Guests who never throw out their food at counter service locations

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Have you ever been to any counter service location anywhere in WDW and the odd time seen some guests who were finished eating and did not bother to throw out their garbage and put back their trays? I seen it a few times and my family and I say do people not have any manners where they can't even do that?

 

[mickeymouse1017]

That bothers me when people can't even clean up after themselves. Also, I can't stand to see people that allow their children to throw their food (esp. cracker crumbs) on the floor and leave it. I know that there are CM's there to clean the tables but people need to realize that they are not there to be their maids. As my DD3 would say, "shame, shame".

 

[Huff]

I usually throw my trash away and return the tray. However, theres nothing wrong with no doing so. When you go out to eat you do so for the convenience of not having to cook, clean etc.

 

[ShesAPirate]

I usually throw my trash away and return the tray. However, theres nothing wrong with no doing so. When you go out to eat you do so for the convenience of not having to cook, clean etc.

I'm sorry, but I absolutely disagree. They give you a tray to carry your food to the table and to carry your trash away from the table. This is not a sit-down restaurant where there are waiters and busboys to clean up after you. There are trash cans everywhere because you are supposed to throw away your trash. This makes it much easier for the next family who comes along -- since it would be nearly impossible for the staff to keep up with the turnover (with no host or hostess there to hold people back from tables until they're cleaned). Counter service meals are cheaper not just because of the quality of food, but also because of the level of service you receive.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I've never seen this. That doesn't mean it doesn't happen, that just means I have better things to do than look around and see who is throwing their trash out and who isn't, much less make judgements about them.

There are people in the counter service locations to clean up, so it shouldn't be a big problem if it is happening.

 

[Alesia]

I'm sorry, but I absolutely disagree. They give you a tray to carry your food to the table and to carry your trash away from the table. This is not a sit-down restaurant where there are waiters and busboys to clean up after you. There are trash cans everywhere because you are supposed to throw away your trash. This makes it much easier for the next family who comes along -- since it would be nearly impossible for the staff to keep up with the turnover (with no host or hostess there to hold people back from tables until they're cleaned). Counter service meals are cheaper not just because of the quality of food, but also because of the level of service you receive.

Yep

 

[Huff]

I'm sorry, but I absolutely disagree. They give you a tray to carry your food to the table and to carry your trash away from the table. This is not a sit-down restaurant where there are waiters and busboys to clean up after you.

Wrong! I have managed counter service restaurants. We never expect the guests to clean up. That is our job and there are people to do that job. When a customer does clean up its great but no way do we expect them to do so. They are our guests and we treat them as such whether its counter service or table service. It's just good businesses.

 

[kathie859]

I can't say that I've ever noticed this "problem" at WDW. And if I did observe it, I'd anticipate a CM policing the area anyhow. I think it's a nice thing to do (clean up after yourself) but in a public restaurant, I don't think it's a critical breech of protocol to leave it for an employee to do. And, yes, for the record, I clean up my own area when I leave...

 

[dkcsmom]

I never expect anyone to clean up after my family when we are eating at a counter service restaurant.

If they don't want you to clean up after yourself....then why don't they let customers know that? If it is a service they offer why don't they stop us when we're cleaning up? Wouldn't that be good business?

I have eaten at only one counter service restaurant where it was not expected that you clean up after yourself and they let you know that up front.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

It bothers me a little when I see food on tables that was left behind by others, but what bothers me a hundred times more is when I see people who eat on a bench or on the ground during the parade or in a theatre (Fantasmic for example) and they leave their garbage there - turkey leg bones, half full cups of popcorn, nibbled candy apples, half full cups of beer and all!

At a CS location, CM's are at least prepared to handle a few lazy guests and toss the garbage in nearby cans, heck, if I'm tossing mine and see some on an adjacent table, I'll toss that, too - but garbage on Main Street or in the Fantasmic theatre is a huge and dangerous hazard (I've seen people trip several times over it) for others watching the parade or show and completely ruins the beautiful atmosphere. It is also much more difficult for CM's to access, find and clean than CS locations where a gloved CM is on the lookout for trash. The trash on the ground is my pet peeve.

 

[SleepingBet]

I usually throw my trash away and return the tray. However, theres nothing wrong with no doing so. When you go out to eat you do so for the convenience of not having to cook, clean etc.

I agree with you. In fact, sometimes I think it's a disadvantage when people clean their trash off their own tables, because then no one ever comes and wipes them clean. That grosses me out. Picking up trash isn't enough to clean the table for the next person. it needs to be wiped down hopefully with a disinfectant to get all the food, ketchup, etc. off the table. Do the people that pick up their trash actually wipe the table down and get all the food off of it for the next group?

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

I agree with you. In fact, sometimes I think it's a disadvantage when people clean their trash off their own tables, because then no one ever comes and wipes them clean. That grosses me out. Picking up trash isn't enough to clean the table for the next person. it needs to be wiped down hopefully with a disinfectant to get all the food, ketchup, etc. off the table. Do the people that pick up their trash actually wipe the table down and get all the food off of it for the next group?

The CM's that I've seen wipe down all the tables (except the ones being used) not just the ones with trash on them.

 

[corgi_monster]

Yes, it irks me when people leave their trash on the table. Really, how hard is it to pick up a tray, walk to the trash can, and tilt the tray so the trash falls into the waste basket? Soooooooo not hard. (If it's a single mom with 3 screaming kids under the age of 5 and she's got 2 strollers, 3 baby bags, and 1 huge heaping tray of trash, that's a different story!)

In many parts of Asia, it's normal to have the staff pick up all trays and trash from tables. So, if you see somone who is from Asia leaving their trash behind, just be aware that he or she is probably unaware. Side note - In Asia, most McDonald's even bring the food to you when it's ready . . . a very strange experience to say the least!

 

[septbaby]

Simple rule, does the dining area have a trash can? Then guests are expected to use it. You are expected to put your trash away at McDonald's, WDW CS is no different, especially in the park.

If you want "table service" go to a TS restaurant and TIP the staff to carry your trash from the table.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Once again, this is one of those many irritants that go on at WDW. Since it is a huge theme park with many options for dining, people will treat it as such. In other words, I am paying for counter service and I do not want to clean up after myself, if there is no one there to enforce that you clean up after yourself, I do not have to, annoying as that may be, there it is. You can place as many trash receptacles as you want, if people choose not to clean up after they eat, they will not and unless there are signs and enforcers, we can talk about it till the cows come home, those same people are not going to do what they do not want to do. They are on vacation from all that, it is someone else's job to clean up after them when they are on vacation. Whether we like it or not, this is sometimes the way people operate on vacation.

 

[Lovinlifesooomuch30]

This is an interesting thread and I see both sides. For my husband and our kids we would never leave the remnants of our meal sitting there. We consider it rude to just leave it. Someone may be needing a table and it is just something we do. I have been known to take out an antibacterial wipe which I carry with me to the parks and wipe the table down before and after we eat. Yes it is a new one the second time.

However I have to say that there is the previous mentioned point in the cast members seeing all the garbage sitting there and knowing that they not only have to clear it but wipe it down. And usually at Disney this prompts them to clean it entirely because I have personally found it rare to see more than one or two tables dirty at any given time. I still can't see leaving anything there but that is just us. Like a previous poster stated there are cultures where it is the norm not to clear it off.

 

[ElizabethB]

We always clean up after ourselves. However, there is a school of thought that says you shouldn't. From an economic point of view, you're simply providing the restaurant with free labor when you bus your own table. I think businesses definitely benefit from the perception that it is polite to clean your own table and the dirty looks people get when they don't. In places where unemployment is high, one is likely doing a favor by not cleaning up -- forcing the restaurant to hire more help!

 

[yankeepenny]

If i did not clear up my mess, I would hear my mothers voice
THIS IS NOT A HOTEL-AND ARE YOUR LEGS BROKEN!

God love that direct parenting method!

 

[lilyv]

It's really very little effort to clean up after oneself. There are hungry folks looking for a place to sit down after I'm finished, so I'm happy to leave my "spot" ready for the next diner.

Not only is it good manners, it's just the neighborly thing to do!

 

[Lewisc]

I throw out my own garbage. I don't notice, nor judge, guests who leave their garbage on the table. I suppose some guests might be from a part of the country/world where employees typically bus tables, even in counter service restaurants. Other guests may see CMs clearing tables and assume that service is being provided in that CS restaurant. If I noticed a CM clearing the tables as guests left I might leave some or all of my stuff at the table.

In some parts of the country grocery stores have employees that not only bag but load your car for you. Other areas customers typically bag their own orders.

It's a shame some people see the need to judge others behavior without knowing the circumstances.

There are signs regarding mug re-use and pool crashing. I don't recall seeing any signs asking guests to bus their own tables so I have no reason to judge guests who have different expectations then most of us.