How to be a good guest

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Of course, don't you know that extra minute or two is gold, especially if you can grab it away from some family from Des Moines who have never been to Disney. It makes you the big man (or woman, or SG) on campus! :mad:

You would thing that the SG's could figure out that they will get in to the attraction, no matter where they are in the crowd, but then again, they ARE SG's!!!

[StephM]

I think #1 should be "treat others as you want to be treated"

I always find it interesting that the people crying that a CM "ruined their magic" by being short with them are the ones who berate the CMs at any and every chance.

And the cutting? I bet the ones who say it is okay would feel differently when they waited in the hot sun for an hour and then Grandma and 6 kids hopped in front of them at the last minute. Kids SHOULD learn that sometimes, you have to wait your turn. Yeah, it sucks, but it happens. Welcome to life junior. Not everything entails instant gratification. If your kids get bored in line, try talking to them, playing a little game...god forbid your little angel has to wait for something. I have been taking my 5 yr old and 3 yr old to WDW since they were infants. They have always waited in line with us if they were going on a ride. And they are still breathing and have suffered no long term damage from it!!!!

I am a wee bit snarky today. I am sick as a damn dog and recently started working a second job, which has me on 35 hours a week training on top of the 40 I already work.

I will be a great guest in May....I will just be so damn happy that I am not at work. :D:

[Theme Park Where]

I always advocate "practicing" waiting in line with your kids. Planning for a trip to the theme parks usually takes some time, at least for families who don't go often enough to make theme park lines seem common place. Use that time to begin working on increasing wait times. Pick the longest line in the grocery store and start discussing how much more fun it will be when the long line is leading to a ride or show. Start gathering some special "line-waiting" activities and talk them up before you go. Have a game you plan to play, or activity pages to hand out. Start rewarding patience. If you have to wait longer to get something and wait patiently, you get a sticker or something. Teach your kids to be good line waiters, and they'll be fine in the park. Teach them to push and shove their way to the front, or that waiting is "taking away from their vacation" and that's what they'll believe too.

[Whazzup]

I always advocate "practicing" waiting in line with your kids. Planning for a trip to the theme parks usually takes some time, at least for families who don't go often enough to make theme park lines seem common place. Use that time to begin working on increasing wait times. Pick the longest line in the grocery store and start discussing how much more fun it will be when the long line is leading to a ride or show. Start gathering some special "line-waiting" activities and talk them up before you go. Have a game you plan to play, or activity pages to hand out. Start rewarding patience. If you have to wait longer to get something and wait patiently, you get a sticker or something. Teach your kids to be good line waiters, and they'll be fine in the park. Teach them to push and shove their way to the front, or that waiting is "taking away from their vacation" and that's what they'll believe too.

TPW - I just copied that paragraph and sent it to my niece so she can start using those tips with her 8-year-old daughter. She's one of those who might start whining if she has to wait in lines, as she has been catered to and become somewhat spoiled. We're doing a big family get-together at WDW in November, and I don't want our fun ruined by an impatient gradeschooler. So thanks for mentioning practicing waiting in lines, and playing games, etc.

[Zazu]

I always advocate "practicing" waiting in line with your kids.

Reminds me of my great uncle George. He got my brother and I to stand in a closet with the light on and the door closed. When the door didn't open by itself, he sighed, said, "Looks like we're gonna be here for a while, here, let's have some of this to keep your strength up," and passed around a flask of scotch.

He called it "elevator practice".