Saving Tables....A Complaint

[heavenleigh412]

We save tables at Hershey and Dorney too, and WDW, and the foodcourt at the mall, and pretty much every McD's ever. It just makes sense to save tables when you can and avoid that unpleasant "CS nomad" situation.

I got a picture in my head of people wandering around CS at WDW , holding trays,on camels... and it struck me as VERY funny

 

[Princess Stitch]

I can only answer for my kids, but if this is one less line my kids have to stand in then I am sooooo grateful, plus my kid too has a disability not viisble(low muscle tone) so if I can save up his endurance then I want to do that. And usually these are the rest points when the kids are tired and hungry so I would like them to chill while waiting for the food. If I get them fed and rested for even just a few minutes I hope they wont be the ones fussing later in line or at the 3-D show that would be bothering people.

OK, I guess I can understand that. I just find it hilarious that people who are vacationing at WDW keep using the excuse that their kids are awful in lines and will whine, fuss, kick and scream. Those who have medical issues are another story of course.

 

[blondemom]

I'm not sure if it's been mentioned yet, but it would be great if the counter service restaurants could put up a sign outside with a wait time. I mean, if my family sees a 40-minute wait for Small World, we might reconsider going at another time or visiting a different attraction. If we knew ahead of time that there is a 15-minute wait for tables, we might stick it out, or we might go elsewhere. Sometimes we just peek into a counter service establishment to scope out the line, the wait for tables, etc.

I can see how the non-saver can get frustrated with the table-savers. My family certainly has walked around looking for somewhere to eat. It just makes sense to us to split up. We do not feel that it is rude. We fully intend on eating. We have offered to share our tables with solo diners. We have also shared a table with another couple and their child. My husband and her husband actually stood so that the wives and children could sit. I've placed my child on my lap to give a chair up to a table needing an extra seat. I do not push my way through hoardes of people to get a table, but if I get their first, I feel I have the same right to it as anyone else.

But maybe a wait-time sign would make things better? Who knows. I think that restaurants just keep getting more and more crowded.

 

[HelenePA]

One of my children also has a disability.. she's already had open heart surgery and 2 other small operations that has nothing to do with her heart.. one was bad timing when a guy ran a stop sign t-boned us doing 60... the other was a small in and out thing... she's been thru alot for only being 6 wouldn't you say? She was also walking around trying to find a table with us.. so you see even that doesn't work... a lil disabled girl couldn't find a table you'd never know about her defect unless you looked on her chest for the scar..

 

[OFFTONEVERLAND1]

I also agree with saving a table while someone gets food especially with young children. I would much prefer seeing table being saved for a family ordering then getting behind a family all trying to order. I find that makes the lines longer to order and sometimes confusing.

 

[Mkrop]

OK, I guess I can understand that. I just find it hilarious that people who are vacationing at WDW keep using the excuse that their kids are awful in lines and will whine, fuss, kick and scream. Those who have medical issues are another story of course.

Well yes NOW I do it bc DS4 has endurance issues but I also did with my older guy when he was young for the same reason, one less line with kids is the way to go! Especially if they are tired AND hungry!

 

[Mkrop]

One of my children also has a disability.. she's already had open heart surgery and 2 other small operations that has nothing to do with her heart.. one was bad timing when a guy ran a stop sign t-boned us doing 60... the other was a small in and out thing... she's been thru alot for only being 6 wouldn't you say? She was also walking around trying to find a table with us.. so you see even that doesn't work... a lil disabled girl couldn't find a table you'd never know about her defect unless you looked on her chest for the scar..

I sorry to hear that. Poor thing but then I really think you should reconsider gettinga table first. Let her rest as well as the other kids. No one is going to know she needs a table just like no one knows my son has endurance issues, or say someone like heavenleigh needs to sit, you just never know so be an advocate for the child and get the table. JMHO!

 

[HelenePA]

but see if they had the "rule" no sitting til you have your food all of this wouldn't be an issue! She does have small issues left (some pulmonary stenosis left, and a small hole in the bottom chambers thankfully the other 100 things wrong with her heart have been repaired) she does get tired and sweats alot.. but so did we when it was 110* out.. and I really had no idea that it would take that long to find a table.. like I said it was our first time eating anywhere in disney! We learned from then on to eat at "off" times.... if it was busy.. we did a ride and came back... Tusker House was the worst of them.. I dont even remember the other places we ate CS's at.. I know we ate at the hotel alot which was great we could either take it back to the room or eat the the food court which was never packed

 

[Topo Bella]

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'm sorry, DLBDS, but I have to disagree with you at least to a certain point. If you were talking about people truly "saving tables" for people that aren't present at the restaurant yet, that's a different story. But, once you and your family are in the restaurant, it would be a mistake not to get a table so that when the food arrives, you have somewhere to sit. We always go to WDW with a large group (of at least 7). It would be nearly impossible to wing-it and hope that you can find a table or tables to accomodate that size party after you have your food in-hand.

Also, since it is most people's practice to split up the party, with some getting the food and other getting the table, no one is being dis-advantaged by this system (except for solo travelers) and if anything, it gives you the advantage of having some time to find a table, rather than searching frantically with hot food and large drinks in your hands.

I generally have a huge issue with people feeling that they are entitled to enjoy their vacation at the expense of others (don't even get me started about late-comers stepping in front of you during the parades), but this isn't one of those times.

 

[Epcotgal8]

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?

Helene in PA, I was curious about the same thing as what this poster asks. What if the people at the table you want have an easy order that comes out in 5 minutes. Would you give the table back immediately if you just started eating?

 

[HelenePA]

I can say this with pride.. we were hungry we scarfed down our food in about 5 min.. so yes... they would have had their table back by then

 

[tink_about_it]

I have a family of 6. My kids are well-behaved. We don't have all 6 stand in a crowded line because that (to me) would be annoying for others around us. Not because of whining, crying, etc....but for the mere SPACE involved. We will always split up to scout out a table...no apologies for it either. I don't want to be holding 2 trays of food for 6 people and no where to put it! That's just absurd! If we have room at our table and see people that need to sit, we have always offered a seat at our table. Since the majority of people seem to do what we do, I think it's time to throw up your white flag and join the ranks! NO ONE here will blame you!

 

[fav's=mets&mickey]

this is my observation to this whole petty issue if you ask me.......first of all when you go to a Table Service restaurant.......do you place your order first and then wait to be seated.....NO YOU DON'T.........you let the front service counter know how many people are in your party and once you are seated then a server will come over to take your order..............you are sitting at a table with no food until you actually place your order...........same premise in counter service..........part of your party sits reserving the table and someone else gets the food..............Most people who go to Disney I would think have a group of people with them that I would think consist of more than one adult...........or a child old enough to be responsible of the younger children in the group..............so if you do not get a table before you order, i feel you are rolling the dice...........Every place that I have ever been too is the same..........so where all the hostility towards people who think about getting a table first is unecessary......and maybe you should realize it and do the same.

Now I am one to practice this.....but if I notice the place is jammed packed and the person that is making the order just went up to make the order I will offer to split the table until my food comes..........but people come on........think about it..............if it bothers you that much don't hate...participate and do the same........rather than get all upset about it.

 

[tink_about_it]

I do not do well with people saving seats. As an example, we are fairly regular church attendees. What gets me are the people that show up once a year at Christmas, and attempt to save a whole row of seats for their family. This year I said "Thank you very much, we're here now ". And we sat down !!

Maybe this is why they only choose to come once or twice a year....Because when they do come, the christians that attend regularly resent them and don't make them feel welcome...just a thought.

 

[Barbers2005]

We will always split up to scout out a table...no apologies for it either...Since the majority of people seem to do what we do, I think it's time to throw up your white flag and join the ranks! NO ONE here will blame you!

Yes, come to the dark side (mwahahahaha).

 

[wilma-bride]

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 haven't read the whole thread here but just wanted to say that, if there were room at our table, I would certainly hope that a solo diner would feel like they could join us (if they could put up with my kids' lack of table manners). I have certainly, in the past, offered a spare seat at our table to someone who looks like they are alone. To me, this is the common courtesy that people have mentioned occasionally on this thread.

I agree with a PP that the poll options are too black and white. For us, whether or not we save a table depends on the circumstances. If it were just DH and I on an adult-only trip (which most of our trips have been) we would probably wait until we had our food to find a table. When we have kids with us, though, we prefer to get them settled first rather than have them getting under everyone's feet in the line.

Maybe I'm in the minority here but I think common courtesy can go a long way and I would certainly have no qualms about sharing a table with another family or couple or even solo, if there were room. My biggest pet peeve is when you see 1 or 2 people at a large table, seating 6 or 8 and they give you such evil looks when you approach that you daren't ask if you can join them

 

[kelleigh1]

I haven't read the whole thread here but just wanted to say that, if there were room at our table, I would certainly hope that a solo diner would feel like they could join us (if they could put up with my kids' lack of table manners). I have certainly, in the past, offered a spare seat at our table to someone who looks like they are alone. To me, this is the common courtesy that people have mentioned occasionally on this thread.

I agree with a PP that the poll options are too black and white. For us, whether or not we save a table depends on the circumstances. If it were just DH and I on an adult-only trip (which most of our trips have been) we would probably wait until we had our food to find a table. When we have kids with us, though, we prefer to get them settled first rather than have them getting under everyone's feet in the line.

Maybe I'm in the minority here but I think common courtesy can go a long way and I would certainly have no qualms about sharing a table with another family or couple or even solo, if there were room. My biggest pet peeve is when you see 1 or 2 people at a large table, seating 6 or 8 and they give you such evil looks when you approach that you daren't ask if you can join them

What she said...


Oh, and I agree with someone else who mentioned earlier that they'd rather just one person get in line than a family of 14. (Ok, so I'm ad-libbing.) The lines would probably move a lot faster that way too and I probably wouldn't get kicked, hit, elbowed and bumped constantly while waiting to order for myself and hubby.

 

[Chuck S]

Coming soon from Buena Vista Interactive...

Disney Counter Service Seat Dash

This critically acclaimed clone of Diner Dash, Burger Maker and other reaction games will be a hit, and great practice for your upcoming theme park adventure. Your character and their family will run from park to park, saving as many Counter Service dining tables as possibe. Extra points are awarded for family members who reserve at multiple restaurants by "dropping" a poncho, sweater or umbrella on the table as a "place saver." Bonus points for successfully ordering burgers in the chicken line at Cosmic Ray's. Avoid penalty points by bypassing special attraction while running from restaurant to restaurant: It's a Small World, Spaceship Earth, It's Tough to be a Bug, and Sounds Dangerous. Out for Push and Wes Palm...bump into them and it's Game Over!! Winners, however, get to push their way in front of folks who have already been waiting an hour for the Parades.

After six months, the expansion pack, Pool Side Seating, can be added for an additional charge. Double your pleasure by placing towels on poolside chairs before headig off to grab tables at the theme parks.

Coming Soon: ECV & Wheelchair Stampede, with it's own expansion pack...Stroller Bumpers.

 

[DLBDS]

Coming soon from Buena Vista Interactive...

Disney Counter Service Seat Dash

This critically acclaimed clone of Diner Dash, Burger Maker and other reaction games will be a hit, and great practice for your upcoming theme park adventure. Your character and their family will run from park to park, saving as many Counter Service dining tables as possibe. Extra points are awarded for family members who reserve at multiple restaurants by "dropping" a poncho, sweater or umbrella on the table as a "place saver." Bonus points for successfully ordering burgers in the chicken line at Cosmic Ray's. Avoid penalty points by bypassing special attraction while running from restaurant to restaurant: It's a Small World, Spaceship Earth, It's Tough to be a Bug, and Sounds Dangerous. Out for Push and Wes Palm...bump into them and it's Game Over!! Winners, however, get to push their way in front of folks who have already been waiting an hour for the Parades.

After six months, the expansion pack, Pool Side Seating, can be added for an additional charge. Double your pleasure by placing towels on poolside chairs before headig off to grab tables at the theme parks.

Coming Soon: ECV & Wheelchair Stampede, with it's own expansion pack...Stroller Bumpers.

 

[DLBDS]

Yes, come to the dark side (mwahahahaha).