Why Won't You Give Up Your Seat on the Bus?

[aubriee]

Whether I give up my seat depends. If I go with my GD I don't want her standing, so no matter how tired we are we will wait for another bus if needed to ensure that we get a seat. Sorry, but after waiting that long I'm probably not going to give up that seat (nor is my GD) to someone who coud have done the same thing we did which was have enough sense to not get on a full bus and then expect a seat. However I've also gone to WDW a couple of times with my mom who uses an ECV. Due to her ECV we are the first ones loaded and always get a seat. I feel really funny about getting there well after other people and then getting a seat while they have to stand. However I do get on the bus with her because I know that if I wait in the line we probably won't be able to get on the same bus. My mom while not senile has absolutely no sense of direction and panics easily, so no way is she going anywhere without me at WDW (not even back to the resort where she could sit and wait for me). Consequently when I go with her ECV and get to get on the bus before everyone else, I have on more than one occasion given that seat up with no problem, because it felt like the right thing to do.

I have a problem with parents who won't put their kids on their laps and little kids have their own seats, while parents holding babies, elderly, or women in the late stages of pregnancy have to stand.. This past May we were on a crowded bus and the couple across from us had a little girl about three taking up her own seat. Everyone else had put their kids on their laps and after receiving several dirty looks the mom reached for the little girl, but the little girl resisted. Mom just gave an apologetic shrug and said 'she wants her own seat, sorry'. There was a couple standing right in front of her who had a small baby (less than 6 months old). After no one offered the mom a seat she finally handed the baby to the dad. The little three year old was in her seat swinging her feet and kicking the dad with the baby. He finally told the mom that if you won't make her give up her seat will you at least stop her from kicking me. The mom finally told the little girl to stop kicking the 'mean old man'. Excuse me!

 

[ducklite]

The little three year old was in her seat swinging her feet and kicking the dad with the baby. He finally told the mom that if you won't make her give up her seat will you at least stop her from kicking me. The mom finally told the little girl to stop kicking the 'mean old man'. Excuse me!

Wow. Just wow. That's a child who's going to ahve a lot of issues in the real world as they get older.

Of course I probably wouldn't have been as nice if the child was kicking me. That way they'd have a reason to call me mean.

Anne

 

[Luv'sTink]

I would and have given up my seat to anyone *I* feel needs it. Because I want to!

 

[Amy&Dan]

I haven't read the whole thread but here is my rule of thumb. If the bus isn't crowded, we all sit (four of us, me, dh, ds 11, dd 9). If it starts to get crowded, dh immediately offers his and my son's seats to the elderly or people holding small kids, there are always at least a few of those. DD will sit on my lap but if more elderly ppl board, pregnant women or disabled, then she and I get up too. Now this all depends on if we can even get up, sometimes the bus is so packed and we are in the back and can't see over the sea of people to see who up front needs a seat. I find at WDW that almost always people are kind and courteous. When we have travelled with our respective, elderly parents, we have never had an issue except when my fil had his scooter and suddenly we were the most unpopular people around, as the bus had to take more time to load and unload his scooter. Never knew people could sigh that loudly and roll their eyes while an old man clearly in horrible health had the audacity to ride WDW transportation with his scooter. And for the record, the rest of us always waited in line and never got on first with him because I think thats ridicuous and sometimes we had to split up from him but that was fine. So my experience personally and just from observation has been that in six trips to WDW people have been pretty nice on the buses.

Now at Denver Int'l Airport a few weeks ago I was appalled on the shuttle to the parking lot, as some stupid guy put his bags on the seat next to him while an older lady on a cane stood right in front him and his seated duffle . Even when I said loudly on her behalf, "can you move the bag" he didn't do it. The driver didn't intervene. Very sad, I hope he got to his car to find a flat tire!

 

[lenshanem]

I can't even begin to count how many times I stood up on a Disney bus holding a sleeping baby or toddler while several men sat in their seats right beside me. I'm sorry, but my DH and I grew up in the south and he was taught to do exactly this kind of thing - and that is to offer his seat to others that look like they need it more than him. Numerous times he has been the only one on the bus to do so, too. I'll never forget the time a woman said - Now that is a gentleman! (Course, will he bring in the groceries for me?!? Now that is another story... )
It also amazes me how men (and women!) will slam doors in your face at the store, etc. Gone are the days of being courteous.

Disclaimer : By saying I'm from the south is no insult to those who live in the north.

 

[TDC Nala]

If you are elderly, obviously disabled or carrying a small child you can have my seat.

Otherwise, it's mine.

 

[DisneyDotty]

If you are traveling with children, why do you get on a bus that obviously has no seats available and then expect someone to give up a seat for you? Why don't you simply wait for the next bus?
Anne

Simple, Anne. I'm in a rush to get my cranky, tired kids to our dinner at Citricos! Sorry--I know that's been done already, but I couldn't resist!
I'm in total agreement with Ducklite and others who suggest the riders in need of a seat need to take some responsibility for themselves in perhaps waiting for a bus with seats. (Sense of entitlement does go both ways.)
However, I'm not going to let someone who's struggling with a baby or has an obvious physical condition requiring a seat to stand if I have a seat. Seems to be common sense, here.

 

[FOV]

I'm in total agreement with Ducklite and others who suggest the riders in need of a seat need to take some responsibility for themselves in perhaps waiting for a bus with seats. (Sense of entitlement does go both ways.)

Just to clarify DisneyDotty - NO ONE here is asking for a seat. I am assuming that the person "in need" has chosen to get on the bus at their own risk. Again - NO ONE is ASKING for a seat. It is a discussion of what you would do if you saw someone who needed a seat.

I can see people getting upset if someone boarded the bus at the last minute and then demanded a seat.

It's kinda like if someone walking in front of you dropped a stack of books. They wouldn't expect you to help. They wouldn't ask you to help. But... they would probably be grateful if you did stop to help.

 

[taximomfor4]

I am guessing that OP will not get the largest variety of replies to the original question. I, for one, do not feel the need to be labelled as discourteous, selfish, etc on the internet by people who do not even know me. This is what happens in these sort of threads.

I would bet that I am not the only one. (that said, our family of 6 waits for the next bus and usually ends up in 4, sometimes 3, seats. Apparently that is not good enough for some people, since 2 or 3 of my kids are in seats of their own.)

I wonder if anyone has checked their regional bus rules from around the country. Some of them have rules that state that any child old enough to sit unassisted MUST be in their own seat. Perhaps that is safest??

 

[mking624]

Ahh the ever popular "who gets the seat" debate.

Someone always has a mentality of entitlement whether it's someone standing or someone sitting. No one owns the seat...paying for your trip to WDW doesn't make that seats YOURS (last I checked, we don't own the buses simply because we are vacationing there). Basically what it comes down to is common courtesy, decency, respect, manners, and compassion. How little there is left in the world...and how many excuses as to why no one needs to give it.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think what upsets people is that whoever is complaining about someone not standing up is assuming the other person can. How do you know for sure they can (or should) give up their seat? A pop quiz? I'm 39, you probably wouldn't know, unless you looked real close, that I have had knee surgery. Some days my knees are quite painful so I will remain seated. Other days I just might be able to hop up and offer my seat to someone else. However, I prefer not to be the kind of person who gets on a full bus and glares daggers at people who remain in their seat. I prefer to think that they just might need it more than me at that moment. It makes my life much happier that way.

 

[MEK]

now... about that "waiting for the next bus" option... we had a bus driver loading a very full bus and some people were opting to "wait" so they could get a seat and he said repeatedly that it was fine with him but whether we stand on the bus or stand at the bus stop we're still standing and at least if we're on the bus we'll be back to our resort (and able to sit down) that much sooner! [/QUOTE]

I totally agree with this! If you can walk around the parks all day, which is physically demanding, there is no reason why a healthy person can't give up a seat to someone who looks more in need. I am proud to be able to give up my seat for someone who needs it more than I do. I thank God that he has given me the physical wellness as well as the motivation to keep myself in shape. Standing for a bus ride is nothing to me. It's laughable that healthy people who even debate giving up a seat. The sense of entitlement some people have is absolutely ridiculous and misplaced. Next time you are in a situation where a seat is needed, ask yourself, 'what would Jesus do? Even if you are not Christian, you know the answer.

Sorry for getting "preachy". Common courtesy seems so basic to me. Why is it something to debate.

____________________________________________________

Max is my favorite cat!

 

[TCPluto]

Some days my knees are quite painful so I will remain seated. Other days I just might be able to hop up and offer my seat to someone else. However, I prefer not to be the kind of person who gets on a full bus and glares daggers at people who remain in their seat.

Some would say the true measure of a person is what they do in the face of inconvenience, adversity, or personal pain (I'm not sure if that includes actual physical pain.... nah, it does), and that is what this really appears to be about.

Some folks stand by the first come/first served mantra, while others choose to show a little compasion for someone they feel is more in a position of need, whatever the reason (valid or not).

asking the family with small kids to wait for another bus, after waiting 15-30 minutes for the first one, is incredibly redicilous and I doubt many (any?) would/will do this. They should wait another 15-30 minutes?

One thing that I always seem to notice about many (probably most) people in WDW. They don't think the world is revolving around them. I wish they would find this thread and contribute, along with those galant seat surenderers who've already weighed in.

 

[TCPluto]

Again - NO ONE is ASKING for a seat. It is a discussion of what you would do if you saw someone who needed a seat.

I can see people getting upset if someone boarded the bus at the last minute and then demanded a seat.

It's kinda like if someone walking in front of you dropped a stack of books. They wouldn't expect you to help. They wouldn't ask you to help. But... they would probably be grateful if you did stop to help.

Woops! Seems you've already covered this base, sorry ........

Excellent sumation.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Some would say the true measure of a person is what they do in the face of inconvenience, adversity, or personal pain (I'm not sure if that includes actual physical pain.... nah, it does), and that is what this really appears to be about.

Some folks stand by the first come/first served mantra, while others choose to show a little compasion for someone they feel is more in a position of need, whatever the reason (valid or not).

asking the family with small kids to wait for another bus, after waiting 15-30 minutes for the first one, is incredibly redicilous and I doubt many (any?) would/will do this. They should wait another 15-30 minutes?


One thing that I always seem to notice about many (probably most) people in WDW. They don't think the world is revolving around them. I wish they would find this thread and contribute, along with those galant seat surenderers who've already weighed in.

Very True and well said. The waiting thing is a joke. Most of the time (except closing time) the only reason there is standing room only is because most people have been waiting MUCH longer then 15 to 20 min and that is why it is backed up. Even if closing time, they pack you in like sardines and chances are you aren't going to get a seat anyway. Oh and what about the times the busses just come to you full??? (like if your stop is the last one at a big resort.)

 

[Brooknwdw]

in my area of the midwest, there is no public transportation to speak of. Parents drive kids everyplace they go. Kids don't stand on school busses, ever. The closest my kids and their friends ever get to public transportation is a school bus or a church van.

Other than at Disney, my kids have never been on a bus or any public transportation. We drive them to school, always have, and we have a car.

Riding the bus is a ride in itself to my kids, at Disney!
So yes, I agree there are kids out there that aren't familar with bus etiquette.

Of course we put the kids in our laps on the busses, heavy as they are, as soon as we get on & sit down. Then, if the seats aren't needed we give them their own seat.

 

[willis]

Why are people allowed to stand on buses when Most states have seat belt laws? Disney should be sending out buses to allow all quests to have seats. When we visited 3 years ago we saw a man standing hit his head as the bus took a very sharp turn. What if a child who gave up his seat was hurt ? Standing on a disney bus is not safe. the drivers should use counters to inform guests when no seats are left.

 

[mking624]

Why are people allowed to stand on buses when Most states have seat belt laws? Disney should be sending out buses to allow all quests to have seats. When we visited 3 years ago we saw a man standing hit his head as the bus took a very sharp turn. What if a child who gave up his seat was hurt ? Standing on a disney bus is not safe. the drivers should use counters to inform guests when no seats are left.

The whole "seat belt laws" thing can't really compare here...since Disney buses don't have seat belts (actually I've yet to find any bus that does). Plus there's a difference between what can happen with a person on a bus not wearing a seatbelt and a person in a car not wearing a seatbelt. Standing is allowed on most public transportation...i.e. city buses and subways.

I'm used to crowded buses. I grew up in Chicago and used public transportation all the time...and packed buses/trains is a way of life.

 

[maxiesmom]

If you feel that strongly that you need to get back to your resort asap, or that you must sit every time, rent a car!!!! You do not have to use Disney transportation. You can sigh and moan about how rude people are for not offering you a seat or you can be proactive and take care of your family yourself.

If I am having a bad day and think I will have to stand(I don't hop on the bus and assume someone will get up for me) then I decide what to do. I can either wait for a different bus or catch a taxi. See, there are still options for me if I don't have a rental car.

Also, I posted that sometimes I would get up and give a seat if I felt able, and got slammed for not getting up even if I was in pain. Maybe it would be better if we rounded a corner and I fell into someone? Then I would feel bad because I knew I shouldn't be standing, but allowed some idiot into shamming me into getting up.

It just goes to show that no matter what you do, some people will always find something to complain about.

 

[ducklite]

Why are people allowed to stand on buses when Most states have seat belt laws? Disney should be sending out buses to allow all quests to have seats. When we visited 3 years ago we saw a man standing hit his head as the bus took a very sharp turn. What if a child who gave up his seat was hurt ? Standing on a disney bus is not safe. the drivers should use counters to inform guests when no seats are left.

Because there isn't a single state that requires seat belt use in public transit buses.

To not have standees on buses would cause either park tickets or resort rooms to go up probably $2-3 per ticket, per day. I can hear the collective scream now.

And counter won't work, because some people need more space than others, some kids sit on laps, others don't.

Anne

Anne