Mobile ordering & Table holding

[Clare Voince]

One of my biggest pet peeves about QS restaurants is how so much of the seating area is taken up by people holding tables. I've often thought that if people didn't do that, it would be easier for everyone to find a table. I could eat my whole meal in the time some of these people spend sitting at a table not eating. So I had a thought that mobile ordering might help end this practice. Has anyone noticed a reduction in the table hoarding at the restaurants that have the mobile ordering in effect?

 

[Jetku]

When I did it at Satuli in May, it was super new so very few people were using it (and there were plenty of seats).

Now thinking about it, when I go in August I may use it after my family finds a seat and is getting situated. This could be a big help with an almost 2 year old!

 

[disneyvoice]

This drives me bonkers. We have met a lot of really great people by inviting them to sit and eat with us at our table when we see people with trays of food wandering around looking for a table. It never fails that there are always multiple tables that are empty except for one person sitting there holding the entire table. It also rarely fails that we all finish eating before the tables being held are actually filled with trays of food.

The only place we used Mobile Ordering was at Satu'li Canteen but the place wasn't all that full when we were there.

 

[Shanti]

One of my biggest pet peeves about QS restaurants is how so much of the seating area is taken up by people holding tables. I've often thought that if people didn't do that, it would be easier for everyone to find a table.

I hate that practice, too. I especially dislike it outside the MK ice cream parlor, where you'll sometimes have many empty "saved" seats unavailable to people who are ready to sit down and eat. We've eaten our entire ice cream orders, while those saved seats remain empty the entire time...

 

[loves to dive]

In some of the QS they had stopped this practice for awhile, CMs wouldn't let people sit at the tables unless they had food and would actually show you to an empty table, this came in handy at places like Pecos Bills. I guess they went back to allowing it. I can see if you have a little one it might be easier to sit with the kid while the other parent grabs the food but not for older kids and able body adults.

 

[Regan117]

We only do it because we have 3 kids ages 5 and under. So one parent sits with the kids and the other parent gets the food. I wouldn't do it with older kids or just adults. But taking the 3 kids into the food line is just chaos and ends up with dropped trays and kids running off.

Which is why we mostly do TS for every meal.

 

[RangerPooh]

Call me a table hoarder. I sit with the 2 younger children while DH takes the older two to wait in line. It's pointless to have all 6 of us wait in line.

 

[maxiesmom]

Call me a table hoarder. I sit with the 2 younger children while DH takes the older two to wait in line. It's pointless to have all 6 of us wait in line.

No, it is pointless to take up a table when you are not eating. I will add if the restaurant is busy. If there are a bunch of empty tables and no one wandering around with food looking for a spot, have at it. But yeah, it is very rude to take up a table and then watch people with food struggle to find somewhere to sit. I love it when Disney blocks off the dining area and doesn't allow people without food in.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

It's been a few years since we've been to WDW. The last time we went they were only allowing people who already had their food to sit at a table at Cosmic Rays, and a CM escorted you to an open table. I do wish they would implement this policy more often. I'm a single mom and getting a table in a quick service restaurant when DD was just 3 yo was enough to make me cry. I'd have to hold onto her hand and carry a tray of food with the other. It was aggravating to see tons of tables saved by people waiting to get their food while I had my food but no table. Luckily, she's now 13 and able to help carry food.

As for whether mobile ordering would help with the table saving, I don't think enough people will take advantage of the mobile ordering to make a difference, especially since they are not yet allowing the use of DDP credits when purchasing through the app.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

The only QS that I know we are doing is food court at AOA and I would rather dh hold a table for the four of us rather then struggle with a tray wile driving his rented ecv

 

[Maggie'sMom]

The only QS that I know we are doing is food court at AOA and I would rather dh hold a table for the four of us rather then struggle with a tray wile driving his rented ecv

I think you are fine doing that at the AoA food court. In my experience, the food courts at the resorts don't have nearly the issues that the QS restaurants at the parks do. The only resort food court that I've struggled to find a table at was the QS at POFQ, and that was only at breakfast. I haven't been there since the renovation so I'm not sure if they have more tables now.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

I think you are fine doing that at the AoA food court. In my experience, the food courts at the resorts don't have nearly the issues that the QS restaurants at the parks do. The only resort food court that I've struggled to find a table at was the QS at POFQ, and that was only at breakfast. I haven't been there since the renovation so I'm not sure if they have more tables now.

Sorry I said AOA I ment all star music my mom keeps changing the resort on me sorry about that

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Sorry I said AOA I ment all star music my mom keeps changing the resort on me sorry about that

No problem. I believe it still holds true for All Stars. We've only stayed there once and that was just for a couple days so I'm not as familiar with the food court.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

No, it is pointless to take up a table when you are not eating. I will add if the restaurant is busy. If there are a bunch of empty tables and no one wandering around with food looking for a spot, have at it. But yeah, it is very rude to take up a table and then watch people with food struggle to find somewhere to sit. I love it when Disney blocks off the dining area and doesn't allow people without food in.

With small children in our group we also choose to sit at a table while others from our party order just so we aren't a big herd at the counter. We do normally eat very early lunches and very early dinners so places are never at capacity when we eat though. We would not do this if there weren't other tables available and would certainly offer our seats to people with trays instead.

 

[MissPrice]

I had a bad experience at Pecos Bill in June. We could not find a table. We found 2 chairs though. So we sat on the chairs and ate off of our laps. It was storming outside so some of the tables were just people sitting with no food. So frustrating!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) So, all you Table Hoarders take twice the amount of table time than others.
. . . this severely cuts down the capacity of the seating area
2) That is totally rude and unfair to others.
. . . you hold an empty QS table for 10-15 minutes while others are in line
. . . you hold a QS table for 1-15 minutes while you eat
3) What is so wrong with standing with your kids while the rest of the party is in lie?
4) Tables should be for eating, not loitering.
5) How would YOU feel if you couldn't get a table because others were hoarding them?

NOTE:
We found a neat trick.
If we see a couple of empty chairs, we ask the people if these chairs are taken.
If they say, "no", we sit in them, right at that table.
Once in a while we get a strange look, but there is no rule that people own a table and others can't join them.
I learned this from eating in other countries where such is done routinely.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

It's been a few years since we've been to WDW. The last time we went they were only allowing people who already had their food to sit at a table at Cosmic Rays, and a CM escorted you to an open table. I do wish they would implement this policy more often. I'm a single mom and getting a table in a quick service restaurant when DD was just 3 yo was enough to make me cry. I'd have to hold onto her hand and carry a tray of food with the other. It was aggravating to see tons of tables saved by people waiting to get their food while I had my food but no table. Luckily, she's now 13 and able to help carry food.

As for whether mobile ordering would help with the table saving, I don't think enough people will take advantage of the mobile ordering to make a difference, especially since they are not yet allowing the use of DDP credits when purchasing through the app.

I had a bad experience at Pecos Bill in June. We could not find a table. We found 2 chairs though. So we sat on the chairs and ate off of our laps. It was storming outside so some of the tables were just people sitting with no food. So frustrating!

Yes to both! Maggie'sMom, I had a similar experience at Pinocchio's Village Haus when DS was about 4 (and this is right after WDW announced they were going to police the tables). I travel alone with him and between standing in a long line to order, trying to balance a tray and hold his hand, get utensils, condiments, etc. and then discovering we couldn't get a table because people were saving them, I thought I was going to lose it! A CM finally helped me, but that was it for QS for us. I didn't attempt QS with him again until about a year ago. I'm looking forward to using mobile ordering on our next trip to avoid the ordering line!

And MissPrice, yes! We went to Tangierine Cafe to eat one day during a rainstorm. We found one seat after we got our food because people were just sitting there with no food. DS sat and ate and I stood. It was so incredibly rude. I understand not wanting to be in the rain, but you can stand in the restaurant and still stay dry.

It's amazing how many people are posting their excuses for saving tables at QS. I don't care how many small children you have. When you sit at a table without food, you are taking a table away from other families with small children who HAVE their food and need to eat. If you need to sit and have your food delivered to you, eat at TS.

 

[Regan117]

1) So, all you Table Hoarders take twice the amount of table time than others.
. . . this severely cuts down the capacity of the seating area
2) That is totally rude and unfair to others.
. . . you hold an empty QS table for 10-15 minutes while others are in line
. . . you hold a QS table for 1-15 minutes while you eat
3) What is so wrong with standing with your kids while the rest of the party is in lie?
4) Tables should be for eating, not loitering.
5) How would YOU feel if you couldn't get a table because others were hoarding them?

NOTE:
We found a neat trick.
If we see a couple of empty chairs, we ask the people if these chairs are taken.
If they say, "no", we sit in them, right at that table.
Once in a while we get a strange look, but there is no rule that people own a table and others can't join them.
I learned this from eating in other countries where such is done routinely.

Life's not fair. I won't take a table when I am with a group of adults or older kids, but will continue to do so when I am with my 4, 4 and 5-year-old. My daughter is special needs and cannot stand among crowds and wait. She will have a breakdown, which doesn't happen if she's at a table. If people want to take any extra seats at our table, by all means, go ahead.

It's amazing how many people are posting their excuses for saving tables at QS. I don't care how many small children you have. When you sit at a table without food, you are taking a table away from other families with small children who HAVE their food and need to eat. If you need to sit and have your food delivered to you, eat at TS.

Not an excuse - I just don't feel bad for doing it. You take your small child into line with you because you often travel alone with him. You don't have a choice, as you can't leave him at a table alone.

So unless I am going to get my stroller tagged as a wheelchair (which we can do) so I can bring it into the line, I am leaving my kids seated with my husband while I get their food. And as I said before, we rarely eat QS for this reason.

 

[Disneylvr]

Life's not fair. I won't take a table when I am with a group of adults or older kids, but will continue to do so when I am with my 4, 4 and 5-year-old. My daughter is special needs and cannot stand among crowds and wait. She will have a breakdown, which doesn't happen if she's at a table. If people want to take any extra seats at our table, by all means, go ahead.



Not an excuse - I just don't feel bad for doing it. You take your small child into line with you because you often travel alone with him. You don't have a choice, as you can't leave him at a table alone.

So unless I am going to get my stroller tagged as a wheelchair (which we can do) so I can bring it into the line, I am leaving my kids seated with my husband while I get their food. And as I said before, we rarely eat QS for this reason.

I too have a daughter with special needs. We NEVER eat during peak times and in fact the WDW guide for cognitive disabilities suggests this for quiet areas to go: "Table service and quick service restaurant seating areas (during non-peak periods)"

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Life's not fair. I won't take a table when I am with a group of adults or older kids, but will continue to do so when I am with my 4, 4 and 5-year-old. My daughter is special needs and cannot stand among crowds and wait. She will have a breakdown, which doesn't happen if she's at a table. If people want to take any extra seats at our table, by all means, go ahead.

Because life isn't fair, you think you have the right to be rude to others? There is no reason you can't wait outside, out of the crowds with your kids until your food is ready. And before you revert back to the "my daughter has special needs", guess what? My DD has autism and other challenges. As a single parent to a special needs daughter, I am fully aware of life not being fair, but I do my best to be fair to others.