Saving rows of seats for others in the Walt Disney Theater: Enough Already!!!

[Zeppelin]

I don't understand the need to all sit together.

On my last cruise, we traveled as a party of 9. Sometimes we all went to the show, other times not. If I came late, I just sat elsewhere.

I mean, it's not like you can *talk* during the show and you surely can't see grandma 5 seats down the left so who cares

you're being to practical......

 

[TChrist05]

I do enjoy reading these threads because so many make such good valid points. I do admit that I do save a seat for my DW since she always goes out and works the Key to the World card in the shops while I sit and wait for the show to start. I do admit that I have been guilty of bringing my mug back and using it again--although I can only now bring it back and use it on the cruises now. We will be happily sailing on the 9/21 Fantasy and I am sure that I am going to see many kids running the halls, going into the adult areas and yes--I do admit I will be using my mug at the beverage station, and surely will see many saving seats. But heck, I am on a Disney cruise so for 7 days I will smile and find many places to sleep on the many decks. And yes--DW will work the card in the shops.

Everyone enjoy your next cruise.

 

[neg58]

It is so hard, as a parent who DOES make my kids follow the rules (no running or loud voices in the halls in hotels, no playing in elevators, stay with an adult, no horsing around in the pool) to explain to my kid why THEY have to follow the rules when no one else does. I still enforce the rules, and explain that some people feel that they don't have to follow the rules, and I explain the reasoning for the rules (and often explain these things loudly so the offending parents and children hear me) but it just makes my kids turn into bitter little people. I hate it when they see kids running down a hotel hallway and they say "Why don't those kids understand that they are being so loud and disturbing people? Their parents don't even care!"

Sorry, back to the discussion on theater seats...

Shouldn't your kids act that way whether or not there is a 'rule' about it? Isn't it the right thing to do to walk in the halls, play nicely in the pools, stand safely in the elevators? In fact, I don't think there is a 'rule' about not pushing all the elevator buttons, but it is a courtesy, and that's what you're teaching them, whether they are on a cruise or in your office building or a hotel. It doesn't matter that every other kid in the world is splashing or running or shouting - mine don't because it is the right way to behave not because there is a specific rule about it.

My kids are a little older (16 and 17) but it amazes me how many of their friends do not thank me for a ride or food or something else . My own kids thank me for picking them up from school or taking them to sports practice or taking them to restaurants --and DCL cruises! Yes, each of them at separate times said 'thanks Mom' while we were on the cruise. These 'thank yous' took years of practice. I thank them for things, they thank me. Practice makes perfect. They know I'd be embarrassed if they failed to be polite while a guest in someone's home, including Mickey's home on the ship.

Nancy

 

[nancy drew]

Shouldn't your kids act that way whether or not there is a 'rule' about it? Isn't it the right thing to do to walk in the halls, play nicely in the pools, stand safely in the elevators? In fact, I don't think there is a 'rule' about not pushing all the elevator buttons, but it is a courtesy, and that's what you're teaching them, whether they are on a cruise or in your office building or a hotel. It doesn't matter that every other kid in the world is splashing or running or shouting - mine don't because it is the right way to behave not because there is a specific rule about it.

My kids are a little older (16 and 17) but it amazes me how many of their friends do not thank me for a ride or food or something else . My own kids thank me for picking them up from school or taking them to sports practice or taking them to restaurants --and DCL cruises! Yes, each of them at separate times said 'thanks Mom' while we were on the cruise. These 'thank yous' took years of practice. I thank them for things, they thank me. Practice makes perfect. They know I'd be embarrassed if they failed to be polite while a guest in someone's home, including Mickey's home on the ship.

Nancy

Oh absolutely. And that's what I tell them. We follow the rules because rules are usually meant to keep us and/or others safe, or to help everyone enjoy an experience, and because we have seen what a nuisance it is when others don't follow the rules. I just hate that my kids are seeing so many of their peers not following the rules.

DS especially has a hard time with this. He tries to "police" the offenders, because he knows right from wrong, and it ends up with him getting into a verbal fight or getting really upset. He knows he is right, and can't shrug off the fact that others aren't following the rules/behaving. It sounds crazy, but it ends up ruining at least half of his day at times. I have no explanation for him as to why these other people aren't behaving as they are supposed to. I mean, in my head I can explain it all away (special snowflakes, the rules don't apply to ME, I PAID for this vacation with my HARD EARNED MONEY... you know the drill) but does that make sense to a 7yo? Is that really what I want to teach him? That his peers are a bunch of entitled jerks and that's why they are running wild and acting like savages? Then he doesn't want to play with those kids, or interact with them, and they end up being mean to him.... It just is a bad situation.

DD is much more able to just distance herself and find some quiet kids or play by herself. DS can't wrap his head around it. I'm trying to teach him to shake it off, but it is hard.

 

[Plaid Princess]

Here's a random idea... What if seats were assigned like a normal theater? When checking in and picking your PAT, you pick your family's numbered seats as well? Have a cutoff time for arrival, say 5 minutes after curtain, and you lose your seats to someone who wants to move down?

 

[Bear3412]

Here's a random idea... What if seats were assigned like a normal theater? When checking in and picking your PAT, you pick your family's numbered seats as well? Have a cutoff time for arrival, say 5 minutes after curtain, and you lose your seats to someone who wants to move down?

 

[kayaker35]

It seems to me that they could do it as they do in the parks.... fill in every available seat. If you want to sit with your party, arrive with your party. Then there would be no question of saving seats.

It isn't as if they don't make the announcement several times, AND publish the policy in the Navigator... no saving of seats. It couldn't be clearer, yet people choose to ignore it. If there was a CM directing the crowd to the rows of seats and making sure they go all the way through the rows, it would be a lot more efficient than having people rushing in to "claim" rows of seats, as if they got the memo that it was okay for them, but not the rest of us!

 

[Mouseskis]

One thing to keep in mind - this summer on the Dream our family of 4 was traveling with another family of 4. We arrived to the Walt Disney Theater when the doors opened for the Golden Mickeys. We took our favorite seats in the empty theater. A cast member came up to us, asked if our kids would like to be in the show. Of course all 4 kids wanted to be in the show. The kids were directed to sit down close to the stage until the show started. That left us four parents saving our kids' four seats. We got many nasty looks. I wish the cast members could have given us something to back up our need for those seats. We are rule followers and the whole situation made me uncomfortable for the 30 minute wait before the show started.

 

[martinm]

Don't put up with it. Help yourself, and if the seat hoarders complain, tell them to take it up with a CM. Guess who the CM will support? Not the hoarders.

^^^^^^^
Do this!

I like to remind people the only thing that saves a seat at Disney is a butt.

 

[kayaker35]

One thing to keep in mind - this summer on the Dream our family of 4 was traveling with another family of 4. We arrived to the Walt Disney Theater when the doors opened for the Golden Mickeys. We took our favorite seats in the empty theater. A cast member came up to us, asked if our kids would like to be in the show. Of course all 4 kids wanted to be in the show. The kids were directed to sit down close to the stage until the show started. That left us four parents saving our kids' four seats. We got many nasty looks. I wish the cast members could have given us something to back up our need for those seats. We are rule followers and the whole situation made me uncomfortable for the 30 minute wait before the show started.

Maybe when kids are asked to be in the show Disney should provide special seat savers for them..... special and cute..... not just a "reserved" sign that makes it look like you're simply saving seats. Seems reasonable that someone who's providing some of the entertainment in the show should have a reserved seat while they're out on the "red carpet."

 

[lbgraves]

Here's a random idea... What if seats were assigned like a normal theater? When checking in and picking your PAT, you pick your family's numbered seats as well? Have a cutoff time for arrival, say 5 minutes after curtain, and you lose your seats to someone who wants to move down?

The only problem with that is there are already people who don't like the current CC level system for selecting PATs, excursions & Palo/Remy. If this was done, people would then complain about not being able to pick their seats until 90/75 days.

 

[lbgraves]

Maybe when kids are asked to be in the show Disney should provide special seat savers for them..... special and cute..... not just a "reserved" sign that makes it look like you're simply saving seats. Seems reasonable that someone who's providing some of the entertainment in the show should have a reserved seat while they're out on the "red carpet."

This is a good idea. VIP Dwarf signs would be cute. They could collect them right before the show starts so they don't disappear.

 

[ppony]

Restaurants have been putting up signs that unless an entire party is present, they will not be seated for years w/ increasing frequency. DCL should do this for events where seating is needed.

 

[Moxin]

So, what is the acceptable number of seats you can save? Lets say my GF and I go to the show. She walks in to get seats for the two of us, and I stay behind to get a couple of drinks/snacks to carry down.

Technically, she's saving a seat. Yeah or nay?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Here's a random idea... What if seats were assigned like a normal theater? When checking in and picking your PAT, you pick your family's numbered seats as well? Have a cutoff time for arrival, say 5 minutes after curtain, and you lose your seats to someone who wants to move down?

Not sure how that would work. Would you select seats for every show separately? There are times that many people will not go to "their" show due to Palo/Remy reservations, late port excursions, some other activity. Or even, decide on a day by day basis to go or not.

I agree that the way Disney does most of their shows in the parks requiring everyone to fill in all available seats (so everyone who want to sit together has to be there) seems to work best.

We were in the WDT one night that it was absolutely packed and they had everyone move to the center of their section so there were empty seats on the aisle for the last minute people. Because most people will skip a seat between their party and another, a lot of empty seats then opened up.

 

[kayaker35]

So, what is the acceptable number of seats you can save? Lets say my GF and I go to the show. She walks in to get seats for the two of us, and I stay behind to get a couple of drinks/snacks to carry down.

Technically, she's saving a seat. Yeah or nay?

Technically, yes. What's wrong with getting the drinks/snacks and THEN going to the theater?

 

[jd99]

So, what is the acceptable number of seats you can save? Lets say my GF and I go to the show. She walks in to get seats for the two of us, and I stay behind to get a couple of drinks/snacks to carry down.

Technically, she's saving a seat. Yeah or nay?

This I get. Completely. Sometimes one person in a party is running late. No biggie. I was on the same cruise as the OP and my daughter and I came in, headed toward a completely empty row - except for two people on the end. Woman stopped me and said "They are in the bathroom..." I said, "the whole row?" to which she replied..Yes..well, 7 people. We sat on the far end and watched the "Bathroom people" trickle in one at a time up to 10 minutes into the performance. Rude.

 

[Moxin]

Technically, yes. What's wrong with getting the drinks/snacks and THEN going to the theater?

Just playing Devil's advocate...

So if one is ok, then what about 3? Say a wife is taking two girls to the bathroom. Dad has gone in to get seats. Now he's saving 3...

I guess what I'm getting at is, is there an acceptable number of seats that we can save, or is 0 the only viable option?

 

[kayaker35]

Just playing Devil's advocate...

So if one is ok, then what about 3? Say a wife is taking two girls to the bathroom. Dad has gone in to get seats. Now he's saving 3...

I guess what I'm getting at is, is there an acceptable number of seats that we can save, or is 0 the only viable option?

What's wrong with going to the bathroom and THEN going to the theater? No need to save seats. I haven't seen them turning anyone away... have even seen people coming in and getting seats after the show has started. If there's a no-saving-seats policy, then I guess people should be taking care of theirir bathroom visits and snack gathering BEFORE entering the theater, not after.

 

[Justacruiser]

So, what is the acceptable number of seats you can save? Lets say my GF and I go to the show. She walks in to get seats for the two of us, and I stay behind to get a couple of drinks/snacks to carry down.

Technically, she's saving a seat. Yeah or nay?

Great question!

Here is my take. If a person(s) go in the theater to specifically hold a seat(s) for others not present with them, that is inappropriate IF we are to all play by the rules. However, if a person leave their seat to go to the bathroom I am fine. If you want something from the snack bar, there are staff in the theater to assist you, with an upcharge of course.

You really can't have it both ways. The number of seats being saved is just magnified when we are talking a whole row or two.

To say to someone, I will go save is seats or kids go block a row of seats for us...... that's when there is an issue.

does every rule DCL put in place have to have a slipery slope? Apparently so