Give Up A Seat About This Page:

[guerns17]

Okay, I have kind of a strange question.

Is it rude if you are at a theme park like MK and go early for the parade and fireworks show to get a good seat. Lets say an hour early...you find a park bench seat to relax, have a snack and enjoy the night. Is it rude if someone comes along with children or someone who tires easily without sitting to not give up your seat.

I am very torn on this being a younger person without children I try not to be bias, but at the same time I feel frustrated that I get there early to get a good seat, but always feel I need to give it up. Should it be first come first serve no matter what, or should I make sure to accommodate others around me even if I took the time to get there first?

I so do not want to be rude, but at the same time I would like to sit and relax too.

What do you all think?

[LRnascarfan]

In a situation like this I don't think you are being rude. It says in many places to arrive early for good seats and that is what you are doing. I say keep your spot and enjoy the parade and don't worry about what others might be thinking.

Kim

[luvmyboys]

I personally would not give up a seat for kids- that would be half of the people at the parks! I may consider it for a senior citizen. I know they have special wheelchair viewing areas...not sure if this is for people with other disabilities as well. I never really thought of this though as I don't arrive that early- I just squeeze in where I can. I don't think most people would be offended-??

What really bugs me though is when I do arrive somewhat early and then other people's kids try to come stand right up front at the last minute. I'm OK with kids getting a better view than me- I just think it is just very rude of the parents!

[tessatilli]

You got there early as it is recommended. I use a EVC when there and even knowing I can go to wheelchair seating I do not take for granted I will get it just because I showed up. If I want it I go early. If they were so tired and had trouble standing they should've gotten there early also. I know what you mean though my DH is the same way. Especially on the buses, he wants to sit as he is tired too but because my chair takes up 3 seats he will NOT sit in a seat if it is a full bus. I also stay in my chair as not to take up a 4th seat. Even at the parades and rides I am the only one who uses the privilges DH and DS's do not. Maybe the way to make it work for you is stay sitting then half way through excuse yourself to standing so someone else can sit. I hope this helps you.

[davishomeschool]

I think that if you made a point to get there early to get a good seat you shouldn't have to give it up. If it would ease your conscience why don't you save an extra seat or two and then look for someone with a sleeping baby/cane, ect and give the extra to them.

I am glad you brought this up because I do have a pet pev I would like to mention. It makes me sad to see a bus full of people with women holding babies and young children standing trying to balance on the swaying bus and men sitting and not giving up their seats.

[MelissaL]

People who can't stand for long periods have the same opportunity you do to stake out a seat early. I do not think you should feel obligated to give up your seat to those who come later.

People with children (or anyone else) who can't sit still for an hour beforehand can choose to watch the parade from the spots available when they arrive, or can choose not to watch the parade. I have seen just 1/3 of a parade in my past 5 visits, because I've had young children and didn't want to sit with them staking out a spot. It would never occur to me to arrive right before a parade and expect people who had been waiting to give us their spots.

I see parade viewing as an option, not a right. There will be people who for whatever reason can't stake out a spot, but it is not your responsibility to make accommodations for them.

If you want to give up your spot, then sure, it's a kind thing to do, but it's not the same as giving up a seat on a bus when it's usually just luck that you had a seat first, and when it doesn't "cost" you much enjoyment or convenience to stand for a few minutes.

Melissa

[cdnmickeyfan]

I think you have every right to the seat that you got and shouldn't feel guilty in the least.

[JoJayMom]

Keep your seat!! I don't see anything wrong with you keeping your seat and I agree you shouldn't feel guilty....you are the smart one that got there an hour earlier!!

[dsteiny23]

I absolutely think if you've gotten there early, like all everyone suggests if you want a good seat, then you should keep it for yourself. My DH is the one who can't sit at all if there's anyone around who he thinks should be sitting. I am always proud of him, but I never expect him to, especially if we've been there waiting. If you are going to take the time out of your day there to get a good seat to enjoy the parade, you should not have to give it up for anyone who waited until the last minute. That being said, if you did give your seat to someone who you thought needed it, there's nothing wrong with that either.

Originally Posted by davishomeschool

I am glad you brought this up because I do have a pet pev I would like to mention. It makes me sad to see a bus full of people with women holding babies and young children standing trying to balance on the swaying bus and men sitting and not giving up their seats.

I stood on a crowded bus with my 3 year old last year LITERALLY sleeping standing up. I had one arm wrapped around him the best I could leaning over and the other wrapped around a pole while a woman and her college aged daughter said, "aw, how cute, look he's sleeping" and to me "hold on, we're almost there". If I was 20something and sitting with my mother, if I didn't give up my seat at that point, I think my mother would have slapped me. I didn't want to cause a scene...what I wanted to say was "yeah, real cute, now get the [heck] up!" Now I'll get off my soapbox

[Beautiful Mother]

First-keep your seat, unless you are feeling chivalrous, you will know you've done a good deed.

Second-We have to understand that though a lot of us of a "certain" age were raised with the notion men open doors for women, young people gave up their seats to their "elders" and those "in need", and we all had a air of "proper manners." Today society has become the "me first", I'm entitled society. We are faster, courser, and less interested in those around us.

This saddens me. It is not the world Walt was raised in. I wonder what he would think?

[Teresa]

I wouldn't give up my seat. We staked out our spots for the Christmas parade on Christmas day last year - 3 hours early. DH and mom thought I was crazy and I should have waited until an hour ahead. About 2 hours before the parade, the area got FULL and we were the only ones with chairs, a front row seat, and a great view! (we sat on the upper level of the Train Station on Main Street. Great view, wonderful parade, and I got some awesome photos I wouldn't have had I given up my seat.

[Dreaming of DisneyWorld]

Originally Posted by davishomeschool

I am glad you brought this up because I do have a pet pev I would like to mention. It makes me sad to see a bus full of people with women holding babies and young children standing trying to balance on the swaying bus and men sitting and not giving up their seats.

Amen! My DH typically stands w/the strollers on the bus and leaves me w/the kids. I actually had a sweet senior lady get up and let me sit w/my babies last fall while everyone else just watched me stand there (and later watched the senior lady standing there...). It's very disheartening. I think buses are a different beast - you cannot get there an hour early and claim your seat. It is a matter of manners when you see a woman holding on to one of those poles for dear life while clinging to her babies to make sure they don't topple over, too. And what's more, I stand and hold one child, but when my DD5 needed a seat and there was one left (with someone's handbag in it), yes I expected her to move her knock-off Gucci so my child can have the seat!!

[mimidodaplgo]

Originally Posted by davishomeschool

I am glad you brought this up because I do have a pet pev I would like to mention. It makes me sad to see a bus full of people with women holding babies and young children standing trying to balance on the swaying bus and men sitting and not giving up their seats.

I have the exact same pet peeve and, unlike a parade, on the bus you can't arrive early to select your seat..it's all by chance when you step on that bus..I remember one time when I was traveling on a bus back to our resort one night with a very sleepy 8 year old in my lap..I had a mother standing up beside me with her child of about four years of age standing beside her. I asked the Mom if her child would mind sitting in my daughter's lap..her daughter didn't blink an eye..she crawled up in my daughter's lap..and I had one child's head on one shoulder and the other child's head on my other shoulder..sleeping very soundly..two happy kids and two happy moms..it was really a very sweet moment!!

[Griffin]

I'm not big on parades or fireworks. So this isn't a problem for me. But on buses I do give up a seat if there is someone who looks like they could use it that are standing up. I've actually had people say no to me before and I sit right back down again. I at least offer though.

[TracyKim]

I guess I look at this differently because I live here. Anytime we are at the parks I look at everyone else as dumb tourist. (No offense intended) I think that they don't know that the parades and such are standing room only and if they want a good seat/view then they need to get there early.

I put others children in front of me. You never know, this could be their only visit to the world. I will also put a person in a wheelchair in front of me. I do give up my seat for moms with small children, especially if they are sleeping and I do give up my seat for older folks who look like they have been dragged through the parks by a two year old!!

It's not that I am trying to do a good deed, I am trying to make their time at Disney great and I can come back anytime, they may not be that lucky!!

BUT....... I DO make sure that my kids are at the best place possible and will pimp slap people that get in their way!!