Saving Tables....A Complaint

[DisneyAllison]

I don't have a problem with someone saving seats if they are dining there. I think it is sort of silly for a whole family to stand in line while ordering food. If it were me, I'd save a seat for DH while he ordered. In the mean time, I would have DD with me, and be getting her ready to eat, wiping the table down, etc.

HOWEVER, I would think it is wrong for someone to sit in a CS restaurant just to "cool off". I have seen that happen before, and THAT irritates me!

 

[bookgirl2632]

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.

I'm thinking, "They should have had someone scout for a table while someone else was getting food." Honestly, that's what I would be thinking. Sorry if that sounds cold or something. But those of us saving tables had the forethought of doing so.

Incidentally, the only table open to us at one CS place (I don't remember which one) two trips ago was a large table and we only needed four seats. A couple of us got food and a couple of us saved the table. A family of three was looking for a table and stopped near us. I asked them if they wanted to share our table. They said thank you and joined us. So, we thoughtless table savers can be nice too.

 

[raidermatt]

There's nothing wrong with somebody grabbing a table while somebody else in the party orders. In fact, in a lot of cases, it would muck up the system even worse if they all got in line. If the restaurant was busy, the lines at the register would back-up to the point where orders wouldn't be taken as quickly.

The dining room was half full of non-eaters. It was pathetic.

If the restaurant really was half full of non-eaters, many of them weren't holding tables, they were just sitting there and not ordering anything. That's a different situation.

Given the relative sizes of ABC's ordering area and seating areas, it would be impossible for half of the tables to be taken by people waiting for others in the line, unless there was one or two huge tour groups doing it. And if that were the case, if they all stood in line the line would go out the door and nobody else would be able to order their food at all.

 

[inaminute]

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?

Honestly? I probably wouldn't even notice. Not that I'm selfish, but I am on vacation and enjoying spending time with my family. I'm most likely concentrating on making sure the table is clean, getting napkins, condiments, etc. and then chatting with my kids or grandson about what we've done and what we're going to do the rest of the day.

If I were to notice I'd be thinking "Been there. Done that. They'll learn." I would most certainly NOT feel guilty. I'd have to have knowingly done something wrong before I'd feel any guilt. In this case, we all have the same choices. Mine are different than yours. Not right. Not wrong. Just different.

 

[loribell]

I gotta agree with everyone else that having the entire party stand in line waiting to order is a much bigger problem than having one or two people place the order & the rest of the party waiting at a table.

Our favorite CS is Cosmic Rays, we walk in the door, find a table & then I go order the food. While they are waiting DH or DS goes to get the condiments & then one of them comes to help me with the food. We eat, clean up after ourselves & then move on. We will not feel guilty because some one else did not plan ahead.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I think CMs should patrol these areas during busy times and insist folks vacate a table if they don't have food so others WITH food can sit down to eat.

Do you actually think WDW managment would actually pay Cast Members to walk around like the police to see if there are people sitting at empty tables and asking them to leave if they are not eating anything, when someone they are with is ordering food? I would bet anything that everyone would say the person I am with or my other family members are standing in line to order, so what proof would these CM's have to know if someone is lying?

The fact of the matter is this is not a problem for WDW to have Cast Members enforcing a rule which they do not even have. I never seen a sign at any location even during a very busy time which says no saving tables.

 

[sunee]

I always send someone to scout for seats and grab them up...because I don't want to be stuck with a tray or two full of food and nowhere to sit.

You snooze, you lose.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

This is just a general question to the OP but when this happened did you complain to someone at MGM guest services about it, or even tell a Cast Member at the ABC Commissary? It seems to have bothered you enough to make a poll question out of it, however people giving you their opinions won't change anyones mind on not doing this anymore. If you look at the results it's a huge win for people who don't see anything wrong with this.

 

[yrdlyprincess]

I hope to get in line for food early enough to miss this problem but w/going during FREE dining I'm sure it will happen more than once...This is my thought that I will have the whole family stand on line when I get really close to ordering have the other go find a table w/ 1 child (probably the youngest one)

 

[rebster]

When we go to Disney we usually have something like 13+ people coming from up to 6 parts of the US. Now this is our time to see one another as a family and so we do save seats. We always share with others when we can, but part of the vacation is to spend time together as a family (we don't really want to be split up). Now, we do send one person for condiments, one person with a list of orders, one person for a table, etc in order to cut down on the mass of 13 adults moving around together. I know that it annoys some people, but what if this was your one time to see your family in a year? I would certainly choose to save tables. When my husband and I go alone we never save tables because we know that we can take our food with us and sit somewhere nice outside since it is just the two of us.

 

[DisneyGirl625]

i thinks its ok for someone to save a seat but also what me and my mom have done is if we are close to finishing (like picking up) and we see a family that needs to sit and we have a table with enough room we offer them a place to sit.

 

[Andy B]

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.

Thos cycle time is from the arrival of the food not the wait before as well.

 

[Andy B]

To answer the OPs question of what do those saving the seats do when other people with food come walking around looking for a table?

I for one do not make eye contact as I lounge around waiting for the chow to come in much the same manner as I dont make eye contact with panhandlers downtown when they ask for money.

This is outrageous to suggest that those who have their food are like panhandlers.

 

[Maggi May]

OP, I think my family was at the ABC Commissary at the same date/time you were last week. It was nuts, crowded with lots of families and a large tour group. My DH and I were hot, tired, and just wanted to get ourselves and 2.5 yo DS a bite to eat. It was not exactly a magical theme park experience, with the noise, crowds and wait to get our food. Honestly, I think having DS and DH find a table while I got in line was the only practical thing to do. I don't know how we would have maneuvered a stroller through the press of people in the ordering and condiment area.

 

[Jenniww]

My husband and the kids always went and got a seat while i got the food. The kids need to rest their feet and I'm not buying food and standing up walking around looking for a table. I do the same at the mall food court.
Personal I don't know why you would want to make everyone stand in line and wait.

 

[girlsx4]

I haven't read all the responses yet, but I see nothing wrong w/1 person from a family sitting at a table until the food comes. We do that quite often....with 4 kids we NEED a table, so we have to make sure we get one!

 

[madalex]

ITA! As a solo, I really resent those people who have some in their party save a table while someone orders food. I'm not sure if it's fair or not, but it makes me pretty jealous since I don't have that option.

I just went on my first solo trip in late April and I never felt this resentment. I made the decision to travel solo, so I wasn't able to do lots of things that I could do if I was with a group (like have someone take my picture without asking a stranger or have someone go get fast passes at one ride while I went to another ride). But resentment because people can save tables (or save places in line or anything else)? How odd. Not the way I felt at all.

 

[beattyfamily]

I just went on my first solo trip in late April and I never felt this resentment. I made the decision to travel solo, so I wasn't able to do lots of things that I could do if I was with a group (like have someone take my picture without asking a stranger or have someone go get fast passes at one ride while I went to another ride). But resentment because people can save tables (or save places in line or anything else)? How odd. Not the way I felt at all.

Well, said.

I've done things alone and I realize when alone, things won't be the same.

If I go to the mall and eat in the food court, I don't have someone to save a table for me. That's just how it is. Oh well.

If I go to the movies alone, I can't go find a seat and then go get food without the risk of someone taking my seat. No biggie.

When I go to Disney with my two young girls and no other adult, I keep them with me and then we look for a table. I won't hold resentment to those who have people hold their table for them. That's their right.

I go to these situations sole knowing it won't be the same as if I were with others. I don't resent those who have others to help them out.

 

[Tiffany]

Why didn't you or DH go scout out a table while the other ordered food? I really don't get what is to be offended about by people splitting up their party and half of them grabbing a table and the other half ordering.

I agree with this. My husband and I do this all of the time when we are in any foodcourt type place. At home or at WDW.

 

[Lewisc]

I don't think it's right or wrong. It would certainly increase the seating capacity of a CS restaurant if guests waited until they got their food before taking a seat and left their table as soon as they finished eating. I don't have any problem with a family that saves a table. It doesn't make sense for the entire family to wait on line and the kids may need the time to rest/settle down.

What some posters consider "good planning" does reduce the effective capacity of the restaurant since it results in guests spending more time at the table.

It's not wrong for a family to save a table, even if there are a lot of guests. There isn't anything wrong with a family, or individual, that wants to stay at the table for a few minutes after their meal. Rest for a few minutes, finish a drink or even read the map or guidebook.

It would be courteous for families that don't care (or need) the extra time to wait until they get their food.