Here now, OMG buses.

[joelkfla]

This guy in an ECV (a rather healthy looking gent to the naked eye) pulled up to the bus, PICKED UP HIS ECV, and plopped it down inside the bus while 10 of his family members piled on behind him.

Possibly the ECV was for another member of the party, who was able to walk, but not all day. The guest who picked it up may have just been driving it while the disabled guest walked for a while.

It's also possible that the guest himself had some condition that precluded extended walking or exertion, but did not affect his ability to bend and lift.

There should not have been 10 family members piling on. 5 or 6 guests (the rule is a bit ambiguous) are allowed to board with a wheelchair/ECV thru the rear door; the rest of the party is supposed to wait in the able-bodied queue.

 

[joelkfla]

Provided by Disney yes, Owned by Disney no. It is contracted with MEARS Transportation, just like the Magical Express Busses.

Disney, you made $1B profit last year - improve the specifications in your contract with Mears and measure performance to ensure they meet your specs, at all hours of the day.

Buses, monorails, and watercraft between Disney resorts & parks and between the parks are operated by WDW Transportation & staffed by Disney cms.

During peak times, charter buses will sometimes be brought in from Mears & other outside operators to supplement the Disney buses, but those buses do not carry the Disney Transport logo, and are running at the direction of Disney cms.

 

[Sammie]

Nobody was missing a parade for missing a bus. You said we should have planned to be back earlier to avoid tired kids. We went to one 7 PM MSEP, and would have been back at the hotel by the kids' bedtime except that a member of the party had some health issues, and we did not get to the bus stop by 8:30 so we had a tired child.

I'm sure you are perfect in every way, and that your parenting is perfect in every way. My point is that I act with consideration of others, but I try to balance it with the needs and desires of my own family. 3/4 of the time, I err on the side of being considerate of others, but sometimes, my attempt to balance fails and inconveniences someone else in small ways. You and others on this thread have acted like those of us who do not go to extremes to 100% guarantee that we do not inconvenience others must be 100% selfish.

We all inconvenience others in small ways. No matter how perfect you may believe you are, there are times when someone else is delayed or has to expend a little more effort because you are there. It's sad how many people cannot muster a little compassion for a parent with small children who delays them by 30 seconds. I am not saying a parent should not give any consideration to those around them. Planning to delay others is not at all acceptable to me. But taking an approach that is 90% likely to not delay others, and will result in more calm and controlled children, with less annoyance to others in line is not in the same camp. I am saying that people that try deserve a little compassion when the plan goes awry.

The people who got annoyed at us when we had a glitch with the stroller (after we had passed on the first bus to avoid taking our tired kids on a standing room only bus, because we had already learned how much that inconvenienced others) walked into the line smoking cigarettes. We had a good laugh over the hypocrisy--they thought it acceptable to stand in the line smoking cigarettes, and we just smiled at them, but they got mad because it took us an extra minute to fold the stroller. But I see some of that on the disboards--if it inconveniences me, it is completely unacceptable, but if it inconveniences others to benefit me, it should be obligatory.

Parents should do their best to be considerate of others, but expecting parents to put all of their own needs/convenience aside to avoid taking a chance of delaying people for 30 seconds turns it into a situation where the person who demands there is no chance of them being delayed 30 seconds is the one who seems entitled.

Me thinks you do protest too much. Not once did I say anything, about who you are, what you are like, but yet in one comment you know enough to call me entitled and not compassionate. Actually had I been there when you had problems with the stroller I would have been the first to help. We are all talking about generalizations here, not about you specifically. No need to get your knickers twisted over it.

 

[Burnedout]

I load my moms ecv on the bus because it makes her nervous. So I could be in that position. She has it because of ms, weighs 80 lbs soaking wet and could pick it up on a good day also. Endurance is her issue not strength.

I think everyone should have the chance to travel with a friend or family member with mobility issues. They'd learn some interesting lessons. Number one being that there are far more pita bus moments than happy happy whiz on in front of everyone, have the ramp work and not have the passengers witch and moan moments.

 

[North of Mouse]

First of all, I was the one who said my child is more easily contained in the stroller, and I appreciate my child not being referred to as an "it". I'm not sure if you have kids and had the same derogatory attitude towards your own child, but I certainly do not appreciate it towards mine. If you have some magic secret for mind control of a 2-year-old, that allows you to remove a tired, overstimulated one from a stroller, and keep them standing perfectly still in line for anywhere from 5 minutes to 25 minutes, then please do share. As long as it does not involve beatings or treating a child as an "it" I would be happy to try it.

Second, there is no rule that says a child must be removed from the stroller or the stroller folded in line. None. The rule is that it must happen before boarding the bus. The situation you are describing IS within the rules.

Third, how long does this really hold you up? 30 seconds? 90 seconds? Or is the mere act of causing you to have to pause for a moment a despicable act because it involves small children and their parents? On any given day at WDW, I had to pause in my movement dozens of times, to show basic courtesy and let someone else pass in front of me, or because someone wanted to stop and take a picture, or because someone suddenly realized they went the wrong way. Of all of these, the stopping for other people taking pictures took way longer than it takes to fold a stroller. If it is not okay for someone to leave a sleeping child as long as they can because it inconveniences someone for 30 seconds, does that mean it is also not okay for people to take pictures because it inconveniences someone for 30 seconds?

Your inability to tolerate a 30-second wait says more about you than it does the person causing the delay.

Wow, someone else is on a roll now - when I said *it*, it was used instead of having to say he/she/they, as I was including all/ any gender no reason to get bent out of shape !

Do you realize how many times in your posts you have been using *30 seconds* in your descriptions of how long you may be holding people up? Do you know how long 30 seconds is? I doubt very few actually fold a stroller in that length of time - maybe a few do. You sure are protesting and emphasizing the time length!

Also, if you are not at the front of the line when the bus is sighted, then you have longer than that to fold your stroller - so if that's actually what you do (like you have posted several times) you are NOT holding anyone up, so what's the purpose in you getting so upset?

Everyone is talking about the ones that actually DO inconvenience others by taking several minutes to get their things in order.

Yes, and by the way, I have been through strollers for my three that are grown. I do know what a sleeping child is like, or a 2 year old toddler is like, but I taught them early to hold my hand if not in the stroller/no exceptions, unless we were holding them. So I have been there/done that

 

[20yBWDW]

Wow, someone else is on a roll now - when I said *it*, it was used as a instead of having to say he/she/they, as I was including all any gender way to get bent out of shape !

Do you realize how many times in your posts you have been using *30 seconds* in your descriptions of how long you may be holding people up? Do you know how long 30 seconds is? I doubt very few actually fold a stroller in that length of time - maybe a few do.

Also, if you are not at the front of the line when the bus is sighted, then you have longer than that to fold your stroller - so if that's actually what you do (like you have posted several times) you are NOT holding anyone up, so what's the purpose in you getting so upset?

Everyone is talking about the ones that actually DO inconvenience others by taking several minutes to get their things in order.

Yes, and by the way, I have been through strollers for my three that are grown. I do know what a sleeping child is like, or a 2 year old toddler is like, but I taught them early to hold my hand if not in the stroller/no exceptions, unless we were holding them. So I have been there/done that

30 seconds is the amount of time we held people up. On two occasions. There were statements made on this thread that people should not wait for the bus to approach to fold up a stroller because they should make sure they do not inconvenience anyone.

I would really like to know how you taught your 2-year-old that. Genuinely. So much that I am willing to forego the debate/discussion altogether to have that knowledge. My oldest learned it, no problem. My middle child has some other issues, and did not. But my youngest is free of issues and is generally the easiest and most well-behaved child, but I cannot get her to stand still holding my hand for more than 5 minutes at a time.

 

[Peaseblossom]

Buses, monorails, and watercraft between Disney resorts & parks and between the parks are operated by WDW Transportation & staffed by Disney cms.

During peak times, charter buses will sometimes be brought in from Mears & other outside operators to supplement the Disney buses, but those buses do not carry the Disney Transport logo, and are running at the direction of Disney cms.

So much the easier to fix, then!

 

[Robbi]

( the following post is not a criticism of anyone)

I'm actually very surprised more people don't take cabs. Now, I can understand the person who travels to Disney multiple times a year, but the once a year or every other year person, time is important.

Now we drive, but when we flew, it took me about 2 times waiting for a bus to realize the economics of bus riding wasn't very good. I was spending a lot of money to be on vacation, so at that point what is $40 or so a day, to save and hour or more of bus riding?
Figure, if you have 7 days at Disney, and spend an hour and a half per day waiting and riding buses, that is 10.5 hours of vacation. Its like a whole day. I just figured the extra $300 on cabs to save 7 or so hours of travel was worth it.

Yes, taxis are wonderful! If were not renting car, we call taxis. We travel in peace and comfort. It's worth every penny.

 

[KellyNY]

30 seconds is the amount of time we held people up. On two occasions. There were statements made on this thread that people should not wait for the bus to approach to fold up a stroller because they should make sure they do not inconvenience anyone.

I would really like to know how you taught your 2-year-old that. Genuinely. So much that I am willing to forego the debate/discussion altogether to have that knowledge. My oldest learned it, no problem. My middle child has some other issues, and did not. But my youngest is free of issues and is generally the easiest and most well-behaved child, but I cannot get her to stand still holding my hand for more than 5 minutes at a time.

Why would anyone fold before bus shows, it may be 2 minutes or 20. Why not to fold when you see the bus. Folding does take few minutes sometimes but so is bus actually pulling, lowering itself and starting letting people in. I am just confused by this statement.

 

[20yBWDW]

Why would anyone fold before bus shows, it may be 2 minutes or 20. Why not to fold when you see the bus. Folding does take few minutes sometimes but so is bus actually pulling, lowering itself and starting letting people in. I am just confused by this statement.

Our process was this: as soon as we saw our bus, I removed my DD from the umbrella stroller and DH folded it up. Then we all boarded the bus. One of the occasions that we held others up a bit, we were in the front of the line, the bus came around from behind another bus, he started to fold it, but realized there was something in it, a folder of pictures, and it took him a bit to get that out and put it in a backpack. We had not been keeping things in the pouch in the back of the stroller and another adult with us had put it there, so it was just unexpected. I made it to the bus with the kids, he was still at the line just finishing up, and the people behind him were annoyed. It was approximately 30 seconds between the bus arriving and the stroller being folded.

The second time, we followed the same process, but the clasp on the side of the stroller that holds it closed broke, the stroller popped open, and he reached for the clasp, and then had to fold the stroller back up and get it to stay closed. Again, the kids and I ended up about 3 yards ahead of him.

These situations make me very tense, especially because the first time, the couple behind us got huffy about it, so I am very self-conscious regarding the time, and know both situations were way less than a minute.

I agree with you that it is reasonable to start the process when the bus approaches. With an umbrella stroller without items stored in it, it's more than enough time. But things happen. And there seems to be the assumption on this thread that things happening just means we should break the stroller down way earlier to make sure that even if things happen, nobody is inconvenienced at all.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

If you're folding up your stroller while the bus is waiting, you could let people go in front of you.

 

[GreenCntryGirl]

To fold or not to fold. That is the question.

This is now reminding of the question Charmin asked during the campaign...do you fold your tissue or wad it up.

 

[20yBWDW]

If you're folding up your stroller while the bus is waiting, you could let people go in front of you.

Didn't we already have this conversation? Then you risk getting separated. We did not realize on our first day that you could not keep the child in the stroller, and DH moved to the side to break it down while we got on the bus. He ended up not getting on, and I tried to handle 3 kids who were used to riding in car seats on a bus with standing room only. It was ugly. Much more of an inconvenience to my fellow bus riders than pausing to fold a stroller.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Didn't we already have this conversation? Then you risk getting separated. We did not realize on our first day that you could not keep the child in the stroller, and DH moved to the side to break it down while we got on the bus. He ended up not getting on, and I tried to handle 3 kids who were used to riding in car seats on a bus with standing room only. It was ugly. Much more of an inconvenience to my fellow bus riders than pausing to fold a stroller.

Why would one parent get on a bus when the other one wasn't getting on the bus?

 

[umichigan10]

As a lurker of this thread all I can say is wow as to how its turned out....

 

[jhaig]

Possibly the ECV was for another member of the party, who was able to walk, but not all day. The guest who picked it up may have just been driving it while the disabled guest walked for a while.

It's also possible that the guest himself had some condition that precluded extended walking or exertion, but did not affect his ability to bend and lift.

There should not have been 10 family members piling on. 5 or 6 guests (the rule is a bit ambiguous) are allowed to board with a wheelchair/ECV thru the rear door; the rest of the party is supposed to wait in the able-bodied queue.

Nope, the guy stepped off the ECV, picked up his ride, and dumped it onto the bus. Then flexed his muscles for his family. Thought he was Gaston or something.

 

[Burnedout]

Couldn't your whole family have waited?

We just tore down the stroller when we expected the bus to come. It was a large double jogger, so we would put the kids in my lap and a seat (3 kids) And my husband would stand and hold he folded stroller.

 

[jnoble82]

To fold or not to fold. That is the question.

This is now reminding of the question Charmin asked during the campaign...do you fold your tissue or wad it up.

Do you hang your TP over hand or under hand always seems to stir a big debate!

 

[20yBWDW]

Why would one parent get on a bus when the other one wasn't getting on the bus?

In our case, it was because I grabbed the toddler and other two children and started moving because I did not want to hold up the line, and DH stepped to the side to fold the stroller, and nobody would let him back in the line. It never crossed my mind that nobody would let him back in the line and he would not get on the bus. I was a Disney first timer.

In the future, if he had to step aside, we would all step aside with him, but knowing it would involve another 20 minute wait and having to do the whole thing all over again, (get kid back in stroller, wait again, push kids past bedtime, end up with standing room only with exhausted children), I would probably hold people up for that brief period over subjecting other people to my cranky, overtired children standing on the second bus.

 

[Burnedout]

Rookie mistake. I hate those! :/