Imagine waiting patiently for over an hour in the sweltering Florida heat at Disney World in line for your favorite ride. The line inches forward as your excitement for Space Mountain builds—until a group of five suddenly squeezes ahead, claiming a single family member “saved” their spot. The tension? Palpable. The frustration? Universal. But now, Disney has finally decided enough is enough.
So, what exactly did Disney say—and how could this new rule change the future of your theme park experience?
A Longtime Problem Finally Addressed at Disney World
“Line holding”—when one guest waits in line for a group, only to have several people join them much later—has been an unspoken pain point for years across both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Though common, it has often sparked in-queue disputes, especially when space is tight and patience is thinner than a Dole Whip cone on a hot day.
I’m cool with a parent taking a child to the bathroom and catching up, it’s when groups of 5 or 6 people wander up the queue through everyone that drives me nuts! One time on Rise, the whole queue started booing a large group that was walking past everyone! – @disneytipsguy
I'm cool with a parent taking a child to the bathroom and catching up, it's when groups of 5 or 6 people wander up the queue through everyone that drives me nuts!
One time on Rise, the whole queue started booing a large group that was walking past everyone! pic.twitter.com/WImc5GnEOp
— Disney Clips Guy (@disneytipsguy) June 13, 2025
In a recent online statement, Disney clarified that this behavior is now considered “line skipping”—a violation of park rules. The company made it clear: If you’re caught holding a spot in line, you could be removed or even banned from the parks. This crackdown marks a dramatic shift in how Disney handles crowd etiquette.
Twitter Meltdown: Fans Are Split
News of the updated policy spread quickly across Disney social media communities—especially Twitter (or “X”), where the divide was immediate and intense.
We counted 14 people “catching up” to their party the last time we rode Rise.
We counted 14 people "catching up" to their party the last time we rode Rise.
— Park Journey (@Park_Journey) June 13, 2025
Supporters praised the move, sharing horror stories of massive groups disrupting lines, causing congestion, and making wait times even longer than posted. “Finally! This needed to happen,” one fan wrote. “I’m tired of watching six people jump ahead because one person stood there for 40 minutes.”
im torn with the subject. Me and my son got off tron and my daughter and her friend were just in line at the haunted mansion entrance when we met up with them. I dont see how that could be an issue with anybody.
– @dagreatist4
im torn with the subject. Me and my son got off tron and my daughter and her friend were just in line at the haunted mansion entrance when we met up with them. I dont see how that could be an issue with anybody.
— CKFIRE/ (@dagreatist4) June 13, 2025
Others, however, aren’t as thrilled. Some guests argue there are exceptions—like a child needing a bathroom break or a parent grabbing water. “What if someone gets sick? Or has an emergency? This feels extreme,” one user posted.
Why This Actually Matters
While it may seem like a minor policy tweak, Disney’s new stance signals something much deeper: a renewed commitment to fairness, order, and guest experience. With rising ticket prices and ever-growing crowds, guests expect not just magic—but equality in their experience.
By eliminating loopholes and enforcing consistent rules, Disney may be attempting to level the playing field for everyone. This change also comes at a time when guest satisfaction has become a more vocal part of the online conversation—and when the parks are continuously trying to improve both in-person logistics and online sentiment.
What This Means for You
Here’s what you need to know heading into your next Disney visit:
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Don’t hold spots: If your group isn’t together when you get in line, they’ll need to wait with you or miss the ride.
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Plan ahead: Bathroom breaks, snack runs, and side errands should be handled before entering any major queue.
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Cast Members are watching: Enforcing this rule means Disney will likely rely on both guest reports and employee monitoring to catch violators.
And remember—violating this policy could result in being asked to leave the line, or worse, getting kicked out of the park entirely.
The Bigger Picture for Disney World Guests
This move isn’t just about saving space in line—it’s about saving the magic for everyone. Disney’s updated policy places courtesy and accountability at the forefront, aiming to prevent tensions between guests and ensure fairer access to rides and attractions.
It’s a new era at Disney Parks—one where the rules are clearer, the stakes are higher, and the message is simple: if you want to ride, wait with the rest of us.
So next time you’re tempted to let your group grab coffee while you wait for Rise of the Resistance—think twice. Because now, the rules are written in pixie dust—and they come with consequences.
Thinking you are entitled to a spot just because someone in your “group” is further up in line is just plain rude. Wait in line like everyone else. I would never do that to someone and don’t expect anyone to do that to me. A kid for a bathroom need is fine, an entire bunch of people showing up and just walking in front of everyone, usually with a stupid smug look on their face is enough to push people over the edge. thank you Disney!
Even kids need to use bathroom ahead of time. Always told mine to go even if they didn’t think they h ad to
It’s about time! For many, many years have put up with a large group of people trying to “catch up” to their party so they didn’t have to stand in line. I think the most memorable, or worst time was when we had waited for over an hour to meet the princesses, back when Mickey’s Toon still existed. All of a sudden as we were almost next to finally meet the princesses, here comes an entire party of 10 or more who had one person “saving” their spot! They just barreled by everyone who had been in line for over an hour to just waltz up to the one person who had been “holding” their spots while they had been enjoying other things. Felt like a real chump, definitely unfair to all of us who had given our precious vacation time to stand in line for over an hour. A continuous problem year after year, no matter what park, no matter what ride. And even if you pointed it out to the Disney cast members, they still let them in, didn’t do a thing about it. Glad to see they may crack down on this entitled behavior since everyone is paying a pretty penny already to be there, and no one deserves to just skip waiting because they want to take their children to do other things while others are waiting patiently with their children in a long line!
Finally Disney makes a logical decision for anything at the parks.
This should have happened a long time ago! How do we even know that someone is even holding a spot, maybe they are just skipping the line. Also seeing a huge group of people going in through the exit because one of them is in a wheelchair or scooter, then seeing that person jump up and trot to the line! Nobody wants to wait but that is what happens at these parks. Nobody is entitled!!
Easy fix don’t go to Disney Parks .
It will only work if they actually enforce it. We were just there a few weeks ago, and it was happening EVERYWHERE
Some people feel they have the right to do what they want.
Hope this is followed up on.
Also the confrontations and fights need to be addressed.
These people should go to universal.