Bad bus behavior - today - on 2 rides

[LisaS]

Yes I know we have the choice to wait for another bus, but sometimes you just want to get back.

Particularly at park closing time, even if we have waited over 20 minutes for the first bus to arrive, if we opt to wait for the next bus it usually comes along very soon. We've never had to wait another 20 minutes for the next one. And since there are fewer passengers boarding that second bus it doesn't take long before we are on our way. Since it takes a long time for the overloaded bus to unload back at the resort, it is sometimes just finishing unloading as our bus pulls in.

We haven't been burned yet by doing this. Yes it could happen that the next bus doesn't show for another 20 minutes but that doesn't normally happen at park closing time.

 

[Jennasis]

You know, it's entirely possible that people just aren't paying any attention to who else gets on the bus with them. For whatever reason. Maybe they got on first and are way in the back of a crowded bus and don't see/notice the person who just got on in front who is holding a folded wheelchair, or is elderly etc.

Again...if standing on a bus is a problem for you (as it is for us), wait for the next bus or rent a car/drive your own (as we do).



Moving on...we were on a bus back to Pop late one night after MK closed. It was packed, and we were sitting in almost the front seats. Someone from the back of the bus start yelling for us to pull over. REALLY yelling. The driver kept saying he couldn't, and after a few minutes he swerved to the side and pulled over....as a woman came hauling butt up the aisle, knocking people aside who had been standing, as she projectile vomited the whole way up the aisle. She splashed just about everybody, but we were spared. People were upset, but many folks offered baby wipes and towels to help her clean herself and the ones hit in the crossfire up. Sometimes the behavior isn't so bad!

 

[kangaroodle]

You stay on site and prefer driving? Why? Is it that more convenient?

I'm not the original poster of that...but YES!!!! So much faster than the buses...except to MK where you are almost dropped at the door by the bus,

 

[dnkmmw]

Wow. That is pretty crazy. I honestly can't even imagine that particular scenario and not offering a seat.

My husband is a police officer and he taught me something a long time ago:
He always says that in a situation that could go either way, he'd rather give a break to someone on the belief that they are actually a good person who just happened to make a mistake, rather than give a ticket to that same person on the assumption that they are a "dirt bag." (His word, not mine.) Does that make sense? In other words, in a iffy situation, err on the side of thinking better of the person rather than thinking the worst.

I agree with giving the benefit of the doubt, but it does go both ways. Someone looking healthy, not offering a seat shouldn't have assumptions made about them either.

I am the kind of person who doesn't make my situation the responsibility of others, particularly strangers. If I find myself on a full bus and am in pain trying to stand, it's my own fault for getting on the bus. I will never begrudge anyone, health appearing or not, for me having to stand on the bus.

Dawn

 

[hacknsuit]

glad I'm not the only one that gets peeved at stuff like this on the buses. Trip this past OCT watched the middle aged son of a man in a scooter arguing with the bus driver for not making 1/2 of the passengers move to make way for his dad and his scooter.

Rode the bus twice today - OKW > MK and back.

Random acts of bad bus behavior:

1. ~18 month child with no shoes or socks; walking; no stroller

2. Soliloquy of mother when her ~11 month old started screaming "I don't know why she does this; she's so loved" (mmmm, probably because she is up so late; over stimulated - the bus lift noise alone would be exhausting for a baby; change in schedule? it's a mystery....)

3. Bellowing (really, like bus shaking) passenger refusing to collapse over stuffed double stroller; sat in front of overly packed bus despite being first to board, "I don't know how they expect me to do this"; he had two little ones AND 4 OTHER ADULTS. Try being a single mom with two kids, dude.

4. Passenger in scooter refusing to get out of his seat until he had a lengthy chat about this and that with the bus driver holding up the entire full queue of passengers at MK after a 40 minute wait.

5. 20-something chain smoking at shelter. Who still smokes and how can they afford to be OKW guests? (okay that was mean but I am okay with it; check out the demographics)

What a trip! Bus drivers must be saints or deaf to put up with all the crazy. Except for EPCOT, I am so driving the rest of the trip.

p.s. Is there a petition to sign begging for a slightly lower decibel on the lift noise? OUCH!

 

[Dean]

I was taught to be considerate of others including holding the door and giving up my seat for others, esp someone who might need it more than I. I've taught my kids the same way. It's simply common courtesy and integrity as I see it.

 

[SarahInMN]

I was taught to be considerate of others including holding the door and giving up my seat for others, esp someone who might need it more than I. I've taught my kids the same way. It's simply common courtesy and integrity as I see it.

As was I but I think the issue as I see it is being judged for not giving up a seat. Two years ago I tore 2 of my major ligaments in the my right ankle. Once I got the walking boot off, I looked fine but there was no way I would have been able to stand and brace myself on a Disney bus; I would have been able to walk the parks but the nerve damage wouldn't have allowed me to balance myself and react to shifts. Now my ankle is (more or less - I can't run anymore and still harbor resentment about that) fine and I can stand - two years ago though I would have been judged as "inconsiderate" for not giving up my seat.

I do agree with a poster upthread who reminded us to give people the benefit of the doubt - that if someone doesn't give up their seat, they must have a good reason to remain seated.

This though (also from upthread) takes the cake and there cannot possibly be a rationalization:

The worst bus seating behavior I every saw was in the morning...But evidently someone's child (about age 9 or so) got woken too early. The child was LAYING across three seats. The mother was sitting on the other side of the aisle. We stood there for the bus ride. Child never moved. At the park, the mother is "ok tommy, time to get up". It's wasn't like she had no idea. Why would anything think it's ok to take up three seats for one skinny little kid?

Off topic but related to above: someone at the gym today was on her cardio machine and was using the perfectly functional machine next to her to hold her towel, her phone, magazines, and water bottles. Really?

 

[Dean]

As was I but I think the issue as I see it is being judged for not giving up a seat.

I know some are uncomfortable making ANY judgements in such situations EVER. I personally don't have that problem and frankly, don't agree with that position. While I think we should always gives people the benefit of the doubt and then some, the person who whips into the HC parking space and sprints into the store is likely not picking up someone who actually qualifies. If nothing else one loses the opportunity to teach the younger ones the right and wrong way to behave.

 

[andersonsc]

I think there is a difference between everyday life and disney. I have taught my boys manners and to be courteous. If on a city bus, I would expect them to give up their seat.
At disney though, everyone should expect to walk and walk and walk. Everyone Is tired at the end of a long day. I don't expect my kids to give up their seats. If you are elderly, have young kids and strollers then you are responsible for making things comfortable for you and your family. As others have said, you can rent a car or taxi. Yes, this eats into a budget but that's life. When we had little kids and strollers, etc we rented a car.

 

[akl2004]

I was taught to be considerate of others including holding the door and giving up my seat for others, esp someone who might need it more than I. I've taught my kids the same way. It's simply common courtesy and integrity as I see it.

Couldn't have said it better myself. I was raised this way, but I don't judge others, as I don't expect to be judged. I only have influence over myself and my kids and when i offer my seat, it is my decision to do so. If someone else decides to keep their seat, thats their choice, no problem.

 

[Susiequsie60]

I think there is a difference between everyday life and disney. I have taught my boys manners and to be courteous. If on a city bus, I would expect them to give up their seat.
At disney though, everyone should expect to walk and walk and walk. Everyone Is tired at the end of a long day. I don't expect my kids to give up their seats. If you are elderly, have young kids and strollers then you are responsible for making things comfortable for you and your family. As others have said, you can rent a car or taxi. Yes, this eats into a budget but that's life. When we had little kids and strollers, etc we rented a car.

I'm just curious about a couple of things:

How old are your boys?

Depending on age, would you have them sit on your lap to open up a seat?

 

[RosesRred22]

What gets to me is that people make judgements on who is "young and able bodied", yet expect me to tune out their screaming/crying kids...

They call them "hidden disabilities" for a reason...

While yes there are several hidden disabilities, I am sure this person was referring to those who obviously were not disabled, ie; the 15 y/o who has no problem running freely up to the bus, just to get on first and then when the bus becomes standing room only they refuse to allow the woman standing next to them with a 2 y/o in one hand and her walking crutch in the other to sit down....this is not a hypothetical it actually happened to me. While for the most part I don't mind standing, heck I've even given up my seat for someone else who was more in need, this was a time where I was going back to our room with our 2 y/o for a nap and she was exhausted and wanted to be held, so here I was trying to hold on to her, and my crutch all the while trying not to fall, and this kid who pushed past others who were walking to the bus, in order to get on first could care less! As far as the screaming, crying kids....well your out of luck on that one, IT'S DISNEY WORLD for heavens sake, if you honestly think you can go there and not expect to see/hear at least one kid having a melt down then you are sorely mistaken

 

[andersonsc]

I'm just curious about a couple of things:

How old are your boys?

Depending on age, would you have them sit on your lap to open up a seat?

My boys are now teenagers- too big for lap sitting! When they were younger, yes I would have them on my lap.my youngest is 9 and I would have him sit on a lap if crowded

 

[RosesRred22]

I think there is a difference between everyday life and disney. I have taught my boys manners and to be courteous. If on a city bus, I would expect them to give up their seat.
At disney though, everyone should expect to walk and walk and walk. Everyone Is tired at the end of a long day. I don't expect my kids to give up their seats. If you are elderly, have young kids and strollers then you are responsible for making things comfortable for you and your family. As others have said, you can rent a car or taxi. Yes, this eats into a budget but that's life. When we had little kids and strollers, etc we rented a car.

So why bother making them give up their seats at all, if you are just going to tell them that it's ok to be inconsiderate to those in need, and I'm not talking about parents with tired kids, I'm talking about the elderly AND people like me. I have MS and unfortunately it can be difficult for me to stand for long periods of time, yet alone do it on a moving bus. While at the parks I rent a motorized scooter so I DO NOT walk, walk, walk all day. I honestly think you need to walk in the shoes of a disabled person someday because you will see that there is NO DIFFERENCE in everyday life and DISNEY!!!! Disney doesn't have some magic powers that make it possible for me to walk with no problems, or to NOT be in constant pain, and it doesn't allow me to be suddenly capable of running after my girls to have fun!!! While yes it is my responsibility to make me comfortable, it should be yours to teach your kids to be considerate of others and teach them that they should be BLESSED that they have no disabilities or health issues and that they are capable of standing on the bus if someone else gets on and CANNOT and that while Disney is a special and magical place for some no matter where they are their disabilities will NEVER go away! As far as your comment that we should just rent a car, well we do, but if my younger daughter needs a nap I have two choices, make the whole family pile up into the car so my husband can drive back, because I CAN'T or take the bus back and I guess hope that you & your kids are not on it!!!! I shouldn't have to make my hubby & other kids miss out on park time, so that I and my little one can go back to the room for a rest because I had the bad luck of developing MS and because there are rude, ignorant, & selfish people at the park like you and your family. I apologize for being so harsh, but you honestly have no idea the pressure and difficulties my disease puts on my husband and kids, and you honestly don't want to know, but the least you can do is understand that while Disney may be some special "dream world" where all is good and perfect for you, the reality is for people like me & my family it doesn't work that way and I am ALWAYS going to be disabled and am ALWAYS going to need help and the CONSIDERATION of others. Now if you still feel like you have no need to be respectful of disabled people at Disney then maybe you should find another "dream world" where disabled people do not visit or maybe you or someone in your family needs to become disabled and then you will understand my anger, frustration and disappointment towards people like you. And where is your respect for the elderly? Just because they are at Disney walking, doesn't mean that they should have to stand on the bus ride because your young, healthy and able bodied kids don't have to give up their seats because you think it's ok to be inconsiderate. I honestly don't understand how you can think because people are at Disney that all of their problems just magically go away. I don't know how old your kids are, but you may want to reconsider your ideals and teach them that they need to be considerate of anyone who is disabled or elderly no matter WHERE they are, because honestly telling them it's ok sometimes and not other times just teaches them that they can make excuses for things and pick and choose when, where and who they can be respectful to. Do you honestly want them to be like those boys who brutalized that poor bus driver two years ago, because those boys were apparently taught manners, but not all of the time and now look at who they have become. And if you feel as though you are still right and that yours and your families comfort is far more important than others, especially the disabled, then you need to be the one to rent the car!!

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Our family usually gives up our seats if we notice someone around us who looks like they may need it more than we do. There have been many times that our offer was turned down. We usually sit in the rear of the bus. But we don't get up just to open up a seat just in case someone up front might need a seat. They won't make it to the back before someone else just as able bodied as we are sits down first, unless we can catch their attention and they can make it back to where we are.

My girls are young teens and if we are leaving late at night and they are lucky to even have seats, they are both asleep within seconds of sitting down before the bus even leaves. No giving up their seats there. In fact, I'm usually asleep too. They can sleep standing up too. Lol. My DH will give up his seat for someone.

Most times, the buses are so packed at opening and closing that you can really only give up your seat to people you see right around you. Those in need up front won't see us and we won't see them.

It is much easier to give up seats during the off peak times when it is not as needed when the bus is emptier and people are less tired to begin with.

 

[SamSam]

I agree with you 100%. I think you made it very clear that you understand that not all health issues show, and that you don't judge people who don't give up a seat. But all those people out there so quick to point out that not everyone can offer to stand have to admit, if there are 8 or 9 very healthy 20 somethings sitting on the bus, the likelihood of all of them having an unseen disability is pretty slim. If that were the case and none of them offered a seat to another passenger, I would definitely be curious. Wouldn't say anything obviously. But I'd think to myself that I'm glad my own family would definitely stand-up so another more needy person could have a seat.

And I certainly don't think that children should stand. But again, there's nothing wrong with a kid on a parent's lap. Back in the day, I'd take my 10 year old on my lap. If the bus were really crowded I'd probably take my 12 year old. By the time they're teenagers, I'd probably tell them to offer up their seat.

Personally, I was never at WDW with infants, but if I was holding a baby on a crowded bus, that might be one of the few times I would take someone up on an offer of a seat. I personally couldn't stand, keep my balance, hold a railing, and hold my child. I'd be very appreciative.

And if someone offers a seat and you don't want it, just say "no thanks." No big deal. I'm 54 years old now, and I would certainly not be offended if someone younger offered me a seat. I wouldn't take it because I definitely don't need it. But I would think that the person who offered was very kind.

Thank you for understanding my point. I never meant to insinuate that people in their 20's couldn't have health issue's, so thank you for clarifying that for me.

 

[SamSam]

I was taught to be considerate of others including holding the door and giving up my seat for others, esp someone who might need it more than I. I've taught my kids the same way. It's simply common courtesy and integrity as I see it.

Thank you Dean. Well said.

 

[WDWMom]

I guess I don't see giving up my seat to someone who is tired, I see giving up my seat for someone else's safety. I may be tired, and a mother with a three year old is tired, but is it safe for her hold that child on a moving bus? Probably not. It is also not safe for the elderly or pregnant women. I give up my seat, dh and both ds's along with dd. I don't care how tired I am, safety is my concern. Now if they prefer to stand, by all means that is their option.

Many have posted that people who don't want to stand should wait for the next bus. What if you did not know it was full? As people get on, you can't always tell and once you are on, you can't get off.

The worst bus story I have was getting on a bus and being the first people who had no seats. I was 6 months pregnant, had a one year old in my arms and a four year old. Dh had the stroller. We were stuck on and could not get off. Not one person offered their seat to me. I stood the whole way from MK to Dixie Landings with Ds on the floor between my legs because it was safer than me holding him. Dd4 kept on eye on him. It was awful but we couldn't get off and had I known there we no seats, I would not have gotten on.

 

[marx]

I know some are uncomfortable making ANY judgements in such situations EVER. I personally don't have that problem and frankly, don't agree with that position. While I think we should always gives people the benefit of the doubt and then some, the person who whips into the HC parking space and sprints into the store is likely not picking up someone who actually qualifies. If nothing else one loses the opportunity to teach the younger ones the right and wrong way to behave.

I have memory issues due to a cardiac arrest. The reason I now have HC parking is due to the numerous times I could not find my car in the lot. In small parking lots I do not use the HC spots. But I always use them in large lots.

 

[piccolopat]

I can handle most of these with amusement but the one that gets me everytime is when YOUNG ABLE BODIED PEOPLE (Men and Woman) refuse to stand to give their seat to elderly or people in need (Parents of very young children). I don't think my family sat much on any bus on our last trip and if we did it was me making my 10 year old sit on my lap much to his dismay.

Since becoming a mother I have learned to tune screaming/crying kids out

Sorry but if I get on first I will take a seat. I am exhausted after a full day and I don't owe anyone my seat. If parents have very young children or if someone is elderly they can avoid these problems by leaving the park before the mad dash. It's not that I won't give up my seat if someone needs it to be safe it's just that I get annoyed when people think they are more entitled to my seat than I am.