Sharing Tables at Counter Service Restaurants

[gmi3804]

We're usually a part of two, and we've more often been asked if we can spare one of the empty chairs at the table. Of course. And we wouldn't mind sharing the table either. We did that at Creature Comforts last months and chatted with the nicest people.

 

[Free Water]

If only we all wanted to be treated the same way…

Count me among those who absolutely do not want strangers sharing my table. I would never ask someone to join them at their table, and I would rather no one ask me to join mine. I’m a hardcore introvert and while I am eating, I need my bubble of space to “introvert”, at least as much of a bubble of space as one can get at WDW. I am generally traveling in only a group of 2, so we are often sitting at a 4-person table because that’s mostly what is available. I don’t mind if people ask to take a chair, but please don’t sit next to me.

That being said, I fully understand that there are many people who feel exactly the opposite of me, maybe even most people, so I keep my counter service dining at WDW to a minimum and when I do eat counter service try to go at off-peak times to avoid the situation all together and stick to table service at restaurants without shared tables. No Teppan Edo or Biergarten or Sci Fi unless traveling in a big enough party to fill up a table ourselves.

I think we just said the same thing. You want to be left alone, so you leave people alone. You treat people the way you want to be treated. We don't have to all be treated the same way, we just have to treat all people the way we want to be treated. Kylenne said kindness. None of us wants to be treated rudely or disrespectfully. I'm only responding to make it clear I wasn't suggesting we should all want the same things. My point was, and is, and remains, if you treat people the way you want to be treated, you're treating people with love and respect.

 

[Moliphino]

I think we just said the same thing. You want to be left alone, so you leave people alone. You treat people the way you want to be treated. We don't have to all be treated the same way, we just have to treat all people the way we want to be treated. Kylenne said kindness. None of us wants to be treated rudely or disrespectfully. I'm only responding to make it clear I wasn't suggesting we should all want the same things. My point was, and is, and remains, if you treat people the way you want to be treated, you're treating people with love and respect.

But if I treat someone the way I want to be treated they might think I'm rude (introvert, prefer to be left alone). And that can go both ways, I can't say I'd enjoy being treated the way an extrovert wants to be treated.

 

[Beer Me]

I’ve never experienced someone sitting with us. I have had people ask if an empty chair at our table could be used at their table. We don’t eat at many quick services so not many opportunities for it to happen I guess

It’s not common. I’ve never had anyone ask me and never asked anyone else.

I saw it happen at Busch gardens last year. It was an outdoor seating area for quick service and a family was taking up 1 1/2 tables. Basically too big for one table so a couple of them were sitting at the next table. A woman who was by herself asked if she could sit at the empty half of the table and they said no. Honestly I thought it was rude. There was plenty of room and she wouldn’t have been on top of them at all.

 

[ttintagel]

I've had people ask if they could share, and I've always said yes. I've even invited people to share when it looked like they were having trouble finding a place. I've never had anybody just plop down without asking. I don't think I'd say anything if they did, but I'd certainly give them the side-eye.

 

[MinnieMSue]

I am a hard core introvert and so is my daughter. We are pretty much always a party of 2. But if there are no empty tables and someone has a tray of food I will always let them sit at my table and even offer it to them because it sucks having a tray of food go cold while people are playing hunger games to find spots. It is just the right thing to do which does trump my comfort. If we are alone I stay seated until I see a mom or someone with a couple of kids and their food and specifically offer it to them over people without food looking for a spot. I have a huge pet peeve over people taking tables with no food. I don’t care what their excuse is.

 

[gmi3804]

My point was, and is, and remains, if you treat people the way you want to be treated, you're treating people with love and respect.

I cringe whenever I hear that "golden rule" nonsense. It's really a just a big crock. Instead, we should strive to treat people the way they want to be treated. That shows love, respect, and probably most importantly, empathy.

 

[Free Water]

I cringe whenever I hear that "golden rule" nonsense. It's really a just a big crock. Instead, we should strive to treat people the way they want to be treated. That shows love, respect, and probably most importantly, empathy.

Then practice what you preach. It's pretty obvious from my posts that I strive to live by the Golden Rule. Which you dismissed as "nonsense." If you're striving to treat people the way they want to be treated, I can't imagine you think I want my faith to be reduced to "a big crock."

Even so, I hope your day gets better. You intentionally went out of you way to attack a person who is striving to treat people with respect. What an odd choice.

 

[gmi3804]

Then practice what you preach. It's pretty obvious from my posts that I strive to live by the Golden Rule. Which you dismissed as "nonsense." If you're striving to treat people the way they want to be treated, I can't imagine you think I want my faith to be reduced to "a big crock."

Even so, I hope your day gets better. You intentionally went out of you way to attack a person who is striving to treat people with respect. What an odd choice.

Whoa, nelly, calm down! It’s not about you; I don’t know you, or what you've written previously. I’m questioning the motives of the sentiment in general.

 

[Trap]

just be nice i try to be nice and most of the time i get nice back if i do not i just think so rude it must suck going though life like that

 

[maxiesmom]

I cringe whenever I hear that "golden rule" nonsense. It's really a just a big crock. Instead, we should strive to treat people the way they want to be treated. That shows love, respect, and probably most importantly, empathy.

And how am I supposed to know how a stranger at a table wants to be treated? Heck I don't wanted to be treated the same all day every day. I think the point is that no matter what you do, offer a spot or refuse someone a spot, do so in a decent manner. No matter what there is no need to be nasty.

 

[brockash]

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.

I would never and would never want someone to sit at our table. I'll give them the chair if they need it, but definitely don't want to share my space with strangers.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I apologize if it's already mentioned among all the posts here, but we have found the 'share' situation to be a bit more open for us during the festivals at EPCOT - mostly due to the lack of tables around the festivals. But that's literally for 10 minutes max while snacking or drinking. Not sitting at the same table for an entire meal. And talk about people saving tables for someone in line.....!