Biggest disappointment at WDW......

[Limmer]

Chivalry IS dead. Common courtesy is not common and people in general are self-centred. The fact that there are so many reasons posted here why healthy people can't stand for the elderly, pregnant, have a small child etc proves this point. Surely not everybody on every bus has an invisible disability, has a fake leg blah, blah, blah. Excuses aside, this is a manners issue and sadly few people have manners nowadays. (For the record I am a perfectly healthy 20-something woman.)
To further prove my point in the 10 months since my daughter was born I have NEVER had somebody hold open a door into a mall, building, whatever for me when I have the stroller. I do not need them to, I am perfectly capable of getting where I am going but not one person has even attempted to. I HAVE, however, had people cut around me to get in the door I opened before I pull in the stroller.
Unless you have a disability (long-term or otherwise) any reason you give to not give up your seat, (I'm tired too, I have every right to sit, I waited in line too,) is just an excuse. It is your right, there is no law saying you have to give up your seat but don't rationalize why the selfishness is just.

 

[lucyanna girl]

I never fail to be amazed by the things people say and do. Why give up your seat that you waited for? Because it's the RIGHT thing to do. The selfishness that some of the statements made in the posts on this thread is enough to make you loss faith in people. I am a woman who is a lot closer to 50 than I care to admit but I hope I will always be able and willing to offer my seat to someone in need, be it a pregnant woman, young child, elderly person, or young man. I was always told not to do anything I wouldn't want God or my parents to see me do. The same goes for what I do.

 

[becobscot]

I find more and more people are just oblivious to anything other than their own wants and needs!

 

[jnrrt]

If we're all worried about how to be thoughtful, as in helping others who may need it to get a seat, and also not be berated for "judging" someone else's need for something, then I'll tell you that my family practices what I call the "NY subway system invisibility mode".

In the subway in NY, no one makes eye contact ever (lived there for five years and made eye contact twice, both in the first week - learned quickly ). You're all there together, and you move around each other, etc., but you mostly pretend everyone else doesn't exist, and if you DO magically notice that some stranger is sitting two inches from you, or kicked your bag accidentally or something, you just say "excuse me" very vaguely, as though you're not sure what actually happened, and continue with your own little life. It's very useful in some ways, and here's how it translates to Disney busses:

My daughter and I are sitting next to each other, and I notice that someone is getting on who needs a seat. I move my daughter to my lap as they approach, just because I happen to want to hold my daughter. We don't say anything. If they take the seat, they do. If not, she can move back. If they're friendly about it, we smile. Or not. Or,

We're all sitting, and notice someone who may need a seat. As they approach, I get up and casually show my daughter something out the window, or become suddenly fascinated by something further away in the bus. If they take the seat, great, if not, fine too. Again, if they seem happy about it, we smile. It is Disney after all.

I would always give up my seat. I would not always "offer" to do so, if only to not embarass someone or call attention to the fact that they might need a seat.

Just my method, YMMV.

 

[bugsy]

Also a #1 pet peeve of mine too! I have seen pregnant women, women holding infants, eldery, etc, trying to stand on the bus while people just sit there oblivious. Once when I was pregnant my dh actually asked out loud if anyone would give up their seat for me... after a few moments of silence nobody did. So dh had us get off and wait for the next bus.

You have GOT to be kidding!!! No one!!! That is totally unacceptable! Please
tell me that our society hasn't gotten to a point that even if they are
initially clueless, if the situation, such as yours, was actually, verbally, brought up, no one would "rise" to the occasion! sadly amazing..
BTW, I've seen your posts before, your boys are adorable!!

 

[bugsy]

Last trip at Disney the wife and I were on a bus going back to POFQ and an elderly couple got on the bus.

I stood up and offered him my seat (his wife took the last one).

He stated he did not want it but I insisted.

He sat down and whispered to something to my wife.

We we got off the bus I asked my wife what he whispered to her and she told me he said`"It is good to see they are still men with manners in the world".

My wife said she was never so proud of me as when he said that.

...patting myself on the back....

I'm proud of you too...and we have never met!!

 

[Aidensmom]

Flame away, but there is just WAY too much of a sense of entitlement on this thread. How do you know you deserve a seat more than me or my son? Do you know us? Is your safety more of a priority than my child's? Was the money you spent for your vacation, which includes the priveledge of riding Disney transportation, somehow better than mine?

If that bus tipped over, people standing are probably in the worse position. Am I going to put me or my child in that position? NO!!! If you choose to get on a SRO bus, well, that is your CHOICE. There are more busses... If I do not want to stand, I will wait for the next one.

 

[Jakesmom1]

As far as dissapointments go, bus rides cant even compare to the rudness we have experienced at the end of Fantasmic! I fully understand that everyone is tired, and wants to go back to thier hotels at the end of the show, but do people need to turn into a heard of wild bulls? The last time we went to Fantasimic, my ds was about 5 years old, and when the show was over, it was very crowded with everyone trying to leave at the same time, this adult male, (early 50's) pushed between me and my ds and almost knocked him down the steps. I could not believe this man, He could have cared less that he seperated my ds from me, I was able to grab my ds so he did not get hurt, or worse, I did give this inconsiderate male a piece of my mind. There is no reason adults need to push children around , it makes me crazy that so many people are so indifferent to children, especially at WDW.

 

[lucyanna girl]

Wow! Aidensmom I sure hope you and your son always enjoy good health and good fortune and never need any help or consideration from others.

 

[brier's_aunt]

Flame away, but there is just WAY too much of a sense of entitlement on this thread. How do you know you deserve a seat more than me or my son? Do you know us? Is your safety more of a priority than my child's? Was the money you spent for your vacation, which includes the priveledge of riding Disney transportation, somehow better than mine?

If that bus tipped over, people standing are probably in the worse position. Am I going to put me or my child in that position? NO!!! If you choose to get on a SRO bus, well, that is your CHOICE. There are more busses... If I do not want to stand, I will wait for the next one.

Okay, I gotta say somethin': What if you were sitting on a bus and a 8-month pregnant woman got on and needed a seat? Would you give her your seat? Or would you put her at risk? Same goes for elder people. And also for people with dissabilities! The people on the bus probably spent about as much as you did so they are equal to you. That means that they have just as much right to sit there as you do! Yes the people standing up have a worse problem than the people sitting but at least they might have the respect to let others that need them have their seats. Respect for your fellowmen is a wonderful thing and I just thought I needed to say this.
Amen!

 

[Aidensmom]

Okay, I gotta say somethin': What if you were sitting on a bus and a 8-month pregnant woman got on and needed a seat? Would you give her your seat? Or would you put her at risk? Same goes for elder people. And also for people with dissabilities! The people on the bus probably spent about as much as you did so they are equal to you. That means that they have just as much right to sit there as you do! Yes the people standing up have a worse problem than the people sitting but at least they might have the respect to let others that need them have their seats. Respect for your fellowmen is a wonderful thing and I just thought I needed to say this.
Amen!

Like I said in my original post - do you know me? Maybe I look perfectly healthy to you, but can you be sure? If you really need to make sure you have a seat on the bus, is there a reason why you can't wait until the next one? If I was 8-months pregnant and thought I would be at risk standing on a bus - 1) I would not be at WDW - I would not walking around ANY place I did not have to be. But maybe that is because I did not even last that long in my pregnancy due to the fact of some health issues that I have...., 2) if I was at WDW, I would wait for a bus where I could sit, 3) I would not assume that I deserved a seat more than someone else.

I don't expect anyone to give up their seat, there are plenty of reasons people have for sitting down besides being elderly or pregnant. They have just as much right to it as anyone else. If I am in a condition where I need to sit down, I wait until there is an opportunity to do so. And I do believe that people can just be so worn out and tired that it would be a hazard for them to stand on the bus. They may be 20 years old and perfectly healthy, but are in a position where their strength is compromised.

And I will make absolutely no excuses for wanting to do what I feel is the safest thing for my child.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Okay, I gotta say somethin': What if you were sitting on a bus and a 8-month pregnant woman got on and needed a seat? Would you give her your seat? Or would you put her at risk? Same goes for elder people. And also for people with dissabilities! The people on the bus probably spent about as much as you did so they are equal to you. That means that they have just as much right to sit there as you do! Yes the people standing up have a worse problem than the people sitting but at least they might have the respect to let others that need them have their seats. Respect for your fellowmen is a wonderful thing and I just thought I needed to say this.
Amen!

If she asked, I would gladly give up the seat. I would NOT force her to take the seat - what arrogance!

 

[lucyanna girl]

You are right I don't know you, You are NOT someone I would want to know Aidensmom! Brier's Aunt, you sound like a kind person.

 

[DAWGPOUNDAJ]

That is sad I think. And yes, the world has deteriorated that much. You wouldn't believe the things I hear on a daily basis where I attend school at. People have become very self-centered and self-oriented. The concept of thinking aobut one's neighbors is certianly not dead, but a rarer quality to find now-a-days.

When in WDW we don't use the bus transportation, or rather we don't rely on it. We've used the monorail though and I ALWAYS stand. I stand even when the place is empty simply b/c I like to stand and walk and run, simply b/c I can. I know a lot of people are not that lucky. I undrestand that it's hard to look at a bus and say who is healthy enough to stand and who is not, but honestly, your going to tell me that there is not ONE person healthy enough to stand on a bus when they can spend all day walking in the parks.

Instances like the one's that prompted this thread to start show how LAZY the world has become. Heaven forbid we have to stand an extra 10 minutes to let a pregnant woman, elderly person, or child have a seat instead.

God help the world b/c I swear little seemingly innocent things like this are just mirroring the horrors I see on the news everyday. Thinking and common courtesy are spiraling downward. Obviously this is not an extreme, but the person who "forgets" what a gun does and shoots a police officer to get away from a crime they commited is another example of someone being selfish and not selfless.

Maybe if we all practiced a bit of courtesy on buses the mindset would spread enough to eventually, lower negative, evil thinking everywhere.

 

[DAWGPOUNDAJ]

If she asked, I would gladly give up the seat. I would NOT force her to take the seat - what arrogance!

I understand the thinking but don't think it would be seen as arrogance to offer someone your seat. I never have to get up b/c I always stand, but on a crowded monorail have gone in before an elderly individual, and turned to offer them a seat I was standing in front of. They oculd have chosen to be insulted, but my smile went a long way.

 

[brier's_aunt]

If she asked, I would gladly give up the seat. I would NOT force her to take the seat - what arrogance!

First of all, I was NOT implying that they should force her to take a seat. In fact I don't even see where you'd think I was implying that. I was implying however that the right thing to do would be to OFFER her a seat. I do not think I was being arrogant, I was simply stating my thoughts on the matter.

 

[brier's_aunt]

You are right I don't know you, You are NOT someone I would want to know Aidensmom! Brier's Aunt, you sound like a kind person.

Thank you very much lucyanna girl!!!

 

[momofpunkinboo]

Well, all . . . I have just read through this thread and can NOT believe that there is this much argument over whether or not to offer a seat.

My husband is disabled and has a very bad back. He is a big man. 6'3" and about 250 pounds. Regardless of this, we spend full days at the parks and he walks around. We take breaks throughout the day to give him rest, but he is in pain. Nonetheless, he is grateful for the fact that he is able to walk and tolerate the pain enough to enjoy our trips. He is very sensitive to the fact that others are not and ALWAYS offers his seats.

We have two children, whom I am always sure to have a seat, so as not to endanger them. I, however, will gladly give mine up for ANYONE, regardless of gender, age, or the obvious display of a physical handicap. That is me, that is who I am. I am not saying that everyone should do that. To each his own, but it is a choice I make and one that I am proud of.

I am not a religious person by any means, but was raised to "do unto others . . .". Courtesy is not a requirement, but I would say that it presents possibilities for us. I've always believed that if you treat others well, it will come back to you. The small things in life make all the difference in the world to others.

As adults, it should be clearly understood that this thread has gone too far with the flaming. Valid points have been made and I don't believe that Aidensmom meant to point fingers at any of you others. In fact, she's been very polite in light of the fact that some of you have been downright ugly to her. One even went so far as to say that you wouldn't want to know her!!! Brier's Aunt has made valid points as well and some have been rude to her. That is not a good way to treat people. Everyone has opinions and all that you guys are showing is that you don't respect others opinions.

There is absolutely NO reason why this can't be discussed in an adult manner, without being mean and rude.

 

[Aidensmom]

I undrestand that it's hard to look at a bus and say who is healthy enough to stand and who is not, but honestly, your going to tell me that there is not ONE person healthy enough to stand on a bus when they can spend all day walking in the parks.

So what is this discussion about in the first place? If everyone is healthy enough to stand on the bus, why should anyone be giving up their seat?

I know you all think I am a terrible person because I think that if I have a seat on the bus I should not be looking for someone who deserves it more than me. And I never did say I have never given up a seat. But there are times where I do need to sit down, and I will not have my 3 year old standing on a bus, no matter what. Sorry, but as a parent my obligation is to look out for him. If I have to sit, I have to sit, and I do not owe anyone an excuse (or my seat). I have my reasons for having to sit - and just because you do not see the outward sign does not mean they are not there. I also give that same benefit of the doubt to anyone else, I do not judge them for sitting. I also do not assume that someone that is older or is pregnant needs to sit - after all, they did feel healthy enough to walk around WDW. If someone really needs to sit, they have the means to do so. They can ask if someone would give them a seat, they can seek assistance from a CM, or they can wait for the next bus. I will wait for a bus where I can sit if I feel I have the need to do so. I have also stood many times, if I choose to get on a crowded bus. The point is, I am the one responsible for making sure my and my child's needs are met, not all the other people on the bus, whose reasons for sitting I don't know. People may think I am rude for taking my own needs into consideration, but that is something I am willing to live with.

 

[brier's_aunt]

I think I speak for all of us in saying that we are not trying to be ugly. We are just standing up for our opinions. Again we weren't trying to be ugly.