Saving Tables....A Complaint

[Princess Stitch]

I have. I have returned food because after fifteen or twenty minutes of trying to find a table, only to have others who move faster than me (without food) swoop in to save a table for their party that just got in line, I have brought my tray back to the cashier and explained why I want my money back – by then, my previously-hot food is no longer edible.

Yup, HATE when this happens.. If our food ends up being put on two trays that means that both me and DBF need to be in line. I can't save a table then get up to go get the food.. it would never be there when I got back. It's like a race trying to get to those tables sometimes. People will literally run across the restaurant, watching you walk there with your food the whole time to sit at the table.

Also, what about those people who get to the front of the line and then realize "oh, we get a dessert with the dining plan?" or "what kind of sauce did you want with your chicken nuggets?". Then the one person in line has to run over to wherever the table is, ask everyone what they want, and then come back to the counter to finish the order. THAT holds everyone up too.

I just don't understand you people who feel it's ok to sit at a table for 30 minutes before your meal, but want me to jump out of my table the second I'm done eating. Shouldn't I get that same 30 minutes of rest that your family got?

 

[cdrn1]

Actually, you're wrong about that. As I stated in the OP, I already knew this was an issue at CS. I'll say this again and this will be my last reply for awhile (too busy right now)....It's wrong for someone without food to occupy a table when someone with food needs it. Nuff said.

Actually, YOU'RE wrong about that, IMHO. You keep referring to "noneaters" but actually, we are "eaters" who have not yet gotten our food because we had the foresight to split up, grab a free table while another in our party gets the food, so that WE are not among those poor unfortunate souls wandering about carrying trays of food. Now, I don't think it's right for non-patrons of a restaurant to sit taking up table space because they are tired, but as a patron I have every right to sit there. I have shared my space with another family and will always willingly do so but I will NOT give up my family's space and comfort for someone else.

 

[Kellie-in-Texas]

I have to disagree with the OP. We ate at the ABC Commissary last week and my husband and older son ordered, while me and my younger son found a table. That's just part of being efficient in my opinion. If you were eating at McDonald's, would you expect an employee to tell somebody without food to leave a table?

 

[properlywarnedyebe]

This is all Disney's fault for not having enough seats.
Okay I'm done. Savings seats are the norm. Peace Out & Good Luck.

 

[taximomfor4]

I will say that when I travel without my kids (just my sis and I, or my mom and I), we don't grab a table in advance -- we take our chances. Because after all, if there are no tables inside we are able to eat anywhere without too much difficulty. I can get it to go , and go sit on a bench or curb somewhere.

When DH and I travel with our kids, there are 6 of us. Not a huge amount of tables our size. So we get in line, and think of what we want. Once that is all settled, we are usually almost to the cashier, so then DH will take the younger kids to table hunt, clean up their hands, and get napkins/condiments. Oldest dd and I stay in the line to get the trays (usually 3 trays so dd is walking back and forth to the table).

I can, with almost complete certainty, say that we have NEVER EVER (even in peak or summer seasons) been hogging the table for 30 minutes before the food arrived. We would choose another CS place to eat at, if the place was THAT crazy-busy. Maybe 5, rarely 10 minutes, TOPS...and the kids' hands were clean and they were ready to eat.

 

[Mkrop]

AndyB

I have been that solo eater at the food court in the mall (not at WDW)when there is hardly anywhere to sit but I have never felt that those people dont deserve those seats. It is just one of the facts of life when you are by your self or when I have small kids that I wont leave alone at the table. It can be frustrating but I would much rather have people sitting then clogging up the line.

 

[madalex]

I can, with almost complete certainty, say that we have NEVER EVER (even in peak or summer seasons) been hogging the table for 30 minutes before the food arrived. We would choose another CS place to eat at, if the place was THAT crazy-busy. Maybe 5, rarely 10 minutes, TOPS.

I was thinking the same thing as I read many of the posts. 30 minute lines at CS places seemed awfully long to me and,like you, I would go somewhere else if I went somewhere where the lines seemed to be that long.

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

I was in WDW last week, and we always save our seats also. I go to the line after we get our seat and our family is seated. I think it is selfish and rude to expect someone who is seated already to move just because you already have your food. We sometimes have to wait for our table before we go get our food, but there is no other way for us to manage the dining experience if we do not find a seat before we get our food. Why should my hubby and 3 little girls get up to give you a seat just because you already have food? We all get tired at WDW and we all need our rest - and some people have health issues (our 3 yr old is handicapped, I have arthritis, and my hubby has his own problems) and I would never expect you to give up your seat in a CS restaurant just because I have food on a tray. So, please don't expect royal treatment just because you were lucky enough to arrive a few minutes before my family, and you already have food to eat. We are all at WDW to have a wonderful experience, so we should just take our time and respect each other.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Actually, YOU'RE wrong about that, IMHO. You keep referring to "noneaters" but actually, we are "eaters" who have not yet gotten our food because we had the foresight to split up, grab a free table while another in our party gets the food, so that WE are not among those poor unfortunate souls wandering about carrying trays of food. Now, I don't think it's right for non-patrons of a restaurant to sit taking up table space because they are tired, but as a patron I have every right to sit there.

But until you are in the actual process of ordering / paying for / receiving (depending on the setup of the particular venue) food, you are a potential patron. On the other hand, the Guests who have their food are actual patrons who can't find a place to sit and eat because of all the people who are holding tables for twenty minutes before their food is even ordered.

Why should my hubby and 3 little girls get up to give you a seat just because you already have food?

This is just a guess, but... because you’re all in a food service location, the purpose of which is to sell/obtain food and which provides seating for customers with food in already hand at/in which to consume that food?

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

We always do this if we go someplace - I don't see the worry in it. One of us sits down and grabs a table whilst the other goes to get our food - we always make sure to find a table first before we order to make sure we're not one of those people who cannot find a place to eat. There are only 2 of us, we don't take up much room and are more than happy to share the table if it means that others get to sit down and have their dinner - but would not compromise our comfort first!

Likelihood being, the majority of the restaurant's patrons sure wouldn't give up their seat for me if I was standing there with food and no place to sit. Why should I give up our table for them?

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

Love everything about your post. I agree completely!!

 

[queenarmadillo]

I am a seat reserver. If you cant beat 'em, join 'em.

That said, I do believe it is incredibly rude to sit there holding a table whilst other people's food is going cold because they are new to Disney and don't know the plan, or because they are solo or have young kids so dont have the luxury of pre-booking a table. I don't see how anyone can argue that forcing people in an EATING PLACE to eat standing up because your family was more conveniently composed than theirs is fair.

Disney could do something to help by providing a sort of waiting area--seats but no tables--for families who dont all want to stand up in line, but the fact is that if there aren't enough tables to go around, then priority should be given to those who have something to eat.

Typhoon Lagoon is the only place we fight for tables, but there often at lunch the queue is upwards of 45 mins, so feasibly for every table holder waiting a full queue time at a table, 3 families could have eaten there and left, and still vacated it for that person to eat. The fight for tables begins to look more agravated every year we go there, and I genuinely believe that Disney will have to begin to police the tables soon before fights are started over tables.

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

Another thought, while we are at WDW and it is very hot and humid, the seats inside a CS can be a lifesaver for small children, as they can cool off!! There is no rule that we cannot just sit there if we want to, although we would not just sit without also waiting for our food. But how do you know if someone just needed to sit down for a while in a cool place, and they did just get there before you, even though you have food. I think OP should just change the way he/she does this and not expect others to do it their way.

 

[KCMiller]

If I'm with my parents and sisters, I'd save a table, cause none of us is getting any younger, and we have to sit and fan ourselves while one of us runs to get food and beverages. But when I go with my DD in September, I doubt we'll do that - any CS will get eaten on the run...

But seriously, I have no problem with people saving seats. Oh, I may be grumpy if I'm ALSO looking for a seat, but failure to plan on X's part should NOt consitute an emergency on Y's part. Saving a table while someone runs to get food is good planning, really. Herding your entire party through a line at the peak of the lunch rush, THEN looking for someplace to sit is just asking for grief and angst. And people, it's the happiest place on earth, right ??

KC

 

[blueangel]

There is a "counter service" restaurant in New Orleans (I pray its still there) that won't allow you to sit until you have your food. a former manager sat while his wife was inline getting their food. One of the little counter girls (boss is 6'5" tall) came over and told him to get up, he obliged. In that case he understood rules were rules and that little gal wasn't gonna take any mess from him! If you knew the guy you would have loved to see that exchange.

There really isn't a problem saving a table if they are turning, but if guests are in line for 10-20 mins and the table is being held, another group could have used that table, devoured their food and be ready to leave in the time.

A middle ground is to tell someone, hey my family is in line, but you can use it quickly until they get here with the food. That takes courtesty, on both sides.

Which place are you talking about? I might be able to tell you what's going on... I spent five years there pre-Kat and have been back a couple times since (last week, too).

 

[raven69david]

It sucks that people can be so inconsiderate when saving a place for someone else while there are people holding food with kids right in front of them. This mindset disappears after a long day of walking at the park and hunger setting in as it becomes an all-for-one-and-one-for-all challenge.

I know summer vacations are the only time some families can take them, but for me, this is a prime example as to why I avoid summer altogether.

 

[BillSears]

So how do you guys feel about double booking reservations under 2 different phone numbers? To me this is the same sort of thing. I guess those double booking reservations 180 days out are just better planners.

 

[Jaelynnandmom]

I am with the other posters on this one, having a young daughter we find it easier for me to get a table with DD, while DH gets the food... if all I can find is a table with two seats then DD sits on my lap, no big deal.

I feel bad for people who can't find tables, but I have done my fair share of waiting while others finish eating. And in many cases when we are just about finished eating, we offer someone our table.

Disney brings many different people from different backgrounds, we can't expect everyone to think as we do, everyone does it their own way and it should be respected.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I feel bad for people who can't find tables, but I have done my fair share of waiting while others finish eating. And in many cases when we are just about finished eating, we offer someone our table.

But there is a huge difference between waiting for a party with venue-purchased food to finish eating it, and not being able to find a table because of all the Guests who don't yet HAVE food but are 'saving' tables for when it finally shows up.

 

[webshark3]

So how do you guys feel about double booking reservations under 2 different phone numbers? To me this is the same sort of thing. I guess those double booking reservations 180 days out are just better planners.

They are clearly not the same thing:

1) Disney has a policy against double ADRs and will cancel them if they catch you.
2) Disney has NO policy against holding a CS table. In fast, there isn't even a requirement that you have food to sit at a CS table.
3) If you still beleive your comparison is accurate, then ANYONE with a ADR should be ashamed. Don't they know that there's families standing outside without ADRs? It should always be first come first served (with food). lol

4) Moral or immoral, right or wrong, double bookers 180 days out are just darn good planners (Heck, who wouldn't want backup plans for anything). LOL