So what do you think the "waiting for bus" etiquette is?

[Jillpie]

This is an interesting issue. I have mobility issues. I used to rent an ECV at the parks and deal with the buses and bus lines without an ECV. I would try to sit at the bus stop if possible, but I knew that I needed a seat because I can't stand on a moving bus. If there weren't a lot of people I would just sit and get on at the end. If there were a lot of people I would usually send my DH to line up and join him as the bus pulled up. This whole process got harder on me and the waits for buses at the end of the day from the park to the resort were really hard on me. I would be in pain for the rest of the night and I would have to take Darvecet (pain killer).

I never thought I should get to board the bus first from the bench even if I got there first, but the standing wasn't working for me any more so I now rent an ECV. I feel bad when it takes a few extra minutes to load me but it is the only way for me to be okay so thats what I do.

thank you for sharing all that, a very interesting and honest perspective. Thanks to all of you in this discussion, its nice to know I'm not the only one who thinks about this when going to the bus stops.

 

[bavaria]

I would let those sitting go first since they got there before I did. What are the chances that they are just sitting there passing the day away?

I guess I don't see the need to jump off the bench because now someone is standing.

I think common courtesy would be to let the ones on the bench go first. Am I wrong?

I'm like you. I tend to lag back and let the benchers come forward. If someone got to the stop before me, chances are that they should get on the bus before me as well.

 

[CoolPool]

I find that what irks me are the on-the-curb-line-up people who won't let the people exiting the bus exit first. They've got to stand in front of the bus doors and try to push in. It strains decorum.

 

[SteveH]

Being the people watcher that I am I just love sitting back and watching people fight to get on the bus, the maneuvering to get in "line" the rush the bus attitudes and those that seem to expect special treatment. I figure if you want to get on first then stand in line, if you want to relax then send a family representative to stand in line for you. The ones that are the most fun are the ones that walk up and try to jump in line, the blast is watching those in line try to fill in and block them. Seriously, stand back its a great entertaining ride just watching.

Just ask yourself this... would your mother approve of your actions?

 

[Jillpie]

Being the people watcher that I am I just love sitting back and watching people fight to get on the bus, the maneuvering to get in "line" the rush the bus attitudes and those that seem to expect special treatment. I figure if you want to get on first then stand in line, if you want to relax then send a family representative to stand in line for you. The ones that are the most fun are the ones that walk up and try to jump in line, the blast is watching those in line try to fill in and block them. Seriously, stand back its a great entertaining ride just watching.

Just ask yourself this... would your mother approve of your actions?

Steve, , nice comic relief! I love to people watch too.
Not sure what you mean by my mother approving, are you saying what we do is wrong, by standing at the curb waiting for the bus and getting on before the "bench people"? By bringing my mother in the picture sets my catholic guilt in motion! lol

 

[SteveH]

Not sure what you mean by my mother approving

LOL no what I mean is do what your mom would approve of, wasn't meant towards any posters here. I just watch some people and it amazes me how rude they can be and I think I wonder if their mother would approve of their actions. Sad to say in some cases their mother would have been the one pushing the baby stroller out of the way to get on the bus first LOL.

 

[Lilolvr]

That's the good thing about staying at POFQ, you always get a seat. The one day our bus filled up to go to MK we didn't stop at POR. I never worried about who got on first. I prefer to sit near the back anyway, giving the front to those with young kids. I will give up my seat to a little kid or someone who is elderly even though I have trouble walking sometimes especially at night. I hate seeing a parent with a sleeping kid in their arms standing. When I took my boys I always made them give up their seats for women.

I don't know what POFQ bus you were riding but when I was there they weren't empty leaving from the parks. The queue was shared with POR and it made for a huge mess.

As for the OP's question, if someone was sitting at a bench, I would ask them what bus they were waiting for and if the one I wanted come through recently just to avoid any problems.

 

[lilyv]

I confess I've not pondered this too deeply. If I had to describe how DH and I handle bus etiquette, it's probably similar to joining a line at a large wedding buffet. We're all there to have a good time, and though we don't all know each other, we kind of good-naturedly (without rushing or cutting) merge into what is eventually one line.

 

[Maxwell]

So you approach the resort bus stop. There are several people just sitting on the benches, their choice. You make a decision to go over to the curb, where the bus typically stops, and you wait. You become the first person in line now. Correct? I'm not sure. I've been going to DW since 1999 now, and I've never quite known the right thing to do. Do you give the people that are sitting on the benches the first opportunity to get on that bus, or is it okay to wait at the curb?

If you are willing to stand you should be first.

 

[Buzz2001]

As for the OP's question, if someone was sitting at a bench, I would ask them what bus they were waiting for and if the one I wanted came through recently just to avoid any problems.

This is what I would do too.

Just because someone is sitting doesn't mean they weren't there first. Maybe they're elderly, have young kids, are handicapped or just wanted to sit. Just walking to the curb doesn't mean you're first. I would never be that rude.

 

[WillCAD]

First of all, I think it's a little different at the resorts than at the parks, where you board a bus back to the resort. The resorts (or at least the ones I'm familiar with) do not have any kind of ropeline to form a queue. Most of the resort bus stops at the parks do, so it's best to actually get in that queue at the parks, than sit on the benches nearby.

I suppose you would be first in line if you went right to the place where the bus stops (assuming the bus doesn't over or undershoot this point), as sitting on benches can hardly be considered "waiting in line."

However, we always just sit on the benches. We've never had to wait for a second bus to our destination at a resort, so it always seems pointless for us to queue up in a line, when we know we can sit, be comfortable, then board the bus when it arrives, though we will likely not be the first on board.

Being first on board versus being the last on board will not get you to the parks one second faster.

The bus stops at the Value resorts actually have roped queues for each bus space. There are not multiple bus stops at the Values like at the Moderates, but there are multiple pull-in spaces, each with its own roped queue, very similar to the bus depots at the theme parks.

Being first on board might not get you to the parks faster, but it might let you travel sitting down instead of standing.

I would let those sitting go first since they got there before I did. What are the chances that they are just sitting there passing the day away?

I guess I don't see the need to jump off the bench because now someone is standing.

I think common courtesy would be to let the ones on the bench go first. Am I wrong?

Depends on the bus stop.

At the Values or at the parks, where there are clearly roped-off queue areas, if you choose to sit instead of queue up, then you are not in teh line and have to get in line before you get on the bus.

At the Mods and Deluxes, where there really is no queue, just a bench and a shelter, then I would agree with you that it's common courtesy to let those who were there first get on first. Fortunately, it's also less of an issue because there are usually fewer people waiting at thease stops for any particular bus than there are at the Values or at the parks.

Can I just say, I've SO enjoyed the discussion on this thread!!
This question has occurred to me many times when waiting for the Disney buses. You know how the British love to queue and my polite manners get the better of me but I tend to agree, sitting on the bench is not in the queue.

Can I just add that I am off to Disneyland Paris in a few weeks where it is bascially everyone for themselves at the bus stops! People are quite ill-mannered and love to crush on.

I'm sharpening my elbows in preparation!

You remind me of a line from a recent movie - the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy:
Authur: "I'll handle this. I'm British - I know how to queue!"

I find that what irks me are the on-the-curb-line-up people who won't let the people exiting the bus exit first. They've got to stand in front of the bus doors and try to push in. It strains decorum.

Unfortunately, that happens at all the bus stops, even those that have roped queues - people simply forget that there are already people on the bus who might want to get off. It's not always rudeness, sometimes it's just absent-mindedness.