How often do you request a specific table or change tables?

[KrazeeK120]

I’ve made requests (ie, next to the tank at Coral Reef), but I always make it clear that it’s just a request. I’ve never refused a table.

 

[tzeitel]

The only time I recall changing tables at WDW was at San Angel Inn. There were 7 of us, we had an ADR and we were sat right next to the bathroom.

I used to be a seating hostess at Spoodles (remember?!) and hated when ppl wanted to change tables. We had to make sure to balance the dining room for the kitchen and the servers, not easy on a busy night. One time I had an 8 top come in, did not have 2 tables to put together in one section (and the bread table was not available - remember the bread table?) which did not matter cause the guest wanted 2 separate tables but right next to each other. Talked to the 2 servers involved, everyone was ok...until the 4 little kids took one table and the adults the other. The kids were all around 6-7 years old, the server hated me for the rest of my time at Spoodles.

 

[katherine52478]

Only once, at Le Cellier. There is this one table for 2 that is right in the middle of the aisle between the other tables. It is really awkward and open. I asked politely to wait for another table and they agreed although I did have to wait another 10 minutes.

Next time we went to eat there, I noticed that this table was open and we were the next party of 2! luckily we were seated elsewhere but I could see the poor souls who did end up there...

 

[CraigInPA]

Only once, at Le Cellier. There is this one table for 2 that is right in the middle of the aisle between the other tables. It is really awkward and open. I asked politely to wait for another table and they agreed although I did have to wait another 10 minutes.

This table, and the LC staff's refusal to give us another table, resulted in my wife and I never setting foot inside LC again.

About once a trip we ask to move because the table is next to the bathroom or the kitchen. In 20 years, I can only remember asking to be re-seated once due to environmental issues (air conditioning vent at Liberty Tree). We also changed tables immediately after sitting down once because the people next to us were LOUD and DRUNK.

 

[Farro]

What do you mean you request to be moved if you are too close to other patrons? Why?

Here (Chicago for reference) almost all of the restaurants now have tables quite close together. A lot have the long banquette style seating along one wall with minimal space between tables. The really, really good restaurants also tend to be quite small, space at a minimum.
If we requested to be moved away from other patrons, we'd be eating at home.

 

[nkereina]

I will request a different table if there something I really don't like about where I'm seated. But I'm not worried about annoying the host or hostess. I am paying to dine there after all. I think the host or hostess can figure out which server to seat next just fine, and they're just irritated that they had to seat me outside their rotation when that happens.

Though I also don't like it when a place is nearly empty with lots of room and they sit you right on top of the other couple of people in there

Sometimes this is done if there are only so many servers working. They seat all the tables in the same section so that section lines are clear and a server isn't running all over the restaurant. It also keeps tables outside the section clean/turned over and ready for when they close or for when more servers come on, depending on the time.

What do you mean you request to be moved if you are too close to other patrons? Why?

Here (Chicago for reference) almost all of the restaurants now have tables quite close together. A lot have the long banquette style seating along one wall with minimal space between tables. The really, really good restaurants also tend to be quite small, space at a minimum.
If we requested to be moved away from other patrons, we'd be eating at home.

Not all of us live in Chicago so not all of us are used to that. There are some restaurants at Disney were certain dining areas offer more room than other parts of the restaurant. For instance, Chefs de France is particularly tight. I hate being seated at a table in the middle of the restaurant there because we are closely surrounded on all sides and often in the way of servers or other patrons trying to get through. So we will happily wait for a table along the window where we are more out of the way, and only have to worry about not disturbing the people directly behind us.

 

[DSLRuser]

Never. It is just me, but I think it is rude.

We are no better then anyone else. We take what we get. Sometimes we get lucky, some times not so much.

catering to all the special requests is hard work and puts extra burden on the staff.

just my .02¢

 

[Minnesota!]

I am not picky about seats. If we fits, we sits

 

[Farro]

Not all of us live in Chicago so not all of us are used to that. There are some restaurants at Disney were certain dining areas offer more room than other parts of the restaurant. For instance, Chefs de France is particularly tight. I hate being seated at a table in the middle of the restaurant there because we are closely surrounded on all sides and often in the way of servers or other patrons trying to get through. So we will happily wait for a table along the window where we are more out of the way, and only have to worry about not disturbing the people directly behind us.

Pretty sure it's not only Chicago where tables in restaurants are close together, just gave it as a reference.

Just never heard of people wanting to move because they are too close to other people. I've heard of people not wanting to sit at same table (communal seating) but that's about it.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

We’ll make a request ahead of time (window, booth or table, etc.) but never ask to be moved.

We get what we get and don’t get upset

 

[nkereina]

Pretty sure it's not only Chicago where tables in restaurants are close together, just gave it as a reference.

I know. My point is that not everyone is used to having the majority of the restaurants in their city be tight quarters in the dining room. There's only a handful I can think of that are like that in Buffalo/Niagara Falls, and we know that going in if we choose to dine there. It's not par for the course, like Chicago or other major cities might be.

Just never heard of people wanting to move because they are too close to other people. I've heard of people not wanting to sit at same table (communal seating) but that's about it.

You've never heard people complain about a seating area being too cramped? Its the same thing. I feel like I see that remark all the time about Chefs de France, San Angel Inn, Le Cellier. I'm sure there's more. Those restaurants have some tight seating areas, but IMO, the best thing to do is request a table along the wall so that you aren't stuck in the middle of it.

 

[gillep]

Never. I will sometimes ask for a patio or inside seat depending on our moods and the setup, but understand it is just a request. Sometimes we get a great table, sometimes not, it’s OK either way. I would not want to stick the next couple with a bad table just because we turned it down and requested to be moved.

We don’t like how cramped Le Cellier is so we simply choose not to dine there since the seating doesn’t work for us, lots of other options.

 

[ImDMous]

We only ask to sit somewhere else if we actually won't fit where they try to put us. It happens occasionally at 2 restaurants I can think of that we go to regularly. They just have certain places where the tables are way too close back to back. If I can't pull the chair out to sit down, that's just not going to work for me. Not standing through dinner... How they expect anyone to sit there when the other table is using all of the space between, I really don't know.

 

[cedricandsophie]

My husband is the king of asking for a different table. When we go to a restaurant I make sure he goes into the dining room first because he is much pickier than me. He won’t sit in t(e middle of a room, next to a kitchen or a door. Or if the table is too small. If taken to that kind of table, he always says ...what about that one, pointing to another empty table. And invariably we are moved. I have asked a few Times for another table if I’m by myself or with the kids, I tend to be a little friendlier than my husband but again, rarely get turned down. It never hurts to ask.

At raglan road we always request, when we check in, a table in the main room with the show, sometimes we have to wait 15 to 20 extra minutes. But it’s always worth it.

 

[shocker]

Usually no requests... with no requests got window seating at Cali grill for fireworks & patio seating at Rose & Crown for illuminations (before it was specified) & numerous seatings at outward facing booths at Garden Grill & numerous seatings in cars at Sci-Fi.

One time requested & got a patio table for parade viewing at Tony's.

Got one bad table & still kept it at San Angel. Was solo, seated at table for 2 along curve in wall on route to restrooms. Could barely see volcano & my other chair was requested by a large nearby party. I felt like an orphan table.

Got one bad nearby table at Cape May where a lady lamented to her party the entire meal. She was at the next booth & facing the same way as me, so her voice came up from behind. I debated moving to the other side of my booth, she would be farther away but her voice would be coming straight at my ears. I don't think this would have stuck with me so much, but I'd picked it as my Christmas holiday dinner followed by a resort tour of holiday décor & this isn't how I wanted to start my evening. Still kept the table.

 

[RealBlast3]

I will request a different table if there something I really don't like about where I'm seated. But I'm not worried about annoying the host or hostess. I am paying to dine there after all. I think the host or hostess can figure out which server to seat next just fine, and they're just irritated that they had to seat me outside their rotation when that happens.


Sometimes this is done if there are only so many servers working. They seat all the tables in the same section so that section lines are clear and a server isn't running all over the restaurant. It also keeps tables outside the section clean/turned over and ready for when they close or for when more servers come on, depending on the time.


Not all of us live in Chicago so not all of us are used to that. There are some restaurants at Disney were certain dining areas offer more room than other parts of the restaurant. For instance, Chefs de France is particularly tight. I hate being seated at a table in the middle of the restaurant there because we are closely surrounded on all sides and often in the way of servers or other patrons trying to get through. So we will happily wait for a table along the window where we are more out of the way, and only have to worry about not disturbing the people directly behind us.

I can certainly understand being in the same section, for the reasons you explain. I figured that's what it was. But alot of times, in that section, there is still space and room to not literally sit each party in the section next to each other, and yet it seems they just roboticlly always do that at restaurants. Like, they will just literally line each party next to each other ignoring other empty tables in the same section.

 

[jventur3]

Only once, several years ago at Flying Fish. We were seated directly under an air conditioning vent and it was freezing cold.
I pitied the next party they sat there. Didn't look like they lasted very long there either. Hopefully they fixed the problem.

This just happened to us last night. My wife luckily brought her sweater with her.

 

[jventur3]

Only once, at Le Cellier. There is this one table for 2 that is right in the middle of the aisle between the other tables. It is really awkward and open. I asked politely to wait for another table and they agreed although I did have to wait another 10 minutes.

Next time we went to eat there, I noticed that this table was open and we were the next party of 2! luckily we were seated elsewhere but I could see the poor souls who did end up there...

I know the table and would have asked for a different one as well.

 

[jventur3]

What do you mean you request to be moved if you are too close to other patrons? Why?

Here (Chicago for reference) almost all of the restaurants now have tables quite close together. A lot have the long banquette style seating along one wall with minimal space between tables. The really, really good restaurants also tend to be quite small, space at a minimum.
If we requested to be moved away from other patrons, we'd be eating at home.

I hear you, I do - but sometimes when we have a middle table squeezed in between two other tables - just to close for comfort for us. Well that is for me anyway.

 

[jventur3]

I know. My point is that not everyone is used to having the majority of the restaurants in their city be tight quarters in the dining room. There's only a handful I can think of that are like that in Buffalo/Niagara Falls, and we know that going in if we choose to dine there. It's not par for the course, like Chicago or other major cities might be.


You've never heard people complain about a seating area being too cramped? Its the same thing. I feel like I see that remark all the time about Chefs de France, San Angel Inn, Le Cellier. I'm sure there's more. Those restaurants have some tight seating areas, but IMO, the best thing to do is request a table along the wall so that you aren't stuck in the middle of it.

Yes, I always try to request a table with a wall or window if possible in the close seated restaurants.