MK New Beak and Barrel - Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge

[LittleBuford]

So I have seen a LOT of complaints on Reddit about the seating methods at B&B - mainly that they aren't cognizant of seating "like" parties together. So folks that are there with their kids are seated with adults only groups, etc. A large number of people said it was really awkward as two adults when they got seated with a family of four or 5. I know that the 45 minute turn and the communal seating makes them be able to sell the place x times over what you could do with individual parties, but I will agree that this makes for awkward encounters if they aren't even taking the party types into consideration when they're seating folks.

I know for us we took our kids to Oga's last time because my son loves Star Wars and we wanted to do something special with him after he spent all day in line waiting for princesses/characters with his sister, and we got seated with a group of four - six adults (I can't remember) but it was extremely awkward, you could tell they didn't really want to be seated with kids, and on top of that, our server blatantly ignored us for almost the entire time we were in there (and I can only assume that was because he thought we wouldn't provide "value" since we'd be ordering non-alcoholic drinks). It was probably the worst experience I've ever had in a Disney dining establishment and it made me not want to go back to Oga's ever again. If Beak and Barrel is doing the same thing it will be a no-go for us because no one should have to sit through that awkwardness and strangeness while you're trying to enjoy your vacation.

I think this would be extraordinarily hard to manage, and (in my experience at least) what may seem like a logical combination of people does not necessarily lead to a more convivial dynamic than putting dissimilar groups together.

 

[Andrew C]

But were you assigned seats with them? That’s the unique part.

Cruise ships. Although it’s easier nowadays to ask for a private table.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

But were you assigned seats with them? That’s the unique part.

I guess it depends on what you mean by assigned. I would say (anecdotal evidence only) that most places I have been even if they have communal seating, you don't just walk in and seat yourself. A host of some form is going to greet you, ask how many are in your party, and bring you over to a place to sit. Even with communal seating the host/restaurant is still going to need to keep track of occupancy, making sure servers in certain sections aren't getting overwhelmed/under clientel, ect.

I will say other than the Cruise ship example Andrew C brought up, I don't have a lot of experience with places that are both communal seating AND require party reservations.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

You don't? Unless you are going to section the place off into an Adult Section vs Family section, having hosts keep track of the demo on who they are seating, or restricting reservations so you only have x number of family reservations or number of adult per seating period, and making sure that you don't have people getting stuck waiting long past their reservation time because you are seating too many adult parties vs family parties or vice versa seems pretty complicated to me for no real ROI? Seems a lot simpler to just be first come first serve, and if you don't like it, either wait for another table, or go someplace else.

You could have some areas/rooms set to be more focused for adults and others more for families. Obviously would be tough to be exact as some times maybe have a higher % of families than other

But for example, the room that just has standing room could be just for adults and another area is more for families and then central area is more mixed but at least this way if one groups really doesn't want to be at mixed seating they could wait babit longer for the dedicated area

I know at Oga's first time there they put us at a standing table and my kids weren't tall enough I reach it and it was pretty miserable. Next time they tried to do the same and we asked to not be there and would be willing to wait and they allowed that and then we got a booth and was a way better experience

Again,n don't think it can be perfect, but maybe some way to help out parties that are particularly sensitive to it

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Cruise ships. Although it’s easier nowadays to ask for a private table.

I’ve always gotten a private table…. Although it is usually so close to the next table it’s basically a communal table.

 

[Andrew C]

I’ve always gotten a private table…. Although it is usually so close to the next table it’s basically a communal table.

Ok. I really don’t have anything else to say. I provided an example where it’s common.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

You could have some areas/rooms set to be more focused for adults and others more for families. Obviously would be tough to be exact as some times maybe have a higher % of families than other

But for example, the room that just has standing room could be just for adults and another area is more for families and then central area is more mixed but at least this way if one groups really doesn't want to be at mixed seating they could wait babit longer for the dedicated area

I know at Oga's first time there they put us at a standing table and my kids weren't tall enough I reach it and it was pretty miserable. Next time they tried to do the same and we asked to not be there and would be willing to wait and they allowed that and then we got a booth and was a way better experience

Again,n don't think it can be perfect, but maybe some way to help out parties that are particularly sensitive to it

I think you could try to do something like that...maybe. I don't know how effective it would be, and i think it would be an added burden on the staff working there. Plus I just don't think its worth the time/expense for the small amount of hyper-sensitive people to it. If you are that concerned about being seated next to children....don't go to Disney. And if you are that concerned as a family with kids about being seated next to adults who are drinking....don't go into a pirate bar.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

I’ve always gotten a private table…. Although it is usually so close to the next table it’s basically a communal table.

Ok. I really don’t have anything else to say. I provided an example where it’s common.

Ok if you don't want to accept Cruise. How about any wedding, dinner event, charity outing, work function or anything else in a hall/catering setting that have large tables where unless you come in with a party of 8/10 yes you are going to have an assigned table/seat and you will not have control over who is seated with you

 

[Horizons '83]

Ok. I really don’t have anything else to say. I provided an example where it’s common.

Pretty common in most restaurants now. I actually like the communal tables for settings like Oga's or B&B. You get to meet new people and if you don't like them, its only for a drink or two

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Ok. I really don’t have anything else to say. I provided an example where it’s common.

I wasn’t really saying that to argue - I was even saying that while technically a private table, it’s basically a communal table since the tables are so close together. It’s that way in some New York City restaurants as well.

 

[DisneyHead123]

So I have seen a LOT of complaints on Reddit about the seating methods at B&B - mainly that they aren't cognizant of seating "like" parties together. So folks that are there with their kids are seated with adults only groups, etc. A large number of people said it was really awkward as two adults when they got seated with a family of four or 5. I know that the 45 minute turn and the communal seating makes them be able to sell the place x times over what you could do with individual parties, but I will agree that this makes for awkward encounters if they aren't even taking the party types into consideration when they're seating folks.

I know for us we took our kids to Oga's last time because my son loves Star Wars and we wanted to do something special with him after he spent all day in line waiting for princesses/characters with his sister, and we got seated with a group of four - six adults (I can't remember) but it was extremely awkward, you could tell they didn't really want to be seated with kids, and on top of that, our server blatantly ignored us for almost the entire time we were in there (and I can only assume that was because he thought we wouldn't provide "value" since we'd be ordering non-alcoholic drinks). It was probably the worst experience I've ever had in a Disney dining establishment and it made me not want to go back to Oga's ever again. If Beak and Barrel is doing the same thing it will be a no-go for us because no one should have to sit through that awkwardness and strangeness while you're trying to enjoy your vacation.

As someone with really significant social anxiety, I am not a fan of communal dining at all. That said, I do think Redditors are almost notoriously weird about kids. I totally understand there are many places where kids can ruin the ambiance, and I’m happy to avoid those places. But a loud pirate themed bar with parrot animatronics? It ain’t the opera. I feel like it’s weird when as a society we feel like children should be scuttled away never to be seen by childless adults. Most kids are actually cute and funny and less awkward than adults about chatting with people they don’t know. No need to quarantine them.

 

[Disney Analyst]

As someone with really significant social anxiety, I am not a fan of communal dining at all. That said, I do think Redditors are almost notoriously weird about kids. I totally understand there are many places where kids can ruin the ambiance, and I’m happy to avoid those places. But a loud pirate themed bar with parrot animatronics? It ain’t the opera. I feel like it’s weird when as a society we feel like children should be scuttled away never to be seen by childless adults. Most kids are actually cute and funny and less awkward than adults about chatting with people they don’t know. No need to quarantine them.

As well... of all the places I would expect to potentially interact with children... it would be at a Disney park...

 

[LittleBuford]

As someone with really significant social anxiety, I am not a fan of communal dining at all. That said, I do think Redditors are almost notoriously weird about kids. I totally understand there are many places where kids can ruin the ambiance, and I’m happy to avoid those places. But a loud pirate themed bar with parrot animatronics? It ain’t the opera. I feel like it’s weird when as a society we feel like children should be scuttled away never to be seen by childless adults. Most kids are actually cute and funny and less awkward than adults about chatting with people they don’t know. No need to quarantine them.

The aversion seems to work both ways, as the poster you're responding to doesn't like being seated with childless groups.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I think you could try to do something like that...maybe. I don't know how effective it would be, and i think it would be an added burden on the staff working there. Plus I just don't think its worth the time/expense for the small amount of hyper-sensitive people to it. If you are that concerned about being seated next to children....don't go to Disney. And if you are that concerned as a family with kids about being seated next to adults who are drinking....don't go into a pirate bar.

That is definitely the best path .. and hopefully though just if someone really doesn't want to be seated where they are headed they, politely, say something and indicate willing to wait for a different spot - and not make a scene/burden the CM or anything

 

[Disney Analyst]

The aversion seems to work both ways, as the poster you're responding to doesn't like being seated with childless groups.

Honestly, I think everyone just needs to get over it.

My partner and I got one of those big booths at Oga's when we visited Disneyland last year, and were sat next to a big family on the other side. We smiled and nodded when we first sat, and then everyone did their own thing, without interaction.

It's clear these spaces require communal seating, and so if someone does not want that, or if they are too introverted for it, they either need to request at check in some sort of alternative option if available, or look elsewhere.

You're at a Disney park, you will interact with kids, adults, and sometimes Daisy Duck.

 

[HauntedPirate]

"They're getting rid of Splash!" Response - "Get over it"

"They're getting rid of RoA and TSI!" Response - "Get over it"

"They're forcing guests into communal seating!" Response - "Get over it"

"Prices keep going up with nothing to show for it!" Response - "Get over it"

Maybe the response is actually the problem.

 

[Chi84]

"They're getting rid of Splash!" Response - "Get over it"

"They're getting rid of RoA and TSI!" Response - "Get over it"

"They're forcing guests into communal seating!" Response - "Get over it"

"Prices keep going up with nothing to show for it!" Response - "Get over it"

Maybe the response is actually the problem.

Nobody’s “forcing” guests into communal seating. Biergarten has had it forever. It’s just the set up for these particular bars.

 

[LittleBuford]

"They're getting rid of Splash!" Response - "Get over it"

"They're getting rid of RoA and TSI!" Response - "Get over it"

"They're forcing guests into communal seating!" Response - "Get over it"

"Prices keep going up with nothing to show for it!" Response - "Get over it"

Maybe the response is actually the problem.

But your comparison doesn’t hold. It’s not like the venues in question switched policies; they’ve always “forced” guests into communal seating. Those who don’t like such an arrangement have plenty of other (non-communal) options to choose from.

 

[Basil of Baker Street]

I feel once the newness wears off, this will be a non issue.

 

[Prince-1]

I feel once the newness wears off, this will be a non issue.

It already is a non issue.