What is the etiquette of offering your seat to the disabled, elderly, or people with small children?

[BigAlsGal]

I offer my seat when I feel compelled to.

 

[DisneyOma]

Whatever.... I also hold the door for ladies, and try to watch my language around them. Old fashion values I suppose.

Guess I'm a pig.

MG

Being sexist does not make you a pig. It just means you look down at the female gender as being somehow in need of your help to do things, that women are not capable of standing, holding a door, or hearing strong language. Maybe some women do, but some don't. Just like some men may need a seat, need a door held open for them, or feel that strong language is inappropriate.

Do you differentiate between ladies and women?

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

My husband looks like an able-bodied 30 year old, and for the most part he is. But what you can't see is that he has scoliosis and after a day of standing in the parks he is in a lot of pain. If he can get a seat on the bus he takes it. He puts our daughter on his lap so they don't take up 2 seats. But he gets a lot of dirty looks from judgemental people.

I too have a spinal deformity and fibromyalgia that cause me a lot of pain so I try to get a seat. I get less dirty looks because I'm a woman and people expect more from men.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I was taught to hold doors for everyone and say my please and thank you all the time multiple times.

That being said I would say it's a personal decision regardless of how one appears or their gender to offer your seat up. I don't begrudge someone who doesn't offer their seat.

It can be perceived to be rude to not offer your seat but on the flip side it can be perceived to be rude to expect one to give up their seat. Which is why I personal view it as a personal decision.

The only exception in my book is when one is placing their items (purse, shopping bag, backpack, etc) on a seat and keep it there when there are more people than seats available. That is when personally you should offer the seat next to you to a person by removing your items from that empty seat.

 

[DisneyOma]

I've found that if I need a seat during transportation down at WDW then I need to take responsibility for that myself. I've waited for the next bus, I've driven my own car to the parks, etc. Disney buses have very few seats, add 2-3 scooters or wheelchairs in their assigned spots, and you could lose a dozen of those seats. We have better luck on the monorail and ferries, and try to use those whenever possible.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Being sexist does not make you a pig. It just means you look down at the female gender as being somehow in need of your help to do things, that women are not capable of standing, holding a door, or hearing strong language. Maybe some women do, but some don't. Just like some men may need a seat, need a door held open for them, or feel that strong language is inappropriate.

Do you differentiate between ladies and women?

I can see this is going nowhere so I'm done with this thread.

MG

 

[piccolopat]

Being sexist does not make you a pig. It just means you look down at the female gender as being somehow in need of your help to do things, that women are not capable of standing, holding a door, or hearing strong language. Maybe some women do, but some don't. Just like some men may need a seat, need a door held open for them, or feel that strong language is inappropriate.

Do you differentiate between ladies and women?

A man can offer his seat to a lady, refrain from using certain speech and hold a door for them without thinking that they can't handle these things without him. I would call that person a gentleman, not a sexist.

 

[Barbara76]

Personally I offer my seat to the elderly, the visablly disabled or injured, pregnant women, people holding infants, small kids (toddlers)and at the end of the night I have offered it to older kids who look like they might fall over.

 

[DisneyOma]

A man can offer his seat to a lady, refrain from using certain speech and hold a door for them without thinking that they can't handle these things without him. I would call that person a gentleman, not a sexist.

And a man can do it for another man, a woman can do it for a man, for another woman, etc. that's fine. But to label people ladies and gentlemen because they classify one gender as needing something another doesn't? Sexist.

 

[piccolopat]

And a man can do it for another man, a woman can do it for a man, for another woman, etc. that's fine. But to label people ladies and gentlemen because they classify one gender as needing something another doesn't? Sexist.

Yes but you are assuming they "classify one gender as NEEDING something another doesn't". Perhaps it's just that it is a social norm for some and there is no sinister thought behind it.

 

[lanejudy]

I don't believe the OP intended this post to become an argument about sexism.

OP -- as you can see, people have differing ideas of "manners" and "etiquette" in today's world. It's unfortunate that nobody offered you a seat, however none of us can determine whether the people already seated were "able-bodied" or may have needed the seat. The only way to assure yourself a seat is to 1) use a wheelchair, ECV or rollator; or 2) wait for the next boat/bus/monorail. I do believe there are still many good, kind, helpful people out there who will assist when they can.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[Simba's Mom]

A man can offer his seat to a lady, refrain from using certain speech and hold a door for them without thinking that they can't handle these things without him. I would call that person a gentleman, not a sexist.

I totally agree!

 

[limabeanmom2003]

At the end of a long day walking around parks, many of us are in pain. I run marathons yet after a few days of walking around WDW parks my lower back always hurts to
The point it affects my ability to walk. It's crazy! If you require a seat, wait to board transportation until a seat is available for you. Don't stand and expect others to give up their seats. If someone chooses to give up their seat for someone else, that's very kind of them. you can't assume that a person isn't in pain by looking at them.

 

[jenniy122]

The simple answer is there's no standard and you need to be responsible for your needs. Even though certain sections are labeled for the elderly/disabled some people don't care and won't get up even when asked. It's an annoyance when little 3 year old Billy wants his own seat so his parents let him and I have to wait 3 more buses for a place to sit, but that's the way it works. As a PP mentioned, in major cities with public transit it's even worse, on crutches? Doesn't matter. Passed out from standing too long? People will actually step on you. Now I have a rollator so I can wait without problems and always have a seat, plus know to plan better with timing. At Disney I get up at 6:30am to be on the first bus out, and stay in the parks as long as possible so I'm pretty much the last person out.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

The simple answer is there's no standard and you need to be responsible for your needs. Even though certain sections are labeled for the elderly/disabled some people don't care and won't get up even when asked. It's an annoyance when little 3 year old Billy wants his own seat so his parents let him and I have to wait 3 more buses for a place to sit, but that's the way it works. As a PP mentioned, in major cities with public transit it's even worse, on crutches? Doesn't matter. Passed out from standing too long? People will actually step on you. Now I have a rollator so I can wait without problems and always have a seat, plus know to plan better with timing. At Disney I get up at 6:30am to be on the first bus out, and stay in the parks as long as possible so I'm pretty much the last person out.

There isn't enough said about planning. Especially when you have a disability.

If we stay in a park 'till close, we stay until the crowds are gone. And we tend to either arrive well before rope drop or we head out late enough that the crowds are already in the park.

 

[jenniy122]

There isn't enough said about planning. Especially when you have a disability.

Yes, yes, yes! I know family and friends think I'm neurotic and way overprepared, but I'm also rarely surprised when the unexpected happens. I know my plan A backwards and forwards, and then have B and C in the back pocket just in case.

 

[Angel Ariel]

In fact, I would not offer to a guy who had a baby. It's a parents decision to have kids, and holding the baby goes with the territory.

MG

Sitting while holding a baby is safer for the baby, no matter which parent is holding the baby. Offering a seat to someone holding a baby is far more about the safety of the baby than simply being nice.

 

[clm10308]

What would be considered "old"? The older I get, the older someone has to be to be "old". To me, "elderly" would be someone who looks old and fragile like they would fall and break a hip or something if the bus turned quickly or I'd someone bumped into them accidentally.
Just because someone look older than me, I would not automatically assume they are "elderly".


I have wrestled with squirming toddlers enough that I would offer my seat so that one person in the family could sit with a baby or toddler

 

[Disneylover99]

I would offer up my seat to anyone who looked like they needed it more than me.

 

[DisneyMim]

I have fibromyalgia and go to Disney often. We always rent a car. I would not be able to stand on a bus after being in a park all day. My balance is not what it used to be. I grew up in a major city and used the transportation all the time. I would give up my seat for someone who needed it but I learned very early on that not everyone will do this. You really need to take responsibility for yourself. I could go on and on but I will just say that IMHO people have become very selfish and entitled. The parents who park their HUGE strollers on the buses and monorails and then take their kids out and put them in a seat! Then leave the strollers opened. When my kids were little we always had to close the strollers. The people who put their backpacks,etc on the sear beside them! Anyway I am off topic a little and venting. Sorry. The only problem I have is the MK. If we are staying in a resort that requires a drive we have a few options. Park at the TLC and take the monorail or ferry. Once in awhile we do take the bus if I know we are going back to the resort before dinner. Buses are usually not very crowded then. If we do end up staying until closing we are usually the last people out. We stay and I find a bench and wait for the crowds to thin out. But then the buses are usually better. We have also used taxis too. Sorry for the rambling but the bottom line is I would not expect anyone to give up thier seat for me. Everyone is tired at the end of the day. I do not look sick but believe me I am in pain 24/7. I feel it's my problem, it's not going away, and I just have to deal with it myself and find the best way for me to enjoy my vacations.

Enjoy The Magic!!