Save a Table with a Water Bottle??!! Are you serious?

[mketting]

So we went up to BB for Breakfast the first morning of the cruise. We went through the buffet line and then went out on deck to look for a table. There was 8 of us so when we saw two tables close by we headed for those. The kids all sat at one table and my sister and I sat at the other (DH's were a ways behind us in line) The table had a water bottle (Just a plane old plastic bottle) on it and a navigator. We had been there about two minutes when a man came up with his wife and son and said that that was his water bottle and navigator and he had put hose there to save the table. I just looked at him, then he said "We have a young child with us" . Surprisingly my sister got up to move, I had no plans to move but didn't want to cause a scene and this guy just wasn't going to move on. As I was moving I reminded him that this is a Disney Cruise, and almost all of us have Children.

As you can imagine I'm not a fan of "saving" chairs on deck with a towel either.

 

[rantnnravin]

I would have told him it looked like someone had left their garbage, and that when we go to buffets, one of us stays at the table while the other takes DD up I would have apologized for the misunderstanding, and offered for him to pull up a few chairs for his family to share the table.
why didn't you toss the abandoned bottle and navigator in the trash?

 

[Dreamsoftravel]

Interesting. Never saw that at Topsiders. However, agree with the lounge chair at the pool. I never was able to get a chair at the pool the whole time we were there. I always ended up on deck 10 with a chair and told my kids I was up there if they needed me. I would then move the chair so I can see the pool and watch them. I understand adults putting towels on their chair, not sure every young child needs a lounge chair as well.

 

[IndyDisneyFan]

I agree that if I would have seen only a bottle of water and a navagator I would have assumed that whoever was there before forgot to take them with them. I probably would have thrown them away. When they came back, I would have told them that next time someone should stay with the table if they intend to come back. On our last cruise we had some guy with his son who were behind us in the buffet line at breakfast. When we found a table he quickly pushed past us and set down his tray just as I was setting my down! I didn't say anything, just glared at him. Some people are just rude!

Laura

 

[yazee1]

On our last cruise we had some guy with his son who were behind us in the buffet line at breakfast. When we found a table he quickly pushed past us and set down his tray just as I was setting my down! I didn't say anything, just glared at him. Some people are just rude!

Laura

Let's hope the adrenaline rush he experienced from dashing in front of you and stealing your table ruined his digestion as he ate his breakfast.

In reference to the table savers, I wonder if there more than just you and your sister sitting there, he wouldn't have marched over and tried to "reclaim" "his" table. Leaving a bottled water and a Navigator to save a table is so dumb, I'm guessing they were new to cruising and furthermore had never visited the DIs boards to learn cruise manners and tricks. I'm glad your sister pointed out the obvious fact that they were not the only ones with children with them. DUH. I hope it helped them get a clue.

 

[atinkerbellmom]

I think I would have tossed the bottle and placed my tray on top of the navigator. When they came back, I would have said, I am sure a CM tossed any trash on the tables, but then told him to feel free to pull up a few chairs and join us... I would have then pointed to my other table with all the kids and invited his child to join them.

 

[Fatphil32]

As you can imagine I'm not a fan of "saving" chairs on deck with a towel either.

It's actually against the rules to save chairs with a towel on DCL. If you see one with a towel on it, you should feel free to take it.

 

[mmouse37]

It's actually against the rules to save chairs with a towel on DCL. If you see one with a towel on it, you should feel free to take it.

That is a pretty general statement.....so if you left your chair to go into the pool and were looking forward to laying in the sun to dry off after you got out, you would be OK with someone removing your towel and claiming your chair while you were in the pool. I don't think so.

Let's clarify that you should not leave a towel on a chair to "claim" it in the morning and then not show up for hours or that you should not leave your chair in the middle of the day for any significant length of time or it will fair game.

I don't think it is fair to say that any chair with a towel on it is free game as someone may just be in the pool and I feel they are entitled to return to their chair to dry off.

MJ

 

[scootch]

now I am an adult traveling with my two girls alone(7 and 9).... guess I need to carry a backpack or something with me??? I would never have put a water bottle there... guess I never really thought about needing to save a table.... thanks for the insight.

 

[papaof5boys]

Look my Dw and I have been Maried for 22 years and have 5 sons 19,18,16,6and 3. We have been all over the world on trips with some or all of them. why not lets the wife or husband stay with 1 kid and the other get in line or stay at the table. Its just rude to leve ( TRASH ) on the table to hold it. I'm sorry but i would not have moved, and as for holding deck chairs with a towle,
how am I to know if its not a dirty towle some slob just left there.

 

[kcashner]

The bottom line is that there is no saving of tables, pool chairs, seats in the WD theatre, etc. In fairness, we usually temper that with a bit of reason--yes, my DD can join me in the theatre and then go get a drink...and come back quickly...leaving a sweater on the chair while she's gone. BUT she's gone 3 minutes, and it is one seat, not a whole row. And, if someone insisted, I would have to give up her seat.

Pool chairs--again, reason. Yes, a towel on a chair might indicate that someone is in the pool or has gone to the restroom. If it stays there for 30 minutes, it's an abandoned chair!

I came into the theatre one night and a kid (maybe 9 or 10) was saving a whole row for his family. I took a seat and he told me those were his. I told him that he should read the Navigator--there was no saving seats, and I'd be happy to tell his parents that when they arrived. I never heard from the parents.

The CMs are happy to help you find a table in or near Topsiders.....

 

[CurlyBlueEyes]

It's actually against the rules to save chairs with a towel on DCL. If you see one with a towel on it, you should feel free to take it.

Its even listed in the Navigators that I have been scouring (in preparation for my Sept Western trip). I think I may get an extra Nav or 2 and highlight the "no saving chairs" rule. Maybe even be conveniently reading that section when someone comes to re-claim their chair.

Is there a prime time for lunch? Because I won't have kids with me, should I go earlier or later... or is it a steady stream of people?

Does the adult pool have chair hogs too?

 

[jnadelman]

I'm not quite sure why it is like this at the buffet. If you go to a buffet in a hotel, it works just like a normal restaurant and they assign you a table.
Cruises should work the same way, at least at peak meal hours anyway.

 

[mmouse37]

I'm not quite sure why it is like this at the buffet. If you go to a buffet in a hotel, it works just like a normal restaurant and they assign you a table.
Cruises should work the same way, at least at peak meal hours anyway.

It does not work that way...first come first served for tables....you may have to circle around a bit to find an empty table.

MJ

 

[mmouse37]

The bottom line is that there is no saving of tables, pool chairs, seats in the WD theatre, etc. In fairness, we usually temper that with a bit of reason--yes, my DD can join me in the theatre and then go get a drink...and come back quickly...leaving a sweater on the chair while she's gone. BUT she's gone 3 minutes, and it is one seat, not a whole row. And, if someone insisted, I would have to give up her seat.

Pool chairs--again, reason. Yes, a towel on a chair might indicate that someone is in the pool or has gone to the restroom. If it stays there for 30 minutes, it's an abandoned chair!

I came into the theatre one night and a kid (maybe 9 or 10) was saving a whole row for his family. I took a seat and he told me those were his. I told him that he should read the Navigator--there was no saving seats, and I'd be happy to tell his parents that when they arrived. I never heard from the parents.

The CMs are happy to help you find a table in or near Topsiders.....

Obviously common sense comes into play with anything. But, if I am in the pool for a few minutes and I come out and my chair is taken I would be peeved. Of course I usually have more than just a plain white towel on my chair, I would have my DCL logo towel and/or a beach cover up or something. The chair would not look abandoned it would look used. If there was just a plain white towel and no other personal belongings around I think it could be safely assumed the chair is abandoned.

I just wish people would clear away their used towels from chairs when they are done so it is easier to find chairs to begin with and not have to guess if the chair is still occupied.

MJ

 

[jrabbit]

The table had a water bottle (Just a plane old plastic bottle) on it and a navigator. We had been there about two minutes when a man came up with his wife and son and said that that was his water bottle and navigator and he had put hose there to save the table.

OK this is a pet peeve of mine - on the ship or in the parks. Disney lays out the restaurants as follows, you go in the main doors, get your food, then head out to the tables, after you eat, you exit - and the "trafic flows".

After all of the "training" they do to us in the parks about geting in a line for the rides, all of that training goes out the window at the restaurants. People walk in the exit, find a table and send the others in their party to get food.

So now you have half of the tables occupied by one person not eating and you have a whole lot of people walking around with trays of food looking at all of the mostly empty tables (while those waiting for their food gatherers to get through the stopped line because of those people with food looking for a table, etc).

CLASIC GRIDLOCK!!

The solutions, go with the flow, don't plug it up. Get your food, Get your table, Get out.

 

[safetymom]

I see no problem if one person stays behind with the kids at the table while the other one goes to get their food. I would rather they do that than having small kids in the buffet line.

 

[sbell111]

This afternoon, I ate lunch at a buffet restaurant that has 'open seating'. I came in, paid for my meal, set my novel down on the table of my choice, and then went to get some grub. Certainly, I had the expectation that people would respect my book as a valid placeholder for that table and it would have been understandable for me to want my table back if someone took it.

As such, I think it is reasonable for people to expect that their water bottle and navigator should be able to save their table. I understand how someone could be confused as to whether the bottle & navigator were left behind or not, but the table was still theirs.

Next, we are going to decide that a person can not leave their table to get more food and expect to be able to sit back down.

 

[lbgraves]

I see no problem if one person stays behind with the kids at the table while the other one goes to get their food. I would rather they do that than having small kids in the buffet line.

We also split up when dining at both WDW and on the ship. I get in line to order the food while DH and the kids go sit down and get the napkins etc. IMO the lines are crowded enough and it makes it much less hectic without having kids fidgeting in line for 20 minutes or more. On the ship DS only eats chicken tenders so we grab him a double order on they way to TS and he goes and sits at a table while the rest of us go through the buffet.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Obviously common sense comes into play with anything. But, if I am in the pool for a few minutes and I come out and my chair is taken I would be peeved. Of course I usually have more than just a plain white towel on my chair, I would have my DCL logo towel and/or a beach cover up or something. The chair would not look abandoned it would look used. If there was just a plain white towel and no other personal belongings around I think it could be safely assumed the chair is abandoned.

I just wish people would clear away their used towels from chairs when they are done so it is easier to find chairs to begin with and not have to guess if the chair is still occupied.

MJ

I agree. When DH takes youngest to the pool (and I say that because he often is the one taking her while I'm getting ready for dinner or whatnot) there is more than just a DCL white towel on the chair IF he happens to walk up to her, get something to eat, etc. All his stuff (shirt, sunscreen, etc.) and her stuff (personalized towel and/or coverup, etc.) is on that same chair. If it's ONLY a towel then it's probably harder to recognize if it's being used at the time. An easy solution is leave something- sunscreen, sunglasses, any little personal item that they will know those item(s) weren't abandoned like a DCL towel might be. It's not like you'll be far away from it to worry about your sunscreen or something stolen right from under you?

OK this is a pet peeve of mine - on the ship or in the parks. Disney lays out the restaurants as follows, you go in the main doors, get your food, then head out to the tables, after you eat, you exit - and the "trafic flows".

After all of the "training" they do to us in the parks about geting in a line for the rides, all of that training goes out the window at the restaurants. People walk in the exit, find a table and send the others in their party to get food.

So now you have half of the tables occupied by one person not eating and you have a whole lot of people walking around with trays of food looking at all of the mostly empty tables (while those waiting for their food gatherers to get through the stopped line because of those people with food looking for a table, etc).

CLASIC GRIDLOCK!!

The solutions, go with the flow, don't plug it up. Get your food, Get your table, Get out.

Nope, not gonna do it.
Not after the first crusie where we did it this way and then had all 5 of us walking around and around with our trays- the entire time our food getting cold and me worried that one of the kids were going to drop their trays or something. Nope. Now we go in- I take any/all of our belongings and find us a table...I wait (usually with the youngest child) and when they get to the table with their food we head off to get ours. We've never had an encounter where myself/youngest (who waited to get our food by holding the table) were the last to eat at our table therefore holding up the table longer- we always finish first because we eat less.
I'm NOT going to go thru that again walking around and around all 5 of us holding trays of food quickly getting cold and the potential for spilling it trying to find a table. nope, not gonna happen.
(ps. I have to add that the first time that happened- getting food and walking around to find a table- we ended up taking LONGER because we sat down, all realized our food was disgusting cold, and we all had to get up -split up so I could hold the table- to get food AGAIN! waste of food, waste of time, and kept the table longer than we would have had I saved a table to begin with!)