If you think people are rude at Disney........

[crashbb]

Not according to literature. Not when talking about a 2 or 4 year old. A 12 or 14 year old definitely. But as a man, I will always give up my seat for women and children, and would feel like a cad not too. We are not talking about high school children, and the day of seen not heard has past. Asking a 2,3 or 4 year old child to try to hang on while on the metro, when a fully functioning adult has their can planted in a seat is just not in my make up.

I'm confused about something.

Here you say (and bold) that "as a man" you give up your seat.

Except that you aren't a man.

 

[LaraK]

Say it ain't so, Lara! I thought you were 'the nice one!'

I WAS the nice one! I didn't send them to the open air drug market! that was my friend.

Yeah, and I'm the innocent one!




What are you thinking telling that little secret??? Now all the DIS pole dancers will be arriving in DC in droves!

I used to love dancing around the poles as a kid.

OP...I rode the DC subway on the day it opened. I will never forget it, my dad took me for a joy ride. I think the whole system (it was only the Red line then) was about 4-5 stops long, but it was the COOLEST thing around. As I grew up, the Metro grew up with me. Lines were added and transfers had (trust me, there is nothing like trying to get from the downstairs to the upstairs in Metro Center during rush hour). It's actually a pretty fabulous public transit system. Because of that, it's now the primary commuting method for thousands and thousands of people who see the ride as a daily chore, not a novel activity. They don't even notice who's on the train let alone who's standing.

My kids love to ride the Metro as much as I did at their age. They dance around the poles because it's cool. It's also not something they do often (I'm in Annapolis now...about 45 minutes outside of the city). If you come back in October, I hope you can ride the trains when they're empty enough for your kids to enjoy dancing around the poles too.

When you visit DC, remember that just like in Disney, there's a lot to see by taking your time and looking around...it's not all about the "headliners". (btw, when I went to the American History Museum in October we did the flag with no line....three times in a row.)

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I used to love dancing around the poles as a kid.

Am I the only one not surprised by this?

I grew up, the Metro grew up with me.

OP, I'm glad you're coming back at a slower time of the year. I'm betting you'll enjoy it a lot more.

 

[Caropooh]

I WAS the nice one! I didn't send them to the open air drug market! that was my friend.

That was very thoughtful of you!

Am I the only one not surprised by this?

Not at all, oh innocent one!

 

[wdwmom0f3]

DC is actually our 2nd favorite place to go on vacation after Disney World. I honestly think that a big part of the issues you encountered is that you were there during spring break time. That is a SUPER crowded time of year to visit DC. It's best to try to go when the kids are in school. Of course there will always be some school groups, but at least the crowds are down in general. Personally, I try to tour the National Museum of American History right when it opens, and see the Star Spangled Banner, 1st ladies dresses exhibit, and the section on the Presidents 1st (and of course the Dumbo they have on display, LOL!). That really helped us tour more quickly when we were there last year.

I am so happy to read this. We had to give up our trip to Disney this year but we are headed to Baltimore & DC for a couple of weeks this summer. The kids are so excited!!

 

[laurie31]

Wow, I'm glad I read this thread. I was seriously thinking of taking the kids to DC next April, because I thought it would be LESS crowded then. DUH!! I forgot so many places have Spring Break in April.

I went in '08 with some girlfriends to the Cherry Blossom festival (I had always wanted to go, and it was also a birthday thing ) and had a great time. I didn't think the crowds were over the top except on the weekend. I really wanted to take my girls to see the trees blooming, but maybe we'll go in May instead.

OP, I consider myself pretty polite; DH and I (and my girls) would have offered seats to an older person, a pregnant woman, or anyone who looked like they needed it more that I did, but it wouldn't have occurred to me to offer a seat to a 4 year old, unless they looked really tired. I would have probably offered my seat to you before I offered it to your child. Not because of the idea that "tough, they're a kid, they can stand," but more the idea of "they're a kid, they have ten times the energy I do."

I hope you have less crowds when you go back in October. From what I've read, I'm now wishing we could go then too, but such is life.

 

[Iott Family]

I'm confused about something.

Here you say (and bold) that "as a man" you give up your seat.

Except that you aren't a man.

That was my husband, I can most assuredly say HE is MALE and a MAN AND a vital piece that makes up the "Iott Family".

 

[crashbb]

That was my husband, I can most assuredly say HE is MALE and a MAN AND a vital piece that makes up the "Iott Family".

I guess we have different ideas of what is rude.

You (and, apparently, your husband) expect people to stand up on the Metro for you children.

I expect people to either have their own IDs or, at the least, make it known which "persona" is posting, rather than both posting as "I" in a single thread.

 

[aprilgail2]

I guess we have different ideas of what is rude.

You (and, apparently, your husband) expect people to stand up on the Metro for you children.

I expect people to either have their own IDs or, at the least, make it known which "persona" is posting, rather than both posting as "I" in a single thread.

I agree- I was thrown off by that too- never thought that TWO people would be posting on one ID!!

 

[shmoogrrrl]

I don't know about the 4-year old being offered a seat, since we usually just stuck Katie on our laps, but try being 7 months pregnant and riding the Metro every day! I spent a lot of time standing. Normally it wasn't so bad, but when it was really crowded, standing gets a little scary when your tummy is as big as you are tall! Hahaha! Luckily there were nice people who would offer me seats sometimes.

Sorry you had to deal with the crowds in DC, but even us natives of the Metro area avoid this time like the plague. Sad really. I think I've been to see the Cherry Blossoms once in the past 15 years.

 

[Iott Family]

I guess we have different ideas of what is rude.

You (and, apparently, your husband) expect people to stand up on the Metro for you children.

I expect people to either have their own IDs or, at the least, make it known which "persona" is posting, rather than both posting as "I" in a single thread.

We do both sincerely apologize for the confusion and our lack of manners in clarifying which "I" was posting at that given time. Mostly it is only myself, the female, woman, mother, wife who posts. The male, man, father, husband prefers to read through the informational portion of Disboards. The responses on this thread got his ire and he posted his views without consideration for the confusion or rudeness of not properly identifying which "I".

So what punishment is to be handed down by the Dis Gods? Probation?Banishment? 50 lashes with a wet noodle?

 

[Iott Family]

I don't know about the 4-year old being offered a seat, since we usually just stuck Katie on our laps, but try being 7 months pregnant and riding the Metro every day! I spent a lot of time standing. Normally it wasn't so bad, but when it was really crowded, standing gets a little scary when your tummy is as big as you are tall! Hahaha! Luckily there were nice people who would offer me seats sometimes.

Sorry you had to deal with the crowds in DC, but even us natives of the Metro area avoid this time like the plague. Sad really. I think I've been to see the Cherry Blossoms once in the past 15 years.

We would have definitely stuck our 4 year old in her stroller( we were told by a metro officer that strollers were to be folded and kept out of the way while on metro) or on our laps had we not been standing ourselves. By day 3 on the metro we had seen several strollers on the metro and started using that method to keep her safe rather than trying to hang on to us. I am sure if you are the parent of a child who travels often on public transpo they are quite happy to stand but we travel in passenger vehicles and our children are strapped into a carseat ( the 4 and 6 yr olds) or under a seatbelt (the 12 and 14 yr olds) and all of our baggage is stowed safely in our trunk/cargo area. Its just the way the folks in our parts get from home to various destinations. If we were to walk, the nearest gas station is 10-15 miles away, grocery another 5 or so miles from that and so forth. Our hospital is a 30 minute drive if you hit all the lights right and dont get into traffic.

Like I said a few posts back, we appreciated all the views that differed from our archaic ones but I do think its been exhausted to say the least. We get it now that we were no longer in Kansas and will know better next time how to adapt to the modern world's way of living and commuting.

Thank you

 

[SundaeAfternoon]

Why didn't you just rent a car?

 

[Ohiodislover]

We would have definitely stuck our 4 year old in her stroller( we were told by a metro officer that strollers were to be folded and kept out of the way while on metro) or on our laps had we not been standing ourselves. By day 3 on the metro we had seen several strollers on the metro and started using that method to keep her safe rather than trying to hang on to us. I am sure if you are the parent of a child who travels often on public transpo they are quite happy to stand but we travel in passenger vehicles and our children are strapped into a carseat ( the 4 and 6 yr olds) or under a seatbelt (the 12 and 14 yr olds) and all of our baggage is stowed safely in our trunk/cargo area. Its just the way the folks in our parts get from home to various destinations. If we were to walk, the nearest gas station is 10-15 miles away, grocery another 5 or so miles from that and so forth. Our hospital is a 30 minute drive if you hit all the lights right and dont get into traffic.

Like I said a few posts back, we appreciated all the views that differed from our archaic ones but I do think its been exhausted to say the least. We get it now that we were no longer in Kansas and will know better next time how to adapt to the modern world's way of living and commuting.

Thank you

OP--maybe you need to take cabs when traveling. Public transportation doesn't seem to suit your needs.

 

[Christine]

Why didn't you just rent a car?

Not a great choice for touring DC.

 

[SundaeAfternoon]

Not a great choice for touring DC.

My parents did it back in 1992 when they took my brother and I to DC. We didn't have any problems. Have things changed since then?

 

[Ohiodislover]

My parents did it back in 1992 when they took my brother and I to DC. We didn't have any problems. Have things changed since then?

Driving in DC and be difficult, and finding parking very very difficult. Most people park for the day, and then take the metro/bus system, or walk.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

OP--maybe you need to take cabs when traveling. Public transportation doesn't seem to suit your needs.

That would mean lugging 2 carseats around as they toured the city. I guess it's possible, but it certainly wouldn't be my first choice.

OP, I'm glad you figured out about the stroller, that's just bizarre that they told you that, as you see strollers on the metro all the time.

 

[Ohiodislover]

That would mean lugging 2 carseats around as they toured the city. I guess it's possible, but it certainly wouldn't be my first choice.

OP, I'm glad you figured out about the stroller, that's just bizarre that they told you that, as you see strollers on the metro all the time.

Mine either. But since the OP isn't satisfied and is so critical of the public transportation options...

 

[Christine]

My parents did it back in 1992 when they took my brother and I to DC. We didn't have any problems. Have things changed since then?

Parking has become much more restrictive.

My mom is a native DC'er and she will randomly go into town just to sightsee. She always drives and always knows where she can get a good spot. After 9/11, parking became more restrictive in some of the areas, and then even more so in the last 5 years. I think DC is trying to encourage less driving into town and more Metro use.