Chivalry please-a vent

[pirateandprincesses]

Just back from our awesome trip.....with one complaint. On our resort bus one evening it was standing room only-one person put their kid on their lap to allow my 4yo twins to sit but I was "pushed" past them and onto the upper level with my 2yo to stand for the bus ride holding her. There were several men and teenagers who could have let us sit-you know how those disney bus drivers are-almost fell several times holding her.(it was way to crowded to let her stand). I know everyone is tired at the end of the day but how would they have felt if i had fallen with her. We only had this problem one time luckily-thank you to all those who give up their seat for children!!

 

[BellaSoleil]

Can you see the steam coming out of my ears from your side of the screen??? That is extremely rude and I'm so sorry that you were treated that way.

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

I am sorry that you had to experience this but I am glad that it was the only thing that was bad. Unfortunately, you won't find too many people willing to give up their seats. We always give up our seats to people with small children or to older people. Now it's easier for us as our son is older but even when he was younger if the bus was going to be crowded we used to wait for the next one or take a taxi.

 

[frisco]

Should be a rule - Anyone holding a child should get a seat. Period.

 

[LilyWDW]

My usual response to these complaints...

You know nothing about the people on that bus. You don't know their medical conditions, how they are feeling, or anything else. Could they have been simply rude? Yep, but there might have been something else. If you NEED to have a seat on the bus, wait for the next bus or expect to stand.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I also think it should be a rule- anyone with a child under a certain amount of pounds must be put on an available parent's lap.

I saw this so so so so many times it really made me angry and I could not believe how many jerks there were. I am 21 so anytime I got the chance to give up my seat, I did because I know I can stand for 15 minutes easily. I know someone like my mom- it's very tough. But are we going to wait for the next bus... are you kidding? We're not going to wait around standing for 15 minutes just so that we don't have to stand on the bus for 15 minutes, lol.

I didn't see some very nice people occaisonally... there were a couple of times that I got up to let someone else sit and then a guys would get up to let me sit.

Chivalry isn't dead but it sure hides a lot.

 

[livie1205]

yes it was rude but the way I do it is if I do not want to stand on the bus I wait for another bus or what I do 99% of the time drive my car to the parks.I never depend on someone to give up their seat...yes they may be able to stand and just being rude but they got there first and thats how I have to think of it that way I do not waste my time being mad about it....my dh or 2 boys would have given up their seat to you without even asking but not all people were raised that way.

 

[buzznina]

Unfortunately I see this more and more. We just got back from our trip and when I see that the bus will be standing room I do not even sit down(unless I have my DD). On one bus I noticed two teenagers seated and a mother and her 4 or 5 year old in front of them standing, I told them that real men give up their seats for woman and children. They were not happy, but they did get up

 

[HGD24]

Sadly, giving up a seat to someone more in need than yourself is a social grace that is slipping further and further away. Before we had DD, DH and I always gave up our seats. Now, whichever one of us is holding the stroller gives us their seat.

On our last trip, we had gotten on a bus at our resort before realizing it was standing room only and there were so many people behind us and in front of us that we couldn't get off of the bus. Sadly, I was absolutley shocked that a young teenager offered his seat to me. I thanked him over and over and then thanked his mom for raising such a wonderful, caring son. She said, "I wouldn't raise him any other way." I wanted to hug her!

 

[pirateandprincesses]

You are right LilyWDW-I don't know the people on the bus but what do you think the odds are that out of all the people sitting all of them have medical problems? Not very likely. Heck someone could have even offered to hold her. FYI on several occasions we did wait for another bus.

 

[ClareH37]

I just wanted to say also that although in a perfect world everyone should have a seat, not just parents with young children.

I'm 39 and I have a 'hidden' condition - I look perfectly fine (well, apart from my plumped up face through steroids) - but if I get on a bus and there's a seat then I'm going to take it. If the bus is full it's my choice to wait for another bus or grab a taxi. No-one is forced to get on a crowded bus and please remember just because someone looks 'OK' and might appear to be 'rude' for not giving up their seat to a parent with a young child, or a young child, no-one knows anything about that person in that seat. Thank you.

 

[2manypets]

Sorry, I have hidden disabilities and can't stand for a long period of time especially on moving objects. I certainly don't expect a seat to be given to me even when I had small children. I just waited for the next bus to come along. Nobody is entitled to be given anything at all.

 

[goofy4tink]

Politeness can not be mandated or made to be mandatory. People from other areas may not feel the same as we do. Others who are seated may have issues that prevent them from standing. Some are just plain self-centered and don't care about anyone else.
It would be nice if there were a special area on each bus that could hold those huge strollers...I have seen them take us a huge amount of space. As someone else said, if a child is under a certain size, it makes sense for that child to take a spot on a parents lap, rather than on a seat...a seat that they usually keep getting out of or standing up on.
In a perfect world, women wouldn't have to stand, holding their kids, on a bus. But, it isn't a perfect world. I will say though...the last two times I was in WDW, I had teenaged boys offer me their seat on both a bus and the monorail. The mom, sitting with her sons on the monorail, was so shocked when her boys asked if I would like to sit down. Her face was priceless..she was so proud, unexpectedly proud, but proud none the less.
There are many people who will give up their seat to someone else...I would hazard a guess that it is the vast majority. But, yes, there are still those who feel it's okay for them to sit while someone tried to juggle a baby on a moving bus.

 

[pirateandprincesses]

On our last trip, we had gotten on a bus at our resort before realizing it was standing room only and there were so many people behind us and in front of us that we couldn't get off of the bus.

This is exactly what happened on that bus ride. Oh the best part was that at one stop before ours the man sitting behind me (in his 30's) was getting off and offered me his seat-are you kidding me -now you offer it. I told him it was too late now as I was making my way down the stairs to see my 4yo's.

I understand about "hidden" medical disorders as I have degenerative disc disorder but again the chance of all the adults on the bus with "hidden" medical disorders is not going to happen.

 

[ksjayhawkfan]

Why is it that just because someone wont give up their seat, that it automaticlly makes them rude? We give up seats occasionally, but more often than not, we have waited through for a bus that has seats so we dont have to stand. Yeah I get that everyone is tired, just like we are, and they are just as able to wait for a seat as we are. FWIW, we are a family of 6, so I get it.

I do however think its rude that you were pushed away from your kids.

 

[kmvand1]

Sometimes you get a seat, sometimes you don't. That is the chance you take. No one is entitled to a seat. The only people guaranteed a seat every time is a person with an ECV. Maybe next time you should rent a car.

 

[LisaNJ25]

My usual response to these complaints...

You know nothing about the people on that bus. You don't know their medical conditions, how they are feeling, or anything else. Could they have been simply rude? Yep, but there might have been something else. If you NEED to have a seat on the bus, wait for the next bus or expect to stand.

Exactly.. there were plenty of times we stepped aside and waited for the next bus when it was packed and standing room only.

Also My last trip if the bus was filled my family of 6 took up 3 seats. We would have a younger one sit on an older ones lap.

 

[jngwright]

After hundreds of threads on here about people not giving up their seats because they have hidden disabilities, I think we can all agree that the comments are not directed at them. Most of us have been on a bus when able bodied people have lounged in their seats, while senior citizens or people holding sleeping children have stood. There is nothing we can do about it, except teach our own children the "right thing to do". I am not debating that some people have hidden disabilities-I was one of them on our trip in 2004.

 

[Henlady]

I agree with livie1205 about waiting for the next bus. I have "hidden" knee problems, and standing on a bumpy bus ride is painful. If there is "standing room only" on the bus , DH & I quietly step aside and let others on who are willing to stand. I have had bus drivers coax people on standing room only buses saying that if you get on, you'll be at your resort quicker than those who are waiting, that may be so, but if you can't stand, you can't stand.
If you've got tired/sleeping little ones and it will cause you difficulty on a packed bus, it may be easier to stand there for 5 minutes waiting for the next bus and be one of the first on and grab a seat.

 

[katallo]

I totally agree about hidden disabilities. But I'm sure this is a small percentage of an entire bus.

We just returned and witnessed the same thing many times. My DH is 60 and gave up his seat for two pregnant women and one with a child. Have to say I feel very lucky and proud to have him.