Why doesn't anyone make their kids wait in line?

[mom2rtk]

Something similar happened in a SRL.

What is "SRL"?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

What is "SRL"?

Single Rider Line

 

[mom2rtk]

Single Rider Line

I knew I should have known that! We just never use it. That's crazy that people were holding spots in the single rider line!

 

[Ladyandthepuppies]

I don't make my kids wait in lines because it makes them miserable. But we don't cut the line, either. If the wait is over 20 mins long, we either get a FP or we skip it/come back when the lines are shorter.

 

[Cal-Pie]

Recently an acquiantance was asking for DL advice on Facebook. Another acquiantance was offering his "expert" opinion which was entirely centered on cutting in line. Ex: You wait in the line for PP, while your husband, grandparents, aunts and uncles take all the kids on dumbo and the carousel, then they just join you in the line for PP, and they'll only have to wait for 10 mins. And so on and so on. It made me livid, but I guess to some this is just part of their "strategy".

 

[FCDub]

Meh, I think life is too short to let this sort of thing make me angry. Inconsiderate people are going to do what they do.

 

[mfleeting]

I wonder if Disney will start cracking down on it at some point? I know like six flags (at least here in Texas) are very strict about it. The only times we’ve done anything like it is if I’m grabbing a drink or a snack for a super long line. But we normally all wait until we can get in line or all get in line then send 1 kid to grab some water (and normally only for Nemo since the water is right there). Sometimes if the line is really long one of us may have to step out to use the restroom but very rarely.

 

[MacMama0930]

Kids live in a world of instant gratification now. Patience is a thing of the past I’m afraid...

Luckily I see what the OP is describing on only rare occasions. I believe it is the exception and not the rule.

I’m sure I’ve been guilty of it before but for the most part, we wait together. Honestly, it ends up being the tim we all get to actually talk, instead of running around the park. We talk about the ride we just did, the one we’re going to do, we look at pictures we’ve taken on my phone, etc. It’s really not that bad.

I will disclose that we don’t wait in any line that’s over 30-45 mins and typically only FP. I wouldn’t subject myself or my children to an hour + wait.

The parade thing...if it’s only for a couple kids and not 10 other people, I can see taking turns and letting one adult take the kid off to do something. It’s hard to sit on a curb for that long.

 

[lindyv321]

I think it’s okay to hold a spot for one or two people who may be going to the restroom, getting a drink, etc but not a whole group.

 

[Bossy22]

My kids always wait, if they can't wait they don't ride. Sometimes they choose to wait with Grandma and do other things. Once on cars we had a bathroom emergency and my wife left with my daughter and then rejoined. We actually stopped and waited for her in that spot in line. I don't think that's necessary but its how we do it so that they don't use the bathroom card to get out of waiting.

 

[MrsD.Duck]

We see it all the time. We had a group of teenagers line hopping in splash mountain, we ended up in the same log as them where they proceeded to splash each other and us the whole ride, it was our son's first time he was 4 the water kept hitting him in the eye he was crying and they were being little snots. We told cast members who hauled them back and security escorted them oit of the parks. The good old days when disney enforced their own rules

 

[Erin M]

We wait, including my now 5 year old. Even when she was 3, we waited. That said I choose my lines wisely and we avoid anything more than 20-30 minutes. It drives me nuts when I'm trying to teach her about waiting our turn and a whole family just piles in ahead of us. It happened a few times on our last trip. It's really hard to teach my kid that rules apply to her when other people aren't following them!

When I was childless I probably would have said something, but now I know she's watching and I have to be careful about what I say and do. I typically try to use it as a teaching moment, but I also want her to feel empowered in these situations. So maybe on this next trip I'll come up with a good response for these situations, something not so confrontational but also something that kinda sticks up for ourselves. I do wish CM's could help a little more with this, but I understand just how sneaky some people are about it too.

 

[Erin M]

We see it all the time. We had a group of teenagers line hopping in splash mountain, we ended up in the same log as them where they proceeded to splash each other and us the whole ride, it was our son's first time he was 4 the water kept hitting him in the eye he was crying and they were being little snots. We told cast members who hauled them back and security escorted them oit of the parks. The good old days when disney enforced their own rules

This kind of thing drives me nuts. I know not all teenagers are bad (and it's often full grown adults), but when they are in groups it's always a struggle. I'm glad security did something about it, but how many things like this go unchecked?

As a rule follower (my husband would roll his eyes at me) I hate watching other people just do what they want. My DH would say to let it go... Well I'm not so good at being Elsa

 

[Nonsuch]

In Star Wars Galaxy's Edge it will be canon to use your lightsaber to defend against line cutting

Spoiler: Graphic Content

No Blasters

 

[cinnaminny]

My kids always waited in line also. Some people seemed to really know their way around just walking past all the riders who have been waiting. "we are catching our family" "we are meeting with dad". Sorry, I think its rude.

 

[cinnaminny]

we dont let them past - we tell them they can wait right there behind us and when we make it to the front, they can join their family then. one mom told us how rude we were being and I just said, yup! and went back to my conversation. the boy with her star tty wd complaining that he was having to wait like the normal people and his mom had told told him he was special and didnt have to wait. that hacked off a ton of people they had passed alrrady

I wish I had the huevos to pull that off lol

 

[alvernon90]

Good for you. For me, it’s about bang for my buck and my sanity on vacations that traveling from across the country cost lots of money. My kids wait at doctors offices, and the bank with me, or in line to check out at the grocery store, etc. when at Disneyland? Meh. Going to reduce everyone’s stress and cram as much fun into our time as possible.

Unsurprisingly, this entire justification is all about you.

Also, line cutting does not "reduce everyone's stress" it actually creates stress for the people who do the right thing. Your statement is correct only if you define "everyone" as "me and my family" and ignore the rest of the people in the parks who are also spending money (just like you) but also taking on the added stress of dealing with line cutters.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

Hmm. Some thoughts/observations as a (at least) weekly park visitor.

- I don't see tons of ride line-cutting. I definitely do see it, as I also see people cheating the FP line (especially now that they've removed so many of the 2nd scan points), but it seems a bit much to claim that there isn't "anyone" who makes their kids wait in line. It's the exception, not the rule.

- The vast majority of the time, I'm with my daughter (now 5) alone, so we wait together for everything by default - rides, shows, parades, food, characters... I definitely think it's good for her to wait, and I actually credit Disneyland with helping her cultivate patience, especially when she was younger. Of course, this also took/takes some effort on my part, as we tell stories, play "I Spy," do stuff like name all of the green things we can see, rhyme as many words as we can, etc... but overall, I think she has created a lot of "waiting coping techniques" because of the frequency with which she waits at Disneyland.

- If my husband is with us, though, he'll often go and do something with her while I save our parade spots (I've actually never understood the parade-spot-saving hate). Also, sometimes, say, we're in a meet and greet line over by the Fire Station, so he'll take her to climb around on the fire truck for awhile while we wait, or maybe he'll go grab popcorn while she and I are in the character line. There's no "pushing to get in front of people to join us" involved, and even in terms of a meet and greet, we're one party taking photos either way, so I don't see this as rude or negatively impacting others.

- We wouldn't ever split up for a ride line, though, or a meet and greet with switchbacks or whatever, since that DOES involve "pushing to get in front of other people," which is a whole different kettle of fish IMO.

I think people waste a lot of anger and energy on things they can't change or control. Is it frustrating that people act entitled? Sure. But I can't change it, so I'd rather Elsa it than get all fired up about it, personally.

 

[katyringo]

Unsurprisingly, this entire justification is all about you.

Also, line cutting does not "reduce everyone's stress" it actually creates stress for the people who do the right thing. Your statement is correct only if you define "everyone" as "me and my family" and ignore the rest of the people in the parks who are also spending money (just like you) but also taking on the added stress of dealing with line cutters.

I wasn’t talking about line cutting. I wouldn’t do that. I will however save a parade spot while kids and hubby go do something else.

 

[OhDannyBoy]

I'm thinking about starting a business at Disney where I'll wait in line for you.

$10 for lines 30 minutes or shorter. $20 for up to an hour. $25 up to 2 and we can negotiated longer than 2 hours.

I mean why not right? Just call me dad when you get up here ok kids? Screw everyone else who waited in line right? That's for suckers.

Any takers?