Disney Restaurants and CLOSE SEATING!!

[letterdavidman]

Hi, there, all!

My DW and I will be doing a lot of dining on Disney property on our trip this August, and, as such, we'll be going to several restaurants for the first time. And I got to wondering... one of our pet peeves is eating at a restaurant with total strangers sitting RIGHTONTOPOFUS. Hey, what can I say, I'm a guy that cherishes his privacy, and eating a meal in a near-total awkward silence because we don't want the people a foot from us to hear our conversation kind of, um, lessens the enjoyability factor. Just a bit.

So, my question is this: Are there any Disney restaurants that are known for their seating diners REALLY close together? (And I do mean apart from the Biergarten--which, yes, DW and I will be going to, as there's loud entertainment going on at the same time, so I figure I can stomach the togetherness for that length of time--and the Teppanyaki Grill, which we won't be going to.)

Thanks for taking the time to read and respond to this. It'll be very helpful to us!!

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

I wonder about this too. My DH is in a wheelchair. If the tables are too close and people are sitting in the chairs-I'm afraid he won't be able to get through.

 

[notnothin]

I am not a fan of this type of seating arrangement, either. With that said, I would avoid Alfredo's in Epcot. We were practically in the next family's lap.

 

[disneyfreakjackie]

San Angel in Mexico has VERY CLOSE SEATING!!!

Biergarten in Germany has table seating for eight, you will sit with strangers if your party is less than eight.

Tappanyaki is the same, seating for eight around each "grill".

We had fun at Biergarten and Tappanyaki, though!!!

 

[PortieOwner]

My wife is the same way, and I am also not crazy about having to interact with strangers. The Biergarten is one place to avoid along with the Tepiyani place in Japan. Some counter service places epecially in the MK can get crowded at lunch. Epcot is a lot more spacious. One thing you can do it go for meals at off times when the restaurants are less crowded. Also resort restaurants at lunchtime can be pretty quiet. Apart from the MK though I doubt you will have big problems.

Portie

 

[letterdavidman]

Disneyfreakjackie--thanks for your reply!

Yes, I am aware of the necessity to sit with strangers at Biergarten unless I'm eating with a group of eight. But, like I said, I think (think!) that I'll be okay in this case because of everyone's attention being focused, more or less, on the stage area for a big part of lunch (when we're going) because of the entertainment. At least, that's what I'm hoping. I could be wrong. No, my problem is when I go to a normal sit down restaurant-type restaurant, you know, no entertainment, just good food, service, and atmosphere, and I'm, literally, like, a foot or so away from the party next to me. That's the type of situation that nearly makes me break out in hives.

And, PortieOwner, thanks for the tip about scheduling meals during off hours... I just may try that.

But I would love to know how close you sit to the next party in, say, a restaurant like Wolfgang Puck's (upstairs), or the Yachtsman, or Ohana, or Boma, to name just a few.

Again, thanks, all!! You guys always are so generous with advice and info.

 

[Texan Mouseketeer]

We had a great table at O'Hana's and felt pretty spaced out - but we were not where the main grill was. I don't know if that makes a difference or not. Maybe someone else can comment there?

The only place we ate at where we felt totally cramped in was at Crystal Palace. We had the table where one side was a booth and the other side was chairs. I was so close to the person in the next booth that my video camera bag was squashed next to me but I was still having trouble getting up to go to the buffet and politely keeping my camera from hitting her. Very uncomfortable. Other tables may have more spacing.

 

[the kabuki]

They do pack them in at Crystal Palace

 

[tiggersmom2]

Alfredo's, San Angel, Crystal Palace and Rain Forest Cafe.......ugh....I was ONTOP of my neighbors....it was awful.

 

[Jasminesmommy]

At Boma the tables are kinda close. CRT they are close. SciFi its possible to share a car with someone. Ohana the tables are spaced out.

 

[webray]

Honestly, restaurants disney or otherwise cram as many tables in as they can. If the restaurant is crowded or people seated right where they are putting us, we ask to go.."over there". Sometimes they say yes, sometimes they say..that area isn't open. Disney seats just like non disney restaurants..in an certain order so they can estimate for the next guests how long it will take before they can be seated.

 

[Uncleromulus]

The worst cram job is at Alfredos. Then San Angel. And I think Chefs D France has tables little too close for comfort. And Marrakesh has some (but not all) seating awfully close as well.
All in Epcot---a coincidence???

 

[kpm76]

We love Chefs de France but when we went in January we were literally on top of the family next to us.....it was awful. We had a late dinner so we were really tired and just wanted to have some quiet conversation...that did not happen! Instead, we were treated to a lovely discussion from the family next to us about where to take their next vacation....the dad told the kids (about 7 and 9 years old) that they were going to Europe this summer and they would just have to live with it....it was obnoxious and you could tell the poor kids were do disinterested in talking about that.......we have had other dinner at Chefs and had really nice tables but this was was awful so be careful!

 

[aubriee]

think![/I]) that I'll be okay in this case because of everyone's attention being focused, more or less, on the stage area for a big part of lunch (when we're going) because of the entertainment. At least, that's what I'm hoping. I could be wrong.

The only place I've ever eaten at WDW and felt uncomfortable was at the Biergarten. HATED IT!! I was dining solo in May and they put me as a lone female at a table with two parties of three men each. I don't know who was more uncomfortable me or them. I knew I'd be sitting with strangers, but I expected them to put me at a table with at least some female to talk with. I guess I could have asked to be moved, but didn't want to make those poor guys any more uncomfortable than they already were, so just got out as quickly as I could. (Definitely didn't get my money's worth out of that buffet )

 

[RickinNYC]

This post reminds me of a comment I made to my partner during our last trip to WDW this past May. After being there a few days and visiting a number of restaurants, I said how nice it was to eat without having someone rightnexttoyou. He agreed.

Like all of you, I hate having to sit on top of someone when I eat out. But we've gotten used to it. It's the norm in NYC. Don't like it but what can you do?

 

[micksterlee]

We ate at Yatchsman and found tables to be spaced pretty far apart it was compariable to other nicer restaurants as far as table set up I thought.

 

[carol-lamb]

I was at Disney last week and the table next to us at the Brown Derby was a little close, but the people next to us were very nice. We were asking the Dad what he was eating and how it tasted and he was very funny. We had a nice conversation with them. I also thought the tables were very close at the Seasons food court at Epcot. Nice spacing of tables at Le Cellier, especially since this restaurant is not that big. This was also my favorite meal at Disney this trip. Ate at Crystal Palace, but we had the first table in a row near the entrance so I never had to walk through the restaurant. I remember there being a lot of tables, but I never really paid attention to their spacing.

 

[swilphil]

Alfredo's is crammed. Even though Le Cellier is small, they arrange the tables so you don't feel like your on top of others. The lighting also helps. At any of the restaurants, if you make a PS for the first seating, chances are you won't be close to others.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

You guys forgot the china pavillion. I could of shared their dinner next to us. Also not a big fan of this.

MK: its more of the fast food places, try to walk through the seating of pecos bills? or pinnochio's where the tables are. Especially carrying a large tray of food. Its a land mine.

MGM: We are a Party of 2 and they call it "hitching a ride" at sci fi. we get stuck in the back seat of every 3 seat car there. UGH! I hate teen girls flipping there hair over my food/drink. I actually requested with my ADR to sit in front seat this time, because we NEVER have gotten one.

Mky

 

[old one]

We also prefer some space when we dine. ( and a lower noise lever too.) We have alway enjoyed eating at the Garden Grill at Epcot. Each party has it's own horseshoe shaped booth. The booths all form a circle that s-l-o-w-l-y rotates as you look out over the land attraction. Nothing fancy, but very relaxing to us
.
At least that was the way it was in the past, I have heard that they have made some changes, but I do not know what type of changes?