BOG: Vindication for those of us against table-saving!

[kris4360]

I still don't see your point. If there is an empty table, I'm going to sit there with my young children while DH and older children get food. When they are done getting food, they join us, we eat, we go on with our day. It has nothing to do with the kids being in line or not. It has to do with the lines at the counter being too crowded.

I'm happy to hear that Disney has worked out some of the existing CS kinks with BOG. But until they change the configuration at the current CS restaurants, we will continue to hold a table.

FWIW, I return the cart when grocery shopping too.

Well then I guess I will start saving tables too and not care if others are walking around with their food unable to sit.

 

[freshmanjs]

Well then I guess I will start saving tables too and not care if others are walking around with their food unable to sit.

if you need a table, you should take one. that's why they are there.

 

[Epcotgal]

When we go without young kids we wait in line together. When my 3 were little I always took them to a table to sit down. It was much better than backing up parties behind us that wanted to order. In our experience I was able to get kids settled, get condiments, napkins, & straws and by that time dh was there with the food. We ate and left. No table hogging. Just because someone waits to get their food before sitting doesn't guage how long they will take up the table. Someone mentioned consideration? Even though my kids aren't little anymore I still have appreciation for those who do.

 

[Mkrop]

Well then I guess I will start saving tables too and not care if others are walking around with their food unable to sit.

why are they unable to sit most likely someone else will be getting up from a table mometarily. I swear even when I hunt down a table beforehand, I have never looked for that long. And we have been at busy times as well.

Isnt ir the same practice done at your local food court at the mall it is pretty much the same concept esp at Christmas time.

 

[Mkrop]

First of all, a parent who goes to a table with children and:

• cleans the table
• wipes down the chairs
• wipes the kids' hands with cleansing wipes
• gets condiments, napkins and straws, and
• feeds a younger child who will not be eating the CS food

is not "saving" the table. That parent is "using" the table in every way that Disney intends, unless and until they feel the need to implement a rule prohibiting such conduct (which is a rare occurrence).

It was mentioned earlier that the system works best if everyone is doing the same thing. Well, there are two options. Do the above, or, wait around in long lines with your kids clogging up the pathways and don't begin to hunt for a table until you have your food. But if the system really does work best if everyone does the same thing, wouldn't the problem be solved if everyone did what is described above? It isn't "wrong", "against the rules" or "inconsiderate" if Disney specifically allows it. And it is efficient if everyone does it. (Or so say those who believe that the system works best when everyone is doing the same thing. Personally, I have not tested the theory.)

In any event, I think that people need to divorce themselves from thinking that a parent who is preparing the family to eat is "saving a table". We should reserve that term, (and our collective scorn) for people who really are camping out, doing nothing, waiting for 20 minutes at table while others with food are truly at a loss for somewhere to sit. In reality, I don't think this happens all that often.

And it is a truly hard-hearted person who thinks that a mom should go into the Baby Center to feed one child while the other children wait elsewhere, unaccompanied. Not every family that goes to WDW has two adults to supervise the children, and separating the family is the absoulte worst suggestion I have ever heard.

I agree with everything and thanks...VINDICATION!

 

[JimmyV]

When we go without young kids we wait in line together. When my 3 were little I always took them to a table to sit down. It was much better than backing up parties behind us that wanted to order. In our experience I was able to get kids settled, get condiments, napkins, & straws and by that time dh was there with the food. We ate and left. No table hogging. Just because someone waits to get their food before sitting doesn't guage how long they will take up the table. Someone mentioned consideration? Even though my kids aren't little anymore I still have appreciation for those who do.

There's an important and oft-overlooked point here. People who "linger" after eating are, in my experience, far more of the problem than the table wiping, kid cleaning, condiment gathering "savers". At least the latter are moving the process along. After all, the time it takes to do the pre-dining ritual is a constant, and can either be done while waiting for the food, (in which case, the eating begins immediately), or it will have to be tacked on the beginning of the meal before the food gets consumed. Either way, the time that one vacates the table will be the same. As long as there is no lingering.

 

[nansmama]

We aren't a seat-saving family, but we ate at Columbia Harbour House for the first time on our most recent trip. There was literally not room for all four of us to wait without blocking the counter/queue exit. I had to send two of the kids (teens) out of the line to make room for the guests who ordered behind us. The BOG system sounds awesome, but they would have to tear out and rebuild queues to make it work in some locations.

 

[freshmanjs]

We aren't a seat-saving family, but we ate at Columbia Harbour House for the first time on our most recent trip. There was literally not room for all four of us to wait without blocking the counter/queue exit. I had to send two of the kids (teens) out of the line to make room for the guests who ordered behind us. The BOG system sounds awesome, but they would have to tear out and rebuild queues to make it work in some locations.

also, in the BOG system, EVERYONE saves a table before getting their food.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

my point is that these arguments about how it is selfish to sit at a table when someone else might want to use it are equally absurd.

ITA - I really try to be considerate of others, but sometimes you just have to "survive" in the moment. For someone to be upset because another person happens to be there first or to be where you wanted to be is obsurd. It is like being angry that others are in line ahead of you at a ride. We are all trying to enjoy our vacation, and get through sometimes difficult times the best we can.

My advice is that if you are upset my struggling to find a table at lunch time, eat earlier or later than the "usual" times and it will be way less crowded, and others won't be "hogging" the table feeding their baby or getting their children ready to eat while you want to sit there.

 

[keri125]

I think that if you have so many children you can't take care of all their needs in-line between two adults, better family planning should have started long before any trip to WDW. *ducking*

 

[VS85]

I think that if you have so many children you can't take care of all their needs in-line between two adults, better family planning should have started long before any trip to WDW. *ducking*

Wow. Just wow. No wonder you "ducked" (coward). What a completely horrible and rude thing to say. Who said anything about having too many kids? Even one small, hungry and tired child can be a handful, not to mention all the accessories they come with! I am 27, single and don't have kids, but I have enough decency to understand that a mom of young children has her hands full. I know everyone has the right to express themselves in this forum, but some things are better to keep to yourself.

This thread is getting ridiculous and very off-topic. I'm sorry for getting upset, but this just does not exemplify the spirit of Disney... I couldn't imagine being a mom and reading the awful things people are saying about families with young children.

 

[OThopeful35]

I bet this thread is going to be closed in 5, 4, 3, 2......

 

[tiffjoy]

I think that if you have so many children you can't take care of all their needs in-line between two adults, better family planning should have started long before any trip to WDW. *ducking*

Lol.

Such a silly statement to make. Exaggerate much?

 

[scojos]

I think that if you have so many children you can't take care of all their needs in-line between two adults, better family planning should have started long before any trip to WDW. *ducking*

wow - awesome, totally awesome, i ll put my children up for adoption so you can have a table.... this has to be singularly one of the most ridiculous comments i have ever read on the dis, and boy i have read some!!!

I bet this thread is going to be closed in 5, 4, 3, 2......

i agree, and quite rightly, with some of the small minded and offensive comments coming out at the moment....

 

[Mkrop]

I think that if you have so many children you can't take care of all their needs in-line between two adults, better family planning should have started long before any trip to WDW. *ducking*

You should "duck"....


Anyway I have seen some parents with large families handle things in life beautifully while parents of only seem overwhelmed with the smallest things so to generalize seems petty.

You (not general YOU) should realize that you have NO IDEA what is going on with an indivual family, there could be medical issues going with a child OR a parent, what about grandparents that cant stand in line. The different scenarios that could make going through a line with the ENTIRE family in tow are too numerous to mention. None having to do with the SIZE of one's family.

And most of us are promoting efficiency, getting things ready whether you have 1 or 9 kids to eat as soon as the food arrives. If that is the practice that is happening at the restaurant than I suggest you detach from the hip and go find a table. If all are "saving tables" than maybe you should give it a try instead of wandering around aimlessly trying to find a table, bc maybe you arent that good at it, if you can not manage to find one!

 

[Colleen27]

also, in the BOG system, EVERYONE saves a table before getting their food.

True enough. The system at BoG is exactly what my family does at other counter service locations - place our order, find a table. The only difference is that our whole family can sit down and settle in as soon as we order, rather than one person taking the kids and bags to a table while the other waits for the food.

I think that if you have so many children you can't take care of all their needs in-line between two adults, better family planning should have started long before any trip to WDW. *ducking*

That may be one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read on the DIS. Solo with 2 of my 3 or with DH and all 3 kids, the end result is the same - whether it is one tray of food for my girls and I or the two it takes to carry lunch for 5, we have our hands full with the food alone. I suppose we could all aim for having only children and never traveling without a second adult, but personally I find avoiding counter service as much as possible to be a more acceptable solution.

 

[aaarcher86]

I think that if you have so many children you can't take care of all their needs in-line between two adults, better family planning should have started long before any trip to WDW. *ducking*

I hardly think the lines at a QS restaurant in WDW should be on the checklist of things to consider when deciding on children.

 

[sokerfrog]

Anyone who has been to Be Our Guest at lunchtime can tell you that no matter how crowded the restaurant, you can always find a place to eat for your party. No more trolling around with your tray of food, trying to guilt someone who is finished into getting up for you. No more rushing for a table as soon as someone stands up.

The system WORKS: nobody is allowed to save tables due to the way the traffic flow of the restaurant is set up. This proves what many on the DIS have been saying for a long time, that saving tables is a bad idea, and waiting to sit until you have your food makes more tables available for everyone. Yippee!

To those who complain that they don't want their kids waiting in the line, all the kids were waiting in the line with their families and present at ordering when we were there on Sunday, and nobody appeared too upset about it.

I am happy, and hope all CS restaurants implement this policy during peak use.

(Ready for flames. I understand there's a lot of difference of opinion on this subject.)

I agree. I am happy they put a system in place like this. I wish they would do this at other quick serves. I have been to Cosmic Ray's once when they weren't allowing seat saving-and it was by far my best experience at that restaurant.

 

[nmmom95]

I think that if you have so many children you can't take care of all their needs in-line between two adults, better family planning should have started long before any trip to WDW. *ducking*

I agree! I know that DH and I spent many hours debating the benefit of collecting extra FP with young children's tickets vs. how many trays we could carry at Disney CS when discussing the size of our family.

 

[smiths02]

I agree! I know that DH and I spent many hours debating the benefit of collecting extra FP with young children's tickets vs. how many trays we could carry at Disney CS when discussing the size of our family.

That is just silly! The first consideration should be room occupancy, then how many children vs. adults will be on the dining plan, then FP, then trays you can carry at Disney CS. Obviously!

We planned for a family of 4. This would have been manageable in a CS line. However, I had twins with my last pregnancy (no fertility drugs, no family history, no way to plan for this). Should I give one away so our next trip to Disney will run more smoothly?