Giving up Seat on Disney Buses

[sameyeyam]

I used the Disney transportation for the first time last year and was surprised to find that very rarely does anyone give up their seat to women, children, senior citizens, etc. Was anyone else caught off guard by this??

I am a female, 40yo and was always taught to give up your seat to older people, children, etc... Yes I believe in equal rights, etc... But I always thought this was more of a manner issue. My husband too was shocked to see men sitting while women holding babies were left standing on a moving bus.

People seem very surprised when my husband and I give up our seats to others. For instance, I just can't watch a parent trying to hold onto a small infant and a metal bar in a moving bus, while I with nothing in my arms just sit and watch them.

Also, whenever the bus does start filling up I alway make my DS(7) sit on my lap to free up a seat for someone else. Many times there would be a seat for everyone if parents would just set their small children in their laps. Sometimes DD & I scoot over in our seat and share 1-1/2 seats so a smaller child can have a half-seat.

I know that there are a lot of different nationalities visiting Disneyworld, so maybe it's just a cultural difference??

 

[Dis31]

I always give up my seat to a mother with a child or an elderly person!!!! Always , but some people are amazinng and just look the other way!

 

[NotUrsula]

This topic pops up once in a while, and debate is currently raging over on the Family board under the heading "Pregnant women ..."

I very strongly believe that most of the time you are just dealing with totally clueless people. I'm guessing that most American WDW visitors are suburbanites; most of them have never been taught public bus etiquette, as they have probably never been on a municipal bus in their lives.

Now, late at night when you're "closing a park" you do get a lot of folks who are just too tired to care, but I truly think it's mostly just ignorance.

 

[taximomfor4]

You definitely might want to crab the popcorn and head over to the Families board where the debate rages on.

As for holding kids on laps, due to previous negative experience while I had one of my kids on my lap, I make each child sit in his/her own seat now. It is not to be stingy or selfish or discourteous, trust me. It is because we narrowly escaped one of our kids being injured. We feel that until our kids are a little bigger, we feel we must put each child in a seat. During that trip, they were 11, 6, 5, and 2. I know, I know...we have caught many glares but nobody else had our exact experiences, so nobody else truly understands what led us to make this decision. BTW, my kids are BEGGING to stand. We won't let them yet, except dd12. She stood most of the time last year.

We do the same on public transport, or in really busy places we get taxis.

 

[guyzmom]

My family is always willing to give up seats and we have also been offered seats. It's just plain old being nice and polite. I actually find that people at WDW can often be nicer than most. A vacation there often helps to restore some of my faith in humanity. (But - as with anything - there are always exceptions).

 

[disneyjunkie]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1137687



I'm a 38-year-old woman. I NEVER get on a bus expecting anyone to give me a seat.

If I want to sit, I will not get on a crowded bus. I don't mind stepping to the side and waiting for the next bus. After waiting to get a seat, I don't feel I should give a seat to some who made the CHOICE not to wait. (This does not apply to elderly people)

 

[MinnieGirl33]

While we rarely ride the busses anymore (DH prefers to drive) but, on more than one occasion, my DS12 has given up his seat to women & senior citizens. WITHOUT me telling him.

Has brought this hockey mom to the verge of tears!

Makes me believe that if nothing else, I was able to teach my boys manners.

 

[liamandcaili]

Hmm...I wonder if all these people not giving up seats live in Boston? If you want to see the worst examples of discourtesy, just ride the T. They are actually launching a public campaign to try to make people aware that if there is an eight-months pregnant woman standing in front of you, you should give up your seat. If there is an elderly person or a blind person or a mom with a baby standing, the least you can do is offer. I stopped taking public transportation when I was pregnant with DS because I can't tell you how many times I had to stand and was shoved, jostled, etc.

That said, the last time I was at WDW, it was late, I was by myself with my two young children, a stroller and a backpack, and the family in front of me not only helped me get the stroller on the bus, they also made sure I had a place to sit with my then-sleeping DD.

 

[Sleepy]

I NEVER get on a bus expecting anyone to give me a seat.

If I want to sit, I will not get on a crowded bus. I don't mind stepping to the side and waiting for the next bus. After waiting to get a seat, I don't feel I should give a seat to some who made the CHOICE not to wait. (This does not apply to elderly people)

I totally agree.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

We tend to leave early before the big rush OR slowly saunter to the buses after the main rush has left because I cannot stand. I look sturdy, VERY sturdy, but have no sense of balance and cannot stand anywhere for any length of time.

If I get the bus and there is a long line and it appears as if there are no more seats left I will let others get on and wait for the next bus. My husband has to stand in line for me sometimes for the aforementioned reasons.

I have, upon occasion, misjudged and found that there were no seats left and I have NEVER had someone NOT offer me a seat. Granted it might be out of fear that I might fall on them (I do feel embarrassed about that) but they always do.

One time my husband fell at DW and was injured and someone offered him a seat as I would not sit if he did not as he was in worse shape than me. (so much for the solicitous CM's)

Some people might appear to be more able than they are and that is the problem. The other problem is those darned new buses with fewer seats IMO.

Slightly Goofy

 

[LisaS]

If I want to sit, I will not get on a crowded bus. I don't mind stepping to the side and waiting for the next bus. After waiting to get a seat, I don't feel I should give a seat to some who made the CHOICE not to wait. (This does not apply to elderly people)

This is what we do as well. I do not like to stand on the bus, especially if it's going to be a long trip (MK to AKL for example). So if we see the bus is filling up, we'll step aside and wait for the next bus. After waiting the additional 15-20 minutes to be assured of getting a seat, I would be reluctant to give it up.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

Hmm...I wonder if all these people not giving up seats live in Boston? If you want to see the worst examples of discourtesy, just ride the T. They are actually launching a public campaign to try to make people aware that if there is an eight-months pregnant woman standing in front of you, you should give up your seat. If there is an elderly person or a blind person or a mom with a baby standing, the least you can do is offer. I stopped taking public transportation when I was pregnant with DS because I can't tell you how many times I had to stand and was shoved, jostled, etc.

That said, the last time I was at WDW, it was late, I was by myself with my two young children, a stroller and a backpack, and the family in front of me not only helped me get the stroller on the bus, they also made sure I had a place to sit with my then-sleeping DD.

I have never had that problem on the T. NOT NOT NOT NOT LOL LOL

 

[BonnieA]

I experienced just the opposite when I was there last month. I haven't ridden the buses but on two of the boats - the one between epcot and mgm and the friendship boats in the world showcase - people went out of their way to make room for everyone getting on. Including some giving up their seats, sitting with children on laps and moving all bags and articles. Guess it was just a disney day.

 

[liamandcaili]

I have never had that problem on the T. NOT NOT NOT NOT LOL LOL

Ha! For a second I was worried that I was the only one riding the discourTeous service.

 

[Daisysmom]

I was just talking to someone going to WDW about this the other day! I was also surprised when I was there and no one offered anyone a seat. It really struck me when it was around 9:00 PM, and mothers trying to juggle tired kids were left standing, while wide-awake middle aged men sat on their butts.
I saw kids standing and leaning on things falling asleep! And don't tell me they should go back to the hotel earlier either. Kids get tired doing Disney and that's that.

You had better believe I moved my big butt off my seat and made a mom holding a toddler take it. I would have done it for anyone who needed it - that's the way I was raised.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I was just talking to someone going to WDW about this the other day! I was also surprised when I was there and no one offered anyone a seat. It really struck me when it was around 9:00 PM, and mothers trying to juggle tired kids were left standing, while wide-awake middle aged men sat on their butts.
I saw kids standing and leaning on things falling asleep! And don't tell me they should go back to the hotel earlier either. Kids get tired doing Disney and that's that.

You had better believe I moved my big butt off my seat and made a mom holding a toddler take it. I would have done it for anyone who needed it - that's the way I was raised.

I was raised not to EXPECT people to do things for me. It's my responsibility to do what's in the best interest of my family. If getting a seat on a bus is important to us, it's up to ME to:
a. leave the parks early
b. step aside and wait for the next bus
c. hop in a cab
d. rent a car

If someone decides to offer us seat fine, if not fine.

 

[Coloradomom]

Couple of thoughts:

1. I typically do not give up my seat due to some balance issues (vertigo) that can strike more after a long day, so for me to stand is not safe for those around me. You'd not know it by looking at me though.

2. I agree with those who say that if getting a seat is important to you, then wait for the next bus. But as a mom whose teenagers were young once, I remember those days when all you wanted to do was get those tired kiddos back to the hotel and so it is very hard to resist any transport.

3.DD and DS know it is expected of them to offer their seat, especially to pregnant or older folks.(though DS will usually be so unaware that I have to nudge him...he is often in his own world. DH just stands most of the time anyway.

 

[lizardqueen]

Why should I have to give up my seat for someone else? At some point, we all have to wait for a bus. Who are you to say that my family and I haven't waited extra because the bus that just left was full and we preferred to sit. I would not expect someone to give up their seat for me. If I didn't want to stand, I would simply wait for the next bus. There is nothing disrespectful about someone that is probably exhausted from being in the parks all day sitting down on a bus. It is disrespectful for any person to take up seats for their bags/strollers/etc, and in my opinion it is disrespectful for anyone (regardless of age, mental/physical well being, with or without child) to get on a bus that you can obviously tell is full and then expect someone to give up their seat for you. If you are not able to stand or if you have a small child in hand, why would you put yourself into a situation that might not be in the best interest of your safety? Just wait for the next bus.

And yes, if we are not tired and physically able to, DH and I will give up our seats if someone looks like they could use it more than us for whatever reason.

 

[fakereadhed]

I was raised not to EXPECT people to do things for me. It's my responsibility to do what's in the best interest of my family. If getting a seat on a bus is important to us, it's up to ME to:
a. leave the parks early
b. step aside and wait for the next bus
c. hop in a cab
d. rent a car

If someone decides to offer us seat fine, if not fine.

For me, I don't think it's a matter of someone expecting a seat. I just find it sad that acts of kindness are not more frequent on the busses. Obviously if you get on a crowded bus that's standing room only, there are no seats available. But what's up with watching someone else struggle to stay upright and not helping out? I understand the argument that people shouldn't expect a seat, but it saddens me that we don't feel a sense of community as human beings and step in when we can. I have heard many people say their feet are sore and they paid for their vacation so they are not standing when someone was dumb enough to get on an already crowded bus instead of taking a cab. Great argument for a debate, but a very poor attitude toward others. JMO.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I almost always wind up standing, even though if its the end oft he day my feet are killing me. I figure there will come a day when I will HAVE to sit or else.... Until then I don't mind letting a senior or a parent with kids sit. Our kids are 6 and 9 now. I remember many times when I have had one or both of them by myself trying to make it back to the resort after a long day. And almost each time a stranger invited me to take his/her seat. Man, was I grateful! It is just not safe to try and stand while holding the hand of one kid and letting one sleep on your shoulder.