Biggest disappointment at WDW......

[berkshire mike]

The poster, Lisa...was just stating her opinion in a very 'matter of fact' way. There is no need to attack her personally.

Besides, when at Disney...who cares...just have fun and forget your troubles!

And I was stating my opinion.
It really it's an attack on Lisa, in fact I'd offer her my seat any day.
Let me also say that the majority of people DID offer thier seats to those less able to stand.

 

[DrTomorrow]

I think all of you that are considerate enough to offer rock!! It is sad that the days of the past are that.. the past. [snip]

I suspect that you're either too young to know, or have forgotten, that "the good old day's weren't always good". Back in the day when offering such courtesies was more typical: minorities were segregated to the back of the bus - or not allowed on; women were second-class citizens, treated little better than posessions; the elderly were "sentenced" to old-folks homes and the handicapped were a group of people kept out of sight. When culture changes - even when things improve - some old ways are lost.

Besides, I'm not sure that all of the posters who "offer" have thought through the implication of their offers. Why is it automatically considered a "good deed" to go up to a complete stranger and suggest that they are too old, too female, too infirm or too pregnant to survive without your sacrifice?

As I've said, if asked, I'll gladly - with a truly joyous and friendly attitude - do whatever I can to help. But to make an offer which - when all the self-satisfaction is boiled out - is really just saying "Hey, Gramps - you're so old you need this seat more than I do" (or "Hey, Gimpy" or "Hey Preggo") doesn't seem the courteous thing to do.

IMHO - YMMV

 

[MinnieM21]

I just wanted to add that if you need a seat and can't find one, Remember that the CMs are always there to help you and can assist you in finding a seat on the monorail. Let them know and they'll be more than happy to help.

 

[Bracho]

My grandmother always said that a young man should always give up his seat to a lady... that was in the 60's...

My mother told me that a young man should give up his seat to a women in need.. ie.. a women with very young children or pregnant, an elderly person, be it man or women...

Over they years I have learned that sometimes people like to take advantage of everything they can to get what they want. I have given up my seat alot at Disney because of how I was raised but out of last 10 times, I have only had one person say thank you and one lady even looked at me and said to my face that it was about time... now I wanted to take her and shove her out of the bus while it was moving....

I will always give my seat up to someone in need but it will always be based on how I see it, not someone else and if people don't like that or understand it then they have the same shoes to get happy in as they had to get upset in. We alwasy like to push how we feel on others and expect others to see things the way we do but it just doesn't work that way.

We all know that the main line of transportation at Disney is buses, we all know that the buses only fit so many people, we all know that most of the people on the bus are strangers and sometimes from a different country, we all know that most people don't see things the same way we see them, we all know that when we go to Disney and get on a bus when it's busy, they chances are that we might have to stand up during the ride, and we all know that in todays world people are not as willing to give up a seat they have been waiting for and sometimes the wait can be long.... just like the person who thinks they deserve the seat more then they do...

If I gave my seat up to every women on a bus without a seat, I'd be standing every time I took the bus and I'm sorry but a healthy women with kids that are a little older then 5 doesn't need a seat, she needs to get there sooner to be the first on the bus or wait for the next one. I will always give up my seat for whoever, in my option needs a seat, but it will always reamain who "I" feel, not someone else....

Just my 2 cents..

 

[L107ANGEL]

DRTomorrow

What is young in your opinion?

 

[DrTomorrow]

I just wanted to add that if you need a seat and can't find one, Remember that the CMs are always there to help you and can assist you in finding a seat on the monorail. Let them know and they'll be more than happy to help.

Exactly! There are plenty of options for someone who needs assistance - and plenty of people who will gladly lend a helping hand the moment they know you need some assistance.

 

[berkshire mike]

I suspect that you're either too young to know, or have forgotten, that "the good old day's weren't always good". Back in the day when offering such courtesies was more typical: minorities were segregated to the back of the bus - or not allowed on; women were second-class citizens, treated little better than posessions; the elderly were "sentenced" to old-folks homes and the handicapped were a group of people kept out of sight. When culture changes - even when things improve - some old ways are lost.

Besides, I'm not sure that all of the posters who "offer" have thought through the implication of their offers. Why is it automatically considered a "good deed" to go up to a complete stranger and suggest that they are too old, too female, too infirm or too pregnant to survive without your sacrifice?

As I've said, if asked, I'll gladly - with a truly joyous and friendly attitude - do whatever I can to help. But to make an offer which - when all the self-satisfaction is boiled out - is really just saying "Hey, Gramps - you're so old you need this seat more than I do" (or "Hey, Gimpy" or "Hey Preggo") doesn't seem the courteous thing to do.

IMHO - YMMV

What???? How is it you link common courtesy to segregation?
I really can't imagine someone being offended by an act of kindness. If offering your seat to an eldery woman doesn't seem courteous then what is??????
I doubt many people would ask someone to give up thier seat. After all may be they need the seat more than the person asking.
Lets not make this complicated; if your sitting down and someone gets on a full bus and is less able to stand, common sense should guide you, offer them your seat. No big deal, don't expect any awards. If by some odd reason they are offended just apologize and forget it.

 

[Harmony]

What is your definition of "less able to stand?"

 

[GEM]

Actually, let's make it even simpler. If you aren't willing and able to stand, don't get on a bus that's standing room only.


Like I said, I do always offer my seat to the elderly, those with little children, etc. and I will continue to do so. I do always wonder, though, why they didn't just wait for the next bus if they needed a seat. Like I said before, my safety and the safety of my children is my responsibility - not that of some stranger. If I don't feel we'll be safe or comfortable standing, we wait our turn for a seat. That just makes sense. I don't assume that everyone (or anyone) on the bus will go out of their way to accomodate me just because I was too impatient to wait a few minutes for the next bus.

Don't get me wrong, I think it is great that there are still wonderful people out there willing to help others out by giving up a seat, offering assistance, etc. I've seen it more often than not at WDW. However, I don't think you can squeeze yourself onto a packed bus and then get upset with others when you don't have a place to sit.

It's the same thing as when a couple of adults stake out a parade spot over an hour in advance so they can be right on the rope and get some great pictures, and then just as the parade is starting a family with kids comes up behind them and starts complaining about how their kids can't see.

 

[childsplay]

Actually, let's make it even simpler. If you aren't willing and able to stand, don't get on a bus that's standing room only.

Good thinking!!!
Lets make those people who "aren't willing or able to stand", stand in line and wait 20 minutes for another bus.

 

[GEM]

Most of the discussion here has been about people who can't stand while on a moving bus - not those who can't stand at all.

I'm assuming the op's daughter, while she may have had trouble balancing on the moving bus, would have had no problem waiting a few more minutes at the bus stop.

As I said before, on the two trips we have made since our little guy was born, we have waited for the next bus many times, rather than getting on a full one and trying to balance standing with a baby, stroller, diaper bag, etc. It wouldn't have occured to me to get on anyway, expecting someone to vacate a seat for me.

 

[EvilinaDM101]

My biggest disappointment at WDW is........ NEVER getting a towel animal made for me at my resort. Every night, come back to the room....sneak up on the bed.....NUTHIN!! Maybe in the bathroom.......crack open the door and take a peek....NUTHIN! Darn, when is the towel animal fairy gonna ever visit us?

Us too Hadjii!! How much do you have to leave the mousekeepers for 1, JUST 1 towel animal!!!!!!!! We saw them all week in people's windows but none in ours

 

[berkshire mike]

What is your definition of "less able to stand?"

Like I said we not have to make this complicated.
Look I really don't want to sound like I'm preaching or am somehow better than this person or that person. If thats how it sounds then I apologize. If I have offended anyone then I also truly apologize. It just seems to me obvious when and to whom you could offer your seat to. Like someone said its a judgement call. You don't have to and your breaking no laws. I sure that just about everyone is capable to stand for a 15 minute bus ride. May be there have been times while I was sitting that someone thought I should have offer my seat to them. I would not find it necessary to offer my seat to an apparently healthy teenage boy or girl. A small child, yes; an elderly man or women, yes.
As far as not getting on a full bus; it was not always apparent while getting on the bus that it was going to be filled. Sometimes the bus is already moving so it would be to late to get off.

 

[DMRick]

I've been given dirty looks when the bus driver made people get up so he could fold the seat up to get my ECV on. Then they sat, and just stared at me while I tried to find a place to sit. I've ended up having to stand because no one would get up.

I'd always give my seat to you..but I really think that bus driver should have made sure you had a seat if no one else did. That is a whole different ball game, than what many have been talking about. He loaded the ECV and he must realize there was a reason you had it. So if no one got up for you, he should have just said to someone..I'm sorry, I need your seat. Again, the buses I've been on in Disney say in the front you may be asked to give up your seat.

 

[njchris]

As is the usual case these days, way too much time and energy is devoted to disapproving of what total strangers choose to do. It's great if someone wants to do something nice for another, but having done that nice thing, doesn't it kind of tarnish the act of generosity to begin crowing about it to the entire world? If someone wants to offer up a seat, great, but if they choose not to, well that's their prerogative. All the scornful posts in the world won't change it.

However, don't get me started on line cutters!

I agree with this. Except I don't bother getting upset at line cutters. What can I do? Start a fight? Not on my Disney Vacation I wont!

I'll give up a seat when I think it's appropriate. I like to be nice.. so I'll do it to the most cranky person... maybe it will make them a tiny bit less cranky. Either way it makes me feel good.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Obviously many of us just have different ideas of what the "right" thing to do is. But in my opinion if you've waited and waited for a bus, and you're so tired and exhausted you can't give your seat to an elderly person, or a woman holding an infant, then you stayed out too late! This is just common courtesy people!! It's no different than being in line at the grocery store and the person behind you only has one item to buy and you have a cart full. Or seeing someone on the road trying to pull out into traffic and slowing down so they can merge in. If you haven't tried doing things like this, you should! You'll be surprised how little acts of kindness can come back around to you!

 

[mking624]

Besides, I'm not sure that all of the posters who "offer" have thought through the implication of their offers. Why is it automatically considered a "good deed" to go up to a complete stranger and suggest that they are too old, too female, too infirm or too pregnant to survive without your sacrifice?

I think it's quite bold of you to start turning random acts of kindness and thoughtfulness into something more sinister. No one on here has indicated about a personal sacrifice of giving up a seat, no one said others aren't able to take care of themselves. But neither should those who ARE doing something kind (and yes, something as simple as offering a seat is an act of kindness) should be treated as though they just spit in a person's face. It ticks me off that people insist on twisting such a simple gesture into something far different. No one is "implying" anything by offering a seat to someone. It's not anyone's fault but your own if you choose to twist it into something different.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Besides, I'm not sure that all of the posters who "offer" have thought through the implication of their offers. Why is it automatically considered a "good deed" to go up to a complete stranger and suggest that they are too old, too female, too infirm or too pregnant to survive without your sacrifice?

That has got to be the saddest comment I have read on this board.

 

[Shagley]

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.

IMHO I think it is sort of rude to get on a bus expecting someone will give up their seat for you. I DO think out of kindness someone should have offered, but for your DH ask out loud to have someone give up their seat would have made me not want to do it (especially since there was obviously another bus coming).

I think if you are someone (pregnant, injured, handicapped, with small children, etc) who knows that you will not be able to stand for a bus ride, you need to get their early to be sure you will get a seat, or wait for the next bus and not get on a full bus expecting that someone will give up their seat for you. Just consider it a bonus if someone does offer.

That being said, I would hope that people would be kind enough to offer. I am a 35 year old woman, and I do give up my seat if someone needs it more, but if I have waited in line for the same bus and you happen to get on later after it is filled, I probably won't offer my seat unless you are elderly, obviously handicapped, or very pregnant. Otherwise I will figure that you have the option of waiting for the next bus, and if you decide you don't want to wait in order to get a seat on the next bus, then you choose to stand.

I probably don't feel that way in all cases, but I was in a situation one time (not at WDW) where I got to the bus stop early because my legs were so tired and I wanted to make sure I got a seat. The bus waited for about 10 minutes as it filled up (the next bus would be there in 15 - 20 minutes). As we were starting to pull out, a family with Dad, Pregnant Mom, and 3 small kids come running up. The bus stopped to let them on, but then once they were on, the DH in the family started arguing with people who would not stand up to let his wife and kids sit down. It turned pretty heated. This is the type of situation that really makes me angry when people think it is their right to sit down, even if they get on an already filled bus.

Go ahead and flame me, but remember - I DON'T THINK EVERY SITUATION IS LIKE THIS. I KNOW NOT EVERYONE DOES THIS. MY OPINION ONLY REFLECTS THIS ONE KIND OF SITUATION.

 

[berkshire mike]

I agree that nobody has a right to the seat more than anyone else. However I think it's sad that nobody on the bus offered a pregnant mother or the three small kids thier seat.
No offense to you but.....at 35 standing for another 15 minutes wouldn't have killed you.