You've been waiting under the menu for 10 mins, could you not have decided then?

[Rob562]

Oh gosh...I"m one of those people!! LOL! I never knew it wasn't acceptable to have someone in your party hold a table while you get the food. I figure if I'm in line buying food, I've committed to eating there, so shouldn't I be able to save a table (ha, that rhymes) so I have a place to sit and eat it once I get through the line?

I don't have a problem with grabbing a table if the restaurant is below half-full and there are plenty of empty tables.

But at some point the restaurant gets crowded to the point where table-savers start taking up a significant percentage of the tables in the place. They keep tables from "turning over" and the intended rate. At some point you reach a theoretical "critical mass" where no one leaving the counter with food can find seats.

The problem is exacerbated by people walking in, seeing others saving tables and think that they should save one too. In theory, if *no one* saved tables then there would be no need to save a table to begin with... The trouble would be to get Guests into that mind-set. That's when Disney starts instituting the "only people with food" rules at places like Pecos Bill's.

And getting back to the original topic, I can relate to the earlier toll booth story. I was a toll collector here in Massachusetts for a summer back in college. It was amazing the number of people who got to the toll booth and *then* realized they had a ticket they had to hand over, or that they had to pull out their wallet. It was even more exasperating when the cars were backed up 10 deep and the person had been sitting in line for a couple minutes...

-Rob

 

[Gomer]

I don't have a problem with grabbing a table if the restaurant is below half-full and there are plenty of empty tables.

But at some point the restaurant gets crowded to the point where table-savers start taking up a significant percentage of the tables in the place. They keep tables from "turning over" and the intended rate. At some point you reach a theoretical "critical mass" where no one leaving the counter with food can find seats.

The problem is exacerbated by people walking in, seeing others saving tables and think that they should save one too. In theory, if *no one* saved tables then there would be no need to save a table to begin with... The trouble would be to get Guests into that mind-set. That's when Disney starts instituting the "only people with food" rules at places like Pecos Bill's.

And getting back to the original topic, I can relate to the earlier toll booth story. I was a toll collector here in Massachusetts for a summer back in college. It was amazing the number of people who got to the toll booth and *then* realized they had a ticket they had to hand over, or that they had to pull out their wallet. It was even more exasperating when the cars were backed up 10 deep and the person had been sitting in line for a couple minutes...

-Rob

I don’t think it would be a problem if Disney decided to enforce this. But, if they did it would be in their best interest to plan an alternate waiting area for families.
Either my wife or I will usually grab a seat with my two kids while the other orders food. I didn’t know this was even an issue until I read this thread. (Note: We usually eat early or late to avoid crowds, so I’ve never even seen any cast members asking people to not sit without food). Now, if we didn’t have that option, we are basically left with two alternatives.

1. Stand away from a table hovering in other people’s space.

2. The whole family gets on line causing chaos and congestion in the queue area and slowing down the ordering process for everyone.

Neither of those alternatives are all that great. Now if they had a waiting to be seated area like they do for table service locations, I’d be more than happy to wait with my kids there until we had our food. Having those dedicated areas would also make it easier for cast to direct customers to a waiting area. But right now those places don’t exist.

 

[mergatroid]

I don’t think it would be a problem if Disney decided to enforce this. But, if they did it would be in their best interest to plan an alternate waiting area for families.
Either my wife or I will usually grab a seat with my two kids while the other orders food. I didn’t know this was even an issue until I read this thread. (Note: We usually eat early or late to avoid crowds, so I’ve never even seen any cast members asking people to not sit without food). Now, if we didn’t have that option, we are basically left with two alternatives.

1. Stand away from a table hovering in other people’s space.

2. The whole family gets on line causing chaos and congestion in the queue area and slowing down the ordering process for everyone.

Neither of those alternatives are all that great. Now if they had a waiting to be seated area like they do for table service locations, I’d be more than happy to wait with my kids there until we had our food. Having those dedicated areas would also make it easier for cast to direct customers to a waiting area. But right now those places don’t exist.

Some good points and there's arguments on both sides.

 

[bethymouse]

We always choose before getting in line. Granted, there's only 4 of us.

 

[4disneylovers]

I agree with Gomer in theory large groups or groups with small children find a table so they aren't adding to congestion in the ordering area. We all know that when we turn around with our tray of food there is bound to be at least one person standing there in the exit looking at us Making it so we cannot get through. No harm if there r plenty of tables.

 

[Matt_Black]

Here's a story- December 2012, my mom, my sister and I get in line at the Main Street Bakery for some deliciousness before it goes away (*SNIFF*). We get our food and go to find a table; we find one, but it only has two chairs. I go to find a seat for myself. I see a gentleman sitting at a table by himself, no food, but he's got numerous extra chairs. I politely ask if I may have one, to which he gives a very curt no. Because he was a jerk.

 

[JillC LI]

People can now pull up menus on the My Disney Experience App. There's absolutely no reason to hold things up in line.

As I noted above, I am one of those people who always requires that everyone in the family know what they want before getting to the front of the line. However, I would like to point out that your suggestion above would not work for me because I am one of the last holdouts on owning a smartphone.

 

[epcotisbest]

Mickey Mouse popped out of my mind onto a drawing pad 20 years ago on a train ride from Manhattan to Hollywood at a time when business fortunes of my brother Roy and myself were at lowest ebb and disaster seemed right around the corner.
Walt Disney

What in the world does this have to do with this thread? Are you just posting stuff randomly?

 

[thomas998]

Still one of my pet hates, just spent 3 weeks in (not quite so) sunny Orlando and whether in drinks queues or food ones I invariably end up behind these people. I've started saying out loud to my wife "Make sure you know what you want before we see the cast member, don't want to hold the queue up" so those in front of us hear in the hope they'll get the not so discreet hint, they usually don't

My only pet peeve related to that is people trying to give me a hint on what they want me to do by talking loudly to someone else.... In your situation I can guarantee that while I would normally have known exactly what I wanted before I even entered the queue, just to be nice I would ask lots of questions about the food and how good it, why I might even just tell the cast member that it was wonderful day and ask them where they were from... all to annoy the person that thought they could manipulate me with a not so subtle hint...

So be warned, trying to manipulate someone could result in the opposite effect you are hoping for. You might be better off just trying to be happy.

 

[thomas998]

I work in food and am the one to take orders. We have menus that you can look at while waiting in line but no one wants to do that, they rather talk to each other instead of figuring out what they want. What is worse then people not knowing what they want are the ones that are rude to me when I ask to take their order. I get snippy responses like "well can I look first", or "just wait, I haven't decided yet". Well people you have had 10 min in line to look and decide. These same type of people complain about the line but do not realize they contribute to it.

You know you are getting paid by the hour not the customer. So frankly it shouldn't matter to you if the person is ready or not, it doesn't impact your pay at all... and if you are scheduled to be there taking order from 10 to 2, then you will be there from 10 to 2 whether you are waiting on a line for of slow people or overly hurried people... and time passes by the same regardless of who the customers are.

 

[SagamoreBeach]

At the CBR, this past March, breakfast was unusually busy...and the line was moving very slowly. The lady and 3 or 4 year old waited until they reached the counter for mama to ask...Honey, what do you want? A pancake or waffle? Some fruit? How about juice? All the while the kid is chewing on the edge of the counter and not giving an answer. I yelled over mama's shoulder....May I place my order while precious decides what she wants? Mama was not happy because the CM took my order. I saw this scenario played out many times in different situations throughout my vacation. Is it a lack of concern for others? Or could it be the attitude that it's "my turn" now and to heck with you?
-T

 

[thomas998]

At the CBR, this past March, breakfast was unusually busy...and the line was moving very slowly. The lady and 3 or 4 year old waited until they reached the counter for mama to ask...Honey, what do you want? A pancake or waffle? Some fruit? How about juice? All the while the kid is chewing on the edge of the counter and not giving an answer. I yelled over mama's shoulder....May I place my order while precious decides what she wants? Mama was not happy because the CM took my order. I saw this scenario played out many times in different situations throughout my vacation. Is it a lack of concern for others? Or could it be the attitude that it's "my turn" now and to heck with you?
-T

Its really a matter of some people don't see the need to rush things when they are on vacation. I spend the time during a normal work day rushing like mad, when I'm on vacation I'm not going to worry about time, not my time or your time... so take a moment to relax and remember your on a vacation so chill a little... otherwise why did you even bother to go on vacation in the first place.

 

[mergatroid]

You know you are getting paid by the hour not the customer. So frankly it shouldn't matter to you if the person is ready or not, it doesn't impact your pay at all... and if you are scheduled to be there taking order from 10 to 2, then you will be there from 10 to 2 whether you are waiting on a line for of slow people or overly hurried people... and time passes by the same regardless of who the customers are.

Yes I'm pretty certain that the person working there knows this, but it's good of you to patronise them by telling them on here anyhow. I believe the poster who works there probably has a better understanding of customer service than yourself though. They see long lines developing fueled no doubt by people taking their time deciding what they want at the last second rather than looking and deciding whilst queuing. They see tired, thirsty and hungry people waiting longer and do their best to try to make that wait a little less. They probably think wouldn't it be nice if this family could spend less time waiting in here and more time enjoying the attractions in this possibly once in a life time vacation?

Or maybe next time you're kept waiting in line for a ride by a cm who seems extremely slow or meet a rude one you'll just think to yourself "That's ok why should he bother, he gets paid regardless of how quickly he does his job"

 

[FettFan]

You know....each of these menus is available online. Just whip out your phone and take a looksee.

But, you know how it is. That would actually take effort. [rolling_eyes]

 

[SagamoreBeach]

Its really a matter of some people don't see the need to rush things when they are on vacation. I spend the time during a normal work day rushing like mad, when I'm on vacation I'm not going to worry about time, not my time or your time... so take a moment to relax and remember your on a vacation so chill a little... otherwise why did you even bother to go on vacation in the first place.

I think your response was less than honest. Who has an infinite number of hours/days to spend on vacation? Bill Gates? Maybe. Certainly not me. And I'm certain that YOU did not pay good hard earned money that YOU earned rushing like mad during a normal work day only to spend it behind an indecisive 3 year old and her indulging mother. And I usually choose to relax by a pool holding a drink with a little umbrella in it, or at a card table, or with a good book or sharing a coffee with a good friend. NOT standing in a breakfast line at Disney.

 

[Victor Kelly]

I think your response was less than honest. Who has an infinite number of hours/days to spend on vacation? Bill Gates? Maybe. Certainly not me. And I'm certain that YOU did not pay good hard earned money that YOU earned rushing like mad during a normal work day only to spend it behind an indecisive 3 year old and her indulging mother. And I usually choose to relax by a pool holding a drink with a little umbrella in it, or at a card table, or with a good book or sharing a coffee with a good friend. NOT standing in a breakfast line at Disney.

I am in agreement with this 100%. Just because one person or several are in a la-di-da mindset does not mean the rest of us are. The menus are simple, not complex even with the dining plan. Burgers, fries, chips, fish, chicken, hotdogs, drinks. That is it in a nutshell. Fiddling with your electronic gadgets for 20 minutes in line, then not being able to make a decision or have a decision made will get those behind you fuming.

Yet another example. My wife and I were deciding what to get at a place in the mall we had never eaten at. A lot of stuff on the menu, all of it looked good. We stood there for 15 minutes trying to figure out what we wanted BEFORE we got in line. Then we got in line and placed our order. It is common courtesy. Y'all people that think the earth and its inhabitants revolve around you and your darlings need to wake up and learn that everyone needs to wait in line, everyone needs to follow the rules, and everyone needs to put down the electronic whatchmajigs and figure out what you want before you get there.

 

[Victor Kelly]

You know you are getting paid by the hour not the customer. So frankly it shouldn't matter to you if the person is ready or not, it doesn't impact your pay at all... and if you are scheduled to be there taking order from 10 to 2, then you will be there from 10 to 2 whether you are waiting on a line for of slow people or overly hurried people... and time passes by the same regardless of who the customers are.

Wrong bucko. The lack of consideration for other people is a huge problem in the US and is frankly the reason many people do not like Americans. People with your attitude keep the problem behavior going.

 

[4disneylovers]

Its really a matter of some people don't see the need to rush things when they are on vacation. I spend the time during a normal work day rushing like mad, when I'm on vacation I'm not going to worry about time, not my time or your time... so take a moment to relax and remember your on a vacation so chill a little... otherwise why did you even bother to go on vacation in the first place.

I'm sorry I don't agree with you. I am considerate of others if I am at work, the store or on vacation. I think others should be considerate of me as well. I agree with the fact that I worked hard to earn the money to get to Disney. I don't expect my time to be wasted by someone being inconsiderate.

 

[jaklgreen]

You know you are getting paid by the hour not the customer. So frankly it shouldn't matter to you if the person is ready or not, it doesn't impact your pay at all... and if you are scheduled to be there taking order from 10 to 2, then you will be there from 10 to 2 whether you are waiting on a line for of slow people or overly hurried people... and time passes by the same regardless of who the customers are.

As you said I get paid by the hour so its all the same to me if someone is slow or not but there are plenty of people who are on their lunch break that need to get back to work. These are the people that I try to keep the line moving for. Plus no business wants to be know as the place that takes forever to get your food. It is good business to get as many people in and out as possible. Keeping the line moving is good for everyone. It is very rude and inconsiderate to hold up other people because you are too self centered to get your stuff together and order your food.

 

[SSH]

So here's that John Pinette comedy bit I mentioned earlier..."Get Out of the Line!"
PERFECT for this thread - just too funny.