Seats on the bus

[Mrsjvb]

well, it's not that people are "anti kids". it's just the opposite. there are, obviously, SO many kids at Disney.
the people that amaze me are those that think that, becausethey have kids, it is somehow a free ticket, a "disability", a "priority tcket" etc. etc. ie. we shoud get special treatment, because, after all, we have children.
yeah who doesn't?

there was a youtube video a while back of a man punching the bus driver. he was angry because the driver didn't let his family in before those without children. he was heard yelling "children have priority".

we wer towards the front for a show.. a foreignh group kept pushing their kids in front of us, I know, fill in all the available space, but there WAS no space), but they kept saying, "the children,t he children" then it was, we NEED to be WITH our children... sorry, not buying it.
almost everyone at disney has kids. those of us without are few. you can't give people with kids any kind of priority, for bus lines, ride lines, parades, fireworks, anything. that would be almost everyone!

the rules HAVE to be : first come, first served. I'm sorry your little girl wants to eat with the princesses at Akersheus, and you don't have ADRS, but.. we do.

ALL the children can't be in the front of the line.. ALL the children can't get on the bus first. ALL the children can't sit inthe front for the parade, ALL the children can't sit in the front row for the bird show at AK, etc etc etc. ad nauseum.

ALL the children need to learn how things work in this world.

and yes, if there are children behind me for the parade or Illuminations, they can stand in front.. (but, NOT the parents)..

and I will probably give up my seat for someone who looks like they need it, as will hubby. but.. if we DON'T.. there is a good reason.

YOU are my HERO.

 

[goofy4tink]

Well aware that many will disagree. That was very evident this week. I agree that everyone has a right to their seat, just saying that IMO the kind thing to do is offer it up. Chivalry is largely dead.

This doesn't surprise me. The older generations care more about manners in general. Manners are severely lacking nowadays. It's always about doing what is best for you and screw everyone else. It also makes it hard to teach your children why they have to be polite and give things up when no one else does. But what can ya do? we just go in expecting the rudeness from guests. We try to be polite wherever possible. And when someone goes out of their way for us, I make sure they know how thankful we are.

And sexist or not, my boys will always give up their seat or open a door for a girl. Screw equality. In my household, hubby and I are equal on some levels but he still has his manly duties and I still have my womanly duties. I.e. If I see a spider....his manly butt will take care of it!


ETA: sure seems like a lot of people are anti kids at Disney. Maybe kids just shouldn't be allowed to go. Or only during certain hours. sheesh....I'm goin to bed, lol.

You know...I was going to read the entire thread, but by the second page I got too peeved...so decided to just respond and be done with it.

Seriously??? You can tell just by looking at someone what their situation is??? Really?? How the heck do you know if there are some people in seats who decided to wait for a second bus in order to get a seat??? How do you know if that seemingly able bodied man doesn't have a spine or knee issue??? It must be so wonderful to be all knowing. Wish I had that ability.

Here's my situation. I am a healthy 60+ woman. My dh is in his early 50's, but has back and knee issues. He 'looks' ablebodied, but you sure as heck don't really want him standing next to you on a moving, swaying bus. But you go right ahead and judge him when he doesn't jump up and offer you his seat. But, I will most likely offer you mine....and I would fall into the catagory of one of those needy, less than able bodied seniors.

Dear God...when is this topic going to stop??? If you 'need' a seat, then either get to the bus line early, or wait for the next bus if your bus looks to be full. Everyone gets tired and sore at the end of a day in the parks. Is it a nice thing to offer your seat to someone who looks like they need it more than you?? Sure it is. But, just because you have a tired toddler does not entitle you to a seat. You make the choice to go to WDW, you make the choice to take the buses, you make the choice to stay until park closing, you make the choice to get on a full bus. We all make choices. You don't want to take the chance that you may not get a seat on a crowded bus??? You have options...you can rent a car, you can leave earlier, you can wait for another bus.
But really....it's not really fair to expect others to give you their seat....just because you have a sleeping child. No one, and that means no one, can know what another person's situation is. It would be nice if manners were applied everywhere....it's good manners to not make snap judgements about others based on appearances.

And the whole 'no kids at Disney'??? Seriously???? Perhaps it's time for parents to take control over their decision making. It is not my fault you insisted on staying until park closing and now your child is tired and cranky and wants to sleep. That was your choice. Not mine. I tried to leave the parks when my dd got tired. Did is shorten my park time??? It sure did. But, I never 'had' to have a seat, nor did I expect anyone else to give me their seat. I allowed my child to get overtired, I dealt with it.

 

[jo-jo]

How "old" is "old"? My DH is 67, it that old enough not to worry about giving up seats? Frankly sometimes we wonder if we would be insulting some person "you look really really really old, so you need a seat", when they might be 55. I have gotten up for someone (I'm 55) and let my DH sit.



We did had one bus trip that really burned me up. We were going from AKL to MK in the morning. Bus were fairly crowded. In the back of the bus, was a family with an 8 or 9 yr old boy sleeping ACROSS THREE SEATS. (these are those sideways seats in the back of some buses. My DH and I stood in front of the seat and his mom was across the aisle. Nothing was said to him, He just slept the entire time.

 

[janabananas]

Oh bother.... This topic again... I will, however, add my 2 cents this time because I didn't really comment on the other one that got shut down, because I hadn't gone on my trip yet. I am back now and have some thoughts/experiences.

Please don't judge people based on looks, or if you think they are able bodied. Just curious about the OP screen name. Does that mean you are an RN? If so, I am sure, or at least hope, you can understand hidden medical issues.

I do not look sick, however I am in CHF and the meds I take cause issues of their own, in addition to the CHF. Some of those issues include but are not limited to near syncope/dizziness, in addition to the toll the meds have taken on my joints, ie degeneration. I look like a perfectly healthy 30 something, but I assure you I am not.

In the case of the buses to the parks, before I start all the walking, I usually feel great. I can stand if I need to. In fact, I gave up my seat one day to a woman carrying her infant. I didn't mind, because I felt ok to do it. DBF will and did give up his seat for elderly/pregnant/a parent holding a baby, going to the parks and coming home.

However, after our first night coming back to the hotel after Wishes, and getting on the first available bus that was SRO, I realized that there was no way I could do that again, after a long day of walking. I could not handle it. So the rest of our trip, at the end when we were leaving on our way "home", we waited for the next bus if it was SRO for the bus in front of us. Simple as that. I waited for the next bus so I wouldn't have to stand.

To people who say that you should be able to stand on the bus if you can stand in line for a bus, or standing on the bus after walking around the park all day, I found it was a completely different animal. I will NEVER ever get on another SRO bus at the end of the day. I will be happy to wait. At least with waiting, I can sit on the ground or lean against the rail.

I know I am not the norm. If I did not have the medical issues I have, and I saw someone who seemed to need the seat more than me, I would give it up. However, if you know you need a seat for yourself/kids/parents, please do not depend on others. They may have hidden medical issues. They may have waited for the next bus so they wouldn't have to get on the SRO bus.

Another thing that got my goat, so to speak, was a younger guy who sat on the ECV of a person who had to get out of it and transfer to a bus seat. I was towards the back and saw this happen. If it isn't yours, don't touch it, don't sit on it!

 

[Mrsjvb]

Okay, one more general question out there:

for those of you who say: wait for the next bus to guarantee a seat.. umm, what's the difference between standing on a bus getting closer to your destination the entire time and standing in line going nowhere, thus adding a good 20 minutes minimum before you are back at the resort?

is it strictly the safety thing/risk of losing your balance if the bus stops suddenly or takes a turn wonky? or because you can plop yer butt on the ground while waiting for the next bus to arrive?

as someone who is often FORCED to wait for another bus because all the WC spots are spoken for, I don't get it. ( and I can transfer to a seat and fold up my chair so as to not take up more space than I have to)

When I lived in Japan, it was quite amusing to see actually.. EVERYONE, young, old, etc, stood when necessary( and it was ALWAYS necessary) no five year old ever was handed a seat by any 'able bodied' adult. nor was any little old man so stooped over he was bent in half. if you snagged a seat, you snagged a seat. if you didn't, you stood. that included the young Mom carrying a sleeping toddler. and this is a culture that revere's its' elderly and treats them with a helluva lotta respect in general.

 

[Wadecool]

Having said all of that, I like CheshireFig's idea of seating only - but I'd modify that slightly. Have two qeueu's in the bus area. One is for standing-room-only. Like the single-rider line on many attractions, the SRO line would go faster (incentivizing the able-bodied folks to stand), and the folks who need seating would be assured a seat.

The idea for the two queue's is a good one but you would need to include some type of impenetrable barrier between the two areas to keep folks in the standing room only area from inevitably jumping across to the area with seats. Maybe one of those bulletproof glass enclosures similar to those at the bank drive thru window.

 

[goofy4tink]

How "old" is "old"? My DH is 67, it that old enough not to worry about giving up seats? Frankly sometimes we wonder if we would be insulting some person "you look really really really old, so you need a seat", when they might be 55. I have gotten up for someone (I'm 55) and let my DH sit.



We did had one bus trip that really burned me up. We were going from AKL to MK in the morning. Bus were fairly crowded. In the back of the bus, was a family with an 8 or 9 yr old boy sleeping ACROSS THREE SEATS. (these are those sideways seats in the back of some buses. My DH and I stood in front of the seat and his mom was across the aisle. Nothing was said to him, He just slept the entire time.

Now that would really annoy me. That is rude. I think I would have been hard pressed to keep my old mouth shut upon seeing that. IN fact, as the bus turned a corner I probably would have found myself falling backwards, towards that sleeping child. I wouldn't have actually fallen on him, but it would have been close. It's a bus people, not a motel room!!!

 

[FireRN]

Being relatively new to the Dis (and one who reads much more than posts) I had no idea I'd wake up this morning to a 6 page thread. I will attempt to address the many criticisms I have received in this thread and then be silent on the issue.

1. I am now expecting the volume of patients to go way up in the ER today due to all high percentage of "invisible disabilities." Gonna be a rough day at work.

2. Kids not cranky for even one bus trip and not even always tired. 2 year olds just don't have the best balance.

3. I stated DS has only a few more trips sitting because he is older than DD. DD will learn the same courtesies.

4. My wife would have gladly let someone else hold DD while she stood but the offer situation never occurred. It was often the grandma or grandpa that was offering up a seat that my wife would never take.

5. We could have waited for another bus and chose not too. Agreed a choice and we are not entitled to a seat. I was initially just noting a difference between what I thought were manners and what I saw.

6. Don't worry, my children will have learned to give their seat up to your grandchildren, pregnant daughter, and dare I say you in their many future trips to Disney World.

Probably angered even more people with all of this. Now I'll just sit back and watch it all hit the fan.

 

[Bonniec]

I find this thread very interesting. Wanted to make a few comments but too many to quote.

1. Regarding the spiders, girl, you are free to come to my house! lol I'm happy to let me DH take care of them, they freak me out! lol But seriously, it's not that I don't believe in equality, I just think it gets taken to the extreme a bit too much. I know when my daughter goes out on a date, 9 times out of 10 they will open the car door for her. I'm pretty sure they would feel awkward if she opened it for them. That being said, if we were on a bus, she would most definately give up her seat.

2. The "hidden medical reason for keeping my seat" card is definately valid. But I think its safe to assume on a packed bus, not everyone on there has issues. Like I said, I would never sit there and glare at someone because you just don't know what's going on with them. But clearly by this thread, there are a lot of people in this world that think....so what? Im tired too and it's all about ME. Those are the kinds of attitudes that make me sad. Sure, I am tired too and I have every right to sit there over a parent carrying a sleeping child. But I wouldn't. I would move, and that's just me.


When someone is kind enough to give up a seat for my son who is 5, I never take that seat and then put him in my lap. I am able to stand so I do. He will sit by himself and always say thank you. But if I see a younger child, pregnant woman, or senior....even at 5, I make him get up. It's just the right thing to do, imo.


3. Regarding my comments on people being anti-kid at Disney and to the responder. I get what you are saying. Totally. It's just that in my experience, people don't care about running over a kid. I know there are a LOT of rude parents and bratty kids there, I see it so much. Can't can't count how many times I have been jammed in the ankles by a stroller. It's just frustrating because we work very hard on being polite and waiting our turn. So when an adult who is in a hurry, shoves my child...it just sucks. Not all kids there are brats.

I just wish people were more considerate and less self-centered. A couple weeks ago, we walked up to a parade at DHS and a kind man gave up his seat for my son. I told him it was okay but he was insistent. I stayed back. When another spot opened up and the man tried to make me take it, I turned and gave it to another child. That child's father barreled up in front of us all and started taking video non-stop with his hands up blocking my view and the kind man's. I was like WTH?? I can see where this kind of crap makes people not want to help little kids. I made sure the kind man knew how appreciative we were for what he did and apologised for the idiot parent I let in.




I will say this though, I will never give up a seat to someone who is being rude. And if someone was blocking my way with their stroller, I wouldn't think twice about moving it for them.

 

[poison ivy]

Ok my two cents. If you are able to stand then why wouldn't you? It's a gesture of goodwill. We are all in this together.

Waiting in a crowded que for the bus, nobody can predict where they will wind up when it's time to board - particularly when an ECV or two are involved.

Am I really to understand that it is now acceptable for a young family or senior to wait another 10-15 mins more for the next bus when this is the third or fourth already to arrive so an able bodied individual can sit down?

Maybe Disney should have two bus ques - one for sitters and one for standers. (similar to a single riders line) See how many opt to stand then?

 

[Bonniec]

Seriously??? You can tell just by looking at someone what their situation is??? Really?? How the heck do you know if there are some people in seats who decided to wait for a second bus in order to get a seat??? How do you know if that seemingly able bodied man doesn't have a spine or knee issue??? It must be so wonderful to be all knowing. Wish I had that ability.

Responding this since you directed your post to me. I think you misread something of mine somewher. I never said that people who have an issue shouldn't sit nor did I say I would ever sit there and glare at someone on a bus. ITA agree that you never know how someone might be feeling. Heck, a person might just be feeling ill. I'm just more frustrated at the commenters on here that just don't care because they are tired too.

Also regarding the anti-kids thing. Let me clarify again that I would NEVER expect special treatment because I have a kid. And I know a lot of people do expect that. Kids do not give you more priority. I just want my kid to get the same respect that everyone else gets.

I just wanted to clarify because I think I probably didn't write my post well and it was taken wrong.

 

[blondemom]

I agree - if people want to sit, wait for the next bus. I'm sure, however, people will still give you dirty looks for not giving up your seat. Because whether you wait for the next bus, or three busses after that, people will be standing (and wondering why you are entitled to a seat and they aren't).

My husband NEVER sat. Once in a while I would sit (and would not feel guilty about it), because these were the times that we waited for the next bus just so we could sit down.

If having a seat is important to you, like others said, rent a car. The parks are crowded. The bus is usually mobbed. My family and I treat the bus like another attraction - you wait in line and take your chances. I would never expect anyone to give up a seat for me. I would never give anyone the death glare for not getting up. I have been that lady carrying a sleepy baby while holding the hand of a small child that stands on a bus. I never expected someone to offer me their seat. First come, first serve.

Funny enough - we drive to WDW. We choose not to use our car. Sitting, standing, whatever - as long as we get to and from the parks it doesn't matter to us.

 

[serene56]

I remember being on the buses last year with my family- my son who is 28, tall and lean always got a seat. The comments and the glares he had to endure the whole entire week. I would love to get him a tee shirt that states:

I served in the US marine corps so you have the freedom you have today-- and i got hurt in Irag fighting for other peoples freedom- please "look" elsewhere.

 

[Disneylvr]

**accidental double post**

 

[blondemom]

I remember being on the buses last year with my family- my son who is 28, tall and lean always got a seat. The comments and the glares he had to endure the whole entire week. I would love to get him a tee shirt that states:

I served in the US marine corps so you have the freedom you have today-- and i got hurt in Irag fighting for other peoples freedom- please "look" elsewhere.

Thank you for your son!!

 

[Colleen27]

This thread always veers off into people "expecting" that someone will give up a seat but I think that misses the point. It isn't about what the people standing do or do not expect, it is about common courtesy. I'd never expect someone to give up a seat for me but you can be darned sure that I expect my DH, DS, and older DD to give up their seats for a pregnant woman, a young child, a parent with a baby in arms, or an elderly person, and I do so as well if I don't have a toddler on my lap. It is just good manners, no different from saying please and thank you, holding the door for the person behind you, etc.

But it has been our experience at WDW that there are more courteous people than not, and I can't think of a time when my mother or toddler needed to stand on a bus. Frequently at peak times they were the only ones in the family sitting - DM in a seat with DD3 in her lap, while DH, DS13, DD10 and I stood - but the rest of us do just fine standing.

ETA: I don't judge other individuals who don't give up a seat. I don't know what their reasons are for doing so or not doing so. In principle I think the able bodied and healthy who can stand more safely should give up seats to those who, for whatever reason, have less ability to do so, but that is a matter of personal conscience - interesting fodder for message board discussions but not justification for rudeness/the evil eye/whatever in real life. I don't care if the person in the seat is a 22yo athlete who was only in the park for dinner and isn't tired in the least, there's no reason for dirty looks, comments, or running over his foot with a stroller - two wrongs (or rudenesses) don't make a right.

 

[Disneylvr]

1. I am now expecting the volume of patients to go way up in the ER today due to all high percentage of "invisible disabilities." Gonna be a rough day at work.

I think the above statement is very insensitive to those of us with family members that have what is sometimes termed an "invisible disability." Disability doesn't necessarily mean frequent trips to the ER. It's pretty disappointing to read this from someone who claims to be in the medical field.

After reading this thread and many previous ones of the same topic, it just verifies that I made the right decision 10 years ago to rent a car and avoid the Disney buses and judgemental bus riders altogether.

 

[goofy4tink]

Let me clarify something so as to not be misunderstood. I believe in good manners. I believe that someone who is able to, and wishes to, can and should offer their seat to someone who may need it more. I have had a seat offered to me on many occasions, on both monorails and buses. I didn't think I looked 'old' but I guess I do..... Time for me to deal with that perception.
My issue??? All the people that are always surprised when they aren't offered seats. There are always, always, always, going to be people that are perfectly able to stand on the bus, but who choose not to give up their seat to an old lady, pregnant woman or mom holding her young child. Is that wrong?? I guess not. Ill mannered? Most likely. But truly??? I just can't let it worry me, nor can I allow it to impact my vacation time.
There are many things that prevent people from standing. Does that apply to every single person sitting down on a bus? No, of course it doesn't. But, you just can't lump everyone who is seated into that 'what rude people they are' catagory. Some may be seated because they truly need that seat more than anyone else on the bus.

 

[jesswindsor]

It comes down to this: If it is important to you to sit, no matter if you have a young child, your elderly, you have a disability, what have you......Wait on the next bus. It is no problem to let people in front of you and you wait on the next. I do think that some deserve a seat over the next but you are not entitled to it. Everyone that waits in line gets a chance at a seat, first come first serve. It's really a simple solution,wait for the next bus, or drive to the park. I find that most people are willing to give up there seat to someone in need of one.

 

[jenf22]

I think everyone may be taking this thread a little too personally. I think all the OP was saying was it would be nice if every once and a while someone showed a little courtesy to their fellow vacationer. Yes, everyone is one vacation. Yes, everyone is tired. No, because I have a 4 year old, I don't *deserve* a seat on the bus. But I'm sure there were *some* able-bodied people on that bus who could have let a woman holding a sleeping 2 year old sit down. I never judge who is able bodied. I had open-heart surgery at 26. So I looked perfectly fine, but was cursed at for not moving my luggage for someone in the airport the day after I was released from the hospital. I understand about hidden illnesses. But seriously... from a statistical standpoint, someone could have given up their seat.

So as much flaming as the poor poster has received, I agree. It would be nice if people held the door for you instead of letting it slam in your face. It would be nice if people didn't almost knock over my son when our boarding section was announced at the airport. It would be nice if I didn't have to explain to my 4 year old, on an almost daily basis, how some people aren't as nice as they should be. Reading this thread has confirmed my belief this is an "entitled" nation after all.