Quick Service Seating Changes

[PrincessBetsy]

There have been stools at Pecos Bill for the last few years, so that is not really all that new. I do have one question about the new system though. When we get tired and need something to drink, we usually go to Pecos Bill and get cups of water and then sit down at a table. Do you think they would still allow us to sit there or would we have to give up our seat to someone else with food if we went there when it was crowded?

 

[Colleen27]

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.

I'm pretty sure we all know the point. Its just that some of us think it is Disney going a step or two too far in so blatantly placing the bottom line over guest comfort.

 

[vicki_c]

Just wanted to confirm, even though I didn't realize it myself - yes, the stools are not new! I guess they're not that bad if I didn't even remember! LOL! Here's a photo from June 2008 and you can see the stool in the middle of the photo -

 

[Pumbaa_]

when this same topic came up last year, it was close as people got a tad too passionate about their opinion.

Just a general comment to keep your posts respectful so this thread can remain open.

thank you

 

[cymbaldiva]

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.

Respectfully, it reads as if what you are requesting of a counter service restaurant is really more table service.... perhaps if you would like to sit and relax (keeping others from using a table) while someone brings your food you should consider one of the many table service eateries at WDW and leave the counter service stops for those that don't require such a long "break"...

I don't mean to be rude; perhaps I don't understand your point - if you feel that your party has "paid your dues" by taking a table before you have your food, does that mean you will vacate the space once the food arrives? If so - great. If not, well, your party has already taken up a table that someone else could have been using to eat - why should you have extra time?

 

[dsny1mom]

They were doing this at Cosmic Rays in the Spring of 2008. There was a CM stationed in front of the table area. You were not allowed to enter the table area unless you had your food. I was there with my niece and her two daughters, one a pre teen and the other less than 1 year old and in a stroller.

We were a little put off at first when we were told niece couldn't sit at a table with the baby while pre teen and I stood in line to get the food. But in the end it worked out really well. Niece waited off to the side with the baby. As soon as we had our food the CM let us into the table area and we had no problem getting a table. The CM directed us to a table that we could easily park the stroller next to. So it really made getting a table easier.

CS restaurants are designed for people to eat and leave, not to take a break for an extended period of time. This new peak season policy makes a lot of sense in that it keeps tables available for people who have food in hand and are ready to eat. There are plenty of benches, curbs whatever for people to sit down and rest throughout the day, without having to take up a table in a restaurant when people with food in hand need the table to actually use it for its intended purpose.

Like I first said it really wasn't problem once we realized the pay off was getting to sit down and eat as soon as we had the food, as oppossed to having to stand with our food getting cold looking at people sitting at tables whose food runner wouldn't even be there with the food until after we had eaten and left the restaurant.

dsny1mom

 

[katmittens]

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.

Can you pick any area in the restaurant for your party size? For instance if there is a table with four stools at Peco's and there are four people can you have your choice of areas, or do the CM's liteally take you to a table without a choice. I don't like that. I will be at Casey's. I think that would be impossible to regulate.

 

[Sagginit]

i think its a great idea. i understand people worry about their children in line but there are problems to every situation and im sure disney has examined them all. i would rather have tired cranky kids next to me in line instead of screaming and whining at the table next to me waiting for food (i know its not all children but just an observation on my trip). its called quick service for a reason and i dont think they should allow people to set up camp while others wait with food. i havent been to disney in a while and when we did a CS meal at MK for lunch the place was crowded and hard to navigate. i would have loved for a CM to direct me to where to order, give me a menu ahead of time and then usher me to a seat.

 

[2Tiggies]

Wow! This thread have been busy since yesterday!

I am really indifferent to all the changes. I am blessed with good health and for me only having one child (7), I prefer to keep her where I can see her while ordering. However, I realise that for most people it isn't quite as simple/practical. Here's the thing though: it is human nature to resist change - especially when we have formed a set "way" of doing something and feel that it works for us. But in reality, after time we adapt to change (some more quickly than others), but that change becomes the norm Then we get distracted with a new change to get ourselves worked up about.

I don't swing towards one side or another of this debate, but I have really enjoyed reading all the comments. It keeps me aware that we all have different preferences and needs. At this point though, it is only a pilot run and even then, only when deemed necessary by crowd levels, so it won't affect everyone all the time.

 

[Epcot4Me]

My only concern regarding these changes is if you are literally not allowed to choose your own table. At CHH, for example, we really like to eat upstairs. I would prefer not to be directed to a table and instead be allowed to choose myself. Whether I do that with food or before, I don't really care.

I also think I would have a major problem with this being implemented elsewhere, particularly in Epcot. Typically in my family, we split up to each grab some food around the WS and meet up to eat at Liberty Inn, where my dad always goes to get a hot dog. Some of us head to Morocco, some to China, some to France, etc. I would not like it if we couldn't all eat together somehow or had to wait to sit down until those buying food at Liberty Inn had made it through the line.

But, there again, I don't see it being put in place elsewhere since other parks do not have the lines/seating problems MK CS does.

 

[brymolmom]

Respectfully, it reads as if what you are requesting of a counter service restaurant is really more table service.... perhaps if you would like to sit and relax (keeping others from using a table) while someone brings your food you should consider one of the many table service eateries at WDW and leave the counter service stops for those that don't require such a long "break"...

I don't mean to be rude; perhaps I don't understand your point - if you feel that your party has "paid your dues" by taking a table before you have your food, does that mean you will vacate the space once the food arrives? If so - great. If not, well, your party has already taken up a table that someone else could have been using to eat - why should you have extra time?

No. I don't want table service, I want to sit for awhile (maybe half hour or 40 min depending how long food takes and how long we linger over it) at a counter service restaurant. I don't see it as 'extra' time. I think every person has the right to sit at their table for whatever their 'magic' amount of time is (now, don't get me wrong if I saw someone napping in a chair or sitting there for 2 hours, I would think they were pushing it). I guess I never saw in the fine print that at counter service restaurants the tables were solely for the purpose of eating and that you must only sit there while physically eating. It has never been my practice to do this and honestly I would stay away from restaurants that have this policy. Even when we go to McDonald's I sit at my table for awhile while my kids play on the playground. Never occurred to me that the restaurant wasn't offering that service to me as a customer.

I think that people who require less of a break should take whatever amount of time they think is right and I should do the same for my family. And if I find that I am waiting too long for a table at any time, I will either deal with it and wait OR adjust my schedule accordingly to hit the restaurant at a less busy time. That way everyone can vacation in their own way!

 

[FireDancer]

I don't get the "kids can't sit on stools" argument. My friend's 2 year old, which I watch often, sits on a backless chair to eat every meal. The only dinning table in their entire house has only benches and stools.

Other than those with disabilities I see no issue with backless chairs. I have one in my office and often sit on a stability ball at home often.

The table saving argument is one of those things that there is no real use in arguing. Both sides have valid points and it is one of those issues that no one is going to change people's minds about. The no saving rule will make half of the people happy just like the ability to save a table will make the other half of the people happy. Everyone has to decide if this is really something so egregious that it will ruin their trip...I have decided it is not a big deal to me either way.

 

[RMulieri]

I will make it work,the stool thing never bothered me , my daughter eats on a backless stool at the breakfast counter each morning. but I think that the lines especially during mealtime rush will be that much longer.I know kids and spouses etc not ordering can stand off to the side ,but when everyone is now standing off to the side it makes it congested.We mostly like Cosmic Rays and there is plenty of room there to hang out till you can go to the table.I just don't think this solves much,you are still going to have people lingering at the tables long after they have finished anyways, and still won't have enough tables.

 

[yaddo121]

My only concern regarding these changes is if you are literally not allowed to choose your own table. At CHH, for example, we really like to eat upstairs. I would prefer not to be directed to a table and instead be allowed to choose myself. Whether I do that with food or before, I don't really care.

Exactly. I prefer to eat upstairs at CHH (which even during 'peak eating times' seems to have plenty of space -- I think sometimes people aren't aware you can go up there). I don't mind waiting with my family until we have our food but I don't like the idea of not being able to choose to sit upstairs.

 

[jensen]

Sorry I haven't read this whole thread folks... but, has anyone here actually experienced this with little kids - especially one in a stroller?

Mine are past that age now and this type of seating arrangement will probably work just fine for us. But, I'm thinking back to the times that we went when the kids were little and we used a stroller - it could have been a nightmare if one of us didn't go save a table while the other ordered... how are they handling these situations?

 

[summerlady]

There have been stools at Pecos Bill for the last few years, so that is not really all that new. I do have one question about the new system though. When we get tired and need something to drink, we usually go to Pecos Bill and get cups of water and then sit down at a table. Do you think they would still allow us to sit there or would we have to give up our seat to someone else with food if we went there when it was crowded?

You are joking, right? You mean that you go to Pecos Bill's, get free cups of water and take up a table without ordering anything to eat?

 

[jensen]

You are joking, right? You mean that you go to Pecos Bill's, get free cups of water and take up a table without ordering anything to eat?

It's an obvious joke!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

As I see it there is more of a problem in that Disney is making things easy for them while not taking the consideration of their customers in mind. That is NOT service.

Maybe instead of herding people like cattle they should think about how they could make things easier for us. Possibly a series of kiosks with the menu outside where you could punch in your order, be given a number, be seated and then have it brought to you? That would end the chaos right there and you could feed a lot more people at a time. If you have too many customers for your seating most businesses would at least consider adding more tables and such.

Having unique items on the menu that people would enjoy would be a big plus as well.

If it is inconvenient to eat and the food is not anything special why not carry a PB&J sandwich and sit on a bench, enjoying the views. Unless they decide to forgo the flowers etc. too.

We eat at off times and we also drive so we can easily go off site to eat before, after, or both.

Slightly Goofy

 

[Simba's Mom]

I'd be very interested in hearing from more people who've actually experienced this new policy and how they felt it was. Also, am I correct that it's only implemented at 4 CS places at MK, not at any at the other 3 parks?

 

[Buzz's Buddy]

I haven't read the full thread, but in the past, we have been guilty of sending the kids to find a table while 1 or 2 people wait in line.

I have no problem with the basic premise of this new procedure and we will happily comply; however, I'm assuming that they don't want groups to stay together in the ordering line, so I wonder how it will actually work out during the busiest times.

I would imagine that the lobby area is going to be very crowded.