Line jumping, Hail Mary Pass, whatever

[goofyernmost]

My opinion...anyone that would be upset because small children are joining the line to be with one or more of their parents should find some other location to vacation. They may be there physically, but the spirit is definitely missing.

Adolescents, and lone adults...that is completely a different story and might require mob violence. (just kidding, but you get my drift)

 

[maxiesmom]

My opinion...anyone that would be upset because small children are joining the line to be with one or more of their parents should find some other location to vacation. They may be there physically, but the spirit is definitely missing.

I don't agree. How do you then explain to the kids who do wait in line why other kids do not have to? How would that seem magical to the kids waiting in line? You can't have a kids don't have to wait in line policy without it becoming a big mess. And having people cut in front of you doesn't feel very magical, or full of Disney Spirit, no matter your age.

I wouldn't get all bent out of shape over 1 parent with 1 child getting in front of me. It is not that big of a deal. But if you say it is ok for them it is ok for everyone. And saying that is just asking for trouble.

I guess I think it is ok if you have an emergency of some kind. But not as just a basic part of your touring plans.

 

[ccudmore]

I actually have a funny story about this.

During out last trip, on our AK day, our plan was for my wife to take the 3 kids to KS and I'd circle around to EE and grab fast passes and meet them in line at KS. We figured with all of the switch-backs in line I'd be able to pop into line with them without any problems.

The plan backfired big time.
I walked so fast that I actually got to KS before they did. I didn't know this so I got into line and planned to make my way forward to meet them. But the line was longer than I'd expected and I wasn't able to move up. So I waited in line patiently until I got to the front of the line... and they weren't there. Turns out they'd decided to wait for me at the entrance instead of getting into line. So I got to the front, waited 10 minutes and then walked back through the line all the way to the entrance... where they were still waiting for me.

I think fate was teaching us a lesson about trying this manoeuvre.

 

[goofyernmost]

I don't agree. How do you then explain to the kids who do wait in line why other kids do not have to? How would that seem magical to the kids waiting in line? You can't have a kids don't have to wait in line policy without it becoming a big mess. And having people cut in front of you doesn't feel very magical, or full of Disney Spirit, no matter your age.

I wouldn't get all bent out of shape over 1 parent with 1 child getting in front of me. It is not that big of a deal. But if you say it is ok for them it is ok for everyone. And saying that is just asking for trouble.

I guess I think it is ok if you have an emergency of some kind. But not as just a basic part of your touring plans.

This may sound short and certainly not in the spirit of kids rule the world that seems so prevalent today. I would never have felt the need to explain anything. They would be in line because I wanted them there. What others do is not my or their concern. That said, I still wouldn't care if others did that (children, I'm talking about) they are going to be with their families they are not taking up addition ride vehicles (or whatever) then they would if they had stayed in line. It's just not worth worrying about.

That is not to be confused with putting them on other rides while one person waits...gray area yes, but still different in my mind. Stepping outside the line to run a little and expel some of that excess energy, if necessary, not a problem for me. Also, I wasn't expressing it as a policy, I was just saying that it wouldn't bother me in the least. Ideally, everybody staying together is the way to go and if everybody did it...it would probably get to be a bit annoying. The key is that they would have to have been in the line originally and that the remaining family member takes the time to tell the group behind them what is happening.

 

[eddiemcgarrigle]

This reminds me of standing in line at EE last year. Mexican family (ma, pa and three kids of varying ages between 5 and 12), pushing through the line and shouting for 'Juan'. They stopped just slightly ahead of me with 'Juan' being a clearly fictional character as they never acknowledged anyone around them.

A few minutes later a father with child is also pushing through stating that he had to take his daughter to the toilet. Everyone is sympathetic and allows him past except the father of the previous line skippers, who throws out his arm and loudly proclaims 'no line jumping'. A quiet descended on the line for a few seconds before a few comments where made about 'people in glass houses' which then turned into a crescendo of light abuse. The line was clearly hostile to his actions and he quickly left the queue. People power at work.

 

[2Tiggies]

The line was clearly hostile to his actions and he quickly left the queue. People power at work.

This.

This is one of those areas in life where there is a lot of gray and no defined list of right and wrong. It is like waiting for a bus and walking straight to the front of what has evolved from a line to a general group of people. Everyone there will get a seat on the bus and there are no rules as to how to wait or board, yet it is just considered 'rude' in the perceived acceptable code of conduct for some, while to others, the logic that nobody will be adversely affected by what order everyone boards will prevail.

I am simply illustrating that there is no real right or wrong if there is no written rule. But sometimes you need to exercise a bit of discretion and common sense and accept that we don't all see it the same way.

 

[mjp12831]

I get annoyed at how much we baby our kids through preschool age and into elementary age. This is another example.

Kids should learn how to respectfully wait in a line for something they want to do. It's part of life. We have such low expectations of our kids anymore - that they can't possibly wait in a line without acting up or ruining the experience for other guests?

If someone needs to go to the bathroom, certainly understandable.

I'm not going to confront anyone doing this, but internally it's going to annoy me.

 

[larryz]

I actually have a funny story about this.

During out last trip, on our AK day, our plan was for my wife to take the 3 kids to KS and I'd circle around to EE and grab fast passes and meet them in line at KS. We figured with all of the switch-backs in line I'd be able to pop into line with them without any problems.

The plan backfired big time.
I walked so fast that I actually got to KS before they did. I didn't know this so I got into line and planned to make my way forward to meet them. But the line was longer than I'd expected and I wasn't able to move up. So I waited in line patiently until I got to the front of the line... and they weren't there. Turns out they'd decided to wait for me at the entrance instead of getting into line. So I got to the front, waited 10 minutes and then walked back through the line all the way to the entrance... where they were still waiting for me.

I think fate was teaching us a lesson about trying this manoeuvre.

I agree -- your karma ran over your dogma. Now, on with the show!

 

[bicker]

Disney has a service whereby you can effectively hold a place in line while members of your party are playing, eating, shopping, etc. It's called FastPass. Beyond that, your party should be in line together, all at once, and for the duration. Occasionally, little one's cannot wait to use the restroom, and if the queue makes it possible to accommodate that without inconveniencing other guests with the egress and return to join the rest of the family, then that's generally considered okay. but other than that, having someone hold a place in line while other members of your party are otherwise amusing themselves is not appropriate.

 

[LaughingSphinx]

I get annoyed at how much we baby our kids through preschool age and into elementary age. This is another example.

Kids should learn how to respectfully wait in a line for something they want to do. It's part of life. We have such low expectations of our kids anymore - that they can't possibly wait in a line without acting up or ruining the experience for other guests?

If someone needs to go to the bathroom, certainly understandable.

I'm not going to confront anyone doing this, but internally it's going to annoy me.

I know it's a fact that people always decry the younger generation as so much worse than their own, but I agree with this and will be raising my own children in the same manner. I was taught that if I wanted to go on a ride, I had to wait in line. If I had to go to the bathroom, I had better go before I stepped onto the line. Waiting in line meant you were good; quiet, not being rude or obnoxious to people around you. We'd play little games, like I Spy or 20 Questions. If we couldn't be good, we couldn't ride. May sound harsh, but man was it effective!

 

[Belleandtinker]

We have one son (5 now) and have done the chubba bubba on every trip with Dumbo and Goofy's Barnstormer.

We've never had people outwardly upset with us, but we have had they - hey how do you do that? Then my husband explains the system.

Our funniest storiest is a man (I guess saw us to the chubba bubba with Dumbo) in line with us at Goofy's Barnstormer wanting to know the details. He's comment at the end - that would never fly at the county fair. And he's right.

Again, we have one child and do it with only do the chubba bubba with two rides. We don't find it cheating, it's called planning.

 

[whitneyNC]

The "chuck Bubba relay" did work a few times for us when our kids were little, but it's hard! Especially with 3 bubbas to "chuck." I think Dumbo and Alladin were the two we rode twice with each of the adults getting in line the appropriate number of people apart (which is hard because you aren't exactly sure how those between are your going to load the ride vehicles...1, 2, 3 sometimes?) and chucking the kids to the other parent. It was a little stressful for us and our kids were daredevils and were more interested in Splash Mt at 3 than Dumbo, but we do LOVE the UG. It is truly the reason we never wait in line more than a few minutes. Have fun!

 

[kaligal]

Disney pretends that they don't allow line jumping, but they totally do.

I have seen people escorted away from rides and I've seen people being shown the exit in places like Cedar Point. I have never seen this at WDW. It doesn't mean that Disney NEVER does it, but if they do, it sure isn't very often.

I have seen Disney employees totally blow off line jumpers.

Most park guests will step aside so that you can cut in front of them. Some won't and I think their number is growing.

 

[whitneyNC]

I know it's a fact that people always decry the younger generation as so much worse than their own, but I agree with this and will be raising my own children in the same manner. I was taught that if I wanted to go on a ride, I had to wait in line. If I had to go to the bathroom, I had better go before I stepped onto the line. Waiting in line meant you were good; quiet, not being rude or obnoxious to people around you. We'd play little games, like I Spy or 20 Questions. If we couldn't be good, we couldn't ride. May sound harsh, but man was it effective!

"I love to hear the parenting strategies of people without kids. They almost never fail when being used by those without kids." -Erma Bombeck

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

While I totally agree.......a child or a member of a group needs to go to the bathroom or whatever. if its a disability issue......Fine....not a problem.

However, I have and will not let people, especailly a group push pass me ...if my family and I can wait in line,so can they,,,,,Sure they get mad....but I just stand my ground. Once a guy went to get a CM. I explained the story and the guy to his credit admitted that *someone was saving their spaces while they did other things*.The CM tell him that was not good manners and that was that.....except.........when they tried to get in line behind my family the next folks raised cane...and the line jumpers ended up leaving!

Manners are manners......everyone waits there turn!

Just my opinion and in this case........practice.!

AKK

 

[mom2rtk]

"I love to hear the parenting strategies of people without kids. They almost never fail when being used by those without kids." -Erma Bombeck

Good ol' Erma........ Where is that book of hers around here........ Gonna have to pull that out for a good read.......

 

[teacher31]

I get annoyed at how much we baby our kids through preschool age and into elementary age. This is another example.

Kids should learn how to respectfully wait in a line for something they want to do. It's part of life. We have such low expectations of our kids anymore - that they can't possibly wait in a line without acting up or ruining the experience for other guests?

If someone needs to go to the bathroom, certainly understandable.

I'm not going to confront anyone doing this, but internally it's going to annoy me.

And these same children who have never been taught to wait get their driver's license at 16 and think merge means race to the end and hard turn to cut someone off so they don't have to wait. Learning to wait is a life skill folks. Spending time in line with your family TALKING is priceless. They don't need to be entertained every second.

 

[jayhjay]

I think there is some level of general courtesy required here from the jumpers (aside from what is technically "allowed") as well as some flexibility on the part of those in line.

- Child has to go to the bathroom, someone needs a diaper change, toddler going crazy... all these seem like perfectly legitimate reasons to get out of line and jump back in.

- Family gets in line while one parent grabs FPs and joins them right away, cutting in front of few people to catch up? Or one parent gets in line while the other parks the stroller, gets the baby bjorn set up, etc and then joins them? Seems reasonable.

- One parent waits for 45 minutes in line while the child rides other rides, and then the other cuts in front of a million people, dumping their kids ahead of all those that waited patiently? Definitely seems like bad form, whether it is officially allowed or not. Honestly this seems like the area where the line is drawn between acceptable and non acceptable line jumping (to me at least).

As an example, this happened to me at a non-Disney situation (a fair at my kids nursery school). It was a moon bounce with limited entries per round (like Dumbo, for example). My kids waited (and WAITED) for their turn. Right before we got to the front, 6 kids showed up and got in line with a woman waiting ahead of us. Effectively bumping my kids back yet another round. I was so irritated (and told her so). I mean, my poor kids are patiently waiting and hers were having fun doing other things, but they get to jump ahead. Grrr, momma bear instincts coming out!

So I guess the bottom line, imho, is to be fair and treat others how you would like to be treated. Be tolerant of others, but don't let someone's unwillingness to call you out (or no official rule) cause you to take advantage of other people.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I once emailed Disney about their policy on line jumping. Someone emailed me back and asked me to call, but didn't actually answer in an email if there was a policy. I never got around to calling.

 

[bicker]

I think there is some level of general courtesy required here from the jumpers (aside from what is technically "allowed") as well as some flexibility on the part of those in line.

True, but I think the balance you're striking falls over on the line-cutter side of the issue. I don't think your expectations are reasonable in this one case you outlined:

- Family gets in line while one parent grabs FPs and joins them right away, cutting in front of few people to catch up? Or one parent gets in line while the other parks the stroller, gets the baby bjorn set up, etc and then joins them? Seems reasonable.

Families should join the queue together. Indeed, if someone is coming up behind you, trying to join their family in front of you, it would be nice (though not necessary) if you saw them actually coming at you from in front of you beforehand.

I once emailed Disney about their policy on line jumping.

Be careful even suggesting anything along those lines: Some people don't believe in letting Disney outline their own policies in that manner.