Sharing Tables at Counter Service Restaurants

[TheSouthernBelle]

On Tuesday, September 11, 2022, there was a brief discussion on WDW News and Discussion, about third parties sitting down at the table you are eating at because there is an open seat or seats to eat their meal. Some will ask and some will just sit down. There was quite a response in the chat area regarding this and I am just wondering what people think about this. I know that the it can be quite a challenge to find seating at times but is it appropriate to sit down at the table with people you don't know, and make them feel that you are invading their personal space. I am just wondering what everyone feelings are regarding this.

In all my years of going to disney or many other theme parks, this has never happened to me. Outside of hibachi style dining, biergarten etc...I would not do this to anyone. It's rude if it's a traditional table not meant to be shared. The only time we may sit near someone is if it's not real table seating and you're outdoors eating at say a festival at epcot on the ground/stone wall sort of area but even then, I try to distance myself from people not in my group. I certainly don't mind chatting with people since I am chatty, but I'm not trying to barge in on people's meal time at a table, that's rude.

 

[afan]

Probably depends on the scenario. If there's a group of two at a 6 or 8 top, I might ask if we can sit at the other end. If the tables are configured to seat large parties 12+ then i'd probably treat it like seating at a food festival and double check the seats aren't taken before sitting down.

If they are large tables to me it's no different than a mall food court. They haven't all switched to smaller tables and sometimes you do still have to share a table.

This is part of why I prefer they have someobe that seats you and doesn't let people without food use tables. Apparently I also need to be more cautious asking people at a large table with plenty of room to share when I'm solo.

 

[Moliphino]

Generally no, I don't want to sit with strangers. If the table is large enough that both parties can have relative privacy and there are no other tables, then I'll do it.

 

[HopperFan]

Anyone who asks if they can join us is welcome to do so. We often meet interesting people that way, and only infrequently are they "interesting," but even that is interesting.

I'm also one of those people who really enjoys eating at Biergarten or Teppan Edo as a couple and getting to know the others at my table, so YMMV.

Flashback ~

We booked Club Villain the minute it opened. We were going the second weekend so knew nothing really about it except for a few blogs posting info and pictures. The tables were very small round cocktail tables, not conducive for a bigger family but great for small parties. We were early, enjoyed our champagne outside and proceeded to be one of the first to a table (assigned with numbers). Three of us but four chairs. I figured it was just always set this way. It was myself and both my adult sons, one who is obviously disabled ... and we have had guests at Disney uncomfortable with sitting with/by him before.

With that a young man by himself about the age of my other son came and sat down. He didn't say much but we exchanged names and pleasantries. I was nervous, he was sitting next to my disabled son. Had I known they were sitting someone with us, I would have put him in between myself and other son. Early on I went to get my son some food and my other son had gone to the bar. The table was right in my sight and all of a sudden my son leans in and is glaring at this poor guy. I'm trying to hustle the server and other son the bartenders. We needed to save this guy. We settled in to eating and my son - who is considered non-verbal - points at this guy, looks at his brother and says "Who's that?" MORTIFIED. At least we didn't know this guy had social anxiety at the time, I would have really been upset.

None of us are good with names so brother says to him, "well tell him your name and ask his". He told him his name and the guy played along and said his again. A few drinks and we all relaxed and had a great night! So much in common. Made plans to meet him later in week at MK and then had dinner again. Turned out he was from NY (me NJ), loves Disney and had traveled alone. He was so nervous about being seated with people, he is not very social and then saw a MOM and big kids and thought oh no will they like me? (He is gay). So here we are we were both worried about acceptance.

This was almost 7 years ago. We stayed in touch, met at Disney on a couple trips, then he started traveling here to hang out with us. He even came to DD wedding. I share my Disney+ with him. He is my newly adopted kid, we love him. He and my one son have become best of friends. His Mom made my disabled son Mickey masks when COVID started and she never even met him.

Moral of my long story - best souvenir we ever got from Disney was because they sat us with strangers. Upset for a moment, thankful ever since.

 

[Robber Baron]

As a couple I remember twice sitting at a 4 top, being the smallest tables available, and being asked by another couple if they could share our table. Of course we said yes. I think in both cases after a quick hello, my wife and I had our conversation and they had theirs.

The people sitting at the next table were probably just as close as the people that joined us.

We don’t have a problem with table sharing, those QS places can get pretty packed sometimes and finding a table can be tough.

We got caught in a heavy rain at AK once and made a dash for Dawa Bar. Every table was taken but we asked to share with a couple at a 4 top. So, we were able to sit and drink.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Going solo, I often allowed others to sit at my table because otherwise that would be selfish of me to take all that space up just for me. QS restaurants are so hard to find a free table at at peak times. I often ended up having nice chats with my table mates.

Same here. I've even caught others' eye who are looking for a place to sit and motion to the empty seats at the table I'm at, so they know it's OK. However, I must admit that if people just come over and sit down without asking, I think "How rude!" One day I was eating lunch outside at Pizzafari and a mother and her son came and just sat down and started eating. However, if people come over and ask politely, "Do you mind if I sit here" or "are these seats available?", it's fine.

 

[starousse]

Nope. I would just tell the person, sorry but I'm waiting for a few other people to come back w their food.

 

[RCharnay]

I don’t think of tables at QS as “my table.” More like school cafeteria tables. You politely leave a seat in between you and the next guest until there are no more spaces and then you should expect strangers next to you. No one should be parked there for more than a short time so there should be a constant turnover. If someone smiles at me or says hi, I can chose whether to engage. I don’t feel obligated to talk or entertain others. I handle it the same way I do when you are in line for a ride; sometimes you can have a great conversation with others and learn so much or you count the minutes until you can be out of there.

 

[jimim]

I have never experienced this before. I can't gt over all the people that have. I guess if I was at a large table that we would be spread out, eve before COVID, yah for sure. But if my family of 4 were at a table for say 6. Hard pass. Especially now. Unless they can produce a negative test result within the past 24 hours. (I'm kidding. I'm kidding)

It just has never happened to us. Take a chair or 2 yah for sure. Have at it.

 

[fbarker]

I don’t think of tables at QS as “my table.” More like school cafeteria tables. You politely leave a seat in between you and the next guest until there are no more spaces and then you should expect strangers next to you. No one should be parked there for more than a short time so there should be a constant turnover. If someone smiles at me or says hi, I can chose whether to engage. I don’t feel obligated to talk or entertain others. I handle it the same way I do when you are in line for a ride; sometimes you can have a great conversation with others and learn so much or you count the minutes until you can be out of there.

Interesting perspective about tables at QS. I guess i feel that eating is my chance to decompress a bit and isolate myself and family from the crowds. When sitting at a table we are in our own little bubble and would not enjoy another person or family invading that space. But i understand what you are saying

 

[Best Aunt]

One time I got my food at Tangerine Cafe in Morocco (i'm sure i'm messing up the name). I had planned to eat outside but it started to rain. All of the inside tables were occupied. A couple let me sit with them. Their table wasn't huge but they were very nice about it.

I know many people would prefer not to have strangers at their table but please consider the circumstances and take pity on people who don't always know, when they order their food, what the table situation will be like.

 

[Shughart]

No, I typically want to be left alone. I will take the smallest space possible, and if we have to choose a ten table (for four) we'll sit in a grassy area outside to avoid people. If we have an extra chair, I'll flip it around so someone can take it, but leave us alone please

 

[Miffy]

At Woody's Lunchbox--unless they've now expanded the seating, which has been under construction the last two times I was there--it is impossible to avoid sharing your table with someone else. There's extremely limited seating there--and that's an understatement. People are waiting with full trays, walking around, looking, hoping a table or even a chair or stool or place to put something down will become available.

We always sit with other people at Woody's. Always. There are two of us. Of course we always ask first, since there could appear to be empty seats but people could be waiting for the rest of their party to arrive with their food.

 

[Maggie The Cat]

If it's very crowded, no tables available and someone asked us if they could sit at our table to eat, of course we would say yes. And we would politely ask in the same situation.

Now if it wasn't crowded, tables were available, then I would find it a bit odd.

 

[holden]

I've had this happen at AK. DH and I were sitting on the end of a table for 6 (rectangular). It was the only available table, so we took it. Another couple asked if they could sit with us. They sat on the other end leaving a chair between us. I was fine with that. Had someone sat directly next to us, I would probably just pretend I was finished and leave.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I would not be comfortable with this. Mostly due to covid now. We usually only take a table that fits our size (3).
If I stay in the wheelchair to eat sometimes people have asked for the extra chair or bench. I am fine with that and share. Most people ask politely and don’t just take it if they see me waiting for the family to bring back food.

 

[fbarker]

It seems most people would prefer that they would not like to share their tables with strangers. That eating is their personal time and do not want strangers "invading" their personal space. It would be nice if all people would be sensitive to that but so many are blind to just thinking of themselves.

 

[Jangles]

It seems most people would prefer that they would not like to share their tables with strangers. That eating is their personal time and do not want strangers "invading" their personal space. It would be nice if all people would be sensitive to that but so many are blind to just thinking of themselves.

Surely the selfish people are those sitting at large tables, with many empty seats, who choose not to share the table? The ‘I’m alright, Jack’ mentality.

 

[Disneylover99]

It seems most people would prefer that they would not like to share their tables with strangers. That eating is their personal time and do not want strangers "invading" their personal space. It would be nice if all people would be sensitive to that but so many are blind to just thinking of themselves.

I think it works both ways. People who don’t want to share are also thinking of themselves.

 

[_19disnA]

I would never sit at someone else's table. I think it is rude to sit down at a table with strangers without asking permission. If a QS place is crowded, typically some of our party will look for an open table while others get the food. In the age of covid, I would also want to keep my personal space separate from those I don't know. I think an amusement park restaurant is different from a school cafeteria or business setting where you are more likely to have something in common with the other people. Even if the other party doesn't speak English, it is still rude to sit at someone else's table without asking permission.

Occasionally someone has asked to use the empty chairs from our table and I am fine with that. However, in those cases the other party asked if it was OK, they didn't just walk over and start taking what appear to be empty chairs.