Just a vent about people on the buses

[kt_mom]

Just wanted to share a situation we had on our trip at the end of September. Sorry for the length of this.
It was later in our week and we were headed back to the resort after a very long very hot day at Epcot. We got to the bus stop and no one was waiting which made us happy to know that we would most likely get seats on the bus this time. Well, we waited, and waited and waited almost 30 minutes for a bus. For about the first 10 or 15 minutes it was just us at the stop but then the line got longer and longer and longer. And we watched bus after bus stop at all the other stops until finally one came to us!
After standing there for 30+ minutes we were so glad to take our seats quickly on the bus. Taking care to stay away from the handicapped seats. My husband was across the aisle with the two girls sharing tow seats between the three of them and my mom sister and I sat together across from him.
So the people keep piling on the bus one after the other to a point beyond comfortable and finally two last people squeeze on there with a huge stroller and two kids in their arms one probably about 2 ½ and the other about 1.
Now before everyone thinks I’m the worst of the worst, I had given up my seat more times than I can count over the course of the week. I gave it up to the elderly both male and female, I gave it up to pregnant ladies, mothers carrying children or just standing with children next to them. I never once had anyone offer a seat to me or my child but I didn’t expect anyone to either and would never have complained.
That being said, a woman sitting across the aisle offered to hold the stroller for them. Which I would have gladly done as well but she beat me to it. Then she continued to very loudly tell them that maybe one of the “healthy adults” across the aisle would like to give them their seats. And normally I would although I would never let my mom. She has fibromyalgia and arthritis and needs a seat although she looks perfectly healthy. I also have arthritis and have joint issues but you wouldn’t be able to tell that by looking at me. I look like a normal 32 year old woman. Anyway, the people said they were fine and never even really looked at us although the woman continued on. And I continued to ignore her. And the man holding the younger child looked annoyed at her persistence.
Finally her husband who was standing in front of us also turned and asked me didn’t I want to give them my seat and I said no thank you that I had stood at the bus stop for 30 minutes waiting for this bus. and I preferred to sit. Had I been at the end of the line and needed a seat seeing how full the bus was, I would have waited for the next one. I also told him that I had given up my seat many times this week to many different people but that today I was exhausted and needed to sit. The woman continued on saying “how rude some people are”.
And one point the woman standing with the 2 ½ year old swayed a little and my sister got up and gave her the seat because she was afraid the woman would fall with the child. The man holding the younger child continued to hold her even when the woman offered to hold both on her lap. I think they should have waited for the next bus. If you don’t feel comfortable standing and holding your child, I think maybe you should consider waiting for a less full bus. I’m all for giving my seat to people that need it, but I think sometimes people need to be courteous to others. Granted these people never once asked for our seats or even looked at us. It was these other people getting involved who were the real problem.
I don’t expect men to give up their seats to women or children on the buses when they are full. And as we all know, most of them don’t. It’s really nice when they do, but we’re all tired together in my opinion and for the most part first come first serve.
I just couldn’t believe this woman across from us. And to think my husband had given up his seat to her earlier that week. I thought about reminding her of this, but decided to bite my tongue and try to ignore her and her nosy husband.

I'm sure I will get flamed for this....

[Robo]

I sympathize with you.





Just note that these kind of threads never end well.

[eliza61]

This is a perpetual discussion on the boards. Whether or not people with kids and strollers are any more deserving or if manners are dead.

I have a pretty standard answer. I cannot control other people actions only my own.

I have found that the handicap people that I know generally make plans for their travelling. My friend who is wheel chair bound does not use Disney transportation because she wants to be in control of how she travels and her own comfort.

Parents are responsible for their childrens welfare. I feel no obligation to give up my seat or any obligation to offer an excuse. I'm a pretty polite person so 90% of the time I will try to assistance some one else. Hey it makes me feel a little more disney. But if you catch me on a 10% day where I feel like sitting. Oh well.

When my kids were small, if getting a seat was that important I made the necessary scarifices. Leave earlier or wait until the next bus. no biggie.

Some guest are worth ignoring. It's a bit of an oxymoron to talk about manners while screaming at a bus full of strangers.

And lastly, Robo is absolutely correct. this along with a few other topics rarely end well.

Just my take.

[Linda Farrell]

I sympathize as well. I also have arthritis in both knees but look "healthy", so I feel for you there as well. Your situation is one of the reasons that we always rent a car when in WDW (leaving in 2 days!!!). We don't have to wait for or deal with the busses, and we can get where we want to go when we want to. It's also so much easier to get to other resorts. No flames at all, but maybe next time, renting a car would work out better for you as well.

[skinsfan2878]

You know what, no one has the right to blast you. I totally agree with you. You waited 30 minutes on that bus, you deserve that seat. My wife and I got on a bus that was overcrowded while I was holding my DD. People offered to let me sit down, but I declined it. They waited longer than me, and that can make you joints hurt just as bad. Anyway don't feel bad and don't let it bug you. You were tired, you waited, you deserved to sit.

[Sleeping Becca]

I hate the busses.

[Where's Pluto?]

Pre-kids, we had no problem standing when the bus was full. But after kids, I want a seat... so I wait for the next bus if it looks like its going to be full. We'll be traveling this year with ds (9months) and again if it looks like we'll be standing, we'll wait for the next bus.

[RabbitFood]

You'll get no flames from me. AFAIC, the woman who made the comments about rude people and who asked you to give up your seat was the one who needed a lesson in manners.
I'll never understand anyone why someone who needs a seat would cram onto a packed bus, hoping someone will give up their seats (although this doesn't seem to be the case in your instance. They seemed okay with standing.) Wait for the next bus if you need to sit down. We've done this. Not a big deal.

[CarolAnnB]

Those busybodies were the rude ones, not you! People should just mind their own business. No one knows what problems/ailments/disabilities people have which are invisible to the eye. We have given up our seats many times, but sometimes you just don't feel well enough to do it. And sometimes we have offered to people who then looked insulted and annoyed, like we thought they were incapable of standing or something.

I agree, if you can't stand on the bus, there will be another bus coming along, wait and be first in line. Or rent a car or take a cab.

[SPAM]

Normally I would say yes, that parents holding small children should be given seats but given that they shoved on at the last minute Im not so sure. They should have waited. I also don't think that an person (unless someone you're with) should ask you to give yours up. It is a person

[SPAM]

Normally I would say yes, that parents holding small children should be given seats but given that they shoved on at the last minute Im not so sure. They should have waited. I also don't think that a person (unless someone you're with) should ask you to give yours up. It is a personal decision whether to give up their seat or not, and no one has the right to tell a stranger to give theirs up. There is no rule, it is a polite gesture.

[Nadjalu]

No flames from me. There are times when I give up my seat and then there are times I don't. No one needs to know my business of why I can't stand and let someone else sit.
In my opinion this woman was the rude one, drawing attention to a situation that she was obviously trying to control.
You are good to have controlled your tongue sometimes I am not able to and make things worse.

Personally this is how I view the bus situation: When I get on a bus I take a choice, if it is crowded and I want to sit then I wait for another bus. If I just want to get back to the hotel or park quickly I will stand. I do not get on a bus relying on another person giving up their sit, for me, my child or any other person. While it is nice to have chivalry (love this in a man) I am a independant woman and can make my own choice whether to stand or sit.

[JarrothsMom]

WOW! I too have knee problems...I too am in my 30's...I too have given up my seats NUMEROUS times...and I too sometimes just CANT get up. My knee will be hurting so bad from waiting that I TOO need the seat. I on the other hand have had MANY rude people when my son has to go ahead on a wheelchair...Im like shoot I wish he had legs and could see...that way we too could wait. I would trade places ANYDAY! Sometimes people just kinda...well...overstep their boundries. No matter where you go someone is going to judge a book by its cover. you may be young...but hurt...I have seen kids throw a yelling fit..and heard people make little comments...but in all real the child could be autistic. My son is and throws some MAJOR fits. Dust off and dont worry about it. I understand needing to vent!

[disnut8]

Before anyone gets upset about someone not giving up their seat on a bus, let's look at the original post one more time. The people who had the two kids who were standing were NOT the ones who made the fuss to the poster about giving up her seat. It was a totally different woman and her husband who were also standing. That's is where I see the problem. Had that woman shut her mouth in the first place and stopped demanding the OP give up her seat (the original post said the family said they were fine and the husband even looked like he didn't like the stranger's persistence), there never would have been an issue.

In my opinion, no one should ever demand someone else give up a seat on a bus or anywhere else. You do not know if the person who looks healthy really is healthy. The woman who was demanding the OP give up her seat should have been told to stop.

[marie1203]

That was the one thing I had problems in Disney over and over again was parents that had their kids with them thought they deserve everything because of the kids. We waited at least 30 min to have a good spot in the parade and someone will come and stand right in front of us and when I say I am sorry I been waiting so I can have this spot they will say but the kids won't be able to see like it was my problem I am short and that is why I made sure I had a good spot getting there early. I will always say I am sorry next time come earlier. Not only was this in the parades but the lines for the monorail and even in some of the rides. I never let one go because I couldn't believe how rude this people were also what are they teaching to their kids.