Disabilities on the Disney bus

[LilyWDW]

1) You never know what person on that bus may need a seat just like you feel you need a seat.
2) If you need a seat, then you need to know what your options are. This includes the understanding that getting on a standing room only bus may mean standing.
3) If standing is not an option, then you need to explore other modes of transportation. You need to take responsibility for yourself.

I hate this topic. I really do. As someone who at times NEEDS a seat on the bus due to pain, it just bugs me when people complain about others not giving up their seats. Why? Because no one has more of a "right" to those seats then anyone else and at some point it comes down to personal responsibility. I don't get on a standing room only bus if I know I am in need of a seat. I either wait for the next bus or I get an uber/taxi. I make sure I get what I need. I don't roll the dice and hope that someone takes pity on me, then get angry when they don't. I only have myself to get angry at in that case.

 

[joelkfla]

Because no one has more of a "right" to those seats then anyone else

That statement is incorrect. Under the ADA, disabled people have more of "right" to the seats marked as priority for disabled than do able-bodied people.

 

[s3058]

In fairness it isn't something I've ever seen discussed and had I known it was an issue I would have prepared differently. Like I've said it was a cultural difference I didn't expect because in other places, even somewhere as close as universal, it wasn't an issue. IME it was confined to Disney.

I would never expect someone to give me a seat if it wasn't the norm, where I'm from and where I've visited it was. In Disney it's not the norm, which is all I had asked, that's fine, if I stay over night again I'll know to prepare differently.

I mention kindness so much because I don't know how else to put it. It is something that I've always taken for granted in the past. I don't think it's unkind to expect humans to be considerate to you and offering your seat to someone who needs it is considerate to me. Again having a cane is something that on buses here is considered as needing a seat, many bus drivers won't move if someone with a mobility aid isn't seated, that's not the case there and that's fine. I might not agree with it but that's the way it is and as I do with other things I don't agree with in foreign countries I accept it and move on.

It wasn't meant as a slight against the US or Disney, it's merely a difference I hadn't considered and I wanted to know if it was the norm.

 

[dclpluto]

What resort was you staying at?

 

[s3058]

POR dclpluto which, off topic, was really beautiful

 

[LilyWDW]

That statement is incorrect. Under the ADA, disabled people have more of "right" to the seats marked as priority for disabled than do able-bodied people.

How do you know which person is disabled?

 

[Simba's Mom]

I use a walking stick and I've travelled a lot, Disney is the only place I have ever been where someone hasn't offered me a seat on public transport. I've been to other places in the US, to universal even, I've been all over Europe and I've never experienced that before.

That's too bad. I also was in WDW lat week, on a scooter, so I was boarded and seated first. However, on many bus rides I saw people offering to give up their seat to someone standing. On one trip, there was a woman who was offered a seat by 3 different people, and she declined all 3 times. I'll bet she wished she had a sign-"No, I don't want to sit down!" From what I saw, there was definitely chivalry on the buses I was on.

 

[s3058]

That's really great to hear Simba's Mom

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

How do you know which person is disabled?

That is a really good question. If I am not on my scooter, I don't look disabled.

 

[StageTek]

It is a bit of a cultural thing. A surprising large percentage of Americans never take public transportation. For an unfortunately large percentage of Americans bus/train etiquette isn't a something they consider. Many people using the Disney busses are exhausted from a long day of walking and just don't notice others in need. Yet I have seen many people offer seats. I'm sorry you didn't experience this during your trip.

We also boarded at the middle so asking the driver wasn't an option.

Now you know. If a CM is boarding you through the middle door ask that CM to assist you. As others have said sometimes you may have to ask yourself. Now you know it is partially a cultural thing in the States and in many cases simply a lack of awareness you can just ask someone to allow you to sit.

I have had the same experiences as Simba's Mom - seen many people offer their seats. I'm sorry you didn't get a chance to experience that.

 

[LilyWDW]

That is a really good question. If I am not on my scooter, I don't look disabled.

I don't use a scooter, wheelchair, cane, or anything like that. However, there are times, like I said above, that I would be unable to stand on the bus. So if someone asked me to move I would be telling them no. Who are they to then judge my needs? I'm not going to go into my medical history just so someone can decided if I deserve that seat or not.

 

[StageTek]

So if someone asked me to move I would be telling them no. Who are they to then judge my needs? I'm not going to go into my medical history just so someone can decided if I deserve that seat or not.

I hadn't thought of that. So in your case it would inappropiate to ask you to give up your seat.

I guess asking isn't good advice.

 

[joelkfla]

How do you know which person is disabled?

I think you just have to take people at their word. If someone says they have trouble standing because of a disability, believe them. If someone is asked to give up their seat for a disabled person using an obvious assistive device, and the seated person says they have a bad knee or a heart condition, apologize and ask someone else.

Let the fakers be dealt with by G-d, karma, or whatever you believe in.

 

[Woodview]

Do they teach Manners nowadays in the USA ?

They do in Europe .

A Good GLARE should do the trick .. If not a Polite word should do it

SOMEDAY those unmovable people WILL BE OLD

 

[maxiesmom]

Do they teach Manners nowadays in the USA ?

They do in Europe .

A Good GLARE should do the trick .. If not a Polite word should do it

SOMEDAY those unmovable people WILL BE OLD

How do you decided who to glare at? And how is that not rude,? Talk about no manners. Glaring at people because you have arbitrarily decided they should give you a seat is very rude.

 

[KrazeeK120]

Do they teach Manners nowadays in the USA ?

They do in Europe .

A Good GLARE should do the trick .. If not a Polite word should do it

SOMEDAY those unmovable people WILL BE OLD

Old does not equal disabled. There are plenty of old people who are completely able to stand on a bus, and plenty of younger people who are not.

 

[StageTek]

Do they teach Manners nowadays in the USA ?

They do in Europe .

A Good GLARE should do the trick ..

Is it taught in Europe that to GLARE at people is good manners? I, too, wonder who you GLARE at on a bus filled with people? The younger people?

 

[DisneyOma]

“Waiting for the next one?” Um. Yeah. Depending on the route, I might be waiting several hours.

I've never heard of anyone having to wait several hours for a bus at WDW. It's a bit on an exaggeration for you to say that, don't you think?

Tell the driver that you need to sit due to a disability. They should be the one to ask somebody to move.

I drove Disney buses for 9 years. I can remember only 1 or 2 times when I had to ask a specific person to move. The rest of the times, as soon as I asked for a volunteer one or more people offered.

I'm curious - how did you decide who to ask to move?

In my case unfortunately there was two ECVS on the bus and waiting on the next one would have been a 27 minute wait without benches. We also boarded at the middle so asking the driver wasn't an option.

I'm surprised to hear that people don't class a walking stick as a sign of a disability. Maybe it's a culture thing? I know where I'm from wheelchairs and walking sticks are given priority for seating on buses.

TBH it was late and I wasn't sure what the norm is in the states. I wouldn't bat an eyelid about asking someone in my native country (Ireland) or in any of the EU countries I've visited.

Ultimately I don't expect it from an official sense, it's more of a culture difference I guess where I take that kindness for granted in my own country.

By walking stick, do you mean a cane? Or a hiking-style long stick that you hold on by the side? If it's a cane, (which is about waist height with a handle or knob to hold on to) people should know that the person may be a bit unsure on his or her feet. It doesn't always mean the person needs to sit down though. If it's a hiking stick, then people think you are better shape then they are!

That's too bad. I also was in WDW lat week, on a scooter, so I was boarded and seated first. However, on many bus rides I saw people offering to give up their seat to someone standing. On one trip, there was a woman who was offered a seat by 3 different people, and she declined all 3 times. I'll bet she wished she had a sign-"No, I don't want to sit down!" From what I saw, there was definitely chivalry on the buses I was on.

Chivalry - men thinking women need to sit at all times, even if the woman is in better shape than the man. And we can't possibly open doors by ourselves either I'm all for helping people open doors if their hands are full, pushing a stroller, etc, but I don't do it because of gender. That's just sexist.

 

[s3058]

Apologies it was a cane disneyoma. A silver one from a hospital (the ones that look similar to crutches). It definitely was obvious it wasn't for fashion!

 

[StageTek]

Chivalry - men thinking women need to sit at all times, even if the woman is in better shape than the man. And we can't possibly open doors by ourselves either

When I offer my seat to woman some think I'm being sexist, I think I'm being polite. When I offer to open a door for a woman some think I'm doing it because I think she is incapable of opening a door, I think I'm being polite.

I'm proud to say that even thought I am called sexist occasionally I still do what I think is the polite thing to do. When a woman accuses me of being sexist as I hold a door open I smile and keep holding it. I will never allow anyone to gender shame me.