Saving Tables....A Complaint

[Mkrop]

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...

No I wont be looking because I will have planned ahead. I have a mommas boy too and a hefty one also so no I am not going to stand in line and wander around with him, I have already killed my back normally carrying him, if I have the chance to sit, I am going to, you already said it was your fault for not getting DH to understand the DDP. My DH did not fully get all the ins and outs but at that point I wouldnt care just get us food, Im sitting down!

 

[Mkrop]

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

Not this PA girl! If by logical you mean saving tables, than yes I am a very logical gal bc doing the OP's way is just foolish!

 

[Andrew Bichard]

To tell the truth I voted to save a table... I am disabled and have always had problems standing in lines, or standing still for that matter

I too am disabled, but voted against table saving.

I often visit the parks alone in a wheelchair, with no-one to get my food whilst I save a table. I recall one very very busy day, so busy that there were no CMs free to carry my tray. I come out of the service area with my tray and people were actually racing me to get to free tables. There are no free tables, but around 50% of the tables are being 'saved' for people in line. I end up eating with my tray balanced on a trash can. I couldn't stand the smell & the flies and abandoned my food.

Andrew

 

[heavenleigh412]

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

or opinionated... or rude... take your pick... nice to put down the rest of the country, to have it done YOUR way.

I hardly consider it more logical when the other people you talk about are sitting at a table eating while YOU are wandering around

 

[Princess Stitch]

*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.

Very well understood. Actually I even mentioned that in my post. I realize these things are on an honor system and it is in place for people who need it. If EVERYONE abused the system though then the people who need accomodations will not get them. Just like how some people will get up to offer a seat on a bus to someone with a small child or a pregnant or elderly person. Well some "healthy" looking people probably have very good reasons why they don't need to get up to offer the seat to someone else, and we'll probably never be able to tell the reason why. My point is that if those who are able to stand get up to let someone else sit, then most people who need a seat will be accomodated.

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?

Yup, I actually mentioned the same thing as well. Considering how busy Disney gets in certain months you think they'd have a backup plan for a place to put more tables. My local shopping mall adds 25-50 extra tables to the food court are during the Christmas season to help with crowds. I'm sure there are some CS restaurants or outdoor areas that Disney could do this in as well. That would eliminate at least some of the wait during the busiest times. Otherwise, this whole thing isn't really much of a problem in the first place.

 

[jmkrat]

I have no problem with some people sitting and saving seats while the others are getting the food. If they were just sitting taking up space I would. But most people will find a table and let others get the food. It then saves the aggravation of having the hot food and nowhere to sit. We find a table first and then know it is time to get our food.

 

[Mkrop]

or opinionated... or rude... take your pick... nice to put down the rest of the country, to have it done YOUR way.

I hardly consider it more logical when the other people you talk about are sitting at a table eating while YOU are wandering around

Please do not lump us other PA people in with them!

 

[Gillian]

At a local amusement park there are always long lines and not enough tables, so we sometimes end up sharing with another family (when we actually take time for a meal). On the last visit, DH was able to sit with a family finishing up their meal while I got the food. We shared for a while, then they left. We saw another family waiting and asked if they wanted to share, as we were almost finished. The tables at this place are rather large, with benches that two kids can fit on together.

I know it's different at Disney, but isn't that a nice story?

 

[mjkaferle5]

There is a logic solution to this problem, although it would never happen!

Either

Every single "group" that comes in, have someone save them a table.

-or-

Every "group" gets in line and finds a table after they get their food.


Have a seperate reserved area for single eaters.



It probably still wouldn't be perfect, but it would work a lot better than the current situation. It would create more "flow".

 

[heavenleigh412]

I too am disabled, but voted against table saving.

I often visit the parks alone in a wheelchair, with no-one to get my food whilst I save a table. I recall one very very busy day, so busy that there were no CMs free to carry my tray. I come out of the service area with my tray and people were actually racing me to get to free tables. There are no free tables, but around 50% of the tables are being 'saved' for people in line. I end up eating with my tray balanced on a trash can. I couldn't stand the smell & the flies and abandoned my food.

Andrew

Travelling alone rules out saving a table.
What I don't understand is why would you place your tray of food over a garbage can? Was your lap full?
I don't mean that the way I might sound... I am honestly asking.

Usually when we travel to WDW there are 3 of us... the tables would be for 4... I have no problem sharing with a single traveller.

As a fellow disabled person, I must add that many, many people are willing to help you, if you are willing to ask for the help you need. Most people feel uncomfortable offering assistance for fear of offending the person.

 

[Steph9072]

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.

I too picked it was okay.In noway do I think it is "wrong" for one parent to take the small children and find a table. While the other parent and an older child wait for the food. For the following reasons 1.) Who wants to wait in line with a small child in tow, if a parent is carrying the child or pushing a stroller the parent is not going to be able to carry a thing to the table. 2.) Who wants to stand in line next to a parent with a small child who after a few minutes in line will become upset?Chance are the child will get frustrated about waiting in line and begin to occupy their time. 3.) I would prefer to be able to look at a line and know that there are x # of people ahead of me and have a better idea how long it will take to get through the line then to look @ the line and not know if this party is two people or six. 4.) My final reason is I think the majority of the people do it be it at a food court at the mall, Burger King or the line @ WDW and I don't see a big deal with it.

 

[heavenleigh412]

Please do not lump us other PA people in with them!

I actually have many friends in Pa, and I honestly was not trying to offend other Pa people
I just wanted to point out how insulting it was to the other 49 states to make such a statement.

 

[jarestel]

It would be wonderful if trips to WDW were courtesy-packed adventures in politeness, where everyone said "After you", "No, after you", "Please I insist" and arguments were only about the welfare of others. But unfortunately that's not the WDW I know. Since the overwhelming majority of people responding to the poll see no problems with seat-saving, the wise and prudent planner would adjust to the reality of the situation and split a ravenous party into groups of food-procurers and table-finders in order to avoid disappointment.

It's how the system works and is not likely to change.

 

[NMW]

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

Well, I live in PA and I think this posters problem was entirely of her own making. A husband who refused to understand the DDP? Come on, if that were me, DH would have been holding the cranky child AT A TABLE while I ordered the food. Maybe next time he'd pay the slightest bit of attention when I tried to explain the plan. Or maybe he'd just read the brochure while on a monorail, bus, boat or sitting at a CS meal!

My husband understood the DDP before we left for the airport. We have 3 kids and one of us always gets a table with the two youngest kids while the older one stays to carry a tray. I fail to see how this families poor planning is the fault of the people who DID plan well. To me it's like the people who arrive at the MK at 11 AM in July and then CAN'T believe that they can't walk right onto Splash Mountain.
should the people who arrived at 9 AM have to turn over their fast passes to them?

 

[Mkrop]

I actually have many friends in Pa, and I honestly was not trying to offend other Pa people
I just wanted to point out how insulting it was to the other 49 states to make such a statement.

Thanks I knew where you were coming from!

 

[Brook1099]

NOw that you think about! My husband always waits in line to order while kids and I get our seat(they get very restless in line and actually annoy myself and probably other people by bumping into them,so lets see do I feel sorry for a party of 2 or more that have trays in hand and no where to sit No.
I'm struggling usually with 2 hungry and thirsty kids, getting condiments while hubby is in long line for who knows how long then carrying 1or 2 trays of food for 4. I dont have a problem with it at all. There are times when its busy havent even been able to save a seat. Thats part of the Disney experience.

 

[Albertan mom]

My hubby and kids come up to look at the menu.
They decide what they want and tell me.
I wait in line and order, they find a seat.
Kids usually get condiments while hubby holds seats.

We have always done it that way, and always will.

 

[webshark3]

It's not 'human nature'. Breathing is human nature. Occupying a restaurant table twice as long as the diner needs it to eat on/at, not so much. It's a learned behavior, and as such can be unlearned, or amended.

Breathing can be unlearned, and it's one that is pretty much guaranteed.

 

[HelenePA]

I dont know who said it but NO I wouldn't have rathered be sitting at a table with my cranky almost 2 yr old.. i would have liked to be able to just go sit down and eat with our food instead of walking around for 10 min looking at other ppl just sitting there doing nothing but waiting for their food... rude just rude.. I could have had my 6 & 4 yr olds sit at a table while me daddy and baby went to order (Okay I would have been crazy to do this!) but I could have.. OR I guess I could have just put down the diaper bag on the table along with other personal items and just had everyone go up.. but again RUDE... I know EVERYONE is there on vacation not just me.. I'm glad its not like this at other amusement parks I go to almost weekly... Rude.. It's just rude.. We had a great time anyway... Hope ya'll enjoyed walking us walk around with no play to sit I'm sure most of you laughed at us if you were there.. or snickered (stupid people shoud have found a seat before they ordered) but that's okay! What goes around comes around! I hope I can teach my children better!

Oh and if Daddy was holding the cranky child at the table ya'll would have been complaining about the kid screaming his lungs off at Tusker House on 5-31... that would have been rude right? Its no win I guess...

 

[tomerin]

we always split up before ordering our food. this way we do not have to waste time up at the counter changing orders, we order promptly the proceed to go to our table eat and leave.

i feel the problem is not with the people who save seats it the people who have to linger over their meal. i can understand resting and relaxing but there are so many other places you can do that in WDW other then in a crowded resturant.