How to Handle Line Jumpers

This was originally posted in a different thread but I felt the info was important enough to be better seen, hence the new topic. I am also adding some info I left off the original post -- Moosh

On the subject of line jumping and what can be done to prevent it, there's not much one can safely do about line jumpers other then to say to them you object to them moving any further. It's not worth risking injury to yourself or other if you make a scene, and you shouldn't have to police the line.

If someone insists on continuing past you make a mental note of others in the area who are witnesses and get the attention of a ride op at the earliest possible moment. Calmly tell the ride op what happened, point out the line jumpers if they're still in site, and mention that you have witnesses to back up your claim.

Some other things that I find are very effective in getting results:

1] Remain calm at all times, no matter what. And I mean both when the incident occurs *and* when making your complaint to the ride op. Many line jumpers will shout or swear in an attempt to get you angry. Don't fall for it.

2] All ride ops have name tags...use it to your advantage. Use it when you first approach them and introduce yourself, giving your first name as well. And thank them by name and shake their hand after they have handled the situation. Likewise if you end up speaking to a security officer.

3] Log a comment at Guest Services but if possible *do not* wait until the end of the day, when the office is most crowded. Do this no matter how the situation was handled, but *especially* if the outcome was positive. No matter what the outcome try to be as positive in your remarks as you can. Make sure you give the name of the ride, time the incident happened, and names of any employees you spoke to.

Using those tactics I have had park guests removed from lines and even the park. You can get results, you just have to know how to handle yourself.

mOOSH

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A random Mooshter's Dawntionary listing: Ignoranus [n.] a person who is both stupid and an @sshole.

Thanks Moosh! :) This is a great way to discourage line jumpers :)

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Mike T.
This ride re-opens in 30 minutes.

Sounds alright, moosh, but it's too in depth for me. I don't let people walk past me (e.g. putting my arm out to my side, elementary school cafeteria style :)). If someone were to attempt to get physical, I'd let them go, but most people (uhh, this is Kentucky, do you still call them people?) just turn around and curse me out. Woo-hoo, scary.

--Ryan "That's my 101."

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"How do you spell fish? Uhh, p-h-i-t-i-o-n-gay." - teenager in line for T2

Ryan - it's not that indepth. Those aren't rules...they're more like...guidelines.* Suggestions on what to do, if you feel you need to do something. I wouldn't necessarily recommend doing anything if you're alone.

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A random Mooshter's Dawntionary listing: Ignoranus [n.] a person who is both stupid and an @sshole.

*points to anyone who knows what movie influenced that sentence.

Pirates of the carribean;) what do I get? what do I get? what do I get?

I like "Stop blowing holes in my ship!" better though.
*** This post was edited by Fury 7/30/2003 10:01:08 PM ***

For me, that's indepth. :)

In truth, I don't feel like wasting my ever-so-precious minutes at a park, getting after punks who have probably commited worse crimes. I totally see where you're coming from, and I'm glad someone out there is doing it. But the idea of me (being a wee-tot and all), going after older, nose-pierced, un-bathed people [/generalization], doesn't seem like a good idea.

--Ryan "Victim of society."

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"I don't like anyone's balls to roll..." - Koaster King

We were waiting for Viper last week at SFGAdv. when a young man crossed under the fence in front of us. Ok. But then 10 of his family and friends jumped in front of us. I said "You didn't see us here?", to which one of the ladies said "Yeah, I saw you there, but he was holding our place." Did the young man ever say he was holding their place, of course not (not like that would make it any better). We were in a corner about to approach the stairs, in which no attendant or ride op could see us. Even though I was angry, I let it go because I'd rather not go home from New Jersey a bloody mess. I don't recommend anyone put a hand on anyone else. It's just not worth it for the extra five minutes or less someone has caused you to wait.
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If you have a problem with clones, the solution is real simple—Stop traveling.

Exactly. You don't have to make a scene. Once they've passed you ask people around you if they saw it, too. Then, once you're in the station bring it up with the ride op.

Ryan - as I said, if you're alone and don't feel safe saying something, don't.

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A random Mooshter's Dawntionary listing: Ignoranus [n.] a person who is both stupid and an @sshole.

Maybe they should change the rules on the signs at parks.

It should state: "Line jumping is not permitted. Any person or persons caught violating this rule will be subjected to the Moosh treatment"

:)

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Arena football has arrived in the Windy City. Go "Chicago Rush"

Thursday at Great America, this pair of kids walks up the center of the queue path, quite oblivious to all the other people waiting in line. Also quite oblivious to the guy in the blue shirt and wide-brimmed hat walking up and down outboard of the queue fence. As the kids went by, I saw the Man in the Hat spot them, and I quietly asked him, "Those guys friends of yours?"

A few moments later, they were reversing their progress down the queue path. I noticed they didn't stop when they reached the end of the line.

Another coaster nut took the direct approach on Saturday morning. Kid tries to pass, coaster nut essentially blocks his path and spins him around saying, "Where do you think you're going?". Approval from witnesses resulted, and the kid reversed direction.

Saturday night on the stairs for the Carousel, a very young kid was ignoring all the people ahead of her on the stairs, much to the annoyance of her Mom, who kept calling her back. I had to laugh when I found out the kid's name was "Patience". Maybe she'll grow into the name... :)

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

You sure it wasn't "Precious?" ;)

--Ryan "Who enjoys people who name their bratty kids after traits they hope they will have when they grow up."

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"I don't like anyone's balls to roll..." - Koaster King

Nasai's way to handle Line Jumpers at PKI:

Note group of teenagers obviously making way towards said self. Try not to get too angry as you are aware you "will make scene" if necessary. In darkness of Tomb Raider:TR, push arm out to side, and say that line jumping isn't ok. Watch as young girl immediately launches into "I am going up there with my brother." Watch as older brother comes through line in darkened queue. See older brother grab younger sisters' arm. Watch Nasai defiantly stare death in the face, and say "no way, man" See Robocoaster, Peabody, and Incidentalist's arm hairs rise on the skin, but know "they have your back, right?" See older brother get a little physical resulting in a staredown (in the dark) and a "hell no" from Nasai. Continue to resist yelling various racial epithets. Watch older brother back down. Sigh a pleasant "I stood my ground" sigh of relief. Live another day. Ride another ride.

Become a legend.
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Death on two legs

Fear not, Rob! Keeping an eye on your backside is no problem at all...;)

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I've gotten the Point of life, and can now pass away a happy man!.......

Being a larger person, I just do not let them by. I usually walk through the queues with one hand on each railing or I lean on one with my foot up on the lower bar of the other. Just don't let them by. Are they going to start a fight in a line filled with hundreds of people? I don't think so!

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Keep your Arms Down, Head back, and Hold On!

True stories follow:

At KBF this March a group of girls decided to enter the queue through the "emergency exit" only gate in the Ghostrider queue. Upon arrival on the platform I politely mentioned to the ride op at the rear of the train "pardon me, sir? Those four girls boarding car 4 cut in front of us in line. They came in through the emergency exit."

The four girls had to stand up and get out of the train and take the "walk of shame."

Story two:
At Holiday World last weekend (well, two weekends ago) a very large (I'm talking buff... not gravy infested) guy tried to cut in front of some folks to "get up there with [his] people." The guy he was trying to cut in front of grabbed both queue rails beside him (okay thing to do) and said rudely (bad thing to do) "well they can wait for you." (good concept, bad execution).

The buff guy then tried to force his way through and the queue nazi threw elbows and ended up pushing the buff guy into me (two bad things).

Queue nazi almost got his butt smeared across the Raven queue.

One of those stories was the right way to handle line jumping, the other was not. I'll leave it up to you to decide.

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- John
I snap flyers.

Yes they will. Trust me people will start a fight. I was in line for the Beast on VIP night and we had a "problem". The girl was saying me and my group were racests ect ect. I used my weight to hold my ground. We did have to deal with security but the moral of the story was we got to ride they didn't.

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Hi.....whats your name again?

Visit the 1st and only Jeff Siebert Fan page!!

^^That was a funny story, I remember your TR on it.

I don't have much line jumping problems, but when I do, its funny.

At Disney's MGM in line for Tower of Terror, 4 little forign kids were going under the chain. Well they had just got in line, and they were going under the fence where the people that just got in line, meets the people that have been waiting 45 minutes. Well I stopped them, I said 'Hey what are you doing?" "Riding the ride" I said, "Well you gotta wait like the rest of us!" "Why?" I said, "Because if you go under that chain and walk to the front, somebodys gonna shove there fist into your nose." They stayed on there side of the fence than.

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Legend_n_Raven said:
... I don't let people walk past me (e.g. putting my arm out to my side, elementary school cafeteria style :)). If someone were to attempt to get physical, I'd let them go, but most people (uhh, this is Kentucky, do you still call them people?) just turn around and curse me out. Woo-hoo, scary.

---

What y'all need is a cattle prod. ;)

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"I go out at 3 o' clock for a quart of milk and come home to my son treating his body like an amusement park!" - Estelle Costanza

Again people, do not risk injury.

If you think someone is going to get physical, let them pass and get your revenge when you can talk to a ride op, who has the authority to remove them from the ride [or park].

If possible, always have people to back up your claim...there is strength in numbers.

mOOSH

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A random Mooshter's Dawntionary listing: Ignoranus [n.] a person who is both stupid and an @sshole.

Actually, you could get charged with assault too...

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"I go out at 3 o' clock for a quart of milk and come home to my son treating his body like an amusement park!" - Estelle Costanza