Bus and bad back

[baileygirlsmom]

Arriving Saturday, going for the first time with bad back, I will have a cane and plan to rent ECV in the parks, but on the bus I don't think I will be able to stand up and be jostled all over the place without getting hurt, I know there are rude people that won't give up their seat for anything, what do I do?

 

[wdwnomad]

Simple. If you get to the front of the line and you know you won't get a seat then let people in back of you who want to go and stand on the bus on. When the next bus comes you'll be the first one on.

 

[jmartinez1895]

Maybe others will have some ideas, but I think that if the bus is full, you will have to wait for the next bus to come along and hope that it is not full. You can always ask if someone would let you have a seat, but as you know, they are not required to. If you plan your comings and going to avoid park open and close then you should have a better chance of not dealing with a full bus.

 

[scdak]

Is there any chance of renting an ECV offsite for the time you are there? Not sure where you are staying but even POFQ which is one of the smallest was alot of walking for my mother who has back issues. A rental ECV would allow you to traverse the resort and the parks. Its fairly easy to learn how to park it on the buses then you would sit in the handicapped seats once you were on the bus. It is alot less expensive to rent off site than each day in the park.

 

[scdak]

One other thought, try to go to and from the parks during off hours - ie very early or else later in the morning, leave the parks early or wait until most of the crowds have left on the buses in the evening, that will decrease the chance of waiting for the next bus due to one being very full and it will increase your chances of having a seat available to allow you to sit down. I know that everyone thinks its not so hard to let people go past you and to wait for the next bus but when you have any type of disability (I only have experience with back pain) its not as easy as they think, esp at the end of the day. I have stood in line barely able to take a deep breath due to the pain of being upright, every move I make causing more pain to the point I could barely go up the steps to get on the bus. THe pain can be so overwhelming that it would bring tears to my eyes. So yes, I agree, waiting is the way to get a seat on the next bus but by then I just want to get back to the room to ice down my back and take something to take the edge of the pain I would rather get on the crowded bus.
Thus the reason why I suggest using the buses when the masses aren't also trying to use them.
After my last trip onsite and using my own car, I won't use buses again, not an option for some but it works for me!

 

[Gracie09]

Simple. If you get to the front of the line and you know you won't get a seat then let people in back of you who want to go and stand on the bus on. When the next bus comes you'll be the first one on.

This is what DH did when he hurt his back. And to add just because people dont get up for you doesn't mean they are rude. They may have young kid they are holding, have their own disability or illness or just simply be exhausted and need to sit.

 

[BigAlsGal]

Arriving Saturday, going for the first time with bad back, I will have a cane and plan to rent ECV in the parks, but on the bus I don't think I will be able to stand up and be jostled all over the place without getting hurt, I know there are rude people that won't give up their seat for anything, what do I do?

Me personally if I knew I wouldn't be able to handle standing on the bus and would be attempting to rely on strangers to accommodate me I wouldn't ride the bus. I would rent a car and drive. I would get a seat every time guaranteed!

 

[BigAlsGal]

This is what DH did when he hurt his back. And to add just because people dont get up for you doesn't mean they are rude. They may have young kid they are holding, have their own disability or illness or just simply be exhausted and need to sit.

 

[SueM in MN]

There is no way to guarantee a seat on the bus unless you have a wheelchair or ECV (buses are accessible).

If you are not using one, your best bets are to travel at off-peak times or do hat other posters suggested - let others by if you see when you get to the front of the line that there are no seats left.

Some people MAY give up their seats, but they are not required to and are not rude if they stay sitting.

ECVs rented at the park can't be reserved ahead of time and there is no guarantee that any will be available when you arrive. They are likely to have ECVs if you get there in the first 1.5 to 2 hours after park opening, but still no guarantee and you may be able to get only a wheelchair.
If you MUST have n ECV, the only way to guarantee one is to rent fom an outside company - see post 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

 

[baileygirlsmom]

Thanks everyone, we plan to be on the first bus going to the parks in the morning, I said rude because my husband always,always gives his seat for ladies and older gentlemen, My daughter and I have done that as well, I have seen perfectly able folks just sit there! I do not want to have to deal with storing an ECV in the room or hold up a bus to get on and off, I will be fine at the resort with my cane., just know that I won't be able to do all the walking and worse the standing at the parks!

 

[Mama Who]

Thanks everyone, we plan to be on the first bus going to the parks in the morning, I said rude because my husband always,always gives his seat for ladies and older gentlemen, My daughter and I have done that as well, I have seen perfectly able folks just sit there! I do not want to have to deal with storing an ECV in the room or hold up a bus to get on and off, I will be fine at the resort with my cane., just know that I won't be able to do all the walking and worse the standing at the parks!

Your assumption that a person is "perfectly able" does not make it so. I'm sure you'd huff and assume I was just rude when I didn't give you my seat- because you'd be unaware of my balance issue that makes standing on a bus really dangerous for me and those around me.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Your assumption that a person is "perfectly able" does not make it so. I'm sure you'd huff and assume I was just rude when I didn't give you my seat- because you'd be unaware of my balance issue that makes standing on a bus really dangerous for me and those around me.

Agreed. My husband is young and looks perfectly able bodies, but has a bad back due to scoliosis and is in a lot of pain after a day in the parks. I can't tell you how many dirty looks and remarks he gets when he doesn't give up his seat.

 

[Gracie09]

Thanks everyone, we plan to be on the first bus going to the parks in the morning, I said rude because my husband always,always gives his seat for ladies and older gentlemen, My daughter and I have done that as well, I have seen perfectly able folks just sit there! I do not want to have to deal with storing an ECV in the room or hold up a bus to get on and off, I will be fine at the resort with my cane., just know that I won't be able to do all the walking and worse the standing at the parks!

You would think dh is perfectly able because he has a cane he folds and puts in my back pack or his pockets in his cargo shorts. Just because you look ok doesn't mean you are.

 

[baileygirlsmom]

Please accept my apology if I have offended anyone!

 

[powellrj]

Storing an ECV in the room is no big deal. We stayed in Pop on our last on-site trip and had 2 teens in our room with us and it wasn't a problem.

That said, there is no way I would ever depend on the kindness of strangers when I can take care of something myself. This is why we always rent a car when we go so I know I will always have a seat.

 

[Mrsjvb]

have seen perfectly able folks just sit there!

how do YOU KNOW they are perfectly able?! I look 'perfectly able' and have a degenerative joint disease. I could care less if you consider me 'rude' but there is no way in hell I will give up my seat.

 

[aubriee]

Thanks everyone, we plan to be on the first bus going to the parks in the morning, I said rude because my husband always,always gives his seat for ladies and older gentlemen, My daughter and I have done that as well, I have seen perfectly able folks just sit there! I do not want to have to deal with storing an ECV in the room or hold up a bus to get on and off, I will be fine at the resort with my cane., just know that I won't be able to do all the walking and worse the standing at the parks!

How do you know someone is "perfectly able". I refuse to stand on a bus. I have balance and orthostatic hypotension issues, plus a really painful bad back and a knee that likes to give out on me unexpectedly. I look "perfectly able" but believe me you don't want me standing on a moving vehicle, unless you want someone falling in your lap. We now rent a car to avoid those crowded busses, but back when we did ride the buses, we always waited for the next bus, if it looked like the current one was going to require us to stand. We never expected anyone to give up their seats for us. They got there before we did, so deserved to sit. Sorry, but to us the one expecting someone else to give up their seat is the one that's rude. After waiting for another bus to ensure we had one, no we were not going to give it up. If you need a seat, just wait for the next bus like others do and you will be first in line. There has been many a night, that we waited for a second bus and I had to sit on the concrete because I got dizzy standing still in the queue to wait. When that second bus arrived, we were one of the first ones on, so had the seat I needed.

That said, there is no way I would ever depend on the kindness of strangers when I can take care of something myself. This is why we always rent a car when we go so I know I will always have a seat.

That's exactly why we rent a car now. No way would I even expect a stranger to help take care of my needs. Who knows what their needs might be.

 

[baileygirlsmom]

I am referring to the the fellows that will hoist a baby and monster size stroller, I truly did not mean to offend, looking at me you wouldn't know I have a back issue without my cane, please do not take offense!

 

[crashbb]

I am referring to the the fellows that will hoist a baby and monster size stroller, I truly did not mean to offend, looking at me you wouldn't know I have a back issue without my cane, please do not take offense!

Even then, you cannot rely on others for your needs. Yes, it would be nice for an abled bodied guest to give you their seat, but you cannot base your plans around other people doing things.

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "first bus", but I assume you mean a bus to get you their for rope drop (as opposed to the actual first bus - which would get people there for breakfast reservations). If so, know that (in my experience) these buses can be really, really busy.

 

[Gracie09]

I am referring to the the fellows that will hoist a baby and monster size stroller, I truly did not mean to offend, looking at me you wouldn't know I have a back issue without my cane, please do not take offense!

Again you don't know if this person has a balance issue and can't safely stand on a moving bus but lifting a stroller isnt an issue. So again you are making an assumption based on what you want to see. And even if they are they could be exhausted and simply need to sit a few minutes and maybe they waited for a bus with room to do that.
Honestly this reminds me of parents who fly and don't want to spend the extra money for sea assignments or early boarding and just assume people will change seats with them. Then when that doesnt happen everyone is rude when the real rude person is the person who didn't take simple measures to ensure their needs are met.
I usually travel with two special needs preschoolers and a husband with a surgically repaired back. I am solely responsible for ensuring my family travels safely and comfortably, not disney, not other guests, just me.