wall to wall people to get back to your party

 

[TulipMom]

I would NEVER want to do anything that was even borderline poor manners. So, you guys have answered my question right there! We will all wait in line together. It's not a problem to do that, but I wondered what the common practice was. Thanks so much!

On a related note - if we have FPs for a show (Frozen sing-along at HS), we can show up at the last part of the FP window and be guaranteed seats, right? For instance, our FP says 11:35-11:50 for a noon show. If we arrive at 11:48, we should be good to go?

 

[nkereina]

I agree that you should all be in line together. I can't speak to Nemo, but for Festival of the Lion King, those in the front of the line get the better seats. It's also bleacher seating and would be difficult to save seats. It does fill up. For something like Hall of Presidents or Captain EO where there's way more seats than people, it's probably not a big deal, but for the live shows that fill up and people get there early for better seats, it would be in bad taste to save spots in line IMO.

 

[MermaidMommy]

When we did Nemo last year, I was in line and let DD14 go to the bathroom while I waited. They weren't going to let her come into the theater at all to join me, because they had a no seat saving policy (which we didn't know about when she left the line). I was seated and she was texting me that they wouldn't let her in, so I had to go to the doors and find a CM to let her through. So, in my experience, Nemo is very strict about not saving seats.

However, I don't think it's a proble for people to save seats for outdoor shows where there isn't a queue, like Beauty and the Beast or Lights Motor Action.

 

[disnut8]

On a related note - if we have FPs for a show (Frozen sing-along at HS), we can show up at the last part of the FP window and be guaranteed seats, right? For instance, our FP says 11:35-11:50 for a noon show. If we arrive at 11:48, we should be good to go?

Yes. And that's the good thing about FastPasses. Then you can let the kids go off and run before the show.

 

[Missyrose]

Just an FYI on the Frozen singalong. There's no FP+ seating in the theater. So while you're guaranteed a seat, it's whatever is left at 11:48 (12 minutes before showtime.)

 

[caroline1851]

I don't have a problem with 1/2 the group holding the spots for an adult and the 2 little ones. Easier for the little kids to be out doing something else. And if they're impatient, crabby, whatever, more pleasant for the people around you too.

 

[TulipMom]

I don't have a problem with 1/2 the group holding the spots for an adult and the 2 little ones. Easier for the little kids to be out doing something else. And if they're impatient, crabby, whatever, more pleasant for the people around you too.

I agree. It wouldn't bother me at all to let young kids get their wiggles out a bit before joining back into the line. But, it sounds like it would bother some people &/or possibly make it difficult or impossible to sit next to each other, so we'll err on the side of caution and stay together.

We're going in about 10 days, so the crowds shouldn't be too crazy anyway, so perhaps we won't have to get in lines too early.

 

[TulipMom]

Just an FYI on the Frozen singalong. There's no FP+ seating in the theater. So while you're guaranteed a seat, it's whatever is left at 11:48 (12 minutes before showtime.)

Oh! Wow... I somehow missed that you wouldn't have good seating for FP+. That's kind of a stilly FP for us to have, then, I guess.

 

[mesaboy2]

Just an FYI on the Frozen singalong. There's no FP+ seating in the theater. So while you're guaranteed a seat, it's whatever is left at 11:48 (12 minutes before showtime.)

Yeah, my experience Sunday. Though we (FP holders) weren't admitted that early--closer to 5 minutes before official show start--we were admitted before standby. That does not translate to better seating, you'll just be either left (facing the stage) or center depending on your position within the FP group. "Priority Access" is the best way to describe this FP, but not better seating.

Frozen is one of several Tier 2 attractions that are poor choices for FP at DHS, but it's the system we have.

 

[TulipMom]

Yeah, my experience Sunday. Though we (FP holders) weren't admitted that early--closer to 5 minutes before official show start--we were admitted before standby. That does not translate to better seating, you'll just be either left (facing the stage) or center depending on your position within the FP group. "Priority Access" is the best way to describe this FP, but not better seating.

Frozen is one of several Tier 2 attractions that are poor choices for FP at DHS, but it's the system we have.

Please excuse me if I'm slow... Ha! So, all FP+ holders are admitted before any standby? So, essentially, we could arrive at the end of our FP+ window (11:50am) and still get a decent seat. I don't care about getting an awesome seat, but I don't want to have to have a FP and still have to show up 20-30 minutes in advance just to get a reasonable seat. So, if we can arrive 10 minutes before the show and still get a reasonable seat, then I'll keep the FP+ selection.

P.S. My DS(5) says he likes your plane picture.

 

[mesaboy2]

Please excuse me if I'm slow... Ha! So, all FP+ holders are admitted before any standby? So, essentially, we could arrive at the end of our FP+ window (11:50am) and still get a decent seat. I don't care about getting an awesome seat, but I don't want to have to have a FP and still have to show up 20-30 minutes in advance just to get a reasonable seat. So, if we can arrive 10 minutes before the show and still get a reasonable seat, then I'll keep the FP+ selection.

P.S. My DS(5) says he likes your plane picture.

That's how it worked for us, and how I expect it works most of the time. Unfortunately, show FP experiences can vary so there's always a chance things may be different for your particular show. I'll just say you will probably be fine.

I thought that plane was cool too when I saw it in Tokyo DisneySea last year, it has C3PO on it!

 

[TulipMom]

That's how it worked for us, and how I expect it works most of the time. Unfortunately, show FP experiences can vary so there's always a chance things may be different for your particular show. I'll just say you will probably be fine.

I thought that plane was cool too when I saw it in Tokyo DisneySea last year, it has C3PO on it!

Sounds good! We'll take the risk that it will work well for us to keep the FP+ and show up toward the end of our FP window.

 

[Missyrose]

Yeah, my experience Sunday. Though we (FP holders) weren't admitted that early--closer to 5 minutes before official show start--we were admitted before standby. That does not translate to better seating, you'll just be either left (facing the stage) or center depending on your position within the FP group. "Priority Access" is the best way to describe this FP, but not better seating.

Frozen is one of several Tier 2 attractions that are poor choices for FP at DHS, but it's the system we have.

Wow, that is really different than how FP+ reservations were handed in July. The FP+ holders were just dumped into the same holding area as standby, just with a shorter queue.

 

[mesaboy2]

Wow, that is really different than how FP+ reservations were handed in July. The FP+ holders were just dumped into the same holding area as standby, just with a shorter queue.

Sorry, I misunderstood you then.

Yeah, only FPs and DAS were let inside for us, the lower doors opened into the theater and DAS folks were loaded, then all of the theater doors opened and FPs loaded, then standby (outside and to the right as you face the preshow monitors) came in after we did. Just underscores how things can change at anytime I guess.