Biggest disappointment at WDW......

[Tiffany]

was the number of grown men who would not give up thier seat to an older person, woman or small child.
I can't tell you the number of times I saw an eldery women holding on for dear life while a 20-40 year old man sat right next to her. Whats wrong with people???? Same thing happen to my 7 year old daughter on our last night. We were leaving the MK at about midnight a the bus was full, here is my daughter hanging on while this 30ish guy is sitting watch her trying to keep her balance.
My 11 year old son and I gave up our seats many times over the course of the week.

I agree that a person who is in good health should give up their seat to a person that does not appear to be in good health I do not agree that gender or age age should automatically determine who should stand and who should sit. I am a healthy 34yr old woman and I would not expect a healthy male to give up his seat to me just because I am a woman. Also, I see no reason why a healthy child cannot stand on a bus holding on. If we as woman want equal rights then it needs to be equal all around.

 

[Gymbomom]

You seem to be refering to the Magic Kingdom parking lot, where the bus stops are close but parking in the lot requires a walk or tram to the TTC then a monorail or boat ride to get to the park gates. Yes, in that one instance, the busses arrive far closer to the gates than you would if you rented a car, which is why many who have cars choose to use the busses to get to MK.

However, at the other 3 parks, the walk to the parking tram is short, and the tram ride to the gates is short, and if you arrive early enough you can park close enough to the gate to not need the tram at all.



Here you seem to be referring to the resort bus stops, many of which have benches but no line queue areas (WL, AKL, and POFQ come to mind). If a person has been sitting on the bus stop bench for 20 mins, then you show up 3 mins before the bus arrives and stand by the curb, why are you entitled to get on the bus before the person who has been waiting? What if that person has trouble standing? Should not the 'courtesy' of giving up ones seat also extend to giving up ones place at the head of the boarding line? Arguments can be made.
------------------------------------------------------------

About taking a bus over the car comment was mainly in reference to the pregnant guest. We usually drive and have a car, but prefer to use the bus system.

The other comment, yes I mean at the resort area bus stops. I guess I don't sit and mentally tally up who was there before me or after me. We just usually have 4 families with a lot of storllers, bags, etc. I don't want to close the strollers and drag them to the front of the line, or not have them closed and make people wait behind me why I get my stuff together. I don't have time to worry about if I am being rude by waiting by the curb???, while I am keeping track of 2 children.
I mainly am talking about the people who basically run over you, while you have your children in hand saying, we were here first. I almost laugh.

 

[momx2]

Well this has got interesting.... Let me just say that I don't believe in all of our trips that my DH has ever sat down on a bus if it was full. He always gets up, as a matter of fact if there is a long line, he never even sits down to make sure there is another open seat. My 2 DDs (last trip 6 and 3) I've always tried to get them a seat. I felt last trip that my DD 6 was still too unstable to stand, but she did sometimes. But I will not have her give up a seat. When she gets to pre-teen status, I probably will.

We have had all sorts of experiences with the bus situation. We have had people help us with strollers; we've had people give my DDs and me seats (although I don't expect it, but I also won't let my DDs sit away from me that happened last trip with DD 6 and I was worried the whole bus ride, never again!); as stated above DH always gives up his seat to anyone; we help people with strollers if needed; I put DD 3 in my lap (DD 6 legs are too long if we are in a window seat and besides she "waaayy too old to sit in mommy's lap lol.) to free up a seat. We've also waited for the next bus if too crowded; but if DDs are melting we have gotten on out of self defense and hoped for the best.

So I guess we've seen and done it all. I will say that common courtesy I believe is contagious. Because I have seen men just sit and not give up seats to people I believe need them, but if my DH gets up, then usually another man will get up, and so on and so on.

On our last trip I was a little shocked that when I put my DD 3 in my lap to give an older lady a seat (which totally p.o.'ed my DD, big girl and all, she cried the whole way to the park because she was mad another story) the lady never acknowledged it in any way. She sat down, but was just rude about it, got a bad vibe. But she was probably tired of hearing my DD cry and wished she'd never sit down in the first place, oh, well, I tried! Anyway, I shouldn't expect a thank you anyway.

But I guess what I've learned is this: yes, we give up seats and are proud to do so and would have it no other way. But I don't expect it to be reciprocated and that makes me sad because I believe acts of kindness go along way to making us a better society in general. JMHO!

 

[Marseeya]

We have a law in NYC! On any bus, you have to give up your site if an elderly or handycap person gets on! And Iv'e seen fellow teenagers and kids do it, but NEVER adults!

I just wanted to comment kind of OT about your remark. Both times I was pregnant with my kids or had them in strollers, the only times anyone was EVER courteous enough to hold open a door or be helpful in any way, it was a younger person like in their teens or whatnot. I can't tell you how many elderly women or men would just let the door shut right on the baby.

So, I don't want to hear about how "young people these days" are just so rude. Not so at all!

 

[HockeyChick]

Even though I've pointed it out myself, I keep noticing people going back to the same thing: that sometimes you don't know what's going on even though a person may *look* healthy. I totally understand this as I explained a situation with my grandfather.

That said, it would be ridiculous to think that every single person who looks healthy actually is not healthy. We all know full well that there are 100% healthy people who simply only care about themselves and aren't interested in helping others. Yes there is a sense of entitlement on this thread...but it's not the entitlement of who gets to sit down to a given up seat, it's the entitlement of who gets to keep their seat. Our "courtesy" has gotten to the point where we refuse to even offer things any more, we think we're so high and mighty that we deserve to be asked. Society tries to teach us that we should think only think about #1, and obviously that's what's going on a lot of times on the buses. I see that with an adult being indifferent towards a 7 year old child, people saying they have to be asked before they will give up anything, people outright refusing to give up a seat. It's a seat for crying out loud. I mean really, why don't we all go back to the days of preschool where everything is "mine! mine! mine!" I'm not talking about those who look healthy but really aren't. I'm talking about those who all they have wrong with them is some tiredness...and there's a lot more of those than anyone else.

It saddens me that a stupid bus has become many peoples' throne of power.

You missed the point....well, my point at least. In bringing up that not everyone who "looks" healthy is, I was in no way attempting to say that there were no one healthy people on the bus. That's quite a leap you've made. My point was for those who shoot dirty looks and whisper about those who "look" healthy and are sitting on a bus, which several posters here have admitted to proudly doing. Assuming someone who "looks" healthy is and is, therefore deserving of your scorn and nasty looks is what I was talking about.


Honestly, you can't see that there is just as much of a sense of entitlement going on in those people who board a SRO bus EXPECTING someone to get up for them? Those who expect to be above the SRO situation because their needs are #1 to themselves and should be to everyone around them? That's just as bad, IMO. Entitlement means you believe someone else deserves/needs something less than you do and you're expecting someone to give that something up to meet your needs. If you stay seated when someone else needs a seat, you're feeling entitled to that seat. If you expect someone else to give up their seat because you boarded a SRO bus but have a problem standing, you're feeling entitled to that seat. It works BOTH ways, IMO.

The seats on the bus are first come, first served. I agree, it would be fabulous if everyone who was capable of standing would do so for those that are not. My husband and I, when I was/am able, have always done so and always will. However, if you know you need to sit and you know it's a SRO bus then getting on with the expectation that you are entitled to someone else's seat is no better than the 17 year old keeping his seat when an 80 year old is standing, IMO.

I know on our next trip that after a long day I will not be able to stand on a bus. Therefore, I will take my needs as my own responsibility and if it's a SRO bus I will wait for the next but. The difference is, I'm not going to shoot dirty looks or make moral judgements over those who do not give up a seat or get off the bus for me. No one is required to put my comfort and safety ahead of theirs. I'm not entitled to their seat or their courtesy.



Another thing I'm noticing in this thread is a lot of people seem to be awfully quick to tell folks they should go home or stay home from the parks if they are tired at the end of the day and want a seat. What is that about? I don't get it. The elderly, infirm, pregnant women, women in general and children are all justified in their being at the parks but unable to physically withstand as much but somehow those of us who are just tired at the end of the day should have gone home? I don't think that's a very strong arguement.

Signed, HockeyChick...strong proponent of random acts of kindness, but not those who expect such acts

 

[Limmer]

We aren't smelling someone elses armpit when standing on the bus (I'm short).

I am short too so I totally get this!

 

[momof2inPA]

The lazy, selfish, able-bodied people who will not give their seats up for children or the elderly should keep their un-Disney attitudes at home. Don't go to the happiest place on earth and ruin it for the rest of us.

 

[tomerin]

I will say that common courtesy I believe is contagious. Because I have seen men just sit and not give up seats to people I believe need them, but if my DH gets up, then usually another man will get up, and so on and so on.

well after reading almost his whole thread i have finally found something i can agree with totally. this above quote is so perfect. i am almost 50 years young, just some minor issues stemming from the glories of a mispent youth, my DW is in excellent health and my 2 DS's are also 2 healthy young men. i do not tell them to give anyone their seat. i give a person a seat who i feel is in need of one. it makes me feel good to do this. when my sons see me do that especially after a long day at disney it serves as an excellent example for them. they also offer their seats if they feel someone is in need. not becaue they have to because they too realize it is a proper and nice gesture to do. i always compliment them when they do this.

in fact today not in WDW though we experienced what i am talking about. i was with my DW and DS#2 going to do some shopping. DS in his hurry to go shop walks ahead of us and starts to go in the door, a rather large biker and his wife walked in front of us and started to go in behind my son. no problem here we just like to walk slow. my DS turned and held the door for the biker couple behind him to go in the door, they thanked him and they in turn held the door for us. i mention the biker couple because the streotype of a biker is not one who is know for courtesy. no insult intended to any bike afficianados.

someone else in this thread used the old quote, " what goes around comes around". that is true.

 

[TDC Nala]

I take public transportation daily. In this city all modes of public transportation are equipped to handle standees, and they get them, too.

In fact, the subway system is considering actually removing seats from the trains in order to accommodate more standing passengers.

Disney's newer buses are designed like some of the newer buses used in public transportation, with fewer seats and more room for standing passengers.

This is typical of short-run public transportation. If it's that dangerous to stand on a bus or subway train, then no one should do it, anywhere, and probably all cities will have to change their public transportation systems.

 

[jnrrt]

Just wanted to say that we have always encountered polite and helpful people on the busses. To read this thread, I would frankly be afraid to ride. And while we do avoid them and drive most of the time, it's because we have little kids and would rather be on our schedule than someone else's. We do, however, always take the bus to MK to avoid the whole TTC thing, and have never had a problem. I agree with the above poster - if you are being helpful and polite, it's a rare person who will not return that attitude.

 

[mking624]

You missed the point....well, my point at least. In bringing up that not everyone who "looks" healthy is, I was in no way attempting to say that there were no one healthy people on the bus. That's quite a leap you've made. My point was for those who shoot dirty looks and whisper about those who "look" healthy and are sitting on a bus, which several posters here have admitted to proudly doing. Assuming someone who "looks" healthy is and is, therefore deserving of your scorn and nasty looks is what I was talking about.


Honestly, you can't see that there is just as much of a sense of entitlement going on in those people who board a SRO bus EXPECTING someone to get up for them? Those who expect to be above the SRO situation because their needs are #1 to themselves and should be to everyone around them? That's just as bad, IMO. Entitlement means you believe someone else deserves/needs something less than you do and you're expecting someone to give that something up to meet your needs. If you stay seated when someone else needs a seat, you're feeling entitled to that seat. If you expect someone else to give up their seat because you boarded a SRO bus but have a problem standing, you're feeling entitled to that seat. It works BOTH ways, IMO.

The seats on the bus are first come, first served. I agree, it would be fabulous if everyone who was capable of standing would do so for those that are not. My husband and I, when I was/am able, have always done so and always will. However, if you know you need to sit and you know it's a SRO bus then getting on with the expectation that you are entitled to someone else's seat is no better than the 17 year old keeping his seat when an 80 year old is standing, IMO.

I know on our next trip that after a long day I will not be able to stand on a bus. Therefore, I will take my needs as my own responsibility and if it's a SRO bus I will wait for the next but. The difference is, I'm not going to shoot dirty looks or make moral judgements over those who do not give up a seat or get off the bus for me. No one is required to put my comfort and safety ahead of theirs. I'm not entitled to their seat or their courtesy.



Another thing I'm noticing in this thread is a lot of people seem to be awfully quick to tell folks they should go home or stay home from the parks if they are tired at the end of the day and want a seat. What is that about? I don't get it. The elderly, infirm, pregnant women, women in general and children are all justified in their being at the parks but unable to physically withstand as much but somehow those of us who are just tired at the end of the day should have gone home? I don't think that's a very strong arguement.

Signed, HockeyChick...strong proponent of random acts of kindness, but not those who expect such acts

Well first you seem to assume I was addressing you, and I wasn't. So I didn't miss your point because I wasn't talking to you specifically in the first place. Many people brought up the issue of people who may or may not be healthy (not just you), so I was addressing it in a general sense.

Second, it seems to me that the only people who think that people are expecting seats are those who are bringing up "what if" situations by continuing to say it's equally wrong to expect a seat. I was never one of those people. No person who has talked about a simple kindness of offering a seat has ever mentioned how they were expected to give it up. The only people who have brought up anything about being expected to give it up are seemingly those who have a problem with offering anything (and for the record, I don't feel "entitled" to any seat as it's not my property to begin with). People keep harping on how they're being expected by people to give up their seat for them...yet maybe only one or two people have posted about anyone asking for their seat. So to say I can't seem to see how it's equally wrong...well, there's just simply not enough of it happening on that side as much as there is people who just don't understand the word "kindness." I never said anything about someone getting on with the expectation of someone getting up for them. So please don't put words in my mouth that were never there. My post is simply addressing the fact that perfectly healthy people simply refuse to be decent because they don't care about others. And people can debate that until they're blue in the face, but the reality is that there ARE people in our world who are like that. Maybe no one on this thread, but some people ARE like that. And that upsets me.

 

[HockeyChick]

I'd say the people who come here to post a thread complaining about it and those who admit to giving dirty looks and whispering about those who don't give up their seat are expecting it. JMO, I guess. But I see the sense of entitlement there just as much.

 

[snyderla]

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.

We aren't talking about"deserving", & no one would want a 3 yo to stand, no one ever said that! And just because someone walked onto the bus, doesn't mean they walked throughout WDW all day, they do rent wheelchairs! We rented one for my dad who had a heart attack 1 week before we took him. (There were reasons for that trip, which I won't go into.) I think most of us are talking from a perspective of observing others who may need a seat. If I feel I need to sit down, I will wait. And I have now learned that if I don't have a bar low enough to hang on to, I will get off the bus! But I will also offer my seat to others-small children, mothers/fathers holding small children, ETC...when I feel I can stand.

Lori

 

[berkshire mike]

Yikes!!!!!!

This thread has gotton way out of hand. Unforseen disabilities, entitlements, safety, "wait for the next bus", "rent a car", dirty looks, ect..

My point was that yes I was disappointed (after riding the bus system for a week) to see a small number of able bodied men not offering thier seat to an ederly man/woman, small child, ect.. Maybe I was being judgemental, though I never gave any dirty looks, thats something I'll be more aware of.

For me thats the way I was raised. Holding a door and offering a seat is what a gentleman should do. I guess what I learned from this thread is that not everyone was raised the same as I was and thats o'k. If you don't want to give up your seat thats fine, no explaination is necessary. It just doesn't work for me.

That said, we can't wait to go back

 

[*Fantasia*]

I did not read all the post, just a few.

Here is my thoughts on this:

If I was pregnant or if I was a 60 year old woman... I would just rent a car! This way I am guaranteed I will have my comfortable seat! I don't even have to wait in line! I can come and go as I please anywhere I want to be. I can even play with the temperature and hey.. I can even listen to music!

Whew... It feels great to have a rental car! I don't have to give up my seat to nobody! Anyway... I think my children are too small to drive anyways!

However... There are some times when I do take the bus to and from the parks. If I was pregnant or if I was a 60 year old woman and I need to take the bus, I would wait for the next bus so I can find a seat and sit down comfortably.

Why would I want to inconvinience the folks who are already seated and they have already been waiting and waiting in line for sooo long and they were there first before me and they are just as tired as I am who is pregnant or who is an old woman. I think it would be so mean if I start starring at them as if they SHOULD or they MUST give up the seat for me. As far as I am concern, they don't have to do anything for me. If however someone gives up their seat for me, then I would be very thankful and appreciate his thoughtfulness. If they don't...then hey... standing up in the bus is also part of disney just like standing in line for sooo long to get on the ride is part of disney.

Some are thoughtful than others, some are sharing than others, and some are not so thoughtful and have no common courtesy. It is not their fault that that's the way they are. You can't blame them for not giving up their seat. Not everyone are nice and thoughtful as we would like them to be. So if it's very important for you to sit down, then just wait for another bus, and for sure you will have a seat. OR.. To solve the problem... I say.. rent a car. Simple as that.

Blah..blah..blah.. Sorry... this post is looong!

Please... If you are pregnant especially if you're far along, please be careful getting on the bus (the steps are kind of high) and also the bus may be too crowded that someone might accidentally elbow you or your baby. Sometimes I see a little bit of pushing and shoving...and this is not good for you and the baby. All I am saying is that it might be risky to take the bus especially when the bus is crowded. Sometimes it's elbow to elbow. Somtimes I get stepped on.. "Ouch!"

This also goes to the elderlies (whether you're a man or woman). They are more fragile and sometimes their balance are not as good as the younger ones. Please be careful climbing on the steps. And please, if the bus is full, don't assume someone will give up their seat I have stood up a few times and it is no picnic standing up with the rest of the crowds. Sometimes the bus stop abruptly. AY YAY YAY...everyone ended up bumping into one another because we all jerked... and jerked hard! There was this stupid car who I guess was kind of lost or confused. The car stopped right in the middle of the road and our driver pressed the break so hard... it was not fun to be swung around while holding the metal pole. It's okay if you're at a strip club dancing and swinging around the pole.. but we're in Disney in the bus!! All I am saying.. Please be careful. And if possible... I say just rent a car for your convinience and for your safety and the safety of your baby

Thank you...

 

[EvilinaDM101]

but when we ride the buses we normally get stuck standing (FDH and myself) and it's great because we are all about the bus aisle surfing (if you haven't tried it, you should). It tends to make the people sitting laugh and it lightens up the bus mood. It's also like the last ride for the night! Sorta like Star tours but standing!!

 

[opal]

The newer buses at Disney (the ones where the seats in the back are a step up) seem to have fewer seats which allows more people to stand and I think overall seems to fit more people total. Our family will always offer our seats to others if it seems they need to sit especially parents holding small children, pregnant women, small children and anyone else that looks like they may have difficulty "hanging on".

You never know, maybe the ones that aren't offering, by passed the standing room only bus and waited for the next because they felt they need to sit.

If it is just thoughtlessness, i tend to ignore it. It happens everywhere and it is usually not intentional. You know what I mean.... people stopping in the middle of a walkway to read the map or swat their kids , running over your feet with a stroller because they were waving to Mickey and not watching in front of them. No big deal! Just being at the World makes me happy.

 

[Baxie8]

I just returned from a stay last week, and my biggest disappointment was the littering people do in the parks, especially after parades. The parks are so beautiful and there are so many trash bins, it's amazing to me that people just leave their trash on the streets. Disney is great at having employees pick it up, but it would be nice if people were responsible for themselves and showed respect for the park by picking up after themselves.

 

[DizBelle]

To those that believe it is common courtesy to give up you seat on the bus to anyone you feel is in more need, doesn't it follow that it is also common courtesy to give up your spot on the bus altogether to those still at the bus stop that are in more need than you? If you've given up your seat on the bus to someone else on the bus, have you ever given up your spot on the bus altogether to someone in more need than you that would have to wait for the next bus?

If you believe that giving up your seat to a fellow passenger is common courtesy, but don't give up your spot altogether to let someone else on the bus, then you aren't really exercising this common courtesy entirely, are you?

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Would someone please fill me in on what a SRO is? It's another one of those unknown acronyms not found in the DIS acronym page.