Seats on the bus

[chicagodisneyfan]

I take public transportation 3-4 times a week - and I ALWAYS offer my seat to pregnant women, kids, or the elderly.

I RARELY give up my seat at Disney. If you need/want to sit down and are too stupid to wait for the next bus or drive yourself that is not my problem.

Everyone at Disney is tired!

 

[ccgirl]

Easy solution...rent a car.

Posters who say they don't expect people to give up a seat but didn't understand why people wouldn't give up a seat were expecting it...they are just trying to put it nicer.

 

[KellyNY]

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.

What did you find strange that someone was sitting while you were standing? Kids under 8 can be pretty heavy and unless we are talking about infant, there is no reason kid should not have his own seat. Granted many people have kids on their lap, my DD was on my lap till she was probably 13 but not everyone does it and it is totally fine.
Another thing however is when a kid in a seat not sitting but standing. I saw it last trip on DTD bus. 3 kids were standing on their own seats, leaning on windows, watching road. They were falling on each other every turn, then were getting up again. What was the point of them having seats is a mystery for me. Everyone was watching this circus and I could not even figure out who they belong to. Turned to be a man sitting next to them who never even turned to look at what his kids do. Bus was full btw and I am sure someone could use their seats.

 

[Coconuts]

Wow. I was trying to organize in my head responses to many of the posts that I've read here, and almost started making my points...but I've decided to refrain. I think that if I responded, I'd be banned from the boards.

 

[LilGMom]

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?

I tried really tried to just read this thread but my lack of coffee this Monday morning must have gotten to me. About the parts that I put in bold - Really?!? Guess all of those Sunday family dinners, neighborhood block parties, ball games, art festivals, seafood festivals, etc. makes for very isolated people in the South. Granted I wasn't born in FL but I was raised here since the tender age of 6 so I consider myself a Floridian. Most of the "home grown" Floridians that I know will go out of their way to show courtesy to people and would offer their seats up. I know that my DH has no problems giving his seat to a child, an elderly person, a female or even someone that looks like they need it more than he does. Even my ten yr. old DS (who was born in FL) has been taught to get up if he sees a person that could benefit from his seat. We also hold doors for people, will avoid walking in front of people trying to take pictures, etc. Maybe the Floridians you have experience with are the ones that are transplants from the North and don't have southern hospitality ingrained in their brains. Don't really think that a person's rudeness or a lack of common courtesy can be tied to where they are from.

 

[bitohoney]

I'm jumping on this thread late but... I have IBD. Sometimes I get extremely weak and tired but you can't tell by just looking at me. I've had to stand numerous times on a bus with a fever of 102, weak, tired, needing a bathroom and in pain...but I toughed it out and stood. If I get a seat, I'm keeping it.

 

[ccgirl]

I tried really tried to just read this thread but my lack of coffee this Monday morning must have gotten to me. About the parts that I put in bold - Really?!? Guess all of those Sunday family dinners, neighborhood block parties, ball games, art festivals, seafood festivals, etc. makes for very isolated people in the South. Granted I wasn't born in FL but I was raised here since the tender age of 6 so I consider myself a Floridian. Most of the "home grown" Floridians that I know will go out of their way to show courtesy to people and would offer their seats up. I know that my DH has no problems giving his seat to a child, an elderly person, a female or even someone that looks like they need it more than he does. Even my ten yr. old DS (who was born in FL) has been taught to get up if he sees a person that could benefit from his seat. We also hold doors for people, will avoid walking in front of people trying to take pictures, etc. Maybe the Floridians you have experience with are the ones that are transplants from the North and don't have southern hospitality ingrained in their brains. Don't really think that a person's rudeness or a lack of common courtesy can be tied to where they are from.

Come on posters, can we please stop the North is better, South is better thing? If you stoop to name slinging you are no better than the others. (A general you not directed to any one person). I am from the North and travelled a lot for work. I have seen rude people in every single state I travelled. It is not exclusive to one section. However, I have also seen MANY more wonderful people than rude ones. Again, not exclusive to one area. Rude people can be from anywhere. I still don't think it's rude to not give up my seat for someone that I can't tell needs it or not. If I notice someone that obviously needs a seat, I will give one up (if I am able to) as will my DH and my DD. And, I'm from MA. They have a special name for us up here.

 

[goofy4tink]

I don't agree. When I took my kids to Boston when they were 4 & 7 I was GOBSMACKED by the number of people who offered my children a seat while we were riding the T, even during rush hour! I had one person who wouldn't take no for an answer and finally insisted that I take their seat because "your little girl might come sit on your lap if she sees you sitting".

I think it's a "I'm on holiday and I'm hot and cranky and tired, so I'm not offering my seat up" decision. (and to be clear, while I was overwhelmed by the kindness in Boston, not just over the seats but other situations as well, my children are more than capable of standing and I don't think it's rude to not offer a seat)

Those of us from Boston thank you. It's nice to hear someone say something nice about mannerful northerners once in awhile!!! We are nice...I keep telling people this but no one believes me.

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.

When I said 'children under 5', I wasn't really concerned with hypersensitive kids or overstimulating them....my issue it that I am inherently lazy. I didn't want to worry about lugging a stroller onto the buses, or have to worry about carrying my sleeping child...that's the big reason I waited until dd was almost 6!!!

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.

Let me ask you people that think 'you get it'...what is it that you are getting that the rest of us don't get??? It would seem that it's your way or the highway here. You are 100% correct and the rest of us are just plain stupid.
Sorry, wrong. The vast majority of people seated on a bus will get up and offer their seat to someone who seems to really need a seat. It may be time for some to stop obsessing about the few times that others didn't choose to give up their seats. You can't force people to have good manners. You can't say for sure it was a lack of good manners that prevented someone from giving you that seat.
It just doesn't happen all that often, but it would seem that some of you have it happen all the time, on every bus ride, on every trip. 30+ stays under my belt and I have seen a very small number of cases where someone who 'may' have needed a seat was not offered one. I have been offered seats more times than I can count..usually refuse the offer. I have given up my seat to others. I have had md dd sit on my lap in order to open up a seat for someone else...and that kid is 5'10'' tall!!!! That's a lapful. IF someone else had needed a seat, we would have gotten up and both stood, but that wasn't the case.

It isn't a north/south thing. It isn't an us against them thing. But some of you simply refuse to understand that this isn't a white or black issue. Yes, your need for a seat is uppermost in your mind. Unfortunately, those already seated may also have needs that allow them to remain seated. You have no idea what their situation is. It's not that we 'don't get it'...we do. We just choose to realize that there is always another side to a story. No one is 100% right, 100% of the time.

Oh, by the way???? Born and bred proud northerner.....parents from PEI and Philly...I was born in Boston, and lived here in Mass my entire 62 years. AND...guess what??? I give up my seat on the bus and the monorail all the time. I hold doors for people that just shove past with me with nary a thankyou..but I don't do it for the thank you. I do it because it's polite.

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

Id give up my seat to an older person but its hard to judge if someone is really pregnant or just over weight :/ I dont like to offend. lol

 

[KellyNY]

Id give up my seat to an older person but its hard to judge if someone is really pregnant or just over weight :/ I dont like to offend. lol

So true, this is why I get up when woman is reaaaaly pregnant, when there is no mistake. I was mistaken for pregnant once because of the way iI was standing and offered a seat, here in NY, you can only guess how fast I went on a diet (not really successful but still).

 

[Jennasis]

On our last trip a woman got on the bus late to head back to the hotel from MK. She was with several other adults. I was about to offer her my seat (I'm also a woman and she and I appeared to be about the same age), but she "appeared" to be pregnant. HOWEVER, she also could have been "fat". I was worried about offending her. What to do then?

Generally DH and I drive our car to all parks (except MK), specifically to avoid bus related nonsense like this and so we ALWAYS have a seat.

I'm an "able bodied" 30 year old too...until my back acts up. I had spinal surgery last year and things are so much better, but sometimes I need to sit too...and not be judged by those who planned poorly.

 

[goofy4tink]

Id give up my seat to an older person but its hard to judge if someone is really pregnant or just over weight :/ I dont like to offend. lol

Been there, done that. Won't make that particular mistake again...I was horrified, and the poor woman was mortified!!!!

 

[manhattan]

I tried really tried to just read this thread but my lack of coffee this Monday morning must have gotten to me. About the parts that I put in bold - Really?!? Guess all of those Sunday family dinners, neighborhood block parties, ball games, art festivals, seafood festivals, etc. makes for very isolated people in the South. Granted I wasn't born in FL but I was raised here since the tender age of 6 so I consider myself a Floridian. Most of the "home grown" Floridians that I know will go out of their way to show courtesy to people and would offer their seats up. I know that my DH has no problems giving his seat to a child, an elderly person, a female or even someone that looks like they need it more than he does. Even my ten yr. old DS (who was born in FL) has been taught to get up if he sees a person that could benefit from his seat. We also hold doors for people, will avoid walking in front of people trying to take pictures, etc. Maybe the Floridians you have experience with are the ones that are transplants from the North and don't have southern hospitality ingrained in their brains. Don't really think that a person's rudeness or a lack of common courtesy can be tied to where they are from.

You may be right, perhaps I have just been running into Northerners who don't have the southern hospitality. I admit to everyone that I was born and raised in a very small town, and I am the minority when it comes to a lot of things. I was just posting my opinion of the area where I currently live and work. I was raised thinking we are all the same, and I just think that sometimes parents don't teach their children proper manners and that is what starts a lot of the problems.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

I'm from New England and on public transportation, I will give up my seat when appropriate.

At Disney though, if I get a seat on the bus, will probably I keep it for the same reason that if I get a great spot on a ride, I'm not going to give up the seat to a family or a child. We are all there for the same reason, we are all spending a lot of money, we are all tired by the end of the day, and if the luck of the line gives you a seat, that's how it goes. And just like a ride, if I want a better seat, I let the attendant know and step aside to get the seat I want next time.

And trust me, I sympathize with how hard it must be to do Disney with kids. It's exactly why, when we went, we left the kids at home. At Disney, we'd be just one of a billion people there with kids, even if every able bodied person on a full bus gave up there seat, it'd still mean somebody with kids is standing. It's part of Disney.

 

[KellyNY]

I'm from New England and on public transportation, I will give up my seat when appropriate.

At Disney though, if I get a seat on the bus, will probably I keep it for the same reason that if I get a great spot on a ride, I'm not going to give up the seat to a family or a child. We are all there for the same reason, we are all spending a lot of money, we are all tired by the end of the day, and if the luck of the line gives you a seat, that's how it goes. And just like a ride, if I want a better seat, I let the attendant know and step aside to get the seat I want next time.

And trust me, I sympathize with how hard it must be to do Disney with kids. It's exactly why, when we went, we left the kids at home. At Disney, we'd be just one of a billion people there with kids, even if every able bodied person on a full bus gave up there seat, it'd still mean somebody with kids is standing. It's part of Disney.

May I just say, it is a gorgeous ring, what is the green stone?

 

[MIDisFan]

I can't believe this is turning into a North vs South debate. Maybe all of us on the East coast can learn a thing or two from those on the West coast.

 

[ccgirl]

I can't believe this is turning into a North vs South debate. Maybe all of us on the East coast can learn a thing or two from those on the West coast.

Yup....I think it has something to do with that Mason Dixon line.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

May I just say, it is a gorgeous ring, what is the green stone?

Thank you!

The stone isn't actually green, that was just how the sun hit the stone in the light.

 

[psac]

Come on posters, can we please stop the North is better, South is better thing?

Didn't we settle that whole thing 150 years ago?

 

[Tropical Wilds]

I can't believe this is turning into a North vs South debate. Maybe all of us on the East coast can learn a thing or two from those on the West coast.

The East coast vs. West coast thing is so been done. That's so 1990's.