Quick Service Seating Rules in Effect

[darthmacho]

For better or worse, it's sad that it comes down to this, isn't it?

[ElenitaB]

I'm glad that someone brought up Cosmic Ray's. It's one place that I've hesitated to go back to, because when my son was small, as a single mom, I had no choice but to take him on line with me to get our food and then try to find a table. It's basically impossible at Cosmic Ray's and more than once, we had to eat outside on a bench because so many tables were taken up by people waiting for their food to arrive. It was very frustrating (and even harrowing when you're trying to carry cups of soda without spilling them). Same deal at Electric Umbrella though there does seem to be more seating available there if you're willing to go outside.

So what's the happy medium? What would people suggest to ensure that all guests are able to sit and enjoy a hot meal?

[NokOnHarts]

I see what they're trying to do but I think it's silly either way. CS is the equivalent of Fast Food. I don't know of any fast food restaurants that dictate how or when or why you get a table. If Disney was serious about this, they need to create a waiting area for all these families and children to be able to SIT while the one adult gets the food. Expecting hoards of people to wait in a line of a small restaurant or standing around crowding the walkways is again, silly. They need to think this one all the way through if they want it to work successfully.

[joonyer]

Which is worse, having to stand in line or wait somewhere other than a table while someone else in your party goes to purchase your meals?
OR,
Having to stand around with a tray full of food AFTER you have already paid for your meal, waiting on a table to empty while their are plenty of tables occupied by people who haven't purchased their food yet?

Which seems more unfair?
It seems like an easy answer to me.

[TheVBs]

Usually I get in line while DH and the DDs sit down at a table. However, we always go off-peak season, and usually off-peak eating times as well, so we've never done this when the place was packed. There are always more tables available.

I can definitely see how frustrating it would be to have your food and have no hope of getting a table to eat it at. I'm optimistic about this new system as long as they provide space for family to wait. It wouldn't be a big deal if we all got in line, but it seems kind of pointless to take up that much space in the line when we don't need to.

[Goes4FastPass]

This needs less structure. We never have any problem finding and choosing a table at Pecos Bill's or Cosmic Ray' because we don't insist on eating at exactly 12 noon.

The next time your gang balks at being at the MK for 8am EMH do what I did. Breakfast bars then go go go from 8am to 11am and walk into Peco's Bill's at 11am. You'll feel like you have to ask, "Are you open?" Then enjoy your lunch as the place fills up. The Last time I did this with my wife's family, as we were leaving the restaurant my MIL noticed the long lines to order food and the full restaurant and turned to me and said, "So THAT'S why we ate lunch at 11am!"

[Mickey'sGirl]

This needs less structure. We never have any problem finding and choosing a table at Pecos Bill's or Cosmic Ray' because we don't insist on eating at exactly 12 noon.

The next time your gang balks at being at the MK for 8am EMH do what I did. Breakfast bars then go go go from 8am to 11am and walk into Peco's Bill's at 11am. You'll feel like you have to ask, "Are you open?" Then enjoy your lunch as the place fills up. The Last time I did this with my wife's family, as we were leaving the restaurant my MIL noticed the long lines to order food and the full restaurant and turned to me and said, "So THAT'S why we ate lunch at 11am!"

That's pretty much how we do it too.

That said, I think the new system is has great potential for solving the seating issue. The challenge at Disney is that most people in there are going to want to grab some food during the day. If famililes have pitched their tents at the available tables for long periods before they even get their food, then while they eat, there will not be enough tables for everyone. It's pretty simple to see how to reduce this effect.