Endless switchbacks

Image: cdharrison, Flickr (license)

One of the most mind-numbing wait time nuisances, however, is the humble switchback queue. With the purpose of housing a long line in a relatively small space, the switchback queue never lets you forget just how many people are ahead of you in line. The only view you are given is that of your fellow park guests, and you’re far less likely to ever get some shade or something fun to look at.

The major Orlando theme parks have begun to phase the standard switchback queue out, but it still remains on older attractions like the Jungle Cruise. More importantly, though, the switchback remains a staple of regional parks, providing ample opportunity to feel claustrophobic without the same Disney charm.

But perhaps their biggest crime is how misleading they can make a queue. “Just one more room until we board,” you might shout. Then, when you enter the room only to find a 10-row-deep switchback, you’ll realize just how wrong you were.

The personal space violator

Image: rollercoasterphilosophy, Flickr (license)

Look, we all get it. You want to ride the ride, and you’re feeling impatient about the hour-plus wait for it. But no amount of time spent in line excuses the gross violations of personal space that can occur while cooped up in a queue.

Some people, perhaps unaware of the importance of personal space, will stand directly behind you and essentially shove their way through the line. Others will stand far too close, usually to try and stay in the shade or steal a comfortable spot to lean.

No matter what the reasons, personal space violates are enough to make anyone fly off the rail — particularly in hour two of an attraction’s line. 

The blasé

Image: nick99nack, Flickr (license)

On the other end of the pushiness spectrum, you have the blasé — guests so unaware of their location in three dimensional space that it can be hard to understand just how they came to arrive at the park that day.

While the line is steadily moving forward, bringing you ever closer to the attraction waiting at its end, these people don’t pay attention to the line’s advancement. Instead, they turn their back to the extending queue, making sure their conversation with their party is far more engrossing than potentially moving forward in the line.

In total, they likely aren’t adding any actual time to your wait, but it can sure feel that way after a day out in the sun behind someone who has to continually be reminded to close up the gap.