Guests uning quick service restaurant tables

[PebblesMom]

I never realized any of this was really a problem! I have only been to Disney twice and both times in May, so never had a problem getting a seat! I think common sense goes a long way here!
At McDonalds I always take my kids and to get napkins, drinks and find a table. It does create a traffic jam when we are all standing at the register. One the other hand if I were at Disney and there were people wandering around with trays of food I would not go find a table. We would all stay together.
If I saw a family with two people in wheelchairs and they split up while two stayed at the table, I would not think twice about it. I think this is where common sense comes in! I believe that for this family it is more a choice based on logistics. Getting two wheelchairs through the line with trays of food would not be easy!

 

[Planogirl]

We tend to eat early to avoid the crowds and if we do so where a CM isn't monitoring the table area, we try to give our table to someone with food. It's annoying to see so many people just resting while those with food can't find anywhere to sit. I'm glad that Disney is addressing this now.

 

[starousse]

It doesn't matter if you INTEND to eat there... you must have food in hand to get into the seating area.

Anyone sitting at a table currently has food. You and your four kids would be directed someplace else to wait until the other adult returns with the food.

You must not travel or eat during busy times if you haven't seen this sign... or haven't been in the last 3 years.

I don't mean to be rude, but I think this statement is absolutely ridiculous.

If my husband is online paying for our food, I'm not going to stand on line with him, nor am I gonna stand next to the trash can with my 5 and 2 year old cranky kids waiting because my food is not in my hand yet. Of course, I'm gonna look for a seat. What if you're with an older family member who can't walk well, are you gonna tell them not to sit down? C'mon! I'm all about being courteous and hate rude people more than anything, but let's be a little rational here. Yes, I get pissed when I'm trying to balance a tray of food on top of my stroller looking for a place to sit, and people are just sitting there with empty trays, or on the phone, or putting on their lipstick looking at me. THAT is rude. Sitting down at a table to wait for your husband to pay for your meal is not. Sorry!

 

[HookedOnDiz]

It doesn't matter if you INTEND to eat there... you must have food in hand to get into the seating area.

Anyone sitting at a table currently has food. You and your four kids would be directed someplace else to wait until the other adult returns with the food.

You must not travel or eat during busy times if you haven't seen this sign... or haven't been in the last 3 years.

We go every year. Sometimes twice a year. We always have a family member hold a table. I have never seen a sign posted when we have been there or had a cast member verbally instruct us to wait until we had food to be seated. We purposely avoid peak travel periods. So I guess shorter lines on the rides is not the only perk of low crowds. I am so glad we can avoid all this drama and just sit down whenever we want without breaking any rules

 

[Suellen]

I don't mean to be rude, but I think this statement is absolutely ridiculous.

If my husband is online paying for our food, I'm not going to stand on line with him, nor am I gonna stand next to the trash can with my 5 and 2 year old cranky kids waiting because my food is not in my hand yet. Of course, I'm gonna look for a seat. What if you're with an older family member who can't walk well, are you gonna tell them not to sit down? C'mon! I'm all about being courteous and hate rude people more than anything, but let's be a little rational here. Yes, I get pissed when I'm trying to balance a tray of food on top of my stroller looking for a place to sit, and people are just sitting there with empty trays, or on the phone, or putting on their lipstick looking at me. THAT is rude. Sitting down at a table to wait for your husband to pay for your meal is not. Sorry!

No I'm not ~ the cast member stationed next to the previously posted sign will ask you to wait until you have your food.

It isn't my problem to deal with. They have CM's for that. They ask you to stand to the side and wait until you have food and then they escort you to an empty table.

 

[WillAustin]

I don't mean to be rude, but I think this statement is absolutely ridiculous.

If my husband is online paying for our food, I'm not going to stand on line with him, nor am I gonna stand next to the trash can with my 5 and 2 year old cranky kids waiting because my food is not in my hand yet. Of course, I'm gonna look for a seat.

I think the point in most of the posts was that in a busy CS location, during a busy time, you don't have the choice to make. You must have food before finding a seat. Whether someone thinks it's rude or not, you aren't allowed into the seating area without food.

 

[KimiCoconuts]

This is an interesting thread.

I am guilty of always snagging a table before our order arrives if I can. If I see a crowded area and there are no tables I start to panic I will be wandering around with no where to sit. I never thought of the backlog aspect it might create due to time waiting for food before. It's a bit of an eye opener.

I always wish only one person would get in the line to order because it gets backed up with the large parties together.

I have been stuck with my family with no where to sit and I never thought about it being rude I couldn't find a table, just annoying. I have offered others table space if I have it when I see they are seeking space.

Reminds me of a recent trip, we were at a hotel, limited seating for free breakfast, no seating for me and the kids. Asked staff for suggestions, she told us to go sit in the lobby in the comfy chairs/couch area. It was quiet and pleasant. Except for a woman who was absolutely pissed that we brought our food in there and shot us dirty looks the entire time we were there. I had no idea what her deal was. It wasn't her living room, it was the hotels and we were invited to sit there.

 

[HookedOnDiz]

I think the point in most of the posts was that in a busy CS location, during a busy time, you don't have the choice to make. You must have food before finding a seat. Whether someone thinks it's rude or not, you aren't allowed into the seating area without food.

I am absolutely fine with following any dining rules Disney chooses to implement. But I object to certain people insisting I'm rude for sitting down prior to the food being ready when there are no seating restrictions in place.

 

[Suellen]

I am absolutely fine with following any dining rules Disney chooses to implement. But I object to certain people insisting I'm rude for sitting down prior to the food being ready when there are no seating restrictions in place.

I think you are totally misconstruing what those of us that think it is rude are saying.

Sitting at a table with no food while allowing those that currently HAVE food to walk around and around looking for a place to sit is rude. If you have NO FOOD and there are NO available seats for people that have food then yes... that is rude. Sorry. If there are 10 available tables then obviously there isn't a problem.

Sitting at a table where you have no intention of eating while people look for a place to sit is also rude.

I'll continue to keep my family together and you continue to do what you do ~ just don't be surprised if a CM won't let you in the seating area or asks you to move if you don't have food.

 

[HookedOnDiz]

This is so ridiculous. If there are no seating restrictions in place there is nothing wrong with getting a table while someone else in your party is ordering.

Its no different than one person getting fast passes for an entire party while the rest of the group goes elsewhere. Its called planning ahead and being organized.

 

[wcpamotm]

We aren't really talking about slack times when there are plenty of tables available. At such tmes, I really don't care whether a table is taken up by a foursome playing bridge. (management may or may not care, but that's their prerogative.)

And while it's appropriate to take note of it, this is also not really about times and locations where seating restrictions are enforced, because guests are left win little choice in the matter.

This is primarily about people who are walking around with trays of food, searching for a table to eat before their food gets cold, while numerous tables are occupied by one or two people without any food yet. Whatever "rules" are or are not in place at the moment, I think those with the trays have the highest claim to a table. Wouldn't you agree?

 

[disneyfav4ever]

We aren't really talking about slack times when there are plenty of tables available. At such tmes, I really don't care whether a table is taken up by a foursome playing bridge. (management may or may not care, but that's their prerogative.)

And while it's appropriate to take note of it, this is also not really about times and locations where seating restrictions are enforced, because guests are left win little choice in the matter.

This is primarily about people who are walking around with trays of food, searching for a table to eat before their food gets cold, while numerous tables are occupied by one or two people without any food yet. Whatever "rues" are or are not in place at the moment, I think those with the trays have the highest claim to a table. Wouldn't you agree?

 

[smw]

This is so ridiculous. If there are no seating restrictions in place there is nothing wrong with getting a table while someone else in your party is ordering.

there's also not a rule that says i can't sit next to you on the bus/monorail, pick my nose, and wipe it on your seat. you'd probably find that to be pretty rude, though.

 

[W.E.D.]

HookedonDiz, just accept the fact that (on here anyway) YOU ARE WRONG.

I got pulled into this debate a couple years back, because I tend to agree with you. The hammer came down and I realised I TOO WAS WRONG.

You will never change these peoples minds. I have an elderly mother with a walker who cannot stand for long periods of time. If we order CS, according to the non-rude folks here on the DIS, she should darn well STAND UNTIL ITS HER TURN TO SIT.

As Robo has said, if the signs are up and the CMs are present, follow their instructions. If not, well....

 

[Suellen]

I have an elderly mother with a walker who cannot stand for long periods of time. If we order CS, according to the non-rude folks here on the DIS, she should darn well STAND UNTIL ITS HER TURN TO SIT.

As Robo has said, if the signs are up and the CMs are present, follow their instructions. If not, well....

Actually I would offer my seat to your elderly mother if there were no other seats.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

The only time I have lost my temper at Disney was on my first trip at a counter service restaurant for this very reason. It was near Christmas, so it was very busy. We had previously eaten at both Pecos Bills and Cosmic Rays where CMs were controlling seating, so it really didn't occur to us that Tortuga Tavern would be any different.

We waited in line and ordered as a family. The line was about 20 minutes long, and it was longer by the time we got our food. After we had our food, we started looking for a table. Everywhere you looked, there were tables with people who were not eating. There were also people sitting on every available ledge who were eating, so we clearly weren't the only ones with a problem. We ended up standing holding our plates to eat. Try that with a taco salad. We were finished by the time the majority of the people around us holding tables even had their food. It was completely ridiculous. And for the record, while I realize there are hidden disabilities and balancing 3 toddlers through line is a challenge, most of these people appeared to be perfectly able bodied adults and older children.

 

[maxiesmom]

Actually I would offer my seat to your elderly mother if there were no other seats.

Me too!

It is not about being a table nazi, it is about being kind and helpful to your fellow man. Treating them how you would like to be treated. And while it may not always break the rules to sit at a table before you have your food, if there are may people wandering around with trays of food and nowhere to sit, it is rude!

Also, if you are at a table larger than what you need, why not offer the extra seats to other people? My dad and I have done that before, and had a very nice time chatting with a couple of ladies and one of their sons.

Why is it so hard to be kind and courteous to each other?

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

I think the moral of this thread is to simply take a step back, take a deep breath, and do what you can to be courteous and considerate of other people. This means not sitting at a table in a quick service restaurant at which you are not eating simply because you are hot, tired, and want a break in the air conditioning. It also means realizing that people are often not trying to be inconsiderate. In fact, they are often attempting to be quite courteous, but it gets misconstrued. Examples people have given of taking their children and sitting at a table while the other parent orders so as not to clog up the line or have rambunctious children running through the line come to mind. Other times, there are people who have actual disabilities (some you can see and some you cannot see) who have a difficult time standing or walking for extended periods of time and find it much easier on their bodies to sit while another family member get their food for them. I'm sure no one would begrudge the disabled vet or the woman with multiple sclerosis the opportunity to sit at a table rather than standing in line with a family member who can easily just bring them a tray of food.

I think that if we all try to take other people into consideration as well as trying to believe the best in other people, we will have a much more magical vacation and find that our blood pressure stays much lower.

 

[aripantaloon]

So, is this acceptable: Mom, Dad, and 3 kids. Mom is in line for food, dad and 3 kids get lucky and find a table during a very busy time. Dad gets food out of cooler for the youngest of the kids so that she can start to eat since she's hungry. They don't actually have food from the counter service place yet; they are saving the table for when mom gets back with food for the rest of them; the littlest member of the family is actually eating something and it really wouldn't work without a table and chair for her?

We did this during our May trip twice at Cosmic Ray's. It was a madhouse there since we foolishly decided at noon that the kids were hungry. Someone at our table was eating; just not food from Cosmic Ray's.

 

[Lisa71]

Yes, I should get my food with my 2 kids in tow and struggle to find a seat while my DS, falls down a few times and balance it all without spilling...sorry, if someone in your party can save a table then they should. We spent a long time finding a place my husband could sit with the kids while eating at Sunshine Seasons and if I had trays full of food as well as two little hands that would have been nuts. It is not rude if you are kind and respectful of others. We did not bump anyone off to get our table.