Biggest disappointment at WDW......

[DVCconvert]

A Global Nuclear Holocaust is begining to look more and more attractive.
Perhaps in a few hundred thousand years, the next inhabiting species of the Earth can get along better.

 

[DMRick]

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?).

Have you been reading this thread? If you have the ability to use a car, with your pregnant wife, why on earth would you take the buses? There may be times you won't get a seat (perhaps you'll load last, and all the elderly and little kids will be up front, and the people willing to give up seats are in the back). I've been pretty bounced around on those buses (and since I have a couple herniated disks, I tend to wait til a bus comes where I can sit..on the few occasions hubby is off with the car, and I go in by myself). While the buses may have funny drivers, if you have the ability to take a car, you might want to re-think having your wife stuffed on one of those buses (and at night, they can be pretty stuffed). I'll be willing to give up my seat for your wife, since I'll feel bad that that is the only transport she would have..but gee, if you have a car, why take the bus and take a chance there won't be a seat? I'm only on the bus if I have no other choice of transport. Myself, I much prefer a car, and it doesn't take long to get the lay of the land. It sure is a lot more comfortable, and I think a lot safer.

 

[mking624]

Before we assume that all people can simply rent a car...understand that not all can. When my husband and I first married, we could NOT rent a car...neither of us were old enough (he was 20 and I was 19 when we married). We even called about renting a car with various companies...they all told us 25 (unless we paid a pretty hefty fee...but even then we had to at least be *near* 25). My husband turned 25 in August 2004. So while renting a car might be suitable for some, it's simply not possible for others. Not to mention, for some people, they have their trips very budgeted and are not able to spend the extra money for a rental car. I agree that sometimes renting a car is a good solution, but not feasible in every situation.

That said, we shouldn't just "push people aside" because we think they should have rented a car. Reality is that they didn't just as other people on the bus didn't rent one either. So instead of the "you can have done this or that", we should just focus on what's happening with the people on the bus that very moment.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

the value in helping another who maybe suffering more than me is a greater reward to me than my momentary comfort.

I share this sentiment also, DVCconvert, and just wanted to say this line was my favorite in the whole thread.

 

[skiwee1]

Before we assume that all people can simply rent a car...understand that not all can. When my husband and I first married, we could NOT rent a car...neither of us were old enough (he was 20 and I was 19 when we married). We even called about renting a car with various companies...they all told us 25 (unless we paid a pretty hefty fee...but even then we had to at least be *near* 25). My husband turned 25 in August 2004. So while renting a car might be suitable for some, it's simply not possible for others. Not to mention, for some people, they have their trips very budgeted and are not able to spend the extra money for a rental car. I agree that sometimes renting a car is a good solution, but not feasible in every situation.

That said, we shouldn't just "push people aside" because we think they should have rented a car. Reality is that they didn't just as other people on the bus didn't rent one either. So instead of the "you can have done this or that", we should just focus on what's happening with the people on the bus that very moment.

The poster before you was talking directly to the poster that has a rental car. You seem to have a problem with this. Perhaps you are one of those with the entitlement mentality that thinks everyone should get up and let you sit.

 

[tci1212]

Wow, maybe we should forward this thread to the Disney Transportaion people. They can see how frustrated people get waiting for a bus and then not getting a seat. We travel with my Mom who is 88 yrs old, so if the bus is full we wait till the next one.











NEXT TRIP- WLV-5/24/05-5/30/05

 

[mking624]

The poster before you was talking directly to the poster that has a rental car. You seem to have a problem with this. Perhaps you are one of those with the entitlement mentality that thinks everyone should get up and let you sit.

I wasn't talking about the person he responded to. I was simply posing another angle at the situation. And no I don't think everyone should let me sit. Unlike many others, I actually have no issue with standing and gladly do it. Chill out.

 

[DMRick]

Before we assume that all people can simply rent a car...understand that not all can. .

The person I was talking about will have a rental. I don't see where anyone is saying everyone should rent a car (I assume at the age you were at, when you tried to rent a car, most people wouldn't have a problem standing in a bus..Notice I said most, since I understand some might). As far as focusing on the bus..some of this has become a thread of arguing for the sake of arguing, with all the what if's. As far as pushing people aside, I don't see anyone doing that. Why generalize?
Personally I think this whole thread is silly. I see lots and lots of chivalry at Disney and everywhere else. I don't think kindness is dead. I also don't think "no one" will offer a seat, as I go often and see it often. I'm sure many people sink into a seat and close their eyes and that's it for them til they stop at the hotel. If it works out that someone is aware and offers a seat, great, if not, since many said they don't get on the bus expecting it, well, then if it doesn't happen, it doesn't. You only have to read the other thread about RAK's to see there are tons of very nice people who go out of their way all the time. I see much more nastiness on this thread, than I have ever experienced at Disney.

 

[drakethib]

Have you been reading this thread? If you have the ability to use a car, with your pregnant wife, why on earth would you take the buses? There may be times you won't get a seat (perhaps you'll load last, and all the elderly and little kids will be up front, and the people willing to give up seats are in the back). I've been pretty bounced around on those buses (and since I have a couple herniated disks, I tend to wait til a bus comes where I can sit..on the few occasions hubby is off with the car, and I go in by myself). While the buses may have funny drivers, if you have the ability to take a car, you might want to re-think having your wife stuffed on one of those buses (and at night, they can be pretty stuffed). I'll be willing to give up my seat for your wife, since I'll feel bad that that is the only transport she would have..but gee, if you have a car, why take the bus and take a chance there won't be a seat? I'm only on the bus if I have no other choice of transport. Myself, I much prefer a car, and it doesn't take long to get the lay of the land. It sure is a lot more comfortable, and I think a lot safer.

Let me ask a question and I know it may sound dumb but I don't mean it to be.

We usually take Mears or have taken the Towncar service from the airport so we don't have a clue on how to get around. We are getting a car this time because we are going to make a one day trip to Vero Beach to see what it looks like. We will be staying at O.K.W. for our entire trip.

We have come to rely on the bus system as we usually never have had a complaint with them and they get us to where we are going pretty quickly. In all honesty, in most of our trips the other guest on the bus have more times then not been very friendly (GASP !! Yes it is true) and a pleasure to talk with while on the bus ride. With that being said, if it is more comfortable for my wife driving to the parks can be an option but....

Wouldn't parking the car @ WDW be a P.I.T.A. when you have to walk all of the way to the monorail to get to the MK, then fight the same thing leave the MK? Is traffic a P.I.T.A. in the parking lots as well?

The same with Epcot and such?

We have also hopped a cab several times if we were in a hurry.

Honestly, I don't know and would appreciate some input.

Thanks

Drake

 

[jarestel]

A Global Nuclear Holocaust is begining to look more and more attractive.
Perhaps in a few hundred thousand years, the next inhabiting species of the Earth can get along better.

Yikes! We've progressed from simple inconsiderate behavior to the actual end of civilization as we know it. Who knew this bus seating thing had such grave consequences?

 

[DMRick]

Wouldn't parking the car @ WDW be a P.I.T.A. when you have to walk all of the way to the monorail to get to the MK, then fight the same thing leave the MK? Is traffic a P.I.T.A. in the parking lots as well?

We don't find it a pain at all. We park in the lot and the shuttle picks us up and drops us at the front near the ticket booth. We then walk a short distance to the monorail. We never fight anything, because we generally sit down and have an ice cream while the crowds leave (we do the same thing if taking a bus, to wait for the hoards to leave on the bus). Epcot and MGM, we usually get there early enough to be up front and can easily walk into the park. By the time we stroll out, the parking lot is pretty dead. The best part is, that we can leave our "stuff" in car and it's close by if we need anything. We don't use the buses much at all, mainly because they have so few seats, and I prefer to sit at the end of the day. Some people enjoy leaving the driving to others, and don't mind knowing they will prob stand. Either way will work.
Doris

 

[mking624]

The person I was talking about will have a rental. I don't see where anyone is saying everyone should rent a car (I assume at the age you were at, when you tried to rent a car, most people wouldn't have a problem standing in a bus..Notice I said most, since I understand some might). As far as focusing on the bus..some of this has become a thread of arguing for the sake of arguing, with all the what if's. As far as pushing people aside, I don't see anyone doing that. Why generalize?

I was posing a different side to it. Several people here have asked why some people don't simply rent a car. You just happened to be the most recent person who made mention of using a rented car (whether or not it was already rented). So I brought up a different angle of why people don't rent cars. It wasn't meant to be against you or anyone else.

And I wasn't generalizing. But yes, I have seen people have the mentality of "pushing people aside" because they think someone else could have rented a car. And so I brought that up as a reminder to those who DO have a mentality of "well they should have just rented a car"...because with over 67,000 members on DIS, I'm sure there's one person (who may or may not have responded) who has that kind of mentality. It wasn't meant as a generalization of all people.

(I assume at the age you were at, when you tried to rent a car, most people wouldn't have a problem standing in a bus..Notice I said most, since I understand some might).

Nope, I didn't have a problem with standing (and still don't). We wanted to rent a car because there were things outside of WDW we were interested in. That was it.

 

[Gymbomom]

Have you been reading this thread? If you have the ability to use a car, with your pregnant wife, why on earth would you take the buses? There may be times you won't get a seat (perhaps you'll load last, and all the elderly and little kids will be up front, and the people willing to give up seats are in the back). I've been pretty bounced around on those buses (and since I have a couple herniated disks, I tend to wait til a bus comes where I can sit..on the few occasions hubby is off with the car, and I go in by myself). While the buses may have funny drivers, if you have the ability to take a car, you might want to re-think having your wife stuffed on one of those buses (and at night, they can be pretty stuffed). I'll be willing to give up my seat for your wife, since I'll feel bad that that is the only transport she would have..but gee, if you have a car, why take the bus and take a chance there won't be a seat? I'm only on the bus if I have no other choice of transport. Myself, I much prefer a car, and it doesn't take long to get the lay of the land. It sure is a lot more comfortable, and I think a lot safer.

I don't understand this..... how is parking WELL away from the front entrance and all that goes with driving to the parks easier than riding the bus system??? I think you need to be careful riding the busses, maybe making sure you get a seat, letting the bus driver know if one is not available, or waiting for the next bus might be a good idea.
I guess out of the 25 times we have been to Disney we have seen most people be polite in this situation. I have been many times by myself with my family, but hubby wasn't there, there were times when my mom and dad weren't around and I always had someone offer to help me with my stoller, etc.
My pet peeves on busses are:
Small children taking up a seat when there are people standing, meaning children who can ride in a parents lap. People at resort bus stops running you over while you are trying to get on, thinking they need to be "first". When we walk up sometimes we will stand with all our gear by where the bus stops, a little to the side so we can be ready when our bus shows up. There will be people lounging in the benches, but when they see their bus , they jump and get in front of you. I have even have had people say, we have been waiting for xx minutes, like that exuses them to the front of the line.

 

[drakethib]

A Global Nuclear Holocaust is begining to look more and more attractive.
Perhaps in a few hundred thousand years, the next inhabiting species of the Earth can get along better.

Yes but if that happens we will all be cockroaches and not tall enough to ride Space Mountain.

That will suck.

REM singing "It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine".

 

[drakethib]

I share this sentiment also, DVCconvert, and just wanted to say this line was my favorite in the whole thread.

AMEN.

 

[Aidensmom]

I believe everyone on this thread that has suggested that people wait for another bus when the current one is SRO has also said that they themselves will wait for the next bus if they feel they need to sit.

We all make the choice to go to a crowded place like WDW knowing full well that there will be times when all of our needs are not catered to. I am an able bodied, healthy looking, athletic, 37 year old woman. However, if while waiting for a bus I have the misfortune of standing next to someone who has just finished a cigarrette, or worse yet is smoking one, I will have an asthma attack. Being prepared, I will pull out my rescue inhaler to stop it. For those of you who have never had to use such a thing, the medicine increases your heart rate. I am very tiny, and because of that this side effect affects me more than the average person, and my heart rate gets really high and I get dizzy. When you look at me you would have no idea what I am going through. I however need to sit down. If the bus gets there and I see that I am not going to be able to sit on it, I will sit on the bench (or the ground, if the bench is full - I don't expect anyone to give up the bench for me) and WAIT for the next bus. And when I get on the next bus, if I am still dizzy, I am going to sit down even if the rest of the passengers on the bus are 90 years old AND pregnant I just hope that there are no DIS-ers on the bus, as they will just glare at me, and the stress may cause another attack. (For those of you who will take this last sentence seriously, this is sarcasm.)

Allowing people to even stand on a bus in the first place is not very responsible if you ask me, I am sure one of these days someone who was standing and gets hurt will sue, and the standing days will be over. If the lawyer is smart, they will also sue all the people who were sitting on the bus and didn't offer the standing person a seat, because after all these people shouldn't have been sitting in the first place....(again, sarcasm.)

 

[drakethib]

I believe everyone on this thread that has suggested that people wait for another bus when the current one is SRO has also said that they themselves will wait for the next bus if they feel they need to sit.

We all make the choice to go to a crowded place like WDW knowing full well that there will be times when all of our needs are not catered to. I am an able bodied, healthy looking, athletic, 37 year old woman. However, if while waiting for a bus I have the misfortune of standing next to someone who has just finished a cigarrette, or worse yet is smoking one, I will have an asthma attack. Being prepared, I will pull out my rescue inhaler to stop it. For those of you who have never had to use such a thing, the medicine increases your heart rate. I am very tiny, and because of that this side effect affects me more than the average person, and my heart rate gets really high and I get dizzy. When you look at me you would have no idea what I am going through. I however need to sit down. If the bus gets there and I see that I am not going to be able to sit on it, I will sit on the bench (or the ground, if the bench is full - I don't expect anyone to give up the bench for me) and WAIT for the next bus. And when I get on the next bus, if I am still dizzy, I am going to sit down even if the rest of the passengers on the bus are 90 years old AND pregnant I just hope that there are no DIS-ers on the bus, as they will just glare at me, and the stress may cause another attack. (For those of you who will take this last sentence seriously, this is sarcasm.)

Allowing people to even stand on a bus in the first place is not very responsible if you ask me, I am sure one of these days someone who was standing and gets hurt will sue, and the standing days will be over. If the lawyer is smart, they will also sue all the people who were sitting on the bus and didn't offer the standing person a seat, because after all these people shouldn't have been sitting in the first place....(again, sarcasm.)

Oh oh. You brought up the smoking issue. (BTW I think smoking should be banned from the WDW, but that is just me). putting my flame suit on.

I won't glare at you. I will tell you hello.

I agree, Standing isn't the best thing to be done on a bus. While I will always be willing to give up my seat (see my other post) I wish they would do away with it, but then again, is there anyone here who wants to pay more for WDW tickets in order for Disney to buy more bus to their fleet and hire more drivers? I really don't care to. I will just wait a little longer.

 

[DMRick]

I don't understand this..... how is parking WELL away from the front entrance and all that goes with driving to the parks easier than riding the bus system???

It may not work for all, but we prefer it. We don't have to wait for a bus, we hop in and go. We aren't smelling someone elses armpit when standing on the bus (I'm short). We park and take the shuttle (if we are well away), or if we park close enough we walk up. We're had "races" with out grown-up kids and we often beat them (they have taken the buses, we take the car), and we are usually a lot less flustered. We have learned our way around and know many back ways. If we have a stroller (ah, no more..all the grands walk now), it's so much easier, to just walk into the park or to the monorail. We get to leave stuff in the car (especially at MGM) and just walk out to get it if needed. We've been going so many years, and done it both ways, we just find the car to be the easier, and preferred method for us.

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

Anyone remember the thread about "Who do you consider your immediate family?" I get the same odd feeling after reading that one as I did this thread about bus seats.

I guess I am just naive, but it completely surprises me that there are so many different opinions on a subject that, in my own mind, is pretty cut and dried. I just think that I have been helped so often and in so many ways that it is just second nature to return.

I want to thank that awesome guy who got up from his seat in June 2000 after a packed Fantasmic show to give it to my 71 year old MIL who had walked all over the Studios that day. Also all the great people who were so nice to us when we were carrying a developmentally delayed 22 month old with a seizure disorder around WDW and were so concerned about how she would do. Even that great CM who, as we were walking through the turnstile, said "Be careful with that Million Dollar Baby!" Oh, how right he was!

Do you see how the memory of those strangers kindnesses remain in my mind after 9 trips to the World. These memories can bring tears to my eyes to this day.

Peace and Love Disneyphiles. I hope we all have magical trips.

 

[WillCAD]

I don't understand this..... how is parking WELL away from the front entrance and all that goes with driving to the parks easier than riding the bus system???

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.

When we walk up sometimes we will stand with all our gear by where the bus stops, a little to the side so we can be ready when our bus shows up. There will be people lounging in the benches, but when they see their bus , they jump and get in front of you. I have even have had people say, we have been waiting for xx minutes, like that exuses them to the front of the line.

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.
------------------------------------------------------------

This whole thread is predicated on the supposition that giving away something that I rightfully possess is "good manners" or "common courtesy". It is not - it is generosity.

Common courtesy and good manners demand that our actions not cause difficulty for others, but actually giving something away is called generosity, and it's arrogant presumption to denigrate someone for being less generous that you are. After all, there may be someone who comes along later and calls you discourteous for not allowing all pregnant women and elderly people to cut ahead of you in the line for Splash Mountain when you have already been waiting for 20 or 30 minutes. Practicality demands that at some point you actually move up in the line yourself or you will never get into the boat. Is it discourteous to make others wait behind you just so that you can selfishly experience the attraction? No, it is not; it's the way the system works.