Gripe - Food in the Parks

[mytwotinks]

I have a similar complaint. When we go to DW we rent a stroller for my daughter. Quite often when we get to a popular ride all the stroller parking is taken-up by people that have brought there own stroller in the park to save some money. I feel that since I rented my stroller from Disney I should not have to park farther away or wait for these CHEAP people to finish the ride and move their stroller. Stroller parking near the entrance and exit of the rides should be only for Disney Strollers.

You are kidding, right?

 

[MaryKatesMom]

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.

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.

I agree. I find it amusing that people are looking to Disney to define their "policy" when the discussion is about courtesy and manners (gasp, what are they?!). I was unable to find a policy on their website for line jumping. Does anyone need to be told not to do that? People should know the difference between right and wrong. Trying to justify bad behavior, ie taking a table they did not pay for at the expense of someone else, will not make us more polite and courteous to one another.

 

[C.Ann]

I agree. I find it amusing that people are looking to Disney to define their "policy" when the discussion is about courtesy and manners (gasp, what are they?!). .

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The only "policy" I'm trying to find is the one that says you are prohibited from bringing your own food into the parks - a statement that was made quite assertively here - like it was carved in stone..

Courtesy and manners are common sense for most people.. I think that has already been established..

 

[DMRick]

Trying to justify bad behavior, ie taking a table they did not pay for at the expense of someone else, will not make us more polite and courteous to one another.

Well, I've used the outside tables and I do not agree that I am not a curteous person. Because Disney does allow food into the parks, the person to take this up with is Disney..since it makes sense, if you allow food, it's going to be eaten somewhere. Yes, it could be eaten all over the benches, but I'm sure some aren't happy with that. You're welcome to share my table, and I won't stay longer than needed, but yes, I'll continue to use a table. I could prob be finished with my sandwich before the table being saved next to me (which diser's overwhelmingly said last year was fine) has their food back from line. So who gets to pick and choose what is curteous, and what isn't..Diser's? By the way, for myself, it is the outside tables we choose to use, jsut because that is where I feel most comfortable. I don't happen to feel this is the same as line cutting/smoking in non smoking areas, etc..and I'm not sure why some think that if you use a table in the park, you will automatically be a line cutter, and smoke where you shouldn't. The difference is, if you took a poll and asked if the last two were wrong, I doubt you'd get anything but yeses..with using a table, there is definately a difference of opinion..and some don't have room for that. If it makes you uncomfortable, then by all means don't bring in food, or if you do, find a piece of ground or a bench to sit on. If you can't find a table, and someone eating their own food is taking up room, and you are sure it's not what Disney wants, find a CM to kick them out.

 

[DMRick]

Other's opinions do matter when you are the only one with a counter opinion, because it is you they have an opinion about.

I just want to clarify, that I am not the only one with a difference of opinion in this thread. Thanks to those who PM'd me and pointed that out LOL. I guess I missed this sentence

 

[mytwotinks]

Here is the response....

Dear Vanessa,

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World Resort.

We would also like to mention that as an exception to our standard policy, guests who have specific
food allergies are welcome to bring their own small snack items with them into the theme parks.
However, picnic baskets, ice chests, and coolers are not permitted.

If you have questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact us.

Please include your full name, E-Mail address, and reservation number if applicable on all
correspondence.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Peggy Bishop

WDW Online Communications

They really should enforce this then! If I were Vanessa and had really wanted to bring a cooler, but had not since I was told I could not, I would be pretty mad to see them all over the park when I got there!

 

[C.Ann]

PLEASE do not eat the food that you have brought in from outside of the parks on the benches or ground!! Because if you do, before you can even get back from your vacation there will be someone on these boards ranting and raving about how they needed to "rest" and the benches were all taken by people who were sitting down eating - and/or the ones on the ground were encouraging the appearance of flies, birds and whatever (which the overflowing trash cans in the parks already accomplishes quite nicely with no help from the "poor folk" who bring food into the parks..)

This thread is really getting ridiculous when you start dragging smokers, line-jumpers and everything else into the mix..

Disney does not stop people from bringing food and coolers into the parks.. They purposely look the other way.. They know that these people are going to sit somewhere and I'm pretty sure they aren't figuring it will be in the middle of Main Street to block the parade..

Make your complaints known to Disney - they do not have adequate seating period - even if they did "prohibit" food, which they don't..

 

[snowy76]

I'm sorry I don't remember who suggested it... but the question was raised of where does one draw the line when it comes to the idea of "I'll do what I want." IMO, I think there IS a distinction between things that cause harm to others, versus an annoyance or inconvenience. I mean, waiting longer for a table is inconvenient but will not do me lasting physical harm.

BTW, we have always sent our kids to get a table while we get the food. My reasoning was I thought it was more rude to have my kids crowding an already crowded ordering area. Especially when those double lines go past the register and approach the counter... can you image if we all brought all the members of our groups?

 

[susieh]

Much earlier in this thread someone asked if there were any European's reading it - well I'm English through and through.

In the UK if you go to a CS restaurant and there are tables with spare seats (but no completely spare tables) it's normal to ask if you can sit at the spare seats and equally normal to say yes. It is not normal for people to offer to share their table with you.

And in most CS restaurants here you WILL see signs saying that the tables are only for people buying their foos at that restaurant. I've always felt really guilty if I've sat at a table at a CS restaurant in WDW and not bought from that place - even if it is to drink a cup of coffee or eat and ice cream bought at a stand in the park! I would never ever dream of eating my own food at a restaurant table, that would just be a no no. We use the benches for that or we've even sat on the kerb and eaten sandwiches brought with us in the past.

Different cultural view!

 

[C.Ann]

BTW, we have always sent our kids to get a table while we get the food. My reasoning was I thought it was more rude to have my kids crowding an already crowded ordering area. Especially when those double lines go past the register and approach the counter... can you image if we all brought all the members of our groups?

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This is a very good example.. I would much rather people go and get a table and have ONE person in line rather than 5 or 6 in line together going back and forth when it's time to order - trying to decide what they want - while the person who is supposed to be taking the order has to stand there twiddling their thumbs..

 

[DMRick]

BTW, we have always sent our kids to get a table while we get the food. My reasoning was I thought it was more rude to have my kids crowding an already crowded ordering area. Especially when those double lines go past the register and approach the counter... can you image if we all brought all the members of our groups?

And I understand that. In our area people don't usually save tables, and there are often signs saying, no table saving, so I was surprised the first time I ran into that at Disney. Many have explained their reasons and many opinions given on that topic also. So again, it's your and other's opinion that that is OK. It's some people's opinion it's not. I respect your opinion, and even if I didn't agree with it, it doesn't mean I think your kids (not yours per se) will turn out to be brats, seeing you take a table without your food in hand

 

[maxiesmom]

While I have never experienced the lack of seating problem, I would sure be angry if it did happen! People keep stating that it is all Disney World, so they can go wherever they please with their food. Look at it this way--If you find a shirt at Tinkerbell's Treasures that you like you cannot take it to the Winnie the Pooh shop to pay for it. All of the stores are not 1 big happy store, they are many little stores. And I totally agree with the fast food comparison. I would never think of packing a picnic and taking it to the local McDonalds. Just because Disney doesn't stop you from bringing in food doesn't mean that they like it. They are being nice! They want your money! Common sense, people, common sense.

 

[sdenis]

We brought sandwiches into the MK this past Wednesday and found a spot over by the steamboat in liberty town square. Since the boat is being rehabbed the entire area has tables and chairs for people. We were the only ones sitting there.

 

[robinb]

I just want to clarify, that I am not the only one with a difference of opinion in this thread.

No, Doris. You are not alone in your opinion. I'm right there with you ... even though we order off the menu for my DH and me.

 

[DMRick]

If you find a shirt at Tinkerbell's Treasures that you like you cannot take it to the Winnie the Pooh shop to pay for it. All of the stores are not 1 big happy store, they are many little stores.

Apples and oranges. I think we all recognize if you purchase food at one place, you have to pay for it there. No one is disputing that. I also don't see anyone saying you can go whereever you wish with your food. There are lots of places just about everyone agrees they would not sit and eat with their brought in food or snacks.

This has everything to do with Disney providing seating. They actually had great seating by the dole whips, which appeared to be open seating, since it was actually a smoking area and not connected to a counter restaurant. A nice place (if no one was smoking, if that bothered you) to bring your brought in food, since there was no restaurant there), but they pulled out the seating, had a character signing in it's place, and moved the smoking across from the Dole whip area, where people used to sit and eat their ice cream. That was a lot of seating to get pulled. We used that seating for a "talk" during our keys of the kingdom, and I was disappointed to see it go.
You are right about one thing..Disney wants your money. However, in this instance, with full security at the gates, they don't turn you out for having food. Our six flags (Great Escape) won't even let you bring in a filled water bottle. They have made a decision and it's enforced. Disney doesn't seem to have made that decision. Again, if you can't find a seat, because someone brought in their own food, or is taking a break from the heat, and you know it's not what Disney wants, just ask a CM to remove them.

 

[DMRick]

No, Doris. You are not alone in your opinion. I'm right there with you ... even though we order off the menu for my DH and me.

Well Robin we usually do too (except sometimes we have leftovers as mentioned before)..since I sure don't want to cart food. But I really don't see this as a big problem..and I'm there often enough that I think I would have noticed. I see wayyy wayyy more tables being held for a long time, than people with their own food...and most have no problem with that
I do also, sometimes duck in the counter service areas or one of the stores (I'm not buying anything, just stealing the cool air) for air conditioning, when my asthma seems to be kicking in, when we go during hot months. I don't drink soda, but I do carry water, and I may sit for a moment at a table with my water to regroup my breathing.

 

[C.Ann]

Just because Disney doesn't stop you from bringing in food doesn't mean that they like it. They are being nice! They want your money! Common sense, people, common sense.

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Just for the heck of it, where do you think Disney thinks those people are going to eat that food that they brought in?

If they're going to allow it (or "look the other way") then they need to provide adequate seating because (as is clearly visible on this thread), NO ONE is happy that adequate seating isn't available.. If NO ONE brought food into the parks, there still isn't enough seating for the number of CS places and the number of people in the parks..

 

[minniegirl10]

i toatly agree

 

[dcgrumpy]

While I have never experienced the lack of seating problem, I would sure be angry if it did happen! People keep stating that it is all Disney World, so they can go wherever they please with their food. Look at it this way--If you find a shirt at Tinkerbell's Treasures that you like you cannot take it to the Winnie the Pooh shop to pay for it. All of the stores are not 1 big happy store, they are many little stores. And I totally agree with the fast food comparison. I would never think of packing a picnic and taking it to the local McDonalds. Just because Disney doesn't stop you from bringing in food doesn't mean that they like it. They are being nice! They want your money! Common sense, people, common sense.

When we go to Epcot, I go to Tangeriene cafe to get my food while DH goes to the Liberty Inn to get food for the kids. On the way he stops and gets himself a turkey leg and a beer and then he waits at Liberty Inn for me to get there with my food then he goes in and grabs the kids something. I guess next time DH and I should stand and only the kids get to sit at the table

oh and last trip I got food from Studio catering Co and then met them at Pizza Planet. I never thought I was doing anything wrong. Learn something new every day.

 

[Sylvester McBean]

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Just for the heck of it, where do you think Disney thinks those people are going to eat that food that they brought in?

I honestly don't think they care. aside from the one bad experience we've had, we've never had another problem finding an open table at any WDW park over the course of years. but we don't go during peak times.