Handling stroller, toddler and bag on buses by myself?

[frtchr]

Nope, it didn't come out wrong at all - pregnancy is not a disabling disease, and if you need to have a seat, for whatever reason, you need to have a plan and not expect others to have to do without because you did not plan well.

Wow. I hope you never need a helping hand in your lifetime. No..wait. You would have PLANNED for it already. Ay yi yi.

 

[Picabo]

Nope, it didn't come out wrong at all - pregnancy is not a disabling disease, and if you need to have a seat, for whatever reason, you need to have a plan and not expect others to have to do without because you did not plan well.

OMG I'm in shock! What a horrible attitude about pregnancy. No, it's not disabling...nobody said it was. However (assuming you're a man who's never had a pregnant wife) it is a safety issue. Why do you think many rides advise pregnant women not to ride? If a pregnant woman is standing on a moving bus and it makes a sudden stop (or God-forbid is in an accident) don't you realize how horrible it could be some a pregnant person? Babies are well-protected in there, but a fall on the tummy in a crowded bus would NOT be a good thing for mommy or baby.

It's just common courtesy to get up and offer your seat to a pregnant person, an older person, etc. Guess your momma didn't teach you good manners.

 

[Schmeck]

OMG I'm in shock! What a horrible attitude about pregnancy. No, it's not disabling...nobody said it was. However (assuming you're a man who's never had a pregnant wife) it is a safety issue. Why do you think many rides advise pregnant women not to ride? If a pregnant woman is standing on a moving bus and it makes a sudden stop (or God-forbid is in an accident) don't you realize how horrible it could be some a pregnant person? Babies are well-protected in there, but a fall on the tummy in a crowded bus would NOT be a good thing for mommy or baby.

It's just common courtesy to get up and offer your seat to a pregnant person, an older person, etc. Guess your momma didn't teach you good manners.

Actually, I'm female, been pregnant twice, worked up to the day my first daughter was born, and knew my limitations and took responsibility for them. My momma taught me to be responsible for myself, and my unborn child, thus the tip about either waiting for the next bus or having a rental car.

 

[natnelliesmom]

I do have to say that on our last trip in March- I was shocked and surprised by how many people didn't get up for those with a real need for seats. Several times I saw complete families allowing 3-4 children to sit in their own seats while elderly people or moms with little ones had to try to stand on a moving bus!
My husband and I ALWAYS stood up- often with our toddler in hand- to let others sit.
This was so aggravating to me! At one point- I told some teenagers to get up and let a pregnant woman with her toddler have their seats. It was so annoying to have to do that- but they did get up. I think sometimes people just don't think- they get so absorbed in themselves.
But as often as I saw rude people- I saw pleasant and helpful people. People would help others with strollers or children, or carry bags on and off the bus.
There was one time when we were coming back after being at MK till 3:00 am and both girls were asleep- We had a double stroller- bags and two sleeping kids!! The bus driver made sure we had everything- and let us get on and off a few times to gather all of our things. Another passenger helped us set up the stroller and was so helpful he and his wife helped us get all of our stuff to our building!
That was true WDW kindness!
-Sarah

 

[3girls4me05]

Actually, I'm female, been pregnant twice, worked up to the day my first daughter was born, and knew my limitations and took responsibility for them. My momma taught me to be responsible for myself, and my unborn child, thus the tip about either waiting for the next bus or having a rental car.
Well I have also been pg five times (three to delivery of a healthy baby) and I worked up till delivery with all three. I still get up and offer my seat to a pg woman. Other posters have already explained how it is dangerous for a pg woman to stand. So let's see..she is suppose to board and then when she sees there is no seat, she is then suppose to ask everyone who boarded behind her and is now standing in the pathway to move so she can get off and wait for another bus. Let's not even mention how tired she must be. All because you think you deserve a seat more than her because what? You were able to board first? Nice sense of entitlement.

 

[ilovemickeymost]

I would highly suggest that if you are going to do it by yourself, try & leave the park before your little one falls asleep. It is so much harder carrying dead weight. If you buy anything while in the parks, you can have them sent to your hotel. That will save you from having to carry them. Good Luck to you & have a great & magical vacation.

 

[carmie3377]

Nope, it didn't come out wrong at all - pregnancy is not a disabling disease, and if you need to have a seat, for whatever reason, you need to have a plan and not expect others to have to do without because you did not plan well.

I'm another shocked by this comment. Many times I have entered a bus only to find after moving all the way to the back, that there were no seats. This has NOTHING to do with planning. It happened to me when we where with our 9 mo old. We ended up having to stand and we couldn't get off. There were numerous seats with small children while their parents just stared at me as I was holding our 9 mo old on a moving bus. One child kept getting up and DH asked his mother if I could sit. She just glared and told her son to sit. Finally, when he got up for the umpteenth time, I sat. If he was going to stand, I was going to sit. His mother wasn't happy but I didn't care.

When needed, DH and I have stood so someone could sit. They may not have been disabled, but needed that seat more than us. Also, we have sat our 7 YO in our laps so it would free up one more space for someone to sit. Not once has our entire family sat when there were people standing. The one of us not holding our child(ren) would stand. The other one would sit holding the child(ren). Perhaps you weren't taught common courtesy.

Oh, and by the way. I too worked until the day before both my babies were born. Not once did I take any time off during my pregnancy with either of them. It makes me more aware of the "break" that a pregnant momma deserves.

Anyway, back to the OP's question, yes, I tackled a 21mo and stroller by myself. Most of the time, other guests helped me board and unboard without any questions. Some even held my stroller while the bus moved. Most people are courteous but it is obvious that everyone is not!

 

[strmtroopr96]

I have taken my youngest DD at 3 months and again at 15 months. Many nights it was just me and her while DH and older DD went off in another direction. I would be left to get DD, stroller, and "baby stuff" back to the room.

We used a Peg Perego P3 stroller on those trips and hung a backpack off the handles. Once I was in line for the bus, I would pack everything into the backpack and place DD into the Baby Carrier (used a Snugli at 3 mos and an Ergo at 15 mos) that we also bring. She was usually asleep by then so easy to handle. I then folded up the stroller well before getting on the bus.

This way, even if I was standing, I had no problem keeping my balance. There were many times that people offered assistance by holding the stroller for me and then setting it up at my resort.

We will be back at WDW in 24 more days!! DD will be 26 months and I plan to be doing the same thing many nights. This time we have bought a Baby Jogger City Mini stroller which has a super easy fold (just pull up on the seat strap and it's folded with no effort).

 

[jewelrylady]

Nope, it didn't come out wrong at all - pregnancy is not a disabling disease, and if you need to have a seat, for whatever reason, you need to have a plan and not expect others to have to do without because you did not plan well.

Sad, Sad, Sad attitude....sounds like a bitter human being to me!

 

[Schmeck]

Actually, I'm female, been pregnant twice, worked up to the day my first daughter was born, and knew my limitations and took responsibility for them. My momma taught me to be responsible for myself, and my unborn child, thus the tip about either waiting for the next bus or having a rental car.
Well I have also been pg five times (three to delivery of a healthy baby) and I worked up till delivery with all three. I still get up and offer my seat to a pg woman. Other posters have already explained how it is dangerous for a pg woman to stand. So let's see..she is suppose to board and then when she sees there is no seat, she is then suppose to ask everyone who boarded behind her and is now standing in the pathway to move so she can get off and wait for another bus. Let's not even mention how tired she must be. All because you think you deserve a seat more than her because what? You were able to board first? Nice sense of entitlement.

It's dangerous for anyone to be standing - pregnant or not. I could get just as injured as the pregnant woman. It's not about entitlement, unless being pregnant entitles you to be less responsible about yourself. I feel if you are pregnant, you are more responsible about everything that involves you. It is irresponsible to get on a bus feeling entitled to a seat, yet not having a plan if one is not available.

I look like a physically healthy woman in her forties, until I pull up one pant leg and expose the large chunk of flesh missing from the back of my calf. There are times at WDW when I know I have to sit in a seat on a bus, that my leg will not hold out for the ride back to the resort. When a WDW bus arrives, I can tell how many people can fit on that bus pretty much. If I'm way back in the line, I wait for the next bus. I do not expect anyone to give up a seat for me. If I am in a seat, and my leg is throbbing, how dare anyone try to intimidate me into giving up my seat?

If people want to give up their seats and stand, fine. Before my leg surgery I have had no problem standing on a bus, and have given up my seat. But I don't expect people to do it, I certainly would never tell someone else to, and I certainly do not judge the people who do not give up a seat, and say that their mommas didn't teach them right.

 

[Manda]

Have to say that I agree with Schmeck... I was once a pregnant woman myself and took public transportation (trains and buses) every day of my pregnancy. If I didn't feel like I could stand that day, I didn't get on the bus. I'd ask the driver if there were any more seats and if the driver said no, I didn't get on. (And FWIW, I heard several people at Disney inquire whether there were seats and not get on if there weren't). Often, a person would hear me ask and tell me to come on in and they'd give me a seat. Which was nice and appreciated - but I never got on a standing room only bus with the expectation that someone would offer me a seat and I wouldn't be left standing. If I boarded with no seats left, I expected to not have a seat and then was pleasantly surprised and shocked and appreciative if someone did offer me one. I give up my seat all the time to people who appear to need it - gave up my seat to a Mom with two kids this morning on the train - but I wouldn't purposely put myself in a situation that I'm uncomfortable with and expect strangers to get me out of it.

 

[frtchr]

As the one who posted the pregnant comment in the first place, boy am I sorry I did! To those of you who think it's appropriate for any teenage boy to slouch in a bus seat and play a PSP while a pregnant woman or an eldery person stands, I feel sorry for you. Someone must have handed you a bad break at some point in life. To clarify, I never ASKED anyone to give up a seat, and I never EXPECTED anyone to give up a seat. I hoped that common courtesy would win out, but I can see now why maybe it didn't a few times. And as there were times that people kindly offered to give up a seat for me, I thank them and those who taught them human kindness.

I won't be back to this thread. What's the point of trying to argue with someone so angry? I hope the OP has a a great trip full of Disney magic and helpful people!

 

[3girls4me05]

It's dangerous for anyone to be standing - pregnant or not. I could get just as injured as the pregnant woman.
Yes, you could get just as injured but can your unborn child?


I look like a physically healthy woman in her forties, until I pull up one pant leg and expose the large chunk of flesh missing from the back of my calf.

I stated in an earlier post that if you have a disablity or reason that you need to stay seated then of course, stay seated! However in a bus full of 50 people you can not expect me to believe that every single one of them has a reason to be sitting while a pg woman stands.

I never said that a pg woman should expect that a seat will be offered. It should be offered though and it is sad that often it is not. I was riding the T the other day on a bus and a T worker came on and said "Someone please give a seat up for this person with a disablity" I was shoehorned in the back and the person couldn't have reached me but someone up front did. I know that pg women and women with infants are also being added to the priority seating signs on many mass transit systems. So for all your abled bodied people, you may not give up your seat now but someday you may have to. How about you start practicing now?

It isn't often that a thread on here makes me shake my head and wonder about my fellow man (or woman)...this one does.

 

[Picabo]

Actually, I'm female, been pregnant twice, worked up to the day my first daughter was born, and knew my limitations and took responsibility for them. My momma taught me to be responsible for myself, and my unborn child, thus the tip about either waiting for the next bus or having a rental car.

Well, you sound like a bitter/resentful woman who's had to fight for everything you've accomplished in life. Which is sad. I, too worked up until DD1 was born. Infact worked a full day before finally checking myself into the L&D unit. With #2, I was on bedrest due to placenta previa yet still cared for DD1 (who was 8mos old at the time) b/c we had nobody to help out. You do what you gotta do.

In anycase, as said several times...it's just common courtesy. If you truely are female that's all the more shocking. Even a 5 yr old knows to get up and allow an older person or pregnant person to sit down. I've made my 2 yr old get up from her seat in church to allow a pregant person to sit. It's just common courtesy to give someone a break.

Anyhow, this has gotten way off topic. Bottom line (to OP) is that I think you'll be fine. MOST people are very helpful and considerate when they see someone in need of a bit of assistance. And if nothing else, MOST would be patient while you fold up the stroller and load you and your child and the stoller onto the bus. After all, it IS Disney World and it's all about kids!

 

[Schmeck]

Nope, Walt did not make Disney to be all about kids, actually. He made it for people of all ages, as he thought it boring and stupid to sit and watch his kids enjoy the rides at a local park. So, he created a place where people of all ages could have fun. So, WDW isn't just for kids - check out the solo/adult forum here to see what I'm talking about.

I'm not bitter, I'm not angry, just trying to give the OP some ideas about how to be able to take care of herself, and her toddler and stroller while at WDW. My life has not been sad, (well, except for the death of a dear cousin's 3 year old last year) and I am a very responsible, helpful person. I hold doors open for people, have given up my seat on a WDW bus, pick items up off the floor at stores and put them back where they belong, and have even given up two planned trips to WDW and donated the money to charities.

Oh, and by the way, it was already stated in this thread that the unborn child is well protected in the womb - so, I was comparing myself to the physical body of only the pregnant woman. Anyone standing up could get injured. I wish WDW wouldn't even allow people to stand on their buses! It's not like they are going one block and stopping, etc. They go quite fast, and some of those drivers are maniacs!

So, back to the OP's questions - if you can afford to rent a car, I'd do that. Your husband could go back to the resort on the bus, and then you could drive back to the resort in your car, not having to worry about balancing a stroller and toddler on a crowded bus.

 

[katied]

I managed for 10 days at Disney with DS (age 13 months). There were times I had a seat, times I stood. I had a very lightweight stroller w/ a shoulder strap (Maclaren) and used a Bagglini as my diaper bag. We did fine. The key is to carry the minimal amount of stuff and keep everything very compact.