vent about WDW bus passengers

[musclemouse]

There are four of us and we always have the 2 kids sit and we adults stand to let the other children, pregnant moms or those with infants take the seat. That's how it should be done.

Handicap and one relative should board first, fine. But the other remaining people in that group should board with the rest of us. It's just how I feel. We gave up 2 buses in a row to handicap and family. That left us hanging for over an hour standing at the stop to get out to the park. We weren't the only ones who were a bit ticked off.

...I was just reading some of these posts and am blown away. I thought this was a "vent" thread. So, I vented and I don't expect anyone to comment on my vent. Thank you and have a nice day.

 

[Hannathy]

There are four of us and we always have the 2 kids sit and we adults stand to let the other children, pregnant moms or those with infants take the seat. That's how it should be done.

Handicap and one relative should board first, fine. But the other remaining people in that group should board with the rest of us. It's just how I feel. We gave up 2 buses in a row to handicap and family. That left us hanging for over an hour standing at the stop to get out to the park. We weren't the only ones who were a bit ticked off.

...I was just reading some of these posts and am blown away. I thought this was a "vent" thread. So, I vented and I don't expect anyone to comment on my vent. Thank you and have a nice day.

I don't agree 100%. I don't automatically stand up for folks who get on a bus they shouldn't have in the first place.... BUT

I do 100% agree about the ECV/wheelchair boarding. I do not understand why it is a automatic first boarding pass I thought the goal was EQUAL access/EQUAL opportunity. If so they should wait just like the rest of us.

 

[Doc CW]

I was always taught that if there isnt an available seat and there is more people than seats that I would be one of those people standing and somebody else will have my seat. I always give my seat up no matter if its a child, adult, senior citizen, whatever I give up my seat because it is polite. To me not giving up your seat is selfish and pathetic to expect a child, stand while an adult sits. This type of behavior has gotten me into some aggressive situations on buses when people dont give up a seat for a child. On our last trip a pregnant woman (looked to be about 8-9 months along) had to stand the entire bus ride because nobody gave up their seats and there were guys my age (19) sitting in seats and making this woman stand. This behavior is a result of bad parenting and a selfish me society that we live in today. Manners should not be limited to the few, but used by the general society.

 

[Ava]

When we know we are going to be riding a bus with DD (9 months old) we bring our Ergo baby carrier. That way no one has to stand trying to hold on & hold her, and everyone is safe. Problem solved. Once she's too big for the Ergo, she'll be big enough to stand holding on with one of us holding her steady.

 

[WantToGoNow]

I have 2 small children and have ridden the busses both with them seated and standing - I've even ridden standing and holding a child at the same time. My opinion is, you know that bus is standing room only before you get on - you can see through the windows - if you want you/your children to sit, wait for the next bus. Being a child is not a disability and does not give you special priviledges. You don't know the reason why that healthy looking man/woman is sitting and not offering their seats - there might not be a reason but there very well could be. By the end of the day everyone is tired - if that person got to the line first and they get a seat, then they deserve to sit.

 

[mybabesuz]

Well, almost every time we rode the bus in Dec., if we were standing someone offered my 4 yo. a seat.
He refused everytime... If people were standing he wanted to stand too...
My DH or I always braced him safely will standing.
And when we left the park at night with sleepy children (we also have a 3yo. DD),
if it looked like we would have to stand we stepped aside and waited to be first in line for the next bus.
At closing it was never more than 10 minutes before the next bus came.
It can seem longer but I'm sure no one ever waited 40 minutes for the next bus to come...
We would never expect anyone to give up their seat for us.

 

[maxiesmom]

I don't agree 100%. I don't automatically stand up for folks who get on a bus they shouldn't have in the first place.... BUT

I do 100% agree about the ECV/wheelchair boarding. I do not understand why it is a automatic first boarding pass I thought the goal was EQUAL access/EQUAL opportunity. If so they should wait just like the rest of us.

It is both easier and safer for the ECVs to load first.

As far as equal access and opportunity go, you should be glad Disney doesn't follow the standard to the letter of the law. That would mean that if the ECV spots on the bus were full, and another ECV rolled up, no one else at all could board the bus. If the ECV can't get on, then according to the law, no one else can either.

I also think that most, if not all, ECV users would trade you their first on the bus benefit to be able to do the parks without using an ECV.

 

[Rylee]

At closing it was never more than 10 minutes before the next bus came.
It can seem longer but I'm sure no one ever waited 40 minutes for the next bus to come...

Well...

One night at the Magic Kingdom, my husband decided to take our youngest son back to the resort at closing, while the older kids and I stayed and shopped on Main Street. While the older girls shopped, I sat and played checkers at a table on Main Street with our 9 y/o.

About an hour later, as we walked to the buses, I called DH to ask if the little guy went right to sleep. "NO," he said, "we are still waiting for a bus!"

They had CM's doing MOB control, and were saying there was an accident and the roads were blocked off... buses were being re-routed. They kept telling everyone the buses were on their way.


We watched as they finally made it onto the first bus to arrive, the other kids and I were only about 20 minutes behind them on the 3rd bus.

Not knowing where the accident was, we didn't know if there was any point in going to the ticket and transportation center or grabbing a cab.

 

[klacey1]

When DBF and I went to Disney in August, we automatically jumped up if we saw a child or someone older standing. DBF also would get up if there was a woman standing. It's just the way he is to be polite. However, I do believe we were extending a courtesy, not doing something that was required or ought to be expected.
One case in which I had a problem-- DBF and I were sitting in the back of the bus and we noticed a dad and boy (10-12 ish) standing. The dad was scanning the bus looking for seats and DBF asked if he should get up and let the kid sit down. I said no because there was a bunch of adults standing between us and them and it would be a hassle to ask them to move, especially since the bus was now moving.
Both the father/son and DBF and I got off at the Contemporary. When we walked behind them, I noticed the father had a prothestic leg. I absolutely cannot imagine how tired he must have been walking all day. I thought it was awful that no one closer to him had offered him a seat-- including the many able-bodied looking women and men around him. If we had noticed that while we were on the bus, you bet we would have given him our seats. IMHO, he should have been, without a doubt, offered a seat and I could not BELIEVE no one offered him one...

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Well, almost every time we rode the bus in Dec., if we were standing someone offered my 4 yo. a seat.
He refused everytime... If people were standing he wanted to stand too...
My DH or I always braced him safely will standing.
And when we left the park at night with sleepy children (we also have a 3yo. DD),
if it looked like we would have to stand we stepped aside and waited to be first in line for the next bus.
At closing it was never more than 10 minutes before the next bus came.
It can seem longer but I'm sure no one ever waited 40 minutes for the next bus to come...We would never expect anyone to give up their seat for us.

I hate to tell you but we have waited that long more than once. In fact more than once we have had a transportation person come over to us because they saw that the buses were not coming at all! One even gave us special passes to use on a ride in the parks because we had waited so long. That has happened more than once. So you can actually leave a park when everyone is awake and happy and after an hour or more nobody (including Mom and Dad) are happy. Let's also not forget the darling people who will push past you to get on that bus. Yes- that has happened to us.

We have also waited over a half hour to leave many parks at random times of day. The whole ECV thing is also frustrating. I do notbegrudge anyone using whatever to get around as I don't know their lot in life but when I am waiting for x amount of time and they roll up with their party of 20 and they ALL preboard it annoys me. Preboard the ECV etc. and let the rest of the party who can stand get in line with the rest of us. It is even more annoying when we have already waited for more than one bus and have to wait yet again to get a seat.

 

[Hannathy]

It is both easier and safer for the ECVs to load first.

As far as equal access and opportunity go, you should be glad Disney doesn't follow the standard to the letter of the law. That would mean that if the ECV spots on the bus were full, and another ECV rolled up, no one else at all could board the bus. If the ECV can't get on, then according to the law, no one else can either.

I also think that most, if not all, ECV users would trade you their first on the bus benefit to be able to do the parks without using an ECV.

I am well aware of the law I'm saying I don't agree with it big difference. Yes it is easier for them to load first WHEN and that is the big difference WHEN it is their turn. The don't need absolute front of the line passes all the time. Sorry most can and should wait just like all the rest of us do. Why does being on an ECV make you unable to wait your turn like everyone else?
I also don't agree with letting 15 people on with them. If they want front of the line access then it should be them and 1 person or wait your turn. THey could wait at the side until the group they are with would be boarding and then they would be first on the bus. Fair to all.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I am well aware of the law I'm saying I don't agree with it big difference. Yes it is easier for them to load first WHEN and that is the big difference WHEN it is their turn. The don't need absolute front of the line passes all the time. Sorry most can and should wait just like all the rest of us do. Why does being on an ECV make you unable to wait your turn like everyone else?
I also don't agree with letting 15 people on with them. If they want front of the line access then it should be them and 1 person or wait your turn. THey could wait at the side until the group they are with would be boarding and then they would be first on the bus. Fair to all.

The problem is that even if they have been waiting as long as you, if the bus lift isn't working, the bus driver is incompetent, or there are 2 more ahead of them or on the bus, they are stuck waiting. I've waited for 3 buses before when we were first in line. Entirely. I've never seen more than the 6 allowed load at the same time, but I hear people throw out those high numbers all of the time.

So, in a nutshell, if you could guarantee my mom get on the bus in the position that she deserves, I'd be all for your plan. In reality it doesn't work that way. We usually lost time. We even had the lovely people standing in line give us crap, when we had waited through 3 buses, and they'd only arrived.

 

[Hannathy]

The problem is that even if they have been waiting as long as you, if the bus lift isn't working, the bus driver is incompetent, or there are 2 more ahead of them or on the bus, they are stuck waiting. I've waited for 3 buses before when we were first in line. Entirely. I've never seen more than the 6 allowed load at the same time, but I hear people throw out those high numbers all of the time.

So, in a nutshell, if you could guarantee my mom get on the bus in the position that she deserves, I'd be all for your plan. In reality it doesn't work that way. We usually lost time. We even had the lovely people standing in line give us crap, when we had waited through 3 buses, and they'd only arrived.

Did that happen everytime or once? No one guarantees we get on the bus in the position we deserve-like if a ECV arrives and gets to go on with their party when we would have been the next on.

I still say they should wait their turn just like everyone else. All the lines in the park are ECV accessible so they have to wait in line there why not at the buses.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Did that happen everytime or once? No one guarantees we get on the bus in the position we deserve-like if a ECV arrives and gets to go on with their party when we would have been the next on.

I still say they should wait their turn just like everyone else. All the lines in the park are ECV accessible so they have to wait in line there why not at the buses.

Last trip, we were on the busses 10 times. 4 times we had to wait for additional bus/es due to lift problems. 2 times we waited because the two places were already taken. This is when we had arrived far before the others in line. We have a knack for just missing the last bus.

So, my point is that you load the scooters best you can and every time you can.

As for guarantees, if you are first in line you are pretty much guaranteed a place on the bus. That wasn't what we experienced. So, I figure that in the end it all evens out in the big picture.

Just sharing the other side.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

My daughters are 8 and 9 and my mother and i always will sit with our children on our laps on the WDW buses.

I have to add that if you do not like the fact that your child HAS to stand, then maybe you should wait to take the next bus. No one HAS to give up their seat to your child. Yes it would be a nice courtesy, however it isn't necessary when you could just wait for the next bus. Never in all my years going to WDW have I or would I stand or make my chidren stand. That is a safety hazard. Just because I am in WDW doesn't mean that it is free from accidents.

 

[maxiesmom]

I still say they should wait their turn just like everyone else. All the lines in the park are ECV accessible so they have to wait in line there why not at the buses.

Because there are not as many spaces for ECVs on the busses as there are for "everyone else". Only two or three spaces compared to the 50 seats and all the standing room for the rest of the guests. Not a fair comparison at all.

 

[Hannathy]

Because there are not as many spaces for ECVs on the busses as there are for "everyone else". Only two or three spaces compared to the 50 seats and all the standing room for the rest of the guests. Not a fair comparison at all.

What does this have to do with going to the front of the line automatically? And mathematically there aren't as many folks on ECVs so I think it would work out about the same percentage ways / statistically/ratio..

 

[maxiesmom]

What does this have to do with going to the front of the line automatically? And mathematically there aren't as many folks on ECVs so I think it would work out about the same percentage ways / statistically/ratio..

Your comment was that people in ECVs should "wait their turn just like everyone else". However, there are not as many spaces for ECVs on a bus, so the wait would most likely be longer for someone in an ECV than it would be for an able-bodied person. Odds are great that that space would already be occupied.

If they did wait in line with everyone, would you be ok with having to wait for another bus if one pulled up that couldn't accomodate the ECV? If they were next in line and couldn't get on, it would only be fair that no one else be able to board the bus either.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Your comment was that people in ECVs should "wait their turn just like everyone else". However, there are not as many spaces for ECVs on a bus, so the wait would most likely be longer for someone in an ECV than it would be for an able-bodied person. Odds are great that that space would already be occupied.

If they did wait in line with everyone, would you be ok with having to wait for another bus if one pulled up that couldn't accomodate the ECV? If they were next in line and couldn't get on, it would only be fair that no one else be able to board the bus either.

LOL, I've tried the same line of thought. It never works!

 

[NHdisneylover]

I don't agree 100%. I don't automatically stand up for folks who get on a bus they shouldn't have in the first place.... BUT

I do 100% agree about the ECV/wheelchair boarding. I do not understand why it is a automatic first boarding pass I thought the goal was EQUAL access/EQUAL opportunity. If so they should wait just like the rest of us.

Becuase otherwise when it is their turn by your thinking there may often be several EVCs (or a bus whose ramp is not working) and they cannot all board at once so then the ECV riders end up waiting much longer. Having them move to the front when no other EVC are there moves as many EVC as possible as quickly as possible. I believe an EVC user is as likely to have to wait loner than their turn would be if they were standing and waiting in line as they are to get on faster just depending on how many EVCs are there at about the same general time and if the ramps are working.
To make your scenario fair to all, the EVC users would have to wait in the regular line. When they get to teh front, if they cannot board because either the ramp/lift is broken OR their area already 2 EVCs on the bus then no one else behind them in line would get to board either. Only then would everyone truly board in the correct order ,but as you can see this would mean we would ALL have tremndously longer waits. Instead, the best possible system is to have each bus take its capacity of EVCs if any EVC is there and then its capacity of otehr passengers. Sometimes the eVC gets to "cut" nd sometimes the EVC has to wait much longer than it should.
I agree it is annoying to have to wait for EVC loading so often--but this is not the fault of the EVC user nor the system. The only thing that would help and be fair is to have the newer style load ramps on busses (and all the newer busses have them so Disney is changing over as fast as it can) and never having broken ramps (these things see a lot of use and a lot of weight--I believe Disney tries very hard to keep them working but it is just not always possible--lucky for us who do not need EVC they do not pull every bus with a damaged ramp out of circulation to make things "fair" as then our wait would be much longer).

Well...

One night at the Magic Kingdom, . . .

I waited an hour and a half once too. Such occurences are rare exceptions and not the norm. When there is a wreck no one can do much about the times. We also once stood (holding sleeping kids, well they eventually woke up and eventually sat on the floor) on a bus going home for nearly 2 hours after a very bad wreck many years ago. Our bus was only a few cars behind the wreck. Eventually the raod was closed down and everyone turned around and sent voa alternate routs. You have two choice in such a situation: be aggravated or make the best of it. Luckily we were on a bus full of make the best of it folks and we all sang Christmas carols (it was early December) to while away the time.