I know DISsers will give it to me straight - was I wrong?

[DisneyLovingMama]

On my four-day Wonder trip, I ended up at Beach Blanket Buffet (which I called Beach Blanket Bingo for 1/2 the cruise ) with DD5 and DS 7 mos. DH was getting a massage. I navigated the adult buffet line with the two of them and found a table. I put my tray down and parked DS' stroller next to the table. Then, I went to the children's line and got food for DD. When I got back holding DS, the tray and DD's hand, someone was sitting in our seats. I politely said that we were sitting there and he didn't want to move because "you can't reserve seats". I explained that my tray and stroller were there, that I had to get food and wasn't going to leave DD5 there by herself, and having the two kids, I couldn't hold two trays at once. He wasn't going to move until someone nearby said he could sit with them. Then, he gave me looks for the rest of the meal.

Was I wrong? Besides room service, I don't know how I could have handled it any differently.

 

[minkydog]

You did nothing wrong, it was just an awkward situation. I don't htink you could have done it any other way, frankly. You only have two hands. It's a same an adult would make such a big deal out of it and embarrass you in public.

 

[Jsme]

You know we cruise on Disney for a reason. Unfortunately some adults tend to foget their manners while on a DCL or at WDW. I see where you did the only thing you could do in order to eat a meal. It sounds to me that this (can't call him a gentleman can I?) man is one of "those" parents that forget they have children (if he had any onboard) onboard. You know those parents who let their children run wild while on the ship. Oops I know I am going to be killed by several parents on that statement.
I know in situations like this it causes unease and I am sure it did for you, but no true gentleman would have ever treated a lady (or as far as theat goes anyone) the way he treated you.

 

[challada]

Once during a trip to WDW, we saw adults acting rotten and my DS, who was only 5 at the time asked me why...I explained that Disney was the "happiest place on earth" because it sucked the happiness right out of some people when they walked in the door. He accepted the idea and went on his way.

Now, almost 6 years later, when either of my children see adults behaving badly (and you know who they are!) in any of the Disney places, they proudly proclaim to all who will listen...."THAT PERSON GOT SUCKED"!

Apparently...this guy got sucked! LOL!

 

[HeelMD]

I would simply ask him a second time and if he still said no, simply empty the contents of your plate in his lap/on his head and tell him to enjoy his meal.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

I would simply ask him a second time and if he still said no, simply empty the contents of your plate in his lap/on his head and tell him to enjoy his meal.

My favorite post today!

 

[lbgraves]

That person was so utterly rediculous. What if you had to take one of the kids to the bathroom. You wouldn't have been able to leave the other one there either. SOME people! What did he do with your untouched tray? The fact that the food wasn't touched would have given the first clue that someone was sitting there & needed to go get something else from the line. The stroller right by the table should have been the 2x4 that drove the point home if he had decided to ignore the first clue. You were not in the wrong. I know that I took the kids to breakfast by myself in St. Maarten and swore that we wouldn't go back for lunch until DH got back, which was suppose to be at noon. He didn't get back to the ship until almost 1. It never occured to me to call roomservice. LOL! That would have made it SO much easier for us.

 

[DVC Jen]

Once during a trip to WDW, we saw adults acting rotten and my DS, who was only 5 at the time asked me why...I explained that Disney was the "happiest place on earth" because it sucked the happiness right out of some people when they walked in the door. He accepted the idea and went on his way.

Now, almost 6 years later, when either of my children see adults behaving badly (and you know who they are!) in any of the Disney places, they proudly proclaim to all who will listen...."THAT PERSON GOT SUCKED"!

Apparently...this guy got sucked! LOL!

I LOVE that.

 

[mecook]

You did what you had to do and he had an attitude problem.
Lucky for us, I don't think we encountered anyone not having a "Disney Day".
Now if you saw US at Fort Charlotte on 6/27, you'd say WE were definitely not having one. Attitudes and tempers abounded.

My DH had a problem with his food disappearing at BBB. We had to eat breakfast alone in shifts while DD was still asleep. Everytime he got up to get coffee or something else to eat, his stuff disappeared because the CMs were watching the tables like hawks.

Melanie

 

[UGAFan0829]

IMHO, you did NOTHING wrong. I can't belive that someone would do such a thing. Ummm, HELLO, was the stroller and the plate of food not his first clue that someone was already sitting there.
I think you handled it just fine!

 

[DisneyLovingMama]

Thanks for the replies. I was very surprised at the attitude. It put a damper on lunch, but nothing else. DH suggested that I should have dumped my lunch on him too. Then, he would be here posting about this psychotic who totally overreacted on the ship.

 

[JJsmama]

No, you weren't wrong. What a jerk! It was just a misunderstanding, but he should be ashamed of himself. Luckily, it was never that crowded at the buffets when we were there that we had to fight for tables.

As for the DH whose food kept being swept away when he went for coffee: Poor guy. Maybe that should be a lesson to us all. When it is busy in there, when you get up to get something else, wave around to the watching CMs that you are coming back. They are just trying to help.

 

[bicker]

You did nothing wrong, it was just an awkward situation.

Indeed, that's the best way of considering it. It sounds like the place was packed, so tablespace was at a premium. Technically you shouldn't take up a table until you're ready to eat; but of course that's impractical in some cases, such as yours, so it is reasonable to work out issues such as these that may occur on a case-by-case basis. It sounds like it worked out exactly as we could have wanted it to, with another table willing to let the gentleman sit with them.

 

[Jsme]

I would simply ask him a second time and if he still said no, simply empty the contents of your plate in his lap/on his head and tell him to enjoy his meal.

Would you really? LOL

 

[marylou]

My question is: If the CMs are watching the tables like hawks, why is it that no one offered this poor lady with a stroller and 2 young children a hand with the trays?

 

[HeelMD]

I know your husband just wasn't with you, but I think that any single mom should get a free pass always. No one works harder than the single mom/stay at home mom. Therefore, when you see one with two kids trying to get breakfast, not only do you give up the table, but you pull out the chair for her and ask if you can get anything for them. JMO.

 

[LiserAnn]

One descriptive word for that insensitive guy..."MORON"........

I guess male chivalry is gone!

 

[branv]

As my brother would say 'what a punk!' How is it recklessly saving a table when your food is already on it? I mean, considering it's a buffet, what is this guy thinking. With this mind set, does it mean that if someone gets up for seconds their table is up for grabs? It's no different. And what really gets me is how these other people offered to let the guy eat with them...what person could witness this and still want to eat with this jerk? (Now they may have just been really amazing martyrs, and were throwing themselves to the wolf to save you guys. In which case, they deserve all kudos).

I think the buffet needs one of those signs like i've seen at other buffets. One place I've been has a little sign: one side says "be right back" and the other says "finished!" so the busboys know when they can clear the table. Or they could do a variation of Panchos, where you raise a flag...when the flag is up, it means you've gone back for seconds

 

[LiserAnn]

I think the buffet needs one of those signs like i've seen at other buffets. One place I've been has a little sign: one side says "be right back" and the other says "finished!" so the busboys know when they can clear the table.

One more thing to add to our packing list....a homemade sign saying "be right back" just in case some idiot decides to take our table during the buffet.

 

[LK03]

Wow, you were completely not in the wrong! Reserving tables? If there was food already on the table, I wouldn't call that reserving so much as going to get more food.