Line Jumping...Did I go too far?

O.K., this is 3 years of inner torture on my part, I just want to know what you think of "My way of thinking". Was I wrong. Remember, this was 3 years ago.

I was in line for Mantis. Every 5 minutes the guy in front of me stopped to take photos of the ride.

I was kind the first 3-4 times, politely waited until he took his photo. But eventually, the line separated about 1 whole queue fence length, and people behind us were screaming, "Keep the line moving", "What's going on up there".

So when he stopped again to take another photo, I pushed past him, said excuse me and walked on. He then came up to me and said "was that necessary?" and I ignored him, but felt good that I didn't have to wait anymore for him to take his photos...

According to the rules, if you stop for a snack, to buy something in the line, you give up your position, correct? Therefore I felt since he stopped to take photos, he was giving up his spot in line...

Did I line jump, or was I following the rules...

---OK LET ME HAVE IT----what do you think.

i think what you did was completely okay. that guy taking pictures sould at least go with the line when he was taking pictures.

I would say it was ok. The line is for waiting, not stopping for that perfect photo op. It would have been one thing if it was once or twice but it seemed like he was going to keep doing it and at that point, you are no long waiting in line, you are using the line to get a great photo.

That is exactly what he was doing, waiting for the Train to be in just the right location for him to snap the photo...It got bothersome.

^^ Right, but what's the hurry? Waiting for a photo op won't make your wait time longer.

EDITED for clarity.
*** Edited 9/5/2007 8:03:04 PM UTC by djDaemon***

As long as he was not stopping while you could have gotten on the train, I think you should have waited. It just seems like he was slowing everything down, but it's going to take you the same time to get on with him stopping the line or not stopping it. Did any positions on the train go out empty, did they have to hold a train because of him.

I think this falls under the food/drink exception. If someone stops to get food/drinks at the vending machine, they forfeit their space in line and may rejoin once their purchase is completed, but at the vending, not up where their friends are (and I wish the park would put up signs clarifying this).

You can stop to take pictures, but the line may move past you if you do. Its the trade-off for deciding to take pictures.

PB-Reader said:
According to the rules, if you stop for a snack, to buy something in the line, you give up your position, correct?

Wrong. Park policy explicitly gives permission for guests to rejoin their group if they are buying something from a vending machine in line. If they completely leave the line, and say, go to Johnny Rockets to get a cheeseburger and come back, then yes, they're line jumping. But, if they're purchasing it within the line, it's perfectly legit.

Did you do the wrong thing? I'm not sure. I don't think I would have shoved past him. Of course, I'm a photographer myself, and understand that he might be trying to get the perfect picture. I do, however, understand your frustration.

Cedar Point.com FAQ

Our line jumping policy states that if you cut into a line of waiting guests, no matter what the reason, you are inviting dismissal from the park without refund of admission. This rule is strictly enforced. LINE JUMPING IS: “CUTTING IN FRONT OF OTHER WAITING GUESTS. LEAVING THE LINE, THEN ATTEMPTING TO REENTER. THIS INCLUDES USING THE REST ROOM FACILITIES OR TO PURCHASE FOOD OR DRINKS.” Once you leave your place in line, you have forfeited it, no matter what the reason. Saving a place in line is simply not permitted.

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This is also why I think they need signs clarifying it (one way or the other). Their policy states that leaving line to purchase food does not allow you to rejoin your group. I would argue that at the vending machines, if your spot hasn't moved past the opening, that you are ok, and can rejoin your friends, but if they've moved way up forget it.

This is their definition of line-jumping. If they have changed it to allow for the vending machines, then they should post as such.

We were no where near the station. We weren't even near the floating section of the queue line. We were more near the back of the large black monitor they never run anymore...

I really appreciate all of your input.

John, I understand what you're saying, but I also know that employees are told that purchasing food from a vending machine in line is not considered line jumping. It's also outlined in this manner in the Standard Operating Procedures Manual.

I still don't understand the benefit of pushing past this guy. What's the big deal? Where's the fire?

I always go back to my spot after I use a vending machine, is that so bad?

^^^ - and more often than not, unless you've been dropped on your head repeatedly, using the vending machine should not cause you to lose your spot.

My point is, regardless of what they are telling employees, they are telling the GP that it is line-jumping. I have no problem with CP updating their policy to say that VM use does not constitute line-jumping, but they do need to update their official policy. Not the un-official one that they tell ops.

^^ - in Lindsay Lohan's crotch.

^ - according to the policy? Yes, it is.

I'm thinking you were just being impatient. I'm sure it was annoying, but he really didn't make your wait for the ride any longer. It was just inch forward, wait, then move a lot - instead of always inching forward.

...And since when is anything sold in a vending machine considered food? ;)

Since were discussing vending machines, did the vending machine at Maverick steal anyone elses change? I put in a 5 and got no change back and did get my water. I see the machine takes 20's, i'm glad I didn't put a 20 in!

It happens every once in a while at any machine. Just take the machine number and report it to get your refund.

Well, I saw some girl put some in after me and she didn't get her change back either. And where is the machine number?

If you were closer to the station, it may have been all right, but since you were still that far out, it didn't make much of a difference. The wait was still however many minutes, regardless of how often or far you moved. I understand that it's frustrating and you just want to get up there quicker but as long as other people aren't filling in the space between the guy and the people in front of him, you may as well wait.

There do need to be signs clarifying the whole vending machine thing. I willingly let people back in front of me if I saw them at the vending machine, I really don't think they're breaking any rules. I always interpreted the signs to mean that once you're in the queue area you can't leave and then come back to your place, i.e. get french fries and bring them back to share with your friends after a 15 minute absence. That happened in front of me once and it really did make me mad. I just wish they would clarify it a bit.