Andysol

Well, no, it wouldn't affect them at all if my spouse and kid left and came back or if they just stayed. Its still 4 people in front of them regardless. The only difference would be they get the "advantage" of 4 spots because someone left the line. If it was just you and an 8 year old- of course, that wouldn't make sense, as there isn't another family member waiting. And anyone who would get confrontational or argumentative about something like that would be an extremely poor teaching moment. Understanding and compassion are fantastic attributes that could be encouraged through teaching tools- for that family that did excuse part of their group for an emergency if your kid were to ask. Look- there are two sides of most coins. And the whole "learning opportunity" can be construed however you want. @robbalvey mentioned going to WDW 2-3 times a week. While I perceive that as a fantastic opportunity and him being fortunate to spend so much time with his family- one could just as easily argue that you are teaching your kid something that isn't sustainable in most people's lives. Being at WDW 3 times a week is- for most families- unrealistic. So how is that teaching your kid anything other than a fantasy that likely won't be able to be replicated once they are an adult- and could even set them up for inadequacy they may feel for their spouse or significant other who can't provide such luxuries. That's not my take- but I'm just proving how you can take any "life lesson" and turn it any way your perspective fits.

I absolutely disagree. As a parent with a kid who frequents theme parks we always ask her if she needs to go to the bathroom before getting in a line. If she does, we take her. Sometimes Elissa would take her anyway just in case. If for any reason she had to go so badly that she couldn't hold it until the end of the line, we would get out of line and then get back in line again AT THE END OF THE LINE. Because that's how it's supposed to be done. Tell me what lesson you are teaching your child by showing them it's "ok" to leave a line and come back? Explain to me how that's a good life lesson. It's not. And it's unacceptable. PERIOD!!! We also ask our kids if they need to go to the bathroom. If she does, we take them too. Sometimes Elisabeth (my wife) would take them anyway just in case. Ok- our stories are identical so far. If for any reason either of them had to go so badly that they couldn't hold it until the end of the line (So we can agree that this does happen- regardless of how strongly you encourage and force bathroom breaks)- and then we have our difference of you going to the end of the line and us holding a spot. What I would do is look at the people directly behind and ask if they care if she goes to the bathroom. No one would ever say no. They leave, come back in 3-5 minutes, and all is well with the world. I'm all about finding "life lessons" in little things we do all the time. But I don't believe this is one. Because if I see a mom and 3 year old who left the line to take her daughter to the bathroom- and then I see them going back to where the husband is- I don't get upset about it- at all. In fact, if my kid were to ask me "Why is that person going up there"- I could tell them that the little girl had to go to the bathroom and they are going back to where their daddy is. Mountain out of a molehill here. I'm sorry- I just totally disagree with your assessment- particularly if you have multiple kids at a theme park who are staying extremely hydrated in August in Florida and having different bathroom schedules and breaks. I think being so angry about something so trivial as a kid going to the bathroom is borderline overreacting. Hopefully, the bold and italicized print and exclamation points don't translate to the real world and are more subdued. Kids on shoulders during parades/fireworks and flash photography during dark rides are way more rude and inconsiderate than an emergency bathroom break for a child- which I feel is neither rude nor inconsiderate.

No clue what the official policy is- but I'm always 100% fine with a kid and a parent going out for a bathroom break and coming back. Anyone who has kids knows- you ask them if they need to go- they say no. Then 10 minutes later theyre dancing and they cannot hold it. Thats the only exception I make before I give them the oh so threatening dirty look. ETA: I rarely, if ever have seen line cutting at Universal or WDW- and we go quite a bit. Six Flags on the other hand...

I went. The line to get in was absolutely ridiculous- I don't know if they had issues with the scanners or maybe didn't actually let anyone into the "holding" area until 2pm- but the line was all the way around to the bobsled. Of course, I wait in line- 20 minutes later we're at the "gates" where there is a space between the ticket booths and the actual line where cutters just walk right in and "funnel". But- that's six flags, right? Ive rarely ever see it at Disney, Universal, or Sea World. But six flags... all the time. Rant over. The crowds weren't bad at all, really- but I was with my 2 and 6 year old all by myself- so our rides never have waits anyway. But based on the food lines- it wasn't bad in the slightest. Snow Hill was the only wait- maybe 10-15 mins? We left around 6- so I didn't see the lights- I'll do that later this week when I have my wife with me and I'm not outnumbered. I didn't get to do Holiday in the Park last year because the crowds were unbearable. Literally walked in, processed my pass, and left because it was insane! I'm hoping today won't be crowded. Planning on being there right when they open so I can get a few rides in and finally ride Justice League! haha If youre going to do the santa's workshop thing (which might be really weird if you're without kids)- I can say to do that pretty early. I asked about reservations at 5pm and they said the soonest they had was 7:30. So my plan of action would be- first and foremost- be at the gates 15 minutes early- just in case they have the same issue I had or they aren't "holding" people anymore. Do Justice League right away- then Pandemonium (due to atrocious capacity)- then sign up for Santa's workshop if you want. Let me know if they are still holding people by the tree of trees in the courtyard today- I'm planning on going tomorrow and hoping that Saturday wasn't the new normal of doing things. Here is a copy of the event guide to see showtimes: https://www.sixflags.com/sites/default/files/sfot2015guidehip_151104c_1.pdf?_ga=1.69152273.1062511702.1435852542

Manta is great. Several of the Disney ones are obvious- Test Track, ToT, Star Tours, Expedition Everest (one of the best), Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, The little mermaid. The Mummy was fantastic. I really love the interactive ones now such as 7DMT and Winnie the Pooh- the change to that direction is much better. My favorite pre-show ever has been the Simpsons at USF by a mile. Freakin' hilarious.

I went. The line to get in was absolutely ridiculous- I don't know if they had issues with the scanners or maybe didn't actually let anyone into the "holding" area until 2pm- but the line was all the way around to the bobsled. Of course, I wait in line- 20 minutes later we're at the "gates" where there is a space between the ticket booths and the actual line where cutters just walk right in and "funnel". But- that's six flags, right? Ive rarely ever see it at Disney, Universal, or Sea World. But six flags... all the time. Rant over. The crowds weren't bad at all, really- but I was with my 2 and 6 year old all by myself- so our rides never have waits anyway. But based on the food lines- it wasn't bad in the slightest. Snow Hill was the only wait- maybe 10-15 mins? We left around 6- so I didn't see the lights- I'll do that later this week when I have my wife with me and I'm not outnumbered.

They could in the top corner and larger area. Relocate those buildings and open the view there. It could work. Will it? No clue. This isn't roller coaster tycoon, so relocating show buildings are easier said then done.

Do any of the holiday meals/snacks work with the dining plan? Like the roasted nuts, turkey and stuffing, etc? This will be my first holiday in the park this year and just curious what I'll be walking into.

That's a pretty large spot. Large enough for a hotel/parking garage and a massive aquatica expansion. They could also not do aquatica but move the employee parking or temporary buildings to the aquatica spot as well if needed and add an attraction down there. It will be interesting. I'd love to have a sea world hotel in San Antonio, but I doubt we see that ever happen. So we're likely to see an aquatica expansion and large expansion with multiple attractions. That'd be great. Note: aquatica is amazing in San Antonio. Between the sting ray tube ride and lazy river aviary- they have some incredibly unique attractions that team with animal encounters. That should be their nitch.

What is going to be the argument? "I demand animals perform shows for me!" I doubt you're gonna get tons of people behind that. Why does it have to be "perform or nothing"? I'm not for elephants performing ridiculous tricks, but I'm all for experiencing elephants at animal kingdom. If they have appropriate tanks, they don't capture any from the wild, and they breed their own simply for observation and education- I see zero wrong in that. Animals in an incredible (Albiet artificial) environment are great to observe. And the money generated by sea world does a ton of good. Yes, it pays salaries of CEOs and janitors, but also funds the research and rescue facilities that are severely underfunded if it weren't for them. Sea world going under is bad for sea life, regardless of what brainwashing extremists like PETA say. If orcas bred and raised in captivity are what keep them afloat- I'm all for it. But only in a great environment. It's not black and white. There is a middle ground. Or we can see 21k employees go unemployed while watching the last handful of orcas die all by themselves. Wait to go peta.

Definitely: Animal Kingdom Epcot Hollywood Studios Magic Kingdom Islands of Adventure Universal Studios Florida Seaworld San Antonio Six Flags Fiesta Texas Six Flags Over Texas Aquatica San Antonio Hurricane Harbor Arlington Likely: Six Flags over Georgia Maybe: Discovery Cove Sea World Orlando Aquatica Orlando Busch Gardens Tampa

How were the crowds? I'm going to go today (the 1st). Hoping it'll be a little Edward being on a Sunday and after Halloween...

Shouldn't it just be NTG though? It's New Texas Giant- so if you need four wouldn't an X be better than an A? I was just racking my brain thinking what the A Was for and couldn't come up with anything

What does the "A" stand for in that acronym?

I don't know if Saturday was a rainout as the rain stopped in the late afternoon/early evening- but today, Sunday- the park was dead. Several coasters opened about 30 mins late and justice league was down both times we tried to do it first thing- but no waits for food or drinks and we walked on superman, batman, etc. Great weather- great day.