What are the rules about staying at your table during a whole game at the ESPN Club?

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I was wondering because I plan on watching the whole game Leafs/Flames NHL game at the ESPN Club is it all right to tell our server not bring whatever food we order out so fast? My Dad and I don't want to take a chance and be finished eating well before the game finishes, because we would not be eating anymore food and etc when others might be waiting for a table. So what are the rules about sitting at your table once your finished eating to watch the rest of whatever game you are seeing? I also know that same night there is a 49ers/Chargers NFL game and if it helps we won't want to watch the game on one of their big screen TV's, so we can get a table somewhere else.

 

[madcam]

Not sure that this will answer your question but we have gone to sports bar type restaurants before and been told that they could not give us a wait time because a game was on and there was no way for them to know when a table would clear. Meaning that they were not going to ask anyone to leave who was watching the game regardless of whether they were finished eating. This just happened a few weeks ago to us when we tried to get into Buffalo Wild Wings during a game. If you are worried just eat slow and order lots of drinks (even glasses of water). Or you could even eat in the bar and watch the game in there. I don't think you should have a problem. I could be wrong but I don't think sports bar places have rules like that...its partly why they exist: so fans can watch "the game". Have a good trip!!

 

[TisBit]

Exactly, expecially at a place like WDW this is very common. Tell them at the podium what you are there to see and they will sit you near a screen that is showing it and should help you out.

Something to keep in mind though, you are tying up a waiters table for that entire time and they work on tips. So, while you might have only ordered a normal meal, you should take the time that you are at the table into account when leaving your tip. You decide what to leave and not trying to turn it into a discussion on the topic, but a good thing to keep in mind, especially if you aren't drinking/eating the whole time.....

 

[Withacy]

It's pretty standard - people go for the games and stay. They'll probably expect it. Which also means you should keep in mind whatever other sporting events are going on, and plan your arrival time accordingly. If you're talking Monday Night football, there could be a LOT of people there - they'll get there early, and they won't move until it's over (or their team starts losing badly).

And as the PP mentioned, please remember your server.

 

[Sugardimples]

I would continue ordering drinks (and I don't mean water!) if I was taking a table for the entire game. And I agree, make sure you tip the server very well if you are taking up the table and not allowing the table to be turned over.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thank you for your replies and I doubt watching the game at the bar would be an option because there is a 49ers/Chargers game that starts an hour before, so I think they might put that game on at the bar since it's a Football game. Although with two West Coast teams maybe they won't, so I can ask and see what they say.

 

[Withacy]

The "bar" is an entire area, with several dozen TVs - and just about every sporting event on one of them. If you're at a table (in the bar), and the game isn't on close to you, they'll usually switch the channel on one of the near TVs to whatever event you want to watch (because there are usually several TVs easily visible from each table, so it's not like your neighboring tables will be forced to only watch whatever you're watching).

Also, you might want to let them know when you arrive, because there might be an area that doesn't have the best view of the best screens showing the Monday Night game (if that's applicable) - where "other" games are being watch. I'd bet money you won't be the only ones watching your game.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The "bar" is an entire area, with several dozen TVs - and just about every sporting event on one of them. If you're at a table (in the bar), and the game isn't on close to you, they'll usually switch the channel on one of the near TVs to whatever event you want to watch (because there are usually several TVs easily visible from each table, so it's not like your neighboring tables will be forced to only watch whatever you're watching).

Also, you might want to let them know when you arrive, because there might be an area that doesn't have the best view of the best screens showing the Monday Night game (if that's applicable) - where "other" games are being watch. I'd bet money you won't be the only ones watching your game.

Yes we do plan to tell the host before we sit down that there is a specific game we want to watch and thanks for letting me know that information about their bar area. Finally the day of this game is on a Thursday and not on Monday.

 

[liamsaunt]

ESPN Club will not make you vacate the table until the game is over, even if you are no longer ordering. MAKE SURE you get there well in advance of whatever you want to watch. The space is not that huge and once the game starts, people are not moving. I have stood with my husband waiting to get in to watch a Patriots game on more than one occasion. If we arrived after it started we were never able to get into the restaurant. Sometimes we could access the bar by the 4th quarter, but not always. It's one of the only places to watch the game in HD so you are going to be competing with all the other football fans for a table!

Did I mention that you should get there early?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

ESPN Club will not make you vacate the table until the game is over, even if you are no longer ordering. MAKE SURE you get there well in advance of whatever you want to watch. The space is not that huge and once the game starts, people are not moving. I have stood with my husband waiting to get in to watch a Patriots game on more than one occasion. If we arrived after it started we were never able to get into the restaurant. Sometimes we could access the bar by the 4th quarter, but not always. It's one of the only places to watch the game in HD so you are going to be competing with all the other football fans for a table!

Did I mention that you should get there early?

Since you were staying at the Boardwalk Inn we won't have far to go. The game I want to watch starts at 9:30 PM, so what time would you recommend walking over to there and waiting for a table?

 

[Withacy]

The question isn't what time YOUR game begins, unfortunately - it's what time the game(s) everyone else is watching begin!

If the NFL game starts at 8 or 9, I'd get there at least an hour before that!

 

[Lou Holtz]

Are you certain they will even be showing a regular season NHL game?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Are you certain they will even be showing a regular season NHL game?

On other threads I read about people watching regular season and playoff NHL games, so I am certain about that.

 

[Lou Holtz]

And both teams are Canadian. I just wouldn't be sure. They could probably turn one of the TVs to it if you requested though.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I don't see what both teams being Canadian has to do with it and like I said before, others have asked them to turn on NHL games over and that's what we are planning on asking them to do.

 

[Withacy]

If it's broadcast, they can show it. If it's not on, you can request it. One of the two times I was there, there was a table of three guys near us watching some South American soccer match. Seriously.

 

[gigi1313]

Thank you for your replies and I doubt watching the game at the bar would be an option because there is a 49ers/Chargers game that starts an hour before, so I think they might put that game on at the bar since it's a Football game. Although with two West Coast teams maybe they won't, so I can ask and see what they say.

I don't see what both teams being Canadian has to do with it and like I said before, others have asked them to turn on NHL games over and that's what we are planning on asking them to do.

i would think two west coast NFL teams would be more "popular" than two canadian NHL teams... and therefore dominate the televisions...

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

i would think two west coast NFL teams would be more "popular" than two canadian NHL teams... and therefore dominate the televisions...

While I agree that the Football game would be more popular it's not the only sport happening that night and not everyone is going there just for that game.

 

[gigi1313]

While I agree that the Football game would be more popular it's not the only sport happening that night and not everyone is going there just for that game.

i understand that... i just had to chuckle that you thought being west coast would make them less popular but then sounded put off that anyone would suggest that being canadian could make them less popular as well... LOL?

 

[Withacy]

i would think two west coast NFL teams would be more "popular" than two canadian NHL teams... and therefore dominate the televisions...

Well...yeah. But as far as I know, the OP only needs ONE out of the, what, 50-100 TVs in the place? I mean, I could be wrong...

It's not like they have a vote of the most popular game, and then turn ALL of the TVs to it.

Now, they might not be able to HEAR it (obviously, not every set is going to have sound up), but at least they'll get to see it.