Getting a table by the water

[Wallflower]

This is silly but ever since I was a kid, as I rode the water ride in Mexico at Epcot, I wanted to be one of the people eating dinner by candlelight next to the water. I'm wondering how disney hostess and servers react to requesting tables by the water. Do they not allow it, or do you have to wait forever? how can I get a table by the water?

 

[tjmw2727]

Make a reservation and then ask nicely and let them know your prepared to wait. We had a reservation over Christmas week and didn't request the water view but were lucky enough to get one - it was very nice. The restaurant is lovely and the food was great so I hope you have a great meal no matter where you are seated!

 

[arcticdisneylovers]

A couple of years ago we had an early ADR - I think it was 4pm. There was only a handful and tables taken and not a single water side one being used. They sat us at the very back against the wall so I asked nicely if there was any chance we could be seated by the water, I could tell the girl wasn't happy but she went away for moment and came back and said yes. The service was actually quite terrible but I had always wanted to sit by the water. We haven't been back, the food was just ok for us.

 

[Disneylover99]

We always make an ADR for lunch at opening, go there at least fifteen minutes early and request it when we get there. If I'm eating at San Angel, I'm sitting by the water.

 

[csmith041177]

The cast members generally try to accommodate requests on where you sit if they can do it within reason. Certainly, getting to the restaurant earlier than your reservation time helps, as doe being willing to wait. My wife and I actually got to sit in that exact area by accident a few months ago, and it was a lot of fun!

 

[Sunnywho]

How many do the tables by the water fit? (We're a family of five and I'd written off going because of the lower odds of getting a table by the water, but the above strategy of going early for lunch seems viable!)

 

[tjmw2727]

The tables by the water are a 2 top with a 4 top beside it that can be slid over for a 6 top - alternating with 4 tops beside a 2 top that can slide over for a 6 top. I wish I could draw this it would make more sense !!

So any size party up to 6 maybe more can sit by the water if your timing is good.

 

[txdisneymama]

Your best bet is to book the earliest lunch seating. We went in Oct and had the first reservation time for lunch and checked in about 15 min beforehand. They gladly seated us by the water. My kids loved it!

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

You can ask, but you may end up having to wait for a table which essentially disregards your ADR.

When I went to Disneyland a few years ago, we were celebrating my 9th birthday and when we went to the Pirates of the Caribbean Restaurant, we were seated at a table by the water. It was definitely an awesome experience and one of the highlights of the trip, so I'd be willing to wait for a waterside table again.

 

[keh422]

How many do the tables by the water fit? (We're a family of five and I'd written off going because of the lower odds of getting a table by the water, but the above strategy of going early for lunch seems viable!)

Last May we ate there as a party of 7, and without asking we were seated by the water. So I know they can handle at least that many.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

SEATING ASSIGNMENTS, THE NEW WAY: (almost all TS eateries)
. . . in most cases, the Podium person has no control over seating
. . . with the new system, the Seat Assigner determines your table
. . . the Assigner walks around with a hand-held computer and assigns the next table
. . . this assignment is then printed out at the podium
. . . the Seater then takes the printout and leads guest to the table
. . . the printout info also includes party size, adults/kids, DDP, special diets, etc
. . . this is done without any consulting with the podium people ahead of time
. . . the podium person can send a text to the Assigner (if they feel like it) and the Assigner might honor a seating request
. . . once assigned, it almost takes and Act-of-God to change the table
. . . to change tables, requires a lot of computer work for the Assigner and Podium
. . . hope you get lucky

 

[Tigger's ally]

Hey Rusty, if we walked in at 5 p.m. and said would like a waterside table for two and we were willing to wait in Lacava, would they do that with their little buzzer things? And yes, we might get buzzed waiting to get buzzed.

 

[sls404]

SEATING ASSIGNMENTS, THE NEW WAY: (almost all TS eateries)
. . . in most cases, the Podium person has no control over seating
. . . with the new system, the Seat Assigner determines your table
. . . the Assigner walks around with a hand-held computer and assigns the next table
. . . this assignment is then printed out at the podium
. . . the Seater then takes the printout and leads guest to the table
. . . the printout info also includes party size, adults/kids, DDP, special diets, etc
. . . this is done without any consulting with the podium people ahead of time
. . . the podium person can send a text to the Assigner (if they feel like it) and the Assigner might honor a seating request
. . . once assigned, it almost takes and Act-of-God to change the table
. . . to change tables, requires a lot of computer work for the Assigner and Podium
. . . hope you get lucky

This was our experience at Ohana in December. I requested a table by the window when I checked in at the podium. I told them any window table would do, we just didn't want to sit at an aisle table because last time we were swarmed by parents taking pictures of their kids doing the coconut race! So she makes a note of it and about 5-10 mins later we are being escorted to a window table when the CM sees another family was just seated at the same table. She found the seat assigner with the tablet and the assigner didn't know what happened. We ended up going back to the waiting area and waited another 10-15 mins, but we ended up getting one of the best tables with a great view of Cinderella castle.

But back to the topic, I requested a water view at San Angel Inn when we had a 5 or 6 o'clock dinner reservation. The CM at the podium instantly quoted me a ridiculous wait time of an hour or more, so I just said forget it. Not sure if she really knew the estimated wait or was just trying to discourage the request b/c they were so busy.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Hey Rusty, if we walked in at 5 p.m. and said would like a waterside table for two and we were willing to wait in Lacava, would they do that with their little buzzer things?

1) Sometimes.
2) It all depends upon the SEATER at the podium.
3) Usually they won't, since like a fireworks view elsewhere, these are in-demand tables.
. . . many times, if the guest doesn't get the view they want, they wander off
. . . this causes a loss in revenue

 

[Dug720]

But back to the topic, I requested a water view at San Angel Inn when we had a 5 or 6 o'clock dinner reservation. The CM at the podium instantly quoted me a ridiculous wait time of an hour or more, so I just said forget it. Not sure if she really knew the estimated wait or was just trying to discourage the request b/c they were so busy.

5 or 6pm is pretty much peak dinner time, and it is possible that the majority of the window tables had just been seated, so IMHO an hour or more at peak dining time? Not "ridiculous".

 

[Nancyg56]

Make a reservation and then ask nicely and let them know your prepared to wait. We had a reservation over Christmas week and didn't request the water view but were lucky enough to get one - it was very nice. The restaurant is lovely and the food was great so I hope you have a great meal no matter where you are seated!

WE did too! It was Awesome! This was one of our favorite meals in December.

 

[tjmw2727]

Hey Rusty, if we walked in at 5 p.m. and said would like a waterside table for two and we were willing to wait in Lacava, would they do that with their little buzzer things? And yes, we might get buzzed waiting to get buzzed.

On 12/30 they were not using the buzzers and they specifically told us to be close enough to hear our name called. My kids were on a bench by Lacava and I had to go get them as you definitely couldn't have heard it from there. (Barely heard it from just beside the podium!) Honestly though the restaurant is really pretty no matter where you sit and the food was delicious.

I agree with above regarding changing tables once your seated though. We had an awful table location at the other Mexican restaurant and they would not move us. Probably the worst table we ever had, ended up just getting drinks and splitting a couple appetizers to get out faster. Even the waitress admitted the table wasn't ideal - and don't worry we didn't short her for something out of her control.

 

[DisneyHardin]

This was our experience at Ohana in December. I requested a table by the window when I checked in at the podium. I told them any window table would do, we just didn't want to sit at an aisle table because last time we were swarmed by parents taking pictures of their kids doing the coconut race! .

I'm glad we are not the only person who requests a "non aisle" seat at 'Ohana. The first time we ate there were were right by the aisle and a lady was literally leaning over my plate taking a picture of her little snowflake. It was so bad that the lady hosting the games "reminded" the parents that there were people trying to have their dinner and even came over and apologized and gave us some leis after the race. Since then we always request to be away from the games.

 

[sls404]

I'm glad we are not the only person who requests a "non aisle" seat at 'Ohana. The first time we ate there were were right by the aisle and a lady was literally leaning over my plate taking a picture of her little snowflake. It was so bad that the lady hosting the games "reminded" the parents that there were people trying to have their dinner and even came over and apologized and gave us some leis after the race. Since then we always request to be away from the games.

That's so funny because she also gave us leis after the ordeal. I think she could see we were irritated, but I don't recall her apologizing or anything. So it sort of made us feel bad, like we came off as grumpy to her. But it was really was ridiculous trying to enjoy our meal with the parents surrounding us and even leaning on our chairs.