When to give up your seat on the bus

[jensen]

I don't think I've seen this addressed on these boards before and I want to gauge others opinions on this topic. We were fortunate to ride buses several times when there was plenty of room for everyone to have a seat. But, on the occasions where people were forced to stand, I always made my children give up their seats... and if there were people older than us or someone was holding a sleeping child or otherwise appeared to need to sit, DH and I always gave up our seats for them. None of us were happy to have to give up our seats at the end of a long day - the kids complained every time - but, I wouldn't have it any other way.

I was shocked and dismayed to see very few others following these same courtesies. Very young children taking up seats on a packed bus when they could have, at least, sat on a parents lap. Kids who sat while people stuggled to hold onto a sleeping child on a moving bus.

Do you or your children give up your seats on the bus? When or why? Or why not?

 

[Meriweather]

DH does to those older and the ones holding babies.
We saw a few people do it also......but there were some.
I don't give up mine (poeple usually give up theirs for me) because I am an "older" female
But I have stood up many times also.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

We don't want to stand on the busses, so we just wait for another bus.

 

[srdipert]

My dh and I give up our seats all the time for other people but I would never make my small children give up their seats because I think it is safer for them to be seated. I know many times when the bus brakes and it kind of throws you forward. I would be afraid my chidlren would fall. I do have my children sit on my lap at time.

I had many people give up their seats to me when I was pregnant and/or holding a sleeping child. I always give my seat to people holding sleeping children b/c it is near impossbile to stand and hold on and hold a sleeping child.

 

[Robo]

We don't want to stand on the busses, so we just wait for another bus.

And THIS is where the problem gets complex.

What if you decided to wait for the next bus so you could sit down,
the next bus arrives and your group then boards it and sits down.

Now THAT bus fills up.

Do YOU now need to get up and stand so that others can sit?

 

[MickeynMinnie]

i'll give my seat up for anyone who looks in need of a seat! its only the right thing to do... it does bother me when people bring strollers on the bus and put it in a seat.. or put packages on a seat and don't move it for someone else to sit down... thats just rude.

 

[wdwfanatic80]

I always give up my seat to anyone that I feel is more deserving of it - this includes those older than me, those holding a sleeping child or a young child, young children (look to be under 10 or so), pregnant women...the list could go on and on. Nowadays though I am not able to give up a seat as often as I have my own little one to hold on my lap...if she was old enough to sit in her own seat I would pull her in my lap and offer her seat up.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

In mornings I have no problem giving up a seat. But as the night after all day of walking my knees are shot and DD13 is tired from the parks as well we go right to the back of the bus and sit.After being on our feet for the better part of 16 to 20 hours 7 days straight we also need to sit for the ride back and will wait for the next bus if needed.

If others want to sit they know another bus is coming and can wait.On public transportation around the city we always give our seat to those that seem to need it more.But on Vacation you choose when and where and for how long you stay in the parks and when to get on the bus.

I might get flamed for this but it's just how it is.

 

[NotAmused]

I usually give up my seat if the bus is that crowded. Actually, last night when we were staying at Fort Wilderness and you have to take buses just to get from your cabin to the lobby, theme park transportation, pools, etc... Well the buses that run just within FW come every 5-10 minutes. We were the only people there and a few minutes later another bus came and there were a ton of more people and some people were being pushy to get on. I got wacked with a stroller before I was even on the bus.

What I don't understand is why the people on the bus kept piling on. Now I can understand if the bus was leaving MGM where the buses take a long time but everyone at FW knows 99% of the time you wait less than 5-10 minutes so why cram yourselves on if you can sit on a bench for a few mins until the next less crowded bus comes?! It's really difficult at the FW since there are so many bus stops. It was complete chaos when people are trying to get off but they are blocked in by strollers and people not paying attention to let them pass.


But yes, I usually give up my seat to tired children, elderly, parents holding infants, etc.....as long as it's not "expected". Ex: If some lady gets on the bus and demands that I let her have my seat, I will just laugh at her because that's rude. I have no problem standing to allow someone sit who needs to sit more than I do.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I will stand for anyone that I think needs it (elderly, carrying a child, a child itself). I will not however make my kids stand. They are young and need to be in a seat for safety reasons. I noticed that your kids are 6 and 3, I have a 4.5 year old, a 3 year old, and a 16month old (and one on the way!) and I hold the baby in my lap and will squish the older two together so another child can sit but I will not make them stand. They are too young and could get hurt. This is actually a hot debate if you do a search. We have also waited for another bus if we knew we weren't getting seats.

 

[catbertdave99]

OK, here's a twist -- my DS15 would rather stand on the bus than sit. Go figure. But seriously, I guess he thinks it's cool to stand on the bus or something... I have to tell him to sit when there's no one on the bus but us! However, the first chance there is to give up his seat and stand, up he goes. I think it's great he's willing to do that. My DS12 and I will give up our seats too, but we're not quite as anxious.... we just use the same common courtesy others have mentioned here. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be real common at times. I guess we get tired like everyone else, but hey -- we're at Disney and that makes everything wonderful, so if we have to stand for a while, we'll deal with it!

 

[marivaid]

We usually choose to wait for the next bus if the first one is too crowded.

I may get flamed for this, but I think everybody has choices.For example, the choice to leave at the very last minute or leave half an hour early.Obviously the buses are going to be full after park closing,so if you make the choice to stay until then,you know what to expect!

 

[jensen]

I will stand for anyone that I think needs it (elderly, carrying a child, a child itself). I will not however make my kids stand. They are young and need to be in a seat for safety reasons. I noticed that your kids are 6 and 3, I have a 4.5 year old, a 3 year old, and a 16month old (and one on the way!) and I hold the baby in my lap and will squish the older two together so another child can sit but I will not make them stand. They are too young and could get hurt. This is actually a hot debate if you do a search. We have also waited for another bus if we knew we weren't getting seats.

I totally see your point about having multiple pre-school aged children... they cannot all sit on your lap. But, I think a school aged child can stand.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

I totally see your point about having multiple pre-school aged children... they cannot all sit on your lap. But, I think a school aged child can stand.

Even with a school aged child standing next to an adult has a good chance of getting hurt bad if the bus comes to an abrupt stop like happens in the resorts sometimes with people crossing the roads.

I for one think there should be no standing on the buses at all . They have enough to keep them running with seating capacity only but thats just me.

 

[Mysteria]

Oh yes it has been addressed many times. Let's go another round though. Just let me get my

Myst

 

[sPaRkLeSpAz]

I always offer my seat to older people, pregnant women, or children.. My dad does it a lot, and sometimes my mom does too. =]

 

[RangerPooh]

We give up our seats to the elderly, pregant women, those looking dog tired, small children, and those holding young kids. Unfortunately very few people seem to have the courtesy to do so these days. Last summer I was 31 weeks pg and very few people gave up their seats to me (even when I was holding our 1yo to boot). I'm not sayng that I expected it but it would have been nice to have it offered. Heck, I even gave up my seat from time to time.

I have had the same experience on the monorail. I do think that at certain times of the day/night more buses needto come on line as the lines are very long and people just keep cramming themselves on. Then have the odasity to compalin about not hvaing a seat . When it gets this bad we usually just opt to wait for the next bus as we've got the family complete with strollers.

 

[TheBacklot]

I quickly give up my seat for: mothers/small children/elderly.

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

I used to offer my seat up to people who looked like they needed it but now I have to sit and hold my kids...4 and 1. Dh alway offers his seat, he stands and holds the stroller. I will start offering my seat again once I don't have to hold onto small children. This past trip to WDW we encountered many very nice people that were willing to offer us a seat.

On nights when it was really busy going home we waited for another bus so we wouldn't have to stand. Trying to hold on to 2 kids and a stroller is to much to do while having to stand as well.

Whenever we are out in public, like waiting for our table in a restaurant, I will always offer my seat to the older crowd and others that look like they might need it. I can't even remember the last time someone took me up on it. One man got real close to me and said, "I'm not that old yet." LOL I think he was having fun with me, but if not, I felt bad incase I insulted him. Since no one is taking me up on my offer I guess I am doing more insulting than good.

 

[RyMickey]

One reason I love staying at our Boardwalk Villa is that I don't have to bus to MGM and Epcot because I hate having to make that decision.

I'm a 26 year old guy and my brothers are 21 and 19 (and, yeah, we grew up with Disney and still love going there). Anyway, it's always an awkward situation on a bus. We'll always give up our seat for little kids or elderly folks. However, I don't think it's necessarily fair for me - who's had just as long a day as everyone else on the bus - to give up my seat to, say, a 40 year old woman. Sure, it would be chivalrous of me and I do stand up sometimes if someone looks especially weary, but I don't all the time. And I hate those situations...which is why we always try to go to EMH nights and leave late so the busses are more empty.

Now that everyone knows that I'm an awful guy ( ), I'll let you all bash me...