Counter Service - grabbing table AFTER ordering food - is this a rule?

[TheRustyScupper]

We have never seen it to be unacceptable to claim a table while others were in line ordering.
We've gone with groups of 2,3,& 8. Where did you come across this"rule"?

1) This has been a practice at several QS eateries for three years during busy periods or on busy days.
2) Initially started with
. . . Electric Umbrella (EP)
. . . Cosmic Rays (MK)
. . . Pinocchio's (MK)
. . . Pecos Bill's (MK)
3) Too many tables have been taken by folks without food-in-hand.
4) People with trays of food could not find a seat.

It is such a good idea, I wish it was employed property-wide.

 

[jaysmom4285]

As noted, sometimes it's enforced, usually during very busy times, and other times it is not. We tend to go at off-peak times, and during those times we have never been told we couldn't sit until we had our food. Usually I would order, and my husband would get a table. No CMs ever said anything to us, and there were plenty around. We have been there during some very busy periods, as well, and in those cases, the CMs were vigilant about not letting anyone sit unless they had their food. So we do whatever we're permitted to do, given the circumstances. If the CMs don't want anyone to sit without having food in hand, they don't hesitate to enforce it. If they aren't concerned about it, I tend not to be either.

 

[MinnieMSue]

I would never be able to sit at table when I don't have my food yet and watch people with trays of food not be able to find a seat. I can't believe people actually do that. I like when they monitor the restaurants at busy times and keep this from happening. unfortunately today's society is all about "me". When they monitor the seating people usually (always in my experience but I am sure someone couldn't get a seat at some point) find a place to sit.

 

[Merx]

I would never be able to sit at table when I don't have my food yet and watch people with trays of food not be able to find a seat. I can't believe people actually do that.

I would usually do that at other places, my 70 year old mother and my 4 year old could find a table to rest while us adults would go and line up to order the food.

But if this is a rule and it's the same for everyone, I have no problems and would gladly follow the rule, hence why I started this thread to confirm to see what is acceptance and what is not, as I have not been to Disney before.

 

[momtotaryn]

This is a good reminder for us. I recall reading about this prior to our first WDW trip 5 years ago, and while it wasn't really enforced back then, I did notice that, for the most part, everyone followed the "rule". I'll have to inform my sister and her family, who will be traveling with us on our upcoming trip in June. Back home (here in Hawaii), it is common practice to have someone sit and wait at an open table (ie. at the mall food court or at a fast food establishment, etc.), while someone else orders food. I can understand why it's done, if there are small children/babies or the elderly in a party. I can even understand if people have LOTS of shopping bags that need to be put down with the person "reserving" the table. However, I totally agree that if this is a "rule" at WDW, we need to respect and follow it.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

it is common practice to have someone sit and wait at an open table

1) This sounds reasonable.
2) But, this practice takes up table space and reduces the "table turns".
. . . if your order takes 15-minutes, the table is used "empty"
. . . if you take 15-20 minutes to eat fast food, then you cut the table utilization by 1/2
. . . so, during busy times, twice as many people end up not eating or waiting for a table
. . . so, fewer people can actually eat during the same amount of time.

NOTE: I have seen many times that people walk and walk with a loaded tray trying to find an open table. The people sitting at a table without food, are, thus, being rude to those with food-in-hand.

 

[momtotaryn]

1) This sounds reasonable.
2) But, this practice takes up table space and reduces the "table turns".
. . . if your order takes 15-minutes, the table is used "empty"
. . . if you take 15-20 minutes to eat fast food, then you cut the table utilization by 1/2
. . . so, during busy times, twice as many people end up not eating or waiting for a table
. . . so, fewer people can actually eat during the same amount of time.

NOTE: I have seen many times that people walk and walk with a loaded tray trying to find an open table. The people sitting at a table without food, are, thus, being rude to those with food-in-hand.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's common practice back home, so we don't think of it as "rude" of others, when we're waiting for a table to open up. It's just the way it's done here. One doesn't really notice if people actually have food or not, when they are sitting at a table. It's just seen as the table is occupied. However, I have come across when we're waiting on the side for a table to open up, and we've been waiting for a while, then someone else rushes to the table to take it when it does clear, before we can get to it. Now that is quite rude, like someone slipping in to steal a parking spot, when you're waiting for the person to reverse out. BUT, as I stated, saving tables is common practice back home. WDW is a whole different environment, in a totally different state. As a visitor there, we'll play by their rules.

 

[Nancyg56]

Last fall, they wouldn't even allow people upstairs at Columbia Harbor House unless you had your food. They had a cast member at the bottom of the stairs policing it.

I've also seen it done at Pecos Bill's in the past, as well.

Pecos Bill is a nightmare to get a table. I like this rule

 

[Anniefrances]

I agree with TheRustyScupper that occupying tables only once food in is hand increases the number of parties that can actually be seated while eating.

I feel so strongly about this that during busy times we invite people who are wandering around with trays to take our table when we are nearly finished rather than give it up to those who are empty handed. Also if there are any empty seats at the table while we are still eating we invite others with trays to join us.

 

[aaarcher86]

In theory, it sounds like an obnoxious rule. In practice, it actually works really well.

We were seated immediately at Pinocchio and CHH when we ran into them policing this. The only time it looked shifty was at Cosmic Rays. The line was really long to get into the main seating area, but we found a seat in the upper level.

I totally get that it's easier to get kids situated at a table and seated, etc. But it's just as easy to just step to the side and wait while one person orders. You aren't being forced to take them in line with you.

If someone can get food and get seated immediately, I'm all for it. It works out well for everyone.

 

[thelittlemermaid2]

We usually give our order to one or two members of our party to order for everyone while we find a table, I've never had any problems doing this but again it probably just depends on how crowded it is

 

[Sydney2977]

Anyone know how they handle wheelchairs/stroller as wheelchair that can't fit in the line? In the past we have seated the wheelchair merely due to its inability to get in the very tiny lines in limited space. Also due to limited wheelchair seating at some QS restaurants. Do they no longer allow this?

We were just at WDW March 5-13 (Spring Break for some) and because of an injury DS had to have an ECV. At most CS places I ordered and DH either stood out of the way with DS or they found a table and by the time he came back I was getting the food and he helped me carry it. Normally one or two of us goes in line and the others wait to help carry food and we find a table together. This time we really did it so DS would not be in anyone's way and so we could get the ECV to a table that would also ensure he wasn't in the way. We didn't see any CM's policing the seating, but most places also didn't have huge long lines- they were running pretty efficiently and I never saw any guests wandering around not able to find a table. Several places there were CM's at the entrance/ordering areas that were directing guests to the accessible lines so that was nice.

 

[TiffanyA]

We go during Xmas and only at a few places in MK have I ever seen this enforced. I don't usually eat at MK, except turkey legs so usually part of my family usually grabs open seating (usually the tables by Aladdin's Magic Carpet Ride) while the rest of us go grab turkey legs. We usually have food with us when we sit though because we bring in a cooler. My son (currently 6) is usually overheated and exhausted by this time, so we let him sit and drink water or a capri sun.

In the few times we've wandered into Peco's Bill or Tortuga Tavern for lunch, this rule is enforced. When I see the CM there, I know what it means and won't try to find a table. However, in non-regular eating times, I don't think this is an issue and have been able to sit at my leisure.

In parks like Epcot where seating can be a major hassle, I've never seen them police this at counter service. Everyone seems to sit before they have their food.

 

[Halle]

DH and I had the same experience at Cosmic Ray's in November. I understand that it may be easier for families with small children to find a table while Mom or Dad orders.

I wish this were always enforced, especially last week at Cosmic Ray's. We made the mistake of stopping in during peak lunch time. After getting our food, we walked around for at least 10 minutes, trying to find a table to no avail. The majority of the tables were occupied by singles with no food, waiting for their families who were in line. We ended up standing at a tall table (without chairs) with another famlily to eat our lunch. Definitely not an enjoyable time!

 

[kdisser]

We would order then send the husband with the stroller and baby (we took the stroller into every QS we went to except BOG) to find a table while we waited for food. We went in October the historic crowd calendar called for "low" times.. it felt way more then "low", but we never noticed this take place and we ate at Pecos' 3 times.

 

[wilkeliza]

I've only had it happen to me at Cosmic Ray's. The first time it was kind of annoying because it was brand new but now that it has been a few years we have gotten use to it. We hardly ever eat at Cosmic Rays so haven't seen it in awhile.

 

[Minnesota!]

We have seen it at Columbia Harbor House and Pecos Bills. There was one other, too...can't recall where. I like it! Wish it was a constant, at every QS

 

[hookedonears]

1) I've actually never done this or seen it enforced.
First of all, it's nothing but common courtesy. Second, it's not enforced all of the time unless it's crowded.

2) For as much as I've been to Disney I just found out about this recently.
There may or may not be a posted sign, but it's a rule that Disney many times enforces.

3) We would always get a seat first because what if we ordered food and then couldn't find a seat?
You wait in line to get a table just like everyone else who got their trays before you. Other wise, you're line jumping.

4) Then what do we do with our food take it to go?
CM's will do there best to find a seat for you, but if not, you stand and eat.

5) Stand while eating?
Yep.

6) Maybe I've just never gone while it was that busy.
Maybe.

 

[Catvondita]

Yea I guess I've never been when it was crowded that people were doing this. We mostly go to the same few places and have always been pretty lucky that there are lots of seating.

 

[Chirple]

I have experienced both during the same vacation. A few years ago we were in WDW the week before Thanksgiving, leaving on the Saturday night leading into Thanksgiving week.

All week the crowds were low, and we could sit at any CS whenever and wherever there was an open table. Saturday we decided to have lunch at Cosmic Rays. The holiday crowds were starting to roll into the park. Up went the queue for tables. The CMs would only let you advance if you already had food.

Have seen this at Cosmic Rays, Pecos Bill, and Columbia Harbor House (where they rope off the staircase until you have food) over the last few years. We are not usually in WDW during holidays or spring breaks so this is not a frequent occurrence for us.