Dining Alone?

[Nomi]

Well, my solo trip for the first week of December is official now (booked the flights and the hotel), and I'm now pondering on dining. Specifically the part about being alone.

Now I am excited about all the different restaurants (I like food. Too much so, if you ask my weight. Go on, ask), but I'm also quite self conscious about eating alone.

All you really need to do is convince me to do it, really.

 

[angelmav]

I eat out alone all the time, doesn't really bother me, I just bring something to read, paperback, magazine, anything.

 

[LindaR]

I eat by myself all the time, too! I am single and dd20 lives 200+ miles away at college. Have gone to restaurants by myself for years. I always bring a book or magazine with me. Just for the very rare occasion that looking around is boring.....most of the time I never open it cause I am busy people watching!

Have fun!!!

 

[geffric]

lots of people are going that week.. check out the DIS unplugged for meets..and don't forget the famous Karen's Jellyrolls meet.12/10 and the DIS dinner on 12/13... I'll be there 12/7-12/14

 

[MyMuse]

During my solo trip, I ate at Rose & Crown and had a fab time! My waiter was great, always checked up on me. I had my trip journal with me and did some texts, so really I never had a wasted minute. At the end, I paid up and was escorted to the Illumination viewing section!

Eating at CS, is no problem either. I just reviewed my plans for the day, made calls/texts.

I'm heading back down in December as well!

 

[pdchris]

lots of people are going that week.. check out the DIS unplugged for meets..and don't forget the famous Karen's Jellyrolls meet.12/10 and the DIS dinner on 12/13... I'll be there 12/7-12/14

Sadly, I had to cancel my trip for this year. Our small hospital where I work had it's first layoffs 2 weeks ago. Altho I survived the cut, I figured I better start building up the reserve. At my age (55), getting an IT job might just be a bit on the hard side.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Can I make a suggestion?

do a practise run. Once a week at work, I eat lunch by myself - in the lunchroom - surrounded by other tables of people who are talking, laughing, eating - but I'm not a part of it.

The first time I was self conscious about what other people may have thought. I would have to distract myself by looking at a magazine or listening to my Zen. But after a few times, I'm pretty comfortable. I just go in, enjoy my lunch, I enjoy looking at the other groups (not staring but noticing their interactions) thinking about my day so far and what I still need to do, etc.

I think at WDW you could also use the time to catch up on your trip journal or look at park maps and time guides to plan the rest of the day or the next day.

Early December seems to be a popular time - you could also look to join another single Diser for a meal somewhere. Heck, if you're going to be in DHS on Monday December 14th and would like to have lunch at Sci Fi, I'll be happy to eat with you! (this is the only meal so far that I've kind of set my mind on).

 

[Simba's Mom]

I think that doing a practice run around home is a great idea. I used to be very uncomfortable dining at WDW by myself. But once the kids left home, and I was used to eating by myself at home if DH worked late, then it became OK. Now I'm perfectly comfortable dining by myself. Please don't hesitate to tell them when you check in that you aren't comfortable dining alone, and ask nicely for "something interesting to look at". I've found that's helped me a lot, and I've gotten window seat at Chef de Frabce, tankside at COral Reef, porch at Rose and Crown, window at California Grill, etc. And for my first solo character meal, I had 2 servers go out of their way to be sure I was always taken care of. CMs are very helpful if you let them know you're somewhat uncomfortable.

 

[aspen37]

Well, my solo trip for the first week of December is official now (booked the flights and the hotel), and I'm now pondering on dining. Specifically the part about being alone.

Now I am excited about all the different restaurants (I like food. Too much so, if you ask my weight. Go on, ask), but I'm also quite self conscious about eating alone.

All you really need to do is convince me to do it, really.

lots of people are going that week.. check out the DIS unplugged for meets..and don't forget the famous Karen's Jellyrolls meet.12/10 and the DIS dinner on 12/13... I'll be there 12/7-12/14

When will you be at WDW? I'm part of the DIS unplugged group. We have a bunch of us doing a DATW (drink around the world) on Friday the 11th at 5:30. There is a thread on the podcast boards if you want to attend. Plus the DIS and Dreams Unlimited are doing a Toy Story Mania Party on Saturday the 12th. If you hang around the DAP boards you will find out when the signup sheet comes out you could go to that. If you are not booked thru DU it costs $25.00. Plus WDW Today another podcast has stuff planned during the 10th-14th.

But to answer your question, I dine alone all the time. If you think you will feel self-conscious bring something to read. I will be at WDW from the 10th-16th, and will be dining alone for the last two days. I enjoy dining alone. I don't have to feel like I need to rush. I can sit back and take my time.

 

[PSU]

Don't sweat it - I travel for business alot and have to eat alone...Bring a book or mag in case you feel awkward....But try not to use it - The food at WDW is great- make that the focus...chat with the server...many are from distant places and love to chat about themselves and their home....The great thing about disney is as a solo person you can be solo and feel pretty safe....

 

[Nomi]

Thanks a bunch all of you! Now that I think of it, I do eat alone all the time at work for lunch, in a food court setting though. The way work is set up, I rarely have a lunch time with a co-worker. I guess that comes with the territory of being only one of two fish experts at the store (though almost everyone in the reptile section, which is connected closely with aquariums, has a great deal of experience with at least one type of aquaria).

I also suppose it would be a good time to do some doodling, since I imagine I would be having to much fun otherwise to do so. And I can always dream that an imagineer or other such person will glance a look and say: "Ah, I see you are a fish-loving, geeky, artist with a secret desire to be a mad scientist/geneticist who makes wonderful creatures and machines. WE NEED YOU!" ..... yessss..... >_>

Anyhoo, I would love the idea of a dismeet, or other meet up, but it seems the ones you mentioned are happening right after I go home (I'll be there Nov 29 to Dec 9). Ah well, I'm too young to drink in the States anyway. Though if there were any other DISmeets around that time, or even just any other DISers going alone, I would love to know!

 

[__disneygirl]

I did two solo meals on my last trip and I enjoyed it very much! The cast members couldn't have been more sweet to me and I would absolutely do it again. Why be self concious? What's the fear? Just forget it and enjoy yourself. Remember, you're at DISNEY WORLD!!

 

[Kyen]

I was nervous about eating alone at first but after my second meal it didn't bother meal. The CMs are great! I had one waiter tell me about EVERYTHING on the menu, a character greeter asked to join me but remembered that he was still working then he asked me to get him a doggy bag!
For my first meal I felt weird sitting and looking around so I found going through my photos on my camera a great distraction, plus it clear up some memory!!!

Good Luck!

 

[MyMuse]

For my first meal I felt weird sitting and looking around so I found going through my through my photos on my camera a great distraction, plus it clear up some memory!!!

That's a good idea too! You'll be fine.

I'm going to miss alot of the DIS Meets as well; everything seems to be after I leave on the 10th. Ah well, next time!

 

[Ln42]

Hi there,
I dine alone too and like to sit at the bar or counter if available. I often find other solo diners to strike up a conversation with and find the server is also apt to swing by for an enjoyable chat. I enjoy watching the action of the bar and how the servers interact.
Just another idea for you...enjoy your visit! I'm sure you will have a great time!

 

[Constance]

I do it all the time! I don't bring a book either. I want to experience the restaurant, the view, my food, people watch or strike up conversation (depending on the restaurant and seating.)

I have been offered a lift (at Grand Floridian) in one of the carts to Narcoosee's, have been asked to join a group from Louisiana at their table when they saw me come in alone, buy "glow cubes" and have them added to my tab at Sci Fi for the waiter or waitress to give to children at nearby tables, get a table on the deck at Rose and Crown to look out over World Showcase (even in the wind and rain when they roll down the plastic tarps)...

I have always felt welcome and comfortable. Enjoy!

 

[Ln42]

I do it all the time! I don't bring a book either. I want to experience the restaurant, the view, my food, people watch or strike up conversation (depending on the restaurant and seating.)

I have been offered a lift (at Grand Floridian) in one of the carts to Narcoosee's, have been asked to join a group from Louisiana at their table when they saw me come in alone, buy "glow cubes" and have them added to my tab at Sci Fi for the waiter or waitress to give to children at nearby tables, get a table on the deck at Rose and Crown to look out over World Showcase (even in the wind and rain when they roll down the plastic tarps)...

I have always felt welcome and comfortable. Enjoy!

I love the glow cube idea, I am going to do that sometime!!!