Standing room only on buses

[disneyjunkie]

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.

 

[taximomfor4]

Geez, I thought I was very careful in how I worded my prior post. The only reason I posted was because I am one of the people who has kids on seats. There are 6 of us, and we take up 4 seats. Yes, we do have invisible disabilities in our group. And yes, we do plop a towel onto the cement and wait for another bus in order to get enough seats. I don't preach that everyone should do that, nor do I feel I have the right to judge others based on what I do. But the point I tried to make was that yes, it is frustrating to get on a bus and not get a seat. I get that. What I don't think is ok is labelling people who put kids onto bus seats as rude or uncaring. It couldn't be farther from the truth about us.

I was just trying to give a different perspective. I really don't get the whole judging thing. Nobody knows anyone else's situation. Really, I doubt I am the only DISer who puts my kids onto seats. The first time we picked our second dd off the bus floor, we decided to do things differently. We figured out a way to try, had no further incidents, and continue to use this way. In the future, as I feel the kids are ready to try another way, we will. As I said before, people are not necessarily rude or uncouth or whatever just because they do things differently.

That said, I have never looked (when I was standing) at a young child, even a toddler, in their own seat, and coveted that seat, or resented the fact that they were in it. Because I do understand that people have their own reasons.

 

[micci41]

Well said MyZoeJane!

 

[micci41]

Taximom, I never used the word rude or uncouth or implied such. With 6 people in your family and only 4 sitting i am assuming that someone is on a lap or standing. I am not judging anyone but stating that I was brought up that is was proper to give a seat to older folks or ones that look like it would be unsafe for them to stand (parents hold small children). But is it better to have an elderly person who may be unsteady on their feet and unable to hold onto the handrail stand than to have have a toddler sit on your lap?

 

[maddhatir]

Oh boy! Another bus thread!

awwwww!- you guys beat me to it!

wait can i have a seat next to you guys.....move over....

let me just add a little of this........

and to top it off........

ahhh i LOVE it here!

 

[taximomfor4]

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?

I am, like I said, just trying to give another viewpoint on putting smaller (not yet standing on moving buses) kids on laps. You didn't specifically call me rude or uncouth, but I am part of the group you are calling rude in this thread.

I am on the DISboards not to argue or debate, but to learn from others' experiences, and hopefully, be able to share knowledge from my own experiences. Kids on laps were part of a mishap we were in on a WDW bus. We don't do it that way anymore, because it seems much safer to have the younger ones in seats on either side of me. Then I can fling one arm in each direction (one across 2 kids' chests, the other across the third kid's chest.)

You are correct that some of us do stand. DH pretty much always stands, and holds the stroller (I am less steady, and might not be able to control it as well). Oh, and oldest dd stands as well.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

wait can i have a seat next to you guys.....move over....

You can have my seat!

 

[maddhatir]

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.

ahhh, my personal fave- bus surfing!

i am actully in "training" right now doing the usual, you know, squats for the glutes and quads. makes the surfing easier you know....

mattsdragon if i see you on the bus- maybe we can have a friendly competition...but be careful-- i will most likely kick your butt!

(now lets all hum along to the "HAWAII FIVE-O" tune!)

 

[michygoomy]

I've read a lot of bus threads before and after my trip, and I just didn't see the rampant rudeness that these threads would imply.

I was on a lot of crowded buses in 10 days, and only once did I have to stand with the baby. And that time, a man (older gentleman) was trying to catch my eye right before the lights went off, but I had one of those "good" spots between two seats where I could lean on the wall and hold the baby without losing balance. I was perfectly fine standing that time.

Seriously, people jumped out of their seats or quickly grabbed their kids to put on laps when I walked onto the bus with my toddler. They also was very frequently kind--played or talked to the baby, sang songs with us, etc.. I can't remember an unpleasant bus experience on the whole trip!

As for kids on laps--sometimes it's just not feasible. Some of the buses are configured with mainly the high hand things that shorter kids can't reach--and sometimes kids' butts outnumber parents' laps!

So just let me add a and a to all the people I shared Disney transportation with 6/6-6/9!

 

[tink1978]

There are times when I think it is appropriate to give up a seat on the bus. These are: an elderly person who is definitely too old to stand up for the long bus ride back, a small child who is having to stand up, or a mother who is holding a baby. I have given my seat to small children before and they sit there by my son and I stand by their parent. It's not a big deal. But, if you choose to not give up your seat, you should be able to make that decision without everyone getting angry.

 

[tjmw2727]

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.

Actually IMHO if you are not willing to stand on a Disney bus and or have your kids stand you should probably consider renting a car. If I choose to wait for the next bus rather than have my kids stand then after we have waited that extra amount of time I may or may not give up my seat for you and your children. If you want seats then you too can wait for the next bus to assure you and your children seats. I spread lots of pixie dust on my vacations but please let me choose when and where I do so.

My sil has a hidden disability - MS, she has a very hard time keeping her dd on her lap and would not be comfortable or safe on a bus doing so. She usually rents a car for this and other reasons but if her tiny 2yo were sitting on the bus next to her, then according to your post, you would assume she was rude. She is about the least rude person I know, she would do anything to have the ability to hold her dd on her lap on the bus or even stand for you but she can't.

Pixie dust happens - it shouldn't be expected. I love Disney transportaion but my dd's know it can be crowded. We decide whether to board the bus or not - if we can stand we stand if not we wait for the next bus or spring for a cab.

TJ

 

[BonnieA]

We don't do it that way anymore, because it seems much safer to have the younger ones in seats on either side of me. Then I can fling one arm in each direction (one across 2 kids' chests, the other across the third kid's chest.)

OK, then why can't you hold one child on your lap with one hand and still fling one arm in the direction of the other two?

 

[tjmw2727]

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.

I bolded the sentence I am responding to because IMHO you hit the nail on the head. My sil is not healthy, but looks perfectly healthy and according to your post and many others she would be considered rude. She is not rude.

She looks great and is young so would not fit into the category of those you would give up your seat for. Due to her MS she would wait for the next bus rather than stand and she would not give up her seat because she can't.

So you can't assume or decide by looking at someone if they are rude or disabled. Many are probably just tired - but for me its just better to assume that they got the seat and it is up to them to sit in it or give it up. Its really not my business why they are sitting.

Honestly, if you don't want to stand wait for the next bus, grab a cab or rent a car, IMHO its just that simple. If you decide to board and are willing to stand great, if someone gives up a seat its a bonus but not a given.

TJ

 

[AllyCatTapia]

"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. "

ok, so you admit it was a long, hhhoootttday- why would nayone want a sweaty little toddler/preschooler sitting on their tired lap after a loooonnggg hot day? No thanks. We were here first!

 

[taximomfor4]

OK, then why can't you hold one child on your lap with one hand and still fling one arm in the direction of the other two?

Because we did it that way. I dug in my heels, had my right arm around youngest dd. The bus's motion threw me forward. So from my thrown-forward position, I flung my left arm out to the left where the other 2 kids sat. I effectively stopped DS (right next to me) from flying off his seat, but only my hand could reach dd6. She knocked my hand forward, and since the weight of dd and the motion of the bus had me forward in my own seat, I couldn't prevent her from falling off her seat. A man nearby was not able to really keep his footing in the erratic movement either, and stepped on dd. She was injured up by her shoulder, among other bumps and buises.

I don't know if having no kid on my lap will make a difference if the same sort of thing happens again. But since I KNOW that with dd on my lap I was thrown enough off balance to NOT be effective with the other 2, we won't do it that way anymore. At least not yet. They will not always sit in seats. Well, special needs dd might.

 

[renessa]

If I'm not willing to stand on a full bus....I'll just wait for the next one.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

We stayed at Pop in May and the buses were full on some occassions. MY husband and I had to stand a few times, but we were standing up, trying to hold onto something while holding a sleeping child , a backpack and a stroller. I looked around and saw several younger people sitting. Couldn't one of them get up and offer a seat? Where is the common courtesy? When my children are awake and we find seats on the bus, we always make them sit on our laps to make room for other people to sit. My husband has also offered his seat while both of my children sit on my lap. I couldn't understand why no one would offer their seat to me. They could clearly see that it was unsafe for me to be standing. I wondered if maybe people think that it is my problem because they are tired and deserve a seat as much as I do and the fact that i have a child is also my problem. But surely people can't be thinking like that. If i was someone like that i would be truly embarassed for not offering my seat.

 

[hogwartsdropout]

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.

Totally agree. Of course I'm not meaning people with disabilities.But at the end of the day, we're all tired, we want to get back to our hotels, a little kindness goes a long way. If you have a disability, fair enough, if not, then it'd be nice to spread a bit of pixie dust amoung other Disney peeps

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

Oh and the reason we rode unsafely on the bus was because when we got on we did not realize that the seats were all taken. By the time we realized this others had gotten on, the doors shut and the bus started to leave. My husband yelled to stop so that we could get off, but the bus driver didn't hear and it was too late, he wouldn't stop after he left the terminal. Yes we did rent a car, but it didn't start when we were leaving so we took the bus to the hotel and my husband took the bus back to the park and waited for AAA to jump him. We only used the buses in the morning and at the end of the night. We used the bus to get to and from the hotel during the day.

 

[newchic99]

We were also at POP in May.We stood twice on the buses. The first time wasn't too bad. I have a hard time standing and keeping my balance on the buses though. DH insisted that he did not want to wait. The second time was absolutely awful. We were in the front of the bus. Driver kept telling everyone to stay behind the line. I finally just told him there was no place else for us to go. You can only move back so far. He didn't say a word after that!
When the buses are that crowded I really have a hard time with having my own personal space. Too much inappropriate touching with strangers going on.