Bus stop etiquette at resorts

[seashoreCM]

... gets on first, provided they are smart enough to stand where the bus will stop, or close enough thereto... !

Please educate me, preferably by using step by step choreography and not using any numbers*, so I too can get smart enough!

* (Or is a math Ph.D. needed?)

 

[ChuckGA]

Things must be very different at the values or moderates compared to the deluxe resorts (only places I've used the bus) because it seems very natural to say "first come to the bus stop first on the bus" and not "first to the bus door is the winner". When we go down to the bus stop at the Yacht Club first thing in the morning there may be a few people already there and are sitting on the bench. I wouldn't think that I should be able to get on the bus before them just because I go and stand where the bus normally stops. This is really shown when people are just coming out of the resort as the bus pulls up. Those already there are standing up and getting in line and the last minute resort folks come up on the right and some of them shove themselves in front of others who have been waiting for a while.

 

[goofy4tink]

I totally agree in respect to what you're saying about the "Disney Line Holder." I was always upset when people pushed past my family in line to "get to their family" ahead.

I also understand what you're saying about an elderly or incapacitated person sitting at the bus stop... but not all handicaps are visible. I went to Disney last year, and I was very, very ill... and got many dirty looks when I would join my family in line for anything after sitting for a while. I looked like a "normal," healthy 19 year old girl, but a month later, I ended up in the hospital for 5 weeks. I totally don't mean to be rude or anything at all! I just want people to consider the fact that a handicap is not always visible, so when you see that person stand up and get into line with their family, don't glare or anything, please!

No need to worry...I highly doubt anyone is going to have an issue with one person, or even two persons, joining the rest of their family when the bus comes along. It's those who send dad to stand in the line, while the other 8 sit down...only to get up when the bus is in sight and they try to join dad at the front of the line.

Things must be very different at the values or moderates compared to the deluxe resorts (only places I've used the bus) because it seems very natural to say "first come to the bus stop first on the bus" and not "first to the bus door is the winner". When we go down to the bus stop at the Yacht Club first thing in the morning there may be a few people already there and are sitting on the bench. I wouldn't think that I should be able to get on the bus before them just because I go and stand where the bus normally stops. This is really shown when people are just coming out of the resort as the bus pulls up. Those already there are standing up and getting in line and the last minute resort folks come up on the right and some of them shove themselves in front of others who have been waiting for a while.

I used to feel the same as you....I knew who had been there when I walked up. So, I would generally wait until they got on the bus then I would mosey on over. But, those who are just arriving, as you noted, aren't waiting for anyone..much less those who had been seated and were in the process of getting up. Nope, they just march themselves right over to the area where the bus will open it's doors and on they get. Drives me nuts. One time, just one time, I was at the beginning of the line. There were some older guests who had been seated. As the bus came up, there were some other arriving guests, who figured they could just keep right on truckin' and hop on the bus, without even slowing. Nope, wasn't happening...I had watched this happen for four days. So, I stood in front of them, as they pushed me from behind...they kept saying 'Are you getting on the bus lady?? Or are you just going to stand there all day??' My response? "I'm waiting for those who have been waiting for 15 mins to get on first, then I'll get on." Oh, they were not happy campers. But the looks on those older guests faces were priceless!!! That wasn't something I do on a regular basis but I had just about had it with entitled people on that trip. Is it so hard to wait 30 seconds for someone else to go ahead of you?????

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

In the past when my family and I would line up for a bus at the Contemporary no matter if we were sitting on the benches or standing up, once the bus came everyone who was going to that specific destination would line up in front of the bus once it stopped.

 

[inkkognito]

Please educate me, preferably by using step by step choreography and not using any numbers*, so I too can get smart enough!

* (Or is a math Ph.D. needed?)

Definitely not a science...more like a combination of voodoo and luck. We drive to the parks now, but when we used to stay at the hotels and take the buses, I remember sometimes sitting on the benches and watching the hypnotic "Dance of the Bus Door Alignment."

 

[LoraJ]

No need to worry...I highly doubt anyone is going to have an issue with one person, or even two persons, joining the rest of their family when the bus comes along. It's those who send dad to stand in the line, while the other 8 sit down...only to get up when the bus is in sight and they try to join dad at the front of the line.


I used to feel the same as you....I knew who had been there when I walked up. So, I would generally wait until they got on the bus then I would mosey on over. But, those who are just arriving, as you noted, aren't waiting for anyone..much less those who had been seated and were in the process of getting up. Nope, they just march themselves right over to the area where the bus will open it's doors and on they get. Drives me nuts. One time, just one time, I was at the beginning of the line. There were some older guests who had been seated. As the bus came up, there were some other arriving guests, who figured they could just keep right on truckin' and hop on the bus, without even slowing. Nope, wasn't happening...I had watched this happen for four days. So, I stood in front of them, as they pushed me from behind...they kept saying 'Are you getting on the bus lady?? Or are you just going to stand there all day??' My response? "I'm waiting for those who have been waiting for 15 mins to get on first, then I'll get on." Oh, they were not happy campers. But the looks on those older guests faces were priceless!!! That wasn't something I do on a regular basis but I had just about had it with entitled people on that trip. Is it so hard to wait 30 seconds for someone else to go ahead of you?????

When we took the bus I would look around and note who was there before me, bench or not. Never was really much of an issue since it was never crowded. I would not get upset if a family member was holding spots for family members sitting on a bench. I would not consider that cutting. They did arrive there before me.

 

[DisneyWalker44]

The value resorts have lines set up at the resorts.

This is one aspect where the values are much better than the "nicer" resorts. Lines are good, they eliminate (or at least reduce) confusion and perceived unfairness. But for some reason they are considered uncouth and only given to the values. I with Disney would add them to all resorts.

 

[WillCAD]

At the Values, it's easy; there are ropes queues. If you're on the bench, you're not in the queue. IMHO, anyone who sits on the bench should not be allowed to shove their way to the front of the queue to "join" a line holder.

I usually stand in the queue, but once in a while I sit on the bench, and when the bus arrives, I take my place at the end of the line.

At the Moderates and Deluxes, it's less clear, because there are benches, bot no defined queues. Whenever I wait for a bus at a Mod or Deluxe, I tend to make note of who was there before me, and make sure not to get in line ahead of them when the bus arrives. Not everyone is as polite, and I've had people walk right up and get on the bus in front of me and others who had been waiting.

This is one aspect where the values are much better than the "nicer" resorts. Lines are good, they eliminate (or at least reduce) confusion and perceived unfairness. But for some reason they are considered uncouth and only given to the values. I with Disney would add them to all resorts.

I don't think it's a matter of couth, I think the Values have roped queues because they are the largest-capacity resorts with only one bus stop per resort, leading to much larger crowds waiting for the bus.

 

[Manda]

This is one aspect where the values are much better than the "nicer" resorts. Lines are good, they eliminate (or at least reduce) confusion and perceived unfairness.

I totally agree. That's one thing I preferred about the values - at least you know where you are in line. I never know what to do when there's a large crowd at the bus stop - it gives me panic issues. That's one of the reasons I avoid Downtown Disney almost entirely as well.

That being said, I'm pretty good at knowing who was there before me, etc., and knowing whether or not I deserve a spot on that bus and making sure my family gets on.

But I ride public transportation daily, so I'm kinda use to the mad rush and squishing into people. I get more infuriated at Disney because people don't seem to know how to pack a bus and try to politely stand 3 feet away from each other - IMO, it's more polite to move back and quickly so more people get on instead of being left standing outside.

I'm used to shoving and compacting. It's hard to restrain my city public transportation behavior and replace it with 'it's just vacation' zen-like public transportation behavior. People look at you funny on Disney buses when you stand and yell 'OUT!' when you approach your stop.

 

[WillCAD]

I totally agree. That's one thing I preferred about the values - at least you know where you are in line. I never know what to do when there's a large crowd at the bus stop - it gives me panic issues. That's one of the reasons I avoid Downtown Disney almost entirely as well.

That being said, I'm pretty good at knowing who was there before me, etc., and knowing whether or not I deserve a spot on that bus and making sure my family gets on.

But I ride public transportation daily, so I'm kinda use to the mad rush and squishing into people. I get more infuriated at Disney because people don't seem to know how to pack a bus and try to politely stand 3 feet away from each other - IMO, it's more polite to move back and quickly so more people get on instead of being left standing outside.

I'm used to shoving and compacting. It's hard to restrain my city public transportation behavior and replace it with 'it's just vacation' zen-like public transportation behavior. People look at you funny on Disney buses when you stand and yell 'OUT!' when you approach your stop.

I think that people who live in big cities are accustomed to invasions of their personal space. But people from the burbs and beyond still have this weird desire NOT to get intimate with strangers on buses.

That's one reason (of many) why I rent a car on every trip, and take the buses as little as possible - I don't enjoy the pungent aromas of folks who are afraid of soap and mouthwash.

 

[Disney Dork in DFW]

I have developed a unique policy regarding Disney bus etiquette.

With regard to those individuals who so nonchalantly stroll up to the front of the boarding line as though their mere presence represents some form of entitlement, I have an entirely unique philosophy. Obviously, we want to stay in the Disney mood and not start any sort of confrontation, but I do still want to see justice done when people pompously and inconsiderately barge their way to the front of the line (same goes for attractions in the theme parks). So what I do is either think to myself or whisper to my wife some sort of appropriate, non-lethal retribution commensurate with the offense of the line jumpers in question, in the hopes that karma will hear me and take me up on my suggestion.

For example, we watched a man storm his way onto a DHS-bound bus while we were at Pop Century (where the lines are clearly demarcated, mind you) once. Homeslice was sitting in the shade while his FAMILY stood and waited in line, and then of course he stood up to join them. We were waiting to go to Animal Kingdom, but I nonetheless thought to myself, "Karma, it would be wonderful if this guy got stuck for 45 minutes in the middle of one of the inversions on Rockin' Roller Coaster. Please let the other people in his car be jerks, too." Then, maybe he will learn a little something about patience.

Then I envisioned the man cussing up a storm as waits, dangling upside down with his stuff falling out of his pocket. Then, I laugh.

While there is absolutely no guarantee that such events ever befall people like that, if nothing else, it makes me feel a lot better about the whole situation.

 

[Belle & Ariel]

Things must be very different at the values or moderates compared to the deluxe resorts (only places I've used the bus) because it seems very natural to say "first come to the bus stop first on the bus" and not "first to the bus door is the winner". When we go down to the bus stop at the Yacht Club first thing in the morning there may be a few people already there and are sitting on the bench. I wouldn't think that I should be able to get on the bus before them just because I go and stand where the bus normally stops. This is really shown when people are just coming out of the resort as the bus pulls up. Those already there are standing up and getting in line and the last minute resort folks come up on the right and some of them shove themselves in front of others who have been waiting for a while.

I totally agree. The ones on the benches are generally the first ones to the bus stop and since they have been waiting the longest, they should be first on the bus.
The ones standing came later and should have the courtesy to let those before them on first.

 

[DisneyWalker44]

I don't think it's a matter of couth, I think the Values have roped queues because they are the largest-capacity resorts with only one bus stop per resort, leading to much larger crowds waiting for the bus.

Even the large deluxes with only one stop (BWV/BWI) use the no-line method

 

[5boyz]

We just simply stand in line.

 

[5boyz]

I totally agree. The ones on the benches are generally the first ones to the bus stop and since they have been waiting the longest, they should be first on the bus.
The ones standing came later and should have the courtesy to let those before them on first.

The 2nd part of your quote is not always true.....I dont sit and there are lots of people who get there after me that do. I am also always aware of who is there before us and have always taught my kids the same.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Someone please correct me if I am wrong isn't the Wilderness Lodge the only Deluxe Resort to have specific waiting areas for each bus destination, so the bus will stop in front of that location and that means there is not one specific area where everyone must go to when it arrives. Now if that's true wouldn't it be a lot easier for all the other Deluxe Resorts to have that?

 

[WillCAD]

Even the large deluxes with only one stop (BWV/BWI) use the no-line method

BWI has 378 rooms, BWV has 383 studio, 1BR and 2BR units, for a combined total of 761 rooms.

Each All-Star resort has 1,920 rooms.

Pop Century has 2,880 rooms.

Even when you factor in the higher capacity of the BWV multi-room units, the Value resorts still have a lot more people using those bus stops in the mornings, since the Boardwalk properties have boat and foot transportation to Epcot and DHS. So the number of people at the Boardwalk bus stops at any given time is usually going to be far less than the number of people at the Value bus stops.

Someone please correct me if I am wrong isn't the Wilderness Lodge the only Deluxe Resort to have specific waiting areas for each bus destination, so the bus will stop in front of that location and that means there is not one specific area where everyone must go to when it arrives. Now if that's true wouldn't it be a lot easier for all the other Deluxe Resorts to have that?

Not all of the Deluxes have enough room for that sort of bus depot setup. WL's bus depot was built better from the beginning, but the bus depots at the monorail resorts were all built rather small because they all have alternative high-capacity transportation via the monorail. WL's boat transportation doesn't match up to the monorail, so it follows that a lot ore people will be taking bused from WL than from Poly, GF, or Contemp.

The Epcot resorts likewise have alternative transportation to two of the four theme parks via boat or walkway, so they were built with smaller bus depots.

Last time I checked, AKL's bus depot had four bus bays for its 1,293 rooms. Kidani Village, the new DVC property, supposedly has its own bus depot, though I haven't been there since Kidani opened. AKL had a fair bus depot from the beginning, since it's totally landlocked and depends entirely on buses.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Not all of the Deluxes have enough room for that sort of bus depot setup. WL's bus depot was built better from the beginning, but the bus depots at the monorail resorts were all built rather small because they all have alternative high-capacity transportation via the monorail. WL's boat transportation doesn't match up to the monorail, so it follows that a lot ore people will be taking bused from WL than from Poly, GF, or Contemp.

The Epcot resorts likewise have alternative transportation to two of the four theme parks via boat or walkway, so they were built with smaller bus depots.

Last time I checked, AKL's bus depot had four bus bays for its 1,293 rooms. Kidani Village, the new DVC property, supposedly has its own bus depot, though I haven't been there since Kidani opened. AKL had a fair bus depot from the beginning, since it's totally landlocked and depends entirely on buses.

Thank you for posting that information.