Saving Tables....A Complaint

[Mkrop]

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

But the rule you are proposing does not make sense. There really is no where for anyone to go while they "wait". I ams sorry that you had a bad exp with one of you CS meals but I really think you should reconsider doing it the way the majority of people are doing it and save yourself and your daughter some frustration.

Like I said I cant imagine you have not had a similar exp at the mall, or even at Hershey Park since I saw you one another post about HP, I would go get a table first if you have two adults in your party!

 

[Andrew Bichard]

why would you place your tray of food over a garbage can? Was your lap full?

Thighs fatter than knees - tray wider than armrests. One hand to stop tray sliding off knees. Second hand to hold cup of coke on sloping tray. Third hand on wheelchair joystick. Fourth hand to stop plate sliding off tray. Fifth hand to eat burger . Sixth hand to ...

Andrew

 

[C.Ann]

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..

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

I'm sorry for your DD's medical issues and very happy that she seems to be doing much better now..

However, knowing that your DD tires easily and the little one is always cranky upon awakening from a nap, you did them both a disservice by not scouting out a table first and having your DH sit with them while you ordered your food.. If you were unable to carry all of the food yourself, a CM would have been more than happy to help you - or possibly even one of those other patrons who you "think" were acting in what you consider a rude manner.. I know if I saw you stuggling while I was sitting at a table with other members of my party while we were waiting for our food, I'd hop right up and give you a hand..

Still - I'm rude - because we do indeed save seats - and will continue to do so until Disney decides it's not the most efficient way for the CS's to operate..

 

[Dis Ohana]

Originally Posted by vanillarum
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.

The church I attend actually encourages members that attend on a regular basis to use those two days to serve. I never sit during an Easter or Christmas sermon, we help greet and usher, help with clean-up and childcare, etc. This is so those that choose to come just a couple times a year can be blessed with what we get every week .

This thread is making me a little nervous. I voted for saving seats, it just makes sense to me. What I find disturbing is that it's such a heated topic. I mean seriously, is it that crowded?? I'd rather pack a sandwich or leave the park than have to wait in lines that long then have to arm wrestle someone for a table.

My plan is to be at the counter right at opening, have DH and kids grab a table, eat and get out. If I have to, I'll use my sugar-free jello as a bribe for a seat.

 

[Griggle]

I feel sorry for the people who wait 30-60 minutes for Stitches Great Escape.

THAT is too stinkin' funny.....and sadly - TRUE!

We save....and we loiter for a few minutes after we've finished eating; not sure if loitering falls into the whole "no food, no table" thing though...

 

[angelmav]

Thighs fatter than knees - tray wider than armrests. One hand to stop tray sliding off knees. Second hand to hold cup of coke on sloping tray. Third hand on wheelchair joystick. Fourth hand to stop plate sliding off tray. Fifth hand to eat burger . Sixth hand to ...

Andrew

Well shame on the people that didnt offer you a place at their table then, but that still dioesnt make it any less sensible to find a table first. Were a large family (7) and its tough enough finding a table to accomodate us, let alone waiting till we are traveling with tray's. Heck there have been times where I have gotten the food and the family still hasnt gotten a table or last summer at the louvre in paris, we had a table for 4 and three of us stood around the table since it was so crowded. But we managed and we didnt curse at anyone else enjoying their meals and we quickly finished so we could make way for the next group.

 

[madduck]

Tables are for people that have food and benches are for people who don't.If everyone would eat at a reasonable pace and then leave, nobody would need to save seats even at the busy times.Its people that occupy a table for 60 minutes (30 waiting for the food to come) that cause the backlog.Usually the bad times are during the rainy times when people don't leave and people save seats.

 

[Mkrop]

Tables are for people that have food and benches are for people who don't.If everyone would eat at a reasonable pace and then leave, nobody would need to save seats even at the busy times.Its people that occupy a table for 60 minutes (30 waiting for the food to come) that cause the backlog.Usually the bad times are during the rainy times when people don't leave and people save seats.

Who defines reasonable???????

Please!!! some people dont wolf down there food they actually take the time to chew it and eat it and heck maybe even have a conversation with the people they are sitting with but hey if you want to inhale your food enjoy wolfing down your Tums later!

 

[sunee]

I don't offer people seats because I don't see the people. I'm busy doing my own thing. I also don't see all these things that piss everyone off at WDW for the same reason...I'm busy minding my own beezwax.

But if someone wanted to share and asked, I'd gladly tell them to have a seat!

 

[theparsons]

I also cannot believe that there is no other option when not finding a table than to try to return food that you bought.

I find it amazing that the restaurant would actually refund you.....after all it's not like they sold you the rights to a seat. And that would mean they have to now trash the food and pay you for it. Wow....do they really do this?

I'll admit that we go at off peak times of the year so I've probably never experienced true crowdedness, but there are always benches outside, retaining walls by the plants, etc. Not the same comfort, but I've eaten more than one meal propped against a wall in my days (ok mostly college cafeterias)....not fun, but hey, it's just about feeding the tummy so it shuts up and lets me get on with my day, right?

 

[theparsons]

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.

I've been wondering........the people who think that since they have their food already that I should give up my table for them......if I were to do this and then say 15 minutes into you eating at MY table, my food and husband arrive....are you going to gather up your half eaten food and vacate MY table? Ummmm, wouldn't that be the courteous thing to do? After all I allowed you to take the table I had already gotten and now MY food is getting cold.

Maybe at TS we should all order our meals from the hostess and when the food is cooked and ready to be served THEN they should seat us. That way we're not sitting at a table that someone else could be using. Of course then it would feel like a rushed fast food kinda meal....oh wait....like a counter service meal?

 

[theparsons]

If you travel solo you can't.

At times solos seem to be treated like step children. At Tusker House one time I got my food, wandered around for several minutes until I spotted a group getting up. The table was for six people, but was the only table available. I had just sat down and started spreading my stuff out, when a lady approached and basically demanded I give her the table, as she had a family of six coming and since I was solo I should find another table. I looked around at all the full tables and told her they were welcome to join me, but I wasn't moving. No way was I going outside as hot as it was. She got huffy and stomped off and the elderly couple behind her (also looking for a table) said that if I didn't mind, they'd take me up on that offer. I got to meet a very nice couple from Simsbury, CT.

Anyway my point is, if the only table available is one for larger groups, would you consider it rude for a solo to sit there?

Nope, I'd consider it the way things happen. I've also done the opposite....had me and the two kids squish together at a table for 2.....when the girls were little they liked to sit together on a chair anyway (it's a twin thing)....but even now that their little hineys don't fit, we've been known to just borrow a chair from a table that has one opening and use a 2 person table for three of us. It's ok with me if our food touches, lol. Of course, gasp....we regularly share drinks too!

I think it's very nice of you to share your table, but would never ever consider telling you that you HAD to share (much less vacate, I'd have given that woman such a look, lol).

SO...if you go in Jan/Feb 2008 and you see a lady with two adorable twins, feel free to join us!

 

[theparsons]

Since 84 percent of those who answered the poll agreed with my statement, which I wish you had quoted in full, then I guess that saving a table is human nature: or, at least, we have learned to do so over the years.

Those who disagree are welcomed to go into a Disney restaurant, have all the family stand in line for the order and then, and only after receiving your food, look for a table. I hope you find one.

But don't whine about the 84 percent who do otherwise.

Well, doesn't that mean they should be able to find 16% of the tables available?

 

[theparsons]

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!!!

Ummm, can you guarantee that you'll be done before my food arrives? So if I give up my table to you and 10 minutes later my food arrives, are YOU going to now give me back my table? No...I didn't think so. Thanks, I'll be keeping my table then.

As for the person who said they'd have 2 trays and therefore had to have both parents at the counter....ummmm, nope, doesn't have to be that way. Tell the CM that pushed your two trays at you that you'll be back in a minute for the second one.....take the first tray to your table, return and get the second tray. I do this all the time. Never have I had said tray NOT be there when I returned. Never in DL, never in the mall, never in any fast food place. Never.

Of course, now we've likely given a new occupation to those who prey upon the unwatching at WDW....there will now be many shady characters standing at CS counters without having ordered anything....just waiting for me to leave one tray on the counter and walk away, then they'll snatch my second tray and head for a table....oops, they won't find one though! So to them!

 

[theparsons]

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.

And you already had a CM carrying your tray for you....couldn't they have carried both of them while you carried ds and DH held the table?

Your failure to plan doesn't make it my problem. And the lady with the disability that you can't see by looking at her should get up because you have a child that perhaps should have been taken back to the hotel for a nap instead of lunch? Ok, that was out of line, because I do understand about the kids....got twins myself if you ever want to think of that challenge when they were little, lol.....but your reasoning is just as out of line. What about the lady without a medical disability, just too warm and too tired and not feeling well....she should get up from her table she got by planning ahead so that you and your child can eat and she can have the rest of her day ruined by feeling poorly because she didn't get a few minutes to rest while DH brings food?

I think the point being made is valid....your personal needs aren't any more important than the personal needs of everyone else in the room. Needs which you don't even know.

That said...I totally understand the frustration of a child who is too hungry and too tired and it's all my fault as the parent for not planning ahead so that we got the food a little sooner, or took a break earlier, so while I understand the frustration, frankly the responsibility for that problem rests on you and your lack of planning, not on the people who planned ahead. Unfortunately we're all human and don't always think ahead enough...especially with kids who one minute may seem fine, and the next have crossed the brink.

 

[theparsons]

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

Ummm....me thinks you exaggerate just a little. The temp on May 31 at Orlando was officially 88 degrees (do a yahoo search for Orlando temp May 31). Believe me, as someone living in Arizona where yesterday it was officially 109 and today it was 111....well, honey.....88 degrees is sweater weather, lol.

If your daughter has a "hidden disability" then you of all people should be more sensitive to the fact that not all disabilities show and while I'll grant you that not everyone holding a table has a hidden.....can you be sure you know which ones do?

Frustration and tiredness on mom's part seems to have played a large part in your troubles that day, I'm guessing. If you visit other amusement parks so often, I'm amazed you've not run into the same, or worse. I find that Disney does an amazing job of moving crowds and keeping things flowing in intense situations..and wish other amusement parks and crowd gatherings would take lessons from them. I might attend more ball games if I didn't have to deal with the grid lock of leaving, lol. Nah, probably not, but it's the one thing that always pops into my mind when someone invites me!

 

[theparsons]

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

Wow...wish my kids were more like yours in that regard.....on a good day my kids can't eat a hamburger or nuggest in 5 minutes....on a bad, cranky, tired day we might as well wait for the fireworks while we eat lunch.

 

[theparsons]

If I have to, I'll use my sugar-free jello as a bribe for a seat.

SOLD!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Well shame on the people that didnt offer you a place at their table then, but that still dioesnt make it any less sensible to find a table first.

How, exactly, is a solo traveler supposed to save a table, then go get food?

Tables are for people that have food and benches are for people who don't.If everyone would eat at a reasonable pace and then leave

Who defines reasonable??????? Please!!! some people dont wolf down there food they actually take the time to chew it and eat it and heck maybe even have a conversation with the people they are sitting with

Thirty minutes to eat a quick-service meal is reasonable. Thirty minutes to hold a table while one's food is being obtained, then another thirty minutes to eat that food, is not. And conversations not held any other time during the day, or even WHILE the food is being consumed, don't need to be held at a table in a busy venue after one is finished eating.

 

[texasmom]

I have thought about this issue myself. I realize that if no one was allowed to save tables, there would be plenty available once we get our food.

Also, If I lived in a dreamworld, I would wait in a 30 minute line with my two young, well behaved children singing Disney songs entertaining the others in line with their sweet voices.......This won't be happening any time soon. Although my children are pretty well behaved, I can't see keeping them in the crowded line with me and trying to carry trays of food and drinks and herd them to the dining area. I'd rather have them there with another adult with washed hands ready to settle down and eat.