What TS places have you sitting with other parties?

[DLBDS]

This was brought up in another thread but nothing factual was posted. Can someone list the places that don't provide private tables for individual parties? (So I can mark them OFF my list!) Thanks!

 

[Lynne M]

The only ones I'm sure of are both in Epcot's World Showcase - Teppanyaki in Japan and Biergarten in Germany.

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

Mitsukoshi Teppanyaki (in Japan at Epcot) is the only one that I know of for sure, but keep in mind this is a Japanese restaurant where they cook in front of you. If it was an option on your list, don't erase it just for this reason. It is a great restaurant and a fun experience. The Beirgarten (in Germany at Epcot) used to have big tables, but it has been so long since I Have been there, that may have changed. Other than that I think Mickey's Backyard BBQ is the only other place that has that type of seating....

 

[luv2nascar]

Biergarten has long tables of 8 (well 2 tables of 4 pushed together). We were a party of four and were seated with another family of 4.

 

[dtaylor98]

We shared a "car" with a couple at the Sci Fi last week but it really isn't like sharing a table.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

This has never been an issue for us. We've never dined at the above locations, but we have dined at WDW many times, at many locations. I'm curious as to why this would be an issue for you. At WDW you will be surrounded by other people ALL DAY long, so if that is an issue for your family, maybe WDW isn't the best vacation location for your family.

The only time we dined with another family was completely our doing, and it was great. We had an ADR for 5 at a very popular location, and two of our party cancelled. Instead of changing our ADR, we just found two people who were waiting, and asked them to join us. They probably would not have gotten a seat otherwise, and we had a great conversation with them! EVeryone was very happy. It was one of our best WDW meals ever!

 

[vellamint]

This has never been an issue for us. We've never dined at the above locations, but we have dined at WDW many times, at many locations. I'm curious as to why this would be an issue for you. At WDW you will be surrounded by other people ALL DAY long, so if that is an issue for your family, maybe WDW isn't the best vacation location for your family.

The only time we dined with another family was completely our doing, and it was great. We had an ADR for 5 at a very popular location, and two of our party cancelled. Instead of changing our ADR, we just found two people who were waiting, and asked them to join us. They probably would not have gotten a seat otherwise, and we had a great conversation with them! EVeryone was very happy. It was one of our best WDW meals ever!

This was SOOOOO nice of you - what a fantastic idea!!!!

 

[lilybeth11602]

This has never been an issue for us. We've never dined at the above locations, but we have dined at WDW many times, at many locations. I'm curious as to why this would be an issue for you. At WDW you will be surrounded by other people ALL DAY long, so if that is an issue for your family, maybe WDW isn't the best vacation location for your family.

The only time we dined with another family was completely our doing, and it was great. We had an ADR for 5 at a very popular location, and two of our party cancelled. Instead of changing our ADR, we just found two people who were waiting, and asked them to join us. They probably would not have gotten a seat otherwise, and we had a great conversation with them! EVeryone was very happy. It was one of our best WDW meals ever!

Not everyone wants to talk to complete strangers while eating there dinner. Just because you like it doesnt mean its for everyone but it doesnt mean you dont like to be around people either. Everyone is different and I dont think you should talk down to someone because their different from you.

 

[Hopefully]

The only 2 I know of have been mentioned. The Biergarten in Germany and Teppanyaki in Japan. Both are tables for 8.

 

[Lynne M]

Being around people in the theme parks all day is not the same as having to make small talk with a group of total strangers for an hour or more.

When I go out to a restaurant, it's to enjoy the company of the friends or family members I'm with. Having strangers at the table would mean I wouldn't get the chance to really talk to my dinner companions. There's just no way to have a normal conversation in a situation like that, and anyway, i'd feel rude excluding the other people at the table.

Then, there are always the horror stories you hear, like the friends who took a cruise and had to ask to be moved to another seating because the one of their assigned table-mates continually made obscene comments. I also remember reading on one of the WDW boards about a family that was stuck sharing a table at Biergarten with a man who verbally abused his wife through the entire meal.

No, thanks, I'd rather choose my own dinner companions.

 

[DLBDS]

Being around people in the theme parks all day is not the same as having to make small talk with a group of total strangers for an hour or more.

When I go out to a restaurant, it's to enjoy the company of the friends or family members I'm with. Having strangers at the table would mean I wouldn't get the chance to really talk to my dinner companions. There's just no way to have a normal conversation in a situation like that, and anyway, i'd feel rude excluding the other people at the table.

Then, there are always the horror stories you hear, like the friends who took a cruise and had to ask to be moved to another seating because the one of their assigned table-mates continually made obscene comments. I also remember reading on one of the WDW boards about a family that was stuck sharing a table at Biergarten with a man who verbally abused his wife through the entire meal.

No, thanks, I'd rather choose my own dinner companions.

AND

Not everyone wants to talk to complete strangers while eating there dinner. Just because you like it doesnt mean its for everyone but it doesnt mean you dont like to be around people either. Everyone is different and I dont think you should talk down to someone because their different from you.

'Nuff said. Thank you for clearing that up so I didn't have to.

 

[slug]

This has never been an issue for us. We've never dined at the above locations, but we have dined at WDW many times, at many locations. I'm curious as to why this would be an issue for you. At WDW you will be surrounded by other people ALL DAY long, so if that is an issue for your family, maybe WDW isn't the best vacation location for your family.

The only time we dined with another family was completely our doing, and it was great. We had an ADR for 5 at a very popular location, and two of our party cancelled. Instead of changing our ADR, we just found two people who were waiting, and asked them to join us. They probably would not have gotten a seat otherwise, and we had a great conversation with them! EVeryone was very happy. It was one of our best WDW meals ever!

That's a pretty big leap - If you don't want to eat with people you don't know then WDW may not be the right place to vacation?

I love WDW and would prefer to dine with my family and friends, and I assume that the overwhelming majority of travelers feel the same way.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

My post wasn't a dig on anyone's eating preferences. We've eaten at many restaurants at WDW, just not at the particular places that others listed as having group tables, so getting a (forced) group table has never happened to us there.


Conversely, at most WDW restaurants where you do have your own table, you are still close enough to your neighbors to easily carry on a conversation with them (if you choose) and to hear what they are discussing. Many times we've had neighbors having distasteful conversations. A trip to WDW is wrought with such exposure.

The one time we shared our table with another couple, we had what I'd describe as a perfectly normal conversation. I think our guests were equally delighted. One of the things that made the conversation so much fun was that we discovered we had mutual friends - that whole six degrees thing! I guess we got lucky we didn't meet someone who was offended by our offer. Yikes!

Going to WDW requires a lot of tolerance with being constantly surrounded by other people: many attractions require you to sit next to complete strangers: WDW transportation, be it bus, monorail, or boat; waiting in line for every attraction, snack, QS meal, and so forth. Your hotel room is about as quiet as your day gets, and even then, most families are confined to tighter quarters than they would have at home. It is difficult for some people to tolerate that kind of immersion for a week, and it is a factor for our family-- even though we did enjoy that meal immensely.
So yes, IF constantly being surrounded buy other people is difficult for a particular family to tolerate, then they should factor that into their choice of vacation destination. I don't think saying as much is talking down to someone. I think relaying that idea to someone new to WDW is providing helpful information that they might not have previously realized if they've never been there. Phew!

 

[OKWAnneMarie]

I would also like to add the Luau at the Poly to the list. I didn't like that at all, I was very uncomfortable passing food to complete strangers and I felt funny touching their dishes.

When you are on a cruise, you can expect to be eating with strangers, but when you are in a regular restaurant you should be able to eat alone.

Just because a person does not want to eat with complete strangers does not mean they shouldn't vacation in WDW. Jeesh!!!

 

[OKWAnneMarie]

My post wasn't a dig on anyone's eating preferences. We've eaten at many restaurants at WDW, just not at the particular places that others listed as having group tables, so getting a (forced) group table has never happened to us there.


Conversely, at most WDW restaurants where you do have your own table, you are still close enough to your neighbors to easily carry on a conversation with them (if you choose) and to hear what they are discussing. Many times we've had neighbors having distasteful conversations. A trip to WDW is wrought with such exposure.

The one time we shared our table with another couple, we had what I'd describe as a perfectly normal conversation. I think our guests were equally delighted. One of the things that made the conversation so much fun was that we discovered we had mutual friends - that whole six degrees thing! I guess we got lucky we didn't meet someone who was offended by our offer. Yikes!

Going to WDW requires a lot of tolerance with being constantly surrounded by other people: many attractions require you to sit next to complete strangers: WDW transportation, be it bus, monorail, or boat; waiting in line for every attraction, snack, QS meal, and so forth. Your hotel room is about as quiet as your day gets, and even then, most families are confined to tighter quarters than they would have at home. It is difficult for some people to tolerate that kind of immersion for a week, and it is a factor for our family-- even though we did enjoy that meal immensely.
So yes, IF constantly being surrounded buy other people is difficult for a particular family to tolerate, then they should factor that into their choice of vacation destination. I don't think saying as much is talking down to someone. I think relaying that idea to someone new to WDW is providing helpful information that they might not have previously realized if they've never been there. Phew!

Oh, please.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Let's keep the original question in mind as we "discuss" this..
Should add my .02 worth and say that some WDW restaurants do have tables quite close together. For me, that's still different than actually being seated with others. Never been a big fan of actual communal dining--and that's why we avoid places like Teppanyaki and Biergarten.
But as we see, others have a great time in places like that.
Different strokes.

 

[Cruz Family]

Let's keep the original question in mind as we "discuss" this..
Should add my .02 worth and say that some WDW restaurants do have tables quite close together. For me, that's still different than actually being seated with others. Never been a big fan of actual communal dining--and that's why we avoid places like Teppanyaki and Biergarten.
But as we see, others have a great time in places like that.
Different strokes.

Well said!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Well said!

I agree completely with both of you.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

It looks like all the restaurants have been mentioned, but do keep in mind that at many of the restaurants you still feel like you are dining with others, since you are soooooooo close together! i know someone mentioned this, but just wanted to reiterate. We heard more of what other people were saying than we could eachother we don't mind and LOVE the sit together restaurants, but we're outgoing people that love to meet new people. We didn't talk to our dinner partners throughout the ENTIRE dinner at many of the places.

ETA: just wanted to say that i agree 100% with the post below this one! it really is worth a try, if you even do it just once and say never again

 

[TwingleMum]

The restaurants have already been mentioned that might have you sharing a table. I would ask if possible ...no judgements that you reconsider not going to these restaurants. It gives you an opportunity to meet people perhaps from another part of the country or world. We have been pleasantly surprised and have exchanged WDW tips with each other. If you don't feel comfortable thats fine also but Biergarten is really alot of fun and since its a buffet your interaction with your tablemates is up to you. Anyway hope your trips a blast let us know where you ate and what you thought. Take care!!