WDW Transporation -- courteous passengers

[Sandi]

I know a lot of people complain about how people do not give up their seats on the busses or monorails, etc. and I, too, have seen that in the past. We just returned from a 4/1 thru 4/10 trip and on every single transportation experience where giving up a seat was appropriate, there were lots of people offering seats to older folks, young children, and parents with little kids. EVERY SINGLE TIME. It was a beautiful thing. This was during a "peak" time at the world.

 

[sassyredhead]

This has been our experience, too! Very heartening to see!

 

[bdcp]

My DH (and both of our DS) always stand up and offer their seats to the elderly, women, and people holding babies and small children. If there is anyone (other than an able bodied man or teenager) they will stand up and give their seat to them. What appalls me is the "why should I give my seat to anybody" crowd and they do exist and they post on this board too.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think it is nice if people offer seats to others that may need it more. But I don't expect it, and I don't think people should get on a bus expecting it either.

For me, when I travel to WDW with a family member who cannot stand on a bus for some reason, it is our family's responsibility to take care of that family member. Not Joe from Jersey on the bus. I can either rent a car, use a taxi, or just wait until the next bus.

If you know Mom cannot stand on a bus, yet shove her on a standing room only bus, and expect someone to give up their seat for her, I think you are pretty rude yourself.

Someone offering a courtesy is great. Demanding it or expecting it as your due is not great. Doing something nice for someone else looses its wow factor when it is demanded of you, and not freely given.

 

[bdcp]

I think it is nice if people offer seats to others that may need it more. But I don't expect it, and I don't think people should get on a bus expecting it either.

For me, when I travel to WDW with a family member who cannot stand on a bus for some reason, it is our family's responsibility to take care of that family member. Not Joe from Jersey on the bus. I can either rent a car, use a taxi, or just wait until the next bus.

If you know Mom cannot stand on a bus, yet shove her on a standing room only bus, and expect someone to give up their seat for her, I think you are pretty rude yourself.

Someone offering a courtesy is great. Demanding it or expecting it as your due is not great. Doing something nice for someone else looses its wow factor when it is demanded of you, and not freely given.

Who said anything about anyone "demanding or expecting" it?

And, it's called good manners, which apparently a lot of people were never taught.

OP, that was a very nice post.

 

[maxiesmom]

Who said anything about anyone "demanding or expecting" it?

And, it's called good manners, which apparently a lot of people were never taught.

OP, that was a very nice post.

It was a general comment.

But as someone who probably looks perfectly fine most days, you might look at me and wonder why I wasn't offering my seat to someone. What you wouldn't know is that some days my balance isn't so hot, and my knee might just decide to give out and I would fall. Some day, yep I can stand. Others, not so much. So why people are busy judging those who won't give up their seat, they should really be looking at themselves and wondering why they are in the position to have to get someone to stand.

Off soapbox now. Off to work.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I know a lot of people complain about how people do not give up their seats on the busses or monorails, etc. and I, too, have seen that in the past. We just returned from a 4/1 thru 4/10 trip and on every single transportation experience where giving up a seat was appropriate, there were lots of people offering seats to older folks, young children, and parents with little kids. EVERY SINGLE TIME. It was a beautiful thing. This was during a "peak" time at the world.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Who said anything about anyone "demanding or expecting" it?

And, it's called good manners, which apparently a lot of people were never taught.

OP, that was a very nice post.

I always give my seat up on regular public transportation in my city. Disney is a different story. I routinely wait longer for a bus where I CAN get a seat and not be standing. If I waited for a seat - why can't the old/pregnant/little one?

I generally laugh if the person standing starts talking loudly about the "rude" folks who will not give up their seat. Really if it was that important - it is stupid to get on a crowded bus.

 

[sharona]

It was a general comment.

But as someone who probably looks perfectly fine most days, you might look at me and wonder why I wasn't offering my seat to someone. What you wouldn't know is that some days my balance isn't so hot, and my knee might just decide to give out and I would fall. Some day, yep I can stand. Others, not so much. So why people are busy judging those who won't give up their seat, they should really be looking at themselves and wondering why they are in the position to have to get someone to stand.

Off soapbox now. Off to work.

As someone who has an "invisible" disability, I can understand your comment and your touchiness about the subject. However, I didn't see anyone judging anyone else in the previous posts or complaining that they had to stand - the OP was just letting everyone know that they had a great experience. Being happy and/or grateful that many people offered their seats to others doesn't mean that they were judging those who did not.

 

[Sandi]

As someone who has an "invisible" disability, I can understand your comment and your touchiness about the subject. However, I didn't see anyone judging anyone else in the previous posts or complaining that they had to stand - the OP was just letting everyone know that they had a great experience. Being happy and/or grateful that many people offered their seats to others doesn't mean that they were judging those who did not.

I'm the OP and I appreciate this comment. I definitely wasn't judging anyone who remained seated. My mother has a disability that is sometimes very apparent and other times invisible, so I certainly understand and empathize with those folks. I just made the observation that people (me and DD16 included) readily jumped up to offer others a seat where they looked like they could use it. We never heard any of the passengers complaining that they had to stand or anything like that. In fact, several times those offered a seat expressed thanks but didn't take it. It was just a very positive experience.

 

[clanmcculloch]

I'm the OP and I appreciate this comment. I definitely wasn't judging anyone who remained seated. My mother has a disability that is sometimes very apparent and other times invisible, so I certainly understand and empathize with those folks. I just made the observation that people (me and DD16 included) readily jumped up to offer others a seat where they looked like they could use it. We never heard any of the passengers complaining that they had to stand or anything like that. In fact, several times those offered a seat expressed thanks but didn't take it. It was just a very positive experience.

My DH (and both of our DS) always stand up and offer their seats to the elderly, women, and people holding babies and small children. If there is anyone (other than an able bodied man or teenager) they will stand up and give their seat to them. What appalls me is the "why should I give my seat to anybody" crowd and they do exist and they post on this board too.

OP, I don't think maxiesmom was necessarily addressing her observations/frustration at you. Your post was very positive and appreciative of what you observed. The second post I quoted on the other hand WAS judgemental. There have been MANY threads on this board where anybody who doesn't stand up for somebody who visibly needs a seat is judged very harshly. You were obviously not doing so but unfortunately threads like this do typically end up going there even if that wasn't your intent and even if your post didn't even imply anything of the sort. Others do unfortunately feel the need to turn something positive into judgement of others and this is one topic where it happens more often than not.

Thank you for sharing your positive experience.

 

[Alexander]

Thanks for that positive post Sandi! We (as in people) tend to not write about something unless it is a complaint. Thank you for taking time to write about something good you witnessed! I hope you had a great trip!

 

[bdcp]

OP, I don't think maxiesmom was necessarily addressing her observations/frustration at you. Your post was very positive and appreciative of what you observed. The second post I quoted on the other hand WAS judgemental. There have been MANY threads on this board where anybody who doesn't stand up for somebody who visibly needs a seat is judged very harshly. You were obviously not doing so but unfortunately threads like this do typically end up going there even if that wasn't your intent and even if your post didn't even imply anything of the sort. Others do unfortunately feel the need to turn something positive into judgement of others and this is one topic where it happens more often than not.

Thank you for sharing your positive experience.

Are you serious? How exactly was my post judmental? It was directed at no one in particular and addressed the fact that some people have the opinion that they're not about to give up a seat to anyone. There are several people who have posted on these threads (men in particular) who have stated they're not about to give up a seat to someone for ANY reason.


I also never said anyone HAD to give their seat up did I? I also never said I judge someone who doesn't give up their seat. I do however not understand those who adamantly refuse to because they if they can stand, so can anyone. Which isn't necessarily true, now is it?

Maxiesmom twisted what I said around to say what she wanted it to say,not what I actually said.

I also thanked the OP. What a horrible person I am. geez.

Now I'm offended.

 

[maxiesmom]

Maxiesmom twisted what I said around to say what she wanted it to say,not what I actually said.

I also thanked the OP. What a horrible person I am. geez.

Now I'm offended.

Umm, I actually didn't quote you or say you said anything. I was offering my point of view is all.

People do post all the time about how horrible people are for keeping their seat on a bus, when someone else apparently is more deserving. Maybe to you manners would say get up and give you seat to them. To me, manners would be the family caring for each other and not putting someone who can't safely stand in that position to begin with.

I don't get why the family can ignore the needs of their own family members, yet expect total strangers to take care of them. And if they don't they are labled horrible, or told how selfish they are. Makes no sense.

Maybe it was nice that everyone on a certain bus or busses gave up their seats, but that doesn't mean that the rest of the time people were being rude. And that is the flip side of what the OP is saying, no matter how well intentioned her post. I think it would be more beautiful to see the dads caring enough for the tired moms to say "Honey, lets wait for the next bus so you have a seat" or "Grandma, let me get us a cab this time". And not take these people onto a full bus, knowing full well they can't stand safely, and relying on others to get up for them.

Again, I did not quote you or reply directly to something you said. It was my general thoughts on the subject, so please stop feeling I'm targeting you when I am not.

Geeze. x 2

 

[kt_mom]

I think its nice to see people be kind and give up their seats to others. My DH has given up his seat plenty times to a woman with a small child or an elderly person. I have had people offer their seat to me before just as a gentlemanly thing or because they saw me with DS in my arms.

That being said, I would never get on a standing room only bus and be upset if someone didn't offer up their seat. I don't know anyone else's personal situation but I know mine, and if I can see that I will have to stand and hold DS then I have to choose to either do that or wait for the next bus, be at the front of the line and get a seat.

 

[clanmcculloch]

I'm the person who quoted bdcp. Yes, bdcp, you were judgemental. You may not have intended it that way, but you were judging those who don't give up their seats. I'm not sure why you're attacking maxiesmom when she's not the one who called you out, I was. You said

What appalls me is the "why should I give my seat to anybody" crowd and they do exist and they post on this board too.

That's judging those who don't give up their seats and I'm not sure why you consider that to be twisting what you said. Nobody called you a horrible person so being dramatic is unecessary. I did say you were judgemental and I still stand by that. Condemning others for doing things differently than you would is judging. Lots of good people judge others; I'm just saying that's what you did.

I happen to agree with maxiesmom when she says it's up to each of us to take responsibility for our own families and not even get on the bus if there's standing room only and we can't stand. That being said, what I don't agree with is assuming that there's a flip side to comments like these. I do think it's nice to see kindness between people. I don't judge those who do things differently than I do but I can appreciate witnessing acts of kindness. I think OP was just sharing her appreciation of the acts of kindness that she witnessed. Appreciating things like this in general is always nice and IMO I prefer to focus on the positives. OP didn't imply in any way that otheres who don't do this are rude; she was appreciative of what she did see.

Again to OP, thank you for sharing a POSITIVE experience. You didn't bring any negativity into your post and just shared something nice that you witnessed and experienced. It's always nice to read.