Standing room only on buses

[micci41]

Just back from a 4 day trip to WDW. The parks were very crowded and as expected, the buses to and from POP were also at capacity. There were multiple times where we had to stand on the bus which was not a problem. My gripe is the parents that allow children to sit in a seat while there are older folks or parents holding children and having to stand. Where are peoples manners? Would it be too much to ask for parents to have a child sit on your lap and allow someone else a seat? Also, with the buses filled to standing room only, the bus drivers could be a little more gentle on the brakes.

 

[flamestarrdust]

I know exactly what you mean. I went in February and one afternoon on a bus to MGM, there was only standing room. I nearly fell on someone's lap who was seated because the driver was hitting the brakes so hard. I was shocked because I live in NJ/NYC and take buses everyday both standing and sitting. Yet, I have never had such a hard time remaining standing on a bus as I did in WDW. I thought maybe it was just that particular driver but I guess not.

 

[taximomfor4]

Just back from a 4 day trip to WDW. The parks were very crowded and as expected, the buses to and from POP were also at capacity. There were multiple times where we had to stand on the bus which was not a problem. My gripe is the parents that allow children to sit in a seat while there are older folks or parents holding children and having to stand. Where are peoples manners? Would it be too much to ask for parents to have a child sit on your lap and allow someone else a seat? Also, with the buses filled to standing room only, the bus drivers could be a little more gentle on the brakes.

On the transportation board and on the Families board, there are quite long and informative threads about different reasons people don't give up their seats. I will not go back into my reasoning, since I did it already on both other threads. But will say that we are very kind, courteous people. We do NOT put our kids on our laps on WDW buses. I am not one to label people or toss insults around, but I do think that it is rude to assume that people putting children on seats are being rude.

 

[JRawkSteady]

My gripe is with the people who hold up a line and refuse to stand on the bus... I'm from NYC and people really don't know how to create standing room on a bus. There's always so much room people are unwilling to fill in. And the Disney CM never does anything to help... I've missed many buses because of it.

Back to the question at hand, what constitutes too big to sit on your mothers lap? What if the kid is just too old for that? Kids grow up quicker nowadays

 

[smep013]

I try to be extra patient on those crowded busses. We do not have kids yet - but I can only imagine what a trip to WDW will be like with them.

I do know I frequently lose my patience when a young child (standing or sitting) is acting out and/or slamming into me repeatedly as a parent just sits there watching. I just take a deep breath and try to remember the MAGIC!

 

[Tissa]

There are three types of bus riders with children

1st group- the ones that feel it is safer for their children to ride in a seat than in their lap or standing up.

2nd group- the ones that have the we are the only important people on the planet forget the rest of you suckers attitude.

3rd group- the ones that will give up a seat to someone else because they were told it was the polite thing to do.

I am with the group that will have my boys sit on my lap so there will be more seats for everyone but I don't think anyone owe's me a seat either. If the bus is crowded and I don't feel like standing then I'll have us wait for another bus.

 

[princess aurora]

On the transportation board and on the Families board, there are quite long and informative threads about different reasons people don't give up their seats. I will not go back into my reasoning, since I did it already on both other threads. But will say that we are very kind, courteous people. We do NOT put our kids on our laps on WDW buses. I am not one to label people or toss insults around, but I do think that it is rude to assume that people putting children on seats are being rude.

No, I don't know what your reasoning is and I don't really care, not being snarky here I just mean it doesn't matter what your silent, unbeknownst to me reasoning is... b/c if you had your two small children sitting beside you and I was standing with my small child on a hot, crowed bus after a day at the parks I would think yes, you were being a little selfish.
Maybe you are not because of whatever reasoning you have previously stated but since I don't know what they are and you don't where a sign telling people what they are when you're on the bus then again yes I, and I'm thinking a lot of people would think it is a little discourteous of you not to move your children so another small child may sit. I just call it spreading a little pixie dust, making room for as many tired, cranky families as the rest of us.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

 

[BamaFan121s]

Yes, it is very irritating when people don't give up their seats to those who need it more. Also, I have no problem with standing, but I WILL not stand if it is so crowded that I am 1) actually in the doorway holding on to the rails attatched to the door, or 2) if I don't think I can hold on to something AND my 5 y.o. daughter so that we won't go flying if the brakes get slammed on. If either of these is the case, we'll be some of those annoying people holding up the line to wait on the next bus. Sorry ppl, we had a wreck on a WDW bus and I have no desire to have the same fate as those who were unfortunate enough to be standing on it.

 

[mattsdragon]

I prefer to stand, it's kind of like surfing. I don't hold on to anything either. So if a 6'2", 220 lb man goes flying into your lap, it might be me. I'll apologize for you, then swipe your wallet.

 

[anewvance]

I always think about these threads when I'm on the crowded buses. It's so funny, I can never say no and get away with it if i'm holding the baby... people are fighting to give me a seat. I've NEVER had to stand while holding the baby. Our usual situation is most of the time there is one seat available, my girls sit together on this seat. And then someone every time offers me a seat with the baby and then my husband will stand. Unless the bus isn't crowded, he almost never sits on the buses. I always laugh though because my girls are chatty kathys. If the dh of a group gives up his seat for them to sit, I'm like uh oh here we go... they will talk the ear off the rest of the group all the way to whereever we are going. And because someone somewhere else has offered me a seat, I can't tell them to leave the poor people alone. I really don't mind standing with the baby, i'm so used to the buses, I can handle it. But like I said, someone ALWAYS insists on giving us their seat...

 

[smep013]

It is just common courtesy to give up your seat in certian cases, on WDW busses or on public transit. Sometimes - it is so crowded you cannot even move to get out of the way and give up your seat. If it's thatpacked and I'm standing - I just close my eyes and look forward to reaching my stop!

 

[Evil Queen]

Just back from a 4 day trip to WDW. The parks were very crowded and as expected, the buses to and from POP were also at capacity. There were multiple times where we had to stand on the bus which was not a problem. My gripe is the parents that allow children to sit in a seat while there are older folks or parents holding children and having to stand. Where are peoples manners? Would it be too much to ask for parents to have a child sit on your lap and allow someone else a seat? Also, with the buses filled to standing room only, the bus drivers could be a little more gentle on the brakes.

I can't answer for anyone else, but as for my manners when my children and I don't give up any seats......means I probably decided not to ride the previous bus that was there, for the purpose of getting seats. I'd much rather wait for the next bus and probably be safer for my family and the others on the bus. There are reasons why my children can't stand safely on a bus. And my boys are tall and muscular, I'm not putting them on my lap. ARGH-it would be asking for worse knees.

I agree, even sitting, some drivers seem to have a quick, heavy brake foot. I can't say for sure, but maybe they are on a time schedule and feel the need to get to one place quickly.

 

[dreamergirl78]

I don't think there is anything wrong to share a seat with your kid. If they are still able to sit on your lap, they should. A few minutes of embarassment is better than making a person stand unnecessarily. My son is 8 and I still make him sit on my lap if we are in a crowded situation. I think it also teaches your children to try to do the right thing whenever possible. I remember when we were stationed in Hawaii. I had to take a bus from Honolulu to the northern part of the island. I had a 7 month old, diaper bag, stroller, purse, etc and nobody would give up their seat for me. It was about 30 minutes into the trip before a seat finally opened up. From that day on it gave me a new perspective. Of course I would prefer to sit but I would certainly give my seat up or share with my son if someone else needed it more than me.

 

[eeyore45]

Just like to remind people of hidden disabilities also - I get very upset when my dh is always standing, he always gives up his seat... there just are plain times like a previous poster said, that you wait for another bus with a seat, than to bus "surf" (which I've been known to do if my ankles havent swollen causes intense pain to shoot up my legs!)

Has anyone else noticed on a bus that they dont say "no" to people getting on willing to stand? I was shocked, how many people proclaimed behind me, the bus is full, its FULL NOW... and more people crammed in... I overheard the bus driver say he couldnt tell anyone they couldnt get on, if they were willing to stand, he had to let them on!!

 

[Tissa]

I can't answer for anyone else, but as for my manners when my children and I don't give up any seats......means I probably decided not to ride the previous bus that was there, for the purpose of getting seats. I'd much rather wait for the next bus and probably be safer for my family and the others on the bus. There are reasons why my children can't stand safely on a bus. And my boys are tall and muscular, I'm not putting them on my lap. ARGH-it would be asking for worse knees.

I agree, even sitting, some drivers seem to have a quick, heavy brake foot. I can't say for sure, but maybe they are on a time schedule and feel the need to get to one place quickly.

You brought up something I never thought of, we decide to wait so we don't have to stand on a bus, and then when the bus we are sitting in fills up we would be considered rude not to give up the seat we waited two busses for I guess that shoots down my "if you don't want to stand then wait for another bus" argument.

 

[CheezDoodle]

I'll be different here and say I hate when people are completly SILENT on buses, then give you dirty looks when you start talking ! Doesn't happen very often but when it does it's very anoying. As for standing room only, I give my seat up for people who need it more than me.

 

[jbdreamer]

Oh boy! Another bus thread!

Like I have said on other threads there should be two lines for each bus. One for seats, and one for standing room only. Then no one can complain.

 

[MyZoeJane]

No, I don't know what your reasoning is and I don't really care, not being snarky here I just mean it doesn't matter what your silent, unbeknownst to me reasoning is... b/c if you had your two small children sitting beside you and I was standing with my small child on a hot, crowed bus after a day at the parks I would think yes, you were being a little selfish.
Maybe you are not because of whatever reasoning you have previously stated but since I don't know what they are and you don't where a sign telling people what they are when you're on the bus then again yes I, and I'm thinking a lot of people would think it is a little discourteous of you not to move your children so another small child may sit. I just call it spreading a little pixie dust, making room for as many tired, cranky families as the rest of us.

Amen, sister.

I'm not exactly buying the whole sense of entitlement that a person could feel "just because they passed up the last bus." Unless you've got a disability, I can't for the life of me see why a person wouldn't extend themself to help out a fellow human being? I know I CERTAINLY wouldn't want to be the perfectly healthy RUDE person sitting there with my two kids taking up seats when there might be a disabled person, elderly person, or a mother with a small child who could benefit from my child's seat (or my own seat, if I wanted to leave my child in a seat, and just stand myself as opposed to putting her in m lap). My child could sit on my lap. I've got a 10 year old step daughter and I KNOW she'd sit on my lap without complaining if I asked her to, especially since she's been raised to be thoughtful and courteous. For me, being kind to another person is far more important than saving embarrassment or feeling entitled for whatever reason, JMHO.

 

[Skroops]

Okay, I disagree.

We will never board a bus knowing we will not have a seat. If we see it is standing room only, we will politely stand aside and let anyone board who is willing to stand on the bus while we wait for the next bus. The lines are wide enough so that we are not in the way to let anyone pass us (they always happily do!) and it does not hold up the line. The next bus is usually right behind by minutes.We do not board a crowded bus and expect anyone to give up their seat. Everyone is tired and deserves a seat. It is not just women and little kids in those seats on the bus, it is many tired men as well. Take a look around next time. If you do not mind standing, by all means board the bus. Otherwise, do as many tired families do (yes, even with babies) and wait for the next one. This IMO, is not about common courtesy as it is common sense and personal responsibility. Everyone is on vacation and the destination is our resort beds.