MK Restaurants testing new seating program About This Page:

[Shell_of_the_South]

Here's something interesting: at 4 MK counter service restaurants, Disney is testing a new program: guests are only allowed access to the seating areas when they have received their food. No more allowing part of your party to find a seat while the others order food.

Disney dining: Magic Kingdom eateries test seating program -- OrlandoSentinel.com

The test program is being implemented at Pecos Bill's, Columbia Harbour House, Pinocchio Village Haus and Cosmic Ray's.

I'm not sure how helpful this would be for families with small children. It's so much easier for one parent to sit down and get the kids situated while the other brings the food. According to the article guests really seem to like it.

[wayneava81]

I like the idea of handing the menu out.I hate when someone waits till they
get to the cashier to decide to look up at the menu.

[Colexis Mom]

I think it's a great idea! There is nothing more frustrating than walking around with a tray full of food, and no place to go!

[PamelaK]

I like the idea personally. I like the idea of being able to check out the menu before you get to the counter. (I often have a hard time reading the board until I get close to the cashier.) I also like the idea of having someone help us find a table.

[pita]

We'll see how it works out. I have a family of 5 and ordering at meal time can get harry. I like to get a pre-order from the kids then get into line with one helper while the other ones get a table, napkins, condiments, etc....

But who knows...it might end up being easier the Disney way.

[CinderAbby]

I like the menus - they had them last year and I found it really helpful as even with my glasses, I had trouble reading the overhead ones. As for everyone waiting in line - that only adds to congestion IMO. The lines are not meant for large parties to wait together. And for us, Lenny uses the scooter. And that won't fit at I'd say a good 99 percent of the lines.

[Griffin]

This happened to us when we went to Pinocchio's last week. Though they let Renee and Bradley sit down cause he was in a stroller at the time and I was standing in line after ordering the food...They seem to use alot of CMs for this new system.

[Carousel96]

I'm not sold until I try it. Having been to WDW with a young child, I think it worked better for one of us to get out of the way and only one of us to go through the food line. Strollers are not the most efficient use of line space.

[daddyof2princessess]

WOW! The idea sounds great, but it scares me. It leaves me with just one question. Those hundreds of people that once went searching for a seat are going to be where now? In the line? Standing in the middle? Ok, so like three questions .

[Ransom]

I like everything they're trying, except for the stools. I really feel much more comfortable in a chair that has a back on it. I really don't want to have to deal with muscle spasms as I try to eat.

But other than that, it looks like they're heading in the right direction with this one.

[Jennifer2003]

We saw the menus at Pinocchio's last week when we were there but no one directed us to a table.

[magic mickey]

Having a DH in a wheelchair that needs to be pushed to the table will not be easy with a tray full of food. I would hope they take into consideration the difficulty of this.

[Timothy Mouse]

Must be a brand new addition to Cosmic Ray's. I ate there on the 27th and there was no greeter or person directing us to our seats.

This is something I'll have to try before I form a final opinion. With an active 4-year old, it's much easier for us to have one parent ordering food for everyone while the other parent and child try to find a table and get settled in.

[PamelaK]

Originally Posted by magic mickey

Having a DH in a wheelchair that needs to be pushed to the table will not be easy with a tray full of food. I would hope they take into consideration the difficulty of this.

Oh, good point. I had not thought of this. DD will be using her wheelchair at WDW for the first time next month. (That feels REALLY good to say...."Next month".) She can wheel herself or DBF or I can push her while the other carries the food. However, for those that don't have the luxury of an extra person to help carry and/or push, it could be difficult. I imagine that Disney would have thought of this (and the single parents that take their young kids) and would have someone there to help out.

[MickeyWatch]

I think this is a great idea since it will avoid the dreaded walking around with a couple of trays waiting for someone to get up so you can grab their table!