Bad bus behavior - today - on 2 rides

[Jennasis]

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

we always stay on site, and we prefer driving too. For a variety of reasons.

 

[anna08]

I beg to differ; the trail from Old Key West to Downtown Disney, the Boardwalk, the walkway from the Boardwalk to Hollywood Studios, the walking trail at Fort Wilderness; a lot of the resorts have fitness centers too.

If you are a serious runner, looking to get in a 6-10 mile run, you are seriously in trouble. You have to get out and run on the roads. Or you could run 64 times between the Boardwalk and DHS Fitness centers sadly just aren't the same.

A connection between VGF and MK would help a lot, but from what I understand it's impossible. As well as AKV to AK.

The roads at WDW just aren't very safe to run on. We've been at the scene of two separate accidents where pedestrians were hit by buses when attempting to cross the street. Sorry, I know this is far off topic.

 

[Agent P]

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

Most of the time you can drive to the parks and walk to the gates in the time yu would have been waiting for the bus to even pick you up at the resorts. And for Magic Kingdom, my kids can ride the Monorail that they would miss out on otherwise.

 

[daisyduck123]

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 am an able-bodied 40something mom with two teen kids and while we would give up our seats for very elderly standing passengers, we would not give them up for young families. The reason? We ARE TIRED TOO! I can't tell you how many times we have stood in line at the evening bus stops and not boarded an already full bus because we were too tired to stand for the 20 minute ride back to our resort. We wait until a bus comes that has seating so that we can sit. Well those other families can do the same.

No one is MAKING those families board already full buses.

 

[Snurk71]

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

In over 15 trips we have stepped on a disney bus once - aND that was only because the monorail was down (staying at BLT and wanted to go to poly and gf).

Some call me a control freak, but I like to go when I'm ready to go, and then go directly where I want to go. It might be a little more walking from the parking lots. But we're still young and in good enough shape for a little more exercise.

 

[bookem]

All this bad bus talk? I loved the bus, especially when you come to the gates of the magic kingdom and the welcome music starts playing. Plus it's part of the experience. We were there with our 2 and 3 year old girls and they loved the bus. We did have some late night crying, and my 3yo kept pick pocketing people sitting next to her. But it all allowed us to meet some interesting people from all over the world trying to have a magical time just like us. We ran into some nastys, but a sprinkle of pixie dust and a smile went a long way in making new friends!

 

[LSchrow]

my 3yo kept pick pocketing people sitting next to her

too funny
while we do always rent a car, it's only used for off-site shopping/dining, and to DTD.
for us, WDW trans beats out driving to parks - considering getting to/in car, waiting for it to cool off/heat up, traveling to/waiting at entrance booth, parking, taking tram, etc.
and then the entire list in reverse when leaving

as PPs said, chatting with strangers, listening to the music (the "entering AK" music makes me smile every time ), makes the trip part of our relaxing vacation.

 

[Luv2trav]

I am an able-bodied 40something mom with two teen kids and while we would give up our seats for very elderly standing passengers, we would not give them up for young families. The reason? We ARE TIRED TOO! I can't tell you how many times we have stood in line at the evening bus stops and not boarded an already full bus because we were too tired to stand for the 20 minute ride back to our resort. We wait until a bus comes that has seating so that we can sit. Well those other families can do the same.

No one is MAKING those families board already full buses.

I get what you are saying but someone with very small children/babies that they have to hold and try to balance themselves and their children I give my seat up. Sometimes all buses are full all the time and the next one can be 40 mins away. Just my opinion. I give it up.

That being said I enjoy riding the buses too.. I found most people are very friendly.

 

[jo-jo]

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'm always unsure of how old is old. I'm almost 60 ( but look 80 ) but am waaayyyy healthier than my sister of 55. I look at people and think "are they older than me", I don't want to insult people. I will stand at once if I see a parent that has to stand with babe in arms, no second thoughts on that call.

 

[smjj]

There are several reasons I think the buses are a mess but one reason is this:
I am a 63 year old man who has back issues but other than that I am in good health. When I get on a bus especially leaving the parks late and a full bus I need to sit. I may be paranoid but I get the feeling all eyes are on me wondering why I do not get up and turn my seat over to others and many times do but at the expense of my poor aching back, but as a man it is expected of me. I know that is probably not the case now but still I get the feeling others are asking this question. As I said I generally do give my seat up but usually pay dearly for it later in the long ride back to our resort after the many stop and being jostled along the way...smjj

 

[Susiequsie60]

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!

Honestly, none of the behaviors above would really bother me too much. I guess I must be pretty easy going (although my family might disagree.)

One of my pet peeves is people who don't give up their seat for an obviously older person, and in my husband's and son's place, especially for a woman. My husband practically never sits on any type of public transportation - including WDW busses. And yes I realize that not every person who appears able bodied is; but you can't tell me every 30 year old man sitting while a 65 year old woman stands is somehow disabled.

The other thing is parents who don't take young children on to their laps when a bus is crowded. Personally I would never let my kids take up a seat when they were little if other people were standing.

Just my own feelings. I'm not judging if people feel differently. (Well that's not true - I am judging on the first one, but not the second. Sorry about that, but it is what it is!)

 

[Luv2trav]

I'm always unsure of how old is old. I'm almost 60 ( but look 80 ) but am waaayyyy healthier than my sister of 55. I look at people and think "are they older than me", I don't want to insult people. I will stand at once if I see a parent that has to stand with babe in arms, no second thoughts on that call.

That is true... I am getting to an age where someone might consider me older. LOL I have had men offer me seats but I think it's because I am a woman (I find that very nice) and politely decline. However maybe it's because I am looking old not because I am a woman...

 

[dgaston]

My DH had some major health challenges last spring and summer and now finds using a wheelchair in the parks a blessing. At the same time he doesn't like to call attention to himself and really doesn't want to make others wait to board the buses, so strongly prefers that we drive to the parks. Plus it is so much faster!

 

[a742246]

The only problem I have with the buses is when someone in a scooter comes with a large family and they all feel entitled to bypass all the people who have been waiting on line to get on the bus. While my wife and I are still healthy
we let this slide. However, in another ten years or if our health weakens I won't. I'll have the bus driver enforce the rules!

I carry a bunch of internet disney pins with me. Whenever, someone offers us a seat I give all their kids a pin!

 

[jerseyduke]

This is why I drive... everywhere on-property.

Exactly!

I have even taken cabs on property. Buses are a last resort to me.

And yes, I do think it is a lot more convenient! It is a lot faster.
The signage on property makes it almost impossible to get lost (governments should do signs as well as they do). Throw in GPS and it is impossible to get lost.

I personally enjoy driving, and it is nice on property. Outside of the downtown area, there is usually no traffic, so its a nice, short, relaxing ride form place to place.

Grand Floridian to Animal Kingdom is like 10 minutes. Normally you are not even on a bus in 10 minutes.

 

[disney junky]

I don't mind the buses much, but they can be annoying. When we traveled with my FIL, he had recently had surgery so we used the car for anything we couldn't walk. I don't mind driving into the parks, but departing is often exhausting.

 

[disneyseniors]

and yet I feel I must comment. I have a severe form of fibromyalgia and arthritis: HOWEVER, I am a very young looking 65 y/o and I also LOOK like I am healthy. But, I go to the parks knowing I will only get worse, pain-wise, as the day progresses. I take extra pain pills, go rest in the middle of the day, sit down a lot and take my time while in the parks. BUT I still have severely increased pain whenever we get to the buses to leave. I usually get offered a seat, and that is great. So, even though I look younger and healthy, I am not. It's my choice to go to the parks however I feel, cause you never know when you won't be able to, physically. Also,my husband, age 68, looks okay too, but he has kidney disease with a bad back and leg problems where he can't even bend down. He needs to sit while on the bus, and he is starting to do so, even with the "looks" he gets from others.
I guess my point, yep I do have one, is that please don't condemn someone who looks healthy because none of us actually knows how they feel or what invisible problems they are having.
thanks for letting me get that off my chest

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Exactly!

I have even taken cabs on property. Buses are a last resort to me.

And yes, I do think it is a lot more convenient! It is a lot faster.
The signage on property makes it almost impossible to get lost (governments should do signs as well as they do). Throw in GPS and it is impossible to get lost.

I personally enjoy driving, and it is nice on property. Outside of the downtown area, there is usually no traffic, so its a nice, short, relaxing ride form place to place.

Grand Floridian to Animal Kingdom is like 10 minutes. Normally you are not even on a bus in 10 minutes.

Exactly. This really IS Disney's best kept secret. I hope it stays that way.

 

[Dean]

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

We have a car and drive everywhere except to MK or if moving parks during the day. It is much faster and usually adds little walking with the AAA parking.

 

[dvcdream4fld]

I'm am a very courteous person and I help people when in need, but if your running to catch fast passes and the buses all day and then I'm supposed to give my seat for you when I've waited in line for a while then I am reluctant to give up my seat. If it is obvious that the person needs a seat no matter what age or condition then I will happily give it up. As far as public transportation, it is public transportation and it is available to everyone as long as they wait their turn in line.