Saving Tables....A Complaint

[heavenleigh412]

No I'm not demanding... but it would have been nice! Just remember Karma.... One day you'll be the one looking for a table... It wasn't like we ASKED anyone to get up.. but for those sitting there watching us walk around with 3 kids me carrying at 28 pound UNHAPPY boy... 2 trays of food and a CM carrying one of them... It took us all of 10-15 min to eat... by the time you got your food we would have been out of there...

Actually, I won't... I always get one before we order

 

[heavenleigh412]

and my point was that with my medical condition if I had to stand while YOU ate... I would be unconcious... as in lying on the floor with NO conciousness.

You stated that it didn't matter what someone's reason was, it was rude to sit there... so I should make myself physically sick so YOU can sit at the table I made sure I had before I ordered my food?

I have a hidden disability, and there are a lot of people with them, and you don't know someone else's circumstances when you thinking what a horrible person they are for sitting there... karma works for everyone.

I don't ask for much, I don't think I am better than anyone else, but if I come in and see that there are tables, and SIT at one while my family gets our food, I don't think I should be berated, or given dirty looks, or have people curse about me under their breath.
If I come in and there are no tables, I go somewhere else, no matter how badly we wanted to eat there.... I don't inconvenience anyone with MY disability.

 

[C.Ann]

I would have just ordered alone but DS is a mama's boy... he just woke up from a nap and needed to be held of course..

----------------------------

So because your son doesn't want to be held by anyone else and your DH couldn't (or didn't want to) understand how the DDP works, someone should give up their seats to accomodate your special needs? I'm sure others have special needs as well - and plan ahead to accomodate those needs..

 

[disneyfav4ever]

----------------------------

So because your son doesn't want to be held by anyone else and your DH couldn't (or didn't want to) understand how the DDP works, someone should give up their seats to accomodate your special needs? I'm sure others have special needs as well - and plan ahead to accomodate those needs..

And I'm sure some people's needs are greater then who's holding them, and, in DH's case, his poor innitiative to learn anything before the trip. You said so yourself, you tried to show him many times about the DDP.

 

[MickeyDee]

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 tend to agree with the above poster. I see nothing wrong with a group spliting up so that half can save seats while the others order. In fact, it makes perfect sense to me and saves time and hassle in the long run.

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

No I'm not demanding... but it would have been nice! Just remember Karma.... One day you'll be the one looking for a table... It wasn't like we ASKED anyone to get up.. but for those sitting there watching us walk around with 3 kids me carrying at 28 pound UNHAPPY boy... 2 trays of food and a CM carrying one of them... It took us all of 10-15 min to eat... by the time you got your food we would have been out of there...

Nope, won't happen. I won't do it your way.

 

[donaldsgal]

This is a different situation. If only people who had a specific reason to NEED to be at a table did this, there woudln't be any problems. I'm not saying someone should stand in line holding an infant, or with a fidgity toddler, but lots of people who are perfectly capable of waiting will save tables as well.... If everyone who was capable of waiting stood in line until they were at least half way, a big portion of this problem would be eliminated.

I am of the ilk that saves tables. When we were there (just two days ago... sniff), I told my mother to take my niece and save us a table while my sister and I waited in line. They did wait a while for us (maybe 15-20 minutes) while we were in line. When we finally sat down, I did see lots of people scouring the restaurant (Tusker House) looking for a table. To answer the OP's original question about what goes through my mind, I thought about threads like this and how people get so enraged at others who save tables. Honestly, I didn't experience feelings of guilt or angst. I thought, "I wish those people would have thought to save a table so they didn't have to look for a table with a tray full of food."

I don't think it's WRONG to save tables. I believe that if some other person had found that table, more power to them. I wouldn't begrudge someone the right to sit down and rest while the rest of their party got food. I DO get up as soon as possible and even hurried my party along so we could give a table to another family (who was very grateful to have found a table). I'm sure people didn't like it, but the problem is, who's to say who NEEDS that table? My mother has two shoulders that were broken simultaneously a year ago and has bone spurs in her ankle. You can't see any of that but they cause her lots of pain as we "force" her to run about the park to beat crowds. Many families have children with autism, developmental delays, grandparents with arthritis, dads with diabetes.... who are you, or me, or the next guy, to say those people should get up or shouldn't be sitting at that table? I agree that people who CAN stand in line could do that and save everyone some heartache, but I don't think it's reasonable to assume someone DOESN'T need to save that seat. Just my opinion, but I'll continue to save seats and don't begrudge anyone, no matter how healthy or not they are, to do the same.

 

[Rafikifan]

until I was there I didn't understand why people had such a bad time with doing this... I came I saw.. I didn't like it either!!!!! It happned at the first place we went to eat, Tusker House... I had to be there when DH ordered food he had no clue how the DDP worked.. what to order ect ect (its NOT my fault! I TRIED to make him learn!! it was always later later later.. later came and went many many times....) so yes me and 3 grumpy HOT kids were in line with DH I would have just ordered alone but DS is a mama's boy... he just woke up from a nap and needed to be held of course.. so with him in my arms no way could I carry food.. anyway... we also saw people sitting with no food... I figured they were leaving nope just sitting resting eh what ever... we searched outside.. the other rooms... no tables... so here we are with food for 5 me carrying a lil boy who wants to eat thankfully a NICE CM helped us carry our food out... he seached with us.. FINALLY after a good 10 min we found a table... SOME of the ppl who had no food before we sat still didn't have food when we were almost done our food.. that's just rude.. VERY rude! I dont care who you are or what the reason you need to hold that table for... you see people with food... get up.. they'll be done before you get your food! you can have the table back!!!!! VERY RUDE!!!

You are making an *assumtion* as to how long it would take for the party you want to stand up to get their food. If it was my family for example, how do you know that my dh isn't one or two people behind you? I've never waited for as long as I've heard on this thread. I wouldn't even enter a place that was so packed it took *thirty* minutes to get the food. But for the sake of discussion if indeed my family stood up when you came out with your tray and then my dh brought us our food out in 5 minutes I can be assured you would get up when you just took your first bite of your sandwich and just got your child settled?

 

[MickeyDee]

How'd you like the be the CM who has that job? "Hi Dad--yeah, I got hired at Disney! Well, no, I'm not in the parade...no, I'm not at Tower of Terror...no, I'm not working at the Main Street Bakery...Dad...I'm the 'Table Sheriff' at Pecos Bills. I herd away people who are sitting at tables without food."

Okay, that made me laugh so hard I snorted.

 

[dalt01]

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.

hoo-rah. the other day i took on that group and got slammed too. very inconsiderate and selfish.

 

[dalt01]

I can't believe this thread is still going.

Put it to bed and quit bickering.

All of the people will not be happy all of the time even in the happiest place on earth.

if you dont like the sight of blood dont slow down and look at the wreck.

 

[dalt01]

until I was there I didn't understand why people had such a bad time with doing this... I came I saw.. I didn't like it either!!!!! It happned at the first place we went to eat, Tusker House... I had to be there when DH ordered food he had no clue how the DDP worked.. what to order ect ect (its NOT my fault! I TRIED to make him learn!! it was always later later later.. later came and went many many times....) so yes me and 3 grumpy HOT kids were in line with DH I would have just ordered alone but DS is a mama's boy... he just woke up from a nap and needed to be held of course.. so with him in my arms no way could I carry food.. anyway... we also saw people sitting with no food... I figured they were leaving nope just sitting resting eh what ever... we searched outside.. the other rooms... no tables... so here we are with food for 5 me carrying a lil boy who wants to eat thankfully a NICE CM helped us carry our food out... he seached with us.. FINALLY after a good 10 min we found a table... SOME of the ppl who had no food before we sat still didn't have food when we were almost done our food.. that's just rude.. VERY rude! I dont care who you are or what the reason you need to hold that table for... you see people with food... get up.. they'll be done before you get your food! you can have the table back!!!!! VERY RUDE!!!

take that!!! PA people are more logical than some of the other states

 

[Mouse House Mama]

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 didn't read the whole thread but I will answer this particular post.

I don't give it a second thought. I don't feel sorry, I don't ignore, I don't feel guilty. I don't even think about it. I am waiting for dh or dh is waiting for me to bring the food while the person at the table is getting our 3 (soon to be 4) children set up for a meal. For the whopping 5 minutes that they are sitting there I don't see a problem. We aren't reading the big book of fairytales to them for the entire afternoon. We are simply waiting for the food which doesn't take long. Many times I have had to walk around looking for a table. I would never ever expect anyone to get up and give me their table. IMO that is rude. They are sitting and waiting to have a meal like everyone else. If we go to a TS and we see that we won't be able to get a table we go somewhere else. We don't stand guard over people waiting for them to finish. Do you also get annoyed if someone has finished their meal and is sitting a few minutes to digest?

 

[Princess Stitch]

I don't think it's WRONG to save tables. I believe that if some other person had found that table, more power to them. I wouldn't begrudge someone the right to sit down and rest while the rest of their party got food. I DO get up as soon as possible and even hurried my party along so we could give a table to another family (who was very grateful to have found a table). I'm sure people didn't like it, but the problem is, who's to say who NEEDS that table? My mother has two shoulders that were broken simultaneously a year ago and has bone spurs in her ankle. You can't see any of that but they cause her lots of pain as we "force" her to run about the park to beat crowds. Many families have children with autism, developmental delays, grandparents with arthritis, dads with diabetes.... who are you, or me, or the next guy, to say those people should get up or shouldn't be sitting at that table? I agree that people who CAN stand in line could do that and save everyone some heartache, but I don't think it's reasonable to assume someone DOESN'T need to save that seat. Just my opinion, but I'll continue to save seats and don't begrudge anyone, no matter how healthy or not they are, to do the same.

Oh I wasn't trying to judge anyone. I too have one of those "invisible" disabilities. On good days I'll stand till we're almost at the front of the line. On bad days I'll try and find a table sooner. Most times I stay after the meal as well because I'll sometimes feel very sick just after I eat, so you shouldn't judge the people who don't jump out of their seat right away either. I was just saying that it's more of an honor system thing.

I think I mentioned this before, but have you ever tried to pre-board a plane with an infant before? As soon as they call for people with small children everyone with a kid under 18 gets in line.. not sure why the 13-14 year old counts as a small child, but it makes it harder for the people with infants and toddlers to get settled down. Do some of the families maybe have another reason they need to pre-board that we can't tell? Most likely...but I'm sure they all don't.

I'm not trying to judge the morality of doing this, because there's no right or wrong answer. One person may think it's ok and one person may not. It's like that with alot of things in the world. It is however frustrating for those who for whatever reason cannot save seats, and those people who are saving seats just have to understand that. Saying "well you should have though to save a table" isn't very helpful and I dont' find it that nice because sometimes the option isn't always there for whatever reason. Because of my stomach problems if I'm eating different food I sometimes need to ask if it's spicy or what kind of oil it was fried in etc. Things DBF woudln't know, and I can't send him to the table because since I have problems with my shoulder elbow and wrist on my right side there's no way I'd be able to carry the tray by myself if I had a flare up that day. It isn't that way for us all the time, but it does happen.

So in conclusion, do what is right for you. I think alot of the anger here is misplaced though. It's not about being angry at the people who are saving the tables, it's being frustrated with not having a seat.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

until I was there I didn't understand why people had such a bad time with doing this... I came I saw.. I didn't like it either!!!!! It happned at the first place we went to eat, Tusker House... I had to be there when DH ordered food he had no clue how the DDP worked.. what to order ect ect (its NOT my fault! I TRIED to make him learn!! it was always later later later.. later came and went many many times....) so yes me and 3 grumpy HOT kids were in line with DH I would have just ordered alone but DS is a mama's boy... he just woke up from a nap and needed to be held of course.. so with him in my arms no way could I carry food.. anyway... we also saw people sitting with no food... I figured they were leaving nope just sitting resting eh what ever... we searched outside.. the other rooms... no tables... so here we are with food for 5 me carrying a lil boy who wants to eat thankfully a NICE CM helped us carry our food out... he seached with us.. FINALLY after a good 10 min we found a table... SOME of the ppl who had no food before we sat still didn't have food when we were almost done our food.. that's just rude.. VERY rude! I dont care who you are or what the reason you need to hold that table for... you see people with food... get up.. they'll be done before you get your food! you can have the table back!!!!! VERY RUDE!!!

Just a question- when you saw that Tusker House was super crowded- WHY DID YOU STAY THERE?!!! I would have gone somewhere else to order my food. That isn't the only place to eat. Not to be obnoxious but just because you planned poorly doesn't mean that I have to accomodate you. JMHO.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

We're table-savers, too. Standing in line with a jumping 5-year-old and a squirmy toddler is not only difficult for me and my dh, but it's no fun for those around us either. One of us needs to go find a highchair and a table and sit down with some water from our backpack and a few Goldfish to help the kids wait for their lunch.

Truthfully, I'd much rather have one representative from each party order for everyone, then use a cell phone or walkie-talkie to ask for help when the food is ready. I hate being behind people who have had 15 minutes to look at the menu and decide what they want, only to get to the counter and have each individual person in the party ask, "What's on the Cheeseburger Basket?" and "What kind of salad dressings do you have?" and "What are the side dishes?" and "What kind of drinks do you have?" I want to tell them to READ THE BIG SIGN UP THERE - IT'S A MENU!! Put one person in the line, have them make all the decisions for the whole party!

 

[pavil]

Unless you are a single person, there should be no reason why all of you have to be up ordering your food unless you plan poorly. If you fail to plan.....you know the rest. I personally have NEVER had a problem finding a table at any CS. I never knew it was an issue. If you can't scope out tables that look like they are almost done then respectfully, you get stuck waiting for one to magically open up. I have shared tables back when we were only a couple and not a family, I just don't get it.

I don't particularly care that someone doesn't "know or get" the DDP and has to have someone there with them, that you have a harder time than those that did plan when it comes to dining. I personally would rather snack my way through WDW if the CS lines take 30 mins to just order. That's insane to me.

If I end up getting my food and don't see any tables open, guess what? I find me a nice spot close by where I can eat in relative peace. Haven't you ever brought food to eat at WDW and ate on a bench? I guess that skill was finely tuned backpacking through Europe for me. I just make it work.

Again to me it comes down to being prepared, meaning, knowing how to order, when to eat, where to eat. If you don't want to prepare when heading into a crowded place like WDW then as the Dodo said

Dodo: If you weren't smart enough to plan ahead, then doom on you. ...

Yeah I may be dumb, but at least I'm eating at a table.

 

[MissionMouse]

I have no interest in reading every post within this long thread, since this thread is a perfect example of one of the reason we eat TS. If I am eating...there should never be a concern about having a place to sit to eat my meal....especially considering the cost of CS at Disney. Overall, my thoughts are that I am on vacation and this is suppose to be a time where we can relax, especially considering all the "project" planning that is required for a Disney Vacation. Without a doubt there are far better vacation destinations that provide a more relaxing environment than Disney...eliminate the CS game <not to mention the unhealthy food offerings> and you will eliminate this little table-seat "headache game."

 

[bookgirl2632]

Okay, if we are to take the advice of the non-table savers, we are supposed to get up and offer our table to them because they'll be done before our food gets there.

My question is this: what if our food comes just as they get settled? You know, they sit down and get themselves all situated, about to take a bite of their meal and then our food comes. What then? Do we say, "Okay, time to go. We need the table back. You're outta there!" Either they get up and find another table or they say, "Nope, not happening. We're going to finish first." Which, of course, leaves me and my family standing there with OUR food getting cold while we wait for you to finish with OUR table.

So, no, I'm not going to give someone else my table. If we have room to share, I'll gladly share it. But I will not give it up.

 

[heavenleigh412]

Oh I wasn't trying to judge anyone. I too have one of those "invisible" disabilities. On good days I'll stand till we're almost at the front of the line. On bad days I'll try and find a table sooner. Most times I stay after the meal as well because I'll sometimes feel very sick just after I eat, so you shouldn't judge the people who don't jump out of their seat right away either. I was just saying that it's more of an honor system thing.

I think I mentioned this before, but have you ever tried to pre-board a plane with an infant before? As soon as they call for people with small children everyone with a kid under 18 gets in line.. not sure why the 13-14 year old counts as a small child, but it makes it harder for the people with infants and toddlers to get settled down. Do some of the families maybe have another reason they need to pre-board that we can't tell? Most likely...but I'm sure they all don't.

I'm not trying to judge the morality of doing this, because there's no right or wrong answer. One person may think it's ok and one person may not. It's like that with alot of things in the world. It is however frustrating for those who for whatever reason cannot save seats, and those people who are saving seats just have to understand that. Saying "well you should have though to save a table" isn't very helpful and I dont' find it that nice because sometimes the option isn't always there for whatever reason. Because of my stomach problems if I'm eating different food I sometimes need to ask if it's spicy or what kind of oil it was fried in etc. Things DBF woudln't know, and I can't send him to the table because since I have problems with my shoulder elbow and wrist on my right side there's no way I'd be able to carry the tray by myself if I had a flare up that day. It isn't that way for us all the time, but it does happen.

So in conclusion, do what is right for you. I think alot of the anger here is misplaced though. It's not about being angry at the people who are saving the tables, it's being frustrated with not having a seat.

*warning

*
When they call people with small children, they also call people who are disabled. I used to fall into the first category, now I fall into the second.
DD13 gets on the plane with me when I board as a disabled person.
Sometimes I board in a wheelchair, and sometimes I don't... If I am NOT in a wheelchair, you would never think the 6 foot blonde in front of you was disabled, but I am.

Back on topic...
I can understand the frustration people have when they are standing there with food, and there are no tables in sight... what I can not see is why they would blame the rest of us. Why not blame Disney for not putting in enough tables to accomodate you? Why not blame the CMs for not moving the CS ordering stations along faster? Why not write letters to Disney requesting that those tables be labelled for customers only and no outside food should be allowed?
Why should the rest of us have to be berated, and called rude and offensive because we did get tables?

The OP stated:

After waiting in line at the ABC Commissary for what seemed like over 1/2 hour (with 2 children), we finally got our food. During our search for an empty table we observed table after table occupied by folks without a crumb of food. Some by one person. Some by one parent and children. So when we finally saw some folks leaving a table we walked over only to find another couple standing there (WITHOUT food) waiting to grab it for themselves. My husband had a very unpleasant standoff with these folks who didn't speak English apparently. He let them have the table and we found another one across the room (cursing them the whole way).

Now in my opinion teaching your 2 children to carry on in a restaurant by fighting with someone over something so stupid as a table and then cursing your way through the dining room where other peoples children have to hear you is RUDE. That is definitely not behavior I would want MY child emulating, or even SEEING... DD does not need to see grown adults having temper tantrums in WDW or anywhere else.