Dining Solo--Table Service--What do you do?

[figment814]

I am doing my first solo trip, and actually have planned a lot of TS meals, and I'm not quite sure what I'll do with myself! Just looking to see what other people do?! Comments appreciated!

[broberts]

I would say all of the above.

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

I tend to play with my cell phone and text my partner while I am waiting. I enjoy people watching and visual exploration of the restaurant's details too. I am a geek and take a "trip buddy" with me, so sometimes I take the opportunity to take a silly photo of the "trip buddy" with the menu or the food.

I am an only child. I can entertain myself fairly well. ;)

[Donald is #1]

I tend to read, but people watching would be my second choice.

[MyMuse]

I just came back today and I did two TS meals and counter service the rest of the time.

I usually wrote in my travel journal. And/or toke some pictures.

My waiter in Rose & Crown constantly came over and spoke with me; even the head chef came out! :goodvibes

I wasn't any problem at all!

[figment814]

I am an only child. I can entertain myself fairly well. ;)

Well that explains why I'm apprehensive, I'm the youngest and used to being entertained!:cool1:


I tend to read, but people watching would be my second choice.

I kind of thought I would do a blend of these...but...

I just came back today and I did two TS meals and counter service the rest of the time.

I usually wrote in my travel journal. And/or toke some pictures.

My waiter in Rose & Crown constantly came over and spoke with me; even the head chef came out! :goodvibes

I wasn't any problem at all!

I totally forgot about writing a travel journal...I've done this on other trips! And I am eating at Rose and Crown , maybe I'll get to meet the chef too!

[Mrs.Reese]

I LOVE to people watch but then again I also enjoy eating alone.

[Cheshire Figment]

I will always bring something to read. But I do get involved in people-watching to some extent, especially if I hear an interesting conversation.

[SoloFriendly]

I usually write notes on what I've done so far that day in my journal.

[jordancej]

Im in the "other" category, i usually bring a small notebook and just write about my day, but since i got a blackberry, i use that now... and i do take pictures, put its of my food, i dont bring a book or mag, i dont want to tote that around all day....

[Kat73]

I thought I'd take my trip journal with me and had several books I knew would fit into my hipster. Wound up texting my best friend the majority of the time. She was off of work the same week but unable to travel with me, so things worked out great. If she hadn't been able to talk so much, I'd have taken a book or my trip journal, depending on if I was in the mood to write or read for the day.

[disneylove69]

I like to bring a book or magazine. It seems it is the only time i get to enjoy this hobby.

[Simba's Mom]

I alternate among jotting notes about my trip, people-watching, and playing my portable sudoku puzzles. Whenever I'm solo, I always ask politely for a table with a good view for seeing things going on and I always get either a window seat, a tank-side table at Coral Reef, etc. And for people-watching, you can't beat a character meal!

[TheTexasKid]

I would say all of the above.

What broberts says. except for take pictures

[Continuum]

I'll be going on my first solo trip but I've not been concerned what I'll do eating by myself. I might include a puzzle book in my bag to bring out but I'll probably do a lot of people watching. Maybe talk to the waiter/waitress if they aren't too busy.

[Jill in Chicago]

I have something to read. I have never traveled alone to Disney, but have often eaten dinner out alone at other times. I always find the servers to be extra nice to me, often standing/kneeling by my table and chatting, asking me about my travel...

[Amysita]

At a casual TS place...I will chat it up with the friendliest looking bunch of people at a table near me, people watch, take in the whole experience with all of my senses. Someplace a little more formal...I will opt to sit at the bar. Bartenders will keep you company...that's their job. Just like previous poster...I'm an only child and can easlity entertain myself and am used to having to reach out to others for convo...and overall I am quite comfortable being solo.

[gatordoc]

I've never been uncomfortable dining solo, Disney or otherwise. I usually just take in the ambiance and watch people. I've had some interesting conversations with waitstaff as well, though not so often with other diners. I'll occasionally check things on my iPhone (email, etc.) or read something light like a newspaper or magazine, but generally am not one to bring along a book (I like to devote full time and attention to those). It's also a good time to look at guidemaps (even though I pretty much have them memorized), plan out the rest of the day, etc.

[Joanna71985]

I'm used to dining solo at WDW (I do it all the time). I usually just people-watch while waiting for the food, or waiting to go up to the buffet. Or, if it's a character meal, I'll wait for the characters to stop by.

[jstarcze]

I usually book buffets when I can get them. That way there's not a lot of waiting time. Also some restaurants have entertainment like the Moroccan Restaurant at Epcot. At other times I read or people watch as others have suggested. But lately I have been bringing the puzzle page from USA Today or out local paper and doing the puzzles while I wait. Hope this helps

[Racknack]

I always enjoy my solo meals at WDW, but if you want company while eating, you might want to eat at Germany (Biergarten) or Japan (Teppan Edo) in Epcot. Another spot where I've always enjoyed the company is at the United Kingdom (Rose & Crown Pub) where I stand around with a beer and look sad until a party with an empty seats invites me to sit. (Unless there's a rare empty table, in which case I have a seat and invite someone else who is looking for a seat to join me.)

:wizard: Karnak

[fhtpdw20]

Just came back from solo trip. I chose restaurant where you could be entertained. People watching is fun at 50 Prime Time (especially if they are getting into trouble) or you could watch TV with your meal. Sci-Fi would be another good choice to watch the movie. I did lunch at Chef De France so I could see Remy. He is an audioanimatronic character that is wheeled through the restaurant during lunch. You could ask to be seated at a window too.