For A Price, It's Fine To Cut In Line

Tampa Tribune ^ | October 15, 2005 | RANDY DIAMOND rdiamond@tampatrib.com

[Cincinatus' Wife]

There are better ways to spend your money than waiting in line for hours, watching others, who plunked down more, escorted to the front of the line. It's the company's right to do it but who wants to pay for the privilege of standing in a line that gets longer and longer?

[dennisw]

Great lesson to teach your children. That you can cut in front of the peasants. For a price of course.

[Lokibob]

The rich live differently than the rest of us. It is a fact, and I have long learned to accept it.

A couple of years ago, in Las Vegas, we had my 90 year old mother down to visit. We rented a wheelchair for her, since she is blind and gets tired so easy. It was amazing to me how the wheelchair got our entire party to the head of the line at restaurants. And BTW, it got us great seats at no extra charge to 2 shows.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Money buys you things. It's the capitalist way.

But why would anyone stand in such long lines to begin with?

[SamAdams76]

Amusement parks are overrated. Especially the big ones in Florida. I guess I just don't see the appeal of waiting over an hour for a 90-second ride. My last (and final) trip to Disneyland, we had to wait over a half hour just to get a cold drink!

I'm glad my kids are too old for that nonsense now. My idea of a vacation is just sitting on the beach with a good book and watching the waves roll in.

[goldstategop]

Its the free market. If you want to have premium treatment, then it makes sense to pay extra. You know, if there's an upgrade over what is usually offered.

(Denny Crane: "I like nature. Don't talk to me about the environment".)

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I'm glad my kids are too old for that nonsense now. My idea of a vacation is just sitting on the beach with a good book and watching the waves roll in.

Bump!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Interesting.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

I guess I just don't see the appeal of waiting over an hour for a 90-second ride.

Agreed. If it's torture you're looking for, why not just stay home and flog yourself? It's cheaper, too.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Its the free market.

True and we're not told to stand in the lines.

[raybbr]

What will they do when everyone pays the extra money? How will they reduce the lines then?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

How true.

[Larry Lucido]

Busch's fault?

[durasell]

One aspect of the story nobody is talking about is the life of the guides for these amusement park yahoos. Can anyone here imagine a worse job than walking an amusement park with a family of self-satisfied chuckleheads with a sense of entitlement?

[Brian Allen]

<< There are better ways to spend your money than waiting in line for hours, watching others, who plunked down more, escorted to the front of the line. It's the company's right to do it but who wants to pay for the privilege of standing in a line that gets longer and longer? >>

Not me.

That's also why I fly First Class. Especially internationally.

Way better to be one of three or four passengers among 6-14 seats, than one of 320 or so jammed into 330 "seats!"

[Larry Lucido]

I've heard rumors that if you slip your airline an extra $500 to $1000, they give you this nice wide seat up in the front of the plane, with free drinks and better food, too.

[Sertorius]

yeah, reminds me of willy wonka and the chocolate factory. Too bad similar results don't occur!

[Larry Lucido]

What will they do when everyone pays the extra money? How will they reduce the lines then?

1. Charge more. And/or:

2. Build another park.

[durasell]

One of my drinking buddies from years ago was a "personal shopper" at Saks. She had to down two tequilas before achieving anything approaching coherency at the end of the day.

[JoeSixPack1]

But why would anyone stand in such long lines to begin with?

Kids cry. Parents are stubborn. The excitement of the moment. The once a year or longer opportunity. The price of parking. The ubber disgust of having to return and try the line a second time. The good rides always have lines. To aggravate your parents. To aggravate your kids. To do something while drying off from the water ride. To hide. To blend. To try a different seat. To find your hat. You promised your cousin a first hand experience report. You have one barf bag left and you need to use it before you fly home.

After living up the street from Disney for 17 years, I can supply you with more answers, but you get the gist. :-)