For those who do believe in giving up their seats

[lucyanna girl]

Let me first say I know this is a sore subject. I am not asking if you believe in giving up your seat on the bus or not. I am not saying anyone should or has to give up their seat. I am not saying it is the correct thing to give up a seat to another. Opinions are like underarms, everyone has a couple and some smell better than others.
What I am saying is that on our recent trip to WDW (October 28 - November 2) I was pleased by how many people I saw who did offer their seat to another. Sometimes it was gratefully accepted, sometimes it was gracefully turned down. This was such a short trip for MNSSHPs that we did not rent a car as usual. Instead we used Magic Express and rode Disney buses. I don't think there was a single trip where we did not see at least one and sometimes more people give up a seat for a child or an older person. We gave up our own gladly on more than one ride. After reading some of the hotter threads on this subject it was very nice to see that there are a lot of people who do believe in putting others first.

 

[momz]

glad to hear that courtesy is winning at the happiest place on earth. we experienced quite the opposite on a trip 3 years ago. i was 6 months pregnant and my husband and i were traveling with nephews 3,5,7,9. anyway, it's not easy standing up on a moving bus while pregnant, let alone while trying to help the little ones avoid falling into others.

 

[kirbsam]

when i am on the bus, and it looks full or will get full at the next stop, ijust stand up and a person will usually sit down...i dont wait and offer a seat, because so often the person will turn it down just to be nice...if i am already standing, the seat always get used...and nobody feels like they are making you sacrifice...i always stand when full...it is the right thing to do

 

[oots]

I'd like to think I would give up my seat for an eldery person or a pregnant woman. so i'll let you know after I get back if I did or not. I do'nt take public transport for work-so the monorail & dis buses will be my chance during jersey week!!

 

[liamandcaili]

On our last trip, I was by myself a lot with two kids, 3 and 6, and a stroller. Everyone on the buses were really nice and always gave up their spot so I could sit with my DD on my lap. There was one night we were out late for Spectromagic and Wishes and DD was completely fast asleep, so I was trying to manage carrying her, while trying to drag the stroller on to the bus, and keep an eye on DS. Well, some nice man took the stroller on for me and made sure I found a spot to sit not too far from the door with seats for me and DS. To all of you who do things like this, please accept my sincerest thanks.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Just returned from WDW with my very elderly, frail parents and in all but one instance, people always offered their seats, especially on the buses. It was a really nice sight to see! There were quite a few people that got aggravated that my parents walk so slow which was a bit sad but for the most part I noticed that good manners were plentiful!

 

[Nank]

I was there 9/26 - 10/1 and I saw alot of courteous people offering their seats.

 

[ElaineMarch]

I was there a couple of weeks ago staying at Pop. We were going to the Magic Kingdom one morning and my friend and I got a seat on the bus in the front. The bus driver kept gettinm more people on and did a good job having the standing people move back to get more people on. The last family let onto the bus was standing a little way in front of where I was sitting and the mother was holding a young child (Maybe 1 1/2 or 2). The bus driver kept loudly giving hints for people to give up seats to let parents hoding a child sit down. When noone closest for them did, I reached up through a couple of people and told the mom with baby to take my seat. I got up and people moved so she could get to the seat, but her husband took the baby and continued to stand with the baby while the lady sat in my seat!! That was very irritating!

 

[henrylovespooh]

We were at WDW a few weeks ago, and one night after Wishes we were on the bus back to ASMo. my 2 year old DD demanded that her father carry her, and I had my 3 year old by the hand. We got on the bus when there was only standing room, but no one offered DH, DS or I a seat and we had a long painful ride back to ASMo. The bus was crowded, and I'm not sure anyone near us could have gotten up if they wanted to. It got really bad when DD kept hitting DS in the head with her feet, unintentionally, because he was standing right under her legs. Then DS started hitting DD and we had to try to break up a fight while trying to remain standing. Two kind women (one on each side of me)offered to let DS or DD sit on their laps, but my kids won't go to strangers.

Next time DH and I said we would just ask to wait for the next bus so we could get a seat. We saw another couple with kids do that the same night and we wished we had done it as well.

 

[4lilpoohs]

We went in 2002 and our youngest was 2. I was always offered a seat everytime I would have had to stand. I was really pleasantly surprised

 

[justhat]

We were there 9/30-10/2 and I had a great experience on a bus coming home from MNSSHP on 9/30. I was alone with my 1.5yo daughter and my niece (my husband arrived later that night so he skipped the party) and had to hold my sleeping daughter, diaper bag, and stroller and it was standing room when I got on. I wasn't even going to get on the bus but the bus driver said the next bus would not be there for 15 minutes and I really wanted to get everyone home. A wonderful man got up from his seat to let me and my sleeping daughter sit down and then he held my stroller the whole ride.

 

[DisneyPhD]

We have had very good luck with people offering seats when I was pregnant or had young kids (at 1st one, then 2). There has only been a few times I had to stand while holding a sleeping baby and stroller. We did get used to using the baby bjiorn when it was just DH and I with the 2 kids since there was no way we could handel both and the double stroller (gasp we use a stroller with a 4 year old. ) and the kids.

Not only busses, but often waiting when I was pregnant I was offered seats at places. I have found many kind strangers who were very helpul and I have always been very greatful.

I found it funny though, we went with friends who had kids the same age. I would walk on a bus holding a baby and some bags and people would jump up to give me seats almost every time. My friend walks on with baby and tells me later she had to stand the whole time holding both the baby and the 4 year old (who were alseep.) What is up with that? I can only think it is because I am very friendly and smile and talk to others and she tends to be more reserved. Or maybe I just happen to have better luck then her (this is true and why they like to come with us, our good luck normally rubs off on them some. , or maybe it is just Disney Magic!

 

[danny1649]

My experience that when bus is full most of time I see folks standing up and giving seats to those who need them.I'm glad many see the same thing that I do.Thanks for sharing your experience's and posting them.Many times you see teens getting a bad rap but I can't tell you how many polite teens stand right up and offer others a seat on a full bus.I am proud of them and their parents,who have some great teens.I like to see threads like this and not the 1 º/º of jerks you encounter in this world just not at Disney but everywhere.

 

[Tigger2252]

I too have seen many people give up their seats. I know that my dh and I always offer seats to the elderly, and parents with small children. I'm also proud to say that my teen might have been one you saw give up a seat. I have always talked to my children about courtesty and having respect for your elders, and was so proud to see my daughter stand, without our prompting her, and give her seat up. It's nice to know that they do listen, even when you don't think they do!

 

[MrsBanks]

travelling back to Coronado Springs after MNSSHP on 10/20 my DS4 was sleeping, DD2 was sleeping, we had a double stroller and backback - I climbed onto the bus with both kids while a group of people pushed past my DH and grabbed the last seats - I was seated next to a wonderful lady who offered my DH her seat, he refused and waited for the next bus, leaving me alone with the little ones (I know this makes him look bad, but he's really not) - anyway, that lady helped me off the bus with my children and even offered to help us to our room - we waited at the bus stop for DH, my DS had a potty accident all over both he and I (great night) - I normally would have given DH hell for not getting on the same bus as us but I cut him some slack since it was his birthday

 

[bdcp]

My DH gives up his seat to the elderly, all women and anyone who is obviously in need of a seat. It's not a big deal. He's a naval reserve officer and he's my officer and gentleman. It's one of those "right things to do". My 2 DS also do it and have since they were very young. Dad is a good example.

 

[madgomez]

I was there a couple of weeks ago staying at Pop. We were going to the Magic Kingdom one morning and my friend and I got a seat on the bus in the front. The bus driver kept gettinm more people on and did a good job having the standing people move back to get more people on. The last family let onto the bus was standing a little way in front of where I was sitting and the mother was holding a young child (Maybe 1 1/2 or 2). The bus driver kept loudly giving hints for people to give up seats to let parents hoding a child sit down. When noone closest for them did, I reached up through a couple of people and told the mom with baby to take my seat. I got up and people moved so she could get to the seat, but her husband took the baby and continued to stand with the baby while the lady sat in my seat!! That was very irritating!

It might have been that the parents knew the child was better controlled while being held, and would have tried to "assert his independence" if on a lap. That would have been very true of my second born, although my firstborn would have appreciated being in my lap. Just a thought.

 

[GoofyDisney]

So...the last time we went to WDW, we were taking the resort boat from MK to GF. I was the last person on the boat. My DH and DD found two seats. So, I kept heading back hoping to find a seat. I walked up to a row that had a little girl on the far inside, the dad in the middle and their umbrella stroller folded up and the handles were leaning on the ONLY empty seat on the boat. I said, "Excuse me, can I sit here?" He looked back at me in all seriousness and said, "But my stroller is here." I said, "Then maybe you could move your stroller, better yet, I would be happy to hold your stroller if I could just have a seat." He rolled his eyes and laid his stroller next to his feet on the floor. My DH ALWAYS gives up his seat to women and children, young or old. It is good manners and reflects what good people he is. It was obvious what kind of people the man and his stroller were! UGH.

 

[CharmedLife]

I had a really BAD experience a few weeks ago. Taking a bus crowded bus back to the hotel at the end of the day. I was holding DS2, about 30 pounds, and DH had DD5, 40 pounds. We were some of the last people on. There was one empty seat. A man, around 40, and I spied it at the same time. He looked at me, carrying 30# of hot, sweaty deadweight, and then he took the seat! I couldn't believe it - I had to stand there with my son asleep on my shoulder while this perfectly abled-man took the seat right out from under me. I was in complete shock. His wife was sitting right next to him and didn't say anything. If that was my husband I would have KILLED him, but I would not be married to a man that would behave that way, anyway.

Finally a very nice TEENAGE girl offered me her seat and she stood. How proud her parents must have been that she outclassed the 40-year-old man.

 

[KCMiller]

I had a really BAD experience a few weeks ago. Taking a bus crowded bus back to the hotel at the end of the day. I was holding DS2, about 30 pounds, and DH had DD5, 40 pounds. We were some of the last people on. There was one empty seat. A man, around 40, and I spied it at the same time. He looked at me, carrying 30# of hot, sweaty deadweight, and then he took the seat! I couldn't believe it - I had to stand there with my son asleep on my shoulder while this perfectly abled-man took the seat right out from under me. I was in complete shock. His wife was sitting right next to him and didn't say anything. If that was my husband I would have KILLED him, but I would not be married to a man that would behave that way, anyway.

Finally a very nice TEENAGE girl offered me her seat and she stood. How proud her parents must have been that she outclassed the 40-year-old man.

I would have looked him straight in the eye, and very sweetly asked him if I could have his seat. And then if he didn't get up, everyone would know what a schmuck he was. Including his wife, who probably gave him heck when they got off the bus.

My teenage children have been taught to stand until everyone else is sitting. Common courtesy.

KC