Dear God A Rant.

[Sabbie]

I was working a shift at the Land Boatride today.

Standby Greeter.


"Why no Fastpass?"

".. DON'T YOU SEE WE HAVE A 5 MINUTE WAIT? IF THAT. GO GET A SOARIN' FAST PASS. OR TEST TRACK. OR SOMETHING."

"But I don't want to wait in line."

"... IT'S LITERALLY UNDER 5 MINUTES."

".. Can we just go through Fastpass line?"



.. UGH.

[Big Wallaby]

".. Can we just go through Fastpass line?"

Sure, it will be opening in half an hour.

[ktulu]

"... IT'S LITERALLY UNDER 5 MINUTES."

".. Can we just go through Fastpass line?"


Yes, but that is currently a 15 minute wait...

[Cranbiz]

Due to technical difficulties, the fast pass line is closed. We don't know when it will be operational again.

May I suggest the standby line which is currently walk on.

[Big Wallaby]

At Living with the Land, is there ever a time when the FP is faster overall, or is it completely psychological there?

".. Can we just go through Fastpass line?"
Certainly! Just head to the front of the FP line and we'll assist you as soon as the person now at the end of Stand-by is on a boat!

[Pinoy_Stitch_84]

".. Can we just go through Fastpass line?"



.. UGH.

I hate it when they do that. For crying out loud, they're wasting their time biyatching and complaining at you, so of course they can wait for five minutes or less. They could've been at the front of the line already if they didn't biyatch at you.

[Cranbiz]

Not quite the same, but similar,

Last night, I pull up to the Caribbean Beach load zone. It's packed. I load up and start having the guests cram in (during my speil, I call my bus sardine can 1).

Now I have room for about another 6 so so guests and the guest at the door looks in and say's "I'm not going to stand, I'll wait for another bus" OK suit yourself. I ask the line if anyone else would like to go now and get another family.

I close the doors and start making small talk with the guest that got on last while I'm navigating the south loop. I don't start my spiel until I leave the MK so I have a fairly straight road to talk with the mic in one hand)

I say to the guest, Why would you want to stand another 10 to 20 minutes waiting for a bus when you can stand here and be home by the time the next bus arrives? I realize the bus is crowded, but so it the loadzone.

She goes to me, You know, You're right. Standing here is about the same as standing there and I am on my back to the resort and they are not.

BTW the next bus into CBR was dispatched as we were pulling into the resort. Take that SG!

[Syndrome]

Actually, I can potentially understand it (can't believe I'm standing up for a SG!)...when I had a knee injury a few years back, it was mostly okay to stand but it did NOT work out well if I were being jounced around on a bus. Thus it was easier for me to just stand on solid ground waiting for another bus and then to be able to sit for the ride.

[mechurchlady]

As a sweeper I was used to my E-stops and in any vehicle I am driving can handle my E-stops. On a bus or train it is different. If you have to E-stop a bus then a 300 pound woman is going to flying toward the front of the bus. I do not weigh that much yet but with purse and stuff I get close to that weight. I have been hurt in busses before because of not just an E-stop but because it is hard for me to stand there and hold onto a railing or seat back while the bus sways.

I do not remember all of the ouches but do remember once on a bus that I was standing in that the bus driver came to a t-section with a light. it was a small street and running a red light there would not have hurt, not many cars there. That driver hit the brakes and skidded to a stop when the light changed. I went flying forward and for a second saw the windshield coming toward me. I done broke the windshield of a pick up when I was a toddler so I do not cotton to the idea of me breaking another windshield. I was bruised for weeks from that incident.

My mother hurt her hip on an E-stop while standing on a bus.

Riding a bus while standing is worse than skateboarding because you have to sway with the bus and hold on tight when the bus starts and stops. The driver can see what is happening and lean on turns or be prepared for stops. I in the back at my short height cannot see what is happening. I have to hold on and hope I do not end up on top of someone.


It was hard for me to get used to driving other people such as taking my neighbor to the doctor. Gently, slowly decelerate and then gently and slowly turn at a snail's pace which is not my style of two wheels on the ground while a screech around corners.

Hugs
churchy

[Storming the Castle]

Another SG that tries really hard not to be. I am one of those that that waits for the next bus much as Syndrome described. I have severe problems in my feet and while extremely painful, I can stand on flat ground (or sit on the concrete if I have to) but I absolutely can not stand on a moving bus. It is just not possible for me to balance myself with the motion. If there is no seat then I will just step aside and wait for the next bus. I know there may be a long wait, but it is a choice I have to make.

[Main Streeter]

Riding a bus while standing is worse than skateboarding because you have to sway with the bus and hold on tight when the bus starts and stops. > I have to hold on and hope I do not end up on top of someone.
Sounds like summer & holiday Cast Shuttle rides @ K Lot. :D:

[Cranbiz]

If there is a valid reason to wait, by all means wait. I am not offended and understand. Most who have a reason do exactly what you all have said. Politely stand aside and wait. I can see why some of you do this.

Now there are a lot that just think that they are special and are obnoxious about it. Those are the ones that I have issues with. The SG I was referring to was outspoken about standing, did not want to politely stand aside and wanted me to find them seats. Ya right.

There was a guest behind them who did state that he could not stand on a moving bus and did step aside. That one I did feel sorry for but I don't control the dispatch.

[svickersart]

After a long day at the parks, I like to sit on a bench nearby and watch all the people scramble and fight to get on the busses. It can be very entertaining and I get to sit and relax for a bit. I dont much care to stand on the bus if I can help it but will if I have to, during my last trip to WDW we had one driver that seemed to go out of his way to try to dump everyone on the floor, he slammed on his breaks three times before we made it out of the pking lot and seemed to take the turns a bit fast.
Steve

[mechurchlady]

We sometimes forget that there are others who are not like us. Cranbiz and Wallaby are great and caring drivers but there are many bus drivers out there who do not give a hoot about their riders or anyone around them. I am required to wear a seat belt in a truck or car but can stand up on a bus or subway or train. Having had my unfair share of accidents I can say that I do not like the idea of going 40 mph without a seat belt let alone standing up on a moving vehicle. I have health issues also.

I was shocked to see on the local news a school bus driver on the the cell phone while driving and in the other hand had a cup of coffee. This is scary because I have seen drivers on public busses doing the same thing.
http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_137020134.html

http://www.cbs2.com/video/?id=39714@kcbs.dayport.com

Big hugs to the great drivers here.

[Cranbiz]

Cranbiz and Wallaby are great and caring drivers but there are many bus drivers out there who do not give a hoot about their riders or anyone around them.


Thank you Churchy. We do try to be safe out there. I know that both Bryan and I try to be very careful when we have standees. Turns are a little slower, perhaps the drive may take a little longer so that we don't put guests into others laps.

You are so very right about some of the other drivers out there. I don't really understand why they do it. We get paid the same, it does not matter if it takes 15 minutes or 25 minutes to get to a resort, do it safely and with the well being of your guests in mind. I have heard drivers complain about things that they could control and did not and wonder why a manager calls them in the office. Signal 4's that could have and should have been avoided if the driver was doing his job properly.


I was shocked to see on the local news a school bus driver on the the cell phone while driving and in the other hand had a cup of coffee. This is scary because I have seen drivers on public busses doing the same thing.
http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_137020134.html

http://www.cbs2.com/video/?id=39714@kcbs.dayport.com

Big hugs to the great drivers here.

I'm sorry to say, I'm not surprised. There is not as many people taking pride in their work and could care less about anyone else except themselves. I'll bet that they never even opened the DOT book to know what the rules actually are.

If you want to drive around with your phone in one hand and your coffee in another, drive a car and don't endanger the lives of those who ride with you. (not that driving your car like that is safe either, but you are most likely endangering less people)


I said this to another driver the other night (he didn't like it either) This is not a difficult job, If you don't like it, go do something else. Or better yet, drive for Mears, everyone knows that their drivers suck. (before you good Mears drivers complain, just watch your fellow drivers)

[mechurchlady]

Cranbiz I was thinking dirty thoughts now, lol, because of what you said about not wanting to dump people into other peoples' laps.

I could see a man looking at a hot female standee and wishing and/or praying that the bus driver would take that turn a bit harder and faster. "YES, come to poppa you pretty wench." I could imagine Cranbiz getting scolded by a man because the pretty girl did not fall into the man's lap and waiting arms.

:eek:

[Big Wallaby]

...during my last trip to WDW we had one driver that seemed to go out of his way to try to dump everyone on the floor, he slammed on his breaks three times before we made it out of the pking lot and seemed to take the turns a bit fast.I don't like having some of the old RTS's at night at close, because the brakes are so tight and if you feather them you nose into the ground. I have had to apologize a few times. Especially in the RTS's that begin with 48--. I am convinced they are rebuilt 2600 series buses. I hate getting a bus that I can't give a smooth ride in... and I am able to give an exceptionally smooth ride with the right equipment, or so I've been told. However, if he was turning quickly, then I doubt it was the bus. If I do get a bus that has tight brakes, I always warn everyone before we take off and apologize for the bad show.

We sometimes forget that there are others who are not like us. Cranbiz and Wallaby are great and caring drivers but there are many bus drivers out there who do not give a hoot about their riders or anyone around them.Thank you, Churchy. I know there are others in my profession who choose not to drive the way I do, and honestly I am offended by them. The quality that Cranbiz and I put into our safety and smooth ride is not a difficult thing to master. It takes time, yes, but it is not difficult. So when I hear about or experience a bus driver who chooses not to respect his passengers, it actually angers me. So as far as not understanding why everyone is not like me, that, my friends, is a choice. In your car, drive however you like (within reason), but in a bus, you should be driving that thing like it's a limousine.

I was shocked to see on the local news a school bus driver on the the cell phone while driving and in the other hand had a cup of coffee.
Unfortunately, I am not shocked either. Appalled, yes; but shocked, no.

I said this to another driver the other night (he didn't like it either) This is not a difficult job, If you don't like it, go do something else. Or better yet, drive for Mears, everyone knows that their drivers suck. (before you good Mears drivers complain, just watch your fellow drivers)And to any good Mears drivers here, I apologize for the opinion I have, but that company has enough bad drivers in it's fleet that if they were to go out of business tomorrow and their buses were now off the road, I would have difficulty shedding a tear. Besides, I would like to see Disney take over the DME and DCL bus service anyway, instead of entrusting our guests first and last experience with us to an outside company. I guess Disney Airlines is out of the question... at least, for now...of course, flight attendants bitch about their pay the entire time they're on the ground now, can you imagine the ones working for Disney? :p:

[leftcoaster]

Re: School bus drivers

Indeed, I am not shocked either. Has anyone ever seen a school bus pulled over for speeding? Never. Because the police either look the other way or they don't consider that a school bus could/would be speeding.

One day last year, I was coming through a local town on my way home from work. The guy in front of me was making a left turn at an intersection without a stop light. He was waiting for a gap in traffic, when a school bus pulled up in the opposite direction, stopped, red flashers, and let off some students. Do you think that the school bus driver would have let the guy make the left turn?

[Big Wallaby]

Has anyone ever seen a school bus pulled over for speeding? I have! It was in a school zone, no less, and he was about 20 over the limit at the time, which put him at least 10 over the normal limit. Of course, this guy was always fast, and had it coming. In fact, he was a downright angry driver. At the time, he was my coworker.