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7 Things You Should NEVER Do When Standing In Line At Disney

Crowd Entrance Magic Kingdom _ busiest days

It’s inevitable that when visiting any of the Disney parks, you will have to stand in line when waiting for an attraction, show, restaurant, and even for transportation. When it comes to the attractions, standing in line is actually part of the experience, and typically lasts way longer than the ride itself. No one likes waiting in long lines, but without a FastPass, you will have to do it to see several attractions, so lets make the best of it and follow etiquette while were waiting. Remember that waiting in these lines isn’t enjoyable for anyone, but it can be if just a few simple rules are followed. Here are seven things not to do when standing in lines at Walt Disney World.

7. Getting Angry Over Height Requirements

This may not occur throughout the line, but it does take place at the very start of it. Cast members are required to check heights at the beginning and sometimes at the end of each ride. Many parents are thrilled when they visit the parks and their children are tall enough to ride some rides, but every now and again there is that one family that is so anxious for their child to ride something and their hopes come crashing down when they hear those magic words: “I’m sorry, your child isn’t tall enough to ride this”. I have seen parents fuming and yelling at the top of their lungs because their kids falls a hair short of reaching the requirements. When parents do this they are modeling behavior for their children so then the kids typically start to cry. It is a very unpleasant and uncomfortable scenario to watch as a bystander. You can’t help but feel sorry for the cast member being yelled at for just following the rules of his/her job, and then feeling sorry for the parents that just had their hopes set too high. Before having a panic attack, just tell your little one that they will enjoy it next time and get them excited for another attraction that you are sure they can be a part of. Understand that safety precautions have to take place and there are others around you trying to enjoy their vacation as well.

6. Neglecting Parental Responsibilities

Last year I was waiting in line for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster for over an hour. I was in a good mood when I first made the line but by the time I boarded the ride I was fuming. The children in front of me (ages ranging from 5-15 years old) were running all over the place, screaming at the top of their lungs, bumping into other guests constantly, and even knocking down the rope stanchions multiple times. This lasted almost the entire time we were in line. Where were their parents? Right next to them, and deeply involved in adult conversation while their children interrupt the joy of other guests around them. It wasn’t until the party in front of them told them to please watch their children, that things cooled down a bit. I understand that Disney can be a great place to unwind and let your kids get excited about the magic, but the bottom line is, they should still be watched and taught how to behave even if they are not at home or doing their normal day to day activities. It is important to guide them and model proper behavior when waiting.

5. Eating Smelly or Messy Food

Many people pack snacks from home or their hotel room to munch on while waiting in lines or in between meals. I can completely understand this since snacks can get expensive at the parks. This may not seem like a big deal, but it’s important to consider others with your choice of snack. On my last trip, the gentleman in front of me decided to snack on a hard-boiled egg. Not only did he eat it, but he also took out a container of what seemed like ten hard-boiled eggs for his family to enjoy. Since it was an indoor area, we were confined and had to smell his snack for over twenty minutes. It was not pleasant. Some snacks can also be messy and cause trouble when trying to enjoy it around others. I also witnessed a family trying to eat ice cream while waiting in line. It melted everywhere and one child even dropped it on the carpet where I accidentally stepped on it because I was not made aware it was on the floor. The worst part about this was that the parents left to grab napkins outside and weren’t allowed into the theater to watch the show with their children. It ruined the experience for them to say the least. Packing snacks like chips or even fresh fruit is a better option when waiting in line.

4. Moving Forward When the Line Progresses

Many Disney attractions offer interactive queues. Here, children and adults can play with live games and activities to make the time pass quicker when waiting to board the rides. It is important to continue moving forward (even if you’re in the middle of a game in the interactive queue) to give others a chance to play and to keep the line moving forward. I have seen instances where people just stay on the interactive queue and since they aren’t moving forward, the next party walks ahead of them. Needless to say, this can cause a disagreement because it is considered skipping.

3. Arguing With Family Members

We all come to Disney for one main thing: Magic! There is no other place on our earth that offers the ability for you to forget your worries at the door….well, most of the time. I often witness families arguing about their families, or personal issues at the parks. I can’t even begin to explain how uncomfortable I feel when the party next to me in line is arguing. It brings down my mood and depletes the magic of Disney. I understand that things may not always be peachy, but try to have these conversations in private. There is no need to make the people around you feel uncomfortable.

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2. Using Cellphones

Technology is all around us, and the one thing almost everyone uses all day is their phone. It can be fun to take pictures in line and play games, but sometimes it’s also nice to put the phone away and have some time to connect with your family and friends. I love having conversations in lines with my family when waiting. We actually get to catch up on what’s going on in our lives without the distraction of a cell phone or tablet. There are also a lot of attractions that have short films before boarding the ride or watching a show. It can be distracting when you are trying to pay attention to these clips when others are talking on the phone or when there are noises from the games being played on them. Be sure to be aware of when to use your phone in line so that it isn’t a distraction to others.

1. Skipping Lines

I’ve saved the best for last. Skipping. We all hate it. There is nothing like the feeling of watching people cut right in front of you after you have been waiting for several minutes (and possibly hours) to ride or watch a show. One of the worst parts about skipping is having others tell you off with some choice words or even get cast members involved. Save yourself the embarrassment and wait the line like everyone else. It is just not fair to get ahead of others when they have been waiting.

BONUS TIP: Consider planning and booking your next Disney trip with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner you can trust like Mickey Travels. They’ll help you get the best price for your vacation, share expert advice and their services are totally FREE! It’s genius!

About Natalie

Natalie is an elementary school teacher and a native Floridian who lives and breathes all things Disney. Her love for Disney started at the age of two during her first visit, and has continued to flourish into her adult life. She loves to share her Disney passion with her students and believes Disney is so special because there is no other place to forget about your worries and be a kid again, which is why she refuses to ‘grow up’.

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