Family in QS line question

[nhmomx2]

In all my trips to WDW I have never had to have our entire party in line getting food. IMHO I'd prefer not to have the little ones in lines with both their parents, but seated at a table with one or the other. Having everyone in line only adds to the chaos of a crowded restaurant.

 

[Ryansdad0727]

I nearly had my tray dumped when i picked it up by kids running around while thier parent was ordering. I appreciate those parents who find a table and watch thier kids while one goes and orders. It also creates much shorter and less chaotic lines. You can also eat either early or late and miss some of the crowds.

 

[dmoore718]

Oh No. With 3 kids under 4 and just 2 of us, I don't know how we will manage if they can't wait for me at a table. Luckily, we go at a slow time of year so I hope it won't be an issue. We could also eat at off times to try to counter this issue, I don't want to break any rules but it's not easy with kids to do it any other way. And what do they suggest you do once you have all of your food in hand, all the kids, and there are no tables to sit down? That sounds like a disaster to me.

 

[Dizneydaz]

Of all the times we've been to WDW there was only one time when we had a problem finding a place to sit at a CS restaurant. (We don't go during the busiest times). It was last Sept. at Restaurantosaurus (after McD's left) and the place was packed for lunch. One side of the restaurant was closed due to the floor needing to be repaired.

After we got our food and waited forever at the condiment bar (all dispensers were out of ketchup!) we looked around for a table and there were none to be found. A CM noticed our dilemma and asked 2 men sitting at a table for 6 if we could join them (we were a group of 3). The hesitantly agreed and we sat down. They only spoke French while we sat there so they may have not even understood the CM and wondered why the "pushy Americans" were sitting with them!

Anyway, OP, I don't see a problem with your plan if you are there when a location is crowded. I also don't see a problem holding a table, especially if you have little ones.

As to a PP comments about all members of your group having to be there if you are using DDP, this is (as another PP stated) simply not true. Rarely do the 3 of us stand in line while ordering. And how about the times when your entire party aren't eating at the same time? This may have gotten confused with the fact that all members of your party need to be there when you check in if you are on DDP. (though this isn't always the case)

 

[PatsMom]

Oh No. With 3 kids under 4 and just 2 of us, I don't know how we will manage if they can't wait for me at a table. Luckily, we go at a slow time of year so I hope it won't be an issue. We could also eat at off times to try to counter this issue, I don't want to break any rules but it's not easy with kids to do it any other way. And what do they suggest you do once you have all of your food in hand, all the kids, and there are no tables to sit down? That sounds like a disaster to me.

The scenario of people wandering around with kids and a tray of food and no place to sit is why Disney institutes crowd control during certain times. Because of my daughter's school schedule, I've gone President's Week a couple of times. And we were at the Studios for Star Wars Weekend this year. The quick service restaurants are zoos during those busy times.

Our first experience with crowd control was a Pecos Bill's on the Friday after Thanksgiving several years ago. They had a CM at the door greeting you and sending you to the appropriate line to order (how they knew which was shortest I don't know). If you didn't all want to wait in line, they were suggesting a place to wait for your party to re-group.

After obtaining your food, the CM near the table area would direct you to an empty table. The alternate entrance to the restaurant was roped off so you couldn't enter and grab a table from that direction.

It all seemed to work very well. People were not standing around with food while others were sitting and waiting.

during slower times I haven't seen crowd control and you will not have a problem sending an adult with the kids to get a table and wait. But during busy times, you might want to anticipate crowd control at the larger counter service restaurants.

I personally would not save a table for my family if it was crowded and people with food were wandering around looking for a place to sit. Or I would at least offer my empty chairs to someone until my family arrived.

We do get in line together but there are only 3 or 4 of us. This September we are taking an ADHD child with us and we do plan for her and her mother to wait. If the restaurant is uncrowded, they will choose a table and wait there. If it is crowded they will wait by the door or outside until we get our food.

 

[RCharnay]

" They only spoke French while we sat there so they may have not even understood the CM and wondered why the "pushy Americans" were sitting with them!

I'm guessing just the opposite. When I travel to other countries I find that people often share tables and restaurant tables are pushed very close together. It's only here in the states where people take possession of their space and seem to be offended if you ask to share or use the extra chair or whatever.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I am not trying to start a debate over what is right and what is wrong. I am really just trying to determine a solution in advance if their crowd control measures are being enforced. I cannot imagine standing in line with my 3 small children. If able, we will have one parent get a seat and one get the food. If not (which I am not complaining about), I just want to make sure that I can get a table for 5 (with a high chair) if they see only me going through the line. For us if would work better if one parent and the kiddos could wait outside until we have the food ready if we could not get a table right away. I'm really sorry for any debates that may be started. I'm just trying to come up with a solution.

Frankly, I think your idea is brilliant.

Odds are, you won't even have to worry about the issue - Walt Disney World only controls access to tables in some counter service locations during peak dining periods when the parks are especially busy.

I'm serious about your idea being brilliant. I'm surprised, given how common cellphones are, that nobody before thought of keeping in touch with their parties via phone when table access is restricted!!!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

And what do they suggest you do once you have all of your food in hand, all the kids, and there are no tables to sit down?

In all seriousness, it matters not a whit what any of us suggest. Walt Disney World has DONE this, effectively, in the past. By restricting table access to Guests who already have food and are prepared to sit and eat, they are able to ensure that these Guests will and do have a table (actually, a choice of tables) at which to, well, sit and eat.

It works. Walt Disney World doesn't abuse its own decision. They only activate it when they feel it's necessary. Most days, despite people sitting at tables the whole time their food is being prepared, then the whole time it takes them to eat it - there's still enough seating for everyone.

When there isn't, or it looks like there won't be enough seating for everyone purchasing food because many people without food are sitting at tables, yes, WDW will restrict access to the tables.

It works. It really does.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

This is done only on a day to day basis (depending on whether it's determined the crowds are such that they actually need it) in the large CS at Magic Kingdom although I've also heard of the Electric Umbrella at Epcot using this system.

In a few weeks when I am at Epcot I can find out if they are doing it there or not, since that is where we usually eat lunch at.

 

[mom4graceandlogan]

We were prevented from sitting at a table in pinochio haus village at MK early June. The park was not crazy packed, but the restaurant was. We usually go value. So I had never experienced the crowd control. My husband and daughter got in a crazy long line to order food. I attempted to go get a table with my one and six year old . YOur instinct is oh it is crowded I need to find a table. I was stopped by a very nice CM who had a huge mickey hand on a stick and told we could not enter unless we had food. I was not sure what to think at first, but it made sense. So I waited right there in front of her until my husband had the food( It took probably 20 minutes, which would have been 20 minutes we tied up a table without eating.) Onnce we had the food we still had a problem finding a table, but I think that by stopping you it has a psychological effect of getting the message across, hey don't linger other people are waiting, because when people almost done saw us wandering with a baby in tow, they flagged us over, quickly finished and gave us there table. In turn when we were done, we wrapped it up quickly and left to make sure another wandering family could have a seat. Surprising for us since we usually travel value and eat lunch after 2 to avoid crowds. I would rather not feel rushed but understand you can only seat so many at a time. There are other places and shows to sit and take a break at.

 

[TDC Nala]

In a few weeks when I am at Epcot I can find out if they are doing it there or not, since that is where we usually eat lunch at.

They only put this system into effect if the restaurant is extremely busy, so you may or may not be there at a time it is being done.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

They only put this system into effect if the restaurant is extremely busy, so you may or may not be there at a time it is being done.

I wonder if they will put it into effect there during free dining, because in the past when it was going on I remember the line to order was at the entrance. Now I guess the only way to find out the answer is if I will be going to Epcot once free dining starts.

 

[kaytieeldr]

As TDC Nala tried to explain, Walt Disney World initiates this system only at certain locations, only at certain very busy times of the year, and only at peak dining times.

So far - and they started doing this in 2008 or 2009 - there have been no reports of WDW monitoring the counter service seating during Free Dining... even though that promotion was available property-wide through most of last Fall. This means it likely won't be being used when you're there; even if it is, it may or may not be in effect at the restaurant(s) at which you're dining at the times you're eating there. So, simply because a DISer comes back from a trip and says, "Nope, nobody preventing anyone from sitting down without food" doesn't mean that's an accurate representation of what's going on in every restaurant in every park all day every day.

 

[fla4fun]

I'd be surprised if it wasn't in place some time during free dining, especially since it's been extended. Considering that some of the free dining is QS only, and that most people on the dining plan period go to QS for lunch, I can see where even during slower times of the year, there may be a couple hours of chaos each day in certain QS locations. Pinocchio's has to be one of the worst for crowding. The restaurant is laid out very poorly, and the ordering area is very small and right in the middle of everything. I can't tell you how many times I've just sat on a bench to eat, because it was hard to look for a table - there may have been some there, but I couldn't see them.

If the OP is concerned about getting a table for the entire family, maybe give them a call on the cell right after completing their order transaction, but before getting the actual food. That would give the rest of the party time to meet up with the order placer and go to the seater together.

 

[Hootch]

to the Space Center in Houston last year during our kids' spring break. It was also the local school district's spring break so the place was packed. We went into the cafeteria to eat around 12:15 (poor timing due to a delay on a tour). We got our trays of food and looked around for table space. There was none and few of the people at the tables were eating.

The Space Center had scheduled a character show at 12:45 in the cafeteria during the height of the lunch hour. Apparently parents started camping out at tables well before lunch to ensure their kids had a good view of the show.

 

[TammyC]

This is the first I have heard of CS crowd control. Do we have a list of places that have been known to do this during busy times?

T

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

As TDC Nala tried to explain, Walt Disney World initiates this system only at certain locations, only at certain very busy times of the year, and only at peak dining times.

So far - and they started doing this in 2008 or 2009 - there have been no reports of WDW monitoring the counter service seating during Free Dining... even though that promotion was available property-wide through most of last Fall. This means it likely won't be being used when you're there; even if it is, it may or may not be in effect at the restaurant(s) at which you're dining at the times you're eating there. So, simply because a DISer comes back from a trip and says, "Nope, nobody preventing anyone from sitting down without food" doesn't mean that's an accurate representation of what's going on in every restaurant in every park all day every day.

I realize that if I came back and said they are doing or not doing it won't be accurate because it's not something they do everyday. I was just basing my previous response based on what I have seen in terms of a lot of crowds at Electric Umbrella during previous Free Dining periods.

 

[aceys_h0ney]

I usually have my husband take the kids (at least 3 of them I keep 1 with me to carry) and find a spot. We never had any issues with CMs not letting him sit just issues finding spots to sit! Sunshine Season's was the worst by the time I got all our food he found a small table for us to huddle around. I would not be oposed to my husband having to wait on the sidelines as long as there is somewhere for him to stand, I would be oposed to us all having to get in line together. The lines at Pizza Planet to order were a nightmare and I could not imagine having to keep all 4 kids (one very young) together and out of people's way in that line. Plus you don't even want to see the poor CMs face when it is time to order and all my kids think that means they get to spout off what they want, no matter if I just asked them all and told them to be quiet when it is our turn that I will order LOL.

OP I am sure you will be fine to have hubby sit if not he can stand near the tables like a PP said they had to do until you are back with food. That still seems like a much better option then dragging the whole family through the line to order. We used our cell phones if I had to call and find him. Just a tip though, put them on vibrate there is no hearing your phone ring in a crowded restaurant.