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

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Oh wow this must be fairly new because I have never seen it enforced. My concern is that if I have a tray of food and no table, I would NOT want to be eating there. I only get in line once I am sure we have a table or we just go somewhere else. The last thing I want is cold food because I am waiting for a table to become available. We travel during off season times, so maybe this is why I have never seen it enforced? My husband and children always sit down, because there is no need for them all to be causing a hold up in line OR just standing around blocking walking space.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

My concern is that if I have a tray of food and no table, I would NOT want to be eating there. I only get in line once I am sure we have a table or we just go somewhere else. The last thing I want is cold food because I am waiting for a table to become available.

1) That is EXACTLY why some eateries make you have food-in-hand before you get a table.
2) The CM will show you to a table.

 

[TwoMisfits]

1) Only the person ordering has to be in-line.
2)But the others cannot got to a table until the person ordering has the full order.
3) I see no problem with this.
4) Why should not the entire party wait until the food is ready?

If Disney is willing to carry all the trays of food/drinks for customers while they seat the family, there's nothing wrong with it (Universal does this regularly). In the past, I've never known the CMs at Disney to do this. If they don't/won't, then there are definitely issues with the policy for families with young and/or disadvantaged members.

 

[Dacky619]

If Disney is willing to carry all the trays of food/drinks for customers while they seat the family, there's nothing wrong with it (Universal does this regularly). In the past, I've never known the CMs at Disney to do this. If they don't/won't, then there are definitely issues with the policy for families with young and/or disadvantaged members.

This doesn't make sense to me. You would still have to get the food to the table somehow anyway. Even if my wife and son are at a table while I grab the food I still have to get it there, the policy doesn't change that at all. Am I just missing what you are saying?

All we do now is have my wife and son wait near the line to get a table and once I grab the food we all hop in. The times we have had to do go through that line it was very efficient. I wish they used this system more often.

 

[TwoMisfits]

This doesn't make sense to me. You would still have to get the food to the table somehow anyway. Even if my wife and son are at a table while I grab the food I still have to get it there, the policy doesn't change that at all. Am I just missing what you are saying?

All we do now is have my wife and son wait near the line to get a table and once I grab the food we all hop in. The times we have had to do go through that line it was very efficient. I wish they used this system more often.

You have one neurotypical child. Imagine having 1 toddler, 1 non-neurotypical child, and 2 more young kids...and trying to make sure they all stay together in a large lunch line and then getting them and trays of food/drink to a table.

Most people don't consider the policy for anyone but their family size and type...Routinely, most families like the one I described above need both parents to get their kids settled at a table before they even try to get food from the lines. And it's nice, after standing in 95 degree heat, to be able to drop off your diaper bag at the table, so you don't have to carry that and your tray...

But, for Disney, it's turning tables and money. Again, if the CM policy was to sit you and deliver your food for you, that'd be great. But it's not.

 

[Anniefrances]

You have one neurotypical child. Imagine having 1 toddler, 1 non-neurotypical child, and 2 more young kids...and trying to make sure they all stay together in a large lunch line and then getting them and trays of food/drink to a table.

Most people don't consider the policy for anyone but their family size and type...Routinely, most families like the one I described above need both parents to get their kids settled at a table before they even try to get food from the lines. And it's nice, after standing in 95 degree heat, to be able to drop off your diaper bag at the table, so you don't have to carry that and your tray...

But, for Disney, it's turning tables and money. Again, if the CM policy was to sit you and deliver your food for you, that'd be great. But it's not.

Similar circumstances, but opposite point of view: I'm a single parent who has been taking my children each year since they were toddlers. Older child is autistic/aspie. I remember many times wandering around with a tray full of food and 2 small kids, surrounded by tables that were being "held". Competing for tables back then could be nearly impossible, trying to direct 2 kids and balance a tray to get across the room toward a table as it was becoming available.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Similar circumstances, but opposite point of view: I'm a single parent who has been taking my children each year since they were toddlers. Older child is autistic/aspie. I remember many times wandering around with a tray full of food and 2 small kids, surrounded by tables that were being "held". Competing for tables back then could be nearly impossible, trying to direct 2 kids and balance a tray to get across the room toward a table as it was becoming available.

Right, so the smartest thing is for CMs to deliver food and drinks and to sit folks OR for Disney to have a ton more tables and seating so folks can pre-sit and yet there'd still be plenty of space...both would cost more money, so both are highly unlikely to occur.

 

[Kimly]

I'm local, and go to The World to the often. I have four little kids, and my husband always takes the kids and goes and sits down with them. It's never been an issue.

Only once, have I ever seen a CM controlling where people sit and when. It was cosmic rays around dinner time on a holloween party night. I wouldn't stress about it.

 

[LynJ]

I Would like to see this implemented at Casey's. A couple of years ago, at Christmas, a family was taking up tables while Dad SLEPT on the table. They claimed it about 2-3 hours before the fireworks and made it plain they had no intention of leaving (kids were coming and going etc). Meanwhile we were standing around with trays looking for seats. (and yes, I did complain to a CM)

 

[wdw4rfam]

I saw them do this at cosmic rays, so we left and went back to our esort to eat. There was literally 10 family's in a line with trays of food in their hands while they searched for tables for them. Sorry, but if I can't guarantee that I'm going to sit right away with my food, I'm not eating there. I see the point, but there's many flaws too. So either all the family needs to stand in line now, or stand around making the lobby area congested? What if there are no tables after you get through the line? If I see this, I will just opt for going back to the resort, no big deal.

 

[aaarcher86]

Oh wow this must be fairly new because I have never seen it enforced. My concern is that if I have a tray of food and no table, I would NOT want to be eating there. I only get in line once I am sure we have a table or we just go somewhere else. The last thing I want is cold food because I am waiting for a table to become available. We travel during off season times, so maybe this is why I have never seen it enforced? My husband and children always sit down, because there is no need for them all to be causing a hold up in line OR just standing around blocking walking space.

I think that's kind of the goal though - instead of having people sitting at tables with no food (causing people WITH food to have no seats when they're ready to eat) they make sure people eating get those tables. I definitely think it seems crappy on paper, but when we've experienced it, it seemed to work really well (aside from Cosmic Rays). I think the problem is that people trying to avoid walking around with food are causing people to experience what they're trying to avoid.

We've seen it enforced during February, which surprised me since it's typically a slower time. I don't know if it was at peak lunch time or something. Can't remember.

 

[blackpearl77]

The only place I've seen this enforced is Pinoccio's. And they always somehow seem to find you a table.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

I saw them do this at cosmic rays, so we left and went back to our esort to eat. There was literally 10 family's in a line with trays of food in their hands while they searched for tables for them. Sorry, but if I can't guarantee that I'm going to sit right away with my food, I'm not eating there. I see the point, but there's many flaws too. So either all the family needs to stand in line now, or stand around making the lobby area congested? What if there are no tables after you get through the line? If I see this, I will just opt for going back to the resort, no big deal.

MTE.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

You have one neurotypical child. Imagine having 1 toddler, 1 non-neurotypical child, and 2 more young kids...and trying to make sure they all stay together in a large lunch line and then getting them and trays of food/drink to a table.

How do you normally handle the tray and food at a QS location ????

 

[TwoMisfits]

How do you normally handle the tray and food at a QS location ????

I always sit family 1st, drop bags (diaper bag and any souvenirs/jackets/ponchos), get kids' and grown up orders figured out at the table (without wasting time holding up a register line), and go up to order and grab food myself while my spouse stays with the kids (and part of this used to be getting them in high chairs - thankfully, we're past that). I do this at any counter service restaurant anywhere. It's what many "outnumbered" families do (families with more young kids than adults). If I go to Panera's, Noodles and Company, or Burger King, I'm not taking 6 people to the register and having them sit there trying to decide what they want for 5 minutes and trying to run away - that's the path of madness. If I knew this was the new process for all Disney CS, I'd just bring lunch (or eat offsite) b/c no way would I ever make myself that miserable trying to get food for my kids.

 

[Robertfam08]

I always sit family 1st, drop bags (diaper bag and any souvenirs/jackets/ponchos), get kids' and grown up orders figured out at the table (without wasting time holding up a register line), and go up to order and grab food myself while my spouse stays with the kids (and part of this used to be getting them in high chairs - thankfully, we're past that). I do this at any counter service restaurant anywhere. It's what many "outnumbered" families do (families with more young kids than adults). If I go to Panera's, Noodles and Company, or Burger King, I'm not taking 6 people to the register and having them sit there trying to decide what they want for 5 minutes and trying to run away - that's the path of madness. If I knew this was the new process for all Disney CS, I'd just bring lunch (or eat offsite) b/c no way would I ever make myself that miserable trying to get food for my kids.

This is how we do it, too. We are usually two adults with four very small kids, and the Disney set up is not ideal for taking the entire family to the register. I totally understand why they have this policy, but I also don't think a lot of the restaurants are set up to really make it a great one, especially when it's crowded. Stand to the side where? Right where everyone is walking, trying to turn around with trays and get out of lines to go find a table? We're a big group with a lot of squirrelly short people underfoot. FWIW, we typically go in early September and have never seen this enforced, even in a packed Columbia Harbor House. I mean I get it, I see both sides here. But it's so not practical for a young family to have us all standing at the front, congesting the area and policing kids from climbing on bars and darting in front of people with food trays.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Right, so the smartest thing is for CMs to deliver food and drinks and to sit folks OR for Disney to have a ton more tables and seating so folks can pre-sit and yet there'd still be plenty of space...both would cost more money, so both are highly unlikely to occur.

That's called a table service restaurant.

I saw them do this at cosmic rays, so we left and went back to our esort to eat. There was literally 10 family's in a line with trays of food in their hands while they searched for tables for them.

When CMs are monitoring seating, there's nobody wandering around looking for tables.

I always sit family 1st, drop bags (diaper bag and any souvenirs/jackets/ponchos), get kids' and grown up orders figured out at the table (without wasting time holding up a register line),

Orders can be determined before getting in line, so not hold up any lines.

This is how we do it, too. We are usually two adults with four very small kids, and the Disney set up is not ideal for taking the entire family to the register.

Party members not getting in line are directed to a waiting area until the food is obtained. Because this practice is only in effect at peak dining periods at some locations at busy times of the year, adjusting one's dining schedule or location makes it a non-issue.

 

[Robertfam08]

You have one neurotypical child. Imagine having 1 toddler, 1 non-neurotypical child, and 2 more young kids...and trying to make sure they all stay together in a large lunch line and then getting them and trays of food/drink to a table.

Most people don't consider the policy for anyone but their family size and type...Routinely, most families like the one I described above need both parents to get their kids settled at a table before they even try to get food from the lines. And it's nice, after standing in 95 degree heat, to be able to drop off your diaper bag at the table, so you don't have to carry that and your tray...

But, for Disney, it's turning tables and money. Again, if the CM policy was to sit you and deliver your food for you, that'd be great. But it's not.

Haha, right? I'm going to take a wild guess and say that a few people here don't have a bunch of little children of their own to corral. But they sure do know a lot about how much of a non-issue it should be for families who do! Awesome!

 

[soniam]

We saw it at Pecos Bill's in summer 2012, so it's not incredibly recent. I really actually liked it. I wish they would do it at Pinocchio's. Both times we have eaten there, before 11:30am, we couldn't find a table. This was during Spring Break. There were single people sitting at large tables without food or with only a drink, and they stayed there the entire time we were eating without anyone else showing up DH walked with the tray, while DS and I went ahead looking for a table. I wish a CM had been helping people. I swore to never eat there again because of the rotten experience. I have been places where the only table available was large, and there was only 3 of us. I have offered to share it with others. I have also informed people walking around when we were about to leave. But it never seems to pay to be considerate. Being the nice guy means we get to walk around forever looking for a table and get to eat cold or soggy food. Oh well, at least I know I have tried and feel comfortable living with myself. I guess I can always hope for karma

 

[Lothlórien]

And, since the question of how you can push someone in a chair and carry a loaded tray at the same time usually comes up: we've always had a CM volunteer to carry the tray for us. Again, just want we've experienced.

I have also seen people in the wheelchair carry the tray while being pushed by the other person. However, minnie mum is right that a CM will gladly assist.