Sharing Tables at Counter Service Restaurants

[Jangles]

Not Disney but years ago when I was living in the UK this happened at a sit down (not QS restaurant) to me and my spouse. It was just the two of us and we were seated at a booth that might seat four if you knew the other two people really well; we were deep into a private conversation when someone came by and asked if they could sit with us and we were so caught off guard that we agreed; they then brought three other people with them so my spouse and I were squished into the wall on either side with four other adults. We ended up getting up and standing in the middle of the (small) restaurant for awhile while we waited for another table to open.

Was it a restaurant or a pub that served food? I only ask because it is quite common to table share in busy pubs in the U.K.

 

[tetera]

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[B-Ride]

If, for example, two people have chosen to sit at a table for 6 or more, I would politely ask whether they would mind if we joined them and think them extraordinarily rude and selfish if they refused. Maybe it is a British thing.

Agreed but then I am Canadian and we are even more polite than Brits.

 

[Free Water]

We saw this happen last summer. We were standing in front of Casey's waiting for the fireworks. The whole sordid affair unfolded in front of us. Admittedly it was a a busy place at a busy time. But this episode was pretty rude, even for Disney World.

There was a woman holding one of those small high top cafe tables for her husband and kids. They were getting their food. This other lady came up, and without asking, plopped her stuff on the table. The first woman explained that she was waiting for her family who were getting food. The other woman drew an imaginary line across the table and said, "we'll just take this part. Sharing is caring." The first lady was speechless. We audibly gasped. Only it was really loud so the plopper didn't hear us.

The two women stood there silently waiting. And we were about 3 feet behind them watching. It was awkward as heck!

I'm all for sharing under those circumstances, but it's not for the plopper to tell the first lady "sharing is caring." She should have asked. And then the other lady could have said yes or no. But to walk up to someone, take half their table and tell them they have to share with you is entitled, narcissistic, and rude.

It occurred to me that I could walk over to the plopper and take one of her corndog nuggets and then tell her "sharing is caring." I didn't of course. But by her own rules I could have.

This isn't a question of whether squatting is right or fair. The fact is, even though the first lady was squatting, so was the plopper! She was also trying to find a table while her husband was getting food. But she was rude and wrong.

 

[LiDa]

If, for example, two people have chosen to sit at a table for 6 or more, I would politely ask whether they would mind if we joined them and think them extraordinarily rude and selfish if they refused. Maybe it is a British thing.

I think if it's 2 people at a table of 6 they need to expect someone will need the other seats. At least I hope they would!

 

[LiDa]

We saw this happen last summer. We were standing in front of Casey's waiting for the fireworks. The whole sordid affair unfolded in front of us. Admittedly it was a a busy place at a busy time. But this episode was pretty rude, even for Disney World.

There was a woman holding one of those small high top cafe tables for her husband and kids. They were getting their food. This other lady came up, and without asking, plopped her stuff on the table. The first woman explained that she was waiting for her family who were getting food. The other woman drew an imaginary line across the table and said, "we'll just take this part. Sharing is caring." The first lady was speechless. We audibly gasped. Only it was really loud so the plopper didn't hear us.

The two women stood there silently waiting. And we were about 3 feet behind them watching. It was awkward as heck!

I'm all for sharing under those circumstances, but it's not for the plopper to tell the first lady "sharing is caring." She should have asked. And then the other lady could have said yes or no. But to walk up to someone, take half their table and tell them they have to share with you is entitled, narcissistic, and rude.

It occurred to me that I could walk over to the plopper and take one of her corndog nuggets and then tell her "sharing is caring." I didn't of course. But by her own rules I could have.

This isn't a question of whether squatting is right or fair. The fact is, even though the first lady was squatting, so was the plopper! She was also trying to find a table while her husband was getting food. But she was rude and wrong.

It can be irritating when someone "holds" a table, but it's also sometimes necessary. But, if someone encroached like the 2nd woman did -- & so rudely -- I wouldn't want to eat my meal by that person. It's creepy & a little scary! It's like when someone was stading right up against you on a checkoout line during the worst of COVID. I used to say (it happened a few times!), "It's obviously more important to you than me. Please go ahead." With apologies to Miss Manners for meeting rudeness with rudeness.

 

[Pink Partridge]

If you want to sit with my crazy family, please do so. If you stay more than 5 minutes, you are either brave or now one of us!

 

[kylenne]

We saw this happen last summer. We were standing in front of Casey's waiting for the fireworks. The whole sordid affair unfolded in front of us. Admittedly it was a a busy place at a busy time. But this episode was pretty rude, even for Disney World.

There was a woman holding one of those small high top cafe tables for her husband and kids. They were getting their food. This other lady came up, and without asking, plopped her stuff on the table. The first woman explained that she was waiting for her family who were getting food. The other woman drew an imaginary line across the table and said, "we'll just take this part. Sharing is caring." The first lady was speechless. We audibly gasped. Only it was really loud so the plopper didn't hear us.

The two women stood there silently waiting. And we were about 3 feet behind them watching. It was awkward as heck!

I'm all for sharing under those circumstances, but it's not for the plopper to tell the first lady "sharing is caring." She should have asked. And then the other lady could have said yes or no. But to walk up to someone, take half their table and tell them they have to share with you is entitled, narcissistic, and rude.

It occurred to me that I could walk over to the plopper and take one of her corndog nuggets and then tell her "sharing is caring." I didn't of course. But by her own rules I could have.

This isn't a question of whether squatting is right or fair. The fact is, even though the first lady was squatting, so was the plopper! She was also trying to find a table while her husband was getting food. But she was rude and wrong.

The pandemic has made people insane I swear. No one knows how to act in public anymore

As a frequent solo guest, going with at most 1 other person, I don't mind folks coming up to ask to take a chair or sit down with me. But generally people ask politely first! The high top tables at Epcot festivals are standing only but tend to be in short supply and more than once I've had another solo guest or a couple ask to share. Usually it ends up with a nice conversation about the food or things at the parks.

 

[Boopuff]

I liked the system where you couldn't sit until you had food, and CMs would turn people away from saving. I tend to eat at the larger QS locations. Just easier. Our only odd table story happened at Tortola Tavern. We had an outside seat along the wall. A parade was coming through. Our spot was sorta underground but as adults we could just see the parade. A kid (from out of nowhere) tried to squeeze in between our table and stand on the edge of MY CHAIR to see the parade! I got my firm mom voice and told him to go back to his family! His mom just stood there...honestly some people...

 

[maxiesmom]

I have no problem sharing, but it is polite to ask and not just plunk down. Twice I've been at WDW with my dad, and he will talk to anyone no problem. We have had people offer to let us sit at their table, and we have offered to have people sit at our table. I think it is an American thing to think no one will sit next to you if you have extra space.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

The pandemic has made people insane I swear. No one knows how to act in public anymore

As a frequent solo guest, going with at most 1 other person, I don't mind folks coming up to ask to take a chair or sit down with me. But generally people ask politely first! The high top tables at Epcot festivals are standing only but tend to be in short supply and more than once I've had another solo guest or a couple ask to share. Usually it ends up with a nice conversation about the food or things at the parks.

Absolutely. Thanks - you saved me a lot of typing! How we acted pre-pandemic is way different than post. I think we're still struggling to get back a more social society again. Hopefully, we'll get there......

 

[kylenne]

I liked the system where you couldn't sit until you had food, and CMs would turn people away from saving. I tend to eat at the larger QS locations. Just easier. Our only odd table story happened at Tortola Tavern. We had an outside seat along the wall. A parade was coming through. Our spot was sorta underground but as adults we could just see the parade. A kid (from out of nowhere) tried to squeeze in between our table and stand on the edge of MY CHAIR to see the parade! I got my firm mom voice and told him to go back to his family! His mom just stood there...honestly some people...

I miss when they wouldn't let you sit until you got food. I've only eaten at Woody's Lunchbox a handful of times despite loving the food because I can't deal with the Hunger Games trying to get tables. During the social distancing etc it was fantastic because they wouldn't even let people into the area unless they had a mobile order. Was the most peaceful time I ever had eating there lol

 

[DoryGirl1963]

I miss when they wouldn't let you sit until you got food. I've only eaten at Woody's Lunchbox a handful of times despite loving the food because I can't deal with the Hunger Games trying to get tables. During the social distancing etc it was fantastic because they wouldn't even let people into the area unless they had a mobile order. Was the most peaceful time I ever had eating there lol

Agree completely - "no food - no table" provides a much better experience.

 

[Free Water]

It can be irritating when someone "holds" a table, but it's also sometimes necessary. But, if someone encroached like the 2nd woman did -- & so rudely -- I wouldn't want to eat my meal by that person. It's creepy & a little scary! It's like when someone was stading right up against you on a checkoout line during the worst of COVID. I used to say (it happened a few times!), "It's obviously more important to you than me. Please go ahead." With apologies to Miss Manners for meeting rudeness with rudeness.

I agree with you. More often than not, there's no need to squat at a table. But there are other times, for instance, at Casey's just before the fireworks, it's smart strategy, and perhaps necessary. And I didn't fault the first lady at all.

When the whole thing was unfolding, I tried to figure out how we would have responded if the plopper tried that with us. And I don't think she could have. In the instances when we feel compelled to "snag a table," we split up so half of us are the table. I think that naturally discourages people from plopping.

I will also say that we're not jackwaggons. If we see someone walking around with a tray of food, we'll invite them to join us, or we'll hurry along and give up the table. We really like the bakery in France for afternoon snacks (ham and cheese croissants are the best bargain on property). There's only maybe 6 or 8 tables in there. Frequently, we'll end up only one half of a table so that we can give up the other side to another family.

If everyone just treated each other the way they want to be treated at Disney as in life, the system works.

 

[Free Water]

But generally people ask politely first!

All the difference in the world, right? If the plopper had asked, the other lady may have welcomed her.

 

[serenitynow]

I usually try to make eye contact with someone carrying a tray if we are finishing up.

Casey’s is a tough spot to snag a table. I wish they would bag the food instead of using those trays. Then you could travel to another area and picnic it. There are always open tables across the ”street” at Tomorrowland Terrace.

 

[magik]

If everyone just treated each other the way they want to be treated at Disney as in life, the system works.

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.

 

[WEDWDW]

No problem sharing-I even shared my trash can once on a super busy day at Food & Wine!lol

 

[kylenne]

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 it's a bit more helpful to frame it as practicing kindness and patience more than the golden rule tbh. I'm an introvert too, a neurodivergent one at that, and I absolutely prefer having my own space and try to plan for that as much as possible since I go solo more often than not (big group trips are my worst nightmare!). I would never ask to sit with anyone's group if I had a choice and the most fun I have ever had on attractions was having ride vehicles to myself (this has happened on Pirates, MFSR and even Tower of Terror one very memorable rope drop morning). I would never do a Biergarten or Teppan Edo on a solo trip. But I also accept the reality that these parks are built mostly for small to large groups, and sometimes no matter how I plan, it's crowded and these situations are unavoidable. Would I prefer they didn't? Absolutely, but it's not the end of the world if someone decides to sit with me, if they're polite about asking.

I have to say though, I can count on one hand the times it's happened, and each time it was another couple, usually older locals at Epcot festivals like I said. I get a little worn out by the social interaction and need to recharge afterwards, but I've never felt awkward or irritated--to the contrary, I've enjoyed the conversations and met some interesting people. But 99% of the time people just ask if I'm using the extra chairs. I find that the vast majority of people don't want to share tables with people outside their group any more than we do, plopper notwithstanding.

 

[FSU Girl]

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