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

[Princess Stitch]

This sounds like an absolute nightmare to me. I don't believe any guests would enjoy standing in line with my 3 children or (worse) tired/grouchy in-laws.

Oh goodness! Well then I certainly hope that you won't be taking them into any ride lines either, where they'll likely have to wait much longer then they would to get food...

ITA with you here. People are inherently selfish and that's not always a bad thing. I think that maybe it is magnified because of the location. I have always been that person who will give my seat to a pregnant woman, a woman with a child or children younger than mine, and an older woman or man who needs to sit more than I do. This is why I'm a little nervous about our upcoming trip.
Has it really gotten as bad as some ppl say that they have to walk around with trays and ppl who are not eating won't get up? Say it ain't so.

Oh it's so. It's sad too. I'll never linger at a table if the restaurant is busy. If I need to sit for a little longer after a meal (as I have some invisible problems) I usually fing a bench outside somewhere. I think the pregnant lady and the woman with the child would be the lucky ones though. There are plenty of people who might need a seat but don't look like they do, and no one will ever stand for them....

It's true though, the biggest problem with this whole system is that people are selfish. I don't think anyone would look badly on a famly with small children taking a seat early, or someone with a wheelchair. The problem comes when people do it "because I'm tired" or "because my feet hurt" or "I just want to rest". I do understand that we can't judge why a person is sitting at a table or not, and it's their right not to have to explain the reason. If people worried less about what everyone else was doing and just stood and waited if they were capable, then there probably wouldn't be an issue here.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I am just a little nervous now about whether we should or shouldn't hold a table when we go.

If Disney is not controlling the seating at whatever CS restaurant you visit, it's apparently acceptable to them that tables are 'held' by Guests not yet eating.

Say it ain't so.

It's so There was a poll here a few weeks ago (and, apparently, a couple of years ago, what with DIStory tending to repeat itself ) indicating that the VAST majority of DISers feel it's acceptable. There are times when Guests unaware of the practice, or not in a position to hold a table while they also get their food, wander around and around with food rapidly cooling or melting, while other Guests hold tables for members of their party who just got in line.

 

[funhouse8]

I agree.. I dont know if I like this idea... having 4 kids including 2 strollers is going to clog up the line even more.. and make juggling a pain.

This is what I was thinking. Granted mine are all gone now & can wait online but when they were small I'm not sure it would be any fun for us or the other guest waiting in line to get food. So I feel for you. There has to be a better way.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Oh goodness! Well then I certainly hope that you won't be taking them into any ride lines either, where they'll likely have to wait much longer then they would to get food...

The thing is that when you are standing in line for a ride you are not trying to juggle a tray of food and control the kids at the same time and get the condiments and such without dropping a drink on one of your small ones. At the attractions there are usually preshows and such to make the time go a bit faster. You can choose whether you want to stand in a line if it has a long wait time too while the kiddies want to eat when they want to eat and what they want to eat and I much prefer that they are sitting comfortably away from the lines while I attempt to get my food. JMO I will even let the parents in front of me so they can feed the kids faster and get back to the parks and having fun.

The problem, as I see it, about folks not taking seats they do not need as much as others is who is to judge who is more worthy? I deal with this daily as I have a handicapped sticker and am confronted with the thought of just how bad I need to use it on any given day. Since I consider myself moderately handicapped I avoid taking the last space(s) but there are days when I 'think' I really, really need it. Those are the days when the only thing holding me up is a grocery cart and my husband is doing his thing and I am on my last leg. BUT, I do not know what someone else might be going through and it might be worse. Do we need judges to present our cases to before asking for accomodation? Most who really need it would rather fall over.

Slightly Goofy (it is possible to disagree without being disagreeable, it is all a matter of perspective anyway_

 

[FayeW]

I think my head exploded 10 pages ago. The whiny children waiting for Mom or Dad to bring their food so they can get a table, I can handle. The whiners on this thread who are supposed to be adults, however, I cannot handle.

From the 3 first hand reports I've read on this thread, the system seems to work quickly and flawlessly. Why are so many (ok, 3 posters in particular) so determined to write this off before you even try it? Is junior really going to have a meltdown of biblical proportions if he has to wait with his mother for the approximate 3-5 mins it reportedly takes Dad to order and pick up the food? My oh my, how entitled we've all become! I think he will survive.

I also have a theory on why the lines are moving so quickly now...because there aren't entire families blankly staring at the menu board for 10 mins only to get to the cashier and then have Dad ask everybody individually what they want! Oh Suzy, what do you want? With fries? Coke or Sprite? What, you want Apple juice? OK. Johnny, what do you want...! One or two people go up, have the order ready in advance, order for everyone, take the trays. Seems like a time saver to me!

For the record, in all the reports I've read I never heard anyone say you actually have to wait in the bathroom, and I am fairly certain you won't catch a deadly virus if you happen to stand in an open area somewhere near the washroom, so what's with all the "YUCK, I'm not waiting with MY CHILDREN beside the bathroom" ? Nobody said you had to take your food and eat on the toilet!

Here is a novel idea...while you are all waiting this excruciatingly long time in the cattle holding area why don't you take the little darlings into the bathroom and let them have a pee and wash their hands? I don't know, live on the edge a little and grab some ketchup and napkins so you will be all set when the food arrives.

Oh, and if you want something from a couple of different stations (ie at Cosmic Rays) I don't think that they are going to check your room key to see how many are actually in your party. If Dad hands Mom a tray and then goes to join another line to get something else, I am pretty sure Mom and the 2 darlings could just tell the CM there are 3 in the party, and they will let them sit down. I don't think they are going to ask for a sworn affadavit, and make you stand there with a tray in your hands.

Some of these questions and comments are just so ridiculous I can't even believe what I am reading!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I think my head exploded 10 pages ago.

Well, I'm relieved you were able to put it back together well enough to generate this great post!!!

 

[eeyoresnr]

sorry..I hit the wrong key

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Faye, honey, this is a discussion forum. Folks are discussing what they think about the whole thing. My head is not gonna explode cause someone does not agree with me or any one else.

I like to think for myself but am intelligent enough to know that I do not know it all and I have gained much knowledge from hearing other people's opinions.

If I had never had children, or at least the kind I did, I might think it totally possible for children to stand politely in line anywhere. If I had a husband that I could trust to stand in a line I would think that possible too. If I did not get shorter and shorter the longer I have to stand in one spot I would not see much wrong with waiting ten minutes or so in line to get my food. There are many other problems that I do not have so I do not comprehend them but after reading some of the opinions here I can see their points, pro and con.

Who knows if this will become a regular practice or not. Folks are just talking about what they think of it. No big deal.

It is late at night and we are friends chatting away. I would hate to only have friends who are EXACTLY like me. Would make for a mighty scary world.

You make some good points from your POV but that does not mean that everyone else has the same prospective.

Opinions, choices, we all have them. If something makes my head hurt I just do not do it.

I am sure we shall meet on another thread and have a perfectly delightful time. It is late and I need some sleep. See you all tomorrow!!

Good night all! Sweet dreams and no lines!!

Slightly Goofy

 

[eeyoresnr]

Well, I'm relieved you were able to put it back together well enough to generate this great post!!!

 

[DLBDS]

Don't know if this has been covered, but I figured I'd put it out there anyway.

We just got home from a week at WDW this morning. While at Magic Kingdom yesterday afternoon, we had lunch at Pecos Bill's and found that Disney was trying out new seating rules for CS restaurants. In order to sit down at a table, you need to 1) have your entire party together, and 2) have your food in hand. Once the CMs manning the entrances to the seating areas (2 at every door) see that your ready to sit down, they tell you where the available tables are and where's a good place to sit. Let me tell you, it was refreshing to enter the seating area and actually have a choice of about 15 available tables for immediate seating! I spoke with the manager at PB and told him how great the new system was working and how much we appreciated being able to actually find a table to sit down at before our food got cold. He said that he expected Disney to use the new system during busy seasons at the parks from now on.

Oh, this is just too good! For those interested, the poll that was mentioned can be found here...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1482417

I started the poll and I believe it's still open. In regards to saving a table at a CS, as of right now, 698 DISers said "Yes, even if it means families w/ food have to eat outside or standing up. Only 141 said "No, families should always be able to sit down once they have their food." or "Yes, BUT only during slow parts of the day."

I can't wait to see what Disney does about this!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Who knows if this will become a regular practice or not. Folks are just talking about what they think of it. No big deal.

To a degree, yes. But a number of posters who have not encountered this system except through descriptions in this thread claim it's impossible, it will not work, they can't see how it can work, the OP must be pulling our collective legs, Disney is crazy to think this can work, if they have to wait to sit until their food is ready Disney WILL hear about it...

I can't wait to see what Disney does about this!

Can you elaborate on that, please? I don't understand what you mean. Disney IS testing a system to better control the availability of tables at ONE counter service restaurant at PEAK travel times. Based on the three posters who have actual experience with it, it's working. So, I don't get your comment.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

kaytieeldr, I agree in that I do not think it would work either and that is a fairly informed opinion as I go often but it is interesting to see what others think anywho.

My only gripe is when folks put down what someone else thinks like their opinion is the only one that counts. I will even stick up for those I disagree with. I am that sort of gal.

BTW, I think you and I will be at DW at the same time. Please look for my lime green shirt with my logo on it. Hard to miss. I will be wearing a big smile too.

Slightly Goofy/Linda

 

[DLBDS]

To a degree, yes. But a number of posters who have not encountered this system except through descriptions in this thread claim it's impossible, it will not work, they can't see how it can work, the OP must be pulling our collective legs, Disney is crazy to think this can work, if they have to wait to sit until their food is ready Disney WILL hear about it...

Can you elaborate on that, please? I don't understand what you mean. Disney IS testing a system to better control the availability of tables at ONE counter service restaurant at PEAK travel times. Based on the three posters who have actual experience with it, it's working. So, I don't get your comment.

Sorry I wasn't clear. I meant....I can't wait to see what Disney ends up doing. Whether they implement the new system park-wide or keep the old system of letting folks save tables.

 

[FayeW]

Faye, honey, this is a discussion forum. Folks are discussing what they think about the whole thing. My head is not gonna explode cause someone does not agree with me or any one else.

I like to think for myself but am intelligent enough to know that I do not know it all and I have gained much knowledge from hearing other people's opinions.

If I had never had children, or at least the kind I did, I might think it totally possible for children to stand politely in line anywhere. If I had a husband that I could trust to stand in a line I would think that possible too. If I did not get shorter and shorter the longer I have to stand in one spot I would not see much wrong with waiting ten minutes or so in line to get my food. There are many other problems that I do not have so I do not comprehend them but after reading some of the opinions here I can see their points, pro and con.

Who knows if this will become a regular practice or not. Folks are just talking about what they think of it. No big deal.

It is late at night and we are friends chatting away. I would hate to only have friends who are EXACTLY like me. Would make for a mighty scary world.

You make some good points from your POV but that does not mean that everyone else has the same prospective.

Opinions, choices, we all have them. If something makes my head hurt I just do not do it.

I am sure we shall meet on another thread and have a perfectly delightful time. It is late and I need some sleep. See you all tomorrow!!

Good night all! Sweet dreams and no lines!!

Slightly Goofy

I don't know anything about your family dynamic, other than what you posted on this thread. Although it doesn't sound like with this new system anyone other than the person ordering the food is lining up anywhere (the rest are merely waiting comfortably off to the side, for less than 5 mins by all accounts) it sounds like your family faces a lot of challenges and I am sure that the CM's will accomodate you in a courteous manner. While I admit that I don't understand why waiting less than 5 mins would cause that much hardship, particularily at WDW where you do nothing BUT wait in lines all day, I will have to take your word for it that your husband and children can't do it. I am sure the CM will take your word for it also and will accomodate you accordingly.

I really don't care what WDW does one way or the other, BUT I will follow whatever rules they choose to implement during my next visit. My gripe is with the posters behaving like petulant children insisting that the rules must be made for somebody else because they certainly don't plan on following them 3,4, 5 , 6 months from now when they visit!

There have been a few posters silly enough to suggest that this won't last long because "CM's won't enforce it" and "CM's don't get paid enough to care about policing tables". What nonsense! If they are paid to do a specific job, then they will either do that job competently or be replaced by someone who will.

For some reason, there are posters who insist on creating a sense of hysteria. Despite the number of times that the 3 folks who have actually experienced it have assured us that 1) they do not insist you sit at any particular table and 2) they are not picking up your tray and bussing your table the minute you put your last fry in your mouth there are folks who are questioning not sitting where they want and being chased from their tables!

I don't understand all the resentment. If it's in place when you go and it doesn't work for your family, let them know (after you try it of course!).The posters planning 6 months out that they are going to yell at the manager if their families can't be seated immediately are just making arses of themselves.

 

[DizzyKitten]

While I am now aware that we may have to scope out a table prior to getting our food when we go, I am not at all concerned about being in line with everyone. A few posters here have had their blood pressure go up at just the thought of not being able to be in line alone. It sounds (and someone feel free to correct me here) like you can still be in line to get everyone's food while they stand off to the side(near the bathroom, etc). Frankly, I've been in situations like this before and I don't wait until we get up to the register to ask everyone what they want. Normally, before we even go into a restaurant, I'm asking them what they want to eat. That way, when I order, I know what to get. Judging by the menus I've seen, it shouldn't be too difficult to do this at WDW. They're kids, I know what they like and I will ultimately decide what they eat anyway. I can't understand standing in line and little "Billy" constantly changing his mind about what he wants and mom constantly changing the order to please him so I don't understand what all the fuss is about. Maybe I'm naive because I haven't been there to suffer the "vacation stress" of the moment.
Anyway, it just seems to be a test right now and only in a few locations, so to those who are scared or apprehensive: Hakuna Matata!

 

[DizzyKitten]

For the record, in all the reports I've read I never heard anyone say you actually have to wait in the bathroom, and I am fairly certain you won't catch a deadly virus if you happen to stand in an open area somewhere near the washroom, so what's with all the "YUCK, I'm not waiting with MY CHILDREN beside the bathroom" ? Nobody said you had to take your food and eat on the toilet!

Maybe the toilet will become like the Chef's table at V&A.

 

[GeorgeY]

We were at Columbia Harbour House, and they were blocking the side doors as well, telling people to use the main entrance. At the main entrance, the CM was asking people to park their strollers, but it appeared if you had a sleeping child, it was allowed in.

Once we were in there was no one at all blocking any of the seating area from guests wanting to hold a table. There weren't many tables open, but there were a few, and the lines were very long (Except for the one on the far left, with people only allowed to enter the main entrance, they lined up at the first registers on the right and we just had to squeez past them to the shorter lines).

Just my experience, and I am sure it will be different next time.

George.

 

[darrose]

I think my head exploded 10 pages ago. The whiny children waiting for Mom or Dad to bring their food so they can get a table, I can handle. The whiners on this thread who are supposed to be adults, however, I cannot handle.

From the 3 first hand reports I've read on this thread, the system seems to work quickly and flawlessly. Why are so many (ok, 3 posters in particular) so determined to write this off before you even try it? Is junior really going to have a meltdown of biblical proportions if he has to wait with his mother for the approximate 3-5 mins it reportedly takes Dad to order and pick up the food? My oh my, how entitled we've all become! I think he will survive.

I also have a theory on why the lines are moving so quickly now...because there aren't entire families blankly staring at the menu board for 10 mins only to get to the cashier and then have Dad ask everybody individually what they want! Oh Suzy, what do you want? With fries? Coke or Sprite? What, you want Apple juice? OK. Johnny, what do you want...! One or two people go up, have the order ready in advance, order for everyone, take the trays. Seems like a time saver to me!

For the record, in all the reports I've read I never heard anyone say you actually have to wait in the bathroom, and I am fairly certain you won't catch a deadly virus if you happen to stand in an open area somewhere near the washroom, so what's with all the "YUCK, I'm not waiting with MY CHILDREN beside the bathroom" ? Nobody said you had to take your food and eat on the toilet!

Here is a novel idea...while you are all waiting this excruciatingly long time in the cattle holding area why don't you take the little darlings into the bathroom and let them have a pee and wash their hands? I don't know, live on the edge a little and grab some ketchup and napkins so you will be all set when the food arrives.

Oh, and if you want something from a couple of different stations (ie at Cosmic Rays) I don't think that they are going to check your room key to see how many are actually in your party. If Dad hands Mom a tray and then goes to join another line to get something else, I am pretty sure Mom and the 2 darlings could just tell the CM there are 3 in the party, and they will let them sit down. I don't think they are going to ask for a sworn affadavit, and make you stand there with a tray in your hands.

Some of these questions and comments are just so ridiculous I can't even believe what I am reading!

Wow, it sounds like you have harsh feelings for those who happen to not love
the sound of the new system being discussed about in the test restaurant.
I am the poster that would prefer to wait at a saved table (sitting down) and not in front of the bathroom (standing up) while people who need to go through me to get to the bathroom (but thats another debate). So instead of waiting to the side or in front of the bathroom I will stand in line with hubby and so will the kids. But at least I am not ranting and raving about other people having different views (for or against) instead I found a solution that works for my family in the test resturant.

 

[dalt01]

Don't know if this has been covered, but I figured I'd put it out there anyway.

We just got home from a week at WDW this morning. While at Magic Kingdom yesterday afternoon, we had lunch at Pecos Bill's and found that Disney was trying out new seating rules for CS restaurants. In order to sit down at a table, you need to 1) have your entire party together, and 2) have your food in hand. Once the CMs manning the entrances to the seating areas (2 at every door) see that your ready to sit down, they tell you where the available tables are and where's a good place to sit. Let me tell you, it was refreshing to enter the seating area and actually have a choice of about 15 available tables for immediate seating! I spoke with the manager at PB and told him how great the new system was working and how much we appreciated being able to actually find a table to sit down at before our food got cold. He said that he expected Disney to use the new system during busy seasons at the parks from now on.

YES,VINDICATED!!!! i have taken several beatings on here advocating this and i mean good beatings where the thread was over 80% against me. funny how now people seem to think its a good idea. goes to show ya that most people on here argue just to stir it up. p.s. edit, i read some more and noticed some still dont understand the logic in this. go figure.

 

[FayeW]

Wow, it sounds like you have harsh feelings for those who happen to not love
the sound of the new system based in the test restaurant.
I am the poster that would prefer to wait at a saved table (sitting down) and not in front of the bathroom (standing up) while people who need to go through me to get to the bathroom (but thats another debate). So instead of waiting to the side or in front of the bathroom will stand in line with hubby and so will the kids. But at least I am not ranting and raving about other people having different views (for or against) instead I found a solution that works for my family in the test resturant.

I don't have any harsh feelings for people who may not love the new system. I have harsh feelings for people who refuse to try it, and get themselves all bent out of shape about all the "what if's". By the sound of your post, you are going to clog up the food lines with yourself and your children for no apparent reason, other than that you don't want to wait without your hubby if it isn't sitting at a table. Why is standing to the side so abhorrent? Why can't you and the children just busy yourselves getting napkins and condiments, or playing a game of I Spy? They aren't asking you to wait for an hour...it's 5 mins!