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

[bellecat22]

So, now, IF you're at a Disney Counter Service restaurant when this procedure is in effect, one of you get the food, one of you get the napkins, and when the food is ready, BOTH/all of you approach the seating area and get directed to your choice of (apparently) a number of available tables.

I don't agree with this procedure, as such I will refuse to eat at a CS restaurant that implements it and will drop a note at City Hall or Guest Relations as I leave the park.

 

[kim]

Hi Bellecat22,

Sometimes we will enter thru the back/side door area. This time we had to walk around to the front of the building and come in. We exited on the front side too. Didn't notice anyone coming in or going out in that direction. ???

kim

 

[bellecat22]

Thanks Kim for your quick response!

 

[Talking Hands]

Speaking of the view from a wheelchair...give a kid in a wheelchair a disposable camera for their trip.

They see exactly what I see. Most 4th graders are taller then I am. I am a really short person. I qualify to join Little People of America.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I think this makes the idea of CS meals much more attractive. We usually eat all TS, just to avoid the chaos saving tables creates in the CS restaurants. I hate the whole "hovering to find a table" concept, & the crowd doing so creates. This new procedure makes it more like a TS experience. I really don't see why anyone who can dine at TS restaurants couldn't make the new procedure work for them. It sounds more like resisting change to me.

For those saying they won't be able to feed the baby, while they wait for their food, what do you do at home? Do you sit at the table feeding the baby, while your DH prepares & serves the food? If so, lucky you for having a DH willing to do that. If not, the new policy should be no different than what you're used to at home.

I'm also curious how waiting in an open area could be worse for those who can't handle crowds than waiting at a table is. It's always crazy in the dining area, when we're there. I'm sure they will work with those who need to be accommodated though. WDW is very good about that.

To those who are determined to give the Manager an earful before they've even experienced the new procedure, please don't do that in front of children. I don't want my child exposed to that, & I'm sure others don't either.

 

[kim]

Last Wednesday on the 4th, we were at MGM. We were headed over to the ABC Commissary to eat when a huge rainstorm hit. The tables/place was packed with people getting out of the rain, but not eating. We were walking around with our food trying to find a table. There were lots of people trying to find a place to sit with a tray full of food.

---just another observation from last week.


kim

 

[bayknox]

When I go to McDonald's or Burger King I never see whole families at the register ordering-there is no need for everyone to be crowding this area.
Why can't one person order the food-a place that is very chaotic already and crowded? There is no need for the entire party to be in the way. Let everyone else sit down at a table and wait for the food WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL?
I do not think this system will work at all-especially during very busy seasons! They would need a lot of CM's to police this area and prevent people from sitting down without food. I think this is just another bad idea on Disney's part-they have a lot recently.
Just my thoughts!

 

[kaytieeldr]

You are entitled to think or believe what you want - but Laugh O. Grams, and Mom2Evie, and kim, were THERE at exactly the time you think this won't work - and all three claim it works great.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

You are entitled to think or believe what you want - but Laugh O. Grams, and Mom2Evie, and kim, were THERE at exactly the time you think this won't work - and all three claim it works great.

Let's say for example they put this rule in at every counter service location. It will be a lot harder to maintain it because they would need a lot more Cast Members at every location. I think the reason why it's working now is because this is only being tested at Peco Bills and no where else. So it's easy to have something work when it's only being tested at one location.

 

[AdventurersClub]

Maybe it's just me but I don't understand why almost every post that says something against the new policy is being flamed for whatever reason. Everyone should be entitled to their opinion regardless to whether or not they for or against the concept. This thread is starting to turn into endless bickering back and forth.

What's wrong with it is that you would taking a table out of commission that could be used by someone else who is line before you or already has their food. Who possibly could eat and free up the table before you ever got your food. It's happened to us! And it a viscious circle that can only be corrected by management stepping in. So I hope they are doing it when we go in August.
NO ONE wants to be walking around with their food unable to find a table!! And by saving a table to prevent that happening to you, you may be dooming someone else who is unable to save a table to that fate.

There are more counter service resturants in the Magic Kingdom then there was ever a need for. PB is not the most popular resturant to cause such traffic that there would be a huge problem. People go to the Magic Kingdom to have fun, I can't picture anyone more concerned about where they will find a table at a counter service resturant then having fun on their trip. This is an experimental idea and probably won't work. As asianway said, why would Disney pay people to guard tables when there is no greater potential profit? The concept sounds good in a perfect world but I don't see this ever happening on a permanent basis. What about non-english speaking guests, the policy may not be clear to them which is another potential problem. My opinion on this is, if you want to go through this much hassle about seating, dine at the Plaza or Tony's to me this whole concept does not sound like it will be problem free. To me I am not going to worry about table saving and what not on my vacation, I'm going to worry about having fun. If one place looks crowded I will find somewhere else to dine, bottom line, how I do think this will be a nice concept I don't see it lasting for an extended period of time due to cost to staff and guests following the rule. PB used to be a buffet too, it seems to be the main place for testing new ideas, some work and some don't. I hope if nothing else counter service resturants attemt to be cleaner then I've seen lately at various locations before they attempt to formalize seating.

Just my opinion (not trying to offend anyone).

 

[bayknox]

I agree with CR resort Fan 4 Life- it would require too many CM's at each CS location to work effectively. I do not think Disney would make that much of an effort in regards to this matter. There is too many CS locations in all of their parks to do this at even if it is just during busy times!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I agree with CR resort Fan 4 Life- it would require too many CM's at each CS location to work effectively. I do not think Disney would make that much of an effort in regards to this matter. There is too many CS locations in all of their parks to do this at even if it is just during busy times!

Thank you for agreeing with me and seeing it the way I do.

 

[kparc]

I don't know about any of you but when I'm on vacation, I like to sit for more than 10 minutes and shove the food down my throat and run back out into the 100 degree heat.

I also don't like to walk around with my tray of food, which is why we have always done the, one person order, one person get the napkins and table routine.

Sounds like some people have just eaten a few too many cold french fries for their liking.

Oh, for the people who have been to PB's, I still would like to know what has happened to those back doors in the seating area? Also, are the outdoor tables blocked off too? I wouldn't want to be one of the groups sent out there back into the summer heat.

That's my point ~Who does?!
It's sounds to me like this is what disney is trying to prevent! No one, not you, or the others who can't have an extra person hold a table, should have to eat cold food or eat standing up. And that is why I'm glad Disney is try a system to make tables available for those people who already have their food!

 

[Mom2Evie]

I can't tell you guys how much we appreciated this new policy. I want to encourage you all to give it a fair shot before you diss it. SEE how well it works. If it doesn't then I understand your desire to complain and fix the problem. We were happy enough that we thanked the CMs working the dining room. It made getting our lunch so much less stressful and much more enjoyable.

I know many of you are concerned about being rushed to leave when you're finished, having an infant in arms or a disability and having to wait to be seated, but I saw none of that. Never once did I notice someone being encouraged to leave after finishing their meal. I have a sister that walks with a cane and often uses a mobility device and I've been to Disney with small children, so I'm pretty aware of those around me. I did see those people being allowed to grab a table. I doubt the CM would require you to have every little bit of food on a tray before grabbing a table. The CM would notice a person with a tray of food, ask them 'how many?' and then steer them toward a section of the dining room. What I saw was the CMs using common sense and keeping things flowing.

The CMs letting people have a table when they have a tray of food in their hand really works. I commented earlier in the string about people holding tables for 20 minutes without having food. Many of you disagreed with that time frame. I'm really AR about this kind of thing. I time my commute to and from work each day, how long it takes me to get ready, etc., almost to compulsion. If I'd sat at and held a table when we walked into Tusker House 18 months ago, while my husband went to get food, I would have been there for 20 minutes exactly without food.

Now, think of how long you take to eat and add the time the average person sits at the table catching their breath, bracing themselves to head back out into the park. That could be anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes, right? Now add to that time how long you've stood there waiting for a table to free up, people refusing to make eye contact with you for fear you'll ask for a chair..... That can be another 5 to 10 minutes if it's busy. By eliminating that wait time with food, the restaurants naturally clear out faster, its makes the dining room a more efficient machine. That's 10+ minutes longer I'm out enjoying the park.

 

[kparc]

I really don't get all the fuss about them testing this new policy! I certainly wasn't flaming anyone like someone claimed. Someone asked what was wrong with saving table and I replied. And I will say it again.
No one wants to eat a cold lunch or eat standing up ( thats the reason a lot of people give for grabbng a table early) and people who are unable to stake out a table are just as entitled to that hot lunch as everyone else. It seems to me that Disney is just trying to make that possible by making finding a table less of a hassle for all their guests. Its the people who don't like the procedure their testing who I think are overreacting. Boy if you don't want to eat a restaurant because you won't have to worry about rushing to save a table or wandering around searching for an available table because a CM will direct you to available tables instead then Whatever! More tables for me to choose from!!

 

[elan]

No, no time limits.

I made mention earlier in this very thread that although the majority of guests are more interested in getting right back out into the park after eating, after my wife and I finished our meal and I took our trays to the garbage, we took about 10 minutes feeding our infant daughter before we left. As far as I could tell, there is absolutely no pressure at all to get out once you've purchased your meal...

But what is the difference of you using the table for 10 minutes after your meal and some people using the table 10 minutes before their meal?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

But what is the difference of you using the table for 10 minutes after your meal and some people using the table 10 minutes before their meal?

I agree because if guests are still sitting there after they eat, that means there is one less free table. Since the Cast Members are not going to kick anyone away out then what's the point of this rule if it's meant to free up more tables at a faster pace? In my opinion it sounds like WDW has no answer for people who stay after their meal is done, which they are allowed to do and is why this rule will not be in place at the other counter service locations.

 

[apostolic4life]

...about the primary thing driving most people (self included) towards table squatting; we live in a "me first" society and "getting my table before them" (be honest, who has seen a whole family in line and thought 'quick, grab that table and I'll get the food') is the CS mantra that rules WDW. I am guilty of this very thing and I am sure many of you are too.

This policy makes us all behave like we should and cuts out the chaos of the beast which is WDW CS dining. Yes, the policy is only in limited test runs right now and may never be wide-spread, but I think it could cut down on frustrations associated with CS venues.

 

[Sammie]

Whether I get a table before my food comes, as I am the table provider, others in the group provide the food, I am going to be at the table the same length of time, so not sure how this is going to improve table turnover.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

I'll be as clear as I can be about this.

If a CM tells my wife and children they can't find a table and sit down while I order the food, I will be angry and I will complain to a manager. There's no way that I could possibly be "pleasantly surprised" if the policy is in effect when I'm there. Two of my three children have non-obvious (i.e., not visible at first glance) special needs. They will be allowed to enter the seating area and get situated or the manager will get an earful.

David

oh come on now....the cms are doing what their "manager" is telling them to do...and the manager is told from above him and so on and so forth...so what makes anyone think that by telling a manager that its going to change anything? if the cms werent being told they HAVE to do this then they wouldnt be there in the first place....