who gets on first??!!

[AlexDurrani]

But, the benches are in the bus stop waiting area. It's not as if they are 'off to the side'. If someone is sitting on the bench, at the bus stop at BW, it's pretty safe to assume they are waiting for the bus.
What to do??? It's a hard thing. I have been at AKL, waited for the bus to come. We got to the bus stop, and took a seat on the bench. The crowd built and built..it took at least half an hour for the bus to come. This was around 8:30 in the morning by the way. When the bus finally came, we got up and headed to the curb. Well, a woman with her family was just walking up to the bus stop, and got to the curb at the same time my friend and I did. Her comment??? 'We got here first, we should be able to board first.' Yep, she really said that. It wasn't as if she had been standing there, on the curb..in that case I would have had no issue with her boarding before me. But she never stopped moving as she came out of the resort, and to the bus itself. She had to have beat out about 50 people who had been standing, and sitting, there. My friend and I got lucky only because we saw the bus from afar. Now, at this time the resort to park buses were at the DME bus stop, so not much wiggle room.

Both sides of this issue are right in their own way but we really don't know all the reasons why many of the guests are sitting on the benches. Many times they are sitting because they are waiting for their family to come or are resting between walks who knows. I use a scooter every time I've been to the parks since 2000 and when I get to bus stops with no discernible queue line or destination, I pull off to the side and back and wait. I've only had one bad experience with a mob of guests jumped a driver off loading guests before I got there, I was at the curb and next in line to board. Needless to say I had to wait another 40 minutes for the next bus.

 

[2tinksmom]

What would Walt do?

 

[Magicbus]

What would Walt do?

Walt wouldn't do anything because he would have better things to do than deal with this non-issue.

 

[maxiesmom]

Walt wouldn't do anything because he would have better things to do than deal with this non-issue.

I agree.

 

[AlexDurrani]

Because of the new policy put in place on Oct 1, boarding would not have to stop if a ECV arrived. They would have to wait for the next bus if they could not be loaded safely.

I've read your posts, it doesn't appear that you and buses would be a good mix.


Those scoops are mostly stuff drivers make up?
They've started building the 5th park.

Being an ecv user at Wdw I can say with certainty that rule has been in place for years but just not enforced by all drivers. When I get to a stop and the bus is loading and driver comes out to ask if I wanon I say no for one reason alone, the ecvs are extremely hard to load on a empty bus much less a partially full one. Yes I have seen the irate guests with ecvs that think that they have more rights to the bus then the regular guests and I get very embarrassed and usually wait for the next bus.

There is one thing I think we all miss about the supposed bench-warmers at the stops, especially at the end of the day going back to the resorts, many of the guests are elderly who have no energy left to stand in line for 20 minutes for a bus back to the resort. I have no problem with them getting ahead of me in order for them to get a designated seat for the elderly and disabled.

The same thing goes for strollers, many parents leave their child in the stroller till the last minute because they are sleeping and they don't want to wake them. This can happen at all hours of the day so take that into consideration when y'all complain about the guest who waits till the last minute to take child out of stroller.

 

[maxiesmom]

There is one thing I think we all miss about the supposed bench-warmers at the stops, especially at the end of the day going back to the resorts, many of the guests are elderly who have no energy left to stand in line for 20 minutes for a bus back to the resort. I have no problem with them getting ahead of me in order for them to get a designated seat for the elderly and disabled.

The same thing goes for strollers, many parents leave their child in the stroller till the last minute because they are sleeping and they don't want to wake them. This can happen at all hours of the day so take that into consideration when y'all complain about the guest who waits till the last minute to take child out of stroller.

I know this is taking us off in a bit of a different direction. But in either of those two instances I have no problem letting those people have a seat. But I have to squash my instinct to go kick whoever is with them on the trip in the shins. I don't get at all how you can have someone in your family who can't safely stand on a bus, and then make them get on a full bus. Have some thought and consideration for your family members people!

The last time I took my parents to WDW I went back and forth about renting a car. My mom has problems with her knees, and I was concerned about her standing on the busses. She asssured me she would be fine, and she was. But if it had looked at all like she was struggling, I would have had a rental car in the blink of an eye! Now, a few years later, there is no question we would have to have a rental. It wouldn't even be up for debate.

I can't understand putting your loved ones in a unsafe position. And putting someone who can't safely stand on a standing room only bus is doing just that. You are gambling that someone will be nice and give up their seat for your family member. What a thing to risk!

 

[smidgy]

.
My issue??? It's never a line..it's a clump. And trying to get a clump to form a line is like herding cats!!!
I sometimes sit on the bench..especially if the bus to the park I want is just pulling away when I'm approaching the stop. I know the next bus will be awhile. But, if I see a lot of other guests approaching the area, and I don't want to be at the back of a huge line for the bus, I get off that bench and amble on over to the curb area..putting myself towards the front of the line, or clump in some cases.
.

the part I bolded is worthy of the TAG FAIRY!!!

I'm with the "if you're not in line" group on this one and if a crowd starts building up and I am on the bench you can bet I will get up and join the group so I don't have to wait for another bus. Seriously, how do people know who was there first? Should they put those little number machines out like they have at the deli and start calling off who can board?

I agree that I like the roped off queues at the values resorts for this reason. If we arrive and there is no line, we sit on the bench (a ways off) until either a bus comes OR more people arrive and we figure "hhmm, line is building up, we better get in line" and we go to the end of the line.

but,true, you ARE out in the "elements" (rain, hot sun, etc.)

now at the mods or deluxes, there often are TWO bus areas, one for parks A and B, one for parks C and D (with the minor parks thrown in)

you never know who is waiting for what bus. you can't really "get in line". that is the bad thing about these stops. the good thing is they are covered.

so, when you see your bus coming, you get up and move towards the curb. what's the big deal? and if it is important to make sureyou're on the next bus, stand near the curb.
but, for EMH mornings, there is nothing you can do to avoid the "clumping". you just get in line the best you can.
and if you are sitting, you are choosing comfort over that.

 

[cm8]

I would just reiterate....if you are sitting on a bench, standing off to the side, ect, and not at the actual bus stop, how are any of us to know what bus you may or may not be waiting for?

Of course we could just go back to first grade and start yelling "no cutting" from the bench when some poor soul dares to stand at the designated bus stop.

 

[smidgy]

Truly not that big a deal. I think that sometimes we get caught up and then get carried away.
I do pretty much the same as you do....if just arriving as the bus arrives, then I hold back a bit to allow those there before me to get on. But I am not waiting for mom and dad to gather up the kids books, fold up the stroller and get the whole dang family off the bench and over to the bus. Either you're ready to go, or you're not.
There truly is NO line at most resorts. It is a clump..and that clump can get rather pushy if there are more than 10 other guests waiting to board the bus. Amazes me....there is plenty of room on the bus, but no..someone is always going to 'have' to be first on. Just gotta get that super-de-dooper seat before anyone else.

I think anyone who ever stands in a line in the 'real world' knows how lines work if you're not standing by the loading line when the bus pulls up,you have to get in line.....it happens all the time, and I've seen some folks get mad at others for simply standing,waiting,and then boarding,while they were sitting and watching it happen...... but it seems out of place to get mad over that, a line is a line,and a bench is for sitting and waiting......I've also seen people get REALLY mad when they're standing in a super long cs line,and we head over to the left side of the register with no line.... I call it a quick learning experience for them(they learn fast to move)....kind of like how to get in line and board a bus

We usually do go in slower times.

I'm always amused when we show up at our resort stop, and by the time our bus comes, there's a dozen or so people. All, obviously, showing up at different times, some sitting, some standing, some hopping up and down....

Then the bus shows up and there's always that ONE FAMILY that has to act like it's the last bus leaving Vietnam before the Viet Cong shows up and if they aren't the first ones on, they'll be doomed to a life of poverty under communism.

The bus usually showed up empty, or almost empty, we all eventually get on, and takes us to a park, still with lots of room.

ITA with all these.


to those (like bumber) who haven't experienced it yet.. please don't worry. like others have posted, it's really NOT that big a deal. in all of my 17trips to WDW I don't remember ever seeing an "incident" at the resorts. maybe a few "under the breath" grumbles...maybe.

It's just a little more confusing at the moderate and deluxe resorts, without a specific line.


also , Iam sorry to hear about the "no PA" for the drivers. hubby and I were saying just this last trip how it was SO much more fun to listen to the drivers than the same "canned" schpeil.
one of the msot fun drives back from MK (and it was a long drive, to CBR, I believe, was when the driver played Trivia, handed out stickers. the whole busload of strangers suddenly became friends!!! and people really DID pass the stickers back to the person who got the anser first!!! it was a gas!!!

 

[Hoopfamily]

If you are so intent on getting on the bus, why would you not be standing and ready. Just being in the genreal area for something does not mean you are first.

 

[seashoreCM]

Needless to say I had to wait another 40 minutes for the next bus.

40 minutes for the next bus when the last bus left people waiting and the normal interval between buses is 20 minutes?? That's an aberration.

Is it fair to compare waiting for a Disney bus to waiting for a bus in any city?

I do ride buses and the subway often although not always at rush hour. Usually people don't form lines long in advance but they may "sorta" line up after the bus stops. The bus (or train) doesn't stop with its doors in exactly the same position each time and those nearest the doors get on first.

Also there are many stops that serve more than one route so people for various destinations are commingled at the stop.

At Disney I have often stood in the shade away from the bus queue but if the queue gets long I will go stand in it to reasonably assure I will get on the first bus to arrive.

I don't get at all how you can have someone in your family who can't safely stand on a bus, and then make them get on a full bus ... My mom has problems with her knees, and I was concerned about her standing on the busses. ... Now, a few years later, there is no question we would have to have a rental.

It is unfortunate if people can't use public transportation if they are infirm and are "forced" to rent a car. Although in this case they could use a wheelchair* and it will be all the others complaining that the wheelchair inconveniences the whole bus.

I really don't plan on spending my time at Disney playing Whos on First? at the bus stops.

(vaguely bus related) http://davissquaretilesproject.com/tile/brian-davidson

* If you rent a wheelchair, you can still walk some of the time, much of the time, most of the time, etc. If you don't rent a wheelchair, you must walk all of the time.

 

[boltfan]

I sit until others show up and start to line up, then I jump up and stand also.

 

[maxiesmom]

It is unfortunate if people can't use public transportation if they are infirm and are "forced" to rent a car. Although in this case they could use a wheelchair* and it will be all the others complaining that the wheelchair inconveniences the whole bus.

It is unfortunate. But if the choice is between putting someone who has no business standing on a bus and hoping someone will be nice and give them a seat, and taking care of their safety beforehand and renting a car, then renting the car is the better choice.

Life is not fair. Life is not equal for everyone. We need to make smart choices anyway.

 

[Danibelle]

I love how so many people have personal etiquettes that they feel should be enforced. Sorry, I am not going to try to keep track of who got to a bus stop before and after me and then try to queue up. When the bus pulls up to the curb, the first person to the door is the first person on the bus. If you want to sit at the stop and its busy, well, you might be standing on the bus (at least you saved some energy )

As others have said, this is the silly stuff that does result in their being lines installed at resort bus stops, just because people complain that they had someone get on the bus before them. It is amazing we have nothing better to complain about......

very true!!!

 

[edk35]

I am curious as to what resorts people are staying at.. that BUS STOP problems occur? I have never seen any problems with people at bus stops and who gets on first so to speak.

 

[deegack]

see the answer should be obvious to everyone -





I get on the bus first!

 

[PIERCEDRN]

see the answer should be obvious to everyone -





I get on the bus first!

The answer is obvious to me.
Drive.
The buses have their place, but until I am dead broke, I'm getting a car.
I can't waste 20-40 mins of my disney time because someone who never took public transportation tries to school me on bus etiquette.
And don't even get me started on how much time I lose when they have to load 2 scooters.
I just keep thinking... I could avoid this hassle for $20 A DAY.
bob

 

[seashoreCM]

1. Would it be a political statement?
2. Should we start a fad?
3. Would it induce the driver to enforce the little sign above some seats, "please reserve for elderly"?
4. People do it waiting for a parade.

Put a blanket down on the bus floor and sit down there.

 

[Magicbus]

see the answer should be obvious to everyone I get on the bus first!

Wrong, I get on first.

Would it induce the driver to enforce the little sign above some seats, "please reserve for elderly".

You guys from Nashua are such kidders. You are kidding, right?