Why Won't You Sit With Us?

[kdunkle904]

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!!"

Couldnt have said it better myself.
We love meeting new people especially at Disney where we already have one thing in common! I think that no matter the country there are always going to be some people that dont mind and some that do. It really all depends on your personality and there nothing wrong with either type of person. As long as your not rude about it.

 

[topmonkeygirl]

There are lots of reasons why I don't like to sit with others. My job is customer service, I deal with people all day everyday, I don't want to have to play nice while on vacation. Not that I'm not nice, I just don't want to feel like I have to sit and talk with strangers on vacation, I get enough of that on the job.

What if the person smells? I shower when I get up in the morning, brush my teeth, and use plenty of B.O. medicine. I never leave the house without a shower first, ever. I don't want to smell someone who might not bath as regulararly as I do. What if their cologne or perfume is over powering? Yuck.

Chewing with open mouth, disgusting. I won't eat with my sister because she does. It grosses me out. While they're eating with open mouth food also goes flying occasionally, I don't want it in my plate.

What if they're rude, pushy?

The list goes on. Like I said earlier I'm in customer service and deal with people all day, I don't want to get that up close and personal with strangers. Eating for me is a very personal thing. If we're in line for a show or ride I don't mind chatting for a minute or two, but after that I want to get back to my own little space with my DH.

 

[deebits]

I am such a people person. I will talk to anyone and everyone but.......... when I am on vacation...all I want to do is be with my family. I work long hours and feel I spend more hours awake with others than I do with my own family.

 

[tony609]

I like chatting with people at Disney about Disney etc... last year at 1900 park Fare (dinner) a little girl about 5 and a little boy about 3 were very chatty with my friends and I. The little girl kept asking us if we saw Cinderella's prince yet, she was soooo cute. They both were very excited to be there. We talked with them about what they had done etc..I think the parents were embarasse and kept apologizing. We said no problem at all, the kids had already finished eating and wanted to talk Disney. It was fun!

 

[Melodious]

I personally don't mind sitting with others and I certainly wouldn't skip going to a restaurant I wanted to go to just because of the 'family' style seating. Actually we have an ADR for Biergarten for the first time in November . I'm very shy as well, and when I have eaten at hibachi-style restaurants outside of WDW, sometimes you meet really interesting people and sometimes I really have not talked to those around my party at all Same when I'm solo and sit at a sushi bar for lunch. It really doesn't affect my enjoyment of the meal or my party any either way.

And as for Biergarten, I appreciate the detail of sitting together like the biergartens that my mom has visited in Munich.

 

[¡WDW!girlrox(:]

It doesn't matter to me or my family. LOL Sit down stranger!

 

[idieh]

We are a bi polar family. I don't mind meeting people, but can just as easily eat alone. My DW on the other hand would strike up a conversation with a fence post! She is constantly talking to people in attraction lines, on busses and in restuarants. She is amazing! Don't get me wrong...i'm not antisocial; I work in retail so my days are spent talking to people. I can just take it or leave it.

Doug

 

[LowesChevy]

This happened to us last year at Wolfgang Puck Express. The place was packed, but there was a partial table next to an older couple. I asked if we could sit down to enjoy our meal and they said no problem. We ended up having great conversation about how many times we have gone to WDW, where we like to eat, what are favorite attractions are and so on.

I am not saying you need to hang out for the day, but don't be afraid to share a little space one and a while- you may meet soem really cool people.

 

[asta]

I think that we, in general, are private and shy and paranoid.

Mind you, there was a small restaurant i went to in Tennesee while i was on business (solo) and when i said I was alone, the hostess brought me to a long table where a number of other solo diners (also on business) were sitting, saying how no one should have to be alone just because they were away from home.

It was unnerving at first, but the others at the table were friendly and we had a good meal, and left when we were done and joined by others..

It made me feel less "alone" in the world, and i went back there for every meal, every night, and sat with some old, some new.

I wish i could remember the name of the place.. it was jsut a greasy spoon, but it was about 12 years ago ..

Was the restaurant's name Satsuma or Monell's. Satsuma is a southern meat and three in downtown Nashville. They always have a singles or gentleman's table for those by themselves. Monell's also has great southern food but is served family style. You sit at a big table with others and platters and bowls of food are brought to the table and passed around.

 

[whitney37354]

I don't enjoy it, having done it in Lancaster, PA at an Amish establishment, but DH & DD don't mind, because they would both talk to a wall and never meet a stranger. I'm just not good at making small talk with strangers.

 

[ValinWV]

If there is room at our table. We don't mind sharing. It can be a nice way to meet new people. I would feel bad if there was room at my table and someone had no place to sit and eat their meal and we didn't share.

One time we had a blanket at Illuminations and my family was gathered under it. My husband saw a father and young girl standing nearby. The girl was so cold she was wearing shorts and a short sleeve shirt. My husband got up and told me he was going to give his seat and share of the blanket to this little girl so she wouldn't be huddled behind a trash can trying to block the wind. We met a nice family that night.

 

[roselark]

I am just very, very shy. I can be drawn in, however, if someone who is really friendly coaxes me to. I never do it on my own initiative though.

 

[Sweet Melissa]

I was about to say that the reason I don't sit down with strangers for a meal is that I'm a misanthrope and that, like Garbo, I vant to be alone. But that's not really true. At Disney, I'll happily approach a family to take their picture or strike up a conversation with someone while waiting for a bus, but those are situations from which I can easily remove myself. When you're sitting down for a meal, you're committing to a certain amount of time and I may not necessarily want to be someone's captive audience for very long.

 

[plutotek]

DW is the friendlier one. The family joke is we can't leave her alone because she'll always find a new 'boyfriend'. Inevitably, she'll be found striking up a conversation w/some gentleman, usually older, who's waiting for his wife while she waits for me.

We went to Germany a couple of years ago and really enjoyed the 'long table' dining w/strangers. Once I warm up (it takes me a while), I really enjoyed practicing my German, while they practiced their English.

 

[HunnyJar]

My husband and I couldn't careless if we were sitting with others most of the time. I just wish that some of the cast members would do a better job pairing up who sits with whom. This last visit to Biergarten our family of four sat with two senior couples and while they were very nice my husband and I felt like our 1 year old daughter was probably not making their dinner the best they had in the World. I would have felt a heck of a lot more comfortable if we were with another family that also had a toddler/infant - we just feel like they might be able to relate to us, like we could them should their little one have a meltdown. Of course if our little girl did have a meltdown we would have gotten up with her and excused ourselves.

Another time for either our honeymoon or 1st anniversary my husband and I were placed with group of people who were on the intoxicated side who decided to chastise us for not drinking. Well, I do enjoy an alcoholic drink every so often - I just wasn't feeling it that night. And my husband doesn't ever drink. Again not the most comfortable feeling in the world. But in general we enjoy meeting and talking with new people. We often find ourselves talking to other guests on the buses, monorails and in line.

 

[maxiesmom]

We have shared tables at WDW before. One time we were eating fish and chips by the lagoon in Epcot. There were only 2 of us at a large table. My dad (who will talk to anyone!) noticed a couple of ladies and a child looking for a place to eat. We had them join us, and had a good time chatting with them.

It would have been silly to let them wander around with trays of food while we had plenty of room. And in doing something like that, and meeting people, you feel more connected to humanity, as silly as that sounds. Makes you realize we are all pretty much the same, and it just feels nice to be able to help each other out, even in such a small way.

 

[brockash]

I think it is hard for some people to make "small talk."

I agree with this. For me, making "small talk" with strangers is just exhausting, it just mentally tires me out, maybe I'm weird

 

[Stitchnut]

We are friendly and don't mind talking to people. That's one of things we like to do on vacation.

 

[iggbees]

i don't mind sitting with strangers especially at disney, because it's way easy to start a conversation about something they did that day. however i've had multiple experiences where the strangers are really rude or don't like to talk so we just sit there anti-social. it's quite boring or awkward. i try to avoid sitting with strangers unless they ask me if the extra seats are taken, at least then they're probably a bit more social.

 

[WDWFWfan]

Respectfully, that's awfully judgmental about someone one doesn't even know and who may not even be aware they're doing something 'offensive' (chewing with mouth open). It may well be the judging person or a member of their party with the bad habit or percieved (or preconcieved) "personal hygiene" issue... and by doing so, they may miss out on meeting a truly amazing person or family.

Hmm...I always find it ironic when someone declares another person to be "judgmental," especially in a forum where we really don't know one another and communication is at best difficult...seems just a little "judgmental" to me.

BTW, I do eat with people that I do not know on a regular basis. Some experiences are good...some not so good. Anyway, my point was to suggest some reasons why others might have a problem, either real or imagined, eating in a "communal" fashion. Peace