Bus Etiquette

[wdwrich]

So, what some of you seem to be saying is this. If someone who is standing and could really use a seat, you wouldn't get up and give it to them? Because they should just wait for another bus or rent a car.

Yes, they COULD have waited for another bus. Yes, maybe they shouldn't be on a bus at all. Is that really justification to say "tough luck, I have my seat." Got it. Now a whole lot of other behavior at WDW makes much more sense.

Yeah - I couldn't agree more!

 

[wilkeliza]

So, what some of you seem to be saying is this. If someone who is standing and could really use a seat, you wouldn't get up and give it to them? Because they should just wait for another bus or rent a car.

Yes, they COULD have waited for another bus. Yes, maybe they shouldn't be on a bus at all. Is that really justification to say "tough luck, I have my seat." Got it. Now a whole lot of other behavior at WDW makes much more sense.

I don't think that is what most of us are saying. I mean I would get up if I thought someone needed the seat more than me and I was capable of safely getting up and ensuring they got the seat but if someone gets on a bus that is packed to the gills and expects someone to get up for them than that is on them if it doesn't happen. You can't complain that you didn't get a seat if you are one of the last few to get on the bus and choose to get on.

 

[maxiesmom]

So, what some of you seem to be saying is this. If someone who is standing and could really use a seat, you wouldn't get up and give it to them? Because they should just wait for another bus or rent a car.

Yes, they COULD have waited for another bus. Yes, maybe they shouldn't be on a bus at all. Is that really justification to say "tough luck, I have my seat." Got it. Now a whole lot of other behavior at WDW makes much more sense.

No. Just saying that it is a choice you make, to get on a bus knowing you may have to stand. You shouldn't be mad at the other guests for not seeing to your need for a seat when you didn't see to it yourself. If someone wants to offer up their seat for someone else, great. It doesn't make the person who remained seated bad or evil.

Honestly, I think it reflect poorly on the person who gets on the bus expecting a seat more than it reflects poorly on the person who keeps their seat. It seems to say "I am more important and deserving of a seat than you are. Even though I don't know you and am just making a giant assumption". To me, THAT is bad behavior. We truly don't know what other people are struggling with.

 

[smidgy]

also, you don't know that that person seated actually waited for the next bus for that reason.. so they could be assured a seat.

 

[Minniesgal]

I think seats on buses are first come first served and anyone who gets on when it is full has made a choice to do so so should be fit to ride standing. If not fit to ride standing should wait for the next bus.

If I were pregnant, or holding a toddler I would never get on a bus and expect someone to give me their seat.

Personally I don't do standing on buses as I have issues with one of my feet so we always hire a car.

 

[Gracie09]

So, what some of you seem to be saying is this. If someone who is standing and could really use a seat, you wouldn't get up and give it to them? Because they should just wait for another bus or rent a car.

Yes, they COULD have waited for another bus. Yes, maybe they shouldn't be on a bus at all. Is that really justification to say "tough luck, I have my seat." Got it. Now a whole lot of other behavior at WDW makes much more sense.

What you are missing is you only see the snap shoot of what is going on. A few years ago before dh had spine surgery he could not stand on a bus. His back/spine could not take the movement. So we would wait until there was a bus with a seat for him to sit in. If you saw him later in the park he would be the one pushing the stroller because he was using it as a walker. But what you would see is a rude man sitting on a bus. Look there he is perfectly healthy pushing a stroller. You didn't see the pain killers and other therapies he did at night and in the morning to get himself to the point that he could walk most of the day. We also never stayed to the end of the night due to his back and so we didn't deal with crowded buses. We stayed at resorts where we could walk to one or more parks to avoid buses.
The person getting on the bus expecting people to move for them is acting rudely. I would never endanger my kids by getting on a bus that is standing room only when I was holding them. It is my responsibility to keep them safe. And if that means waiting another few minutes for the next bus that is what I did.

 

[SirDuff]

Do you think it's still a given for men to be polite and give up their seat on a bus, monorail etc. so someone who "needs" the seat more can have a seat?

I ask, because I've noticed this seems to be changing. During my last trip, several times I stood up because some of the "men" did not. I'm not talking about a man giving up his seat for just any woman at all. (I don't need someone to do that for me, for example.) I'm talking about a mom trying to hold a small child, elderly people, etc.

What do you think, am I just old fashioned or something?

So, what some of you seem to be saying is this. If someone who is standing and could really use a seat, you wouldn't get up and give it to them? Because they should just wait for another bus or rent a car.

Yes, they COULD have waited for another bus. Yes, maybe they shouldn't be on a bus at all. Is that really justification to say "tough luck, I have my seat." Got it. Now a whole lot of other behavior at WDW makes much more sense.

Well, you only did so because no man did. So, yes, I think you are old fashioned (and sexist). Not because you gave up your seat (I would have done so as well), but because you believe that you shouldn't have had to, that someone male should have done so instead. Seems interesting that you then lecture others on their behavior.

 

[PlutoPony]

Bus transportation at WDW equates to mass transit in urban areas, with the objective to move the most number of people possible as quickly as possible. WDW is following other mass transit organizations in reducing the number of seats on their busses so as to get more standing patrons on and thus increase capacity. For example D.C. is doing this with new Metro cars, WDW is doing it with their new busses. Bottom line is that on any given bus it's highly likely there won't be seats for everyone that feels they need one - whether it's because they are tired (like most others on the bus) or they have some other reason to need to sit, visible or not. So it's not physically possible for everyone "worthy" of a seat to have one. IMHO, if you're going to use Disney's version of mass transit, you have to assume up front that you're NOT going to be able to get a seat and be pleasantly surprised if you do. And if you can't live with standing, you will likely be happier and more comfortable if you use a Plan B like renting a car or utilizing cabs/Uber, etc.

Now by comparison, MDE from MCO is not mass transit and goes for comfort i.e. motor coaches were everyone has a seat. Different objectives, DME isn't moving nearly as many people as WDW busses.

 

[wdwrich]

I seem to be in the minority here, but if I have a seat on a bus (any bus- not just at WDW) and I see someone standing nearby who might appreciate/need it more than me (elderly person, someone holding a child, pregnant woman), I will offer my seat to that person. Not because I'm sexist or whatever, but because I personally think it's the right thing to do.
BTW, I am not what one would call young. I'm just about to turn 62 years old, but I still run half marathons and am able-bodied enough to stand for a 20 minute bus ride.

 

[cranbiz]

I wasn't going to comment but....

While it may be considered polite, good manners or "the right thing to do" in reality, if you want a guaranteed seat there are three things to do.

1) Work for Disney as a bus driver. You will always have a guaranteed seat.
2) Make sure that you are in the first 20 or so guests in line. If you are not, then wait for the next bus.
3) Be disabled and require a mobility device.

If an individual wished to offer a seat to someone that appears to be in need, that is good karma but once again, the individual had the option to wait for the next bus. Who appears to be an abled body guest may have that hidden disability that makes it painful or dangerous to stand. I appear fit but I am overweight (currently). I have bad knees and cannot stand very long after walking a Disney park. I wait for an opportunity to sit even if that means waiting for the next bus at closing.

Yes, we all are tired at the end of a day in a theme park. Yes, we all would like to sit down on the ride back to your resort. If Disney was to provide buses with seats for all guests, how many guests does anyone think this bus would hold and how much money does anyone think Disney would have to spend on buses to move the same number of guests (BTW Each diesel bus costs about $500,000 and the current fleet is about 350 buses)? Where would that money come from? Y'all are complaining about prices now, think of what your room rate , park tickets, etc would cost if Disney had to expand the fleet by a factor of 3 or 4.

 

[wdwrich]

The "wait for the next bus" argument doesn't wash in my view because at most bus stops one must stand while waiting for that next bus. So standing at the bus stop or standing on the bus is really one and the same. If there are benches at the bus stop and I was seated, I would offer that seat to someone who might need it more.
That being said, I'm not judging anyone else who might or might not offer up their seat- that's their decision to make. I'm just saying what I would do because I believe it's the polite and considerate thing to do.

 

[cranbiz]

Except your bus stop doesn't move or sway like a bus does. (well, not normally)

 

[wdwrich]

Except your bus stop doesn't move or sway like a bus does. (well, not normally)

No doubt, but it's still standing vs sitting.

 

[WIcruizer]

So, yes, I think you are old fashioned (and sexist). Not because you gave up your seat (I would have done so as well), but because you believe that you shouldn't have had to.

I realize that's what you WANTED me to say. Unfortunate for your argument, but I never said I "believe I shouldn't have had to stand."

 

[SirDuff]

I realize that's what you WANTED me to say. Unfortunate for your argument, but I never said I "believe I shouldn't have had to stand."

You said you stood because no man would stand. You didn't say you stood because someone needed it more than you. So, you clearly waited to see if a man would give up his seat, before you were willing to give up yours. And, you then had to start a thread all about the fact that you had to stand. I'm sticking with my argument about how your presented yourself here.

 

[WIcruizer]

Since the same point keeps coming up, nobody (including myself) has said there aren't options to avoid standing. Yes, you could take your own vehicle, wait for another bus, private helicopter, or piggy-back rides are all options. I get that.

But guess what? People find themselves in this position. For many people it may be their first trip, they don't understand how many more buses may be coming. They may not realize they're standing until they're already on the bus. Sure, they could get off, but sometimes people just don't know what to do so they stick it out. And it's not that they EXPECT someone to give up their seat for them, it's that I gladly will and am a bit stunned that so many people have the attitude of "too bad for you."

So yes, the situation could be avoided- but it happens anyhow. I think the kind thing to do is offer a seat, but I see many don't see it that way. We'll just agree to disagree.

 

[WIcruizer]

You said you stood because no man would stand. You didn't say you stood because someone needed it more than you. So, you clearly waited to see if a man would give up his seat, before you were willing to give up yours. And, you then had to start a thread all about the fact that you had to stand. I'm sticking with my argument about how your presented yourself here.

Right. Like I said, I never stated or implied "I shouldn't have to stand."

 

[wilkeliza]

No body is saying it isn't kind to offer up a seat! It is a kind thing to do. However, it shouldn't be expect to the point that you come and whine about having done it when the men around you didn't. You don't know their situation or their needs so you are making yourself seem like a martyr and judging everyone around you for not giving up their seat first. Just seems like you could have given the person your seat and gone on about your day. As many of us have pointed out you have no clue why the other people stayed seated. Perhaps they were exhausted, perhaps they couldn't stand with out causing an issue, or even they themselves really needed that seat.

I just don't see why it is such a big deal. I guess since I live in a big city and use mass transit all the time I've gotten use to not having a seat and having to deal.

 

[Allison]

Yes, I think you are old fashioned.

May I ask why you put men in quotations in your post?

 

[WIcruizer]

Just seems like you could have given the person your seat and gone on about your day. As many of us have pointed out you have no clue why the other people stayed seated. Perhaps they were exhausted, perhaps they couldn't stand with out causing an issue, or even they themselves really needed that seat.

That's exactly what I have done, and will continue to do. Give up my seat and go about my day. I'm not the one insinuating I'm a martyr or cured cancer. I don't glare at people for not getting up, I don't say anything, nor does it keep me up at night. I made a simple observation, and frankly some of you are the ones that seem to blowing it way out of proportion.

Again, (and again) we all realize some people sitting have their reasons. I even gave you a perfect example of my DH who had back problems one trip. But that's not all people on every bus, it's the exception not the rule. I've seen it too often, and you have too I'm sure.

Finally, I have seen enough comments to get the general attitude. "Too bad that pregnant woman holding a toddler can't sit, but she should have waited for the next bus." Not saying that's YOUR attitude, but that's basically what others have said.