Gripe - Food in the Parks

[RollTide1017]

One thing that bothers me is when people save a table while someone else is buying the food. I was at a CS restaurant in AK and the place was packed. After walking around for 5 minutes with our food we finally found a table. When we sat down to eat there was a group near us saving a table and waiting for there food. When we were done eating and got up to leave they were still there waiting for there food and hogging the table. I thought that was extremely rude and selfish.

 

[LoveWDW]

Something I do if the only table that is available seats more than just the two of us, when I see someone looking for a table I'll make come and sit here motions and indicate how many seats are open. I don't mind sharing a table when the place is crowded.

 

[DMRick]

This is you making up the rules, not Disney. For instance, at MGM, there are tables along the outside of the commissary. Those tables are often used for people just taking a rest, eating their own food, etc.

Just because someone on the Disboard thinkgs it's not ok to sit at the various outside tables Disney has, doesn't mean it's not ok. If Disney had a problem with it, they would put signs up, have CM's move you on, etc. What you may see as "common sense" I see as Disney having a place for anyone to sit. You mention restaurants....I agree that that would be different, and since you are seated there by a CM..even then, it's up to the CM's, not a board. Funny, you mention we can go around and around, but you still say it boils down to what you think. Everyone else has a sense of entitlement and a me first attitude, if they don't agree with you. No one on this board is saying they don't care what anyone else thinks..they are saying they don't care what people on a board say they think is the rule.

We can go around & around for days arguing about whether or not tables at counter services are for anyone or just for paying customers of the restaurant but it all boils down to the difference between common sense & courtesy & the sense of entitlement & a "me first" attitude that some people disply - "I'm the only one in the world, and it's all about me. I don't care about anyone else.".

 

[mattsdragon]

I think you are taking this wrong. I don't think she is saying she is not a curteous person, and wouldn't finish up and move on, but is saying, is if's OK for Disney that she sit there, it really doesn't matter what people on a board think. She mentioned the outside tables. That's how I took it.

You didn't read what I wrote. I was stating that the "could care less" attitude stinks regardless of what you are doing at the park. You should never have that attitude, it moves from just sitting at a table to other discourteous behavior.

 

[DMRick]

I read what you wrote. and I still think you misunderstood what she said. You quoted her, so I assume you were comenting on her attitude. If she prefers to go by what Disney allows and could care less what the people on a board say the rules should be, what's wrong with that. Nothing wrong with not caring what another's opinion is....
This thread is about using a seat in a counter food area, not an attitude about the entire park. She uses the seats, and doesn't care that some people on this board don't like it. Now, if she said, Disney doesn't allow it, but I could care less what Disney allows, that would be different IMO. Just because I don't care that people on this board think I shouldn't sit and eat my leftoever sandwich from the Earl of Sandwich, doesn't mean I'm going to cut in front of you to watch the parade, or use the bathroom. Why would it carry over to discourteous behavior, if it isn't (and I'm entitled to my opinion that using an outside chair isn't discourteous too.)

You didn't read what I wrote. I was stating that the "could care less" attitude stinks regardless of what you are doing at the park. You should never have that attitude, it moves from just sitting at a table to other discourteous behavior.

 

[mattsdragon]

I don't give a damn where you eat your sandwich, or where you eat your breakfast. You can eat them as you hurdle down Summit Plummet as far as I'm concerned. You are still missing my point. I don't even care that the lady is eating her outside food at a table. I was referring to the overall idea that the "I don't care what others think of what I"m doing" is the larger problem.
Is the whole Disney Corperation going to file chapter 11 because someone's eating a Bologna sandwich at Cosmic Rays? No. But to sit in there, and say "well, I don't care what other people think" ultimately ends up somewhere in a queue, where a child is swinging their bag around and hitting other people, or a person with a stroller is running through an already formed line at a bus stop.
If I and everyone else sees what you are doing (or that your kid is being a brat) , and think that it is discourteous, then guess what, it's discourteous. Other's opinions do matter when you are the only one with a counter opinion, because it is you they have an opinion about.
At what point does "I don't care what other's think" become discourteous? And if it does have the potential to escalate into a larger problem, why not make an attempt to cut it off at it's lowest point?
Furthermore, my OP addresses that it is the people who are taking up the tables simply because they want a place to relax, is the problem. It is their lack of courtesy, and their "I could careless attitude" that is the crux of the problem. I quoted the other lady because she happened to be the one who put the words out there. I was addressing that attitude, vice her behavior.
But perhaps, since this thread (the thread, not my posts) is leveled at behavior that you exhibit (vis a vis, bringing "non-Disney" food into CS establishments and taking up tables), you were just being defensive.

I'm not trying to flame anyone (I frequent other boards for that pasttime), believe me. I am merely trying to address a larger, much more broad problem beyone eating at the wrong place.

 

[C.Ann]

I don't give a damn where you eat your sandwich, or where you eat your breakfast.

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That's uncalled for, don't you think?

 

[Sylvester McBean]

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That's uncalled for, don't you think?

it sure was funny.

 

[88Keys]

Is the whole Disney Corperation going to file chapter 11 because someone's eating a Bologna sandwich at Cosmic Rays?

Wouldn't it be cool if you could get bologna sandwhiches at Cosmic Ray's?

 

[LoveWDW]

It was strong language, but the poster is pointing out that we should care about the other person. I think this is the point, anyway.

 

[88Keys]

"Strong language" about bologna sandwiches?? -- I was just being polite....

 

[DMRick]

I'm being defensive? Nah..because I'll do what Disney allows, not what a "board" dictates.

No need to swear to make your point.

You say I missed the point. The person YOU quoted, said she doesn't care what others think ..and I'm pretty sure since this was the subject, she was talking about where she eats. You turned that into that's what's wrong with society..assuming that because she doesn't care what people on a board say about where she eats, she is not a curteous person and it will spill over to line cutting, stroller cutting etc. If you see it as being discourteous, that doesn't mean it is, it's just your opinion. I don't see where everyone else sees using a table just to eat your own food or even to get out of the sun and rest a minute is discourteous. Many have said they do not. Some said they do..but it's just opinions, and guess who gets the final say? Yep, Disney. Since this thread is about not being able to get a table, and not solving world problems, that's where I focused.

You say you visit other boards to flame people..well that says a lot to me. Maybe you can carry this over to that other board, and you'll get more agreement that sitting at an outside table in Disney is just the begining of what is wrong with the world.

I don't give a damn where you eat your sandwich, or where you eat your breakfast. You can eat them as you hurdle down Summit Plummet as far as I'm concerned. You are still missing my point. I don't even care that the lady is eating her outside food at a table. I was referring to the overall idea that the "I don't care what others think of what I"m doing" is the larger problem.

Clip

But perhaps, since this thread (the thread, not my posts) is leveled at behavior that you exhibit (vis a vis, bringing "non-Disney" food into CS establishments and taking up tables), you were just being defensive.

I'm not trying to flame anyone (I frequent other boards for that pasttime), believe me. I am merely trying to address a larger, much more broad problem beyone eating at the wrong place.

 

[DMRick]

It was strong language, but the poster is pointing out that we should care about the other person. I think this is the point, anyway.

I don't think anyone stated they didn't care about another person, but that they don't care what the other people think about where they eat. After all, last I knew Disney gets to have the say so, not us.
Maybe she'll come back and clarify that. If she truly meant she didn't care about anyone else, and wasn't addressing the actual meaning of the thread, then I would think differently. Hopefully, just because she sits in a seat that up til now has been OK with Disney, I don'tthink it means her children are brats, and her stroller will shove you out of the say

Most people are saying (and some may do it without saying) that they eat and leave, some offer to share, some are just there to catch some shade. Few are saying..I'm taking the chair, leaving my cooler there for the day, and you can't have the table, so there LOL!

88, I don't think it was your "strong" language they were talking about LOL. And yes, it would be great if we coudl get those sandwiches inside the park..I'm so sick of anything fried.

 

[Debbie]

I've got to go back and read a couple of pages, but

Furthermore, my OP addresses that it is the people who are taking up the tables simply because they want a place to relax, is the problem.

has me confused. If it is hot, and I am tired, and there is a table available, I should not sit down? Would it be okay to eat my Dole Whip at the table? Or does it need to be a whole meal? If I share a meal (i.e. 4 people/2 meals) is that okay?

And, yes, we are a family who "saves" the table. With 7 of us, 1 or 2 sit, while the others go to get the food. I've never thought that it is being discourteous to do so. Guess I'm wrong....again.

Mom of teenagers....so what to I know?

 

[NancyIL]

I really don't think Disney needs to post signs all over the restaurants stating "These tables are for patrons of the restaurant". It really should be common sense that the tables are there for paying patrons of the restaurants.

And common courtesy for someone to realize - "Hey, even though I brought my picnic lunch w/ me, I shouldn't sit at a table of a restaurant where I purchased nothing & perhaps cause someone else who did purchase something from the restaurant not to have a place to sit."

If someone wants to save money & bring their lunch w/ them, that's fine, but they shouldn't feel entitled to tables at restaurants. The tables are there for the customers of that restaurant.

It's the exact same thing as pool-hopping - someone pays less to stay at a value resort but then hops to a pool at deluxe resort because the pool there is better, perhaps causing guests of that resort who have paid to stay there to not be able to find a chair at the pool.

We can go around & around for days arguing about whether or not tables at counter services are for anyone or just for paying customers of the restaurant but it all boils down to the difference between common sense & courtesy & the sense of entitlement & a "me first" attitude that some people disply - "I'm the only one in the world, and it's all about me. I don't care about anyone else."

And to the person who said that people who purchase food at restaurants & expect to find at a table, should wait to eat at un-peak times, umm... no. The people who bring picnics in the park should wait to eat at un-peak times if they wish to eat at table of a counter-service restaurant.

And, honestly, like I said before, if I'm there & there are plenty of available tables & I see a family w/ a picnic lunch eating at one of those tables, I'm not going to care at all. But, if I'm circling the tables balancing a tray w/ 2 kids in tow & I can't find a table, then I'm going to be upset w/ the people who are there w/ their picnic lunch.

And there all kind of little "what if" scenarios - What if I'm allergic to the food there? What if I have a separate lunch for my child? What if I just buy a drink? - and we all know that those kind of instances are completely different from a family plopping themselves down at a table during busy peak meal times & pulling out a complete picnic spread from their cooler.

I couldn't agree with you more! It all boils down to common courtesy. It seems some have been nitpicking about how much one needs to buy (if anything) from a WDW eaterie before one is entitled to a seat. Common sense ought to tell you that if you wandered into Pecos Bill's during a busy time to rest and enjoy the air conditioning, and someone else needs the table so they can eat their meal - you should rest elsewhere. In other words, extend the same courtesy to others that you would want shown to you - if the situation were reversed.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I would not allow my family to take up space without the appropriate purchase, but I do have sympathy for families who may not have the means to purchase the food. WDW is for all families (rich or poor) who are able to share this magic together.

I don't think anybody is begrudging other guests bringing their own food into the parks, given that Disney doesn't enforce any bans on this. But there are plenty of benches around and througout the various parks where guests who do bring their own food can sit and eat it.

But that is the difference. In the food courts Disney has encouraged people to eat there no matter where you buy your food. In spite of what people on the Disboard say, I go by what Disney tells me is OK to do.

Where/how does Disney encourage this? Not preventing a behavior or action is not the same as encouraging it.

Places to sit that are in publicly accessible areas (so, counter service places, but not CRT for example) should be available to everyone who paid admission to the park. If there are not enough places to sit, blame disney, dont blame the people who need or want to sit down (for whatever reason.)
Do you assume that your need for a table is greater than someone elses?

Guests who purchase their food from the given counter service facility are entitled to seating in that restaurant, definitely over guests catering their own meals. As a guest buying my food from a given CS spot, my right to a table there is greater than that of the guests bringing their own food.

He completely humiliated her and when we complained to resort management they told us they would take care of it and then did nothing. It was such a bad experience that we won't ever go back to CBR.

Maybe they did at least reprimand him, or send him for additional training, and just didn't inform you. At the very least, I'm sure your report of the incident went into his personnel file.

If people that bring their food stoped doing this they would not go away. They would be standing in line waiting to buy it with everyone else and time from start to finish would take longer in all. The problem is that Disney does not have addiquate seating / eating space in DW.

I don't think anybody's objecting to people bringing in their own food; the issue that guests who do this then take up space in counter service restaurants, leaving guests who purchase their food in that restaurant nowhere to sit and eat what they bought.

I haven't seen anything that would lead me to believe that Disney expects me to pay extra to sit at a table that is in a public area.

But a restaurant is NOT a public area, and its tables are not IN a public area.

Are the tables at Cosmic Ray's public? You have to go through doors to get to them, but i dont see any signs that say "customers only".

Are the tables at McDonald's public? You have to go through doors to get to them, but there are no signs saying "customers only". Would you bring your own meals into McDonald's? No, because it's a counter service restaurant that provides seating for customers who purchase food items IN that restaurant. Disney's counter service restaurants are no different.

I agree, Disney really needs to create a place for people to eat their packed food. I don't mind if people bring their own food, but it is annoying to order and get food and then have nowhere to eat it.

I don't think Disney does need to create a place for guests to eat their packed food. While Disney doesn't ban this practice outright, they don't encourage it. Providing a place to eat inside the parks would signal actual approval, which I don't think is the message Disney wants to convey.

Just to be clear, this is one of those rules that is being made up by DISers, and not a Disney rule, right? I mean, Disney doesn't have signs anywhere saying seats are reserved for paying customers only, do they? ... How long do I get to sit at the table? Do I have to get up the minute my food is gone, or can I linger? Can I get up and leave, or do I forfeit the table the minute I'm gone?

Well, it's a "rule" made up by consumers with common sense. I don't think it's limited to DISers. I don't expect people to bring coolers of their own food into Wendy's and take up tables; equally, I don't expect anybody to do that at Cosmic Ray's.
As for how long do you get to sit? Again, common sense. If you see people wandering around the restaurant looking lost or annoyed - especially on their second or third lap - I'd think you'd get up. But if it's 10:45 AM and there are only three tables taken - no problem. Sit. Relax. Put your feet up. Stay a while.

is the discussion about "paying customers" at CS getting the tables the same as.."I paid for the (deluxe resort) and this is why pool-hopping and non-guest parking is taboo!"? These are complaints we often see here on the DIS. Just wondering....

Well, but pool-hopping and non-Resort-guest parking ARE taboo!

"However, picnic baskets, ice chests and coolers are not permitted." No mention of food and no mention of the fact that they have lockers available for "small coolers"..

The lockers are actually for items guests bring to the park but don't want to haul around with them all day - for example, sweaters or jackets for after sundown when the weather cools off. While guests who bring in coolers might store those in the lockers, that's not primary intent of having the lockers available.

I do think WDW should have more seating in their food areas and clean up the tables quicker between guests but WDW does so much more that is SOOO right that I can overlook lack of seating.

Well, or the guests making the mess could clean up that table when they're leaving...

I really don't think Disney needs to post signs all over the restaurants stating "These tables are for patrons of the restaurant". It really should be common sense that the tables are there for paying patrons of the restaurants.
And common courtesy for someone to realize - "Hey, even though I brought my picnic lunch w/ me, I shouldn't sit at a table of a restaurant where I purchased nothing & perhaps cause someone else who did purchase something from the restaurant not to have a place to sit."

Well, that's the problem - you cite "common courtesy" and "common sense". Too many times, the attitude is 'it's all about ME'.

One thing that bothers me is when people save a table while someone else is buying the food. I was at a CS restaurant in AK and the place was packed. After walking around for 5 minutes with our food we finally found a table. When we sat down to eat there was a group near us saving a table and waiting for there food. When we were done eating and got up to leave they were still there waiting for there food and hogging the table. I thought that was extremely rude and selfish.

Call me a cynic, but unless you virtually inhaled your food, jumped up and ran out - I don't believe that party was waiting for food.

Just because someone on the Disboard thinkgs it's not ok to sit at the various outside tables Disney has, doesn't mean it's not ok. If Disney had a problem with it, they would put signs up, have CM's move you on, etc. What you may see as "common sense" I see as Disney having a place for anyone to sit.

I got the impression the OP's issue was with people bringing their own meals and sitting INSIDE the various counter service restaurants. Not that I think it's reasonable for those folks to take up the outside tables either, but I suppose you could argue 'but I didn't know these tables are for this restaurant - they're not IN the restaurant'.

Wouldn't it be cool if you could get bologna sandwhiches at Cosmic Ray's?

Ew, yuck! No, and it hasn't been cool since I was maybe eight? Interesting thought, though..

 

[DMRick]

Originally Posted by DMRick
But that is the difference. In the food courts Disney has encouraged people to eat there no matter where you buy your food. In spite of what people on the Disboard say, I go by what Disney tells me is OK to do.

Where/how does Disney encourage this? Not preventing a behavior or action is not the same as encouraging it...

Well, I certainly got that idea when I wrote about appliances in the room (and they surprised the heck out of me by telling me it was alright as long as they were unplugged when we left the room) and cooking and eating in your room, and they told me that several of the resorts have food courts with seating, and that if wanted to, we were welcome to use their micorwave and toaster, and eat in that area. Sounded to me like they are encouraging me to eat there. How would you have taken that? I mentioned food courts, because that was what I was talking about.

 

[C.Ann]

The lockers are actually for items guests bring to the park but don't want to haul around with them all day - for example, sweaters or jackets for after sundown when the weather cools off. While guests who bring in coolers might store those in the lockers, that's not primary intent of having the lockers available...

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I'm too tired to go back and find it now, but it was either in the actual park map I pulled out to check during this long thread here or somewhere buried in pages upon pages of the official Disney site that said, "Lockers are available for small coolers.." Of course they're available for the items you mentioned as well, but it specifically mentioned "small coolers"..

I spent a good part of yesterday trying to find anything that said "food was prohibited" and could find nothing that came from Disney - just other peoples assumptions and insistence..

 

[dcgrumpy]

in the FAQ section of "Your Handy Guide to All the Magic" booklet that you get at check in

Q What can i take into parks with me?

A You can bring your typical sunscreen, snacks and non alcoholic beveragse along. Just be mindful that all packages, parcels, handbags, packpacks and the like may be inspected at Park entrances. So you may want to leave an unecessary articles behind. Thanks for your cooperation.

 

[Sylvester McBean]

I'm siding with mattsdragon. a lot of threads on this board would simply not exist if people had common courtesy. I'll give people credit for not knowing how the whole theme park system works, but it's typically the 'I'm going to do what I want' attitude that wrecks it for the rest of us. some of the common things you see people complaining about are:

smoking in the parks, not in the designated areas
abuse of ECV's and wheelchairs by people who clearly don't need them (near fistfights over the last ECV)
people who use strollers like the tip of a spear to push through crowds
cutting queue lines
screaming at or smacking your kids
foul language at the CM's
and yes, taking away real estate inside of restaurant if you're not patronizing it.

we've all seen examples of rude, uncourteous behavior in the parks. and it's just not getting any better. my daughter had a broken leg recently and we took her to the MK in a wheelchair. they let us up the FP line i space mountain. a kid was trying to walk on the handrail separating the lines while his parents stood by. he fell in front of my daughter's wheel chair and we ran him over. so we were on the receiving end of a string of profanities because of their behavior.

do the right thing. if you want to save money and bring your lunch into the parks, good for you. just exercise common sense where you eat it. don't take the 'I'll do what I want' attitude.