An Unpleasant Experience at Yak and Yeti CS

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I put a lot of blame on Disney itself! A few years ago, there were benches around that you could rest your weary feet/body for a few minutes, then suddenly (seems like) there's not a bench to be found.

Sorry, people, but some folks need a rest once in awhile, and not just when they're eating a meal. There's not always a very uncomfortable stone wall available to sit on!!

Until, and if, (yeah, right, but don't hold your breath) Disney sees, and wants to rectify their error, outside (sometimes inside) table/chairs will be used for resting a bit.

I know earlier on in the thread there was at least one poster and probably another that said there were plenty of places to sit and while I know there are, they are in fewer quantities than before. More often it's a curb you find or a wall to at least lean up against or something rather than an actual bench.

 

[maxiesmom]

I know earlier on in the thread there was at least one poster and probably another that said there were plenty of places to sit and while I know there are, they are in fewer quantities than before. More often it's a curb you find or a wall to at least lean up against or something rather than an actual bench.

Much of the new seating is in the form of planters. It is fairly easy to find someplace to sit in MK and DS. AK and Epcot not so much.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Much of the new seating is in the form of planters. It is fairly easy to find someplace to sit in MK and DS. AK and Epcot not so much.

Agreed.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Much of the new seating is in the form of planters. It is fairly easy to find someplace to sit in MK and DS. AK and Epcot not so much.

Yes, both of those parks need additional seating.

 

[fla4fun]

How do you ride the bus/monorail, wait in line for a ride then? I mean really...how are you actually even in Disney World?
Something to think about the next time that excuse comes to mind.

I am an introvert also. In order to ride public transportation, I do not make eye contact with others unless absolutely necessary and I try to find a corner or spot as far from others as possible. I will be the one you see heading to the seat in the far back corner of the bus, and waiting until everyone else has left to exit. If it's really crowded, then I'm very uncomfortable until I can disembark. It feels a bit like claustrophobia, only it's the people, not the space, causing the anxiety. In lines at Disney, I leave space between myself and the party in front of me according to my comfort level on that day. However, I have shared my table at QS restaurants when it's busy. I just focus on my phone while I'm eating and find the other party will usually just go about their business as well. We don't have to interact just because we're at the same table. I don't think it has to be all one way or the other. You never know what the other person may be going through at the time (both the person at the table and the person wanting to be seated).

 

[Lisa F]

Ok, I'm going to ask even though I know l'll probably regret it: How do you manage a trip to WDW without standing in any line? Even with a DAS pass you have to stand in a line. Unless you are on a MAW trip there are lines.

I'm not arguing that all autistic kids can handle lines. But there are places to wait without being in line or at a table.

I'll answer this since my son is on the spectrum, but I am sure it is different for everyone.

He can handle lines in certain situations, but other situations are much more difficult. A fastpass return where he knows he will wait 10-15 minutes and you're moving quickly in a queue with stuff to look at and experience is ok. Usually they are pretty wide (unlike QS queues) and he can lean on me for sensory support as we go through the queue. Pooh was great with the actual sensory stuff for kids to touch but he can also sooth himself touching the textures on the walls and reading signs and other theming elements in a ride queue if it's not moving at the moment.

Character lines are very very difficult for him and we don't really do them except under extraordinary circumstances... like Nick Wilde and Judy Hops at the Christmas party, and it was a dicey 35 minutes. He did great... for him... but I know my little guy put everything he had into controlling himself, his body, his sensory discomfort being in that queue for that long. But we were at the MK one night when it was super crowded (late night between christmas parties) and he nearly melted down after 35 minutes in the Peter Pan FP+ queue because it was long, confined (he couldn't move around) and unexpected... he has an expectation about how long FP+ lines generally take and can handle it for that time. I do a lot of character meals with him because lines for the characters are so hard for him. I'd rather he use his energy keeping it together in a 15 minute FP+ queue than a 30 minute line to meet a character.

QS lines are crowded, confined, sensory overload, without any idea how long it is going to take (my son also has anxiety, as most kids on the spectrum do). There is nowhere for him to move, people are practically up his butt while he is waiting, the smell of food makes him realize he is hungry and there is no way to tell him how long it is going to be. It's a very difficult situation for him that I am hoping mobile ordering will alleviate and we will do a couple of QS meals on our trip. Generally I only do TS with him because he can spin to work off some of his anxiety/energy outside the restaurant if it is taking longer to get seated than expected, I can get beverages and bread pretty quickly while we wait to be served (or serve ourselves at a buffet) and he's most of all not confined in a small and crowded place while waiting. He will often get up when he is done eating and come put his arms around me and stand next to me while I finish because he needs the sensory input, and there is often room to do this at a TS restaurant without being in anyone's way. I prefer it if we can sit side by side rather than across because then he can just stay in his seat and lean with my arm around him but that necessitates a 4-top table or seating like at sci fi.

Every kid is different but that's mine. He also has how much he can handle for the day so I'd prefer he use his energy to keep himself composed in ride queues than in food queues, and make the meals relaxing breaks from everything else. I travel solo with him so I don't have the option to sit him down with someone else while I go and get the food but if I did I'd happily let him sit, decompress with some electronic thing and chill out rather than be herded in with the cattle in the QS lines where his senses are assaulted by all kinds of difficult to handle sensory inputs.

That said as a single mom the flip side is that because I have no one to hold a table for me, I am always the one juggling tray, food, beverages and child looking for a table that will be invariably dirty when I finally get one. Also I don't particularly care to sit with strangers as when I am having a meal I am decompressing myself from the overstimulation that is Disney and I am generally not in the mood to put the emotional effort into talking to strangers. So I basically have avoided QS like the plague, but we have a couple planned at off peak times who also have mobile ordering and I hope it will go better. But I'm sure I'll end up being sorry But we want to try Satul'i Canteen! We have done Biergarten as well and enjoyed our tablemates but that was a choice I made at that point to be social. I'd not be really happy if someone asked to sit with us but I would not refuse them. That said I have a pretty good resting witch face that seems to keep people away

 

[Lisa F]

I am. I have enough of my own issues. But at some point even doing all of the above there is still some waiting in line, right? I guess you can limit it as much as possible, but for a trip to a place such as WDW there is no way to totally avoid it.

as I said in a much more longwinded way, a lot of kids can tolerate some line waiting. The trick is to minimize it and not waste "line waiting capital" on stupid stuff, like waiting for food. A half hour waiting for food might impact his ability to wait on ride lines the rest of the day. I'd rather mealtimes be a break for both of us than another stressor to be managed. lines are unavoidable but you can spend the effort it takes for your autistic child to manage a line on things that are worth it. Anything that can be handled another way is. So it's not an absolute thing. Lines are hard for our kids, we try to minimize it and not do it any more than we have to. It's not that they can't wait in line at ALL, it's just that it's hard, takes a lot of effort on his part and mine so any time I can minimize it, I will, so he has the energy to put into waiting for something more fun than chicken nuggets. I hope that makes sense

 

[maxiesmom]

as I said in a much more longwinded way, a lot of kids can tolerate some line waiting. The trick is to minimize it and not waste "line waiting capital" on stupid stuff, like waiting for food. A half hour waiting for food might impact his ability to wait on ride lines the rest of the day. I'd rather mealtimes be a break for both of us than a stressor to be managed. lines are unavoidable but you can spend the effort it takes for your autistic child to manage a line on things that are worth it. Anything that can be handled another way is. So it's not an absolute thing. Lines are hard for our kids, we try to minimize it and not do it any more than we have to. It's not that they can't wait in line at ALL, it's just that it's hard, takes a lot of effort on his part and mine so any time I can minimize it, I will, so he has the energy to put into waiting for something more fun than chicken nuggets. I hope that makes sense

Thanks for taking the time to explain and not being offended. Makes perfect sense!

 

[Lisa F]

Thanks for taking the time to explain and not being offended. Makes perfect sense!

not at all! There are a lot of disabilities... both hidden and not so hidden... that make things difficult but not impossible for people and they have to choose what they spend their energy on. I was never particularly judgemental but since having my kiddo I am VERY non judgemental, knowing how I have been driven to the edge in certain situations and knowing what my child needs to function in a place like Disney. We have absolutely amazing vacations but I assure you that my child has no idea the amount of planning and orchestrating goes into making sure he is going to have a great time. All worth it if he has a great time, I have a great time!

I see both sides of the argument, why people would save tables vs. why it would annoy people that they do. I've been on both sides of it too. Unless Disney has a consistent policy and enforces it, no one is ever going to agree on what the right thing to do is. I am a pretty considerate person in general but when I travel alone with my son, I tend to focus on what is best for him rather than what is better for strangers. I'm not a complete jerk all the time but my focus is him rather than bending over backwards for everyone else all the time. So while it is more considerate to not take a table until you have your food, if it were easier for us for me to sit him down and deal with the food on my own, unless Disney prohibits it... (in which case it wouldn't matter because I bet that table turnaround would match food output flow a little bit better) then I'm going to sit him down. And I don't care much what strangers think of me doing that either. It's just not an option for me without another adult around. But I'm sure I'd also be cursing people under my breath for doing it when I'm looking for a table with my tray of food.

Realistically the only way is for Disney to set a rule and enforce it consistently. Otherwise people will do what is best for them... if what is best for them is what makes them feel like a good person and not get a table before they have their food, they will do that. If what is best for them is sitting down the whole family while a couple of people get food rather than deal with a flock of buzzing children in a crowded queue, they will do that. Absent direction from Disney it is what it is, and we all make our choices based on that. I choose to avoid the whole mess and am not bitter at other guests for doing what is best for themselves either... I have learned the hard way that I prefer TS.

 

[North of Mouse]

Actually, waiting for a table at CS has not been a large issue for us. We've been going to Disney since MK opened, and several years ago when the parks got so much busier and crowds became more of an issue, we started eating at off hours. Works better on vacation for us anyway.
We eat lunch about 11 ish, then eat early dinners. Sometimes we have to spend a couple min. finding a table, but that's about it.
I guess I really don't begrudge anyone sitting awhile after they've finished their meals and are having a 'regroup'!!

 

[Kaytie]

AK and Epcot not so much

Epcot: the wall outside Mouse Gears, facing the fountain. Back half of Innoventions West*, facing The Land. Lobby of American Adventure. Wall outside The Land. Garden behind England.

*Could be East, I'm bad with directions

 

[s.r.disney nut]

It’s outdoor seating, it’s randomly accessible to anyone. If someone wants a guaranteed place to sit without hassle that’s what TS are for. No need for all this back and forth arguing and negotiation. It’s in the title. Counter service ie: service ends at the counter.

I think you're wrong. It's outdoor seating for the QS, people shouldn't be sitting at those tables if they have no intention of eating that QS food.

 

[Moliphino]

I think you're wrong. It's outdoor seating for the QS, people shouldn't be sitting at those tables if they have no intention of eating that QS food.

I agree. Unless it's one of the QS places that are only open seasonally and it's not currently in operation (is Tomorrowland Terrace ever open, aside from parties?), then sure sit all you want.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

All of the tables were taken. Unfortunately a lot of them were taken by single people with no food “saving” the table.

1) You should have simply sat down at an empty seat at the "saved" table.
2) An open chair is an open chair.
3) We do this ALL THE TIME.
4) Once, a guest went to a manger, and the manger told them we have a right to use any chair. ***
5) The guest was upset and said a few "choice" woods to us, and we replied they could always stand-and-eat.
6) Thus, the problem was not the guest saving the seats, but yours for not taking the seats.
7) He who laughs last, laughs best.

** The same applies to "saved spaces" at parades. No such right exists at WDW.

 

[TeresaWen]

1) You should have simply sat down at an empty seat at the "saved" table.
2) An open chair is an open chair.
3) We do this ALL THE TIME.
4) Once, a guest went to a manger, and the manger told them we have a right to use any chair. ***
5) The guest was upset and said a few "choice" woods to us, and we replied they could always stand-and-eat.
6) Thus, the problem was not the guest saving the seats, but yours for not taking the seats.
7) He who laughs last, laughs best.

** The same applies to "saved spaces" at parades. No such right exists at WDW.

Really? If someone took my chair when it was empty because I was using the restroom or getting a drink I would not be a happy guest. Not a good idea encouraging people to just grab an empty seat without asking first. An empty seat is not an empty seat.

 

[piccolopat]

Don’t care what Disney calls it specifically. It’s a counter service dining situation. Just like any other setup where someone picks up their food at a counter then goes to find their own place to eat. No staff continue to serve them. My statement still stands, service ends at the counter.

If you were out walking and got tired, would you enter a McDonald's to rest, then sit down and not order anything?

 

[MIGrandma]

1) You should have simply sat down at an empty seat at the "saved" table.
2) An open chair is an open chair.
3) We do this ALL THE TIME.
4) Once, a guest went to a manger, and the manger told them we have a right to use any chair. ***
5) The guest was upset and said a few "choice" woods to us, and we replied they could always stand-and-eat.
6) Thus, the problem was not the guest saving the seats, but yours for not taking the seats.
7) He who laughs last, laughs best.

** The same applies to "saved spaces" at parades. No such right exists at WDW.

All I have to say to that is...WOW.

 

[Disneylover99]

1) You should have simply sat down at an empty seat at the "saved" table.
2) An open chair is an open chair.
3) We do this ALL THE TIME.
4) Once, a guest went to a manger, and the manger told them we have a right to use any chair. ***
5) The guest was upset and said a few "choice" woods to us, and we replied they could always stand-and-eat.
6) Thus, the problem was not the guest saving the seats, but yours for not taking the seats.
7) He who laughs last, laughs best.

** The same applies to "saved spaces" at parades. No such right exists at WDW.

Maybe one day you'll change your stance when you get up to get a ketchup package, a fork or a napkin and someone comes along and plops themselves down in your seat.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I'm just over here laughing at how bizarre it would be if 3 people are sitting at a 4 top in the middle of their meal and someone just sits down with them and starts eating. That's all I've been able to picture while reading some of these crazy posts.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Maybe one day you'll change your stance when you get up to get a ketchup package, a fork or a napkin and someone comes along and plops themselves down in your seat.

Plops down and starts eat. Your food. I mean you left it and all.

Crazy.