Saving Tables....A Complaint

[Mkrop]

OP
do you have a problem with ADRs???? Do you think just because you are hungry at this moment in time you should get to eat when you want and to heck with those people who planned and you get turned away as a walkup.

 

[mom2aredhead]

When we do CS, either my husband or I will go up and order, and the other person will take my son to the restroom, get cleaned up, grab condiments, etc. and go find a table.
We do it as the food court in the mall at home too. Never even occured to me that this would be considered rude by anyone?? To me it's just silly to have the 3 of us wait in line when we can split up and spend that time finding a seat.

 

[Simba's Mom]

ps. simbas mom if you see us ay disney you are more than welcome to sit with us. I think that would be a great way to meet more people and just maybe get info on some others things going on in the park that day!

Hey, thanks! I've had the reverse happen too-sitting at a table and having others come along who are looking for a seat and I offer to share. It is fun!
Maybe "resent" wasn't the right word for how I feel, but a bit of jealousy that they have the ability to do it and I don't. Not like I'm angry or anything-yeah, jealous is more accurate. I've got to admit that last week when DH and I were on vacation together, I always went ahead and saved 2 seats (actually we were at a 4-top with another couple we didn't know before. Had fun meeting and talking with them).

 

[DaParkers]

I haven't read all the replies, so I apologize if this has been mentioned. Although frustrating, I have no problem with people holding a table for the rest of their party. If you have no problem talking to people, then I suggest this. Last year while patrolling for a table while my wife and son were in line, I politely asked people at tables waiting how many people they were waiting for. If it was 1 person at a double table waiting for one more, I simply moved one of the tables and then asked around until I got 3 chairs. Just because you see a person at a table with six chairs doesn't mean they need all six. Don't just stand there. Be polite and ask and you'll be surprised at how fast you're seated. It never took me more than 5 minutes to be seated.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

I must admit that I have always sat at a table and waited for my DH to bring the food over!!

We are going for the first time with children (ds4 & ds8mths) and can't imagine having us all queue up to get the food - that sounds like a logistical nightmare!!!

However, I now (for the first time!) see how someone else might consider this to be rude - and I guess I would now offer my seat to someone with food, if I could see our food was going to take awhile. I hope that is considerate - sorry I didn't do this before!!!( I wasn't rude - just didn't think about it - sorry )!!

 

[Princess Stitch]

I must admit that I have always sat at a table and waited for my DH to bring the food over!!

We are going for the first time with children (ds4 & ds8mths) and can't imagine having us all queue up to get the food - that sounds like a logistical nightmare!!!

However, I now (for the first time!) see how someone else might consider this to be rude - and I guess I would now offer my seat to someone with food, if I could see our food was going to take awhile. I hope that is considerate - sorry I didn't do this before!!!( I wasn't rude - just didn't think about it - sorry )!!

As much as I'd want to eat while my food was still hot, I'd sooner use the top of a garbage can as a table then displace you with two small children. I think most people would feel the same way as well.

I think I figured it out though. It's not rude for you to save a table, it's just annoying and aggrivating not to have a place to eat when you have hot food in your hands. It's not really the fault of the people using the tables as long as they're patrons of the restaurant.

I guess you can kinda equate it to waiting for the bathrooms. There are only a certain number of stalls and you can't do anything about it. If a parent wants to occupy the stall for 10 minutes to change their kid into a princess costume and you're behind them in line, then you have to wait. They got there ahead of you and they shoudln't have to wait until there's no one left who has to pee before they can use it as a dressing room.

 

[Ratpack]

I have to agree with the majority here. DW and I always split up, one to order and get the food and the other gets napkins, condiments and so forth, then takes the three kids to a table. Usually that only has them saving a table for a few minutes before I get there with the food. Don't see an issue with this at all and don't fault anyone else for doing it either. However, I usually survey the restaurant first and if it appears most tables are full, even with people with no food, I go somewhere else. It really isn't worth the hassle.

 

[jcemom]

I always send my family to find seats while I order. It's easier that way. Otherwise they will just be standing around getting in the way anyhow. We don't need five of us to stand in line to order, that would make lines outrageously long and then someone would complain about that. When I walk away from the counter with five meals and drinks on my tray I want to know I have a table to set them on. We do the same thing when we eat fast food locally, not only at Disney.

 

[Inkmahm]

Because it's WRONG. Folks should be able to sit down to eat their food once they have it. Period.

Because you say so doesn't make it true. I agree with the other 85% of people who voted that savings seats is fine. My DH goes to find seats for us at Tusker house while I order and get our food. Works well for us.

 

[Pixeldust Fairy]

Seems like all this boils down to planning, as frustrating as it may seem to the OP that there is no place to sit and eat after she has her food, it is poor planning that got her in that situation. My opinion is that I paid a great deal of money to take my family to WDW, am I going to go and just wing it, or am I going to plan and get the most out of my money. I choose to get the most out of my money. There was a time when there were no ADR's and no pre planning, and no dining plan. Now that is a time of the past, you can no longer make a reservation the same day for a TS restaraunt and so I make my ressies 180 days in advance as I am sure most of the people here on the DIS do also.

I PLAN to have my hubby find a table, get the kiddo's situated and I will come along with the food shortly. The way I see it is I have as much right to sit at a table for what ever the reason as you do, regarless of whether I have food in hand or not. Do you begrudge a person for sitting at a table you could other wise be using because you have food in your hand, what about if that person was suffering from heat exhaustion or some other ailment? You just never know someone elses situation and I feel its a little judgemental to be angry about something as silly as "saving a table". Choose your battles, save it for the real issues. There are plenty out there.
Again this is just my opinion.

 

[OhioTony]

Hi my name is Tony and I am a table saver. (Everyone say "Hi Tony!" )

I guess this all began when I procreated. You see I just couldn't handle the pressure of the kids hanging and swinging on those irresistable cattle corral bars and how they constantly change their minds on what they want to order and no matter how hard I would try they constantly step on others feet or bump into them.
The final straw that sent me on my downward spiral into table saving came when my two year old peed her pants while standing in line and everyone had to step over it until someone could come and clean it .
Now I just can't seem to stop! It's just way to convenient to have one parent take the kids to the restroom, wash up, grab condiments ,and get a seat .
I can only pray that the entire families in line dealing with tired, or energetic, kids with full bladders and indecisive, inquizitive minds never fall into this horrible situation.
I'll be back next week at Table Savers Anonymous and perhaps we can delve into my other bad habit - Parade Spot Saving.

 

[Pixeldust Fairy]

Hi my name is Tony and I am a table saver. (Everyone say "Hi Tony!" )

I guess this all began when I procreated. You see I just couldn't handle the pressure of the kids hanging and swinging on those irresistable cattle corral bars and how they constantly change their minds on what they want to order and no matter how hard I would try they constantly step on others feet or bump into them.
The final straw that sent me on my downward spiral into table saving came when my two year old peed her pants while standing in line and everyone had to step over it until someone could come and clean it .
Now I just can't seem to stop! It's just way to convenient to have one parent take the kids to the restroom, wash up, grab condiments ,and get a seat .
I can only pray that the entire families in line dealing with tired, or energetic, kids with full bladders and indecisive, inquizitive minds never fall into this horrible situation.
I'll be back next week at Table Savers Anonymous and perhaps we can delve into my other bad habit - Parade Spot Saving.

 

[drogerstn]

Hi my name is Tony and I am a table saver. (Everyone say "Hi Tony!" )

I...
The final straw that sent me on my downward spiral into table saving came when my two year old peed her pants while standing in line and everyone had to step over it until someone could come and clean it .
Now I just can't seem to stop! It's just way to convenient to have one parent take the kids to the restroom, wash up, grab condiments ,and get a seat .
I can only pray that the entire families in line dealing with tired, or energetic, kids with full bladders and indecisive, inquizitive minds never fall into this horrible situation.
..

Having one parent take a kid to the bathroom has nothing to do with grabbing a table while others wait with food in their hands.

 

[akc]

my husband will go and get the food and I will get all the stuff and find a table. I have Ra and find that sitting down a little bit longer helps my knee. I can stand in line, but if I can get a little more time off of it I am more ready to start our again. So I see no problem with it. Now I do have a problem with peopple just coming in to sit a while and not planning on eating at that place.
Kitty

 

[want2bamommy]

I see nothing wrong with one or more people per party reserving a table. DH and I use a CS meal as a REST and do not hurry or eat fast. We sit, relax, eat and cool down.

IF the CM's were going to go around and ask that you not reserve table and it was enforced for EVERYONE than I wouldn't mind and would just order and find a table. However I do not see that happening.

In a previous thread about this topic someone asked what people do in a fast food restaurant at home and we do the same thing. DH sits down while I order the food. Even if a restaurant is empty he gets us a table and gets the napkins, ketchup, etc.

To be honest I never ONCE thought it was "wrong" or second guessed myself until I read other people's responses in the previous thread. That being said I won't change how we do it.

Missie

 

[mjkaferle5]

Get to the parks early.

Eat your lunch early.

No table finding problems.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I said it before and I will say it again. Walt Disney World Cast Members don't care if guests save seats for other family members at counter service locations. If this problem was that major for them which it is not, then there would be some sign which advises of guests doing this. So just because the OP had a bad experience when they could have had lunch a lot earlier when the ABC Commissary might have been less busy, my family and I along with the other people who see nothing with this won't stop doing this.

 

[azgal81]

Nothing wrong with saving seats. I actually thought everyone did it because every time I have been to disney that is what I have seen. I think it's actually a smart idea!

 

[G8RFAN]

I have to agree with most posters, saving a table is fine. Imagine having a stoller, baby in the food line or larger sized parties expecting to find a table available right away. If we walk in to a CS restaurant and see it busy, we always "divide and conquer". There are many times we have done this and the one responsible for "table stalking" would still not be able to find one by the time we get the food. The only thing that bothers me is when people start taking chairs from other tables to put their stuff on as opposed to their bums. I remember a few times finding a table but no chairs to be found anywhere.

 

[properlywarnedyebe]

I think this argument is hilarious, but that being said- what do you do when you get fastpasses? The CMs want one person to take all the park tickets to the fastpass machines and then doll out the fastapsses accordingly so there isn't a big mass of people at the fastpass machines. We do the same at CS restaurants- One person orders the food while the others look for seat. There was so many people in line for lunch this past spring there was no way I was going to make our DD2.5 wait in line with the giant mass of people. That would have been fun everyone. I also didn't make a point to notice if people were eating or not at the tables. Everyone is on vacation-we just tried to have patience. We just waited for empty tables. You snooze, you loose. People get mad at strangers for the weirdest reasons these days, and compassion goes out the window.
There are worse things to get angry about.
Alicia