A poll for solo travellers: Where do you dine mostly?

[Bete]

I'm doing my first solo trip in December. I think I'm leaning toward food court for breakfast; because, you can do it before the parks open. For late lunch or early dinner at the parks I think I'll be doing mostly CS. I think both ways are just quicker and gives me more time to enjoy the parks. I will do one TS for the CP at Epcot; so, I can get reserved seating there for the event. I'm leaning towards the Biergarten for it; because, I can be with a group there, as oppose, to being alone.

I would not do the dining plan as a solo traveller. I wouldn't want to be locked in to a TS meal each day.

I would like to hear how other solo travellers do it, too.

 

[Quacktatty]

I do mostly CS and Food Court. I do have 3 ADRs for my upcoming trip and that would be about my limit even if I did have people I was going with. In general I'd rather eat CS on any given day.

 

[suzimar57]

whenever i've gone solo, i've usually had breakfast in the food court we're i'm staying - lunch/dinner is a CS in whatever park i'm in - only exceptions are lunch at Sci-Fi (dark, in a car, facing a movie screen) and tea at the GF (earliest seating - like the girlie-ness of it all!)

 

[BriarRosie]

I didn't vote because there was no option for a combo of quick service (which I feel the food courts fall into) and table service.

I like to mix it up, and I will dine solo at table service. The places that seem "single friendly" often have open kitchen dining counters:

California Grill
Jiko
Flying Fish

But, I've eated at 50's Prime Time solo for lunch (both at a table and at the Tune In Lounge), and other places, as well. I've done the afternoon tea at the GF as a solo, and that was nice to relax solo.

Then again, I have no problem dining out solo here at home, and I will go to the movies alone, too. I know that doing these things solo is a big hurdle for many people to jump.

 

[jwfla422]

I didn't vote because there was no option for a combo of quick service (which I feel the food courts fall into) and table service.

I like to mix it up, and I will dine solo at table service. The places that seem "single friendly" often have open kitchen dining counters:

California Grill
Jiko
Flying Fish

But, I've eated at 50's Prime Time solo for lunch (both at a table and at the Tune In Lounge), and other places, as well. I've done the afternoon tea at the GF as a solo, and that was nice to relax solo.

Then again, I have no problem dining out solo here at home, and I will go to the movies alone, too. I know that doing these things solo is a big hurdle for many people to jump.

I agree with the 3 restaurants mentioned above. Although it's usually myself and my 9 yr old dd whenever we dine at Jiko or FF (which we love) we try to sit by the "Cooking Place" or Open Kitchen. The chefs at FF are very friendly and many times we have gotten "samples" from them to taste! (great way of trying new foods without ordering a whole order!) If I were solo I would definitely go to these same places and food is excellent at both! I know CG is also very good, it's been a while since we've been there.

Oh and another very good dining experience that has a bar/open kitchen area is the Blue Zoo. Very good food and a nice atmosphere.

 

[PaulaSB12]

I used the food court for breakfast, counter services for lunch and ts service for dinner with 1 dinner at Victoria and Alberts main dining room with the chefs menu. I felt comfortable at all of them and enjoyed a couple of great conversations with people at the cooking place at Jiko and the flying fish.

 

[dahirsh]

I usually either skip breakfast or eat something in the room/on my way to the bus. Except the trip I had the dining plan, I typically planned a TS each day for lunch. I find it a nice break from the heat. Then I stay in the park until closing and if I make it back to the resort before the CS is closed I'll grab a late dinner or snack there. I find I have the habit of not stopping to eat in the parks unless I have a reservation, so I make them and generally keep them.

With the dining plan, I did the whole "getting my money's worth" thing and had more TS dinners than lunches and ate more CS meals than ever before.

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

I'm going solo for the first time next month. I just booked this past week and set up my ADR's today. I am only going to have 3 park days. I placed an order with GardenGrocer for breakfast and beverages. I am doing the FDP one night and dining at the HBD. I am having lunch at LTT my last day. I have plans to meet a CM that posts on the DIS over at SSR, so I made ressies for a late lunch at the Turf Club that day. I am not doing a formal dinner one night, rather I am going to nibble my way around the WS over at EP. I will have two other CS meals. It's a combo that works for me this trip. I have no idea how it might work out next time, if there is a next time for me going solo.

 

[aubriee]

I'm going solo for the first time next month. I have no idea how it might work out next time, if there is a next time for me going solo.

I think I can safely assure you that there will be a next time. I love my trips with my family, but also have to get in a couple solo trips every year. Those solo tips are addicting! I love doing what I want when I want and being able to get through the parks at my own pace. You will be surprised at how much more you can get done when you are solo.

As far as the OP question. I do a combination of CS and TS, but chose TS, since that is what I do the most of. For my trip in May I am doing the DxDDP and don't plan on doing a single counter service. If I eat breakfast it will probably be a granola bar or pop tart in the room. I am eating an early TS lunch every day just as the restaurant opens and then doing a Signature restaurant every night. I have the following booked and can't wait:

L Raglan Road, D Flying Fish, L Tutto Italia, D Yachtsman Steak House, L Rose & Crown, D Citrico, L Whispering Canyon, D California Grill, L Chef de France, D Jiko, L Tokyo Dining, D Artist Point, L Yak & Yeti, D Narcoosee, L Le Cellier

 

[pjupton]

I had a few days to myself last October during F&WF. I spent quite a bit of time noshing from the kiosks, but I did score a lagoon view table at Toyko Dining. I think it was still in soft opening, but they had no problem with me taking over a 4-top table by the window and people watching while I tried some sushi. One of the manager even came over and talked to me a while about the rehab.