No more table mates on DCL

[southerngirl528]

One of my favorite restaurants in New York is communal seating and food served family style. They post the menu of the day out front, if you think that's a meal you would enjoy you had on in, they seat you where they have room, and big plates of food are brought to the table. Wonderful Italian family restaurant.

I don't mind sharing a table with others like it's done at Biergarten in EPCOT, where you are not expected to have to talk with others.

They also seat you with others in EPCOT at the Japan Teppanyaki restaurant. Only bad experience I had once there was that we were a party of 4, and a big party with lots of little kids (I mean LITTLE children, like preschoolers and maybe 1st graders), as well as adults, so they had a table next to us and put 4 of their party with us at our grill table. Guess what?? These folks put 4 little kids at our table with NO adult from their party!!! As a mom I was flabbergasted. I finally said something. 4 little ones that I don't know at a table with a blazing hot grill??? MERCY. Recipe for disaster. Usually we very much enjoy our table mates. Some more than others.

I had second seating on my last cruise and requested a private table, but did not get it so it really can go either way. I was fortunate to have decent table mates and the one guy was ordering double entrees so I didn’t feel embarrassed this time around to ask for more like the orphan child Oliver. My first cruise we were seated with nice people but the one had a gluten allergy and it just felt awkward eating in front of her.

Had to chuckle about the Oliver comment! And you are nice to be concerned about your table mate w/gluten allergy, but I'm betting if they had been asked, they would want YOU to dine as you pleased. I kind of see my table mates as temporary family of sorts, we have some commonality (all on the same cruise at minimum, right?), but all quite different, and everyone kind of eats and does what pleases them. It's all good! I've learned some great DCL info from folks I have met at MDR tables.

 

[Dug720]

I had second seating on my last cruise and requested a private table, but did not get it so it really can go either way. I was fortunate to have decent table mates and the one guy was ordering double entrees so I didn’t feel embarrassed this time around to ask for more like the orphan child Oliver. My first cruise we were seated with nice people but the one had a gluten allergy and it just felt awkward eating in front of her.

There is no need to feel awkward eating in front of someone with a gluten allergy (or any food allergy). While we may miss glutened foods, it's not like we're going to risk slipping up and be tempted to try something.

IMHO far more awkward would be being seated with someone who is a recovering alcoholic - then it would really be awkward for me as I really enjoy having a glass of wine with dinner when I'm eating out and/or on vacation. One of my good friends is a recovering alcoholic, and while he says he doesn't mind if I get wine when we go out, I just feel awkward doing it and don't want the responsibility of being a temptation for him. If I was seated with someone who revealed they were but we got along otherwise, I'd probably just have a glass before or after dinner - but it wouldn't be as fun or relaxing for me.

edit: As for the "Oliver" comment... When my parents and I were on the Magic in Feb 2019 - my first cruise since discovering my wheat allergy and going gluten-free - my server kept bringing me stuff I didn't order! Up to and including a dessert...on a night I'd already decided I wanted to try both that were gluten-free. He had them do the sundae without the churro - which made it gluten-free. So this little piggy had three desserts that night.

 

[southerngirl528]

As for the "Oliver" comment... When my parents and I were on the Magic in Feb 2019 - my first cruise since discovering my wheat allergy and going gluten-free - my server kept bringing me stuff I didn't order! Up to and including a dessert...on a night I'd already decided I wanted to try both that were gluten-free. He had them do the sundae without the churro - which made it gluten-free. So this little piggy had three desserts that night.

Niiiiiiiice!!!

The servers on DCL really do go to great lengths to make sure their guests are happy with their food, and I swear would feed us all like they were fattening us all up for the packing plant if we let them!

 

[Dug720]

Niiiiiiiice!!!

The servers on DCL really do go to great lengths to make sure their guests are happy with their food, and I swear would feed us all like they were fattening us all up for the packing plant if we let them!

Yep. Before he even brought the dessert menus (or maybe as he was), he came strolling up with the Caramel Apple Sundae thing that was on the Carioca's (RIP!!! I'll miss you) menu minus the churro for me. (Maybe because I'd had a Mickey Bar the night before so he knew I liked ice cream?) I was like "Um...oh! Thanks..." and he said "Do you not like apples or caramel?" thinking I didn't like it. I said "No, no... I just wanted these two..." and he said "Not a problem. I'll being those too." Haha!!

I just consider it taking full advantage of a CHOICE of gluten-free desserts on the menu without "resorting to" a Mickey bar.

 

[southerngirl528]

Yep. Before he even brought the dessert menus (or maybe as he was), he came strolling up with the Caramel Apple Sundae thing that was on the Carioca's (RIP!!! I'll miss you) menu minus the churro for me. (Maybe because I'd had a Mickey Bar the night before so he knew I liked ice cream?) I was like "Um...oh! Thanks..." and he said "Do you not like apples or caramel?" thinking I didn't like it. I said "No, no... I just wanted these two..." and he said "Not a problem. I'll being those too." Haha!!

I just consider it taking full advantage of a CHOICE of gluten-free desserts on the menu without "resorting to" a Mickey bar.

I think that is awesome!!! Love how Disney really tries to cater to folks that have special dietary needs so that they can enjoy lots of wonderful choices too! Great story, Dug720!

 

[Madame]

As a family with only 1 child we have many friends that have more kids than us and we have a lot in common with them. We also have things in common with our friends with out kids....

Great, but as I said specifically *for us* we have found over 4 cruises that we’ve nothing in common.

 

[Megsmachine]

When and who do you request to not be with anyone else? We are 2 adults and 3 teens and this trip is about bonding with each other.

 

[lorimay]

When and who do you request to not be with anyone else? We are 2 adults and 3 teens and this trip is about bonding with each other.

Just give DCL a call at the time you make your reservation and ask them to put in the request.

Have fun!

 

[Dug720]

Just give DCL a call at the time you make your reservation and ask them to put in the request.

Have fun!

Unless you used a TA. If you used a TA, you'll have to have them call.

Regardless, it is ONLY a request.

Well, unless you bump up to Concierge. As I understand it the default for Concierge is your own table. (I hesitate to say "Private" because the tables are really close together so they're not really "private")

 

[dvcdisney]

They also seat you with others in EPCOT at the Japan Teppanyaki restaurant. Only bad experience I had once there was that we were a party of 4, and a big party with lots of little kids (I mean LITTLE children, like preschoolers and maybe 1st graders), as well as adults, so they had a table next to us and put 4 of their party with us at our grill table. Guess what?? These folks put 4 little kids at our table with NO adult from their party!!! As a mom I was flabbergasted. I finally said something. 4 little ones that I don't know at a table with a blazing hot grill??? MERCY. Recipe for disaster. Usually we very much enjoy our table mates. Some more than others.

The fact that 4 small children was permitted to sit without at least one of their parents is disturbing. They warn everyone about the hot grill and required the younger children to sit at the corners which accommodate 2 per corner. I assume they didn't separate them into two corners, so that would mean at least 2 children were closer to the grill. It appears the parents didn't care, but the chef should have said something. I can see how anxious any normal parent would be even if they weren't their children....some people...

 

[dvcdisney]

When and who do you request to not be with anyone else? We are 2 adults and 3 teens and this trip is about bonding with each other.

I have a TA, but I didn't want to disturb her with the request so I just emailed DCL and they were able to add it to my reservation.

On previous cruises, I had asked my TA to submit the request, but I was still able to email DCL to confirm that it was on my reservation.

I just started using a TA and asked her what I am able to do with DCL directly...and basically, any changes to the reservations or payments must be done through her, but I can still contact Disney for questions or requests for private table/server so I don't bother my TA with it.

 

[hubbard53]

Niiiiiiiice!!!

The servers on DCL really do go to great lengths to make sure their guests are happy with their food, and I swear would feed us all like they were fattening us all up for the packing plant if we let them!

I often ask for multiple appetizers or even entrees - I want to try it all! The only time I ever got any grief about it was at Palo dinner. We each ordered a beef entree and wanted to share the chicken parm... he said no. We thought it was a joke at first but he was serious....

 

[daisyx3]

I asked for a 2 top last month on the 3 night Fantasy and we got it. We weren't near the center of the action in any restaurant but i also think we were able to eat a little quicker. We were kind of by a serving station in Animator's but Crush talked right to us and made my husband say "Happy Birthday" to me in "whale". Loved our servers and will probably ask for another 2 top when we go on the Dream next June.

 

[southerngirl528]

The fact that 4 small children was permitted to sit without at least one of their parents is disturbing. They warn everyone about the hot grill and required the younger children to sit at the corners which accommodate 2 per corner. I assume they didn't separate them into two corners, so that would mean at least 2 children were closer to the grill. It appears the parents didn't care, but the chef should have said something. I can see how anxious any normal parent would be even if they weren't their children....some people...

It surely was disturbing, dvcdisney. When I saw they were apparently going to let these small kids stay at the other half of our table, I finally spoke up and said I was NOT comfortable with feeling responsible to watch their little ones to keep them from burning themselves or whatever. They didn't seem happy, but an adult came and switched places with 1 of the kids. Unbelievable, huh?

Overall, I like communal tables. Not for all the time by ANY means, but whether it's in Hawaii at a great little local dive, or in the Carolinas at a great BBQ place, or wherever, I find it fun for the most part.

 

[Dug720]

I often ask for multiple appetizers or even entrees - I want to try it all! The only time I ever got any grief about it was at Palo dinner. We each ordered a beef entree and wanted to share the chicken parm... he said no. We thought it was a joke at first but he was serious....

I thought chicken Parmesan was only at brunch. That is probably why he said no - they don’t do brunch foods at dinner or dinner foods at brunch.

 

[southerngirl528]

I thought chicken Parmesan was only at brunch. That is probably why he said no - they don’t do brunch foods at dinner or dinner foods at brunch.

Excellent point, Dug720! Because we have definitely had 3 entrees between the 2 of us at Palo, sometimes at the server's urging.

 

[dvcdisney]

It surely was disturbing, dvcdisney. When I saw they were apparently going to let these small kids stay at the other half of our table, I finally spoke up and said I was NOT comfortable with feeling responsible to watch their little ones to keep them from burning themselves or whatever. They didn't seem happy, but an adult came and switched places with 1 of the kids. Unbelievable, huh?

Overall, I like communal tables. Not for all the time by ANY means, but whether it's in Hawaii at a great little local dive, or in the Carolinas at a great BBQ place, or wherever, I find it fun for the most part.

I don't think it should have gotten to the point that another patron (you) had to say something. But I'm glad an adult was "forced" to take their parental responsibilities seriously...well at least for that time.

The only communal tables we've dined in were teppanyaki restaurants and luaus. But it's a little different from sharing a table in a cruise since most of the time, we had some type of entertainment to occupy our attention and not necessarily need to make small talk. We've been to teppanyaki restaurants where we didn't speak to the others on the table and it didn't feel awkward.

 

[dvcdisney]

I often ask for multiple appetizers or even entrees - I want to try it all! The only time I ever got any grief about it was at Palo dinner. We each ordered a beef entree and wanted to share the chicken parm... he said no. We thought it was a joke at first but he was serious....

We had a different experience with our Palo dinners. The first time we went, I couldn't make up my mind. Our server asked if I wanted them both...I said no since I wouldn't be able to finish it and it would go to waste. He even suggested my husband could share the extra entree with me. In the end, we said it was a very considerate offer but I'll just choose one. Well, he came back with the one we ordered and brought a small plate of the other one...just enough for a taste. It was actually quite good. I got that entree next time (glad it was still available). I loved all the dishes I've had there. I told my husband that if they ever offered an appetizer version of these entrees similar to the dessert they used to offer "Sweet temptations", I would be all for that.

 

[xiphoid76]

We got off the Fantasy a few weeks ago - we asked for a private table for the 3 of us and we did not get it (understandable as it was a full cruise). We asked again to the head waiter that night and he called the next day saying he was able to accommodate us. It was excellent!! The other 3 we were seated with were nice and all, but we just wanted to be on vacation with ourselves. We are a gay couple with one very talkative kid and they sat us with a father and his two very shy kids. They had never been on a Disney cruise before and we are Disney geeks. It was OK for one night, but happy to have a table to ourselves the rest of the cruise

 

[Mommy_FamilyCEO]

We have always had pleasant tablemates, but I seriously wish DCL would stop seating families of 5 (or at least MY family of 5) with a family of 3. We have never had our request to be seated alone granted.

I’m sure that others have had different experiences, but we have little to nothing in common with a family with only 1 child (my DH doesn’t even like Disney so that’s a non-starter for conversation with him).

My kids are fairly well behaved, but they’re 3 siblings on vacation & we always feel that we can’t be our boisterous selves. I don’t want to be forced to be social. I have to do that at work.

I agree COMPLETELY! We are a family of 5 as well, and we are always seated with a family of 3. Although they have always been friendly - in our experience it hasn't worked nearly as well as it appears on paper. One time the other family said at least nightly "Wow, I can't imagine having 3 kids." as if we were some freak show. Mind you, my kids are very well behaved and have been taught table manners since they were old enough to sit at a table - so the comment had nothing to do with their behaviour. My family spends so little time together during the regular year - that our time together as a family at dinner is precious. I find that I am the one that trys to integrate with the family of 3 - since my kids really just want to hang out with eachother and their daddy. We have requested private tables twice and the request was not honored either time.