I’m a New Yorker, and even more than acting smug about pizza, music, and art, our favorite thing in the world is arguing about the subway.
You see, the subway is the lifeblood of our city. Everyone takes it, in part because it’s simply the fastest way to get from one place to another, and in part because it’s relatively inexpensive. But when you have millions of people crowding below ground every single day to get to-and-fro, there invariably are some unwritten rules that develop. These rules of etiquette help keep the subway running smoothly, and they encourage riders to show one another respect. Longtime New Yorkers take this etiquette very seriously, and we often share amongst ourselves examples of rude riders who ignore those rules at their own peril.
Walt Disney World’s transportation system is every bit as impressive as the New York City Subway, and it also has its own set of rules for etiquette that help keep everyone sane. Whether it’s your first time to the Vacation Kingdom or your 50th, you’ve probably seen someone violate these rules and drive you just a little bit crazy.
You probably already follow most of these subconsciously, but here are the five key rules for navigating the Walt Disney World transportation system respectfully.
Let Everyone Off Before You Get On
This is probably the cardinal rule of all transportation systems, whether it’s a Disney monorail or even an office elevator, but it also tends to be the one people forget about the easiest. It’s understandable: Everyone’s excited to be at Walt Disney World, and often there’s an incentive to move quickly so as to get more done in a day. But, being pushy and shoving your way past people trying to disembark a bus or shuttle makes you the jerk, not them.
Thankfully, most of Disney’s transportation options mitigate this somewhat by forcing the disembarkation of all guests before beginning the boarding of new parties. The monorail, for example, sees all departing guests exit down the boarding ramp before the crew allows new passengers to board at each stop. But, you do still see this behavior in some places, such as multi-stop buses on property and even many resort elevators.
Fill In All the Available Space
If you’ve ever been to Walt Disney World, this phrase is likely seared into your brain by cast members forcefully repeating it over and over while filling up pre-show rooms and attraction theaters. But, despite its everpresence as an attraction call-to-action, the place this advice is most useful is of course the Disney transportation system.
The same logic applies here, too: Guests scope out a spot on the bus or ferry or monorail that they’re particularly fond of, and then are unwilling to move to give it up. Even though, in doing so, they’re blocking off usable space that another guest could stand in. You’ll notice this a lot with buses at the end of the night – guests refuse to walk all the way to the back of the bus to stand, leaving gaps that could convey more tired guests back to their resorts.
There are a few reasons to make sure you’re filling in all of the space. The first is that it helps let more people on your vehicle, which is just generally a nice thing to do. We’re all tired at the end of the day, and the fewer people who get stuck waiting for the next bus the better. The second is that it actually helps dispatch the buses faster, which in turn gets everyone home faster, and allows the bus to head to its next journey faster. This increases total bus throughput for the system, and decreases wait times for everybody.
The last reason is pretty simple: The bus driver might, depending on how busy it is, take five minutes to implore everyone to fill in all the space, and won’t leave until you’ve done so. You’re just making it easier on everyone to keep your head on a swivel and pack in tight.
On Full Buses and Monorail Cars, Take Your Backpacks Off
This is a New York City Subway classic, but it’s even more important in a place with a high concentration of children.
First, the obvious: Backpacks can take up a fair amount of space, and putting them on the ground allows more people to fit on the bus or monorail car without getting squished. Even smaller backpacks can make you bigger than you might realize, and it’s just generally a good habit to be in.
But the even bigger point: Backpacks can sometimes be tough to control in tight spaces, and if you’re taller than the average person, your backpack is right at perfect face-knocking height for a child. I’ve seen it happy firsthand, where the bus turns and a guy wearing a backpack twists and accidentally smashes his pack into a small child. It’s not good! Just take it off and stow it at your feet – everyone will be thankful.
Don’t Crowd Doorways and Exits (Unless You’re Happy to Get Off First)
This is mostly an issue on the Monorail, but it can be useful in other instances as well. For whatever reason, one of our favorite places to gather on public transportation is in the doorways and exits of the vehicles. On the monorail in particular, you can stay clear of most people trying to get seats and you get a great view of the passing scenery. And, generally, they can be a pretty decent spot to stand, with a nice railing to hold onto and everything.
But, when the monorail gets to the station stop, you’d better be prepared to get out of the way of anyone getting off.
Nothing is more frustrating than squeezing through a large group that’s blocking the exit of the monorail while you’re just trying to get to your 6:45 dinner reservation at California Grill. Inevitably, you end up having to push past them, initiating an uncomfortable moment everyone will have wished they could avoid.
So, if you want to stand in the doorway or exit of a vehicle, that’s totally fine! Just make sure to step out of the way to let anyone off and on who needs it.
Give Up Your Seat For Anyone Who Needs It More Than You (But Don’t Judge Anyone Who Didn’t)
This is, of course, the golden rule of public transportation, and it’s one I’m sure everyone is familiar with. If you’re feeling good and in good health, give up your seat to anyone who seems like they might need it more than you, be they elderly or a small child, injured or exhausted. Kindness is a type of currency at Walt Disney World, and showing some to a fellow guest will come back to you someday, somehow. That’s part of the game.
But the second part of this rule is, I think, just as important.
Not all difficulties are visible, and furthermore, a day at the Disney Parks is enough to run even the toughest and most physically fit into the ground. Just because someone looks to you like they might not need a seat on the bus, that doesn’t mean you have all the information. So, yes, it’s important to always give up your seat to someone more in need, but respect others enough to trust that they’re able to make the same calculation of need that you are.
Ultimately, public transportation etiquette is mostly about having respect for each other and for the system itself. It’s a small miracle that Disney is able to move the sheer number of people through its property that it does, and the fact that it does so for free is unbelievable. The least we can do is treat each other well while we ride.
