Most thrill seekers know the feeling: standing for hours in long queues for a popular ride, dreaming about how it might feel to skip straight to the front with no hassle.And here in the UK, there’s no shortage of roller coasters that will keep adrenaline junkies in line. From Alton Towers in Staffordshire to Thorpe Park in Surrey, the nation boasts an impressive number of theme parks that attract thousands every day.But for one British parent, who visited Alton Towers earlier this week, a happy family day out became quite the opposite, when he, his wife and young child were sent all the way to the back of the line for the popular new Bluey-themed ride, which opened in March.’We’re in the queue for the new Bluey ride (which is brilliant, do it). It’s 55 minutes long according to the app,’ a guest explains on Reddit. ‘Around 10-15 minutes in, my six-year-old announces the toilet situation, so my wife takes him off while I hold our spot.’ ‘Now, the toilets aren’t super close, he dawdles, gets distracted, does the full tour, and they don’t get back until I’m basically at the front.’Rather than start queueing all over again, the wife and child then attempted to rejoin the other parent, only to be told they were not allowed. A parent who took their child to Alton Towers found themselves being asked to go to the back of the line for a ride after attempting to rejoin the queue The guest had left the line for the theme park’s new Bluey ride to take their child to the toilet ‘The staff member running the queue very politely says that strictly they’d have to send us back to the start, because from where they’re standing two people have just appeared at the front who they never saw queue,’ the parent continues.They note that the staff member was ‘totally reasonable’ and ‘were great about the whole thing’. However, the debacle raises the question of theme park etiquette more generally, and what is – and isn’t – acceptable when it comes to queuing for rides. Etiquette expert and founder of EtiquetteExpert.Org, Jo Hayes, reveals her take on the matter.She tells the Daily Mail: ‘It is absolutely ok, and more than acceptable, to leave the line for a ride and rejoin, for the reason of needing to go to the loo.’The speech–language pathologist emphasises that it is fine, ‘especially where young children are involved,’ adding, ‘when they need to go, they need to go.”I’m sure no one wants to deal with – or see another parent have to deal with – the situation of a child wetting themselves for the sake of a Bluey ride,’ Hayes continues.While she agrees with the Reddit user that the theme park staff were ‘just doing their job’, she also adds: ‘But there does need to be a level of social grace – from staff and fellow patrons, in such situations.’ Etiquette expert Jo Hayes says it is: ‘absolutely ok, and more than acceptable, to leave the line for a ride and rejoin, for the reason of needing to go to the loo’Alton Towers has laid out its full policy on queue-jumping in its terms and conditions of entry. It defines the action as: ‘[…] trying to gain access to a ride, attraction or any other element that requires a queue or queue system through non–authorised means, including cutting in front of other guests already in the queue, leaving the queue and then attempting to re–enter at the same place, or saving a place for someone not in the queue.’The theme park states it can refuse admission, ban guests and remove them from the attraction without any right to a refund to any person who ‘queue-jumps at the rides or Attraction without an authorised fast access,’ amongst other behaviours. A spokesperson for Alton Towers Resort tells the Daily Mail: ‘We want all guests to have a fair and enjoyable experience, and our queue–jumping policy, which is available to read on our website, applies consistently across the resort.’Queue-jumping includes leaving a queue and attempting to re-enter at a later point without speaking to a member of our team at the time of leaving. ‘We encourage anyone who needs to leave a queue temporarily, including parents accompanying a child to the toilet, to let a team member know before leaving where possible, so arrangements can be made for guests to be able to rejoin.’Guests with a disability or medical condition that may require additional flexibility while queueing may be eligible for our Ride Access Pass, helping them enjoy the best possible experience during their visit.’Hayes acknowledges that there are people who lie and jump the queue, but notes ‘I believe the majority of humans are decent, and wouldn’t do such a thing’. Alton Towers say they ‘encourage anyone who needs to leave a queue temporarily, including parents accompanying a child to the toilet, to let a team member know before leaving where possible’The expert supports Alton Towers and recommends notifying staff and the people around you in the queue if you need to ‘peel off and take a child to the loo’, so there should hopefully be no issue rejoining. She thinks those who try to skip the queue completely with no good reason to do so are ‘abhorrent’ and describes the act as ‘completely unacceptable’. ‘However, the toilet is really the only valid reason to leave the queue and rejoin – and it really only applies to children, who can’t hold on, or adults in extreme situations… again, simply notify staff and/or the patrons either side of your spot in the queue,’ she continues. Other theme park etiquette rules, according to expert Jo Hayes Other theme park etiquette rules, according to expert Jo Hayes ‘Be self-aware and socially aware. Always remember the golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’Top of mind would be: Don’t play any audio on loudspeaker – especially in queues.’This means not having phone conversations on loudspeaker or playing music/video/social media clips on the phone loudspeaker – even to entertain children. It’s annoying for fellow patrons. Use headphones – this is what they’re for. ‘Rubbish – use bins. Don’t just leave wrappers and rubbish lying around. ‘Most eating areas at theme parks are super busy. Staff often don’t have time/capacity to clear tables quickly after people move on. ‘Do the right thing, clear your table, wipe any spills and take your rubbish to the bin. Leave the table as you’d like to find it.’Don’t use foul language. Theme parks are full of families, and people who simply want to enjoy a fun day out. ‘They don’t need some foul–mouthed people letting expletives loose while standing in a queue for a ride. Be polite.’ <!- – ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/us/travel/none/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_1 – ->