Do You Ever Dine Alone At A WDW Restaurant?

[CarolAnnC]

On my last trip down in July, my DD's and I were eating dinner at Tony's Town Sq in the MK. It was early, and the restaurant was not quite full. An older gentleman was seated a couple of tables down from us. I assumed he was waiting for the rest of his party to join him. Well, he ordered for himself, and was being served when we were leaving.

I thought to myself that it seemed awfully lonely to be sitting in a nice restaurant on vacation all alone. Perhaps some people are used to it, or are just very comfortable dining alone. Personally, I would probably munch on vendor snack food and sit outside on a bench if I were alone.

How many of you would enjoy or have enjoyed dining alone at WDW?

 

[DisneyHumbug]

I have eaten alone at Pecos Bill's while the kids did something else. I have not yet eaten alone at a sit-down restaurant. but I think WDW is the only place I would feel comfortable doing this.

 

[jmewin]

I alwys travel to WDW alone. So I eat alone. I don't mind. I like to travel alone so that I can do what I want when I want. I have traveled with others and had bad experiences. So don't feel sorry for the solo diner. It is often our choice. JME


13 days to WDW!!!

 

[punkin]

A few years ago I went to scottdale on a business trip (alone). I was on an expense account and there was a very upscale (Romantic) restaurant in the resort. I decided to go alone. Better than roomservice again. I got a reseravation, got dressed up and went. The matre d' was shocked to see a woman all alone. He kept offering me reading material (magazines and such) which I refused. I wanted to people watch. It was great. The food was superb, the atmosphere great and everyone was lookng at me. All in all it was very liberating. You should try it sometimes.

 

[Crissup]

Yep! I often arrive at WDW and check in before my other guests arrive to spend the week with me. So, usually, my first day or two at WDW I spend alone. I just eat, take in the themeing of the restaurant, and head on out to soak up all that Disney has to offer. A couple years back, I ended up getting seated in a back room right next to the annual RADP meet. LOL!! So, I ended up chatting with some of the RADP'ers, including Deb Wills. I was on RAD(P) for a few years long before the DIS came into existance, so I didn't really feel out of place. Deb kept trying to convince me to join the meet, but I was really looking to get some photos in before the parks filled up while I was still solo.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Hi jmewin and welcome to the DIS!! I am glad to see my post brought you over here to us!!

Well, I am pleasantly surprised by all the "solo" diners here! It is nice to know that one can feel comfortable dining alone at the various WDW Restaurants.

Sounds like you all have a great time at the restaurants whether you are dining alone or with company!!

 

[DaveH]

I have done several trips solo before meeting my DW. I have eaten in sit down's and caracter meals alone and had a blast. The 50's Primetime was a blast solo. You want to see strange looks, spend a week at WL solos as a 40 something male. I was getting all kinds of looks from couples who had no clue. I guess they were there for the kids. LOL

 

[erikthewise]

I just got back from a conference at the Hilton near Downtown Disney. I didn't take my family since we are all going for a week in Dec anyway and don't need the added expense right now. I ate lone dinners at Hollywood & Vine one night and at Liberty Tree Tavern the next (before MNNSHP). No problem; servers were great about it and nobody stared.

 

[madcoco]

Have had to do it quite often when DW and DD are in one end of the country and I'm elsewhere in the world. Sometimes I get the feeling that people are staring because I'm sitting alone in a nice restaurant(or maybe they catch me talking to my imaginary friend.

 

[Briar Wood]

I'm fine sitting down if I'm out alone and want to eat. I believe I first did this when I was about 18-20 yrs. old. At first it was uncomfortable, but like someone else said on their post, it was very empowering. I felt strong and confident.

As far as WDW, when my daughter was at the Mad Hatter's Tea Party at the Grand Floridian, I treated myself to High Tea at the Garden View Lounge in the lobby! It was about $13- I had a pot of tea and finger sandwiches. It was a lot of fun!

BW

 

[lindamg]

I frequently travel to WDW alone, and I definitely enjoy eating by myself. As someone else said, don't feel sorry for the solo diner! I love watching people and seeing what's going on around me. I have NEVER been treated badly at a Disney restaurant when eating by myself. CMs, as well as other patrons, are polite and often talkative. I guess they see me as a captive audience! Besides, I've watched the belly dancer in Marrakesh, I've had a window seat and watched the statues in France, I've shared a table (several times!) with some wonderful people in Germany, and I've shared my table with the "chef" at WL. I spend lots of time at WDW trailing after my 4 year-old niece, or being seated at a table with 7 other family members - I enjoy being alone sometimes!

 

[Chance's Mom]

I had a marvelous solo dinner at WCC this August. My DH had gone to a meeting at the Convention Center. DS (6yearsold) only stayed at the table for about 5 min, then was off to the Lincoln Log table to play with other kids.

I had a steak, wonderful mashed potatoes, a great glass of wine (oh, maybe I had 2?) ,and actually had the best meal of our trip. I could see DS playing from my table, so didn't worry about him. It was very relaxing to sit and enjoy the meal. My server was wonderful and made me feel very welcome.

When DH came back to WL later that night, I told him he'd missed the best meal of the trip. He had eaten rubber chicken at a business banquet.

Like a previous poster stated, sometimes "alone" time is just what I need on vacation.

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Back in January I made a "recon" trip, with the intent of checking out all the DVC properties and getting video of them all - we'd bought sight unseen, and I though it'd be fun to not only get some footage for the family, but also to try out some restaurants that the family wasn't interested in.

So, I ended up eating alone at Boma, Artist Point, and Cape May Cafe. Since I'm on business alone sometimes, eating alone is not a big deal. I found the CM's gregarious and helpful in all three restaurants, and I also found that these restaurants would be great for the rest of the family.

I think it all depends on your own personality and comfort level, because Disney just doesn't seem to discriminate at all against solo travelers.

 

[RussH]

Now a days most of my trips are solo to WDW. It might be that I traveled full time for 14 years for work I don't even think about sitting in any restaurant alone.
Usually sit at a 2up but during slow times has been seated at tables for 4. This is great at Akershus where major table space is needed for the buffet.
I have a low boredom threshold so a paperback is always in my bag. At the sit down restaurants, waiting in lines, and even taking a break for 30-45 minutes on the train out it comes.
Thinking back to the last time at WDW as a family group sitting at a table with people that order first then when you order change their minds and switch eating alone sounds better and better. This bunch also takes 2 hours to decide when and where they will eat and can I tell you about my cousin that carries pennies and a calculator just so he figures out the 15% tip to cent.
My next trip is in 29 days a solo and right now I have no PS and will eat where I want when I want by myself and just smile a lot. If you see a guy with hatband made up of Disney watches (POC Hook Jessica/Roger) stop and say hello.
RussH

 

[Jen D]

I have never eaten alone at a WDW restaurant, but I do eat alone at sitdown restaurants all the time. It's a great way to treat yourself! I'm jealous of all you solo travels. We don't have money to leisure travel that often, so when we go, we all go! But I'd love to go alone.

 

[CHIPSTER]

I have no problem dining alone at fast food (counter service) eateries. While I have never gone alone on a trip, I have dined alone in sit down restaurants and have no problem doing it. WE agree to disagree and if I really want to have lunch at France and my sister or friends want to eat elsewhere, we do it. That way everyone is happy. One trip 3 of us split up -- Yachtsman Galley, San Angel Inn and the Japanese restaurant (I forget the name) where you sit with others and watch the chef grill the food.

I live alone and also dine out alone at home on occasion when I don't feel like cooking.

 

[imbe@aol.com]

I've dined alone at WDW, and other restaurants (nice ones, in both places) , and have no problem with it at all! It's fun to people watch, and sometimes, I do take a book/magazine.