Full Buses

[valvzb]

We just returned from a trip to WDW. On a couple of occasions the buses were standing room only when we got on and we ended up standing. I was very disappointed that I ended up standing while plenty of perfectly healthy young men and women sat in their seats. Not only am I an older woman I am very short and it is quite a strain to hang on to the overhead bars. My knees are still sore from trying to brace myself. My son who is 16 and fairly short also had a really sore arm from straining to reach the bar.
On the last day I overheard a 20-something couple talking and the man asked his wife if he should give up his seat for me and she sneered back at him not to. Nice. I was already on the verge of tears from the pain and the rudeness just did me in.
I'm sure that my son would never take someone's seat even if they offered but it would be nice if someone did offer.
Until the age of chivalry returns here's a guideline: Offer to give up your seat to anyone:
older
shorter
physically or mentally challenged

 

[Kimmielee]

I'm sorry that you encountered such rude and inconsiderate people. What is your disability? They certainly weren't DIS'ers!! I normally see much more courteous people on the buses... except for one drunk individual that was angry when a person in a wheelchair was being helped onto the bus (it was a handicapped bus) and the drunk man was MAD that the wheelchair took the place of 4 seats or some other such nonsense.

It's supposed to be a HAPPY PLACE... right?

 

[BBGirl]

I'm not surprised this happened when we were down there in July. Every bus was standing room only and even though we always waited for the next bus so we could sit down-I almost always gave up my seat to childern or older persons or the guy with cane. One time I said no way not tonight I'm not giving up my seat well I just could not sit when a 7 year old child with braces on his legs was standing so of course I got up, mind you the bus was full nobody else thought to get up. I just could not believe the people who didn't care if little kids or eldery or hadicapped stood while they sat. young couples, teens etc. I don't know where their parents were but SHAME on them . My mom would have found some way to know that I didn't give up my seat and would have kicked my well over the age of 18 year old butt from here back to disney and home again. I really don't think I could enjoy the looking forward to getting to the parks looking at someone who should not have been standing while I sat.

 

[ducklite]

This topic comes up now and then, and I can see both sides.

If you know you ahve a hard times reaching and can see that the bus is packed, don't get on, just wait for the next one. Everyone is tired at the end of the night.

Personally speaking, I'll give my seat to a young child, parent with a baby, disabled, or elderly person. I will not give my seat to an able bodied person regardless of how tall, short, fat, skinny, or whatever they are. Why? Because if I gave up my seat every time someone else thought they should get it, I'd never get to sit.

I practice what I preach, and have waited for the next bus a few times when I could tell I wouldn't be able to sit.

Anne

 

[bunny]

I have 2 small children and invariably I had to stand on almost every bus holding one of them. People will not get up for you. One time a lady got on with a 2 year old. She was standing a little bit down from where I sat. Three or four men were sitting next to her. When the bus started moving, the 2 year old fell down. He started crying. The mom tried to hold him and herself at the same time. I immediately got up and traded places with her. Shame on those men. It also irriates me when people have children sitting next to them instead of holding them on their lap. I saw people let their children sit while older people stood. And don't even get me started on the teenagers. I told my husband next time we rent a car. And we went in September. I can't imagine what happens during a busy time. As for waiting for the next bus, when you have small children or are tired at the end of the day, you don't want to wait. My husband did this one night after the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom. The bus was full so he waited. The next bus did not come for 45 minutes!

 

[ducklite]

bunny--When my son was about ten some lady had a snit fit at my husband for not holding "the baby" on his lap.

My husband told her that if she'd like to sit and hold our son on HER lap it would be fine.

And no, he didn't offer his seat--she wasn't any older than him, if anything younger, and quite rude.

While I agree that a two year old could sit on a parents lap, it's pretty absurd to expect an older kid to do so.

Anne

 

[bunny]

I meant children kindergarten or under.

 

[taximomfor4]

I meant children kindergarten or under.

I have posted on this same topic in the past. Many times, my dh will give up his seat. But more often, we will sit down on the pavement and wait for another bus. There are FOUR kids in my family. While my oldest dd12 will stand, my 7yo (who LOOKS normal) is special needs and absolutely, no way, can stand on a bus. Yes we get dirty looks for her sitting. My 5yo son has poor balance control and an abnormality with his legs. He cannot stand either. MY littlest one, who was 2, was not going to stand. And I could not hold her on my lap because then, which hands would hold the other 2 kids who needed help? So yes, littlest one, at age TWO, had her own seat, always one with a pole so she could hold on. Trust me, dirty looks abounded. I just learned to ignore it. People don't know ANYTHING about my kids, my reasons, and honestly, have no right to judge me. My dh mostly gave up his seats, and stood holding on with one hand while holding the stroller with the other.

The buses are crowded...we were there Easter week and in August. We almost always skipped fireworks, and gave extra time to travel by bus. We definitely needed it, as we often chose NOT to get on the first one that came, and were then often first to choose seats on the NEXT bus. This was a much safer option for us.

 

[jarestel]

This issue comes up often enough that most people should realize there's a certain amount of risk involved when boarding a standing room only bus. Since giving up seats seems to be something more and more people are becoming less inclined to do, anyone getting on a standing room only bus should probably not rely on the "kindness of strangers" approach in order to get a seat. If sitting is important, waiting for the next bus is probably the best option.

I have noticed that many bus drivers now will warn people getting on the bus when it's SRO.

 

[Lewisc]

I understand we should be willing to give up a seat for an elderly person or a parent holding an infant but OP is expecting passengers to give up a seat for her 16 year old. That's not going to happen. Drive to the parks or wait for the next bus. A teenager should be the passenger giving up a seat not expecting one.

 

[DisneyHumbug]

My DD is 19 and looks perfectly healthy. However she has a disability that I won't get into here. She will not get up and give you her seat! Sorry. My DS and I always give our seats to mothers with children or the elderly. But if you are around my age, you're out of luck.

 

[paults]

PEOPLE , I think we're looking at this the wrong way. It seems like this thread about who should give up their seat and who shouldn't is crazy.

First of all it is a problem DISNEY needs to address before someone gets hurt from standing in the isle. ( AND DISNEY KNOWS ITS A PROBLEM)

Second, how can one tell if a younger or older person doesn't need the seat their in. Just because someone looks alright doesn't mean they are.
I get peeved when I see a car park in a handicap space and they get out and walk with no distinct problem. Who's to say that person doesn't have a heart condition or something else wrong.

Thirdly, I for one will give up my seat SOMETIMES if I am feeling OK. I look like I'm in good shape but have had 3 major back surgeries ( 2 in the last 2 yrs) and need 1 new knee. I don't like people expecting me to give up my seat after standing in line for 20 min and them not knowing my physical problems just because I look healthy.

We as a whole need to address the bus problem on our own. If you need a seat and the bus is crowded then wait for the next one, if you can't wait then you have to deal with the problem of standing.

REMEMBER: don't blame the passengers blame the DISNEY BUS SYSTEM
it is fixable and Disney can fix it.

 

[Okiemom]

This is so silly. If you don't want to stand, don't get on a full bus. I guess that just seems too logical.

 

[valvzb]

What's logical about waiting another 20 minutes for a bus? That's ridiculous. The problem is that people are so darn selfish and lazy. I'd be embarrassed if my husband didn't offer to give up his seat to someone. I'd be embarrassed to sit while other people more needy than myself stood. But I guess that's not logical but caring and unselfish.

 

[taximomfor4]

What's logical about waiting another 20 minutes for a bus? That's ridiculous. The problem is that people are so darn selfish and lazy. I'd be embarrassed if my husband didn't offer to give up his seat to someone. I'd be embarrassed to sit while other people more needy than myself stood. But I guess that's not logical but caring and unselfish.

In my own personal family situation, where 4 out of 6 must sit, NOT stand, waiting 20 minutes for the next bus is actually quite logical. And safer for us. It is not being selfish, or lazy, that makes us choose to wait. It is considering what is safest for OUR kids. We tried it the other way... and picked up the 7yo off the floor 2x on one drive, while holding onto the youngest and a grab bar. I didn't get mad at the people sitting in the seats, I just determined then and there that from then on, we would not get onto SRO buses...we would sit on our beach towels in the bus line and wait for the next bus while sipping bottled water. And when we got on the next bus we would get to sit. Sometimes DH and oldest dd gave up their seats if someone was obviously more in need of it.

 

[cnaumann]

I would offer my bus seat to any kid under about 6, any person old enough to be my parent, any person that is obviously having trouble standing, and any female (even the ugly ones.) In other words, if the bus is full, I usually stand.

There is no way I would ever consider giving up a seat for a 16 year old male, even if he was a little on the short side.

I question the wisdom hauling a family of special needs kids on a crowded bus,unless there is absolutely no other transporation available. (How do your non-standing kids manage the queues in the park?) Yes, I am probably one of the ones giving you dirty looks. You have no right to judge me for judging you.

 

[TDC Nala]

I agree with older and physically challenged (sometimes you can't tell about mentally), carrying children, etc but I can't say I've ever considered giving up a seat to someone because they're short.

and any female (even the ugly ones.)

Hooray! Somebody who'll offer ME a seat!

 

[DebbieB]

That's why I rent a car. I can't stand crowded busses. Love to get in the car, turn up the AC, turn on the radio, and off we go!

 

[Kimmielee]

That's why I rent a car. I can't stand crowded busses. Love to get in the car, turn up the AC, turn on the radio, and off we go!

Isn't parking a nightmare?

 

[DebbieB]

Isn't parking a nightmare?

Never had a problem. Just follow the cm's in the lot and park. Get on the tram or walk to the gate. I don't go during busy times, so maybe it's different then.