Quick Service Seating Changes

[lacrosse_lady72]

I usually agree with the typical DIS majority opinion but this one I find completely stupid.

1. Why would you not grab a table then get food?

2. I don't want 5 kids in line with me. I'd like to add that some kid ran into me just after I got my food at the Backlot Express last week, and ran off... my food went ALL over the floor, luckily the nice CMs made me a new tray of food but this wouldn't have happened without that kid in line.

3. If you find this a problem, go at a different time. Most of the time it's me solo or just my mom and I so we eat around 11:30AM or after 1:30PM so we don't go around like idiots with a bunch of food in our hands and nowhere to sit. If we have to eat during a busy time, we find a table FIRST (no matter how long that may take) THEN we get our food (I'm usually the runner). If I'm solo I grab a snack and hold on to a less busy time.

I'm sorry to be so blunt but there's just common sense. Why would you no find a table first and have one adult stay back to save it??? Only one adult, don't eat lunch at 12:30PM!!!

 

[brymolmom]

Having 2 kids and a dh who usually travels with us - I don't like it for obvious reasons.

But all that's been said.

What I didn't see mentioned is why is there all this refering to 'saving' a table or 'holding' a table? In my experience as a paying customer in a store/shop/restaurant you are allowed to use the services and materials in that restaurant. So when dh and kids sit down while I'm in line, they're not saving or holding anything - I'm a customer and they are doing what we intend to do when we eat CS meals - take a REST, sit down and give our legs a BREAK. So we are using the services/materials that this restaurant offers. That is allowed in my experience and it is a huge customer service loss to refuse this. That is why we don't eat lunch, for example, at the turkey leg stands - because a big part of mealtime for us is the sitting and resting and a big part of this is before the food is ready AND after the food is gone (seeing how dd eats like a bird and can be done in 5 minutes). And, we have ALREADY WAITED FOR OUR TABLE JUST LIKE YOU ARE, we have 'paid our dues' by waiting BEFORE we got our food. Same amount of waiting, just different timing.

Are they not going to let us use the restaurant's restrooms prior to actually paying our money for our lunch too? That should keep the restroom lines down too. UGH!

I don't get the solo traveler's complaints about it. If you are alone, there are just fewer hands/feet that you have to do things (which, in some cases is a wonderful thing). So it just is logical that getting your food and sitting at a table isn't possible at the same time. But I find it hard to believe that you think it is the proper and best plan for a group of 2 or more to do it this way.

Maybe it's because I have never waited more than 30 seconds or so for a table. Is it just that the people who run into trouble with this just love eating right at prime times?

To me, if you're sick of waiting for tables, just go earlier or later. Again, logic here. No one should expect (single, in a group, or whatever) to get their food and sit right down conveniently at prime eating time at busy part times.

 

[dalt01]

ya know whats funny about this? i have been beaten about the head soundly on this subject about once a year for the last few. (go back and look) more people came out in favor of this on the first page of this thread than favored it in all the pages in all the threads i was involved in. i always said saving tables was wrong and counterproductive. and the responses were at least 20 to 1 against me and some were just plain nasty about their right to a table. i gave the same logic that WDW is now using. and now all the sudden it is a good idea. well no one thought it was a good idea before. maybe people just prefer to be obstinent and disagreeable when challenging 1 or 2 people and just jump on board when it becomes the party line. i am not "i told ya so'in" here it is just amazing.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Interesting. I've been to Pecos Bills and they haven't had chair backs for awhile but I didn't know why they changed them. It wasn't comfortable to sit on those stools.

I've got 2 kids and usually sent DH with them to find seats. I guess those days might be over during busy times. I wonder how most people will handle it? Will they keep the whole family together in line or will they have a spouse or family member stand off to the side until the person getting the food arrives?

Luckily, we tend to eat early, like around 11:30am so we can avoid most of the crowds.

 

[dalt01]

Replacing high-backed chairs with STOOLS? Which I assume have no backs? Talk about uncomfortable after walking around all day.

Not sure I am too pysched about these changes.

So now the entire party has to wait in line for the food? Can't wait to stand in line and wait for the food with tired cranky children (mine included). While I agree it can be frustrating to try and find a table only to see people with no food sitting there waiting, not sure how this makes it better. During busy times of the year, now you will get your food and still have no place to sit because every table is taken by some one who has food. Now you get to stand there with a tray of food getting cold while you wait for a table. Unless they now start limiting the number of people in line at one time, but isn't that just a table service restaurant then.

As for the backless chairs. great, now they can fit an extra chair at the table, but what do all the older individuals or people with young children do that need a back for support. Or is the purpose now to make it so uncomfortable that you rush through your meal to leave, creating an open table for the next guest.

It's not really about saving a table for the family, it's more about ok you take the kids so they can sit down and I'll get the food. I do this in a fast food place at home, that isn't packed with people!!!! I have never cared that people "held" tables. It has never ruined or effected my trip at all.

As for the chairs...how nice. Now my 3 year old will have trouble sitting in a stool.

Not impressed.

wonder how many times my kids will fall off the stools...

I am fine with the not saving the tables just not the change to the stools

I have no problem with more organized seating if it helps get more people tables.

I do have a serious problem with no chair backs. I can't sit on stools for more than a couple of minutes because of a back problem. I have to have a chair back or will be in a lot of pain. If WDW does away with all chair backs I suppose we will have to stop going to WDW or I'll have to sit in a wheel chair all day even though I don't need a wheel chair to get around, I just can't sit on a stool? Brilliant.

i think the point is being missed on the stools, the less comfortable the less lounging around after eating which increases the turn rate. brilliant.

 

[Chuck S]

I see a problem with this policy for people with disabilities. For instance, if you are a party of two, with one person in a manual wheelchair...I can't carry a tray of food/drinks with one hand AND push the wheelchair to a table with the other. And there aren't an abundance of tables in the CS places that even easily accommodate wheelchairs because of aisleway clearances.

Are they going to provide a CM to carry the food to the tables? And guarantee a compatible table is available? I'm sure this policy works fine for ambulatory guests, but I am concerned about the impact on those that have mobility issues, especially as they are an ever growing segment of the population.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I see a problem with this policy for people with disabilities. For instance, if you are a party of two, with one person in a manual wheelchair...I can't carry a tray of food/drinks with one hand AND push the wheelchair to a table with the other. And there aren't an abundance of tables in the CS places that even easily accommodate wheelchairs because of aisleway clearances.

Are they going to provide a CM to carry the food to the tables? And guarantee a compatible table is available? I'm sure this policy works fine for ambulatory guests, but I am concerned about the impact on those that have mobility issues, especially as they are an ever growing segment of the population.

I see your point, and I for one would be OK if WDW made an exception for wheelchairs. That one makes sense. However, for most people, I'm relieved to see this change. Since many of my trips are solo, I resent the fact that families can send someone ahead to hold a table (or wait for one to become available, then grab it during busy times). Meanwhile, I have to get my meal, then stand there, balancing my tray, looking for an empty spot, or often waiting while other people are just sitting "holding" tables.

 

[RMulieri]

As opposed to you taking up a table - that's the point.

And my point is that those lines are not designed for extra people just to hang out...For family of 3 no biggie, but for families with 4,5,6 kids. during the mealtime rushes.....good luck with that.Maybe after the lines are so congested and no one can move or food keeps getting knocked over they will re-think this crap.So now everyone can listen to everyone elses kids whine, and fidget

 

[Traveliz]

And my point is that those lines are not designed for extra people just to hang out...For family of 3 no biggie, but for families with 4,5,6 kids. during the mealtime rushes.....good luck with that.Maybe after the lines are so congested and no one can move or food keeps getting knocked over they will re-think this crap.So now everyone can listen to everyone elses kids whine, and fidget

I totally agree - sometimes there is barely room for just you in the line - or I have been in line when the cashier can't take the next guest's order because of the backlog of people standing between her and the food counter.

We have always done the divide and conquer...one person heads for the food...one for a table....one for the condiments/napkins etc and then makes the table up so we are ready to eat without having to balance a tray while getting the table ready.

And this isn't that new - they do this every Easter at MK. They close off all the entrances to one and you have to wait outside for openings. The day I saw the line to Pinocchio's almost reaching to the Carousel we decided no thanks.

Also the Pecos Bills stools have been stools for a long time also. In fact there have been several past threads about that change. I have to think its been 2-3 years at least since they went to stools.

The stools are not the high stools like you see in bars but more like the low wide type.

Liz

 

[bytheblood]

I love the change!

I do see the opposition, however. I understand all points that have been brought up.

 

[dalt01]

I am another that sends DH and Dd to get a table and I wait for the food....So now we will all wait and everyone around us can deal with 2 extra people just standing there taking up space.

I usually agree with the typical DIS majority opinion but this one I find completely stupid.

1. Why would you not grab a table then get food?

2. I don't want 5 kids in line with me. I'd like to add that some kid ran into me just after I got my food at the Backlot Express last week, and ran off... my food went ALL over the floor, luckily the nice CMs made me a new tray of food but this wouldn't have happened without that kid in line.

3. If you find this a problem, go at a different time. Most of the time it's me solo or just my mom and I so we eat around 11:30AM or after 1:30PM so we don't go around like idiots with a bunch of food in our hands and nowhere to sit. If we have to eat during a busy time, we find a table FIRST (no matter how long that may take) THEN we get our food (I'm usually the runner). If I'm solo I grab a snack and hold on to a less busy time.

I'm sorry to be so blunt but there's just common sense. Why would you no find a table first and have one adult stay back to save it??? Only one adult, don't eat lunch at 12:30PM!!!

And my point is that those lines are not designed for extra people just to hang out...For family of 3 no biggie, but for families with 4,5,6 kids. during the mealtime rushes.....good luck with that.Maybe after the lines are so congested and no one can move or food keeps getting knocked over they will re-think this crap.So now everyone can listen to everyone elses kids whine, and fidget

I GIVE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Last year (2008) at Pecos Bill's we were directed to a table by a CM after we had our food. But I will be the first to say that I HATE to have DH and DS hovering while I am in the line. I am a grown-up. I can handle it BY MYSELF.

Anyway, the CM unclipped the rope to allow us into the dining area. He then told us we were not allowed to sit at a table that he deemed too large for our party of 3. So we got to squeeze around a table that was really too small. And we sat on the lovely backless chair/stools.

This year they weren't policing the tables.

 

[BillSears]

I see a problem with this policy for people with disabilities. For instance, if you are a party of two, with one person in a manual wheelchair...I can't carry a tray of food/drinks with one hand AND push the wheelchair to a table with the other. And there aren't an abundance of tables in the CS places that even easily accommodate wheelchairs because of aisleway clearances.

Are they going to provide a CM to carry the food to the tables? And guarantee a compatible table is available? I'm sure this policy works fine for ambulatory guests, but I am concerned about the impact on those that have mobility issues, especially as they are an ever growing segment of the population.

See as a manual wheelchair user myself I'm very happy for this change! I have a very hard time finding a table after I've gotten my food. I often travel by myself and have no one to save a table for me. So having a CM assign a table to me is a much better situation then trying to make it across a room going around all the tables before someone else walks between the tables and reaches the empty one.

 

[Chuck S]

See as a manual wheelchair user myself I'm very happy for this change! I have a very hard time finding a table after I've gotten my food. I often travel by myself and have no one to save a table for me. So having a CM assign a table to me is a much better situation then trying to make it across a room going around all the tables before someone else walks between the tables and reaches the empty one.

Yes, but you are normally in a chair, and have the upper body strength (and practice) to propel yourself and balance a tray. Many people at WDW are not normally in a WC or ECV in their daily lives, but are in one at the parks because of their age, or limited ability to walk the distances required. Some have to be pushed or be in an ECV. I can't imagine trying to balance a tray of drinks and operate an ECV. Look at the people that have trouble operating the ECVs just in the normal ride queue.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I think everyone has valid arguments for and against the new policy, honestly.

That said - Pecos Bill and their new stool seating is not the only gig in town. Matter of fact, I think it's one of the yuckiest places to eat in the MK and the stool seating is just another reason why I won't choose to eat there. No one HAS to sit on stools. You have a choice - dine somewhere else if you aren't comfortable perched on a stool, or if you have kids that aren't old enough to safely dine on one.

There are better places to dine in the MK and this is a great reason why to check some other spots out

 

[Chuck S]

I think everyone has valid arguments for and against the new policy, honestly.

That said - Pecos Bill and their new stool seating is not the only gig in town. Matter of fact, I think it's one of the yuckiest places to eat in the MK and the stool seating is just another reason why I won't choose to eat there. No one HAS to sit on stools. You have a choice - dine somewhere else if you aren't comfortable perched on a stool, or if you have kids that aren't old enough to safely dine on one.

There are better places to dine in the MK and this is a great reason why to check some other spots out

But this seating scheme is reportly expanding to all CS restaurants, at least in the MK.

 

[maxiesmom]

And my point is that those lines are not designed for extra people just to hang out...For family of 3 no biggie, but for families with 4,5,6 kids. during the mealtime rushes.....good luck with that.Maybe after the lines are so congested and no one can move or food keeps getting knocked over they will re-think this crap.So now everyone can listen to everyone elses kids whine, and fidget

Why have your kids in line with you? Typically there is plenty of room for one adult and the kids to wait outside of the food line.

And we have to listen to kids whine and fidget everywhere in the parks. And they also whine and fidget while holding tables. Having them whine and fidget before sitting at a table won't be any different.

 

[Aimeedyan]

But this seating scheme is reportly expanding to all CS restaurants, at least in the MK.

The article posted said the seating policy - with a CM directing traffic at high peak times - is being tried out at 4 MK CS spots. The stools is ONLY at Pecos Bill, and was done quite some time ago, due to the layout of the space to fit more people in.

 

[TLinden16]

I have mixed feelings about this change. As someone who sometimes travels solo and eats alone, it's nice to know that I will be able to get a table without having to go running around looking for one (and I seem to have people grab them as soon as I spot them).

That being said, I'm not looking forward to having young kids in the lines. The lines are already congested, and I know more than once I've had to maneuver around kids who are swinging and climbing on the railings when you're trying to walk by with a tray of food (nothing against kids, I know how boring it can be when you are waiting in a line and hugnry).

I guess I'll just wait and see if having a table available is worth the extra congestion in lines when I go in December.

As for the stools, it doesn't make a difference to me. Mealtime doesn't last long enough for me to get uncomfortable in a chair, but I can understand why others would need or prefer a chair with a back.

 

[Monny2AE]

I'm not thrilled with this. I have a 2 yr old and a 5 yr old. Stools? really?

And yes, I am usually a table holder. DH gets the food. I get the table, wipe it down, wipe down the kids hands, get the sippy cup, napkins, and other stuff ready. By the time I've done all that he's at the table with the food. Young kids don't need to stand in yet another line while at Disney. Guess i'll pack some extra tylenol for that headache.

I can adjust to not being a table holder but the stools and so many young kids worry me. DD is too big for a high chair but not steady enough for a backless stool.