Sharing Tables at Counter Service Restaurants

[fbarker]

On Tuesday, September 11, 2022, there was a brief discussion on WDW News and Discussion, about third parties sitting down at the table you are eating at because there is an open seat or seats to eat their meal. Some will ask and some will just sit down. There was quite a response in the chat area regarding this and I am just wondering what people think about this. I know that the it can be quite a challenge to find seating at times but is it appropriate to sit down at the table with people you don't know, and make them feel that you are invading their personal space. I am just wondering what everyone feelings are regarding this.

 

[leiaorgana]

This is a big no no for me. Meal times are our time to decompress and relax after being surrounded by people all day in queues, shops and just generally around the parks etc and I wouldn’t have a problem with telling someone not to do that if we were ever put in that position.

I’m just not into communal dining at all and tolerate Teppan Edo because the rest of my family enjoy dining there but I’ll always happily let someone wandering around with a tray of food know that we’re leaving and they can take the table when we’re done but just sitting down with someone else uninvited is incredibly rude in my eyes but I’m sure other people will disagree with that.

 

[maleficent55]

I would not like this

Our family talks about personal things, is making plans, looking at photos of the trip so far, and not making small talk with strangers

Hard pass

 

[Aimeedyan]

No doubt this happens during super busy times (which we avoid) but we grab QS at least once every couple of weeks, if not more, and have never had anyone ask to join us or join us without asking. I don't think it's common or maybe we just look incredibly unwelcoming

It'd be a no from me.

 

[Disneylover99]

I can’t imagine plunking myself down at someone else’s table and I would hope nobody would do that to me.

I’d definitely be willing to share if the place was packed though. Just ask first.

 

[unrequited23]

If there is enough space for buffer seats and the place is packed we've asked if we could sit before. We were a party of 8 at BOG back when lunch was CS. Two people were sitting at the end of a 12 top table about halfway through their meal. We asked if we could sit down, they said yes.

 

[dizneedoll]

I wouldn't like someone just sitting down but if its a longer table with space between me and the other people, and its really crowded and they ask politely, I don't mind. I have had people ask before and it was fine with me.

 

[Jangles]

If, for example, two people have chosen to sit at a table for 6 or more, I would politely ask whether they would mind if we joined them and think them extraordinarily rude and selfish if they refused. Maybe it is a British thing.

 

[DL1WDW2]

I have had strangers do this at even weirder places already .
H2O has their lounge chairs set up in a 4group and I am one towel.
Return to find a group of strangers to join in .
It doesn’t seem that strange after the first time it happened .
I guess it is the New way for society to behave with crowding, etc.
And agree , as I think about it , expecting one person to have 4 seats is selfish.
Funny how twistedCovid has made us all as we figure out re-joining .
One day No way Stay Away to We are all one ?
It’s so confusing!

 

[Curiousporpoise]

I’ve had this happen twice this year and it’s so strange. I was sitting at a table at Disneyland with my son, we had purchased food and drinks from docking bay 7 and were enjoying our lunch. My toddler son got up to say hi to some characters for a minute - a couple sat down in our seats and were chatting away like it was their seats. ETA - my double stroller was parked there too. I smiled and said ohhh hi, we were still sitting and eating there. They looked up at me like I had 2 heads and said oh do you want us to move? I said yes please, and they moved.

Second time was at Aulani and it was crowded. This family started putting their stuff on our chairs from behind the chair. There was a row of chairs behind us as well, and they just leaned over our chairs (while I was feeding my 2 kids) and also put their stuff on the bottom of the back of the chairs too. Didn’t say a word. I gave up the chair, but it was odd. They never came to sit on it, they just parked all of their stuff there. I have never put my things on a chair with someone else’s things on. I wasn’t about to fight about a pool chair, but how about you find one that people aren’t actively using??!

 

[Mary Pops In]

I have mixed feelings on the topic. We generally prefer to enjoy a family meal without interacting or sharing space with others. Working in NYC, at lunch time, I regularly offer seats to others and have had the same offered to me.
On a National Park trip, our family experienced a very rude encounter with a large group of international travelers. We're a family of 5 and my husband and 2 sons were seated at a table for 6. My daughter and I were a couple of minutes behind them since I had paid for our meals and stopped to grab napkins for us. As we were making the way to the table, a group of 15 -20 travelers split up and sat at 6 or 7 different tables. They did not have food and must have been waiting for others to bring their food. Additional members of their party stood hovering around tables waiting to pounce. 3 people sat at the table my husband was at. He explained, he was sorry, the seats were taken. The people ignored him. My daughter and I approached the table as this was happening. I politely asked if we could join our family. I realized there was a language barrier and motioned we were with the our family and would like to sit. They shook their head no and remained seated. As I looked around I saw other families facing the same situation.
Our 6 yo dd ended up sitting on my husband's lap, my teenaged son stood and ate so I could have a seat. It was an uncomfortable situation as they had loaded the table with personal belongings backpacks. We hurried through our meal as they casually chatted from table to table without any sign that food was on its way.

While this behavior may be acceptable in other countries or cultures, it put a damper on our meal and our feelings towards this group. It appeared to be a very typical practice and felt rude to us.

We do mention this occurence and laugh about it now. We weren't laughing at the time.

 

[Sparkly]

Going solo, I often allowed others to sit at my table because otherwise that would be selfish of me to take all that space up just for me. QS restaurants are so hard to find a free table at at peak times. I often ended up having nice chats with my table mates.

 

[sponica]

Probably depends on the scenario. If there's a group of two at a 6 or 8 top, I might ask if we can sit at the other end. If the tables are configured to seat large parties 12+ then i'd probably treat it like seating at a food festival and double check the seats aren't taken before sitting down.

 

[CraigInPA]

My wife and I (i.e., just the 2 of us) often join other parties of 2 adults sitting at tables for 6-8, but we always ask first!

 

[HopperFan]

When I was living/working in NYC it was common place to share tables at fast food locations. There simply isn't enough seating and no where to take it outside the restaurant in most areas. I also think it's more common place in other parts of the world - example Biergarten.

First off COVID has changed the world, maybe for the long term. No one should have to have strangers sit with them unless they signed up for it like Biergarten, Sci Fi or cruise dining rooms. No one should expect anyone to let them sit there even if they ask. Nothing rude about it, it isn't a 2-3 minute ride, it could be 30-45 minutes of close proximity. They aren't being rude, maybe just private, self protecting, health issues or introverted.

I went last month to Sci Fi and 2 of us were seated in the middle seat with two stranger couples in front and behind us. I know I signed up for it but over all the years we've been front or back seat with a family of four. The woman behind me was hacking up a lung the whole meal. Like inches from my neck. I washed up after but ............. sure enough I got sick about 3 days later which lasted a couple weeks. I have cancelled my Sci Fi for next week. I'm just more aware of health safety. I love Biergarten but as a party of two I don't think we'll be so lucky to get our own table.

I think my answer is how big is the table and how many are at it? Disney doesn't really put out a lot of tables for 2 - and most my trips it is just 2 of us. So we end up at tables for 4. If I were to take a table for 6 we would sit at the end and if someone asked that was 2 people I would be fine if they were the other end. I don't want anyone sitting next to me. At PizzeRizzo we sat at those LONG tables upstairs and had families sit at the other end. But it's set up for a wedding and rarely are there groups of 12+ for those banquet tables.

We try to never take a big table. And one reason why I like to go inside to order is to evaluate the seating before we get our food. We've gone in to packed places and so we leave. A couple times we have gone in and been seated so they put us at a size appropriate table.

But in the end no one should expect someone to let them sit with them for a variety of reasons BUT folks should never take a table that is for a much bigger party unless it is the only table left. Okay with 2 on a 4 or 4 on a 6 ...

 

[kanerf]

There are a number of QS locations that have picnic style tables. I don't think it is an issue for multiple parties to use these, otherwise there is not enough room. I always ask first of course.

 

[shh]

just as a Universal comparison, during busy events like Halloween Horror Nights when no advance reservations are accepted, some TS restaurants like Finnegans tell hostesses to ask people if they mind sharing with others when the guests request a table. Those that agree get tables much faster. Those that don't have much longer waits and in some cases, during extra busy nights, are told there is no more availability unless they are willing to share.

Note: this was pre-covid - back in 2018-19. Not sure if that still applies.

 

[Kingoglow]

No, it is not appropriate. I would be quite verbal about it while I stand up and remove them from my table.

They can request to take the empty chairs elsewhere if they want, but they do not get the pleasure of my company.

 

[mwmom]

In most cases, it is a hard no for me. As someone else said, that is our time to get away from the crowd, decompress, and regroup. My daughter has high anxiety so it is very important that we take these moments to ourselves, and often it is her only way to cope with the crowds. That said, if we sit at a long table and there is plenty of room to socially distance ourselves, I don't mind at all and wouldn't even expect that we get that whole table to ourselves. Or, if everything is going smoothly, I have been known to invite people to sit with us if we are almost finished. I just don't want to be put in a position of looking rude if I say no, so I prefer people not ask or just assume it is okay. I will invite you if it feels right at the moment.

 

[Brian Noble]

Anyone who asks if they can join us is welcome to do so. We often meet interesting people that way, and only infrequently are they "interesting," but even that is interesting.

I'm also one of those people who really enjoys eating at Biergarten or Teppan Edo as a couple and getting to know the others at my table, so YMMV.