Quick Service Seating Changes

[lacrosse_lady72]

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?

We've done that a few times, most of the time we buy sodas but we've still just sat and drank water and do not feel bad about it whatsoever... but we also go during non-busy times.

 

[robinb]

I posted this on another thread that was closed with a link to this one .

I have been to WDW over 20 times and always go at busy times (Christmas & New Years) and I think I can count on one hand the number of times I have saved a table. I think this will work GREAT for us. I can't tell you how many times I have wandered around with my tray (and my food getting cold) looking for an empty table while other families sit comfortably waiting for their food. I think there are some bugs to be worked out ... like finding a place for families to wait away from the lines and accommodating customers who cannot wait but Disney is good at fining solutions. I can't wait to see how this will work in the worst case scenario of lunch in the Magic Kingdom on 12/30.

ETA: I have HATE "vulching" (acting like a vulture) for a seat. I feel like I need to watch everyone and keep my eye on the families who looks like they are going to finish soon. There is nothing worse at a Disney CS restaurant than being out-vulched by someone else and losing a table you have had your eye on for the last few minutes.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I wrote a response in another thread but it got closed. I'll wait to see this in practice, but my concern is that they now only have one entrance to Pecos Bills and others open. I find if frustrating when Disney does this. They make guests walk the L-O-o-O-N-G way around all the time. What if you have a young child that needs the restroom? Being able to cut into a restaurant from different directions has always been helpful.

I imagine that the old exits are now fire exits only perhaps....but having only one way out would also be a fire hazzard perhaps.

I'm also not a fan of backless stools.

It seems to me what they really need to do is increase seating capacity. And I've long felt MK was in desperate need of increased dining capacity. The throngs outside CP should be enough of an indication that this is true.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I have to admit, that I am also guilty of table snatching. But in my defense, I never really thought I was doing anything wrong. The kids and hubby stood in line until we ordered, then the kids (ages 14 and 16) would go get the table. We do this at home all the time. But now that I think about it, it isn't really busy at home.
So first, Sorry. I really didn't think it was something wrong...

On to the new policy. I don't have a problem with it but I think they need to tweek it a bit. Maybe have the CM's start moving the families with small kids sooner. Like after they order and are waiting, a CM could ask if they would like to take one parent and the kids to the table to set them up, then let the other parent know where they are. This would only be for a few minutes while the food is put on the trays.

They should also have stools with seat belts for little ones (yes they make them) and provide a few wheel chairs for those who need to use them. Yes I know that people may abuse the wheelchairs, but at least if you had a back injury or just couldn't do a stool you would have the option to wait for one to open up and then have the CM hold it while you order...

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

We always go at slow times, and there are always tables. So, I'm glad they are only doing it during the busy times. We have an elderly traveler with us, and stopping to get a soda is one of the ways we keep her hydrated and rested. Usually someone else will get a thing or two.

 

[LoraJ]

I really wish they were doing this last week when we were at Pecos Bill. It was a madhouse. Like robinb, I hate vulching for a table. We had our tray and while looking for a table, it seemed like only half of them were occupied by people actually eating. It's annoying. When it is that crowded, I do not like sending DH or myself to find a table and wait because I find it rude to occupy a table while not eating.

And when we were finishing up last week, people put their trays on our table when I was still sitting there getting my stuff together. I told them to give me a minute.

I think I am done with Pecos Bill unless they have this policy in place the next time we visit. Not sure why standing in line is suddenly such a bad thing for kids. Don't they do that all day for rides?

Although, it can be easier just to have them stand off to the side or just outside and wave them in when you are ready.

And for those with special needs, I believe the last time they had this policy in place, they did accommodate.

 

[JeffGoldblum]

Love the idea. I hate standing in the middle of Peco's looking all over for a table.

 

[dormouse72]

I haven't read the whole thread so I don't know if this is answered anywhere...what are the CS restaurants where they have started this so I know NOT to go there?

 

[Hannathy]

I love it and wish they would have done it sooner. I hate people sitting waiting on food while I stand with my food going cold and struggling and their other party is still 5 minutes from ordering. if they just would have waited I'd be done eating by the time they would get to the dining room with their order.

Don't get the problem with the stools. Most kids sit on the edge of their seats anyway and heck bars have stools and even drunks manage to stay on those and usually for long periods of time

 

[1PrincessMomma1]

neither could my DH w/his back problems. He also, FWIW, could not stand in line w/me if we were to eat at a place that was too small/crowded to bring the ECV in. He would park his ECV, walk to a table w/his cane, and sit and wait for me to bring the food. No way he is going to be able to stay with me in line for the food and then for a table.

Should I tie him up outside like a puppy and then go get him after I have my food?

Can I tie my kids up with him? They'll need somewhere safe to wait for me.
I guess we'll be skipping Disney if this is what they're doing since we only eat CS.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Can I tie my kids up with him? They'll need somewhere safe to wait for me.
I guess we'll be skipping Disney if this is what they're doing since we only eat CS.

Are your kids in WC's. I suspect they will make it possible to get someone in need a seat. Or do you just leave them unattended at a table? i don't get it.

 

[Minnesota!]

I love this idea!

However, I would love it more if WDW would invest in those handy dandy tray carts like IKEA has. Holds 4 trays, I believe (vertically). That way your hands are still free. You can push the stoller and pull the tray cart! No more balancing acts!

Oh - and we were at Pecos' in 12/2008 - my son was 21 months old and did just fine on the stools. They are low to the ground and no issues arose. I got "lucky" enough and had my back to a wall, but my 6'6 DH with back problems had a stool and had no issues..

 

[1PrincessMomma1]

Are your kids in WC's. I suspect they will make it possible to get someone in need a seat. Or do you just leave them unattended at a table? i don't get it.

I have a LARGE family & my older ones sit with the younger ones while the adults get the food. Problem 1 for me will there be a table big enough for us? We scope out and claim a big enough table so we know we can eat. If ones not there we move on to another place. Problem 2 my family milling around will cause a fire hazard(not really but you get the idea) We have to plan for every thing and they're taking it away from us.

 

[JR522]

I'll find out how it works this weekend. I can just see it now. A line to order, a line to get your food, and then another line to be seated. Maybe they'll implement a fast pass system for that too.

 

[lman2b]

We are going next week and will find out. There are 6 of us, 3 children under the age of 7, and I'm not expecting it to be easy. When its super hot and you are tired, the last thing you want is to stand in line with whining crying kids that are complaining about hurting feet. It not just us parents that will be frustrated by listening to that but the other people in line as well. So the people without small children will finally get their seat, even though they are in the best position to "deal" with not having a seat right away. Children cannot be reasoned with and don't understand, adults do!

Disney sure wants to make sure that the paying adults are taken care of, but what about the kids? When you have sleeping children in a stroller, and other people in your party starving, how are you supposed to stand in line with them? I cannot imagine making my husband and our double stroller stand to the side, where would there be room for that? I'm not about to leave my sleeping children outside!

I never understand this and I think that people who make these rules or typically agree with them are the ones who either don't have children and have no idea how hard it is, or those who have grown children and they have totally forgotten what its like to be in this position. Really, why can't my husband get a table and start getting our children settled before I bring the food? We have to get the highchair ready, clean up the area with wet wipes, get the other kids in their seats, get the stroller put away ... it takes more than just sitting down and instantly eating when you have small children. My husband should be allowed to get this done while I order and carry all the food back. How come its more important to make it easier on those who get to order, walk out and sit down, eat and get back outside? Shouldn't the children, in all places - Disneyworld, be more important?????

Why can't a cast member just be out in the eating area to monitor rather than policing a line?? How hard is it to ask people who are not eating whether their food is coming soon? Then they can ask if everything is okay and offer some nice customer service. If people are lounging, it won't take long to realize they are doing just that and they can be asked to leave! So put up a big sign that lounging is NOT ALLOWED if its such a problem.

Not Disney but on the same topic, I notice in church during the holidays they love to make a "no saving seats" in the church and they are very strict about it. So for those of us who have sleeping children in the car and one spouse with them, to make sure that the child gets enough rest to not have tantrums and ruin it for all, and to avoid them having to sit in the pew for any longer than they have to, we all get screwed! I never understand how people think so little of making it easier on the little ones, its for everybody's sake, not just the parents!

I think this situation could be handled easier without making hard and fast "rules." I mean c'mon, the woman in the wheelchair even experienced a terrible situation. This may have made it easier for the people who don't really need it, but for those of us who do, it makes it 100% harder!

If I were in an adult-themed situation, I would NEVER expect accommodations for my children, but in Disney, I absolutely expect it to be geared towards them and their happiness.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The one thing which I find funny or ironic if you want to call it that, is how WDW is trying to treat the counter service locations like restaurants by having a Cast Member seat you. If you want that type of service go to a table service restaurant, because counter service locations are just like a McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's and Taco Bell. They don't have rules about saving tables before ordering and I don't think WDW should have them.

Also let's say they start seating guests at the counter service locations in Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, how will that effect the counter service locations at Downtown Disney? Now if I am not mistaken the Earl of Sandwich, Wolfgang Puck Express, Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop, McDonald's and Cookes of Dublin are not owned by WDW to run their locations, since they pay rent. So will they also have to add these new rules about no saving tables?

Finally what about the counter service locations in the WDW Resorts, because I don't see them ever addopting this system of seating guests to the table.

 

[DisneyFreaks]

Just wondering....will we be expected to tip the CM taking us to our table? And what if there are no tables available? Are we suppose to just stand there in a line until there is? Seems to me this new plan has alot more negatives than positives. I hope they can iron out the kinks before implementing it to the rest of the cs restaurants. We too are a large family and we like to eat together. I would not like to have our entire family split up all over the restaurant. We travel together and that's the way we want to enjoy our meals.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I have a LARGE family & my older ones sit with the younger ones while the adults get the food. Problem 1 for me will there be a table big enough for us? We scope out and claim a big enough table so we know we can eat. If ones not there we move on to another place. Problem 2 my family milling around will cause a fire hazard(not really but you get the idea) We have to plan for every thing and they're taking it away from us.

I have a large family also. I would just assume that if I ever have to deal with this (hoping they don't make it year old) that I would tell them to be still, stand together, and go about our business. You can always just ask the seating person if you will be able to get a seat.

 

[1PrincessMomma1]

I have a large family also. I would just assume that if I ever have to deal with this (hoping they don't make it year old) that I would tell them to be still, stand together, and go about our business. You can always just ask the seating person if you will be able to get a seat.

What is your defintion of large? It may not be the same as mine. What about having a quad stroller with little ones who are too small to say "stand still & behave" heck too small to just stand? Now I'm not talking Duggar family size but getting pretty close.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]