Wait your turn!! New seating rules for CS restaurants at WDW...

[graygables]

Am I correct that only one person reported that they experienced it and yet we've had 16 pages of reaction to this "change"? And several people have posted that they were there recently and didn't experience this "change". You know, maybe it was just something that was just being tried out one time, never to be seen or heard from again-except for the 16 pages. I'd really like to see how a few more people experience it working before I get all upset.

I was upset *before* I "experienced" the updated kids menus, too, and with very good reason. I called WDW beforehand and spoke with people who told me how to address my concerns once we were in the park. Sure enough, the menus did NOT work (just as I thought) and I had to fuss with managers several times through the trip b/c of it.

As David said earlier, you do NOT have to "experience" something to have an idea how it will impact your family. I do not have to experience this to know that it simply will not do. I also agree that I should not have to flash my GAC, which, no matter how subtle you are, you are still sending a message to a child that she is somehow "not normal", not to mention the inevitable looks and comments that will garner.

And, about the CMs getting paid enough to care...MANY of the CMs are young college students making a pittance and paying a LOT of that right back to WDW for their housing. Most are put out into the fray with very little training, they work long hours, and are minutes away from being sent home. A guest complaint and you can be out. Don't pick up your room and you can be out. If your roommate screws up, you can be out. It's over their heads ALL the time. CPers are going to do their very best to avoid a negative guest confrontation, esp when WDW doesn't stand behind Tigger when he has to deal with a punk. (BTW, I have one full-time WDW CM, former CPer DD, and one currently doing her CP, so I know the worry they live in)

When I address the situation with the manager, the CM will be the last person I speak ill of, they are just doing whatever some ill-advised uppity up told them to do, but the managers DO need to hear when it doesn't work.

 

[kim]

Hi Laugh O Grams!

I haven't read this entire thread, but we were at Pecos Bills yesterday too!!! It was very busy and our usual routine is dh orders the food, I find a table and then he finds me with the food. We were scared that we would get food and not have anywhere to sit because they wouldn't allow you back there to look. The CM's were very nice. We chanced it and went ahead and bought food. There was LOTS of people there, but there were tables available too. It all worked out fine.

Those CM's will have a tough job I'm sure, but I did see several management personnel walking around too.

kim

 

[eemmie1]

I was upset *before* I "experienced" the updated kids menus, too, and with very good reason. I called WDW beforehand and spoke with people who told me how to address my concerns once we were in the park. Sure enough, the menus did NOT work (just as I thought) and I had to fuss with managers several times through the trip b/c of it.


I think the point was that people are not even sure this will happen at every CS restaurant if at all in the future. If I saw a menu change that I did not like that I knew was happening I would be upset also. I think allot of people are getting quite worked up about something that they might not even encounter.

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

Am I correct that only one person reported that they experienced it and yet we've had 16 pages of reaction to this "change"? And several people have posted that they were there recently and didn't experience this "change". You know, maybe it was just something that was just being tried out one time, never to be seen or heard from again-except for the 16 pages. I'd really like to see how a few more people experience it working before I get all upset.

I am with you, seems kinda strange to say the least - so are the "rumours" of "no more tips included on DDP" that some have touted as facts when they are not.- Just a thought - we should not get uptight about some things we read on these boards. Some people just like to start threads and sit back and watch the reactions of posters who jump on everything as if it is a fact of life in WDW. I hope this is not the case here. Take it all with a grain of salt, not proven facts...

 

[BethR]

Hi Laugh O Grams!

I haven't read this entire thread, but we were at Pecos Bills yesterday too!!! It was very busy and our usual routine is dh orders the food, I find a table and then he finds me with the food. We were scared that we would get food and not have anywhere to sit because they wouldn't allow you back there to look. The CM's were very nice. We chanced it and went ahead and bought food. There was LOTS of people there, but there were tables available too. It all worked out fine.

Those CM's will have a tough job I'm sure, but I did see several management personnel walking around too.

kim

Nice to read another positive review from someone who has actually experienced this.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I am thinking to myself if WDW always seems to have problems with guests saving spots for the parades, because once in a while I see threads about that subject. So I am wondering how did table saving ever become a huge problem, since no one ever really posted about it?

 

[apostolic4life]

Most of the posts here have been by people who are hoping this policy doesn't become widespread or permanent. Now many who have repeatedly posted in opposition to the policy (still not a solid policy per se, just being tested) on this very thread are referencing how ridiculously long the thread has become..........now that is funny!!!!!

If it becomes permanent and widespread, all of us will have to deal with it; if it fizzles out after a test period, all of us will have to deal with it. Life goes on. In the end, WDW will do what is best for WDW but they will attempt to make us believe everything is done expressly to make us all happier. I for one will buy into the magic and continue with my Mickey Mouse Rose Colored Glasses and enjoy it anyway!!!

 

[kimbac3]

My concern is that Dh pushes me in my wheelchair. Now think about this from my point of view. My kids can and do help what they can but none of them can really push the chair especially through crowds. Also some of the "lines" are too tight for a wheelchair so I'm going to assume special attention will be paid to those of us with disabilities. Hopefully more people will report back with experiences from other counter service places too.

Kimba

 

[Colleen27]

When you go with your family to your local McDonald's (unless it's in DTD) and it's not busy you aren't likely to see tables occupied by people holding down a table so someone else doesn't get it first. Families wait en masse in front of the registers all of the time at their local burger joint... but somehow we're supposed to think it's an undo burden when at WDW. When many of these same families go to WDW, the first thing said to their spouse and younger kids is "Go get a table!" That's because they know that a clean table that'll seat a family of five at WDW is a rare thing. It's a reflex. Getting rid of the #2 problem at WDW CS restaurants will be a big winner for most people. For others it will be a minor inconvenience that will be partly offset by the realization that they won't have to worry about being stuck in a table-wait holding pattern.

Am I really the only one who does this in the real world too? We usually split up so that one adult orders while the other gets the kids settled at the table, even at an empty McDs. It is more habit than anything now, but when the kids were little it served a purpose - if I had the kids at the table for 10 minutes before the food arrived, I could nurse or feed some baby food and still be able to eat my food when it was hot. If we all sat down together with the food, my meal would sit and get cold while I got the littles set up and fed. I really would have hated having to stand around doing nothing with my time until the food was ready, knowing that from the time we hit the table until I was able to eat would be 10-15 minutes. Counter service type foods just aren't good once the grease starts to congeal.

 

[apostolic4life]

Am I really the only one who does this in the real world too? We usually split up so that one adult orders while the other gets the kids settled at the table, even at an empty McDs. It is more habit than anything now, but when the kids were little it served a purpose - if I had the kids at the table for 10 minutes before the food arrived, I could nurse or feed some baby food and still be able to eat my food when it was hot. If we all sat down together with the food, my meal would sit and get cold while I got the littles set up and fed. I really would have hated having to stand around doing nothing with my time until the food was ready, knowing that from the time we hit the table until I was able to eat would be 10-15 minutes. Counter service type foods just aren't good once the grease starts to congeal.

We do this too. When you have little ones to deal with it just makes sense for one of us to grab a table and the other one gets the food. McD's, Wendy's, Burger King, any fast food place we go to; it just makes the visit smoother!

 

[eeyoresnr]

Plane fare for a family of four: $850
Hotel Room for seven days: $2875
Park tickets for four people for: $528
A 16 page thread on a test procedure for a counter service resturant: Priceless

 

[Bunchkin]

I'm all for improvement!!!

 

[Geoff_M]

I was upset *before* I "experienced" the updated kids menus, too, and with very good reason.

There's a difference between what you are describing and the situation here. Here the concerned predictions expressed by the people that have not experienced the procedure in action have been roundly contradicted by those that have actually experienced it. It sort of like this:

Person A: "I just got back from a trip to the store. It's pretty nice outside."
Person B: "I'm not so sure... They predicted rain for today and I think I just heard thunder."
Person A: "No, really. I was just outside and the sun is shining."
Person B: "Well, it sounds like it's really windy outside too."
Person A: "It's calm. You can trust me. I didn't see any rain or wind. It's fine out! Check it out for yourself and see!"
Person B: "Look, I read the weather report last night and I heard something. I don't need to go outside myself to know it's raining and windy! I can just tell that I'll get wet and have my hat blown away if I step outside."

I am thinking to myself if WDW always seems to have problems with guests saving spots for the parades, because once in a while I see threads about that subject.

People saving seats for a parade isn't a problem for Disney... Having to run a restaurant that's bogged down with people trying to find a place to sit is.

Am I really the only one who does this in the real world too? We usually split up so that one adult orders while the other gets the kids settled at the table, even at an empty McDs. It is more habit than anything now, but when the kids were little it served a purpose - if I had the kids at the table for 10 minutes before the food arrived, I could nurse or feed some baby food and still be able to eat my food when it was hot.

What you are describing isn't the scenario I mention in the paragraph of mine you quoted. From what you said, it doesn't sound like your intent is to hold a table primarily so another family doesn't get it first. IIRC, one person stated that it appeared that people with special needs (and I think they'd include nursing mothers, etc., in that category) were allowed into the dining area in advance. You aren't describing the sort of behavior that is at the root of the problem.

 

[kimbac3]

Am I really the only one who does this in the real world too? We usually split up so that one adult orders while the other gets the kids settled at the table, even at an empty McDs. It is more habit than anything now, but when the kids were little it served a purpose - if I had the kids at the table for 10 minutes before the food arrived, I could nurse or feed some baby food and still be able to eat my food when it was hot. If we all sat down together with the food, my meal would sit and get cold while I got the littles set up and fed. I really would have hated having to stand around doing nothing with my time until the food was ready, knowing that from the time we hit the table until I was able to eat would be 10-15 minutes. Counter service type foods just aren't good once the grease starts to congeal.

We do it too. Just did it tonight at Chik Fil A at the mall!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

People saving seats for a parade isn't a problem for Disney... Having to run a restaurant that's bogged down with people trying to find a place to sit is.

But how many times do people claim their kids were pushed out of the way and etc in a spot they had for the parade, therefore other guests were trying to steal their spot which they got before anyone else did. I don't think that happens at counter service locations because I have never read or heard of people pushing others away from tables, they got fair and square before anyone else did.

 

[Colleen27]

Does anyone wonder if this may be an attempt to stop the abuse of the dining plan for those who try to order adult meals for their children. Maybe people wouldn't try to do it if they knew people were watching them & waiting to escort them to a table?

That occured to me too. What better way to make sure Mom isn't in one line getting 2 adult meals while Dad is in another line getting two adult meals than creating a seating policy that will make that sort of tactic obvious to the CMs monitoring seating?

 

[srdipert]

That occured to me too. What better way to make sure Mom isn't in one line getting 2 adult meals while Dad is in another line getting two adult meals than creating a seating policy that will make that sort of tactic obvious to the CMs monitoring seating?

Actually the new policy would work better for the said family above. Once they both get out of the line they can have a table. I am sure the CMs directing them to the table are not going to check their receipts to see if they used the dining plan or just paid OOP for adult meals for the children.

We do not go during peak times so hopefully it will not be a problem for us. But I always sit down to nurse the youngest before the food comes. And for the person who said to get the baby on a different eating schedule must have never had a nursing child before because mine always want to nurse when we are eating no matter if they just nursed 30 mins before.

 

[Geoff_M]

But how many times do people claim their kids were pushed out of the way and etc in a spot they had for the parade, therefore other guests were trying to steal their spot which they got before anyone else did. I don't think that happens at counter service locations because I have never read or heard of people pushing others away from tables, they got fair and square before anyone else did.

I look at that analogy and all I can honestly think is "Wow...." I don't even know where to begin. You truly lost me.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

That occured to me too. What better way to make sure Mom isn't in one line getting 2 adult meals while Dad is in another line getting two adult meals than creating a seating policy that will make that sort of tactic obvious to the CMs monitoring seating?

Since my family and I have never purchased the DDP, I need to ask is that a thing you're really not allowed to do?

Personally I don't see it as the reason for this test run at Peco Bills, because what about the guests who share the DDP at Table Service locations?

 

[Colleen27]

Actually the new policy would work better for the said family above. Once they both get out of the line they can have a table.

Which is fine unless the two lines take different amounts of time, in which case one is standing around with cooling food waiting for the other... I would think that would be an issue not only for those bending the dining plan rules but also for people eating at counter service locations that offer different lines that feature different menus, like Cosmic Rays (? - I think I'm remembering the right name...), if this sort of procedure does become the standard at the World.

BTW, my kids were the same way. They wanted to eat when we ate, from the time they were a couple months old. Schedules didn't mean much either, especially when we were travelling and the rest of their routines were already upset. The only thing that worked for us was to feed them immediately before the meal, and then give some sort of age appropriate self-feed item to amuse them while we ate.