Quick service seating

[Mazz519]

Never have we had a problem getting seating, there always seems to be someone getting up as we are looking to sit... I would never do what you said just sit down but thats just me

 

[scrappinginontario]

We ate at Connections Cafe a couple of times over the past 2 weeks. There was a CM stationed at each entrance to the large earing area next to Guardians. They had the ropes pulled across all of the entrances and guests could only enter once they had their food with them. Not sure if it’s always the case but it was the 2 times we were there.

 

[kwdw]

I'm all for that. As long as it's enforced that you need to have purchased or be purchasing something (beyond just a drink to split 4+ ways) at the QS. They shouldn't be able to be used for people who bring their own food in and aren't purchasing anything beyond just a drink to split 4+ ways.

I'm actually just fine with people who brought their own food in and are eating it. They are using the table for eating.... vs. just sitting there to hang out.

 

[Dug720]

I'm actually just fine with people who brought their own food in and are eating it. They are using the table for eating.... vs. just sitting there to hang out.

If no one who purchased food is waiting, sure. But if they are eating in the eating area for a restaurant, at least at busy times the restaurant seating should be reserved for those actually buying food from the restaurant. People purchasing food should not have to stand and wait while their food gets cold because a family who brought in all their own food is eating at a table. Use a bench.

 

[focusondisney]

Or here's a novel thought, how about Disney allows for adequate seating space instead of making guests play "Hunger Games" to score a table?

I’ll add to that… Disney needs to provide more seating & tables everywhere in the park, not just at quick service areas. Benches & seating has been disappearing for years. I had a friend who actually passed out from the heat in the ladies room once. Her little daughter was with her. Luckily someone called for help & she was taken to the first aid station. Sometimes people just need a place to sit down & cool off for a few minutes. Most of the time, the only place you can find to sit is in a counter service place. If a whole family sits & splits one soft drink, I’m not judging.

 

[focusondisney]

Use a bench.

The problem is trying to find a bench.

 

[leebee]

But look at it from the "standing in line" aspect. Let's say there's a family group of 3 adults and 5 kids. Do you really want to stand in line behind them while they decide what to eat, do the ordering, and wait for the food to be ready? Is that less annoying than an adult and 5 kids sitting at a table, waiting while the other 2 adults order and get the food?

 

[DebbieB]

When they reopened after Covid and only used mobile order, they would not let you in the doors until you showed them your order ready screen. I actually preferred that.

 

[focusondisney]

But look at it from the "standing in line" aspect. Let's say there's a family group of 3 adults and 5 kids. Do you really want to stand in line behind them while they decide what to eat, do the ordering, and wait for the food to be ready? Is that less annoying than an adult and 5 kids sitting at a table, waiting while the other 2 adults order and get the food?

Amen. It slows the whole ordering process down when everyone is in line too.

 

[traveler9]

When they reopened after Covid and only used mobile order, they would not let you in the doors until you showed them your order ready screen. I actually preferred that.

Back in those days I sometimes used screenshots from earlier orders to get in. Not to take a table since I’m always solo, but just to get in the AC at places like Satulli and Cosmic Rays.

 

[ars0525]

But look at it from the "standing in line" aspect. Let's say there's a family group of 3 adults and 5 kids. Do you really want to stand in line behind them while they decide what to eat, do the ordering, and wait for the food to be ready? Is that less annoying than an adult and 5 kids sitting at a table, waiting while the other 2 adults order and get the food?

Ok also look at it from this aspect. I stood in line for XXX minutes & now I am looking for a table with my food ready to eat. People are sitting at tables with no food while their person stands in line for XXX minutes. I could have eaten & been gone by the time they arrive with food & need a table. The waiting in line is part of the people filtering process from one area to another. Think of it like a pre-show that starts moving people thru the line to the actual ride.

I miss the CMs that kept the seating available for those with food ready to eat. I know it's not popular though.

But to answer the OP...no I wouldn't just plunk myself down at a table with people saving seats. If it's 1 or 2 people at the end of a large table I may ask if I can sit at the other end or people sometimes offer me a seat (solo traveler) if they have space. I also offer spare seats at my table to people as they walk by too. Some take me up on it, some don't.

 

[jo-jo]

But look at it from the "standing in line" aspect. Let's say there's a family group of 3 adults and 5 kids. Do you really want to stand in line behind them while they decide what to eat, do the ordering, and wait for the food to be ready? Is that less annoying than an adult and 5 kids sitting at a table, waiting while the other 2 adults order and get the food?

There are a few spots, where the line going in is 6 inches wide , get food, turn around go back through another 6 inch gate, kids hanging onto railing, no lids on sodas........All 17 outcomes are running through your brain.......if I get bumped, is food ruined, do I get splashed, do people get splashed, none of the above- soda go right to floor and then 6 people slipped. Gets "cleaned " up, but the next 200 people are walking with sticky gunk on shoes.

 

[Miffy]

I don't know what a CM would do, but I know what I myself would do. If someone is savings seats I ask if there's an extra (if I'm alone) or 2 extras (if I'm with a travel companion). If the answer is no--all the seats are for their group--I move on and try to find a seat somewhere else.

Woody's is definitely the worst QS place in all 4 parks for seating. They've been fixing up an adjacent area for at least 2 years now and every time I go I'm hardly surprised to see that it's still not open.

However . . . this past May I stopped by the ABC Commissary and asked if we could bring in food from Woody's and eat there, and two separate CMs told me that. yes, we could, and that we could bring food there from any QS location and sit there. So we did. Granted, the Commissary is a long walk from Woody's, but we were easily able to get an indoor, air-conditioned seat and were able to enjoy our lunch without having people looming over our table waiting for us to finish. There's also outdoor seating there, and those tables are rarely occupied.

 

[sponica]

I know at Satuli they wouldn't let us sit without food in hand and that was in 2023.

Docking Bay wouldn't let me in without a mobile order in 2023, and all I had ordered was a bottle of water (it was later at night and my husband was making a lightsaber).

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I'm all for that. As long as it's enforced that you need to have purchased or be purchasing something (beyond just a drink to split 4+ ways) at the QS. They shouldn't be able to be used for people who bring their own food in and aren't purchasing anything beyond just a drink to split 4+ ways.

IDK I've gotten a drink before at QS and only just that. I vividly remember getting a coke at MK because the bonine I had taken was making me very sleepy so I thought a coke with caffeine would help a little and my husband also drank from it. I don't think it really does much good to try and make up things in one's head regarding just what someone is allowed to purchase or not purchase especially at QS where no reservations are being required. And no need to create angst in your (general your) head about seeing someone with a drink, for all you know they finished their food and disposed of it already and are finishing their drink, sure you can say "well what if I witnessed them ordering" yeah okay but again try to have balance here in just what we're all getting upset over.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I know at Satuli they wouldn't let us sit without food in hand and that was in 2023.

That one is almost always crowd dependent and has been that way since it opened in 2017. Outside seating is not usually policed regardless of crowds however.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I stood in line for XXX minutes & now I am looking for a table with my food ready to eat. People are sitting at tables with no food while their person stands in line for XXX minutes. I could have eaten & been gone by the time they arrive with food & need a table.

Eh you're only looking at it through then lens of you're done ordering AND you've actually gotten your food. A lot of the QS places really can't absorb the entire party waiting in line (especially ones with metal railings to help form the line for the cashier) and then waiting around the area for their food. Even mobile ordering gets dicey real quick where the entire party can't be milling about right there or even off to the side without being in the way of other people.

IMO there's often an evening out between people who ordered well ahead of you (you may not have even seen them as you were not physically there yet or there were too many other people in line) who have now sat down with their food and are actively eating or have just finished even with someone at that table who sat down while the other ordered before you've ordered and gotten your own food. You may just turn over a table faster being solo or like with my husband and I it's just the two of us but it doesn't mean someone who ordered ahead of us had someone sit down at a table ahead of us is going to affect our ability to get a table, depending on how many people are ahead of us, our particular order and how long it takes to get it, etc interact very much as well.

 

[jo-jo]

Years ago, I was at POP, mad breakfast rush. I had pancakes (not something easy to eat standing), I looked and looked. One person was holding a table with about 8 chairs. I sort of asked but more stated, Can I sit here to eat and as soon as your family shows up, I'll leave. And without waiting for answer , sat and ate very quickly. Was done before family showed up. Never even saw them coming.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

I would not ask a CM to ask someone who is sitting at a table with no food to leave if I'm looking for a table with my food already, I have just always thought they are saving tables. One person saving the table and the other person in line. I've only had one instance many years ago at Peco Bills. CM's did not allow seat/table saving without first having your food.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

This is not Covid days when you had to have a confirmed for pick up mobile order in order to go find a table.

They will side with the person that is occupying the table.

Because I have a disability my sister and I always find a table first as it would be difficult for me to navigate with a tray trying to locate an empty table.