Bus and monorail between resort and parks

[KanataDad]

Just got back from our very first trip to DW and it was MAGICAL.

We were told that buses run every 20 minutes from the resorts to the parks.

There were a couple of times it was longer - once at AoA where we waited from 7:05 am till 7:40 am for a bus to arrive to take us to MK (we just missed the 7 am bus), and once at AK where we had to wait from 6:45 pm till 7:20 pm for a bus to MK.

But usually we never waited more than 10 to 15 minutes to catch a bus from resort to park, and from park to resort was even shorter wait (under 5 minutes) - they seemed to have extra buses lined up at the end of the day as they anticipate crowds leaving the parks to head back to resorts.

If I was sitting and noticed an older person or a person holding a child standing, I would stand up and give my seat to them. Or we put young children (ages 2 and 5) on our laps to offer seats to those standing.

My only suggestion is that other riders should try to show the same courtesy.

And usually we had people do the same for my wife (who was usually holding the 2 year old), or for the in-laws who are in their late 60's.

But on one bus ride, no one stood up to offer a seat to them. And worse was a monorail ride. Each car can fit 4 to 5 adults on each bench seat on the two sides. But one night when we took the monorail from Contemporary to MK, there was a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 kids under 4) that spread themselves across and didn't offer a seat to my wife holding our 2 year old, or to my father in law. The man made some comment that the door should have closed before we entered the monorail. And when we were exiting at MK they tried to force themselves out first even though we were standing and they had been sitting.

On the opposite seat of the same car there were 2 teen girls (probably no older than 14) who put their feet up ACROSS THE SEAT as soon as we entered the monorail so that there was only room for mother in-law to sit next to them. They saw us and then pretended to be busy on their iPhones. The rest of us (6 in total) had to stand. I wanted to ask the girls to move their legs so that 2 more people could sit but my wife said not to bother - if they truly wanted to they should have done it themselves without asking.

So, if you're young and without a disability - please offer your seat to an older person or someone holding a young child. Or if you have a young child that you can put on your lap, please try if possible to offer the extra space. And if you feel you have to put your feet up on another spot while there are people standing - well then that's just plain rude.

Still - we had a magical holiday and we know it is very rare that it happens.

Hope every one had a magical holiday at Disney.

 

[ancestry]

Agreed but I did want to mention that not all disabilities are visual. I try to never judge anyone -- especially at Disney. You never know what someone is going through on a private level. There are many young people who have a physical limitation that isn't always noticeable that could prohibit them from standing on a moving bus or that may prohibit them from making the "typical" socially courtesy decisions.

 

[Sandi]

I generally agree with you, but I would have told those girls to sit like respectful people and allow your wife and child to also sit. There is no excuse for that kind of behavior.

On the whole thing about offering seats on the buses, I do as you do and give up my seat all the time. However, there are those that say if you want to sit, then wait for the next bus and don't expect someone else to give up their seat for you. There are many people with disabilities that are not outwardly visible (stupidity is usually outwardly visible), so I try not to judge.

 

[hsmamato2]

well, you will notice things on those buses,etc some people are polite,some are not. In the case of those girls, I would have sat for a moment in place of MIL, then slid myself right on over to where they rudely put their feet up. Then I would have had my FIL/Mil sit on down,and I would have gotten up myself to stand and watch those brats.... It's called 'gently pushing back'......and it works pretty well on rude people.....

 

[KrazeeK120]

I agree with OP, but I also agree with the other posters. The teenage girls' behavior was definitely questionable, but everyone else mentioned, it is impossible to know for sure why they were sitting down.

This is the prime reason we like to drive at Disney. We are always 100% guaranteed a seat.

 

[dawnhaze]

Oh, I'd definitely have said something to the girls lounging on the seats. I saw someone do that on a crowded subway train here at home once and someone else sat on their legs.

 

[KanataDad]

Thanks for all the feedback. You're right ... Sometimes you don't know whether someone has some non obvious disability.
So that's why I only mention if you don't have any disability then only offer a seat if you see an older person or person with child standing.


Next time I see someone with their feet up I will politely ask them to make room. Don't know if pushing or sitting on seat might actually make the girls blame us for improper contact so I'd avoid that completely.

As for the family sitting on the other side - clearly had no disabilities as they tried to push their way out and shove my father inlaw out of the way (as he was slower) ... The man was a big muscular guy.

Thanks everyone and have a magical holiday!!!

 

[smidgy]

the teenage girls were not "questionable" at all. they were downright rude and i would have called them on it.
and I agree the people should put their little ones on their laps to make room for others.
the thing with the monorail is it is such a short ride, it really doesn't matter. (unless, of course, it breaks down)

if you really need someone in your party to sit, you should wait fo rthe next bus or monrail. as stated, you have no way of knowing if someone has balance issues or any other problem. my 6 year old grandson stood on most of the bus rides, and he thought it was great. at that age, they really have no problem with standing. I'm pushing 60, and tended bar and waitressed most of myadult life (still doing it) so standing on a bus for a half hour is easy peezy to me.

my point, we are all in the same boat. if you you can't stand, rent a car or wiat for the next bus. see.some of those people on the bus that do NOT give up their seat for you may have ALREADY waited for the next bus for just that reason.

you are right about one thing though... you are seated. youwait for the standing people to get off first. they pushed their way through you? how rude!!!

gotta mention those teens again..there is no way they would have continued riding with their legs up.. even if I had to sit on their legs... GGRR!!!

 

[goofy4tink]

Nothing, absolutely nothing, that is said here, on any internet board, is going to make someone change their behaviour on the buses/boats/monorails! Yes, there are hidden disabilities...my dh 'looked' healthy, but until he had his knee replacement, you didn't want him standing on a bus anywhere near you!!! He just couldn't balance right. But he would still insist on giving up his seat to those that needed it more!
At 64, I have had lots of people offer me their seats..I decline and let someone else use it..I have no problem standing. And there are times I actually enjoy it.

Those girls on the monorail? Just rude teenagers. I probably wouldn't have said anything, but I sure would have stood close to them, facing away..as close as I could humanly get! They would have gotten my point very quickly! They knew they were wrong.

You can't fix stupid...or rude. People are going to behave the way they behave. Being in WDW seems to allow people to forget what manners they usually have. Not sure why. Maybe it's all the rushing around to 'see it all, do it all'. It's that 'you first, right after me' mentality! Drives me nuts.

 

[maxiesmom]

I agree the feet up thing was plain rude. However I take a different viewpoint on those who have seats and those who want them. I feel that if a member of my family can't stand on a bus or monorail, then it is up to me to take care of them. Shame on me if I don't and then put them in the position of having to rely on strangers to help them instead.

I know there is no way that my mom could balance on a moving bus. So if she ever decides to go back to WDW I will rent a car. No way would I let her get onto a bus. I think taking someone who can't stand onto a bus and then expecting someone else to get up and offer their seat is rude.

If people want to be nice and offer their seats it is one thing. But expecting someone else to do it is quite another.

 

[KanataDad]

There is no expectation or demand to give up a seat. I think it's just a way to share to make the trip more magical ... When I stood up to give my seat it was to help make someone else's trip better.
Besides disability, one could be just plain exhausted. But this is why I gave the specific example of the monorail.
You are right - it is better to wait for the next bus or monorail.

And one trip back from MK my wife insisted on getting on the crowded bus when the 2 kids were alsleep and grandparents really tired. I insisted we wait, and reminded her our ride the previous night when we were all standing. She reluctantly agreed and thought it would be another 20 minutes for next bus ... And 2 minutes later a bus showed up. We got seats and it got crowded fast so we put the kids on our lap and I stood up to give other people with young kids a chance to sit.
You can keep waiting for the next bus ... But at the end if the day (specially at MK) every bus is crowded.

But the monorail there was clearly enough room for 2 more adults to sit on one side (until the girls out their legs up), and on the other if parents could have put kids their lap then we could have sat down with the kids on our lap too. There is no way to know if monorail ride will be fast (there were 2 stops that needed wheel chairs loaded/unloaded which adds time to the trip ... Not to mention CR to MK is the long loop round).
As for the man who shoved his way out you could clearly tell he from his comments and behaviour that he was frustrated how long the monorail was taking to get from CR to MK - he seemed to be in a rush to get his family there fast.

Again - this is not a demand, nor an expectation to return a favor. It's just a suggestion if at all even possible to show some courtesy and spread the magic.

To see someone smile after I stood up, or when we put our kids on our lap, or open the door for someone made the vacation even more magical to me!!!

This was our first trip and we've now learned a lot (both from the trip and disboards and Facebook).

Thanks to everyone who posts suggestion and comments.

 

[joelkfla]

To see someone smile after I stood up, or when we put our kids on our lap, or open the door for someone made the vacation even more magical to me!!!

At Disney, we call it sharing the magic.

We used to have pins to give out to Guests caught in the act above & beyond the usual, with a nice little Thank You card and a 2nd pin for the Guest to share.

 

[goofy4tink]

At Disney, we call it sharing the magic.

We used to have pins to give out to Guests caught in the act above & beyond the usual, with a nice little Thank You card and a 2nd pin for the Guest to share.

I have that pin! It was very cool to get.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I absolutely think that if someone needs a seat and someone else can stand, that person should give their seat up. But the reality is, it's not always going to happen, even though it should. Not everyone is polite.

The best thing to do if you have a member of your party that must sit is to drive.