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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Priority queues at theme parks!

312 replies

Bridget1983 · 23/07/2019 16:20

Who does this?! Cause I’m looking and thinking I would be mortified to be the person pushing in front of a 6 year old who has just queued an hour and a half for a ride!!

OP posts:
Poloshot · 23/07/2019 16:59

Pay the extra then

JacquesHammer · 23/07/2019 16:59

just choose to teach my kids not to entitled little brats

You seem confused. Allowing your child to push into a queue would be entitled.

Purchasing a service the theme park offers is not.

GaspingGekko · 23/07/2019 16:59

Last year DS and I were trapped on a ride that broke at Legoland for half an hour or so - after queuing for an hour to get on. To compensate we were given a handful of priority passes to use. We felt no embarrassment using them.

plasterboots · 23/07/2019 16:59

So do you not use priority passes because you can't afford it or because you think it's rude?

titchy · 23/07/2019 16:59

I could afford to do these things but choose not too

Snort! Grin You'll buy one next time though won't you, having spent a couple of hundred quid for a family day which consisted of 4 x 2 min rides and 4 x 2 hours queuing!

edwinbear · 23/07/2019 17:00

@Avocado, do you feel the same about business class on planes, or suites in hotels, or airline lounges? All of which people pay for in order to have a better experience. I don't pay to upgrade my travel, but don't begrudge people who do.

ImMeantToBeWorking · 23/07/2019 17:01

I have done. I am from Ireland so heading to Alton Towers for the day is no easy, or cheap day out. I pay for priority for some of the rides so that we know we will get around them all at least once, then keep an eye on the app at queue times and try avoid long queues at all costs.

I would do the same at an theme park. Cheaper than going back for a second day to get on the ones you missed.

stucknoue · 23/07/2019 17:02

The annoying thing is that they allow far too many people in the park. Disneyland Paris was bordering on being dangerous - you could literally be trampled because of the pushing and shoving, queues over 2 hours, vowed never to go back in August! (Might go in February, I have waterproofs!)

SoupInTheLaundryBag · 23/07/2019 17:02

We've done it at Universal LA - was bloody amazing

Agree completely. Made it possible to do everything we wanted in a day and it wasn't that much more expensive. Couldn't believe how good it was to be honest.
I'll always go for priority wherever possible.

iheartroycropper · 23/07/2019 17:03

Nope, not for me. I'm super conscious of what people are thinking and shuffling in front of others would send my conscious awareness all over the radar.
Thankfully my days of caring what strangers think of me are long gone and It wouldn’t stop me from using one, neither would I be so judgemental at other people in the queue using one.

plasterboots · 23/07/2019 17:03

Haha! Well I stand completely corrected! And in response to those saying you sound bitter - not at all - I could afford to do these things but choose not too 😊👍👍

Well stop bloody whinging then! Explain to your kids the people ahead paid more but you won't do that so they e got to wait for 90 mins. No point in doing something if you won't tell the children why you're doing it.

RosesAndRaindrops · 23/07/2019 17:03

Pay the extra then

Yeah, cos it's that easy, moneybags Hmm
It costs about a hundred quid as it is. Which people sometimes scrimp for.
Yes, it's nice going to the park with a ball, or paddling pool in back garden, but sometimes even those with not as much cash to fling about want a "big" day out every now and again so save for it.
Still stupid system where those with money can push the queue back by jumping in however they justify it to themselves.

dreichhighlands · 23/07/2019 17:03

It would seem sensible for all theme parks to have a Disney system as having a timed ticket reduces the time in line regardless.
But in general I think most dc know that things cost money.
We certainly talk to our dc about trade offs, if you eat sandwiches on a day out we can afford more days out this week etc.

Avocado0nToast · 23/07/2019 17:03

Business class is not comparable. I don't have a problem with someone being able to afford upgrades or nicer things then I can - good on them. I do have a problem with the fact that by allowing people to pay to jump the line, the people in the normal queue wait longer. They might join a queue with 40 people in it, but another 20 people might fast pass their way on in front, Meaning their wait time is made even longer. I honestly don't get how people can't understand this?! Going business class doesn't mean the person in economy has double the flight length...

WorraLiberty · 23/07/2019 17:03

So you are teaching the rich kids it's fine to jump the line if you have money, and the ones who can't afford it that money buys people first place ahead of you.

Which is a life lesson they're going to learn anyway.

I really think parents get more wound up about these things than kids do.

AllFourOfThem · 23/07/2019 17:04

Sometimes people queue for over an hour and the ride breaks down. Those people often get to go straight to the front of the queue later on that day or on a different ride. How can you begrudge them that?

OtraCosaMariposa · 23/07/2019 17:04

OMG it's SO unfair! It's just like the people who have the CHEEK to drive to a theme park in their car rather than having to rely on the bus like the rest of us! I don't know how they have the barefaced cheek to drive past people waiting at the bus stop! Talk about rubbing people's noses in it. Everyone should have to go on the bus so it's fair. Hmm

JacquesHammer · 23/07/2019 17:05

I do have a problem with the fact that by allowing people to pay to jump the line, the people in the normal queue wait longer. They might join a queue with 40 people in it, but another 20 people might fast pass their way on in front, Meaning their wait time is made even longer. I honestly don't get how people can't understand this?!

If you can afford to do it, but choose not to you can’t really then moan about it.

Do it or don’t do it, but at least own your decision.

Aragog · 23/07/2019 17:06

I could afford to do these things but choose not too

Well then. That's your explanation to your child if she complains about it. Tell her that you have chosen not to.

just choose to teach my kids not to entitled little brats

They are NOT pushing in. They are paying for a service that is available. As said - in pretty much every park Ive been to it is a separate line, often the same line used for those with a disability pass - no one is PUSHING in!

Some people can't afford to go to theme parks - does that make your child entitled because you can afford to take them?

What about people who pay more to go first class, or for extra leg room? Or indeed for anything that is not freely available to the general public?

Mrsjayy · 23/07/2019 17:06

Tell your 6 year old you are teaching them to be humble bet it goes down a treat Grin

dreichhighlands · 23/07/2019 17:06

avocado I've only been to Disney but there they monitored the lines so that some standard line got on as well as fast passes. It wasn't that no standard line got on if fast pass were waiting.

Avocado0nToast · 23/07/2019 17:08

I do own my decision. I OWN that I am not comfortable teaching my children it's ok for other people to wait longer just because they can afford to pay through the nose to go first. It's not the better experience I care about, it's the fact it makes the experience worse for those who haven't paid the extra.

RosesAndRaindrops · 23/07/2019 17:08

@AvacadoOnToast what you said too - nothing at all wrong with first class or whatever, if you've got the cash go for it, I would! If it gives you a nicer experience, why not?
It's the entitled pushing to the front inconveniencing everyone else as you can't be arsed to wait that's the problem.

Aragog · 23/07/2019 17:08

Going business class doesn't mean the person in economy has double the flight length.

But it does mean that there are then less economy seats available in the plane - as Business class uses more seat space. It also means they get to get on and off the plane first, meaning those in economy wait longer. They are also served food and drinks of a better quality and often served first, before economy.

TSSDNCOP · 23/07/2019 17:09

You are directing your irritation at the wrong place. If you must, your anger should be with the theme parks that chronically over ticket their parks so that queues with 6 year olds are an hour long. Also that they are nothing short of wasp magnets. Looking at you Legoland. I was challenged by someone just like you as I trudged wearily out of Legoland. Can I just say now, my response was quite unladylike.