Is it wrong to save a table at cs locations while your family stands in line to order

[DebbieB]

I can see both sides. When my niece and I were there last summer, I didn't feel comfortable leaving her to find a table or leaving her at a table alone while I got the food. So we stood in line together and then walked round and round to get a table, while there were many tables with people just sitting there without food.

 

[luv2nascar]

Nothing worse than getting your food and having no place to sit. We always save a table.

 

[Andy B]

I thought this was a poll and a place to tell your opinion, not to cut someone down for what they do. You didn't see me say anything mean to those they don't like saving a table??????
We all do what we feel is right for us. I feel that as hard as it is to get a table and as much walking around we do, it is nice to have the DH get us a table while I'm ordering. There has been plenty of times we have waited and starting eating standing up waiting for someone else to finish eating, so it's nice when one is open that DH and the kids sit down, relax while waiting for me. If someone doesn't agree with what I'm doing, oh well.........
sorry for venting, but really upsets me when I get cut down for something I do when I didn't say anything bad about someone else.

Wow what a reaction!
I did not mean to cut you down and did not think I did. I was just pointing out a possible action and result. No offence was intended I think you may have overreacted slightly.

 

[mmcguire]

I'm kind of torn. IMHO, if it's obvious that there are enough tables for everyone waiting, it's OK to hold one. If there are only 1-2 open tables, and 20 people in line, then I think the people at the front of the line should have first dibs on a table so their food doesn't get cold while they hunt/wait for a table. In that case, I get in line and hope that some people will have left by the time I get my food. If a place is hopelessy crowded, I'll just wait and come back later.

 

[bsmcneil]

my thought on this comes with a trip with two people in ECVs (and 3 others walking). considering how tight some of the areas are and the needs to use their hands for things other than carrying their trays (folks in ECVs), then they might as well go ahead and find a place that can accomodate the 5 of us while I get their food.

 

[byoung]

Nothing wrong leading buy a landslide.

 

[Praying Colonel]

Nothing worse than getting your food and having no place to sit. We always save a table.

So do we. But if the restaurant's full and we have room at our table, we invite people to eat with us, too.

 

[AGPrincess]

When I'm at a cs location, I'll admit that my "killer instinct" whispers..."QUICK. GO GET A TABLE!!" as soon as someone gets in line. But experience has taught me that it's not very nice to do so...At Tusker House, my Mom had just gotten the food and was walking into the dining room with the tray balanced on the stroller and whenever she tried to get a table, somebody without a stroller and WITHOUT food would rush in and get it. In fact, practically all the tables were taken up by ONE person with no food waiting 10-15 minutes for the rest of their group. Finally a group that was about to leave promised my mom their table, and even THEN some table-snatchers tried to zoom in ahead of my Mom, but the nice group at the table told them that it was already taken...

SO...I've gotta say that though I WISH reserving tables beforehand were acceptable...I don't really think it is. At least, if the line is long, then you should wait until your person has actually placed the order and is standing up at the counter waiting for the food...

 

[rgf207]

Nothing worse than getting your food and having no place to sit. We always save a table.

No think of how we feel

 

[Hodder]

Thank you If you are there June 17 - June 26, we will be the ones wearing the Mickey Bride and Groom Ears.

Can't wait

No going in Sept. Congrats to you. But my table is open to anyone....what a neat way to meet people.

 

[Tinkerchele]

There is nothing wrong with it all and everyone should do it if they can! Our kids do this for me and DH all the time....they get the napkins, etc. and grab a table...they're never sitting there holding a table for more than 5 minutes...

 

[bicker]

I can see it both ways. I think Disney should really take the issue in hand and direct guests one way or another. If Disney were to post a sign, "Please do not claim a table until you're ready to sit down," or some-such, then it would be terribly wrong for folks to ignore such signs.

 

[Claire L]

Yes it is wrong as the table is then taken up for longer than needed, if no one took a table until they had their meal I am sure few people would end up walking around looking for a table then eatting cold food whilst standing up! Its a vicious circle people want a table so take it way too soon and then people who didn't get a table before getting their food get to see this and start to do the same next time ie get a table before getting food and it just gets worse. When the lines are really long someone could of sat and eatten by the time the persons saving tables even get their food.



Claire

 

[goofy4tink]

Another way to use the whole 'crowded restaurnat' to your advantage....while at Wolfgang Express last Dec, my friend and I sat at a table outside. It was relatively crowded. Lots of tables being saved. I had no problem with that. My friend and I found a vacant table for four..no other choice. But, a gentleman was walking around, looking for an empty spot for himself. He walked past us, we asked him if he would like to join us, he accepted, most gratefully. We had the most interesting conversation with him. It was really nice. We would have missed meeting someone new, sharing some Disney magic. So...offer a seat at your table to someone else, make a new friend or two. It's amazing how 'paying it forward' so to speak has benefits to all...we left feeling quite good, the man left feeling that he had made some new friends.

 

[Texas lady]

Actually having 4 kids, its always someone orders and the other go sit at a table, we do this anywhere.. Now the kids are grown up, we will still do this its just easier, someone waits for the food, and someone gets the napkins, drinks, and whatever we need, doesn't matter it the place is crowded or not, or whether we are at Disneyworld, or just down the street.

my two cents

 

[PlutoLuvr]

It's just DH & I, and we always wait in line together. Often we'll look beyond the particular eatery's boundaries for a quiet place to enjoy a quick meal -- it's so loud in most of the CS eating areas. I don't know if it's deliberate, but we've always been able to find quiet patio tables about 100 feet away from the CS locations we've dined at -- even as recent as last week at Cosmic Rays. Head out towards the go-carts, go left, and there's a dozen covered patio tables off to the side of Space Mountain.

That being said, I'm fine with groups of two or more -- particularly with kids, mutiple bags, multiple strollers -- grabbing a table and designating one person without all that stuff to go and order. The CS lines were positively packed last week, even with usually just one person in line with the rest waiting at a table. I can't imagine the total chaos if every family with all their stuff stood in those lines.

I don't think either decision is "selfish." I think we're all doing the best we can with what WDW gave us to work with.

 

[mom2my3kids]

When you go to mcdonalds as a family what do you do? I go with the kids and get the table my husband orders and brings it back. Same thing, there is nothing wrong with it..

 

[want2bamommy]

I don't see anything wrong with it (and it didn't occur to me that others would see it as a bad thing until I saw your poll). If there weren't any tables available when we enter a CS then we would leave and go somewhere else. I wouldn't want to wait on a potentially long line to get food and then have not have a table to eat at.

 

[snowy76]

At least, if the line is long, then you should wait until your person has actually placed the order and is standing up at the counter waiting for the food...

Now the kids are grown up, we will still do this its just easier, someone waits for the food, and someone gets the napkins, drinks,

I think, in practice, our family does what AGPrincess said 9 times out of 10 anyway. It makes sense to keep the kids with me until we order so that I don't botch it up - but I don't think they should be clogging the line especially since they're not carrying those heavy trays anyway. Once we're past the register, the kids usually grab a table. Since we have more than one child, one is put in charge of doing what Texas lady described - getting the napkins, ketchup packets, etc. When DH and I grab the trays, everything else is already at the table, so we just eat and go.

 

[DaisyD]

When you go to mcdonalds as a family what do you do? I go with the kids and get the table my husband orders and brings it back. Same thing, there is nothing wrong with it..

At McDonalds we just wait til we get the food then find a table. We do this everywhere except WDW. Unfortunately at WDW everyone grabs a table before getting food thereby forcing us to have to do the same if we want to sit.