Seats on the bus

[Don Disney]

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 TOTALLY agree with you!!!! I got read the riot act for saying the exact thing you are saying! Let me just say thank you-It makes me happy to know that someone else see's it like it TRULY is.There are waaaaay too many folks on this board who just refuse to"get it". Let the lambasting begin-I could really care less.I'm really amazed at a lot of the responses on this subject.

 

[Niebz]

Oh my we've gone from parents with little kids vs. tired adults, to invisible disabilities vs. a blister, to female vs. male, now to north vs. south, but I think is the topper is southern underwear. Honestly I think it's bad manners to offer up your underwear, if you feel someone really needs some go buy them new ones, giving away used underwear is far from polite.

LMAO

 

[meredith1]

Oh my we've gone from parents with little kids vs. tired adults, to invisible disabilities vs. a blister, to female vs. male, now to north vs. south, but I think is the topper is southern underwear. Honestly I think it's bad manners to offer up your underwear, if you feel someone really needs some go buy them new ones, giving away used underwear is far from polite.

LMAO....I am so sorry that I pushed that submit button. I'm fairly sure my H wouldn't offer his boxers to anyone.

North vs. South....meh, I'm sorry I hit the submit button.

 

[Jey12]

LMAO....I am so sorry that I pushed that submit button. I'm fairly sure my H wouldn't offer his boxers to anyone.

North vs. South....meh, I'm sorry I hit the submit button.

No hard feelings here. I had to laugh at the idea of offering up my panties to someone at Disney. Not exactly the place you'd expect to see someone remove their undergarments. I live in the middle of the country so the north/south thing is always an interesting topic for us "true" midwestern folks. We do what we're gonna do, and the person next to us does what they're going to do and then we move on with life around our part of the country.

 

[waltskids]

This attitude of "I'm not giving up my seat" is such a northern attitude. I would be willing to put money on most people that have said they wouldn't give it up are from the north. People from the south would more than gladly give you their underpants if they thought you needed worse than they did-they would give you the seat. It's a cultural thing.

Huh?? DH and I are both from NJ (born and raised) and DH will always offer his seat to someone in need. I used to before kids, but now I am the one holding them on my lap so I will take a seat if it is open.

On the other hand I will stand with my kids if there are no seats and I wouldn't expect anyone to offer me a seat.

 

[juliebug1997]

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.

It would also be nice that, every time I did hold the door open for someone, they said thank you. One rude act doesn't make another right true but I get tired of holding the door open for people and them not thanking me.

 

[Jey12]

It would also be nice that, every time I did hold the door open for someone, they said thank you. One rude act doesn't make another right true but I get tired of holding the door open for people and them not thanking me.

It's rare I don't get a thank you from someone I'm holding the door open for, when it does happen I'm honestly not upset by it. A few times I did look at the person directly and say you're welcome, but that was more of a point I was making than just expecting a thank you. Now I do have to admit I have been known to hold a door open for someone I know that was a good distance from the door just to make them run a little.

Angel I am not by any means.

 

[manhattan]

Just returned and thought this was thread was relevant....after the MNSSHP buses were loaded, and yet I saw a parent let her daughter but her bags on a seat and didn't let anyone sit. We were heading into Goofy's candy store and I opened the door for my daughter and these people just pushed her out of the way to get out of the store, I looked at each of them and said loudly - You're welcome....got some not very nice looks, but I love to see people get upset by my pointing out that they are being rude

I also agree with a pp about Floridians being very rude and I really honestly think that it is because they don't interact with others very much. People jump into their car in their garage, drive to work and park in another garage and go to their office. Evening, same routine....while up north, we walk to the bus stop, chat with our fellow commuters, talk to the newspaper guy, with the fellow elevator riders, bus drivers, deli guy....we just always have nice short chats with everyone we encounter. I also think that since we are used to taking mass transit, we know the routine....if someone who has never taken a bus before (and yes, I have met them) how would they know to offer their seat?

 

[Jey12]

I also agree with a pp about Floridians being very rude and I really honestly think that it is because they don't interact with others very much. People jump into their car in their garage, drive to work and park in another garage and go to their office. Evening, same routine....while up north, we walk to the bus stop, chat with our fellow commuters, talk to the newspaper guy, with the fellow elevator riders, bus drivers, deli guy....we just always have nice short chats with everyone we encounter. I also think that since we are used to taking mass transit, we know the routine....if someone who has never taken a bus before (and yes, I have met them) how would they know to offer their seat?

Oh my. I know a few Florida natives and I've never encountered rudeness more in Florida than anywhere else. Honestly if I lived there I'd probably get tired of the lost tourists trying to travel during rush hour helping block up the highways, but I don't live there so I can't say.

I live in a city that has pretty much NO public transportation. We've tried to get a light rail system passed, but the way the city is set up it's impossible. The public buses are a joke and it can take you 6 buses and 2 hours just to partially get across town. So we all own a car, we all get up drive to work, drive home and yet somehow the majority of people I encounter in my city would have been taught at some point in time to offer their seat if they were able and someone else obviously needed it. At the same time being taught if someone didn't offer up their seat to someone it was none of your business as to why they did not. I also seem to find myself in a conversation with someone every where I go, gas station, grocery store, the mall, etc.... So either you've never traveled outside of your city and Florida, never to my part of the country or you are just making assumptions? I do not doubt this may be your experience, but it is not mine. I have traveled to many different parts of this wonderful country and I have found what I would find to be rude behavior is pretty equal everywhere.

If you and I were on a bus together and I felt you needed a seat more than myself I would offer it to you. More than likely if you seemed approachable I would start a conversation with you about the park, WDW, etc....I guess you'd be surprised if during this conversation you discovered I was from an area that had no public transportation and this was only my 2nd or 3rd time on a bus that was packed full?

 

[Bullseye]

1) No problem with this.
2) You should have taken the kids back before they got sleepy.
3) Not my fault you waited so long.
4) And, now want a seat someone else has.
5) The seats are for everyone, sleepy or not.

NOTE: Pregnant women, the handicapped, or the elderly are exceptions.
They should be granted a seat./

This! We all spend a lot of money to vacation at WDW, we're all entitled to seats on the bus. Like Rustyscupper noted, handicapped, elderly, or pregnant should be granted a seat if you have any decency. Outside of that, there shouldn't be an expectation that you'll be given a seat because your child is tired.

That being said... this is a non-issue for us as we gave up the buses 5 years ago. Every penny I spend to rent a car is soooo worth it to not have to deal with bus issues

 

[jkh1978]

We are not going back to WDW this year, and its due to the rudeness of the other people there. No, I'm not talking about the people who wouldn't give up their seats, but the people who think they are entitled. I saw one woman on a scooter try to get on a bus. When the bus driver asked her to back it up into place, she said she didn't know how. I'm not going to quote her here because she used very non-Disney words. She stood up, and lifted the thing dragging it into place. I saw a woman in line for TSM call people from around the park to cut through the line to meet her. I saw someone cut through the entire TSM line saying their kids were already on it until they reached the front. I think we've all experienced people trying to stand in front of you at parades. I saw a group of twenty try to load on the Haunted Mansion, and the person on the scooter said she wasn't going to get on. This was at the top of the exit ramp, so I don't know if they were in the right spot. We were in the standing room section of Fantasmic, and after the show started, there were still spots in the handicap section. I'd see several people fake a limp and just go and sit down, and the poor CMs had to keep chasing all these people away, who saw what someone tried before and thought they'd also try it.

Here we have a thread talking about people just following the rules by taking a seat. Usually the threads here are about how to take advantage of the rules. I don't want to judge because you don't know the story about strangers, but there are obviously people taking advantage of the system, and puts a dark cloud over those that need extra care.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Considering I lived 18 years in the North and 11 years in the south, there isn't that much a difference. At least not as big of one that people seem to make it out to be. Jerks are still jerks, no matter where you are from.

Stereotyping for the lose.

1956-1991 in NY (and CT)... from 1991 till present in FL.. and yep.. jerks are jerks no matter where they are.. and as I stated, my children have manners and will give up there seats (even the one born here in FL!). They always did and always will (now nearly 19, 23 & 25). If they don't do it that particular day, there is something wrong with them.. sick, hurt etc.. Me, if I can, I will..even with my arthritis, bursitus, heal spurs, & low vision.. all of which you cannot see by looking at me.... It all depends on if I am in pain or not at that time of day/night... but to judge someone by not knowing.. is dead wrong

 

[FireRN]

WOW

Never imagined I'd be starting a 31 page thread with this. Never imagined a north south thing but thought I'd give my demographics as OP.

Lived in NJ till age 18.

9 years in KY.

Now 5 years in MI.

So mostly north with a touch of south.

 

[Wadecool]

WOW

Never imagined I'd be starting a 31 page thread with this. Never imagined a north south thing but thought I'd give my demographics as OP.

Lived in NJ till age 18.

9 years in KY.

Now 5 years in MI.

So mostly north with a touch of south.

Wow is right. Good to see you decided not to just "sit back and watch it hit the fan."

 

[FireRN]

Wow is right. Good to see you decided not to just "sit back and watch it hit the fan."

I have been watching it. Just not reacting to it.

 

[Wadecool]

I have been watching it. Just not reacting to it.

Interesting....

 

[Suzanne74]

Just got back and noticed the same thing. Do I expect a seat, no? But it is strange to stand holding a 2 year in my arms on a bus with a stroller on the floor while a family of 5 all have their own seats. One kid can not sit on a parent's lap so I can sit down with my 1 year old? They were all under the age of 8 - I am not talking teens here. Not one person offered a seat and it was a scary ride home. The next time I got on a bus that was filled, I got off so I could wait for one with a seat. Sometimes at Kidani that was impossible because it was a shared bus.

By the 3rd day, I would just take the car back. The initial plan was to drive and keep the car there until night. When the 2 year old would take a nap, I would just use the bus to take her back with DH stayed with DD10. It ended up being a disaster (Kidani busses stink!) so by day 3 it was all car all the time.

But OP, I feel your pain.

Only read page 1 and last page but it looks like I need to say where I am from.

NJ for 27 years.

DC Metro for last 10 years

My hubby always offers a seat to anyone with kids, pregnant or elderly. Actually any women come to think of it. Born and raised in MD all his life.

 

[EMom]

I cannot believe this thread is still going...29 pages later.

As a 'dim' parent/'dumb' parent who got on ONE crowded bus at Disney (then made the decision to rent a car to avoid repeating the mistake because despite what has been said in this thread, I actually care about the safety of my children)...I hope most of you that are bashing the OP and other 'dumb parents' realize that the people who happen to post about the bus issues are usually experiencing it for the first time. They post about it because they surprised by the cattle-like manner of shuffling between the parks. If they only used the Disney website to plan their vacations, they wouldn't realize that the 'free' transportation is not so fabulous.

It sounded great to us---until we had to use it. Most of us find alternatives after experiencing such 'magical' transportation.

My post has been twisted quite a bit. I was 6 months pregnant at Disney (not 9 months). It was a choice we made to go on the trip. I don't regret it---I was healthy and in good shape. My balance was off a bit, though, just from the shift of my body, and that was my husband's concern regarding the bus situation and standing. We definitely didn't expect anyone to jump up and give us a seat. My husband was just so surprised that no one did as I was visibly quite pregnant. In hindsight, we should have waited for another bus because I do think it is a safety issue. We didn't realize how crowded it was when we got on and we were not sure when the next bus would appear. The buses were sporadic...45 minutes, 1 hour, then I have no idea what happened because WE RENTED A CAR.

Taking children to Disney Under Age 5
I don't consider myself a glutton for punishment. We've been taking the children to Disney since they were toddlers (the two older ones were 14 months & 2 years on the first trip to Disneyland---no buses ). It is a great place to vacation with children.

Those of you who choose to wait until your children are 5 yrs of age, do so for whatever reasons you think are necessary. Not all children are hypersensitive to the "hyperstimulation", emom, & when travel is routine, they roll with it.

We've always found trips to Disney to be very easy with the children---young and now even easier as school-aged children. I have never been with a small infant and probably wouldn't attempt it. 6 months & older is how we've done it, but I don't judge families there with babies younger. How in the world do I know their circumstances? Much like all of you say not judge an entire bus of people because they all must have health issues.

I am from the North (have lived in the South) and I was raised to hold the door, give up my seat for someone who might need it more than I do...always for elders...& my little Northerners are raised the same (the boy and the girls). I would never complain to my children about the people on the bus for not giving a seat or glare at anyone. I have no idea why they are remaining in their seat & I will give the benefit of the doubt. I will not be convinced, though, that there was an entire bus with hidden disabilities that we just happened to get on. Spare that excuse. I respect those of you that just honestly say: I waited longer, I snagged a seat while you were lugging the children and stroller in the other door, I am tired, my feet are killing me after walking around the parks, etc.. I don't think the OP was really trying to make anyone feel guilty, but it is interesting how many of you have taken it as a direct insult to you, personally.

This is such a minor transgression to a wonderful vacation for everyone, why can't we all agree to disagree? It fascinates me to read the responses and see how this thread has taken on a life of its own.

Actually, DD is quite a good traveler. She doesn't get overstimulated. I was speaking of "overstimlulated children" in a general sense, as WDW seems to produce a fairly high number of overstimulated kids. As for DD, by the time she was 5, she had been to Europe three times. One of those trips was just the two of us and another was just the two of us until DH joined us a week into the trip. I will admit the one trip involving a stroller was a PITA, mainly due to cobblestoned streets. It likely dampened our enthusiasm for ever taking a "big" trip that involved a stroller ever again. MIL begged for us to go to WDW from the time DD was a baby, but I wasn't going until DD could walk all day and into the evening for a solid week. That happened about the time she was 5, so that's when we went. I braved Europe with her 3 times compared to ONCE at WDW by the age of 5.

I am not saying parents who take 3 little kids onto a Disney bus are dumb, because I think they probably didn't have a clue how bad it would be until they found themselves jammed in like sardines. Sardines with strollers. The first time we went to WDW, we happened to rent a car, but had planned on using the bus a great deal of the time. That trip was not crowded and we wound up using the bus maybe 50% of the time or less. The next time, while the parks were still uncrowded, bus usage had increased and it was rarely worth the hassle to board one.

If I was at WDW with a couple of kids and strollers and only realized once I arrived that the buses might not be such a great thing, I'd rent a car if I could afford it. If I couldn't, I'd do exactly what I have chosen to do with ONE child. Wait for the next bus so we can get a seat. As a parent, it would be worth it to me to wait so that my little kids could be safe and we wouldn't have to stand.

I can see walking into (a bus) disaster once because you're clueless, but after you wise up, it's time to change your plan. And if you continue to board buses with 3 kids and a couple of strollers, when it's standing room only in hopes /expectations someone will surrender their seat, then you just may not be thinking at peak performance. I still say a person should wait for that next bus and look out for themselves and their kids and not hang their hopes on someone doing them a favor.

 

[duffy]

We are not going back to WDW this year, and its due to the rudeness of the other people there.

Wow, seriously? That's all it takes for you to say you're not going? Are you going somewhere where there are no rude people, and if so, where?

 

[Hannathy]

Just got back and noticed the same thing. Do I expect a seat, no? But it is strange to stand holding a 2 year in my arms on a bus with a stroller on the floor while a family of 5 all have their own seats. One kid can not sit on a parent's lap so I can sit down with my 1 year old? They were all under the age of 8 - I am not talking teens here. Not one person offered a seat and it was a scary ride home.

It sounds exactly like you expected a seat.


I am curious though - Why were you trying to hold a 2 yr old on a moving bus? Why didn't you stand them up? I would never try to hold a child on a bus that could walk.This is one thing from this whole thread that I don't understand.

But I will give you kuddos for getting off buses after that if you couldn't get a seat and felt you had to have one!!