Snacks on buses?

[SaraJayne]

I routinely walk onto the ME buses with a bottle of soda/water in my hand. I've never had a driver say a word to me about the bottle.

 

[Missytara]

Okay,
I called Magical Express Directly spoke with a supervisor. They went thru all their paper work. There is NOTHING IN WRITING that says you cannot eat or drink on a Magical Express bus so it is Driver's rule NOT a ME RULE! That said...as far as the sign too, the DRIVER has put that sign up, NOT Mears! And the Supervisor also brought to my attention that guests travelling on the Cruise Line Transfers ARE ALLOWED food/beverages which are the same buses often used to transfer people back and forth to MCO/WDW. So those of us saying that food and beverages are allowed on ME are not wrong. Now I'm not going to say that those of you who were told by your drivers that you were not allowed to have food and beverages were wrong either. But I will say that those drivers don't have anything in writing from the company to back up 'their rule' should someone choose to challenge it.
So NOT all of the buses have the no food/drink signs in them because obviously the Cruiseline buses don't if they allow food/drink and I know some of the 'regular' ME we have ridden didn't. If the bus has one, the driver has put it up, not Mears. The only sign we consistently see on each and every bus was that annoying one basically 'begging' for gratuities.

Travel much.

Why do these days we have to have a written rule every time we do something. What happened to a little common sense.

The ME buses are run by Mears. They are a business. They run continuously to service customers back and forth to the Disney resorts, 24/7. How much time do you have to clean up after a bunch of people who IF you do allow to eat and drink on the bus, will leave all of their stuff (trust me they will) behind and the bus driver has to clean it up, thus slowing down the service. Then you will complain the buses do not get to the resorts quick enough.

In addition, the bus drivers do provide a service where they are paid little and are expected to subsist on tips from customers as part of the service industry. If you feel they are just putting their hands out for a buck, I suggest you find another way to travel. They are providing a service.

 

[Missytara]

I routinely walk onto the ME buses with a bottle of soda/water in my hand. I've never had a driver say a word to me about the bottle.

But is has a top and cannot spill; that is totally different. You are also taking it for the day and not leaving it behind.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Travel much.

Why do these days we have to have a written rule every time we do something. What happened to a little common sense.

The ME buses are run by Mears. They are a business. They run continuously to service customers back and forth to the Disney resorts, 24/7. How much time do you have to clean up after a bunch of people who IF you do allow to eat and drink on the bus, will leave all of their stuff (trust me they will) behind and the bus driver has to clean it up, thus slowing down the service. Then you will complain the buses do not get to the resorts quick enough.

In addition, the bus drivers do provide a service where they are paid little and are expected to subsist on tips from customers as part of the service industry. If you feel they are just putting their hands out for a buck, I suggest you find another way to travel. They are providing a service.

Well, apparently, it is NOT a problem because if it WAS a problem then Mears would have a WRITTEN rule. Everyone is all about RULES. So if it is not written down it's not a rule then, now is it? As a matter of fact the supervisor said they make people aware of the travel time to/from the port in case they want to bring a beverage/snack...so how much more do you want to say that Mears has a problem with food/beverages. This is now become an issue where posters just don't agree that others should be eating/drinking on the bus. But just because you don't think they should doesn't mean that you are right and they are wrong. If someone wants to eat/drink on the bus and they take their trash with them, what busines is it of yours? I would really say it's a case of mind your own business...since actually they aren't breaking any rules....

And I DO have common sense, Thank You. I have both common sense and the courtesy not to leave my trash behind anywhere! So don't lump ME in with others. I have a beverage with me pretty much 24/7 as I take a medication that makes me extra thirsty. So I am always drinking fluids. I do agree that others need to remove their own trash but it is also not my problem if they don't. If the driver sees them get on with food, watch and see that they get off with the trash. He's standing there at the foot of the bus to safely make sure everyone disembarks the bus.

Where's the parent with common sense that allowed their child to kick the seat back the entire time trip to the hotel?? Did they not think we couldn't feel that?? Even my daughter in the next seat could feel the reviberations from this kid. Was that considerate and did that person exhibit common sense?? I think not...

And this thread wasn't about tipping the bus driver. Many people don't. I do because he handles luggage for me. I have to wait for it. But I watch MANY people get off the bus and walk away, no tip. I just get tired of hearing him ask for a tip as at the beginnig and as he drops us off at the hotel. I can read the sign to see that you are 'allowed' to accept a tip. If you ask for one over your little 'PA' system on the way and then when you drop us off, I can pretty much guarantee you it will be a smaller one from me then if you had been quiet about it and let it happen on its own. I am a very capable reader. I understand the whole tipping process. It's just ridiculous how many times some of the drivers mention being allowed to accept tips and some are gracious and NEVER mention it at all. I personally, think the signs on the buses are in poor taste. That's JMHO, and I am entitled to it!

 

[SaraJayne]

But is has a top and cannot spill; that is totally different. You are also taking it for the day and not leaving it behind.

It has a top that is frequently opened by me to take a drink while on the bus. When I get off the bus, the bottle goes with me.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Well, apparently, it is NOT a problem because if it WAS a problem then Mears would have a WRITTEN rule. Everyone is all about RULES. So if it is not written down it's not a rule then, now is it? As a matter of fact the supervisor said they make people aware of the travel time to/from the port in case they want to bring a beverage/snack...so how much more do you want to say that Mears has a problem with food/beverages. This is now become an issue where posters just don't agree that others should be eating on the bus because the bus.

Multiple professionally-printed signs on buses sounds like, if not a rule, at least a policy condoned by Mears.

A difference between the two destinations that you're not considering is flexibility. DME riders have much more leeway on arrival than cruise passengers. Eat at the airport, then board a bus. Cruise passengers need to be completely checked in and on the ship by a certain time. And the DME drivers have to turn right around and pick up scheduled passengers for returns to the airport (unlike the DCL drivers). Having to clean up after even ten messy passengers ripples through the system and causes delays.

And people need snacks on a sixty minute bus ride? Why???

I called Magical Express Directly spoke with a supervisor. They went thru all their paper work. There is NOTHING IN WRITING that says you cannot eat or drink on a Magical Express bus so it is Driver's rule NOT a ME RULE!

Okay. Question: do you make the rules in your vehicle, or do you let your passengers do whatever they want?

[QUOTEstitchlovestink]Where's the parent with common sense that allowed their child to kick the seat back the entire time trip to the hotel?? Did they not think we couldn't feel that?? Even my daughter in the next seat could feel the reviberations from this kid. Was that considerate and did that person exhibit common sense?? I think not...[/QUOTE]So you lean around your seat, or stand and turn around, and say, "please stop kicking my seat".

 

[stitchlovestink]

Multiple professionally-printed signs on buses sounds like, if not a rule, at least a policy condoned by Mears.

A difference between the two destinations that you're not considering is flexibility. DME riders have much more leeway on arrival than cruise passengers. Eat at the airport, then board a bus. Cruise passengers need to be completely checked in and on the ship by a certain time. And the DME drivers have to turn right around and pick up scheduled passengers for returns to the airport (unlike the DCL drivers). Having to clean up after even ten messy passengers ripples through the system and causes delays.

And people need snacks on a sixty minute bus ride? Why???



Okay. Question: do you make the rules in your vehicle, or do you let your passengers do whatever they want?

[QUOTEstitchlovestink]Where's the parent with common sense that allowed their child to kick the seat back the entire time trip to the hotel?? Did they not think we couldn't feel that?? Even my daughter in the next seat could feel the reviberations from this kid. Was that considerate and did that person exhibit common sense?? I think not....So you lean around your seat, or stand and turn around, and say, "please stop kicking my seat".

There is a difference. I OWN my car. I PAID for my car. It's NOT the DRIVER'S bus. When the DRIVER has paid for that bus, then the DRIVER can dictate the Rules. Until then, IMO Mears has the final say as they are the ones who paid for the bus and therefore get to dictate the rules. He/she is their employee. If he/she doesn't like the job, feel free to find another! There are parts of virtually every job out there that people don't like doing.

I, Personally, have only brought a beverage on board, and will continue to do so until I am told by a person of authority for Mears (not a bus driver) tells me I cannot. But if someone wants to save a few minutes by bringing their sandwich or snack along on ME to save time, that is their business. I won't say that I wouldn't ever consider doing myself in the future. One never knows what the future holds.

I've given up on asking for people to have their child to stop kicking my seat because I either get a snarky response that either they are not kicking it that hard that I can feel it or I have to ask multiple times because 2 minutes later it's started again. Somehow I am always the rude one for not tolerating their child's kicking. So I have given up. I avoid sitting near for this reason.

 

[Alesia]

There is a difference. I OWN my car. I PAID for my car. It's NOT the DRIVER'S bus. When the DRIVER has paid for that bus, then the DRIVER can dictate the Rules. Until then, IMO Mears has the final say as they are the ones who paid for the bus and therefore get to dictate the rules. He/she is their employee. If he/she doesn't like the job, feel free to find another! There are parts of virtually every job out there that people don't like doing.

Then why don't you contact Mears instead of DME?

 

[stitchlovestink]

Then why don't you contact Mears instead of DME?

Because they are ONE IN THE SAME! Mears just operates under the name DME. Got it? So when I have contacted DME, I have contacted Mears. Does that make sense now?

 

[Alesia]

Because they are ONE IN THE SAME! Mears just operates under the name DME. Got it? So when I have contacted DME, I have contacted Mears. Does that make sense now?

Why are you being so rude? Is this really something to get this worked up over?

 

[kaytieeldr]

There is a difference. I OWN my car. I PAID for my car. It's NOT the DRIVER'S bus. When the DRIVER has paid for that bus, then the DRIVER can dictate the Rules.

The driver is responsible for the condition of the bus, both inside and out. "No food or drink" signs are common on coach buses. The signs are, again, professionally printed. They're not hand-printed by a rogue driver or two. Mears can reasonably be expected to at least know of the existence of these signs - if not condone them.

I, Personally, have only brought a beverage on board, and will continue to do so until I am told by a person of authority for Mears (not a bus driver) tells me I cannot.

As the person responsible for the safe operation of the bus and the safety of all passengers, the bus driver is the person of authority.

But if someone wants to save a few minutes by bringing their sandwich or snack along on ME to save time, that is their business. I won't say that I wouldn't ever consider doing myself in the future. One never knows what the future holds.

While it's true one never knows what the future holds, making an educated guess what's likely to happen based on information provided is easy.

I've given up on asking for people to have their child to stop kicking my seat because I either get a snarky response that either they are not kicking it that hard that I can feel it or I have to ask multiple times because 2 minutes later it's started again. Somehow I am always the rude one for not tolerating their child's kicking.

Then you:
Respond, "if that were true, I wouldn't need to ask your child to stop kicking".
Repeat your request every time the kicking starts.
Offer to change seats with the parent.

Frankly, a snarky response might be a reaction to your presentation. If you YELL a LOT like you've been doing in THIS THREAD, I can see why people would present an attitude in response.

Because they are ONE IN THE SAME! Mears just operates under the name DME. Got it? So when I have contacted DME, I have contacted Mears. Does that make sense now?

It doesn't make any sense. First you said you spoke with a supervisor at DME - Disney's Magical Express, a service owned and operated by Disney. Now you're saying you spoke with Mears - a transportation company that contracts with Disney to provide the buses and drivers for this service.

Two separate entities. Different ownership. Different goals, business plans, etc. Oh, and just this once I'm going to violate my own policy; the phrase is 'one and the same'.

 

[smitch425]

Why are you being so rude? Is this really something to get this worked up over?

I was thinking the same thing!

Clearly, there have been instances where people were allowed to eat/drink on the DME bus AND when people were asked not to. Hypothetically speaking (because I wouldn't ever do it), if I attempted to eat something on the bus and the driver asked me not to, I would apologize and put the food away. The thought would never cross my mind to think that the driver should "get another job" if he doesn't like someone eating on the bus. Just because he is only the driver and didn't "pay for the bus" doesn't mean he isn't responsible for the cleanliness of the bus.

I really can't think of any reason a person would HAVE to eat on a DME bus. No one will die of starvation on a 40 minute bus ride. Even a diabetic would be better off eating PRIOR to getting on the bus if there were a risk of an immediate health issue. My kids eat in the car several times a month. I would never dream of letting them do that in someone else's vehicle. It's not that they are messy kids, but eating and drinking in a moving vehicle, especially without proper restraints, is unpredictable and unstable at best.

Bottom line is that you cannot guarantee you will get a driver that will allow eating/drinking on their bus, so eat prior to boarding if you think it will be too problematic to wait until you reach your destination.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Why are you being so rude? Is this really something to get this worked up over?

I wasn't trying to be rude. You asked a question. I was just answering the question you asked...

The driver is responsible for the condition of the bus, both inside and out. "No food or drink" signs are common on coach buses. The signs are, again, professionally printed. They're not hand-printed by a rogue driver or two. Mears can reasonably be expected to at least know of the existence of these signs - if not condone them. .

I have travelled on ME over a dozen times. We've been on the ME buses, one or twice we've been put on cruise line buses, and this last time we were placed on a generic Mears motorcoach. Not once have any of these buses that "we" have been on displayed a sign about eating or drinking while onboard the bus.

As the person responsible for the safe operation of the bus and the safety of all passengers, the bus driver is the person of authority.

I'm sure there is a supervisor or superior of some sort overseeing the drivers...they have some sort of 'boss' to whom they answer.

Then you:
Respond, "if that were true, I wouldn't need to ask your child to stop kicking".
Repeat your request every time the kicking starts.
Offer to change seats with the parent.

Frankly, a snarky response might be a reaction to your presentation. If you YELL a LOT like you've been doing in THIS THREAD, I can see why people would present an attitude in response.

Nope, I asked nicely with a please and thank and a smile. Maybe I should have been nasty.
And Changing seats on the bus becomes problematic for me due to my medical limitations especially if the bus is moving. If I fall, they're not going to be happy about that!

It doesn't make any sense. First you said you spoke with a supervisor at DME - Disney's Magical Express, a service owned and operated by Disney. Now you're saying you spoke with Mears - a transportation company that contracts with Disney to provide the buses and drivers for this service.

Two separate entities. Different ownership. Different goals, business plans, etc. Oh, and just this once I'm going to violate my own policy; the phrase is 'one and the same'.

Well since you seem to know all, tomorrow I will call and find out who employs the woman who gave me the information, whether she is an employee of Disney or Mears...

I was thinking the same thing!

Clearly, there have been instances where people were allowed to eat/drink on the DME bus AND when people were asked not to. Hypothetically speaking (because I wouldn't ever do it), if I attempted to eat something on the bus and the driver asked me not to, I would apologize and put the food away. The thought would never cross my mind to think that the driver should "get another job" if he doesn't like someone eating on the bus. Just because he is only the driver and didn't "pay for the bus" doesn't mean he isn't responsible for the cleanliness of the bus.

I really can't think of any reason a person would HAVE to eat on a DME bus. No one will die of starvation on a 40 minute bus ride. Even a diabetic would be better off eating PRIOR to getting on the bus if there were a risk of an immediate health issue. My kids eat in the car several times a month. I would never dream of letting them do that in someone else's vehicle. It's not that they are messy kids, but eating and drinking in a moving vehicle, especially without proper restraints, is unpredictable and unstable at best.

Bottom line is that you cannot guarantee you will get a driver that will allow eating/drinking on their bus, so eat prior to boarding if you think it will be too problematic to wait until you reach your destination.

I guess what I don't get is if ME says there isn't a rule against then why do people care what someone else does? I personally, have not taken food on...but I do take my drink and I'm not bothering you with it. So what difference does it make to you (general you) what others do. I guess this is kind of like the situation I tell my kids (well they're older teens) about. Be concerned about your 'own' business and not what others are doing, and let others be concerned about their own business. There's not a 'rule', so nobody's 'breaking' anything... So if people would concern themselves with their own business... There wouldn't be any problems or if there are, they aren't yours (general yours) to address.

 

[goofy4tink]

You know what??? I'm getting a wee bit tired of the Transportation board bickering lately. This is getting ridiculous.
You want to eat on the bus? Have at it. You don't want to eat on the bus? Don't. Up to you. Do what you need to do. We are soooooo done with it here.