The rope/chain leaner

Image: lorenjavier, Flickr (license)

Sometimes, it’s kids. Sometimes, it’s adults. Most times, it’s teens. But rest assured, if you’re waiting in a queue line with rope or chain barriers, someone will sit on them.

As this happens, the nearest cast member will likely demonstrate clearly that ropes are not in fact meant to be sat upon. But, nonetheless, these instructions will be ignored.

It’s easy to forgive children and teens who misbehave with the rope queue dividers, but it’s the adults that will drive you the absolute craziest. Getting whacked in the thigh by a guy absentmindedly waving the rope around is enough to make even the biggest theme park vet go a bit bonkers. 

The mirage

Image: the-consortium, Flickr (license)

On some attractions, you might enter the station before encountering a massive switchback. On others, like Test Track or Tower of Terror, you’ll go through a pre-show only to discover a lengthy line on the other end of the theater door. On other rides, like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, you’ll see the ramp down to the station first, before realizing you have to go through several other rooms before descending it.

Ultimately, waiting in a queue is a mental challenge, one which can be exacerbated by intentional design choices and the behavior of your fellow queuers. This misleading queue endings, which seem to signal that the ride is close, are perhaps the most frustrating part of waiting in a line.

You see, it’s easy to wait an hour for something when we know we’ll have to wait the full hour. But being given a false sign of hope — that’s enough to drive you mad.