Giving up Seat on Disney Buses

[juligrl]

Okay....here's the scenario....a very pregnant woman, an elderly couple, and a family with mom, dad, an infant, a 2 y/o and a 5 y/o all get on the bus...no one is willing to hop up and offer their seat (for whatever reason). Finally, someone offers to stand...which one of the above people gets that one seat??
I'm just curious, for the sake of discussion (rather than argument!!) what trumps what in this case.

Okay, I'm sorry, but unless both hubby and I are seated than I'm likely already seated with two kids in my lap, a frontpack on and a stroller between my legs, so I'm not going to be giving up my seat on this trip. In which case it's whoever is standing closest to my DH who jumps right up to offer his seat -- he never plans on sitting on public transportation and considers it a bonus when he can.

If hubby is seated with one child and I am seated with one child, than one of us will wordlessly pass the second child to the other then stand up and offer his/her seat to whoever was closest. Usually DH insists that I remain seated, but if traveling childless, we both happily surrender our seats. Again the lucky recipient would be whoever is closest.

We would not suggest to any of the remaining persons that perhaps they should have waited for the next bus, because we will presume that if they hadn't felt reasonably confident in their riding the bus in a standing position ability, they would have waited for the next bus.

Nor will we suggest that perhaps they should have rented a car. Maybe they are $pending their life $aving$ to go to Di$ney and adding a rental car $imply would have put a Di$ney trip out of reach for them.

Also, we won't spend the whole bus trip worrying about them because if they truly needed a seat they would have gotten one (think ADA here), or they would have waited because they knew that they could not reasonably stand on a moving bus.

All that said, we will still teach our children that when they are, by the grace of God, able to stand on a moving bus that they should give up their seat regardless of how long they waited, not because any of these people is entitled to their space, but because it is the polite thing to do.

So let's see, that'd be 4 seats. If the elderly couple and the pregnant woman accept the seats that my husband and I never planned on sitting in because we truly don't need them and that our DDs graciously offered, that leaves one seat for the family of 5. Maybe one of the parents would sit and -- well let's face it ladies, since we're better at multi-tasking generally -- mom would figure out a way to share a seat with all three of their kids. I know I've carried a kicking, screaming, 3 year old, a newborn and a furiously barking 18lb. dog before, so it can be done!

 

[taximomfor4]

Hey all, this is starting up again!!

On the Theme Parks board. And it's even PRETTIER there!~

 

[english rose 47]

Oh Boy I hit a few nerves didn't think I wrote definately asleep I said undoubtedly.As for giving up seats to elderley of course you should , you'll be there one day for me not to far off, As for looking healthy that perfectly discribes DD but by then she could be a wheelchair so yes I hope if she"s standing someone gives her a seat. Finally the issue of the sudden stop I think standing in the aisle would be a whole lot more dangerous.

 

[daisax]

All that Mom wants to do is get that child to bed ASAP​

Evidently not, or the child would have been in bed an hour ago before he fell asleep.

I would urge people who think that "throwing out an arm" is going to protect their children in any way, shape or form to reconsider this. Perhaps it has appeared to help when done in minor brake slamming moments. But in those cases probably they wouldn't have fallen off anyway. Trust me -- no regular mom or Dad has arms strong enough to hold back a 20-50 lb kid who has been flung off his seat, especially since Mom or Dad has also just been jostled. If you have one child beside you and a firm grip of the hand, perhaps.

The patented parental arm fling is all about reflexes but not in the least bit effective. Sit and put your arm out in front of your child on the sofa and ask him to push on it -- how much pressure can you REALLY resist?

 

[taximomfor4]

All that Mom wants to do is get that child to bed ASAP​

Evidently not, or the child would have been in bed an hour ago before he fell asleep.

I would urge people who think that "throwing out an arm" is going to protect their children in any way, shape or form to reconsider this. Perhaps it has appeared to help when done in minor brake slamming moments. But in those cases probably they wouldn't have fallen off anyway. Trust me -- no regular mom or Dad has arms strong enough to hold back a 20-50 lb kid who has been flung off his seat, especially since Mom or Dad has also just been jostled. If you have one child beside you and a firm grip of the hand, perhaps.

The patented parental arm fling is all about reflexes but not in the least bit effective. Sit and put your arm out in front of your child on the sofa and ask him to push on it -- how much pressure can you REALLY resist?

This is the best that we can arrange on a public bus. In the minor swerves and rough brakings typically happening on the WDW buses, it has helped, and been sufficient. I know that in any real accident, it will obviously not help. I just know that with one on my lap, I only had one arm free to help one child, leaving one with no assistance at all. We were not in an actual accident, jsut an extremely near-miss. Only 2 kids fell off their seats...my dd that I could not quite reach, and another one who was in a single seat away from parents.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Sorry but I think it is just common courtesy. DH always offers his seat, on a bus or the monorail, to women, children or the elderly. I hold one child, and the other two sit next to me. There have been times when we couldn't get a seat and I would say 80% of the time someone (usually a man) will offer his seat to the kids.

I know I trained my sons that you give up your seat for women, children or the elderly. THat may be old fashioned but I do think it is good manners.

 

[LoraJ]

This is why I rent a car. I hate being packed in like cattle on these buses. Plus I get back to the hotelmuch faster. the only time we take a bus is to Pleasure Island so that I can have a little fun and not get behind the wheel.

 

[dwheatl]

The problem with taking a car to MK is it takes as long to get back to the car as it does to get back to an Epcot resort on the internal transportation, and longer than it takes to get to an MK resort. Of course, that's because I make the choice to stay through the fireworks. Oh well, at least my kids are old enough to enjoy standing on the busses. In fact, one of the highlights of our NYC trip 2 years ago was their "surfing" on the subway. That's my CA kids.

 

[english rose 47]

Thank you Disney Mom that's my whole point I'm not expecting much courtesy at all after resading all these negative people. But it is Disney so maybe Magic will happen. Alsoto the wonderful family that laughed about someone passing them up for a seat all I can say is I really admire you not commenting on what seemed to me the obvious answer and such a shame!!!

 

[Marseeya]

Thank you Disney Mom that's my whole point I'm not expecting much courtesy at all after resading all these negative people. But it is Disney so maybe Magic will happen. Alsoto the wonderful family that laughed about someone passing them up for a seat all I can say is I really admire you not commenting on what seemed to me the obvious answer and such a shame!!!

The thing is, you'll probably be surprised by the huge amount of courtesy you'll actually get on the buses. My experience was completely wonderful, where people offered seats, and one time when it was raining, people were offering ponchos to sit on, and offered to wipe the seat down for others.

The problem is when people start to "expect" others to give up their seats. That's just wrong and rude.

Accept responsibility for your own needs, and be happy and grateful when others show kindness. I think you'll find a lot more courtesy that way.

 

[DebbieB]

This is why I rent a car. I hate being packed in like cattle on these buses. Plus I get back to the hotelmuch faster. the only time we take a bus is to Pleasure Island so that I can have a little fun and not get behind the wheel.

I hate the busses too. Just to compare times, we took the car to MK last Wednesday morning. We left Boardwalk at 8:25, we were at the front gate of MK by 8:55, right in time for opening. Used the tram and monorail. Considering an average wait time, stops at the Swan and Dolphin, I don't think we would have made it faster on the bus.

 

[dsnyfrek]

All I will say is that my mom, who had knee surgery 4 months prior, and I used the buses for the first time this last year in 7 trips to Disney!

NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!

It is worth the $300 a week for me to rent a car and drive. Not because of giving up seats, getting glares because my mom looks like she should be able to stand fine, but simply because it isn't worth all the pettiness. I am comfortable in my own space, driving myself where I need to go, and I will do it that way and save the space for someone on the bus who needs to use the bus.