Seats on the bus

[dzorn]

No, you don't need to sit, you've admitted that. That's the whole "irony" thing I mentioned. You want to sit, and that's your right. Just realize that there are a great many people that find it rude when you're more able or less inconvenienced yet still decide to let mom hold her infant while standing, or granny grab the hand rails while her knees are throbbing. Again, you absolutely have a right to sit there as you were there first. They have a right to consider you rude and selfish. And they do. That's what gets these threads going so far - people with your attitude in general can't stand the fact that many other people in the general public consider that behavior rude and selfish, although the tide is gradually turning in your favor.

Then again, I'm a sexist, ageist, handicappist hind-end. I never sit unless everyone else has a seat first.

Oh, and the backflip comment had more to do with the idea that "if she's at Disney, she must be healthy", yet most of the excuses about not giving up your seat to someone that may "need" it more than you have revolved around the whole hidden disabilities thing. Maybe the 9-month pregger chick has one of those on top of carrying around an extra 30 pounds.

In the end, it really doesn't matter. This board is not reflective of reality. I've yet to actually see this behavior and I've had more trips to Disney than I can count. The only thing I've ever seen similar was a time when, at the last minute, a group of people with 2 of those motorized carts pulled up after the bus and they allowed the entire party of 12 to board first, and once they were done and everyone else was allowed on I actually had to ask one of the ladies to pick her bags up off the seat so that my wife could sit and hold our kids. She gave me the stink eye, but she moved her crap. I suppose it was selfish of me to think she should have (1) waited in line like everyone else (no, I don't have a problem with letting the people in the ECVs on first along with a chaperone, just not a fan of letting the other 9 people on too) and (2) and most importantly - thinking that you should have enough sense to hold your damned bags rather than putting them in a seat when there are people standing up.

I still don't understand how I am doing back flips. We do have medical conditions that can change the ability to stand on a moving bus so we do not enter and moving bus if those things are flaring up. None of which is anybodies business but my families. No reason to justify it to you or anyone else on the bus. So if it SRO we wait for another bus then we sit. No back flips about that. It is rude for anyone to expect us to get up (provided we are not in the handicapped seats) for someone who has entered a standing room only bus.

If someone chooses to get up for another passenger it doesn't have any effect on me at all. If I am able to stand I probably already am and if I am sitting it is because I need a seat.

And where did I ever say I did not need to sit?

Denise in MI

 

[bytheblood]

I generally stay away from these, but I am going to chime in this time.
I will give my seat to somebody who is older, pregnant or holding a child. However......

1 - Seats are first come, first served.

2 - I look like an "able-bodied" person, but I have quite a few illnesses that you would not know about if you did not see my medical records.


To add to the above......
I was recently bitten by a brown recluse. It turned out badly and I was admitted into the hospital, developed a staph infection, had 3 abscesses that would not allow it to heal, had surgery on my leg, was on 4 different antibiotics, had horrible reactions to certain medications, etc.... My point in bringing it up is this: I am still going to a wound clinic to have the hole in my leg debride and redressed several times a week. They told me that I can go on my trip, but I will have to have my husband do the wound dressings and they advised I should really use a wheelchair to keep the swelling down or at least sit as much as I can. This ordeal has lasted over a month now and it has been horrible, tiring and has sucked the life out of me.

It is threads like this that make me want to push myself and not listen to the dr so that people do not come back and make nasty posts about the 30-something-year-old woman who apparently didn't have anything wrong with her that was taking up a seat on the bus and using a wheelchair to sneak to the front of the line.

 

[Kay1]

Yes it will cost you, general you, but so will vacation itself. I am not bying this excuse. Your money maybe important to you but are they more important then your family needs and you would reather rely on strangers help that may never come then spending.



And really, you wouldn't need to get a taxi every single time. But at the end of a long, hard day when you suspect the bus stops will be mobbed . . . it will be the best $10 you ever spent.

 

[Haileys Nana]

Don't take the bait . . . don't take the bait . . . don't take the bait . . .

Crap. I'm too weak.

Nothing is stopping the able-bodies parent of said children from letting a bus that has already run out of seats pass, so they can be first on the next bus to come and have their choice of seats.

Nothing is stopping the able-bodied parents of said children from planning for a full bus scenario and making sure to leave the parks early enough that their children won't be exhausted and in such dire need of someone else's seat.

Nothing is stopping able-bodied parents from planning for their own children's needs, rather than just assuming that strangers should be more heavily charged with meeting those children's needs than their own parents are.

I fully agree with your post. Be responsible for your own familys comfort instead of expecting everyone else to make it easy for you. I will however often give up my seat to someone who needs one. I guess i was just raised that way.

 

[chipndales]

I, for one, know exactly what you mean no matter how you worded it and I always wonder the same thing. It's frustrating to know that there are people without manners. No one is staying you HAVE to give up your seat for the elderly, small children or a parent holding a small child. It's just a moral/ethical issue much like holding the door for the person behind you. It's called manners, and sadly, more and more people are being raised without them. I was raised to give up my seat, help the elderly and children, hold doors, say please and thank you and I raise my 14 yr old the same way. I'm shocked sometimes at the lack of manners some of her friends have! Stunned! I think sometimes our generation as a whole missed the boat raising these kids and I worry that when they get to be adults, they won't even know enough to change. But yes, I agree with you and I didn't read the previous comments but I hope no one was silly enough to pick your words apart and challenge the basic idea of your post.

 

[Csaks]

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.

I hole heartedly agree. This day and age of me first, the heck with the rest is sad to see. At the end of the park day I stand even if I could sit, it's only 10 minutes and I can balance myself better than the lady with a little one out cold in her arms.

 

[torinsmom]

I'm sorry, but if I just stood in line for an extra 15 minutes waiting for the next bus, because I didn't want to stand on the first, I am not going to then give up the seat I waited for to someone who could wait for the next bus like I did. I consider it very unsafe to stand on a bus with people packed in like sardines, so when I use the buses, I always wait to get a seat. I pretty much rent a car every trip now; it is just so much quicker and more comfortable than riding the buses and noone gives me the evil eye when I sit down in my seat

 

[millie]

If you really want to practice good manners when someone offers you their seat you say "Thank you very much - I am fine" - smile - tough it out - and then smile your thanks again as you get off the bus.

If you don't think that you can tough it out in the first place - take a cab.

 

[amyr1]

We got on the bus after the fireworks at MK last January. I got a seat and held my 5 yo dd on my lap. 10 yo ds and dh were standing in the back of the bus. The crowds were horrendous. Hundreds of people trying to get on the buses back to POP.

A family boarded the bus after all the seats were taken. Hubby had two strollers. Mom had a small infant (like 3-4 months old) in her arms. Holding one leg was another child--about 15 months and the other leg was being held by a third child who was about 2.5 year old.

EVERY person on that bus stayed in their seats and were ok with that mother standing with 3 (THREE) babies.

Dd and I got up and let the lady have my seat.

There were a group of 3 young ladies from Brazil who were standing next to us and I positioned my dd so she could hold onto the rail. They were outraged and made a few comments out loud to the other passengers about how a "mom with a small child gave up her seat." It took us a good 25 minutes to get back to POP. Thee was no way that lady could have stood with 3 babies. Someone would have gotten hurt.

Amy

 

[Deb & Bill]

...The crowds were horrendous. Hundreds of people trying to get on the buses back to POP.

A family boarded the bus after all the seats were taken. Hubby had two strollers. Mom had a small infant (like 3-4 months old) in her arms. Holding one leg was another child--about 15 months and the other leg was being held by a third child who was about 2.5 year old. ...

That family's choice, correct? They could have left the park earlier instead of waiting until the crowds were horrendous. They could have driven a car. They could have left the baby at home with a sitter. They could have left all three children at home with a sitter or grandma. They could have waited for the next bus.

You can't fix people who make dumb mistakes. That family made a dumb mistake by staying so late and choosing to ride the bus with the horrendous crowd.

 

[Niebz]

That family's choice, correct? They could have left the park earlier instead of waiting until the crowds were horrendous. They could have driven a car. They could have left the baby at home with a sitter. They could have left all three children at home with a sitter or grandma. They could have waited for the next bus.

You can't fix people who make dumb mistakes. That family made a dumb mistake by staying so late and choosing to ride the bus with the horrendous crowd.

Are you actually suggesting that because maybe those parents didn't make the best decisions, those babies deserve to put in harm's way? They didn't chose to be there. What is wrong with people today? Where does this "everyone for themselves screw you" attitude come from?

 

[Tara922c]

For the most part Dh will give up his seat. By the end of our vacation he is sick of standing on the bus on the way back to our resort. He wont give up his seat for an "abled bodied" younger woman, but always will for a mother holding a child, or an older person. (or pregnant). Here is the thing, not everyone is going to give up their seat just because you need it more. In a perfect world they would, but at the end of a 14 hour day, some people just want to sit. When you are entering a bus you know is full you have two options, hold your kid, or wait until the next bus comes and you can be the first one on the bus.

I would love to see people offering up seats to people who need them more, but I don't rely on it. I never once had to stand holding my small child. I did once have people scoot so my dd could squeeze between them. Dh said we are renting a car next year because he is sick of standing while other younger men keep on sitting when an older lady or a little kid gets on the bus.

 

[michelleiada]

Without having read this entire thread, I have to say that I agree with the people that say you should not expect someone to give up their seat for you just because you have a sleeping child in your arms. Certainly, it is a nice thing for someone to do and I have done it many times. That said, you are no more entitled to a seat than the people who waited and were ahead of you in line. Again, you have the option of waiting for the next bus that will have many empty seats. Everyone is tired at the end of a park day and everyone looks forward to sitting. My husband has two bad hips and he is a young and healthy and so called "able bodied" looking person. He suffers every time we walk the parks. Would you be more entitled to a seat than him? He would never expect you to get up and give your seat up. Thats sort of like saying "I have a sleeping child in my arms and therefore I should get to cut in line" You are not entitled to anything. The bus is first come first serve and so are the seats.

 

[Brer Brett]

All these posts suggest to me that OP's comments hit a nerve and for good reason. I think her intent was to suggest that chivalry and selfless acts of kindness are rare things today. I agree with her.

Suggestion to everyone jumping all over her: read her post again slowly and tell me where it says she presumes or "judges" every sitting 20something as being able-bodied. She asks the question, what able-bodied 20-30 year old would not offer their seat for someone else who might need it more? She didn't say she gets on the bus and glares down every 20-30 year old. She didnt say what 20-30 year old with cancer doesnt offerbtheir seat for a needier person. Who's judging who here?

She reminds folks to consider others, nothing more. I think it's a reminder all of us (myself included) could use more often.

The fact that there are so many flamethrowers on here suggests to me that her post has caused people to consider their actions. That is always a good thing in my opinion.

 

[michelleiada]

We got on the bus after the fireworks at MK last January. I got a seat and held my 5 yo dd on my lap. 10 yo ds and dh were standing in the back of the bus. The crowds were horrendous. Hundreds of people trying to get on the buses back to POP.

A family boarded the bus after all the seats were taken. Hubby had two strollers. Mom had a small infant (like 3-4 months old) in her arms. Holding one leg was another child--about 15 months and the other leg was being held by a third child who was about 2.5 year old.

EVERY person on that bus stayed in their seats and were ok with that mother standing with 3 (THREE) babies.

Dd and I got up and let the lady have my seat.

There were a group of 3 young ladies from Brazil who were standing next to us and I positioned my dd so she could hold onto the rail. They were outraged and made a few comments out loud to the other passengers about how a "mom with a small child gave up her seat." It took us a good 25 minutes to get back to POP. Thee was no way that lady could have stood with 3 babies. Someone would have gotten hurt.

Amy

Yes but that is her fault. She made that choice, those are her actions. It was a nice gesture on your part but dumb on her part.

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

Are you actually suggesting that because maybe those parents didn't make the best decisions, those babies deserve to put in harm's way? They didn't chose to be there. What is wrong with people today? Where does this "everyone for themselves screw you" attitude come from?

I'm sorry but if you have that many small children WHY would you not wait for the next bus? That way you ate guaranteed a seat.

I don't get up for people. I have severe leg pain by the end of the day in the parks, because I'm too embarrassed to get an ECV (mainly due to the things that have been said to and about me when I get one). The last thing I want to do is stand, causing myself even more pain. We even will wait extra buses to get a guarenteed seat.

I fail to see why that's a hard concept. Instead we'd rather complain about people's rudeness, right?

 

[Dopey1234]

After a long day at MK or a wet day at AK I usually sit down on the bus. I would happily give up my seat to pregnant women/ the elderly but when I'm wet and tired not anyone else.

I find it very ignorant for people to put their young child on a seat when they can just sit on the parents knee.


Me: DM: DD: DSopcorn::

 

[Niebz]

I'm sorry but if you have that many small children WHY would you not wait for the next bus? That way you ate guaranteed a seat.

I don't get up for people. I have severe leg pain by the end of the day in the parks, because I'm too embarrassed to get an ECV (mainly due to the things that have been said to and about me when I get one). The last thing I want to do is stand, causing myself even more pain. We even will wait extra buses to get a guarenteed seat.

I fail to see why that's a hard concept. Instead we'd rather complain about people's rudeness, right?

I agree, they should have waited for the next bus. It was a dumb move on the part of those parents yet I still stand by my post because those children are the ones who will ultimately suffer and that's all that matters in my eyes. I don't expect someone with a disability such as yourself to offer a seat but from the group as a whole, somebody on that bus should have stepped up to protect those children. Your snarky response was really uncalled for. I don't see it as an issue of who's being more rude. It's about finding the common decency to care about what happens to those children.

 

[duffy]

...A family boarded the bus after all the seats were taken. Hubby had two strollers. Mom had a small infant (like 3-4 months old) in her arms. Holding one leg was another child--about 15 months and the other leg was being held by a third child who was about 2.5 year old.

EVERY person on that bus stayed in their seats and were ok with that mother standing with 3 (THREE) babies.

... Thee was no way that lady could have stood with 3 babies. Someone would have gotten hurt.

Amy

How would they get hurt? Seriously? If the bus was that crowded, there would be lots of "cushioning" made by other humans around. Lots of other people standing right next to her, able to absorb jolts from the movements of the bus.

The kids-a 2.5 year old is not a baby, in my opinion-would be safer than an adult. Heck, he's closer to the floor, so if the bus jolted, he'd have less of a fall!

If that were me, I'd instruct my husband to hold one toddler, have the other hold the pole, and I'd clutch my infant a little closer. Wait-if that were me, I wouldn't be taking an infant, 2 strollers and 2 toddlers on a crowded bus.

I would not expect any tired tourist to give up their seat.

 

[nessz79]

I wasn't able to read all the posts, but this is always a problem with Disney buses. When my kids were very young, I spent a couple times standing with them and desperately holding on to them as they weren't tall enough to hold some of the rails. It did aggravate me that no one offered us a seat. However, I could have made the decision to get on the next bus that was not as crowded and I didn't.

Now that my children are older (7 and 8 years old), if the bus is crowded, I will have them sit in my lap and the other in Dh's lap to free up more space on the bus. I'm not going to have my children stand at this point in their lives.

The more trips we take to Disney, the more we try to be creative with the buses. We try to go very early before everyone else will be on the bus and come back at odd times to avoid all this mess. Even better, we take a car or if we're lucky enough to be in walking distance of a park, even better (Epcot resorts mainly).