Biggest disappointment at WDW......

[momofpunkinboo]

Perhaps nobody is TRYING to be ugly, but this is how some have come across. This should be considered. People are much more likely to type something mean to someone that they don't have to face when they would NEVER say those things to someone's face. We should think before we type hurtful things - ALL OF US.

 

[HockeyChick]

I haven't read this entire thread because, frankly, it got tedious so please forgive me if I'm repeating an already well made point.

Really, IMO, it all boils down to the over developed sense of entitlement that is running rampant in society today. Those who feel entitled to their seat no matter who is standing have it AND those who feel they are entitled to someone else's seat because the person sitting "looks" healthy have it just as bad. In reality, IMO, no one is exercising kindness or courtesy in these situations. The world would be a better place if we all did what we believed was right for ourselves and stopped worrying so much about what everyone else is doing. Making someone else responsible for your happiness really gets you nowhere. As a great lady once said, "If you judge people you have no time to love them"

BTW, the pregnant lady getting on a SRO bus is not being put in danger by the people not giving up their seat. She is putting her self in danger by getting on the SRO bus. As adults, we need to be responsible for ourselves and not expect others to see to our needs. JMHO.

After reading most of this thread, at least I know what I'm in for now when I visit in August and use Disney transportation my entire trip: nasty looks and judgemental comments being made behind my back or maybe to my face. I'd say that will be my biggest disappointment. When I was younger I gave up a seat on busses anytime anyone else was standing because I simply didn't mind standing, so why not. Please, read that sentence again and understand that I think that is the right thing to do. Now, however, at the ripe old age of 32, I have joint degeneration in one of my knees from a high school soccer injury. Yeah, I look healthy. So whisper about me and damn me all you want but after a full day at the parks there will be no way I will be able to stand on a bus. And after paying what I'm paying for this trip and not knowing when this opportunity might come around again, I will darn well stay out as late as I please!!

My bottom line: just because I "look" healthier than someone else doesn't mean I am so try not to make a jerk of yourself by shooting me dirty looks when I don't offer up my seat. Sometimes there are reasons for things you can't see. We know where assumptions get us, right?

 

[Aidensmom]

HockeyChick - Well said!

Point I was trying to make but wasn't quite able to express myself as well. I am not sure that my next trip to Disney will be quite the same as all of my previous pre-DISboards trips after learning what a terrible person I am for sitting on busses, pushing a stroller, and taking with me a normal kid that isn't always a perfect angel!

 

[Bunch24]

Apologies if I'm repeating something already said.

First of all, NO ONE should EVER stand on a bus. It's just not safe, PERIOD. I don't care if you're freakin' Arnold Schwartzenegger or Arnold from Different Strokes. I stood one time (after giving up my seat to a woman with a young child) and I'll never ever, ever, ever, ever get on an SRO bus again. It may have just been the bus drivers the week we went, but they were hitting the three-wheel motion on every turn. I swear some turns, we were riding on two wheels. I'm a pretty solid guy (5-10, 250, ex-football player) and I'm more than capable of taking care of myself, even though my knees aren't quite what they used to be. But me vs. a bus, I'll give the edge to the bus.

So, from now on, I'm waiting for a bus that's got room. If a bus fills up and I'm gonna be the first one standing, I'll wait for the next. If you're behind me and you want to get on, have at it, but I'm not going to risk it. And my wife agrees with me, because she feels the same way. We wouldn't ever expect anyone to give up their seat (that they waited just as long as us for) because we have a child. We can wait, it's not going to kill us to wait another 10 or 20 minutes.

In fact, I think it would be wise for Disney to implement a no-standing policy on all their modes of transportation. I realize that would likely require getting more buses, hiring more drivers, but hey, you know they got the money. You can't stand on a greyhound bus, can you? Anyway, I digress.

I was raised to be a nice southern gentleman and I still open doors for everyone (yes, I said everyone and my wife hates it at times, because she'll look back and I'm still holding the door for some family still 20 feet away) and I'll offer my seat to someone who needs it more than I. But if it requires me standing on the second coming of Tower of Terror and Rock-N-Roller Coaster, I'll just get off the bus and wait for the next one to come along.

As sad as it is to say, if you get on an SRO bus, you should, in fact, be prepared to stand. If you're not prepared to stand, wait for the next one and you'll be guaranteed your seat.

A little humor here, but if I were to tell people in line in front of me at a restaurant that I was hungrier than them, you think they'd let me cut?

 

[jbthi]

We just returned from DW a couple of weeks ago. I didn't have to stand very many times but I was offered a seat each time. I am in my mid sixties and do have a few health problems; mainly arthritis that affects my back, knees and feet. I thanked them very politely but said no, I was fine.

Expecting people to give up their seat is one of my biggest pet peeves.

No one knows how someone else is feeling. There can be all kinds of problems that do not show.

If I absolutely can't stand I will wait on the next bus, drive myself, or call a cab. No way will I take someone elses seat.

 

[MinnieM21]

nevermind...

 

[SusanDK]

I've read through most of this thread and see this is a heated topic. A thought came to mind.

First, I agree with the poster(s) who said that there should not be any standing at all on buses due to safety issues. Disney should add buses and drivers to accommodate guests quickly and efficiently without jeopardizing anyone's safety.

Seeing as that is unlikely to happen, what about having two queues for the buses. One queue would be for seated transportation, the other would be for SRO.

Each time a bus arrives, the seated queue is permitted onto the bus until the seats are filled. Then the SRO queue is allowed to board until the standing room is filled.

Those who stand in the SRO queue do so by choice, knowing that they will probably get on a bus quicker by their willingness to stand.

Those who stand in the seated queue are guaranteed a seat and are willing to wait for it. They only board a bus when a seat is available and no one needs to get upset or judge one another about who is or is not offering their seats to others, because everyone has selected in advance whether they are willing to stand or prefer/need to wait for a seat.

Susan

 

[DAWGPOUNDAJ]

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.

Aidensmom please do not think I meant you were a horrible person or anything, I didn't mean it that way, just simply meant that if there are 20 people on a bus, at least one simply could stand. I do my best to understand parental responsibilities (I'd be insane to say I understood them since I don't have kids). I just simply meant that it is often sad to see someone with a clear limp, pregnancy, etc. standing when you have younger people (most of whom I hope are healthy) sitting. Especially because I doubt that every seated person has a severe health problem. Everyone has aches and pains, its a sad fact of life. Some of us just need to suck them up better. I myself have nerve damage down my leg because of a ski accident, but I'm just grateful to be running around still despite part of my leg being numb, so I stand as much as possible. If I can do that with nerve damage it irks me a bit to think about the individuals who let the elderly stand when they are just 'tired' from the parks. Would I whisper or judge? Of course not. This whole debate here is our mere musing about things. A way to get out our opinions in hopes that maybe one selfish bloke, who is 100% healthy, who never stands or is never courteous, reads some of this and thinks, "Oh dear I should change my ways a bit!" Lets all cross our fingers and hope this whole thing affects at least one person! That would make all the debate worthwhile if it helped just one person.

Basically it boils down to this everyone:

Be courteous. If you don't have something wrong with you, be kind and offer an elder, pregnant woman, disabled person, or a child a seat. We can all be friends in the world. My previous posts were meant to show how I think society as a whole is deteriorating. I think society truly is, despite all our advancements, the golden rule of treat others as you would like to be treated is often forgotten.

I apologize to anyone if my posts came across as harsh. It was not intended, I just thought something needed to be pointed out. Obviously if a parent needs to keep their child seated I would understand them sitting on any day.

 

[plutolovr]

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!

OK, if anyone is putting this 8-month pregnant woman at risk it is HERSELF! You can open up a whole can of worms by putting it the way you did. It should not be my responsibility to make sure she, (or elderly person, or whomever is safe). People need to stop putting their safety and happiness in other people's hands. Have responsibility for your own situation. What if you were standing in a long line at a ride, would you let every elderly, pregnant, or small child on before you because they are elderly, pregnant or a small child? If they pass out in line from heat, or whatever, is it your responsibility because you didn't let them on before you? PLEASE!!!

Don't get on the bus if it's SRO, that simple.
Again, this is why I rent a car. Can't stand the busses.

 

[drakethib]

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

I think everyone is missing the point.

I would never force anyone to take a seat.

But I darn sure will stand up and offer, if the peron declines, I will plop my butt back down for the ride.

 

[WEDway2002]

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.

Bingo! My sentiments and methods exactly! Simply making a seat available "on the sly" is the way to go (IMHO). We also only rent cars ... the only time we have encountered this sort of thing is on the monorail and then, since it's such a short trip, it's more a demonstration of good manners than a real need.

I have to say, this has turned into a really active thread ... at least we're discussing good manners ... it certainly a step in the right direction! Anyway, I have always considered the members of this board a "cut above the rest"!

Dave

 

[drakethib]

This is getting very sad.

I do not think anyone is entitled to anything in this world, sitting, standing, running, jumping, or whatever.

My main thought on the whole thing is that people should be courteous. If you feel you have waited and are entitled to your seat, then by all means stay seated.

It just troubles me that we are now at a day in age where people will make excuses instead of being polite. IMHO, it is not society thinking someone is entitled to anything; it is just plan good manners when you are healthy and can do something for someone who might not have as much kick as you might.

No, I do not know anyones physical condition (other then may family)and I do not want to see any child in danger. Call me old fashioned (I am 33 years old) but I was always taught that you should always put women and children and the elderly in front of yourself no matter if it is opening them a door, offering them your seat, saying yes sir or ma'am, etc. BTW where I come from a man (a gentleman if you will) should give his seat to a woman,child, or the elderly regardless if she/he is in perfect health or not.

My wife (who is pregnant right row and the doc has blessed the trip) and I are leaving for 8 days @ WDW on April 30th. We plan on taking it easy and having a great time. We will have a rental car but will be taking the bus to the parks (who the heck wants to drive in WDW when there is such a great bus system with funny drivers?). So if the need arises for those of you who are physically healthy (especially men) and don't want to give up your seat for a pregnant woman (or anyone woman for that matter), stay sitting and think to your about what your mama would say about that.

As for us, we will wait and catch the next bus if need be and we will still have a great time.

Just FYI.

For those of you who are women or my elders (regardless of your physical condition) , if you see a guy who is about 5'7 with a stocky build, and crew cut hair who is offering his seat on the bus, please don’t be offended (as I am sure you won’t) , just say hello as that will be me.

 

[maxiesmom]

Ok, you guys are frightening me!! I am not quite 40, and am taking my 60 something parents to Disney next month. Now let me get this straight. I have to worry about: not getting a seat on a bus, getting a seat on a bus and getting the evil-eye from anyone left to stand, offering my seat and being verablly abused, and not offering a seat beacuse ever sense my knee surgery my knee sometimes likes to operate with its own agenda and getting abused. So basically it is a no-win situation! Rest assured that I do and will offer my seat if I think someone else has more of a need for it! By the way, not everyone likes to drive at Disney. Can we say absolutely no sense of direction?

 

[mking624]

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.

 

[SpaceMounatin]

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.

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!

 

[skiwee1]

My mom has a hard time standing because of her bad knees. She also has terrible balance and cannot hold on while a bus is moving. I have bad feet that can kill me after a couple hours of walking. When we go to WDW and have to use a bus, we wait for a bus we can both sit on. We do it all the time. Would I feel bad for finally waiting for a seat and then some elderly person get on without one? No way! We waited for that seat. I see nothing wrong with someone that truly needs a seat to actually wait for a bus that has seats for them. No one is forcing these pregnant women, women with kids, or the elderly to get on a bus that has no seats available to them. No one! I have been known to give up my seat if my feet are killing but that is rare. I just think it is a shame that someone that is healthy but doesn't want to give up a seat is considered rude. The only rude ones are the ones that expect those to give up their seats for them. What is the problem of waiting for another bus?

 

[mking624]

What is the problem of waiting for another bus?

And couldn't the same be said of you? What's wrong with waiting for another bus? You say you have bad feet that hurt after a couple of hours of walking at WDW and that your mom has bad knees, but no one forced you to go to WDW either. I mean you don't really think you're the only one whose feet are hurting or that your mom is the only one with bad knees do you? I'm not saying to get up from the seat, but don't post as though you're unique to these things. Because the person you're not standing up for could also be struggling with the same things.

I just don't get this whole thing of "they could wait for another bus"....well so could any of us.

 

[skiwee1]

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!

An 8 month pregnant woman should not be boarding a bus that is SRO. That would be her own stupidity to put herself and her unborn child at risk. I've been to WDW pregnant and just waited for a bus that had an open seat on it. I would NEVER expect someone to offer me a seat nor would I think it rude if they didn't. I also wouldn't be foolish enough to board a SRO bus if I didn't want to stand.

 

[skiwee1]

And couldn't the same be said of you? What's wrong with waiting for another bus? You say you have bad feet that hurt after a couple of hours of walking at WDW and that your mom has bad knees, but no one forced you to go to WDW either.

As I said, the bus becomes peoples' throne of power.

]
]

Did you not read my post? We do wait for another bus.

 

[skiwee1]

And couldn't the same be said of you? What's wrong with waiting for another bus? You say you have bad feet that hurt after a couple of hours of walking at WDW and that your mom has bad knees, but no one forced you to go to WDW either. I mean you don't really think you're the only one whose feet are hurting or that your mom is the only one with bad knees do you? I'm not saying to get up from the seat, but don't post as though you're unique to these things. Because the person you're not standing up for could also be struggling with the same things.

I just don't get this whole thing of "they could wait for another bus"....well so could any of us.

I never said I was the only one that has problem feet. I said that I WAIT FOR ANOTHER BUS SO WE CAN SIT. Understand that? I feel that those that NEED A SEAT should also WAIT FOR ANOTHER BUS. Why on earth should we wait for another bus so we can sit only to be expected to give up THAT seat for someone too lazy or in a hurry to wait for another bus. Take responsibilty for yourselves for goodness sakes!