The bus...

[skinnietink]

My DH always gives his seat up to someone who needs it more. Now that my boys are 9 and 7, we encourage the 9 year old to give up his seat as well. (we tried it once with the 7 year old, but he fell asleep standing up) There were plenty of people who gave up their seats when my boys were 4 and 2 and I plan on returning the favor while teaching my children some manners.

 

[KellyNY]

I think I understand your point when you're trying to defend with respect to AustinTink's overall comment. Unfortunately, AustinTink made a huge mistake IMO with a very overt and rude attack to what she perceived was an attack from SmallTownGirl (subtle, but yes I can see how AustinTink was offended). It still didn't give her any right to be so blatantly rude IMO in the response. Two wrongs don't make a right. She could have responded with a bit more kindness or logic to explain rather going out shooting with both guns blazing. They both made an attack (one subtle and one obvious) that the other person felt they needed to defend. I will apologize for neither attack, but will comment that both made some good comments too even if I don't agree completely with them.

Not one person who attacked SmallTownGirl has seemed to acknowledge that she not only expressed her gratitude for the kindness she experienced at WDW, but also that she never expected a seat. Isn't that what so many on this thread are trying to achieve? Don't expect a seat. She didn't, but yet she has been portrayed terribly by several on this thread. Did she go a bit too far and and say that "some" people who don't give seats live by their own concsience? (i.e. a judgement). Yes, she probably shouldn't have judged as that tainted her entire post, but I will point out that she didn't say "no conscience" as was interpreted by AustinTink, but a "different conscience". There is a difference IMO.



I don't know your profession, but it does seem like you see more kids affected by poor circumstances than the average person. You don't seem to apologize for your judgments you make about others and that's fine. I understand you are advocating personal responsibility, which is very admirable, but I think it's a winless battle when you're talking bus etiquette at WDW. Just not something worth getting so worked up for me.

I don't think anyone was purposely trying to put words in your mouth, but your post was inadvertently quoted instead of the AustinTink's. Sorry you had to get thrown into this when I think you only intended to defend the comment about personal reponsibility, not the comments about "having kids too close together" or "breeding". Unfortunately, when you praise an entire quote, it is easy to interpret that you are praising both the good and bad about it. That's why I usually try to stay away from truly inflammatory comments, but sometimes get sucked into the fray as can be seen with this thread. I do regret some of what I have posted today as it was more out of frustration rather than trying to use logic.

I do agree that I go with instinct and not judgment. We were at the DMV this afternoon and gave our very low number to a family who looked like they needed it more than us. The daughter (about 4 or 5) had a broken arm, black eye and fractured face as she had recently fallen from a second story window. The son (under 2 years) was just full of energy. Who knows if it was right to do that or not, but they seemed like they were more frazzled than we were. Sometimes I think we're too nice to strangers, but I doubt if we'll change.

First, I believe it was very nice of you to switch tickets with that family.
About AustinTink and SmallTownGirl, glad you see both of them attacking and the way I understand AustinTink posted on instinct, without choosing words which got her in trouble as many simply lost the point after breeding. I do remember people saying You are welcome to SmallTownGirl but many including me were cought in situation she described and all her thank you got lost and overweighted.
I am RN btw, witnessing lots of cases I wish I did not. Many cases when parents just did not think or did not pay attention. Fortunately, all it takes to become a better parent is a wake up call and unfortunately this call maybe late sometimes.

 

[Adlergray]

I'm starting to think that people on these boards have really bad luck. While I am not a bus expert (as we have usually stayed on the monorail and bused maybe 2 days) However we just got back from disney staying at the yacht club,using the buses quite a bit, and never saw any of this. People were curtious. At the end of the night I was always offered a seat if there were none as I would have a sleeping infant in my arms and Dh always stood with the stroller even if there was no one on the bus. I never once saw anyone demand or even seem to expect a seat on the bus and people always seemed ready to get up or consolidate there group. Even after waiting 45 min for the 1st bus to come after wishes when all the other resort q's had cleared out but that would be a different thread) Now we will probably not stay on the bus line again as pulling a sleeping infant out of there stroller for a 30 min bus ride was far from our Idea of fun but it would not be because of the other passengers on the bus.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

I'm starting to think that people on these boards have really bad luck. While I am not a bus expert (as we have usually stayed on the monorail and bused maybe 2 days) However we just got back from disney staying at the yacht club,using the buses quite a bit, and never saw any of this. People were curtious. At the end of the night I was always offered a seat if there were none as I would have a sleeping infant in my arms and Dh always stood with the stroller even if there was no one on the bus. I never once saw anyone demand or even seem to expect a seat on the bus and people always seemed ready to get up or consolidate there group. Even after waiting 45 min for the 1st bus to come after wishes when all the other resort q's had cleared out but that would be a different thread) Now we will probably not stay on the bus line again as pulling a sleeping infant out of there stroller for a 30 min bus ride was far from our Idea of fun but it would not be because of the other passengers on the bus.

Glad you had a great experience. I think many, if not most also have good or even great experiences.

We have unfortunately witnessed some odd behavior on the buses in the past. The worst was at DTD and the complete lack of queue to return to the All-Star resorts. It was complete chaos. After the bus driver loaded an ECV, he asked that everyone wait for him to close the back doors. Instead, hordes of people shoved into the back doors to get on the bus (it had been well over a 20 minute wait for this bus and who knew when the next one was coming!). We were standing near the front of the bus and did get on (of course there were no seats by then but that's okay - at least we were on the bus and didn't have to wait like many others who had been standing there with us.).

I have also witnessed a Mom with a sleeping child at Typhoon Lagoon waiting to board a bus back to the resort around 2:00 pm. When the bus arrived from DTD (again after an agonizing long wait), the bus had no seating room. It wasn't overly crowded, it was just that all the seats were taken from those who had boarded at DTD. No one offered to let the Mom who boarded at Typhoon Lagoon sit with her sleeping child in her arms. I was just surprised that out of the dozen or so people sitting, no one noticed her or that if they did, they felt they deserved the seats because they happened to get on the bus at DTD and not Typhoon Lagoon. Granted, all of them could have waited for the next bus or had a hidden ailment, but I somehow doubt that. This is not to judge any specific person, but just an observation.

But I really think those are rare instances. Most of the time, I have found the buses to be fine and those on the buses, polite. However, we find the buses to be a very slow means of transportation. That's why we no longer use the buses. We simply don't find them relaxing for our family.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

IMO Disney needs MORE buses at $90 bucks a day per person basically and NO ONE should be standing...EVER...not safe

Having ridden standing on a city bus plenty of times, iI don't know why it's not considered safe.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

First, I believe it was very nice of you to switch tickets with that family.
About AustinTink and SmallTownGirl, glad you see both of them attacking and the way I understand AustinTink posted on instinct, without choosing words which got her in trouble as many simply lost the point after breeding. I do remember people saying You are welcome to SmallTownGirl but many including me were cought in situation she described and all her thank you got lost and overweighted.
I am RN btw, witnessing lots of cases I wish I did not. Many cases when parents just did not think or did not pay attention. Fortunately, all it takes to become a better parent is a wake up call and unfortunately this call maybe late sometimes.

What an admirable profession. My sister is an RN too.

I agree that many only focused on one aspect of a post and not the big picture. I think that's why someone posted earlier about it being easier to catch flies with honey versus vinegar. You seem to agree with me that there is no need for stares or rudeness which tends to blur the points people try to make.

 

[KellyNY]

What an admirable profession. My sister is an RN too.

I agree that many only focused on one aspect of a post and not the big picture. I think that's why someone posted earlier about it being easier to catch flies with honey versus vinegar. You seem to agree with me that there is no need for stares or rudeness which tends to blur the points people try to make.

Unfortunately focusing on only part of the post is what we all do the best but dis would be so boring without all the drama .

I agree there is no need for rudeness, stares, comments and so on and since you drive I will give away a little secret, in 10 years of using buses in disney, I only saw few instances of such behaivor. Usually some people wait for another bus and some get in anyway and are offered a seat and sometimes not as bus is full of moms with kids already or everyone is deadly tired or someone would probably help if he/she were close to this person but they are not. Very different scenarios but everyone bites their own bullet and there is no drama... till some of them, not all, come here and report all the rudeness, expectations, ideas and so on. So, the real world of buses is actually much nicer and better then imaginary model we all contributed to create.

 

[Don Disney]

I am certainly glad I bailed on this thread when I did!

 

[crashbb]

I am certainly glad I bailed on this thread when I did!

Agreed

 

[kelma]

I haven't read this whole thread because it's depressing to know how angry and selfish (on both sides of the argument) people can be

My personal take on giving up seats on buses is that I'll always offer my seat to someone who seems like they need it more than I. Do I feel like it's my responsibility to do so? Nope, I don't. I do it for the same reason that I'll run ahead to open the door for someone who has their hands full or is pushing a stroller or a wheelchair. It's such a little thing and it makes ME feel happy to do it. It's just simple human kindness and it's seems that there is far too little of it in this world.

I am not suggesting that everyone should offer their seats. Only you know how badly you need that seat and only you can judge yourself. I have been on buses holding a small child and not been offered a seat and honestly felt NO frustration, judgment or anger. I have also been on buses holding a small child and been offered a seat and it has made me feel sincerely grateful at another's kindness. It gave me the same kind of warm feeling that I get when I give up my seat so that someone else who needs it more can sit. IMO, it's that circle of small kindnesses that makes the world a happier place to live.

Kelma - mom to 2 princes and 2 princesses

 

[Brian_WDW74]

Aside from the fact that this thread is really off topic for the Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies board, the sad truth is that it has long passed the point of providing any useful theme park planning information. So I'm closing it here.