Saving Tables....A Complaint

[kldmom2000]

I have no problem at all with the rest of the family saving the table @ CS restaurants. We intentionally eat lunch early (around 11:15/11:30) since we eat a very light breakfast so that we don't go during peak lunch times. I usually have DH take our 2 young girls to sit since by that time they're cranky and tired and the last thing I want is them whining next to me in line and getting all the other guests in line giving me nasty glares He usually grabs the napkins/straws/condiments so that when I bring the food back, we can eat and get out of there to make room for someone else needing a seat

 

[Neelloc]

It's wrong for someone without food to occupy a table when someone with food needs it. Nuff said.

Wait a minute here. If my DH is up in line getting our food, and I've already secured a 2 person table (let's use that as an example because then there is only the capacity to hold the people in my party) and you come along with a tray full of food, then I should vacate my table for you? So, what if my food comes 2 minutes later? Then where do I sit and eat? What gives you preference over any other paying patron in that restaraunt? It would be a different story if the seats were being held by people just coming in and takeing a break, but not purchasing anything. I honestly think you don't have any right to complain.

These families were in the Dining Area, actively purchasing food to eat in that area. Their Dining experience starts when they enter, not when they start chewing.

Well said!!!!!!!!!

 

[PlutoLuvr]

Just a little FYI for the OP:

We also eat an early CS lunch in the parks, and it makes no difference. The places are still crowded, and you'll probably want to send someone from your party to grab a table while someone else orders.

We went to Cosmic Ray's and Tusker House, both at 11:30 in the mornings, the first week of May, and it took forever to find tables inside. Cosmic Ray's, we actually just gave up and headed outside to the patio tables close to Space Mountain.

I mean, whether you agree with it being right or wrong, it's simply what's done at the CS locations at WDW. It can't be that "wrong," either, if so many people do it, the CMs permit it and WDW hasn't issued some statement about not doing it.

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Plus, it really is the most efficient way to eat CS at the parks if you're traveling with a group.

Can you imagine the lines at the registers if every member of every group stood in those lines? No thanks. I'm fine with the young kids and a parent getting out of the line and finding a table somewhere while the other parent or adult orders.

It actually works quite well when everyone does it

 

[beattyfamily]

I see nothing wrong with the family finding a table while DH gets the food. Sorry.

We also do this at McDonald's, the mall, and any other counter service places.

It just doesn't make sense making the whole family stand in the food line together and then search for a table with trays of food.

If we had a table with a couple of un-used seats and saw a single person or a couple with no table, aimlessly wandering around, we'd gladly share our table with them.

I also agree that if you are done eating, move on ASAP, as a courtesy to all those waiting for tables.

 

[MissyDVC]

Add me to the bunch who get a table after deciding what to order. We all go up and decide what we want to eat. Then I take the kiddies and find a table and get all the condiments, etc. that we will need. I do not feel badly about doing this because it just makes the most sense for us and it would put a small damper on my day if someone stood over us or expected us to give up the table that we had the forethought to go to in the first place. In all honesty, if I saw someone who had gotten their food first and was just then looking for a table, I would feel badly that they hadn't thought to find a table first.

 

[stagemomx3]

Because it's WRONG. Folks should be able to sit down to eat their food once they have it. Period. The dining room was half full of non-eaters. It was pathetic. We did 3 circuits around the dining room before we found a table. It doesn't take long to eat a CS meal, folks. Get up off your fanny and let someone with food eat. Everyone's tired (and hot during the summer) while in the parks. Not just you. Show a little compassion for your fellow park hoppers. We did. We split up our table and chairs so a young couple could sit down and eat beside us. If you're worried you'll lose your table, by all means, stand guard over it if you must but let that family quickly eat and be on their way. If that day was any example, they'll be gone before your food arrives.

You would seriously want to eat your meal while someone else "stands guard" over it? I wouldn't!!! That to me is a lot ruder than saving a table. I don't want people hovering over me while I try to eat my lunch. I'm not going to quickly eat, nor am I going to feel bad about scouting out a table while someone else in our party orders the food. That's just good time management.

 

[familyS]

We typically eat at off times. So we only order CS when the lines are short or non-existent and we do send the kids to choose a table while we are ordering food.

 

[stagemomx3]

It's wrong for someone without food to occupy a table when someone with food needs it. Nuff said.

Perhaps for you personally it is wrong. I do not and never will believe that it is wrong. Just because you say something is wrong doesn't make it so for everyone else.

 

[SandrainNC]

There is no way myself, DH and two children are going to attempt to stand in the line and carry the food and children to the table at the same time. If there is a table open, then we go get the children situated and the other goes in the line. Usually my kids are eating snacks that I have packed while we wait, so they are sitting there eating (if that is the problem people have with it - they are eating). And even if they are not, I don't have a problem with it. We would not be able to go through the line with them. Sometimes we have the stroller (in the places that allow it) too. I think people would hate us more for trying to go through the line with a stroller than saving my husband's seat while he gets our food.


Sandra

 

[ReneeA]

Addus to the list of people that save tables. We went the years that my kids were 2 & 3, and then 3 & 4. I would assume that everyone in the restaurant would be happier with my kids at a table than standing in line whining, bouncing, and being impatient.

Quite honestly, I've never heard people complain about this until I read it on the disboards.

 

[MISSYLEXI]

We always have one person order the food and we go find a table, to me this is the logical thing to do. You know the saying "Time Is Money". Well to me you waste a lot of time and money looking for a table when you can be sitting down and eating. While the other families are all waiting in line to get there food then looking for a place to sit, we can be back out in the park enjoying the day.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Clearly, I'm in the minority on this topic. But let me ask you this....what do you do as you look around and see folks with food struggling to find somewhere to sit down and there's table after table occupied by folks such as yourself...with no food. Do you feel sorry for them? Ignore them? Do you just not care? Or do you feel guilty because you know that you're sitting at a table that they could be using to eat their lunch? Seriously. I couldn't help but wonder what all of those people were thinking as they watched folks walk around with their trays of food in search of a vacant table. If it were me, I would give it up. I just couldn't sit there and ignore them. Clearly, their need is greater than my comfort.

Firstly, just because you say it is wrong doesn't make it wrong.

Secondly, there is no lack of seating around WDW. Typically when I enter a CS restaurant I look around to see whether or not there is an abundance of tables, if not my party divides and we do save a table. However, if i decide against saving a table and when I've received my food I find all the tables occupied then personally I would just wander outside to a bench, sit and enjoy my food in the glorious Florida sun. While i realize this is not ALWAYS a viable option, it is one instead of hovering over a table held by a person who was intelligent enough to establish that the CS restaurant was crowded and save a seat. Personally I think that HOVERING is even more rude.

You feel you are more entitled to that table because you paid for and received your food 5, 10, or 15 minutes before the party of the person holding the table purchased and received theirs?

To add a different perspective...do you feel reservations are a bad thing? The fact that tables are held for people who have not yet paid for their meals and that people with reservations are given preference over walk ups? The principle is similar.

 

[knnrock]

Clearly, I'm in the minority on this topic. But let me ask you this....what do you do as you look around and see folks with food struggling to find somewhere to sit down and there's table after table occupied by folks such as yourself...with no food. Do you feel sorry for them? Ignore them? Do you just not care? Or do you feel guilty because you know that you're sitting at a table that they could be using to eat their lunch? Seriously. I couldn't help but wonder what all of those people were thinking as they watched folks walk around with their trays of food in search of a vacant table. If it were me, I would give it up. I just couldn't sit there and ignore them. Clearly, their need is greater than my comfort.

First, no I would not feel sorry for them, I would think "why didn't one of them go and get a table why the other one ordered the food." I agree with the majority on this board, why should I give up my seat because I thought enough ahead to get a seat knowing it would be crowded, when chances are my food is coming right out? I don't find this rude at all, I call it planning ahead.

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

Another table saver here. Never thought there was anything wrong with it. Still don't.

I've got a family of 4. We usually start in the line together, decide what we are getting, then dad places the order while the rest of us get the table and the acoutrements to go along with it.

Can you imagine how long the lines for food would be if every group of 2, 4, 6, 8 or 20 all stood in line together waiting to place their order?

The people I see standing with full trays of food scanning the room are generally looking for the rest of their party at a table, not for a available table. And if I'm dining somewhere alone or with just 1 child and there is room at my table I will offer a seat to someone who appears to be alone and has their own tray of food.

 

[mom2my3kids]

We do it, My husband usually takes the kids and get them seated and calmed down before I bring the food. My daughter and I usually stand in line and get the food. Do I feel bad, NO we are customers and the times I have been we are no longer then 5-10 minutes at the most in line to get food.But I will say when we are done, we get up and leave. We don't sit and play cards or anything now that would annoy me..

 

[Andy B]

I was one on the other thread that thought that saving tables was not how I would go but many disagreed as they do here.

The problem is when the wait is longer than the time taken to eat the meal such as in this case. If the wait is 30 minutes and the time to eate the CS meal was 15 minutes than you would need 3 times as many tables as needed to seat just those with food.

 

[Mkrop]

Your way OP sounds completely ILLOGICAL to me. I dont want to nor do I want all those extra people in line. We go in scout for a table, if there are none available, the next place is where we eat or we go on a ride and then see if anything has changed. I am not going to order food there if I do not have a place to eat. I get the table with DS4 and Dh and DS9 go and get the food. This system works for my family and it seems for the majority according to the poll.

And just because you declare something is wrong does not make it so!

 

[disneymomto5]

As a family of 7 it always takes us awhile to find a suitable table, order food, get napkins, etc. So we always try to get a table first. I realize it isn't very nice for the people that don't, but I'd rather wait for a table than have my 5 kids in line with me arguing over what to order. I also save seats for my family at Christmas services in Church and understand when other families who wish to sit together do too.

 

[webshark3]

Clearly, I'm in the minority on this topic. Do you feel sorry for them? Ignore them? Do you just not care? Or do you feel guilty because you know that you're sitting at a table that they could be using to eat their lunch? Seriously. I couldn't help but wonder what all of those people were thinking as they watched folks walk around with their trays of food in search of a vacant table. If it were me, I would give it up. I just couldn't sit there and ignore them. Clearly, their need is greater than my comfort.

Umm, I guess it's time for a few facts. The cycle time on a CS table is 20-30 minutes. Disney (like ANY food court) has many tables. None of which have the same "start stop" time. Tables literally open every few minutes. Even on the 4th of July, my family of 15 was able to sit down at 2 tables within 10 minutes at lunch (we're talkin' 12PM folks).

Do I feel sorry for people waiting for tables? Heck no. 10 minutes at Disney? I feel sorry for the people who wait 30-60 minutes for Stitches Great Escape.

 

[klwdisney]

I feel that my DH & I are both very considerate people. We open doors, let little ones go in front of us, stand up on the bus on EVERY trip so that someone else can have a seat, etc. By splitting up at counter service places so 1 can order the food and the other can scout out and clean off a table to eat at, I don't feel that I am being horribly inconsiderate. If we do this and there is still no seats available by the time the food person has returned, then we'll just head outside and eat.