Giving up Seat on Disney Buses

[safetymom]

In the event of a crash you won't be able to hold onto your child if they are sitting on your lap. Even if you are sitting in the side facing seats you are still going to spill out of your seat if the bus stops suddenly.

 

[hentob]

We will be ones carrying a sleeping 5 year old for sure along with a stroller that he undoubtedly fallen asleep in waitin g for the bus and I sure hope someone gives DD a seat to hold him I'll be 60 but God willing will be capable of giving up my seat for a sleeping child and parent any of you who wont should be ashamed regardless of how long you"ve waited if you are healthy. All that Mom wants to do is get that child to bed ASAP I challenge all Disers to lead the way!!!

So you know that your daughter's 5 year old will be asleep...in a stroller. You are planning for that to happen. You expect healthy individuals to be "ashamed" if they don't give your daughter a seat? What if they (the "healthy" individuals you expect to automatically give up a seat) are as tired as the five year old in the stroller? What if they walked more than the five year old, who got to sit in a stroller all day? What if they want to nap as well?

Sorry, but you feel your daughter is ENTITLED to a seat. Why?

Rent a car if you are already expecting shame from people that don't give up their seat b/c your daughter will be carrying/strollering a sleeping five year old. Believe me, there will be many tired five year olds, six year olds, ten year olds, twenty year olds, forty year olds, etc. It is WDW, where people walk more in one day than they probably walked all month

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

I just wanted to single out this line. Believe me, there will be hundreds and hundreds, maybe even thousands of moms who feel this very same way at WDW. That is why, as moms, we have to plan ahead.

I have made some bad (read:dumb )choices as far as parenting goes (taking three children by myself to the movies when they were ages 2,2 & 3 comes to mind...what the heck was I thinking? ). Hindsight is 20/20. But you are looking into the future and you KNOW your daughter may run into issues on the bus. Why be foolish and plan on being miffed or angry towards those that don't abide by your thoughts and wishes? Be pro-active. How can you solve this problem of yours without blaming others?

 

[paulmc80]

I'll always get up and offer the place where I was sitting to an elderly person, mother with very young child, or just a young child. Those little folks are potentially dangerous flinging around, especially when they are tiny.

I don't care for the feeling though of having to decide whom to offer my seat. I'd really prefer to wait for the next bus, or if I know a bus will be full to just stand out of the way while forlks get seated.

 

[Snowysmom]

I am one of those who looks healthy, but like others, have had knee surgery and it is difficult to stand and do a balancing act on the bus. I can stand if I absolutely have to so if we stay late at the parks, I grin and bear it or wait for the next bus. But, we do try to leave before the rush. If I had to absolutely have a seat, then I would probably look into renting a car. My DH usually stands and my sons will stand if they know it will be crowded. I think if anyone in your party has to have a seat after a long day at the parks, it may be best to find alternative transportation to and from the parks for their comfort. Just my opinion.

 

[Marseeya]

We will be ones carrying a sleeping 5 year old for sure along with a stroller that he undoubtedly fallen asleep in waitin g for the bus and I sure hope someone gives DD a seat to hold him I'll be 60 but God willing will be capable of giving up my seat for a sleeping child and parent any of you who wont should be ashamed regardless of how long you"ve waited if you are healthy. All that Mom wants to do is get that child to bed ASAP I challenge all Disers to lead the way!!!

You're that worried about a 5 year old? That child will be running circles around all of you by the end of the day.

No, what you need to do is make sure to give up all of YOUR seats to the hundreds upon thousands of people who all have children younger than 5, otherwise YOU should be ashamed of YOURselves.

There's an interesting concept that many of us have been touting in this thread called personal responsibility. If you know this far in advance that you're going to have sooooo many problems with a 5 year old (!) on the bus, then you should probably do the safe and responsible thing by renting a car or catching a cab rather than riding a bus.

 

[ducklite]

We will be ones carrying a sleeping 5 year old for sure along with a stroller that he undoubtedly fallen asleep in waitin g for the bus and I sure hope someone gives DD a seat to hold him I'll be 60 but God willing will be capable of giving up my seat for a sleeping child and parent any of you who wont should be ashamed regardless of how long you"ve waited if you are healthy. All that Mom wants to do is get that child to bed ASAP I challenge all Disers to lead the way!!!

Why wouldn't you just leave earlier? Isn't the trip for the child? Are they really enjoying it sleeping in a stroller? Of course not! If you leave before the child is dropping from exhaustion, you'll beat the crowds and not have to worry about a sleeping child if you do have to stand. Or would that just make too much sense?

Anne

 

[taximomfor4]

Not that I'm trying to start a war here, but I think I am still missing something about children sitting on your lap in the bus. I'm just trying to get complete information to understand the matter.

Several people have mentioned that it is dangerous to have children sitting on your lap. I am wondering how it is more dangerous? It really does seem that it is dangerous both ways. But I almost tend to think that it would be a little (not a lot, but maybe a little) safer with my arms wrapped around them on my lap, then to have them sitting in a seat next to me completely unrestrained where they could go flying through the air if the brakes are suddenly applied.

If possible I always choose the sideways sitting seats. They just seem a little safer to me. If we stop suddenly I figure we are squishing into the sides of each other, not flying forward. However, they are physically located lower on the bus, so if a car hits the side, you would probably be more likely to get hurt. Who knew going to Disney could be so dangerous??!!

Now that I know some parents are concerned about the safety of their little ones on the bus, I will probably look at it a little differently. Hopefully someone can give me a valid reason why it is safer.

I know I am one who said we don't put our smaller kids on our laps. I told the story, but maybe it was on another thread. If anyone cares to, they can search my prior posts. I will just say that the "valid reason" why it's safer is because we tried it with one on my lap, and then when the bus gave a pretty rough ride for a while, I could only help 2 of my 3 small kids -- the one on my lap and one of the other 2 in seats. With NONE on my lap, I can throw my left arm in front of 2 of them, and my right arm in front of the third, while digging my heels in on the floor.

About stares and glares, I KNOW I get them. People loudly mumble to each other, too, so I can overhear about "well geez, if that little one wasn't taking up a SEAT, one of us could be sitting."

Plus there have been comments by several posters on every thread about this subject, listing kids not being on parents' laps as one of the rude things people do on busses.

 

[YetanotherMouseFan]

My .02: wouldn't it be better, not to mention safer, all around, if Disney went back to using buses that actually have seats? As I recall, the earlier buses had rows of seats with a NARROW aisle in-between - wide enough for only one person to stand. Those cattle cars they use now may move more people at a time, but they aren't making guests happy, which in time will affect the bottom line. Maybe we should all lobby for better buses so there would be seats for 9 out of 10 guests.

 

[goofy4tink]

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.

BYW...I always held my dd in my lap. If there is an accident, you will, almost 99% of the time, be on the winning vehicle if you're on the bus. Now, at 5'5' and almost 13 yrs of age, dd still sits on my lap if the bus is crowded.

 

[beattyfamily]

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.

BYW...I always held my dd in my lap. If there is an accident, you will, almost 99% of the time, be on the winning vehicle if you're on the bus. Now, at 5'5' and almost 13 yrs of age, dd still sits on my lap if the bus is crowded.

For me, it would be the very pregnant woman but who knows when I'm actually in the situation.

 

[parman]

This site has given all of us alot of needed info on Disney. I would find it hard to believe that a DW vet or even someone after their second bus ride can't look at the waiting line and kind of figure out if their group will be standing or not. If people just continued to wait for the next bus (when one is full) the drivers would notify the company that guests no longer prefer to be treated like cattle and would run more buses. I talked to a couple of drivers during our last trip and was told there is no shortage of buses just a shortage of drivers. Disney needs to wake up and stop putting their guests in the stand up position. It might not hurt if guests also sent in complaints.

 

[Evil Queen]

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.

BYW...I always held my dd in my lap. If there is an accident, you will, almost 99% of the time, be on the winning vehicle if you're on the bus. Now, at 5'5' and almost 13 yrs of age, dd still sits on my lap if the bus is crowded.

Well, until faced with it, I can't say for sure, but I would MORE THAN LIKELY go with one of the elderly. But depending on the entire situation (included how long the line is waiting on future buses, time of day, weather, etc) I still more than likely would not give up my seat, if I had waited on the next bus, to get a seat.

 

[Aisling]

I choose the pregnant lady.

 

[sameyeyam]

I would choose to give my seat to whichever person is standing closest to me that looks like they could use a seat more than myself. Regardless of age, disability or load they are carrying!

I can't help everyone (nor can I save the world!), so I would choose to help someone nearby, feel good about my actions, hopefullly teach my children something about good manners, and be thankful that it is not I that needed the seat.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I would choose to give my seat to whichever person is standing closest to me that looks like they could use a seat more than myself. Regardless of age, disability or load they are carrying!

Your comment reminded of something that happened during our 2004 trip. My son, sister, BIL, nephew, niece and I were standing on bus heading to AK.

A man seated in front of us reached passed my sister, 5-year-old niece, 6-year-old nephew and me to ask another woman if her kids wanted to sit down. Since the lady said yes, we all had to move over to let her son(who appeared to be about 5 or 6)get to the seat.

My sister and I just looked at each other and laughed.

All four kids involved looked to be about the same age. They all looked healthy. All four were excited about getting to the parks. (This was my sister's families first trip)

I have no idea why he felt one group of kids was more deserving than the other, but we sure got a great laugh out of it though.

 

[NotUrsula]

As I recall, the earlier buses had rows of seats with a NARROW aisle in-between - wide enough for only one person to stand. Those cattle cars they use now may move more people at a time, but they aren't making guests happy, which in time will affect the bottom line. Maybe we should all lobby for better buses so there would be seats for 9 out of 10 guests.

I'm sure C&DE could tell us more, since he drove for WDW for so long, but it is my understanding that the "rows of seats" configuration is being universally phased out for mass-transit buses, because that configuration is a real problem for users of wheelchairs and/or walkers, who are a large part of the mass-transit user population. It is not just at WDW, but throughout the US and Europe. Newer buses don't seem to be built with rows of seats. It does seem to me that it is more economical in terms of fuel, personnel, and fleet size to plan for passengers to stand on most routes (express buses are an exception sometimes), and it also should mean that the bus will load and unload more efficiently.

Personally, I've always kind of wondered why WDW did not go to articulated buses so that they could move more people using fewer drivers (especially on routes such as All-Stars, etc.); but I suppose there must be some difficulty with maneuvering them. You would think that it would be cheaper to change the landscaping a bit, but I'm sure there must be other obstacles that I haven't thought of.

As to city vs. country viewpoints, yes, there are, especially when it comes to the "kids on laps" thing. There are also class distinctions that go along with those POV's. Most people who use public transit as an alternative to walking (as opposed to an alternative to driving) tend to see nothing wrong with unrestrained children on buses, just as they see nothing wrong with standing, as standing still beats walking near traffic and crossing city streets, especially in bad weather.

IME, the SOP procedure with kids on a crowded city bus is that you fold your umbrella stroller, get on the bus and put your kids in the seat. If possible, you find a double seat and put your kids in it; 3 will fit if they are small. Then you give the folded stroller to the oldest child to hold between his knees, and you stand next to them holding the bar or strap, with one hand free if at all possible. If you can't get enough seats together, you let the oldest either stand next to you or sit next to a stranger who is within your line of sight. Generally, the idea is to put the kids between an adult and a wall or bulkhead whenever possible, so that you can use your body to stop them from sliding out of the seat, and to keep them in sight, so that you can be sure that they behave themselves and get off when you do. Lap-sitting is also used sometimes, especially with the smallest kids, but most city dwellers prefer to put the kids in the seat while the adult stands, as you have more control that way and can better watch for your stop because you are facing the window. Usually the seatbelt worry is only an issue for people who own cars and consistently use seatbelts and carseats, as they are so used to hearing about how unsafe it is to drive without them. People who normally only walk or use buses/trains to get around tend to not pay a whole lot of attention to seatbelt/carseat warnings, since the vehicles they ride in don't accomodate them.

 

[Nik's Mom]

Why wouldn't you just leave earlier? Isn't the trip for the child? Are they really enjoying it sleeping in a stroller? Of course not! If you leave before the child is dropping from exhaustion, you'll beat the crowds and not have to worry about a sleeping child if you do have to stand. Or would that just make too much sense?

Anne

Yup, have to agree with Ducklite again. We never stay until the parks close. Then again, we are touring the parks with an autistic son, and another son who is developementally delayed. So our world really is dictated by how they are feeling. So we know to get to the parks very early to avoid crowds. And we know to return to the hotel in the afternoon to avoid having to stand on the bus. While I'd like to be able to stay and watch the evening fireworks, I know a crowded bus and 2 exhausted disabled children are a recipe for disaster.

I know that I cannot expect anyone to give up their seat for us. Being the parent of a disabled child has taught me so much. I know that we are really on our own and it is up to us to make sure our children are taken care of. That means getting to the bus during non-peak times while at WDW.

 

[taximomfor4]

IME, the SOP procedure with kids on a crowded city bus is that you fold your umbrella stroller, get on the bus and put your kids in the seat. If possible, you find a double seat and put your kids in it; 3 will fit if they are small. Then you give the folded stroller to the oldest child to hold between his knees, and you stand next to them holding the bar or strap, with one hand free if at all possible. If you can't get enough seats together, you let the oldest either stand next to you or sit next to a stranger who is within your line of sight. Generally, the idea is to put the kids between an adult and a wall or bulkhead whenever possible, so that you can use your body to stop them from sliding out of the seat, and to keep them in sight, so that you can be sure that they behave themselves and get off when you do. Lap-sitting is also used sometimes, especially with the smallest kids, but most city dwellers prefer to put the kids in the seat while the adult stands, as you have more control that way and can better watch for your stop because you are facing the window. Usually the seatbelt worry is only an issue for people who own cars and consistently use seatbelts and carseats, as they are so used to hearing about how unsafe it is to drive without them. People who normally only walk or use buses/trains to get around tend to not pay a whole lot of attention to seatbelt/carseat warnings, since the vehicles they ride in don't accomodate them.

Hmmm.I'll have to think this one out. It is pretty similar to what we already do, except that instead of me standing, oldest dd stands. She is generally pretty generous with her seat, and stands pretty easily on moving buses. DH also pretty much always stands, and holds the stroller since it is not an umbrella stroller. It folds up pretty small, but is still a bit heavy. We feel passengers around us are much safer if our strongest member holds it. We do always try to put one dd between the little wall in the seats and a pole (there is usually 1 seat like that, with several seats after the pole as well. I sit, then ds, then another dd.

Like I stated earlier, we are not trying to be stingy with seats...at most, our family of 6 will use 4 seats on a crowded bus. It is what works for us, and makes us feel the most confident about our kids' safety.

I just think that what some consider common courtesy is not what all consider common courtesy. There are different cultures all around the world, and even all around the country. It is quite ethnocentric to assume everyone should adhere to your own culture's values and mores.

 

[NotUrsula]

As always, YMMV; I was just relating what I've observed over the years to be the most common way of handling kids on urban buses & transit trains. I haven't been a big city dweller since I've had kids, but since I've seen people do this for years, it is what I've done when visiting major cities, in the US or in Europe. FTR, I agree that holding young children on your lap (when they are too old to be considered babies, that is) is probably more hazardous than putting children in a seat in preference to adults. WDW is a bit of a special case in terms of routing, too, as most of the buses have only one or two stops, so they are more like express buses would be in a public transit setting. An express has different safety considerations than a normal route, where the bus never gains much speed because it is stopping every two blocks; in many cities, standing is forbidden when the bus is on a freeway.

As to cultural practices, I always try to find out what local custom is, and follow it to the best of my ability. US custom is that the able-bodied should give seating preference to those who are not able-bodied, and more regionally, that it is courteous for a gentleman to stand so that a lady may sit. WDW is kind of an oxymoron in that respect, because while it is certainly located in the South, central Florida doesn't really have "southern" sensibilities for the most part, and "local custom" in the Orlando area is to drive one's own vehicle if humanly possible -- because in most of the US today (outside of really large cities), mass transit is very slow and inconvenient, and carries a stigma of poverty. In those circumstances, people who have a choice usually ride it only when commuting to work in downtown areas, and perhaps to get to major sporting events.

 

[sameyeyam]

Imagine what would happen if the driver's were armed with "Fastpasses, Good at Any Park Today" to randomly award to those that gave up their seats to elderly, women w/children & disabled people.

Somehow I'm betting that giving up your seat to others would become a top priority!

Got this idea from a website talking about China's public bus system. They award a free ride coupon to anyone that gives up their seat to the above mentioned groups.