New Dining Trial - No Seating until you have your food

[kmjmom]

As someone who experienced WDW in a wheelchair temporarily(due to an ankle injury) for the first time in April, I can agree with having people wait for tables until they have food. While my DH ordered and carried our food. I set off to find a table. I was appalled at the number of people who would race to a table when they saw me coming. I was not the most skilled driver as it was a first for me and the rental chairs are pretty hefty and don't exactly seem to flow fluidly! We ended up having to go outside to find a spot to eat since the many tables at Cosmic were full of people with NO FOOD! Also the tables were so close together that many were not accessible. So, for my two cents, I think there should be exceptions to the trial no seating until you have food. I believe people's individual abilities should regulate the seating policy and not a blanket rule in response to insensitive, selfish guests who table hog for inordinate amounts of time needlessly.

 

[KPeveler]

right, i agree. for people like me, waiting in line is pointless, and painful. i cannot stand for any real length of time without moderate-severe pain in my knee and ankles, and i cannot carry anything heavy (like a food tray). due to my disability, i would need to sit as often as possible.

however, i have no problem getting a GAC saying "allowed to sit in CS restaurants" or something, so it does not turn into a parade of people claiming to be tired and hurt... there is a difference between tired and disabled!

i also think any party with a wheelchair should be allowed to go to a table, as there are not always many accessible, so the party may have to wait anyway to get to a table they can use!

 

[dandelion]

The additional unknown is what they are doing to speed up the lines for ordering and processing orders. If that part is speeded up and is only taking 5 minutes to get thru, being in line might not be that much trouble for people with special needs and the new way may actually turn out to work better for many people.

Yesterday's AllEars newsletter mentioned they are also trying an automated ordering system at Pecos Bills.

"Automated Ordering Machines are now being used at Pecos Bill in the Magic Kingdom. You can place your order for any item on the menu using these machines if you are not using cash (i.e., Credit Card, Room Charge, Disney Dining Plan, and Disney Gift Cards/Disney Dining Cards). The machines cannot handle special orders, although with Pecos Bill's extensive topping bar, there should be less need for special orders here than other counter service restaurants."

I know the OP to this topic didn't mention these new ordering machines, but it sounds like Disney is making Pecos Bills the trial site for several changes. Personally I think I would like automated ordering, if I could figure it out.

 

[jayandstacey]

Not sure how this will work. I have 4 kids and I'm going again in a couple of weeks. My dh is not going. If my kids stand around waiting for me nothing good will happen. I usually have them sit and I go get the food. Mayhem, fights and pain that is what I foresee from my group.

I second that. My kids can annoy 100 people or more in a line - or just go sit down.

 

[jayandstacey]

Yesterday's AllEars newsletter mentioned they are also trying an automated ordering system at Pecos Bills.

"Automated Ordering Machines are now being used at Pecos Bill in the Magic Kingdom. You can place your order for any item on the menu using these machines if you are not using cash (i.e., Credit Card, Room Charge, Disney Dining Plan, and Disney Gift Cards/Disney Dining Cards). The machines cannot handle special orders, although with Pecos Bill's extensive topping bar, there should be less need for special orders here than other counter service restaurants."

I know the OP to this topic didn't mention these new ordering machines, but it sounds like Disney is making Pecos Bills the trial site for several changes. Personally I think I would like automated ordering, if I could figure it out.

This makes a TON of sense and could be used for custom orders too. Go to any Sheetz to see this in action. You order a burger, then have options for cheese, pickles, mustard, etc. It is very intuitive and pretty quick. And also cheap enough that they could have dozens of them - so you would almost always walk up and order, then just wait for the food.

 

[Selket]

I just got back from WDW and we didn't eat at Pecos Bill's but everywhere else we tried there was no restrictions on seating. So maybe that is the only restaurant for now that has it. It was crowded but we had no problems finding tables for drink/snack breaks.

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

For those afraid of spilling food, you can ask a CM to carry it to your table for you. I only have one hand available, due to using a service dog (my other hand is on the harness), so can't really carry trays. If I don't have somebody else with me or we've split up for lunch (or, like in the resort food court where we're at different stations), I can't carry a tray. In that case, I don't have much choice, so ask a CM/staff member to help.

 

[Earstou]

I was at Pecos Bill's on Aug 1st at 6pm during the dinner crush and everything was as it's always been. I was hoping to experience the seating trial and report back how well it worked, but no go!

 

[MomOf2DisneyKids]

we were at WDW a few weeks ago, and while we did not eat at Pecos Bill's, we did not see the new seating thing anywhere else. There was no problem getting a table anywhere other than Pizza Planet at MGM, where I stood waiting for someone to leave their table, only to have someone else rush over and SIT DOWN at the table before the other people even left. The lady (who was originally sitting there) and I just looked at each other and shook our heads....