Why Won't You Sit With Us?

[goofy4prez]

I like to spend time with my family and have "our" time like the next person. But I have no problem spending an hour and a half in the time frame of the rest of my life having a brief conversation with a stanger at Biergarten or Teppan Edo.

 

[Pumbaa_]

vacation is us time. I see my DH very little and vacation is our time to reconnect. Sharing tables with others does not fall into that category

Now my parents. they will bond with you for life

 

[adsrtw]

I will talk with anybody who will talk back to me. But seriously, I talk to people for a living. It doesn't bother me at all. I would have no problem sharing a table and having a wonderful meal with an absolute stranger. My gosh, I wouldn't be my Grandma's granddaughter otherwise. She lived by the love all, feed all mantra. Nobody was a stranger if they showed up at her doorstep and looked hungry.

 

[Madonna3]

Because when I eat I want to eat in peace. Maybe I don't want to have dinner conversation and this might make someone else feel awkward. And if the mood suits me and I want to talk, well maybe I want to talk about things that someone else might find offensive. Maybe I'm talking trash about the jerk in line behind me at one of the rides/shows and they just happen to be that jerk.

The parks are so darn chaotic and you're always making new friends at the pool/bus/lines that at dinner time I don't want any new friends. I just want to be seated, have a nice cold drink, and some privacy.

 

[WheelCEO]

I absolutely HATE restaurants like cheesecake factory that have long bench seating.. I always request a booth.

 

[Looking4themouse]

I don't mind sharing a table with others, however, I am a little shy, but if someone tries to strike up a conversation I have no problem continuing said conversaition, my dh on the other hand hates it, wants nothing to do with it. He told me since I am forcing him to eat at Teppan Edo that he will be sitting somewhere in the middle, he doesn't want to be on an end, and since our DA is coming with us we certainly shouldn't have a problem striking up a conversation, she'll talk to anyone...

 

[walkdmc]

I feel uncomfortable, don't know why exactly. I don't like making small talk with strangers while trying to decide what I want/what the kids will have.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

My DH and I enjoy sharing tables and meeting other people. My DS11 is fine with it, too. However, my DS15 has Asperger's Syndrome and the accompanying social issues. He doesn't like strangers talking to him or touching him (even an innocent tap on the arm or accidental brush). We had a few problems on our last cruise with Princess. We chose the Anytime Dining option meaning we didn't have an assigned dining time or table. We would always ask for a table for 4 but sometimes they couldn't accommodate us and seated us at larger tables with other people. Next time, we're going to be sure to choose the Traditional Dining option where we're assigned a certain table for the entire cruise and we could get a table for four. Otherwise, I would love to share a table!

 

[purple figment]

We don't mind sharing a table at all. It's only an hour and a half and we've met some interesting people and some who have no interest in conversing.

One time dinner lasted a lot longer than planned because we got into a lively discussion with a group of Disney lovers who were excited about an upcoming fanfest trip to Disneyland and wanted all sorts of information about the park.

On the other hand there was the time when our tablemates at the Biergarten must have been rushed for time because they would start eating on their way back from the buffet, never looked up from their plates and never said a word to us or to each other.

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

I am very shy, I used to be on anti anxiety medication for my shyness I am becoming far more outgoing than I once was, but usually when Im having a meal I plan to just unwind and relax and such But of course if someone needed a place to sit or if I was at Biergarten I'd happily share of course. But if Im not very talkative I just get very anxious and flustered due to my extreme shyness...but more than likely think you are lovely people ! At sci fi we shared a car with someone and didnt mind people in the back...its how it goes no point in being mean about it...it's disney!! But I totally understand the family experience etc

 

[cbg1027]

I think Americans are raised with a much larger impression of what I call the 'personal bubble'. Things in the US are bigger - more land, bigger houses, bigger vehicles, bigger people - resulting in the idea that there should be more space between things. People just aren't living literally as closely with their neighbors as most of the world is.

If you go a restaurant in the US, the tables are spaced much farther apart than a place in Europe would have the tables. The idea of sharing a table with strangers is pretty much unheard of here.

I think it's mostly just a cultural difference. Most Americans see sharing your restaurant table as weird and an invasion of space and privacy. I'm not saying that's wrong - just pointing out why I think it is.

That said, sometimes I prefer the table to my own party. Other times it's fun to share and meet new people. But if I go to a restaurant where they are obviously seating at shared tables, then I will embrace that and roll with it! Some of my favorite meals in my European travels were at places with shared tables - It gives you a great way to strike up a conversation with a local (even if it's just with gestures! ).

I was at Starring Rolls in DHS for lunch one day while traveling solo. I had a 4 seat table all to myself. The rest of the tables quickly filled up. Lots of people came out of the food line and stood around waiting for a table to open up. So since I had all the extra space, I offered to share the table with a family of 3 that came out. They seemed pretty taken aback by my offer and opted to sit on a ledge and eat without a table. I was pretty shocked....I'm pretty sure I don't stink or have cooties!

 

[Melissa<3Disney]

We love for people to join us...but I'm sure by the end of the meal they would be thinking, "Gosh this family never shuts up!!"

 

[Life is good]

In the last three years (December) we have eaten at Biergarten three times and Teppan Edo twice. In 2008 we ate at Teppan Edo our first night. Our table mates included a man who grew up three blocks from me in Illinois. While I did not know him, I was good friends with the wife of his best friend. They currently were living in Florida. As an even more amazing coincidence, my cousin had actually painted a bowling alley/bar they owned in Florida that summer. It is a Small World After All.

At the end of the trip, we were seated at an empty table for 8 at Biergarten. Shortly after we got our food we were joined by a 'family'- mom and four kids about 6-12 and a man- not their dad-probably boyfriend. He threatened and cussed and yelled at the kids throughout the whole meal, was definitely verbally abusive. Really made for a very uncomfortable experience.

 

[BecBennett]

I cant stand small talk! I have to make it all day at work, so there's no way I'm going to do it while I'm trying to enjoy a meal!

It's a bit different at Disney, I'm more willing to chat to people and enjoy strangers company.

 

[wilma-bride]

Personally the main reason I don't like sharing a table with others is because I am really fussy and am quite embarrassed about it. If I'm sittin gwith others, I always feel under pressure to eat normally and then don't enjoy my meal.

At a CS place, however, I wouldn't have a problem at all in sharing a table.

 

[winterman]

Last Sept. I went to AK alone because DH was sick. I stopped at Y&Y counter service for lunch. When I had my food, I found an empty table for 4 but I didn't want to tie up a whole table so I asked the 2 people at another table for four if I could sit for them. They said yes and we had a pleasant time together. As so often happens, we found we had a lot in common.

 

[sjs314]

We at at Biergarten for the first time last year and sat with 2 other families and had a really good time and enjoyed talking to new friends, We have a ressie to go back our trip this coming Novemeber

 

[Rohais]

Honestly, theres a couple of reasons why for DF and I

First, we like the privacy of not sharing a table - we don't get many opportunities to go out when we're at home, so on holiday we like to spend as much time out together, and alone, as possible

Second, DF isn't comfortable eating in front of other people..not even people he's known for a long time

Thirdly, when I have been sat next to people I don't know, I've always been unlucky in that they've tended to end up being abnoxious, rude and arrogant. It'd be fine if they were friendly and cheerful

Fourth, neither DF or I are very outgoing when it comes to people we don't know. I always think of things to say, but it never makes it past my mouth


So, it's not that we don't like it full stop, it just makes us awkward - and thats usually our fault and not the other famillies

 

[Madhatter266]

DH is extremely introverted until you get to know him. With this in mind, we went to Teppan Edo last year just to see how he would do. I know that he went because both DS and myself wanted to go. We had a miserable time. We were seated at a table with part of a large family - the rest of their family was at the next table - there were too many of them to sit together. They were loud and screamed at each other all throughout the meal. Their small children ran back and forth without any supervision, and frankly we could tell that they were all in their "own world." This dinner experience was about them. We couldn't have spoken to them even if we had wanted to try. I think we ate and left quicker than at any WDW dinner. With all of that said and done, I still would like to try it again - but DH will have none of it. I still have not been to Biergarten and again, DH keeps bringing up what happened before.

 

[mommycrawford]

I think this revulsion to sitting with others (ironically going to crowded thheme parks) it the result of US being such a "car culture," where people go from house to car to work cubicle, and barely have to have contact with those outside of their bubble/circle, what-have-you...no one you don't perceive as "like you."

Also, all this FACEBOOK "friend" crap, is another way to distance yourself from others: PC friends who may be imaginary or real...(you certainly never have to sit with them!)

I was born and bred in NYC, where we walk, and talk to a variety of characters on any given day. When people say NYers are rude, they are usually referring to transplants, not natives.

Most people near me, and those I've grown up with, love the OPPORTUNITY to meet new people, and maybe learn something, laugh a bit. We expect to sit with others.

Still, bad behavior is not acceptable, and I understand having an experience that makes you wary.