buses with littles?

[snoopy5512]

Hi. How much of a pain agree the buses from Por? I will have my 3 yo and 1yr old. Tia!

 

[maxiesmom]

The buses in general can be a pain with small kids. The buses are designed to hold more people standing up than sitting down, so plan on having to stand every so often. That means if you have a stroller you have to have someone hold on to it, and someone hold onto the kids, all the while keeping your balance. Otherwise you can step aside and wait for a bus that has open seating, but you never know how long the wait will be.

 

[canadiandisneymommy]

I went with my 2 and 3 yo last week and found guests to be incredibly kind. If there were no seats someone would always offer my little ones seats. At POR we found it better to use the shuttle station by the lobby as the buses usually stopped there first so it was easier to get seats.

 

[SaraMc]

We have been in line for busses and get to the front of the line and the bus is packed. Last thing I trust is my youngest standing. We stay at POR a lot, in the busier times of day, busses come quicker and its ok to wait for the next bus. Id rather wait and make sure she gets a seat than have her fall down.

 

[MandiC]

I second the recommendation for the bus stop by the lobby. #1, they are the first stop at POR. That does not mean there will not be people on the bus as most of the time the buses stop at POFQ first but in our experience there was usually enough room to sit when we went to that stop (we took the buses to the parks so we could rope drop the parks so a busy time of day). #2, they usually have the monitors up and running that tell you exactly what time each bus is coming next. It was just nice to know.

 

[msmama]

I only have one, but we've been going just the two of us since he was about 2 and I've never had any problems on the bus. Even the days when I had to wrangle him and the stroller, it was fine.

Maybe I'm willing to put up with annoyances that I wouldn't otherwise when I'm at Disney, but I'm always astounded when people start hating on the Disney busses. I've never had anything but good experiences!

 

[NC Disney Fan]

We've gone every year for the past 7 years and I have found less and less people willing to give up their seat. I have seen men having to wrangle two strollers while standing on a very crowded bus while wife tries to hold two sleeping kids. I have seen people not give up their seat and I'm too far back to do so (as the crowd between is too great to pass) Having started with young girls who were exhausted by the end, I remember the days of praying someone would give up their seats. Normally they did but I can still remember times when no one did. It really made me mad. What happened to manners, chivalry and class?

May I suggest that you consider driving to the park. If you booked through AAA, you can park in the diamond parking area which is very close to the front. We do so every year and I will tell you we get in our car and back to the resort probably before the first buss is loaded. With tired kids, that long line is brutal. Driving to the park really is so quick and it saves the hassle. Plus, you can normally park by your building so your walk isn't so long. Anyways after 3 years of the Disney transportation we finally figured that out and it is the only way we will go now (except for Magic Kingdom as you have to park at the transportation hub which then becomes a long trek so the busses are possibly more efficient). That's just my two cents. Make it easy on yourself if possible and don't expect people to be kind because even in the most Magical Place on Earth, they are not! Amazingly.

 

[Minnesota!]

Never have had any issues with the busses with little kids. If we don't feel like standing, we just wait for the next bus so we can for sure have a seat. Never a big deal or a problem.

 

[ebradley23]

If you have to stand, I recommend having the 3 YO sit right in front of your feet. I found this to be better than him jostling around while we were there a couple of weeks ago. There was only one time I had to resort to him sitting on the floor of the bus. Most of the time people were very accommodating. They would give up a seat for the adult with the child (most of the time my DH). I would also recommend a sling or carrier for the 1 YO in case you have to stand on the bus. That would free up your hands for holding on.

 

[North of Mouse]

We've gone every year for the past 7 years and I have found less and less people willing to give up their seat. I have seen men having to wrangle two strollers while standing on a very crowded bus while wife tries to hold two sleeping kids. I have seen people not give up their seat and I'm too far back to do so (as the crowd between is too great to pass) Having started with young girls who were exhausted by the end, I remember the days of praying someone would give up their seats. Normally they did but I can still remember times when no one did. It really made me mad. What happened to manners, chivalry and class?

What happened to just waiting for the next bus when you see it is full? When you get on an already full bus with that much paraphernalia you should not expect a place to put it all, plus yourselves and two sleeping kids!

Most everyone is 'very' tired also and were glad to have a seat. The inconsiderate ones to me are the ones that get on a full bus 'expecting' others to make you comfortable - now that's what makes me mad!

My dh has a bad knee that needs rest, but he would give his seat to you even though he is hurting - that's why we got on a bus with 'seats' (we're also seniors).

 

[7Le's]

Never have had any issues with the busses with little kids. If we don't feel like standing, we just wait for the next bus so we can for sure have a seat. Never a big deal or a problem.

Us too! We would just step aside and let the people behind us crowd onto the bus while we waited for the next bus, which always came quickly after. I never felt safe having my really little kids stand nor did I expect anyone to give us their seats.

 

[DopeyDame]

Just got back from a trip with a 2 and 5 year old. Other than one insanely long wait, we didn't have any problem navigating the buses with the littles.

 

[NC Disney Fan]

What happened to just waiting for the next bus when you see it is full? When you get on an already full bus with that much paraphernalia you should not expect a place to put it all, plus yourselves and two sleeping kids!

Most everyone is 'very' tired also and were glad to have a seat. The inconsiderate ones to me are the ones that get on a full bus 'expecting' others to make you comfortable - now that's what makes me mad!

My dh has a bad knee that needs rest, but he would give his seat to you even though he is hurting - that's why we got on a bus with 'seats' (we're also seniors).

Wow, such venom. There is nothing wrong with waiting for the next bus but when you have little ones who are either exhausted, asleep or having a melt down, waiting another 20 + minutes can be exhausting. Furthermore, we never even had strollers to deal with so your assumption that there was paraphernalia is wrong. We had exhausted kids and often had to try to hold them while standing. I will tell you I broke my back 3 years ago and still gave up my seat for mothers with kids when we came 5 months later!. I have seen men, young people etc not do the same. It is a shame that this is the way people view life. The right thing to do is how it used to be--give up your seat despite being equally as exhausted (and I am not necessarily referring to you if you are a senior, just people in general) Even as young girls, my girls give up their seats to the parents and to the elderly. That is how it should be. I can well imagine the Titanic now a days--everyone for themselves, no chivalry, no sense of what is the right thing to do.

 

[maxiesmom]

Wow, such venom. There is nothing wrong with waiting for the next bus but when you have little ones who are either exhausted, asleep or having a melt down, waiting another 20 + minutes can be exhausting. Furthermore, we never even had strollers to deal with so your assumption that there was paraphernalia is wrong. We had exhausted kids and often had to try to hold them while standing. I will tell you I broke my back 3 years ago and still gave up my seat for mothers with kids when we came 5 months later!. I have seen men, young people etc not do the same. It is a shame that this is the way people view life. The right thing to do is how it used to be--give up your seat despite being equally as exhausted (and I am not necessarily referring to you if you are a senior, just people in general) Even as young girls, my girls give up their seats to the parents and to the elderly. That is how it should be. I can well imagine the Titanic now a days--everyone for themselves, no chivalry, no sense of what is the right thing to do.

Here is the thing--each of us has our own family members to care for. If you have family members who should not be standing on a bus, then you need to see to it that they don't. Be it stepping aside for the next bus, or grabbing one of the taxis that are always around, or even renting a car.

I can never understand how people get mad at strangers for not taking care of their family members, when it apparently wasn't a priority for their own family to start with. I would never haul my mom on a bus and expect someone else to give her a seat--that responsibility is with me! And if I don't see to her needs, shame on me, not shame on everyone else.

I think it is great when people want to help each other out! But what is not so great is expecting it, and then getting all mad about it when that help isn't given. There are other options besides standing on a bus. The only one to blame because you decide not to use one of those options is yourself. Again, the buses are made to hold more people standing than sitting. Odds are good you will be standing at some point. If that doesn't work for your family, you need to decide how you are going to handle getting to the parks.

 

[NC Disney Fan]

Here is the thing--each of us has our own family members to care for. If you have family members who should not be standing on a bus, then you need to see to it that they don't. Be it stepping aside for the next bus, or grabbing one of the taxis that are always around, or even renting a car.

I can never understand how people get mad at strangers for not taking care of their family members, when it apparently wasn't a priority for the rest of the family to start with. I would never haul my mom on a bus and expect someone else to give her a seat--that responsibility is with me! And if I don't see to her needs, shame on me, not shame on everyone else.

I think it is nice when people help each other out. But it is not nice for people to expect it, and then get all judgy and complaining about it. Be grateful when someone helps you out, not mean because they didn't take care of your family better than you did.

Civility not expectations is what I am talking about. Many people, especially first time visitors, don't realize what they are getting into when taking kids on the bus as is seen in all of the people encouraging the OP to do it. I never expected a thing but am horrified that people in today's society feel exactly how you do. I am only 48 but see a decline in what used to be compassion in our society as a whole. I have NEVER expected someone to take care of my family but I assure you that I was raised with humanity and compassion for others (as I am doing with my children) so that if I do see others in need, I will care for them as humans just as I would care for my own family. And with that, I give up!! You all have made your point which is why we do drive now to avoid having to watch the inhumanity and lack of civility during our Magical vacation!

 

[tina.tina]

Unless it was an emergency, I would not stand up on a bus. Wait for the next one. It'll be along soon (unless you're at the GF where we waited 45 minutes for a bus). I actually did sit my DD10 on my lap to make room for someone else and DH was holding DS5 already. I felt so sorry for a little girl who was about 3 years old and was pretty much asleep standing up.

People (even CMs) looked at us like we were crazy when we waited for the next monorail. There were 2 strollers in the car we would've gotten into and it was standing room only. We waited and had a whole car to ourselves which was very pleasant.

 

[North of Mouse]

I have seen men having to wrangle two strollers while standing on a very crowded bus while wife tries to hold two sleeping kids.

This was what you posted and what I quoted! You were not posting about yourself.

There is nothing wrong with waiting for the next bus but when you have little ones who are either exhausted, asleep or having a melt down, waiting another 20 + minutes can be exhausting.

Sure, it can be exhausting, but most of us have been there, and didn't expect others to give up their seats for us because we 'chose' to get on crowded buses. Better to wait, than let your children's exhaustion and melt downs make everyone else on the bus miserable also - and we've had some do just that.
I absolutely stand by what I said - have shown kindness many times, but when people intentionally put themselves in that position I'm not as sympathetic.

 

[mom to minnie&mickey]

Civility not expectations is what I am talking about. Many people, especially first time visitors, don't realize what they are getting into when taking kids on the bus as is seen in all of the people encouraging the OP to do it. I never expected a thing but am horrified that people in today's society feel exactly how you do. I am only 48 but see a decline in what used to be compassion in our society as a whole. I have NEVER expected someone to take care of my family but I assure you that I was raised with humanity and compassion for others (as I am doing with my children) so that if I do see others in need, I will care for them as humans just as I would care for my own family. And with that, I give up!! You all have made your point which is why we do drive now to avoid having to watch the inhumanity and lack of civility during our Magical vacation!

My family usually waits for another bus when it seems that we won't get a seat, at least one for me. I have an inbalance in my ears which sometimes causes sudden severe vertigo, much more so than simple motion sickness.
I know that by sitting in a moving vehicle I lessen my chances of getting it.
If you were to judge me for not giving up my seat then you would be the one lacking civility and compassion. So someone who waited 15-30 min. for an empty bus should give up their seat to someone who ran onto a packed bus at the last minute because they did not feel like waiting?

 

[MandiC]

I didn't think that was 'venom', honestly I was rubbed wrong by that post as well. Not giving up your seat to someone on a bus that comes every 20 minutes isn't rude or not thinking of others. There were times we got on standing room only buses (if we had adrs or wanted to be to the park by rope drop and at night when we just wanted to get back) but if we had time, we did let a few standing room only buses go and the great thing was then we were first in line for the next bus and we got a seat! If the bus filled up quickly I had one of my daughter's sit on my lap and despite waiting for a less full bus my husband almost always gave up his seat for someone, usually a child or two. I would have *never* expected someone to give up their seat for me or my kids if we chose to take a standing room only bus.

 

[Ava]

OP, if your 1yo will ride in a sling or carrier, bring that to use on the buses. That way you'll have your hands free for holding on, and holding onto your 3yo if all of you have to stand. We use public transportation at home and the baby always goes in the carrier if we know we need to take a bus.

As for the rest of the discussion, more often than not we found people to be considerate on the buses - putting children in laps to make room for others to sit, giving seats to parents holding sleeping kids, etc. But I wouldn't expect someone to give me or my kids a seat if we chose to get on a full bus, nor did I judge adults who didn't give up their seats. Maybe they waited for the next bus so they could get a seat, or maybe they have an invisible disability that means they need that seat. You never know what someone else's story is.