Your thoughts needed

[garjanjones]

Wondering what you all think...

Is it ok for a parent to hold a child's spot for a character? I have seen it don't on here a lot, especially for Anna and Elsa.

I don't see a problem as long as you aren't holding a spot for an entire extended family. For example, if the child is the one doing the meet and greet then no more time would be taken than if it were the adult doing the meet and greet.

We are planning on doing LOTS of characters on our June trip and this would really help us, but I don't want to make others mad. We wouldn't do it all the time, I was thinking for buzz and woody and possibly phineas and ferb depending on the heat.

 

[juliebug1997]

I don't have a problem with any of it. I have been behind lots of big families with multiple children and, yes, the meet and greet does drag on, but it's not going to prevent me from meeting the characters. In fact, someone holding places for a whole group seems to have been encouraged by Disney for Rapunzel in her original spot, Merida, and Anna and Elsa during their stay at Epcot.

 

[linzbear]

It is very often done in outdoor lines where having the entire family in line would make it extremely long.

You can't do it for Buzz & Woody, though - they are indoors and there's no way to join someone who is at or near the front of the line (much like many ride queues).

 

[michelle06]

Frankly, I would only be put off if you added extra people who are actually going to spend time with the character. So, if little Susie is the only one meeting the character, I wouldn't care if the rest of family, all 12 of them joined the line as long as that didn't add to the number of people meeting the character. M&G are unique in that additional family members do not increase the wait time for a character. So, I think letting one person hold a place in line is perfectly fine.

 

[bocaj1431]

I personally see nothing wrong with that.

There are parents that will have to hold a spot for their children, who have special needs. For example a child with Autism may not be able to wait in the line and must be entertained elsewhere until their turn comes up.

Also, one member of the family might have to take a few kids for a bathroom trip.

Whatever the reason, so long as your not holding a spot for a large group I would think it would be fine whether they are spending time with the character or not.

 

[garjanjones]

Thanks for your thoughts.

Side note about buzz and woody,,,a family did this last year. The kid just came in through the exit as the previous family was leaving (in case anyone else wanted to try that).

 

[MarineVet]

Wondering what you all think...

Is it ok for a parent to hold a child's spot for a character? I have seen it don't on here a lot, especially for Anna and Elsa.

I don't see a problem as long as you aren't holding a spot for an entire extended family. For example, if the child is the one doing the meet and greet then no more time would be taken than if it were the adult doing the meet and greet.

We are planning on doing LOTS of characters on our June trip and this would really help us, but I don't want to make others mad. We wouldn't do it all the time, I was thinking for buzz and woody and possibly phineas and ferb depending on the heat.

I think there is no blanket answer for this;

1. Depends on crowd levels and wait times. If people behind you have been in line a long time already in the hot beating sun, they may grumble more.

2. Sometimes adult(s) in the group decide to go ahead and have their picture taken too. I don't assume that if a group ahead of me adds one child and three adults that the adults won't add time to the line. From my experience they usually do. Nothing wrong with that, just saying that is one reason people grumble.

3. You may be nicest person in the world but you can't get through a day in Disney without ticking someone off. It happens. Whether its someone you accidentally cut off because they made a last second direction change right in front of you, or because you are in line ahead of them, there are some stressed people there. If you try to please everyone there, it will make you crazy.

4. I find "excuse me" a big passport to smoother sailing while in a crowded place like Disney. I wish more people would say it and teach it to their kids.

Have a great time! Oh, and personally I don't mind what you describe with just holding for one or two. Its when a group grows by 5 or more and then they look back at the line and laugh, that's what gets me. Grrrrr. LOL!

 

[juliebug1997]

Just to add some information for the place holding....

At lines for Merida, Rapunzel's original location and Anna and Elsa's soon to be former spot, the CM walks through the line to ask everyone how many are in their party. So, Disney will adjust the line based on the number of people who are in line. I assume it is to make sure that everyone in the line gets to meet the character(s).

 

[Acedink]

For what its worth, I don't have a problem with it either. For instance, when my DD goes for a character meet and greet, and if my parents come along, it is 5 in our party, but only 1 person meeting the characters.

Although I may have to get my pic w/ Gaston this year

And if you, as a parent, wait in line, you are sacrificing park time of your own for your children. I did it last year, actually at Tinkerbell's place. I got towards the front of where you go into the back rooms, and called my wife to bring our DD. She got to ride Aladdin's magic carpets a few times while I held the spot. My wife did the same for Tiana.

I don't consider it butting in line since someone in the party is giving up ride times for the opportunity to meet characters, and make their kids dreams come true.

 

[surferdave]

Just to add some information for the place holding....

At lines for Merida, Rapunzel's original location and Anna and Elsa's soon to be former spot, the CM walks through the line to ask everyone how many are in their party. So, Disney will adjust the line based on the number of people who are in line. I assume it is to make sure that everyone in the line gets to meet the character(s).

That one is a bit unique, because they can only fit so many people in the Fairytale Garden area at a time, and it has a distinctive start and stop time with so many guests at once. So if one person is holding a spot for one child four adults who will just watch, those adults will actually be the limiting factor instead of the child.

 

[Acedink]

Is the fairytale garden near Maelstrom? I'm trying to picture where it is. And is MK w/ A&E supposed to move the line faster (no more 5 hour times), or is it just that the princess fairytale hall is more suited for them?

There was no way to FP+ them in Norway?

 

[mesaboy2]

Is the fairytale garden near Maelstrom? I'm trying to picture where it is. And is MK w/ A&E supposed to move the line faster (no more 5 hour times), or is it just that the princess fairytale hall is more suited for them? There was no way to FP+ them in Norway?

Fairytale Garden is in MK near the castle--the PP is discussing Merida and Rapunzel's original location. The Norway location in Epcot for A&E would never have supported FP--too small.

A&E's move will double their capacity (theoretically halving wait times) and add FP.

 

[juliebug1997]

That one is a bit unique, because they can only fit so many people in the Fairytale Garden area at a time, and it has a distinctive start and stop time with so many guests at once. So if one person is holding a spot for one child four adults who will just watch, those adults will actually be the limiting factor instead of the child.

These are the only ones (were the only ones) that had these special instances of people being able to hold spots. They are not (were not) continuous meet and greets like the others. So, yes, they were unique, but they are/were the ones that allowed people to hold spots since those lines could reach hours very quickly. In the new princess meet and greet area, they don't cut you off after a certain number of people (I believe 80 was the magic number) and then hold you there for 20 minutes until the characters come back.

 

[juliebug1997]

Fairytale Garden is in MK near the castle--the PP is discussing Merida and Rapunzel's original location. The Norway location in Epcot for A&E would never have supported FP--too small.

A&E's move will double their capacity (theoretically halving wait times) and add FP.

We got a FP+ for our girls' trip, but I'm interested in seeing if that really happens. I hope it does! I think having Rapunzel with a FP (in whatever capacity) certainly helped hers.

 

[puffkin]

I may be a dissenter, but I think it is wrong for someone to stand in line while another person if off riding rides or doing other attractions. I feel the same way about parades/fireworks too. I don't have a problem with a parent running the kids for a quick bathroom trip or to grab a soda or mickey bar while another parent is holding the spot, or even for a quick walk to stretch the legs. And yes, if a family with 1 kid suddenly turns into a family with 5 kids by the front of the line, it does significantly impact the rest of the people in the line.

Slightly off topic, but we waited together for that Astro Blaster thing at Disney Quest a few trips ago (you ride around in cars and pick up balls to shoot at other vehicles). Each run takes a good amount of time. My DS6 waited patiently for 2 runs to go. We would definitely be getting on the next run when the guy in front of us family showed up right when it was time to board and got in line and took up the last two cars forcing us to wait for the next round. They had been off playing games. I was really ticked about it considering my DS had been waiting so patiently. The CM was apologetic about it to us but said they really can't do anything about it.

 

[butterfly71076]

For what its worth, I don't have a problem with it either. For instance, when my DD goes for a character meet and greet, and if my parents come along, it is 5 in our party, but only 1 person meeting the characters.

Although I may have to get my pic w/ Gaston this year

And if you, as a parent, wait in line, you are sacrificing park time of your own for your children. I did it last year, actually at Tinkerbell's place. I got towards the front of where you go into the back rooms, and called my wife to bring our DD. She got to ride Aladdin's magic carpets a few times while I held the spot. My wife did the same for Tiana.

I don't consider it butting in line since someone in the party is giving up ride times for the opportunity to meet characters, and make their kids dreams come true.

Do it! I met him alone last year (my DS refused) and it was a blast! One of the best character interaction I have ever had!! My PhotoPass pics turned out great!

 

[nugov2]

IMO it is no different than holding a spot in line for a ride. I have zero problem with it and wouldn't be upset.

 

[GillianP1301]

I guess I'm not the average here, but it does bother me a bit. Not enough to complain or for it to ruin my day or anything. But, my opinion is if somebody wants to see or do something, they need to be willing to wait for it like everybody else. Unless there is a good reason (i.e. medical issue) or if a child suddenly needed a pee break, then they should be in the line. And because I don't know the personal history of each person in the line is why I would never complain about it

 

[ajwolfe]

I guess I'm not the average here, but it does bother me a bit. Not enough to complain or for it to ruin my day or anything. But, my opinion is if somebody wants to see or do something, they need to be willing to wait for it like everybody else. Unless there is a good reason (i.e. medical issue) or if a child suddenly needed a pee break, then they should be in the line. And because I don't know the personal history of each person in the line is why I would never complain about it

I was just getting ready to type the same thing!!! If my kids want to meet a character they had better be ready for the wait because one of us is not going to do it for them while they are off having fun.
I would never complain loudly about someone doing this, but I would probably grumple within my own family.

 

[HopperFan]

It does happen but I have seen a CM tell an adult that they will have to wait to enter the line until their entire party is there. I once had a woman in line in front of me while her kids were at other characters. As we got close she told me to pass as they were not there yet. The CM realized what was happening and told the woman she would have to leave the line and could rejoin the line at the end when her children arrived. He told her she could not hold a place in line for them. I guess the point here was that while other children were waiting patiently her kids were running from character to character (less popular ones in AK Mickey's Camp) collecting autographs. She got very nasty and said some horrible things and I saw her running ahead. She went to management (a lead manager was actually called in) and demanded he be fired. I followed up with the line manager, who asked me to speak to the woman who they called in, to tell them what happened and what he actually said to her. They said that what the CM told her was correct.

If you are directly thinking of Anna & Elsa, by time you go they will be in MK and it would be more difficult due to the line structure and I am sure CMs will be increased more than they are now. There is some roped queue outside you could bring them back in to. Once you get up against the building you are in an iron fenced queue, then inside a foyer queue, then hallway queue. I would not attempt to join the line once it's past the roped area outside, so maybe long enough for a bathroom stop before they enter the line. I have a DS who is disabled and loves his autographs. We have even been offered to skip the line but we always stick it out and he waits his turn.