Are they still doing the no saving seats at CS meals?

[bcinohio]

I don't mind one way or the other just trying to see what they have decided to do about no saving seats at CS meals. Are they still trying this that everyone stands in line or have they done away with this?

We will be at WDW July 10-17.

 

[ThumperandLitenin]

When we went in late-october, there was no seat saving being enforced. When we went back the week before Christmas they were enforcing the no seat saving at Cosmic Rays in MK. At actually worked pretty well. When we finally got our food (almost 20 minutes!) seats had opened up.

 

[a1tinkfans]

I don't mind one way or the other just trying to see what they have decided to do about no saving seats at CS meals. Are they still trying this that everyone stands in line or have they done away with this?

We will be at WDW July 10-17.

I have to say, in ALL my trips, I mean every single one, I have never seen or heard of this

I always offer up the extra seats if they are at our table (we're usually 3) and have met some wonderful people/families...then again, i am also one of those that says, would you like this extra dessert we got, we are tossing it....you'd be surprised (or maybe not) at how many accept
Just another DIsney magical moment................

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Um, is this new? I didn't hear anything of the kind in July.

 

[candielips]

I have never heard of this either. I must say in some ways it sounds like a great thing but for a family w/ young kids it doesn't sound good at all.
For instance when we travel in Sept this year our DD will have just turned 3 and our DS will be 10 months old. Usually when we go anywhere to eat, one of us takes the kids to table and starts to get everything ready, ie. sippy cups, wipes, etc... If we have to wait until we actually have the food, our food will be freezing by the time we get around to eating it.

 

[TDC Nala]

No way to know, as this is apparently instituted only at CS restaurants at the Magic Kingdom, on a day to day basis, based on whether it's determined that the restaurants on that particular day are crowded enough to implement it.

 

[TiszBear]

This is a first that I have heard of it. Also it won't fly with my family,as one of us is in a wheelchair and that person usually stays at the table with enough seats for the rest of us. So I would like to see how they handle it for those in a wheelchair.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Last month on December 21st sometime after 9:00 PM I saw it being enforced at the Tomorrowland Noodle Station.

 

[PinkRhombus]

Last month on December 21st sometime after 9:00 PM I saw it being enforced at the Tomorrowland Noodle Station.

That's because it's the best spot to watch the fireworks.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

That's because it's the best spot to watch the fireworks.

But I thought under these new rules anyone over there needed to purchase something, because they couldn't save a table just to watch Wishes over there.

 

[2minny]

This is a first that I have heard of it. Also it won't fly with my family,as one of us is in a wheelchair and that person usually stays at the table with enough seats for the rest of us. So I would like to see how they handle it for those in a wheelchair.

When I was there, they wouldn't let you sit at a table when your party was in line, that way those with food had a seat. Then when your party came through, they had a seat, it actually worked well. A lady in a wheelchair behind me in line said "I feel sorry for you all, I can sit and wait' it was cute. It actually worked out really nicely. It kept people from saving a table (when their party was at the end of the line) while others with food were standing looking for a table. Hard to explain but everyone seemed to get a table when their food was ready. Good system on those overly-crowded days.

 

[skywaywaver]

When I was there, they wouldn't let you sit at a table when your party was in line, that way those with food had a seat. Then when your party came through, they had a seat, it actually worked well. A lady in a wheelchair behind me in line said "I feel sorry for you all, I can sit and wait' it was cute. It actually worked out really nicely. It kept people from saving a table (when their party was at the end of the line) while others with food were standing looking for a table. Hard to explain but everyone seemed to get a table when their food was ready. Good system on those overly-crowded days.

So it worked out well? I'd be afraid of getting my food and then finding nowhere to sit, which is why we scope out before hand to be sure that there is somewhere to sit.

 

[mommystieg]

We have encountered this at our last two visits to Pecos Bill. We ate a little earlier than the normal lunchtime this last visit and they weren't enforcing it at first but once the business picked up, someone was posted at the entry to the table area.

I haven't seen this enforced at Cosmic Ray's during our visits -- although this last time there was a CM posted at one of the doors and he told us we had to go around to the "main" entrance We thought they might be enforcing the table saving rule but they weren't so I am not sure what the point was....or where the "main" entrance is.

 

[DOOM1001]

There was a thread on this about 2 months ago where about 95 percent of the people were opposed to this move.I encountered this at Cosmic Ray's early in December and I remember all kinds of issues to just find a way into the restaurant,this one entrance had a huge line that wasn't moving so we went to another entrance that was being used as an exit only so you couldn't go in.In the end we left as it seemed like a bigger hassle than it should be.We ended up going to Columbia Harbor House where there also appeared to be a change in the entrance but we got in with little problem.

 

[Tricia1972]

There was a thread on this about 2 months ago where about 95 percent of the people were opposed to this move.I encountered this at Cosmic Ray's early in December and I remember all kinds of issues to just find a way into the restaurant,this one entrance had a huge line that wasn't moving so we went to another entrance that was being used as an exit only so you couldn't go in.In the end we left as it seemed like a bigger hassle than it should be.We ended up going to Columbia Harbor House where there also appeared to be a change in the entrance but we got in with little problem.

There have been several threads about this that have been closed because they became debates about how people feel about the policy. So far this one has been great, and really focusing on the process and how it is working. I know that I am really enjoying seeing the voices of experience on this!

As long as this thread can stay on the topic of how it has actually affected diners, it'll remain open. If it turns into another debate, then it'll have to be closed like the others were.

 

[fla4fun]

My understanding is that they only do this during peak seasons, of which Christmas/New Year's would be one. If the OP is visiting from July 10th on, they may or may not encounter this on their visit, depending on how the holiday crowds from the 4th carry over. I typically travel during slower times, but even on my trip the begining of last August (still pretty busy summer season) I did not see this and I ate at Cosmic Ray's several times.

I think the best mindset for the OP is to go with the idea that it may happen, or it may not, and to be prepared for either.

 

[bicker]

We'll be doing a number of CS meals with a party of 10, during our next visit. As you can well-imagine, trying to find seating for 10 is always a problem, so I'll be very interested in seeing what is being done to accommodate us -- hopefully something better than has been our experience in the past. I'll try to remember to report-back our experience when we get back.

 

[RachaelA]

We have encountered this at our last two visits to Pecos Bill. We ate a little earlier than the normal lunchtime this last visit and they weren't enforcing it at first but once the business picked up, someone was posted at the entry to the table area.

I haven't seen this enforced at Cosmic Ray's during our visits -- although this last time there was a CM posted at one of the doors and he told us we had to go around to the "main" entrance We thought they might be enforcing the table saving rule but they weren't so I am not sure what the point was....or where the "main" entrance is.

We ran into the "go to the other door" at Cosmic Rays in June. While we were eating, I had to go to the bathroom so I went out the exit door and the CM almost wouldn't let me back in! I was like, 'you seriously want to make me walk all the way around when my husband is sitting 5 feet from you eating our lunch??" Finally he let me in. Its great that they are enforcing it, but I wasn't trying to cheat the system.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I don't mind one way or the other just trying to see what they have decided to do about no saving seats at CS meals. Are they still trying this that everyone stands in line or have they done away with this?

1) Enforced ONLY during very busy meal times.
2) Otherwise, normal seating.

 

[Tinker Pam]

I could see it being very difficult for those like myself who are traveling with a child (not quiet old enough or big enough to carry tray full of food or push Daddy) and a spouse in a wheelchair. He isn't able to propel himself nor able to hold a tray full of food (can't feel his fingers and has spasms so our food would be on the floor). We didn't encounter the problem during early Dec when we were there.