vent about WDW bus passengers

[playswithstars]

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...

I'm tired of this I can't believe people didn't offer such and such a seat. If you need a seat and you see it's standing room only then you wait for the next bus. Don't expect other people to take the responsibility for you.

You don't know how long those people who are sitting waited to be able to sit, You don't know if they waited for multiple busses to be able to sit, or if they have something wrong that you can't see.

We once waited over an hour and half for a bus to DTD and it only finally came because we asked an employee where the bus was. Turns out something happened and they didn't realize that the bus for DTD hadn't been dispatched or whatever. I waited in that line at the front far too long to not get to sit down.

I think anyone standing on a bus should be happy and grateful that they even have that problem because not everyone can afford to go to Disney World or stay onsite.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I give up my seat all the time to the kids just to have a dad sit in my spot and hold his kid. There have been many a time ive had to hold on to my little one while standing and we survived just fine. Maybe the ones sitting have bad backs or knees and cant stand. The ones that tick me off are the big families that get on first just because they are with someone on a scooter. I have to wait in line and dont understand why they get to jump on before everyone that waited in line for a half hour already. They need to let one person go with them and the rest wait in line like everyone else. Also you never see those people get up or just stand when they get on. They all sit and dont move. You see someone get on with their scooter and jump right up and take a seat. Who needs a fast pass for the day when you can just rent a scooter and get on all the rides and buses first.

You aren't supposed to stay on the scooter on the bus. It isn't safe. As far as your fastpass comment, you obviously know nothing about the subject.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

You aren't supposed to stay on the scooter on the bus. It isn't safe.

I don't know about Disney buses, but in my county the public transportation system has their buses set up so that scooters can be strapped to the floor of the bus. Unfortunately, it removes 5 seats from the bus when used.

I don't think I've ever been on a Disney bus with someone who had a scooter. Since they can't get folded up, how does that work? Wouldn't it be in the way? Speaking of which, doesn't get me started on strollers

 

[frtchr]

And it gets uglier...

 

[playswithstars]

I don't know about Disney buses, but in my county the public transportation system has their buses set up so that scooters can be strapped to the floor of the bus. Unfortunately, it removes 5 seats from the bus when used.

I don't think I've ever been on a Disney bus with someone who had a scooter. Since they can't get folded up, how does that work? Wouldn't it be in the way. Speaking of which, doesn't get me started on strollers

There are a section of seats that are able to be folded up. The bus driver can then strap the scooter down.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

What is there to know??????????? Send one person on the rest wait like everyone else. I take it your one of those that hop on with the scooter.

Yep! Which is why I know the prcedures for transferring people in the lines etc. You make silly assumptions, and really we all know what they say about that.

 

[luvmy3]

You aren't supposed to stay on the scooter on the bus. It isn't safe. As far as your fastpass comment, you obviously know nothing about the subject.

Isn't the scooter strapped down? Its no less safer than standing on a bus. Also, if the scooter isn't strapped down, that would be extremely dangerous to all on the bus.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Isn't the scooter strapped down? Its no less safer than standing on a bus. Also, if the scooter isn't strapped down, that would be extremely dangerous to all on the bus.

I have no clue. That is what she was told by the driver. She is a cancer survivor, and doesn't use one when she doesn't need it due to endurance issues. So we only know Disney policy.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

BUT........... At least Im not the one people are disgusted with when you jump infront of everyone.

Lol, if you are disgusted by an old lady an her daughter getting on the bus before you, then have at it. I will continue to not worry when it is me and my fam waiting for someone else. Iam sure that my trip will be far more enjoyable than yours. Have a pleasant time.

 

[luvmy3]

I have no clue. That is what she was told by the driver. She is a cancer survivor, and doesn't use one when she doesn't need it due to endurance issues. So we only know Disney policy.

I swore when we were on one of the buses someone was sitting on their scooter. I must be remembering wrong. Anyway, I think its funny that they allow people to jam the bus full and stand but not let someone sit on a scooter secured inside the bus. It just seems like one is no less or more safe that the other option.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I swore when we were on one of the buses someone was sitting on their scooter. I must be remembering wrong. Anyway, I think its funny that they allow people to jam the bus full and stand but not let someone sit on a scooter secured inside the bus. It just seems like one is no less or more safe that the other option.

I agree. It seems a waste of space. I always thought that it was a law, but I may have interpreted that incorrectly. As I said we only deal with it when mom can join us, or when I take her down after a chemotherapy series.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I agree. It seems a waste of space. I always thought that it was a law, but I may have interpreted that incorrectly. As I said we only deal with it when mom can join us, or when I take her down after a chemotherapy series.

We also have never been seated as a group when the whole crew was there. That is why the stories of 10 people loading always amaze me. There are 9 of us, and we've been separated each time.

 

[arielchickenofthesea]

I am one of those mean adults that do not give up my seat to children. Why? I am disabled and so is my husband. After a major head trauma, over 75 surgeries, and 2 and a half years in the hospital, my hubby HAS to sit on the bus. And I mean HAS to.

And for me, the last three trips to WDW I was on a scooter due to spine problems. I have since had spine surgery to try to fix the problem, but as I am older sometimes the problems are just due to aging and are not going to get any better relief than the surgery gave me (which was little). The docs want me to walk and get exercise and I do, but I am not going to stand in one place, holding myself up on a pole after hours in a park when my back and knees are screaming and I need to sit or take more morphine just to let a child have my seat. The drugs are not that great for your system and I will take them when the time is directed to take them, no extra just so my pain can be dulled so a child can sit...I have other issues as well. I have arthritic knees and hands as well and I have problems with standing too long.

We always take many rest breaks in the Parks where we just sit and people watch or bring a good book and read for awhile until both of us can walk some more. We try not to overdo it, and arrive to catch a bus early, so we can sit on the way back to our resort.

So there may be many underlying reasons why I do not get up to let children sit down. Just don't judge everyone. You could be wrong about the reasons why they remain seated. Just a thought. Judge not, lest ye be judged.

I forgot to add that we don't "look" disabled, whatever that looks like. So many disabilties, so many different appearances. We look like everyone else that have no disabilites, except my inside skeleton is screaming and hurting beyond your wildest imagination. Only morphine helps some and I can only take it at prescribed times and not when I get on a bus, just so I can stand up to let others sit.
We don't use the scooters or wheel chairs because the docs want us to walk,( but I have used them in the past 3 trips to WDW and will use it again if I have to.) but you could not tell that we have disabilities just to look at us. If you saw us walking up to the bus after a long day,. you might see limps or favoring one side or the other, but no real visible disabled devices. So you never know who is disabled and trying to walk as their docs have told them to...

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Q: I can transfer to a standard seat, but I feel that that takes up even more seats from other passengers. May I remain on my ECV during the bus trip?
A: Yes, you may, however no one ever need feel ashamed about taking up "too much room". Drivers should be happy to assist you in whatever way possible. If you elect to remain on your ECV while on the bus, please keep in mind that this is NOT a very safe option. If you do ride on the ECV, remember that there are seatbelts available, and there are drivers who will, despite company policy, refuse to drive the bus with a passenger on an ECV who is not wearing a seatbelt. They will not be disciplined by the company for such a refusal, as Federal Laws override company policy. In this case, Federal Law requires the driver to refuse to even move the bus if he/she feels there is a safety hazard on board. Bottom line: ECV's are notoriously top heavy, and any extra protection you can afford yourself while on the bus should be taken full advantage of.
There are signs on many of the buses that tell people using ECVs to take a seat rather than remaining on the ECV.

Stolen from the DisAbility board. Luvmy3, it looks like there is the option to stay on the chair. I never knew that. I don't know if mom would feel better on it, seatbelted or not.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

LOL, back to the op, my kids loved standing on the bus, when we started using Disney transportation. It was a treat. They also have been taught to be grateful for their health and vitality, and feel it naturally, having had a handicapped brother who passed. We give up our seats because we can.

We also love talking with little ones on the buses. I must have given away a couple dozen pins this last trip, to young people on the buses. (With parental permission, of course.) It stopped several late night meltdowns, and I was missing having little ones with us. (It was one of the chemo trips.)

I think that most people do what is kind, and right in the karma sense. Going to disney, even if there are some grumpies, usually encourages m faith in people.

 

[arielchickenofthesea]

I think this quote about sums it up. "Should we expect it? Nope." I have held one of my daughters on my lap. When they were smaller, I sometimes had the youngest sit in my oldest's lap while I held my middle daughter. I could not live with myself if someone was standing while my family took up more room than necessary. My husband, like many other men, will always stand unless everyone has a seat. There have even been times where a seat has actually remained empty while two or three men stand because none of them want to sit while someone else stands! Maybe we can't expect this in today's age but come on people just have some sense, put on a smile, and do the best you can to make room and let people sit.

And I'm sure somewhere in this thread, past where I've read so far, someone points out that one can't always see a disability and maybe the person you're glaring at can't give up their seat due to such disability. Really, there just can't be that many people dealing with hidden disabilities to explain the selfishness seen on the busses.
BTW, we often drive, wait for a different bus, etc. I'm not complaining how we personally have been treated. Although, the one time I have been tempted to scream to everyone on the bus was one time when we had our oldest daughter in WDW when she was 2. We were new to the Disney bus system and mistakenly took the bus to DTD. On the way back we were always the last stop and so waiting for the next bus did not work. We still had to get on a packed bus. There was no way for my husband to hold my daughter due to how packed the bus was so she had to stand between us. I looked around and realized that almost everyone in the seats appeared to be a couple - almost all young people dressed for a night out at Pleasure Island. Not one offered a seat for my daughter. I wanted to scream out to all the girls and say, "Do you really want to date someone who would not give up their seat to a 2 year old?!!!!!"

And, to answer some other points I know will be brought up. Yes, I stand if someone seems to need the seat more than me. Yes, my now teenaged girls stand if someone needs their seat.

I don't even know why I open these threads. It just makes my blood boil. (I really need to have more self-control.)

I have put in BOLD the remarks you made that I wish to address. Do you want me to pull out my disability card and show it to you to prove that I am, in fact, disabled? I don't have to and I won't. I will remain sitting and if someone asks me to give up my seat for a child, I will tell them I am disabled and cannot stand. And that is that. I wish I COULD stand to give up my seat.

You have no idea how much I would love to have my healthy body back. I am reminded of my disability every time I go to WDW because of the pain and the tiredness I feel after even a short time at the Parks. So before you make statements about how not that many people have hidden disabilties, think about it. I would trade my legs and back for yours. Do you have to see me in a wheelchair or on a scooter (as I was for the past three trips to WDW) to feel better about my disability?

I NEED to walk, but cannot walk for that long or even stand that long and have taken cabs when the crowds are too big for the busses. But don't tell me I can't sit on a bus when I choose to take one instead of paying a fare for a cab when the Disney transportation is free. And don't tell me that I have to have an obvious disability, so you feel better about my sitting with a disability and not offering it to a child.

It seems that these are same folks who complain when it takes 15 minutes to get a scooter on the bus and the scooter takes up 4 seats too! I have been that route and gotten dirty looks from the people that were sitting in those 4 seats that my scooter needed to fit into the space. Then they had to stand. I am sure they loved me! (sarcasm...) We just cannot win. Either we take up too much room with our chairs or scooters or need to sit in a seat that you may or may not want for your child. It upsets me, because I did not ask to be disabled. But because I am does not mean I cannot go to Disney World or Disney Land and have fun. And no one on a bus is going to ruin my day because they think I am a slacker. Quit judging me! Or better yet, try being me at WDW or DL for a day.

I am so sorry that I am not 100% healthy like you. If I could be, don't you think I would rather be able to walk all day and not have to sit. I would love to have my health back. I would love to be able to offer my seat to a child or a pregnant lady instead of getting dirty looks because I don't have a disability that you can see.

Don't give me a dirty look until you are 100% sure that I do not have a disability. That is why we always sit in the seats that are designated for the disabled. You see the sign on the busses, some seats closer to the front are designated for the elderly and disabled and the driver will ask teens and healthy looking folks to give up their seats. The bus driver is the only one I HAVE to show my disability card to to prove I can sit in those seats. I don't have to show you and I won't. Be careful about judging those with disabilities you cannot see.

 

[arielchickenofthesea]

I have mixed feelings on this issue. I am all for being kind and offering seats to those who need it, but I can not help but feel irritated when people begin thinking that they are entitled to a seat on a standing room only bus/monorail. Is it rude to enter a obviously crowded bus/monorail and expect people to shuffle around to accomodate you or your family's needs? I am not sure which is more rude - the sense of entitlement or the lack of kindness.

This is the best point I have heard in this argument yet. Why do those just entering a bus or monorail expect those already on board to give up their seat, and why don't the able bodies not give a seat to those who are just coming on and look as though they need it, ie; carrying a child, pregnant woman etc...Interesting conundrum...

 

[maxiesmom]

I swore when we were on one of the buses someone was sitting on their scooter. I must be remembering wrong. Anyway, I think its funny that they allow people to jam the bus full and stand but not let someone sit on a scooter secured inside the bus. It just seems like one is no less or more safe that the other option.

If you are talking a 3 wheeled scooter, well, they are not very stable. They tend to sway, even tied down. And according to Disney, staying on a scooter on the bus is not a very safe option.

Again, people who use public transportation will tell you standing on it is the norm! It is not considered dangerous, because busses are built to absorb shock better than your family car. And have a lot more mass to absorb that shock.

And again, it is not safe to load the scooters after the bus is full of people! You toes could be run over, a parent could loose control of their little one and they could be hit, the metal flap from the bus could hit you. They load the scooters first as a safety measure!

Not to mention, no one is forced to use the Disney bus system. Don't like it? Then rent a car, or just use taxis to get around. No one has to use the bus system if they don't like how it operates. I have yet to see a CM frog march a family on board a Disney bus.

 

[JUJU814]

Awesome about the cancer surviving person Rose. Someone like that is not by any means who Im referring to. Its the overweight ones which is 90% of what I see getting on that bother me. I stand in the hot sun for an hour with 2 grand kids just to have someone like that, stroll right up and hop on with 5 or 10 family members.

I get what you're saying..I do..

but how do you know the "overweight ones" don't have a real disability?
Rather presumptuous, no?

 

[arielchickenofthesea]

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..

Because some pf the seat benches are in the ECV space, the driver must board the ECV and wheelchair first. The Bus Driver has to push the seat up so no one can sit there and park the ECV in the spot. If there are two ECVs then they lose another bench of seats.

If you loaded the passengers first, they would sit in those seats only to have to get up and they would HAVE to move anyway, when the ECV boarded.

They have to board the ECV and chairs first so that those seats are not accessible to sit in and so people won't have to try to push themselves against a wall when the ECV comes in the bus to park in the spot. They are wide and can run over feet really easily on a bus. I know all about them. I used an ECV 3 trips to WDW. It was not very pleasant when I got dirty looks from everyone in line, just because I could NOT walk like them anymore. I would have traded places with them in a second! I would rather not be disabled. But that is not something I can change, I already have tried shots, surgery and it has not fixed my spine. So I am afraid I will have to learn to live with it and the dirty looks I get at WDW.

I have had bus drivers let me stay on the scooter and other drivers tell me I cannot sit on the scooter while the bus is in motion. So I have no idea which is right. I think the law is that you are NOT supposed to be on the scooter. But I have ridden the bus both ways on a scooter...Go figure...

I do not board with 20 family members. It is just me and my disabled husband, who does not like to use an ECV,( he can stand more pain than I can and his disability is different than mine.) Unfortunately, I sometimes have no choice. If I cannot walk, I use the ECV. If I can walk a little, we spend a short time in the Parks. That is how I visit the magic. I have seen some large family reunions get on a bus with one ECV user. That is unfair. But if you made them wait in the line, and they were in the back of the line, then all the members of the party would not get on the same bus together. Though is that really important? I think one family memeber with the ECV user is fine. The rest of the party can catch up when they reach their destination unless it is a ressie for a meal and they have to be there together! I really don't know the answer to that one, because I would never bring that many people with me on a bus with an ECV. I think then we would have to figure out how to get the ECV to the Parks in a truck or something. Or maybe I could drive the ECV to the Park and charge up the battery there! hahaha

Oh, well, I still have fun at the parks even if some others want to begrudge (some people, some times) me my space on the busses! At least the disabled can go to WDW and Disneyland because of ECVs and wheelchairs, even if some people think they are a nuisance. They are a way of life for those who cannot use their legs the way others can.

Oh and by the way, there have been many, many great interactions with others on the bus when they have to load my ECV! I find that if I interact in a positive way, the positive folks will interact with me too. The grumps will just grumble and be grumps and that is sad for them, to be so grumpy at WDW! I would rather ride my ECV and see the magic and talk to nice folks from all over the world, than be cooped up in my house just wishing I could go to WDW!

And yes, there are more nice people there than there are grumps, even when I have been the inconvenient one on the ECV. People are basically good. And I have found that out more since I have been disabled than when I was ablebodied. Disability has taught me about the innate goodness of strangers of which there are more than the grumps!

I LOVE Disney and love the parks and will continue to go even when or if I have to use an ECV or have to sit on a bus in the disabled section because it is my joy in life to get to go to the Disney Parks. Otherwise I would have to sit at home and do nothing and that is just NOT an option!

See ya at WDW in May! I will be the one on the ECV (maybe, only if my legs and back don't agree with me, otherwise I will be walking slowly and not so much or often.) laughing and having a great old time with the folks on the bus and in the Parks! I love the Resort and I am happiest when I am there!

Have a magical Day, everyone!

Arielcots