Save a Table with a Water Bottle??!! Are you serious?

[orlandothebeagle]

Mmmmmmm

I would also have got up as would not have had time to think, but would have been annoyed with myself later.
IMHO you cant save tables unless some is sitting at it.
Or unless your food is on it obvioulsy.

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

Never had a problem getting a table at BBB or Topsiders.

I tend to just give rude self-centered behavior a wide berth. Some people are just the center of the universe and have no consideration for others.

Agree with the gridlock post jrabbit but some people are just untrainable.

ITA I certainly see why someone with a young child or a toddler needs to sit first and let the rest of the party go through the line, then switch. But when they have older children/teens, who can carry trays with ease? Just go with the flow! It's just common sense. OP, I would have assumed a table with a water bottle and navigator was empty, too. We didn't have ANY problem finding a table on our cruise, and we generally don't in the parks, either. Yesterday we were at a crowded restaurant in Disneyland... saw tons of teens sitting at tables "saving" them. We found a table within 30 seconds. It was really unnecessary to "save" even on this crowded day, unless you had wee kiddos (and none of the teens we saw appeared to... ).

 

[lbgraves]

I agree. When DH takes youngest to the pool (and I say that because he often is the one taking her while I'm getting ready for dinner or whatnot) there is more than just a DCL white towel on the chair IF he happens to walk up to her, get something to eat, etc. All his stuff (shirt, sunscreen, etc.) and her stuff (personalized towel and/or coverup, etc.) is on that same chair. If it's ONLY a towel then it's probably harder to recognize if it's being used at the time. An easy solution is leave something- sunscreen, sunglasses, any little personal item that they will know those item(s) weren't abandoned like a DCL towel might be. It's not like you'll be far away from it to worry about your sunscreen or something stolen right from under you?

It can happen. I went to the Quiet Cove pool for the first time on the PC repo and put my towel, coverup and waterproof card holder on a chair next to several of my friends' chairs and sat in the hottub for 15-20 minutes. when I got out everything was gone and someone else's gold KTTW card and other items was on the chair...who was no where to be found or too insecure enough to admit it was their name myself or the CM helping me find my things was calling out. After about 30 minutes of all of us searching, we found my things in the dirty towel bin. I would not have been that upset to find my things on the deck with my shoes, which were still under the front of the chair but found it quite rude and unneccesary to have everything chucked into the dirty towel bin. As it was, they were not around at the time and never responded in 30 minutes so technically, someone could have cleared their things from the chair...and I admit that it did cross my mind...but I was happy to finally have my KTTW card so that I could return to the room and get ready for dinner. That has never happened to us at the Mickey or Goofy pool.

 

[jrabbit]

Nope, not gonna do it.
Not after the first crusie where we did it this way and then had all 5 of us walking around and around with our trays-

aaaah, but that is the point of my rant. IF (I know, its a big 'if') everyone went with the natural order of things, get in line, get your food, find a table and eat you would not have had to walk around (sic "forever") because you would have an easier time getting a tables because over half of them wouldn't be saved for someone BEHIND YOU in line. Instead we have gridlock with the haves (got my food but "nowhere" to sit) and have nots (hey, I got my table and sometime in the next 20 minutes food will show up).

Haven't you wondered why the buffet line comes before the tables in the restaruants

 

[safetymom]

This is the never ending debate. Most restaurants I have been in the buffet is after the tables. For myself and my friends when we are with children we find it much easier to seat them and an adult and go up to the buffet.

I don't see myself changing that.

 

[TiaMaria]

It can happen. I went to the Quiet Cove pool for the first time on the PC repo and put my towel, coverup and waterproof card holder on a chair next to several of my friends' chairs and sat in the hottub for 15-20 minutes. when I got out everything was gone and someone else's gold KTTW card and other items was on the chair...who was no where to be found or too insecure enough to admit it was their name myself or the CM helping me find my things was calling out. After about 30 minutes of all of us searching, we found my things in the dirty towel bin. I would not have been that upset to find my things on the deck with my shoes, which were still under the front of the chair but found it quite rude and unneccesary to have everything chucked into the dirty towel bin. As it was, they were not around at the time and never responded in 30 minutes so technically, someone could have cleared their things from the chair...and I admit that it did cross my mind...but I was happy to finally have my KTTW card so that I could return to the room and get ready for dinner. That has never happened to us at the Mickey or Goofy pool.

I have to say, Lisa, that you are nicer than me! If that had happened to me, Mr/Mrs Gold Card wouldn't have found their things on the chair...or the dirty towel bin...they would have been in the trash!

Why can't people just display common courtesy for goodness sakes?

 

[tinkerone]

I'm minority here and don't want to get flack but I see nothing wrong with saving a table with a bottle of water and navagator. now that being said, was the bottle empty? that would make a difference to me. saving a table with a book is something i have often done as sometimes it makes more sense. not everyone would see it this way, as i am reading, but i have enough to worry about without getting upset over seating.
and am i the only one who sees stuff left at tables or is the concern just about what items were left? if you want a table outside this is often the only option without standing with your tray in hand waiting and your meal getting cold.

 

[acourtwdw]

Would it have mattered to the OP if the table was being "held" by something else, like a beach bag? I personally won't remove items from tables/chairs. They are there for a reason, whether I know (understand) that reason or not. I will find a CM to remove items from tables/chairs if that is the very the last open place.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I have to say, Lisa, that you are nicer than me! If that had happened to me, Mr/Mrs Gold Card wouldn't have found their things on the chair...or the dirty towel bin...they would have been in the trash!

Why can't people just display common courtesy for goodness sakes?

I agree! My blood boils whenever I hear this story. I can't stand self-righteous people with some sense of entitlement who think they can do whatever they want. So Rude!!! and sadly this is probably being taught to their children.

 

[BobandLee]

Why can't people just display common courtesy for goodness sakes?

Sadly, there seems to be less and less of it.
We have noticed how cruisers have changed from when we took our first Disney cruise during that inaugural cruising season til now.
It seems to be more about "me and mine" than about "everyone".

 

[Vegaslover]

Rules of etiquette apply everywhere. If these people don't have manners on a cruise, they don't have manners anywhere else.

Looks like I may have to travel with my brass knuckles.

 

[Fatphil32]

Is there a prime time for lunch? Because I won't have kids with me, should I go earlier or later... or is it a steady stream of people?

The buffett isn't real impressive on the cruise line and I usually bypass it for other options like the pizzaria or to get a taco or burger by the Mickey pool. It's one of those things where one minute there may be one person in line and the next there may be nine people. You shouldn't have to wait anymore than ten minutes to get food at lunch, usually, save for embarkation when it's very busy.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

It can happen. I went to the Quiet Cove pool for the first time on the PC repo and put my towel, coverup and waterproof card holder on a chair next to several of my friends' chairs and sat in the hottub for 15-20 minutes. when I got out everything was gone and someone else's gold KTTW card and other items was on the chair...who was no where to be found or too insecure enough to admit it was their name myself or the CM helping me find my things was calling out. After about 30 minutes of all of us searching, we found my things in the dirty towel bin. I would not have been that upset to find my things on the deck with my shoes, which were still under the front of the chair but found it quite rude and unneccesary to have everything chucked into the dirty towel bin. As it was, they were not around at the time and never responded in 30 minutes so technically, someone could have cleared their things from the chair...and I admit that it did cross my mind...but I was happy to finally have my KTTW card so that I could return to the room and get ready for dinner. That has never happened to us at the Mickey or Goofy pool.

OMG how rude!
Their card was there though, right? If I read that correctly. Then they should know WHO did it and maybe have a talk with them about moving people's belongings to dump them in the dirty towel bin? That was so uncool... so very uncool.
Fortunately DH is mostly sitting there actually using the chair so that hasn't happened to him before. And we've also ALL 5 OF US shared one chair- we try to be as considerate to others knowing that all 5 of us aren't going to sit there long (maybe for a moment to munch on something or talk- then everyone is going their seperate direction even if DH is staying there with littlest in the pool/slide). If we're all 5 using one chair and have a ton of stuff on it and someone moved it- I would not be happy at all! and to find my stuff in the towel bin after spending a bunch of time to find it- oh that's sooo uncool.

aaaah, but that is the point of my rant. IF (I know, its a big 'if') everyone went with the natural order of things, get in line, get your food, find a table and eat you would not have had to walk around (sic "forever") because you would have an easier time getting a tables because over half of them wouldn't be saved for someone BEHIND YOU in line. Instead we have gridlock with the haves (got my food but "nowhere" to sit) and have nots (hey, I got my table and sometime in the next 20 minutes food will show up).

Haven't you wondered why the buffet line comes before the tables in the restaruants

Well, first off there is the side to go off to the tables directly next to the buffet. It's not like that is blocked off so you HAVE to go thru the buffet line before getting to the tables.
But with that said- I must also add that when we were walking around trying to find tables I did not see ONE just being "saved". There were people actually eating at all of them- so no, your theory wouldn't have applied in our situation. When we do the split/divide thing I described- sometimes I'm still walking around trying to find a table before the older ones/DH have got out of the buffet with their food- and still not seeing anyone saving tables/everyone eating. so

I'm sorry but the scenario you describe is not what we encountered. We weren't walking around trying to find tables while "half" of them were saved- everyone was eating at those tables! Perhaps we picked the exact time everyone else wanted to eat- I dunno. Probably- considering our luck sometimes.

(and btw- sometime in the next 20 minutes our food will show up? We probably take less than 20 minutes TOTAL doing it the way I do it. we're not lingering eaters though. LOL I'm so NOT sitting there saving a table for my family to join me for 20min- from the time I sit down while they go to the buffet until we're ALL DONE and getting up to leave is probably 20min max sometimes- maybe 30min max sometimes but I'm betting closer to 20min total. I can't remember ever lingering- we go in there, do our thing, eat quickly and off to do other things on the ship!)

 

[sbell111]

aaaah, but that is the point of my rant. IF (I know, its a big 'if') everyone went with the natural order of things, get in line, get your food, find a table and eat you would not have had to walk around (sic "forever") because you would have an easier time getting a tables because over half of them wouldn't be saved for someone BEHIND YOU in line. Instead we have gridlock with the haves (got my food but "nowhere" to sit) and have nots (hey, I got my table and sometime in the next 20 minutes food will show up).

Haven't you wondered why the buffet line comes before the tables in the restaruants

I occurs to me that your natural order of things isn't necessarily everyone's natural order of things. For my family, it's more natural to find a table, put our stuff down, and then go through the line.

I also don't see the difference between leaving a member of the party at the table to save it or leaving personal property on the table. If anything, leaving something on the table is more efficient since all members of the party would recieve their food quicker.

 

[tjbaggott]

I remember on our last Cruise there was a large group of families who were all together ( a reunion of sorts for families who had adopted children from China). I thought it was wonderful that they could all get together like that, and how all the little girls had something in common with one another.
I had heard that saving seats in the Theatre for the pre and post dinner shows was not allowed, BUT, every evening after dinner when we went to the theatre, all those little girls were already there and there was enough of them that a whole row was filled, plus when the parents showed up, an entire second row was filled. These girls always claimed the same row of seats, for themselves and would put a sweater or something on the seats behind them that were intended for their parents. No problem with the girls having those seats (some would deam them the best in the theatre) but the fact that my children wanted to sit in the middle near the front could never happen because they were always there and saving seats. I told me own children on the last night, that if they wanted to sit there, they would have to be there first. So we went and lined up at the doors before the theatre opened. The group of girls soon came to join the lineup, and were quite surprised that they were not the first in line that night. My kids got the seats in the middle of said row, and that threw the girls off just long enough that the other early arrivals ended up taking the row of seats beside and behind us. Other cruise patrons even mentioned to the girls who began complaining that those were their seats, that there were pleanty of other seats, and other people went as far as telling them that they are not allowed to Save seats.
I felt a little bad for them, BUT, are not all children entitled to the seats of their choosing if they are there first? (Adults too for that matter)
I'm sure they and their families enjoyed the show non the less.

 

[jrabbit]

I occurs to me that your natural order of things isn't necessarily everyone's natural order of things.

It's not my "natural order" its the design of the dinning rooms: Entranace, buffet, tables, not Entrance, tables buffet (obviously I am talking about the buffet all the time places (not Parrot Cay at lunch). This is the way it is in the parks and on the ship (and yes I expect that there are a few exceptions that anyone could point out)

 

[Tigger98]

I remember on our first DCL cruise (Apr 07 Wonder), my DH was walking round the ship filming/taking pictures (first day on ship) while I was watching DS (9) at the kids pool. We had got a table near the pool area and had our stuff (shoes/towels/lotion) there. I got up to check on DS and was gone for only a minute or two. When I got back to the table, someone else was there and our stuff was gone. I asked a CM and he had placed it above the trash area. I was kind of mad/upset as I had just got up to check on our son and was not saving a table. But I went on and found another one near by and didn't move. We still enjoyed the cruise.

 

[mketting]

What was so ridiculous about the whole incident was how annoyed the man was that we had had the nerve to sit there and he unequivocally expected us to get up and move. I guess that was the part that was so frustrating, much more so than the fact he was trying to save the table

 

[sbell111]

It's not my "natural order" its the design of the dinning rooms: Entranace, buffet, tables, not Entrance, tables buffet (obviously I am talking about the buffet all the time places (not Parrot Cay at lunch). This is the way it is in the parks and on the ship (and yes I expect that there are a few exceptions that anyone could point out)

You know that Topsiders isn't set up like that, right? You need not go past the buffet to get a table.

 

[jrabbit]

You know that Topsiders isn't set up like that, right? You need not go past the buffet to get a table.

you suppose that the opening in the railing that seperates the buffet line from the seating area near the door might be for emergency access (in or out?). On our last cruise we only went to the starboard side buffet line for breakfast, so maybe DCL has reconfigured the port side - I remember a railing / 3/4 height partition on that side between the seating area and the buffet.

And I am not really trying to be argumentitive here, nor supporting or not supporting the OP's situation. I just commented on my observation that at topsiders and in the parks there are a LOT of people saving tables for people that are standing in line at the buffet or lunch counter while there are a lot of people that are trying to find someplace to sit down and eat because they have their food. And I think that the way the Imagineers layed out the restaurants assumed that groups would get in line for their meal, then go find a place to sit.