You've Got To be Kidding Me!

[Mickey&Mouse]

If they have permanently removed benches in the courtyard the OP was referring to, I'll be sure to remember not to worry about it when I can't find a reasonable place to sit when my back is barking from standing and walking all day.

I don't think anyone is "worried" about it, but it has historically been a place to take a load off for a few minutes in a quiet setting (except for during concerts). It would kind of suck for that to no longer be an option if you were counting on that.

Agree with this.

It does seem a little dismissive to say that less seating is nothing to worry about. Besides people with all sorts of chronic pain, there are plenty of others that just need a short break from all the walking and standing. Or would prefer to eat a quick meal away from trash cans. I think that for every theme park, WDW included, ample seating should be a given no matter what. If Disney is removing and not replacing then that's unfortunate. More seating is just more welcoming!

Maybe it's time to resurrect this thread.

Too funny!

 

[larryz]

Maybe it's time to resurrect this thread.

I'll do it! Because of the shortage of benches, I think people should also note if they're seeing a trend of disappearing trash cans.

Especially the big ones that make such handy eating stations...

 

[SmithSmith]

They also just added this seating area to the Japan Pavilion:




(Photo not mine)

 

[Ambear]

And then when disney adds a ton more seating to the parks, people will complain it's taking up the all the space where new attractions should be.

 

[larryz]

And then when disney adds a ton more seating to the parks, people will complain it's taking up the all the space where new attractions should be.

I believe the correct measure for units of seating is a "butt-load."

 

[cindyfan]

Agree with this.

It does seem a little dismissive to say that less seating is nothing to worry about. Besides people with all sorts of chronic pain, there are plenty of others that just need a short break from all the walking and standing. Or would prefer to eat a quick meal away from trash cans. I think that for every theme park, WDW included, ample seating should be a given no matter what. If Disney is removing and not replacing then that's unfortunate. More seating is just more welcoming!

Well said!!!!

And regarding the addition of tables & chairs to areas like Casey's Corner or the Japan Pavilion..... It's quite awkward when a single person sits at a table alone just to take a break and then have a family with food looking for a table to dine, stares you down until you are guilted into giving up the table and seat. It is much easier to just sit at a bench and share the space there.
At MK in Feb, I had to pull a single chair away from the tables at Casey's in order to take a break. And then had a family ask since I wasn't eating could I give up the chair because there were no other chairs left and they were trying to eat their dinner. I gave up the chair.

 

[cakebaker]

To each their own. I much prefer a table and single chairs. Unless it's attached to a restaurant I in no way would feel the need to give up my seat to strangers. Nor would I have given up my chair.

 

[JD3ofthem]

Maybe it's just me, but when I first read about the benches in the courtyard being removed I thought that the benches might have caused problems with the concerts. People standing and dancing on the benches or people sitting on the benches getting upset their view is blocked by people standing in front of them.

 

[Saturn23]

That's true, it's an awkward set up and I usually sit on the ground so I don't block everyone behind me.

 

[lustergirl]

Geez, people calm down (just kidding). I was thinking the worst, that all the benches were gone. I am glad to see the pics that one poster put up with the new seats available in MK Hub and AK. Like I stated previously I am a little worried about being able to take a breather to let my bad knees rest. But I also know that I will find a seat somewhere, just have to look for it, and a couple of extra feet or yards doing so isn't going to hurt.

It will be my civic duty to report back on the subject next week after my trip

 

[wisblue]

As I see some of the pictures, and think about it some more, I suspect that part of the answer to this is that, as the parks are being redesigned and refurbished, some traditional standalone bench seating is being replaced by seating areas built into walls around landscaped areas. While there may be fewer benches, these areas provide seating for more people in a spot that takes up less walking space. It would be a perfect example of Efficiency, one of the Keys to the Kingdom.

 

[CookiesNcream]

They also just added this seating area to the Japan Pavilion:

View attachment 89602


(Photo not mine)

Oh that looks very nice!

 

[mom2rtk]

That's certainly as plausible as saying that they removed benches because people complained there weren't enough of them.

Come to think of it, Hollywood Studios must be immune to complaints about benches or safety concerns as there are plenty of benches in that park. But then, there's less to do in that park these days so maybe they figured more benches would be an attraction.

Disneyland must be immune to it as well since they are EVERYWHERE in that park.

 

[SmithSmith]

As I see some of the pictures, and think about it some more, I suspect that part of the answer to this is that, as the parks are being redesigned and refurbished, some traditional standalone bench seating is being replaced by seating areas built into walls around landscaped areas. While there may be fewer benches, these areas provide seating for more people in a spot that takes up less walking space. It would be a perfect example of Efficiency, one of the Keys to the Kingdom.

I was browsing the most recent Downtown Disney update from Easy WDW, and Josh's pictures are littered with examples of this. They added a "butt-load" of built-in seating to their Disney Springs project. Every single wall they built is at a convenient height and width. Here are some examples:

 

[mom2rtk]

The bench itself isn't a visible clue it's there?

Anyway, the OP is about benches in the courtyard behind the British pavilion, not about benches along a busy walkway.

Not to mention that the photos shown were of places to sit built into the new construction at AK and MK.

What would removing benches in the World Showcase have to do with that? Is there a big construction project coming up there?

 

[SmithSmith]

Here is an example of what they are replacing:

 

[SmithSmith]

Not to mention that the photos shown were of places to sit built into the new construction at AK and MK.

What would removing benches in the World Showcase have to do with that? Is there a big construction project coming up there?

Like I've already said before... my response was to someone who couldn't find seating in the new MK hub. Hence, why I posted pics of seating in the new Magic Kingdom hub.

 

[PollyannaMom]

As I see some of the pictures, and think about it some more, I suspect that part of the answer to this is that, as the parks are being redesigned and refurbished, some traditional standalone bench seating is being replaced by seating areas built into walls around landscaped areas. While there may be fewer benches, these areas provide seating for more people in a spot that takes up less walking space. It would be a perfect example of Efficiency, one of the Keys to the Kingdom.

I agree, and I also think it's easier for them to clean up against stone-wall seating than under benches with fancy legs.

 

[cakebaker]

Love the new seating pics, Smith! Much more convenient and efficient.

 

[cindyfan]

Ok, nice to see they put in concrete benches (definitely not as comfy as the old benches!) but has anyone else been really turned off by the fact that every time you go to sit on one of these concrete benches there are ants or some other kind of bug crawling all over!!! The bugs live in the landscaping that is encircled by the "concrete bench" and it really "bugs" (pardon the pun! ) me that there's a good chance these ants will be crawling on me!!!!