New Seating Arrangements at Counter Service

[GAN]

This has got to be one of the dumbest ideas that Disney has ever come up with

Agreed. But it doesn't even come close to the result from the Leave a Legacy idea.

 

[CAJUNWDWFAN]

I experienced a trial of this a couple year ago at Pecos Bill's. It was a busy day and raining. There was a cast member with a sign near the bathrooms saying that you couldn't sit down until you had your food. I guess the trial went well.

 

[wishspirit]

I just feel sorry for the Cast Members who are going to have to enforce this, I can tell they are going to be hassled left, right and centre!

Then again, I did get a little annoyed with a person in front of me at Casy's. He ordered enough to feed an army (I swear at least 10 hot dogs!), then kept walking backwards and forwards to drop them off, a couple at a time. Yet the server had to stand there and wait whilst he wandered backwards and forwards with the food, and I couldn't order the single lot of fries I wanted until he had finished the whole performance. With that much food, you would hope a second adult could come and help.

Then again this may have just me being grouchy as it was my last day at Disney, and I didn't want to go home!

 

[darrengs]

I am one who has my family save a table after we order. I think this is worth a try and if it does work out that is great.

 

[dana1003]

no need to get hyped uppeople..dont think its gonnalast long. people with very young children will now have to carry multiple trays while trying to keep their little ones from running off..i doubt the cm's willplay babysitter and try to rangle those that are running off. it'll become a safety issue for parents and i think it will be more headache ..im not in agreement. mine are 6 and are capable of waiting in line but i feel for those who have younger children. we've done disney with them when they were younger and waiting in line with them was not an option. i think more people would rather make an adr then sticking your head into a counter service and seeing that loooooong line of people.especially when u have hot cranky hungry kids..good luck disney. dont see it lasting.

 

[Commando2319]

When the Parks are that stupid crowded, there is not much you can do. This is an interesting approach and I am curious to see how the trial results turn out.

But I think they will need a lot of Cast members to enforce this and help guest.

I know for myself, I would find it very frustrating. I travel with 1 adult (myself) and two children in a double stroller. It is impossible to maneuver a double stroller while holding a tray of food. So I always seat the kids, then go get the food and condiments.

But then again, that's while I always travel at off peak times and avoid usual meal times for eating. To avoid the crowds.

When it is that crazy busy and chaos, it does need some sort of order.

 

[TDC Nala]

The stools are not new. I never eat in that place but some posters on the restaurant board say they've been there since last year.

I have a picture I took of a sign in a restaurant in Disneyland Paris last year that said "Please be seated after you have received your food" or something like that. They had a guy standing next to the sign who would check to see who had food and who didn't. So that's not really unheard of for Disney.

 

[DaParkers]

I never understood the "My kids are tired" reasoning for getting a table before your food. Aren't your kids tired in the lines for attractions? Aren't they tired walking around the parks? If they're that tired, take a break on a bench and then proceed to the restaurant. Don't get me wrong....I've gotten a table for my family before we had food because there were so many people sitting at tables with no food waiting on the rest of their party. It's very frustrating to have a tray of food and have nowhere to sit. I also found a way to lessen the time waiting for a table. Let's say there is a table with 4 chairs at it, but only 3 people will be sitting there. I ask how many will be sitting at this table, then I just ask for the extra chair. I've even found an extra table that way. It was pushed up against another table and the person waiting for their group didn't need 2. Everyone will never be happy with any decision made, but I feel this is fair.

 

[slapwhitey]

It may not be the popular opinion but I'm all for the changes. I may change my mind after we experience it but if they're able to stream line the order process I think it's fair for everyone. We'll see how it works.

 

[tanyabanana]

It will be interesting to watch this one play out.
I have older kids now -I usually have them order, then 2 of them and 1 adult grab napkins, straws etc and find a table while the 3rd waits to help carry food. I hate the feeling that we are causing congestion in the 'waiting for food' area. It wouldn't be a deal breaker for us all to wait to be seated. I can see the side of parents with little kids too. Many a day my nerves were saved to have just a short break while ordering while DH sat with the kids --and that was just at my local fast food place.

 

[safetymom]

This is how the argument usually goes:

Side 1: I don't want to have to stand in line with all of my kids when my husband/wife/parents can take them to the table. It keeps the line less crowded and I don't have to deal with my cranky kids/old parents/large group.

Side 2: I was here first, got in line, waited for my food, and got my food. I don't want to walk around and see a bunch of tables full of people who got here after me with no food holding tables for people in line.

I think both sides have merit so no matter what Disney does half of the people will not like it. I am almost always solo so would slide into side 2 easier. At the same time though I am not afraid to stand and eat (if it is a sandwich), walk to an attraction and eat on the way, or just walk up to a table with another solo person and ask if I can share the table. That's why I say either way I can live with it. It's one of those things that just aren't a big enough deal for me to worry about.

I am on side one. I think it works better when most of the crowd is not standing in the line. I will be at MK with my grandkids in a few days. I'll report back how it goes.

 

[jaurban]

We will be there starting tomorrow and will see if we encounter this. It suggested it would only be in force during peak crowds. I am fine with it if the CMs help carry the food to the table and get the high chair when you have your hands full with kids (especially where you cannot bring the stroller into the restaurant). If they don't help seat you though, this is a problem.

 

[Stich's girlfriend]

Hi all I was just appalled when I heard of the new quick service seating arrangements. I'm single and have no children but a regular traveler to the parks and many other crowded locations around the world. Parents need the ability to keep their children safe in busy food areas. Last year, I had the pleasure of attending Washington D.C. on the 4th of July. I went to a McDonald's for a quick drink turned around and had a toddler run into me. I dropped my supper sized coke on the toddlers head. I was horrified and the mother screamed at the kid, it was just the worst McDonald's experience. My concern is for the kids they are excited, overly tired and not watching what they are doing in a busy area. Having them seated really makes the most sense.
Good luck to the familys', I promise to hold my coca-cola high from now on!

 

[aspen37]

Hi all I was just appalled when I heard of the new quick service seating arrangements. I'm single and have no children but a regular traveler to the parks and many other crowded locations around the world. Parents need the ability to keep their children safe in busy food areas. Last year, I had the pleasure of attending Washington D.C. on the 4th of July. I went to a McDonald's for a quick drink turned around and had a toddler run into me. I dropped my supper sized coke on the toddlers head. I was horrified and the mother screamed at the kid, it was just the worst McDonald's experience. My concern is for the kids they are excited, overly tired and not watching what they are doing in a busy area. Having them seated really makes the most sense.
Good luck to the familys', I promise to hold my coca-cola high from now on!

I agree 100%!

 

[Tonya2426]

Hi all I was just appalled when I heard of the new quick service seating arrangements. I'm single and have no children but a regular traveler to the parks and many other crowded locations around the world. Parents need the ability to keep their children safe in busy food areas. Last year, I had the pleasure of attending Washington D.C. on the 4th of July. I went to a McDonald's for a quick drink turned around and had a toddler run into me. I dropped my supper sized coke on the toddlers head. I was horrified and the mother screamed at the kid, it was just the worst McDonald's experience. My concern is for the kids they are excited, overly tired and not watching what they are doing in a busy area. Having them seated really makes the most sense.
Good luck to the familys', I promise to hold my coca-cola high from now on!

I agree with you. Good thing you didn't order coffee. And nothing grates on my last nerve (especially when I am hot, tired and hungry) than an entire family clogging up the line ordering their food. I can't even imagine this if strollers and ecvs are involved

I am single and either travel by myself or with my parents. When I am with my parents, we decide what we want to order and then I stay in line to order and get the food while my parents get the condiments and grab a table. There is no reason for all of us to stand in line especially when my parents are senior citizens. (Although don't tell them they are senior citizens - they only like it when they get discounts at the movies.)

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I feel for the parents with young kids. Mine are older so I don't have running around young kid issues or stroller issues anymore.

I was wondering if it would work if you have two parents, couldn't one be out of the way with the kids while the other dealt with getting the food?
That's what DH and I do still since it's so hard to find each other in the QS places.

It sure won't help the parent by themselves though but if a parent is alone, wouldn't you have to take the stroller thru the line anyways since the kids would be too young to be left alone?

I think I'd have to see how it works before I decide if I don't like it or not. But since they said it would only be happening during busy times and we eat early to avoid crowds, I don't know that I'll ever get to witness it.

 

[mommyceratops]

We usually send one person to order and one with the kids to sit. Not necessarily to save a table BUT to let the kids sit down and relax (adults too).

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

If this rule extends beyond the Magic Kingdom and then is used at Epcot, Hollywood Studios and the Animal Kingdom, what will happen to the counter service locations at Downtown Disney and the resorts?

Since Earl of Sandwich, Wolfgang Puck Express, Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop, McDonald's and Cookes of Dublin are not owned and operated by WDW will they need to follow the rule about not saving tables or will they continue operating like they have been?

Also since the resort counter service locations are not usually as busy like the ones in the theme parks, will they need to add this rule?

 

[kate_wdw]

I never understood the "My kids are tired" reasoning for getting a table before your food. Aren't your kids tired in the lines for attractions? Aren't they tired walking around the parks? If they're that tired, take a break on a bench and then proceed to the restaurant.

I agree with this 100%. The argument that small children are incapable of waiting in line for food rings false to me, as kids must wait in line to do almost anything at WDW. While the new system will require some accommodations, like not waiting until kids are at their breaking point in terms of hunger and exhaustion before going to eat, I think that it's worth trying out.

 

[coltfan]

Unfortunately it sounds as though many people don't support the change. Therefore, it may not last as a result of too many people griping. Perhaps a happy medium would be to designate specific seating areas in Pecos Bills for people saving tables and people with food. The turnaround time for tables in the second group would be faster. If there isn't enough seating for the table savers, they may change their minds. The following tweak could be a compromise....

Perhaps in order to keep the ordering area clear, a tag could be issued once food is ordered. This tag would get you a table while you are waiting for the food. It would give the people with small children a chance to get bibs, sippy cups, etc ready and clear the ordering area faster. I welcome faster turnaround of tables at busy times.