Garden Grill Solo?

[NewEnglandDisney]

Has anyone ever done Garden Grill solo?

I've wanted to eat there since I was a kid, but have never had the chance. My last few trips were when they went through with that horrid food change, but thankfully it's back the way it was.

I am thinking about trying it on my next solo trip, but was wondering if anyone else had done that one specificly before solo. Now, I'm the first one to jump in and say in threads, "Go for it! Do it!", LOL, but character meals solo is the one place I've never ventured (and I easily spend a week at WDW solo with no quams at all).

So I was just wonderfing if anyone had any first-hand experience and would like to share about Garden Grill, or any other character meal solo, for that matter. Just never done it before, and not even really doing it to see the characters - it would be nice, but I really actually just want to watch the restaurant go 'round the ride (would try to request to be near the glass), and try the food.

Thanks!

NED

 

[DaisyDuck001]

I haven't done the Garden Grill solo, but I've done other character meals solo and with people, and they are more fun with people. Since you're traveling solo, I recommend you use this board to try to find someone to meet up with you for your Garden Grill meal.

 

[maconMouse]

I can recommend it. Go for it if you want to try it! I really enjoyed lunch there solo. Was welcomed so nicely by the cast members, and seated promptly in one of the regular booths on the outside. I believe all the booths are the same size, so you'll have plenty of room. You don't feel out of place at all because you don't really see any of the other tables only the great views of "Living with the Land" and the Land pavilion. I brought along a book too and had a very relaxing meal on a Saturday afternoon.

The characters were super nice, and all stopped by to say hello. Pluto hugged me and made the funniest "slurpy" sound on my head.

You'll have plenty of great food too. Love the bread & special orange butter as well as the cheesy mashed potatoes. The bread pudding for dessert was wonderful too.

 

[Moonlight Memories]

I'm glad you asked about this restaurant. I was thinking of making reservations for it but wondered if it would be strange for just two adults eating at this type of restaurant. May have to give it another look. Think the view would be nice.

 

[makinorlando]

I can recommend it. Go for it if you want to try it! I really enjoyed lunch there solo. Was welcomed so nicely by the cast members, and seated promptly in one of the regular booths on the outside. I believe all the booths are the same size, so you'll have plenty of room. You don't feel out of place at all because you don't really see any of the other tables only the great views of "Living with the Land" and the Land pavilion. I brought along a book too and had a very relaxing meal on a Saturday afternoon.

The characters were super nice, and all stopped by to say hello. Pluto hugged me and made the funniest "slurpy" sound on my head.

You'll have plenty of great food too. Love the bread & special orange butter as well as the cheesy mashed potatoes. The bread pudding for dessert was wonderful too.

I have to agree that this is one restaurant that I think would be very conducive to solo dining. As the previous poster with experience states the way the booths are set up you don't see the other diners, you really do feel like you are in your own little space!

It is an awesome restaurant - it was one of the character meals that I kept moving to the bottom of our list for 2006 (we are local, and my goal was to do them all this year!). We went on 9/30, and I can't believe we waited so long. It was a wonderful experience, and DD loved it as well! In fact I liked it so much I changed our Candlelight Proccessional from Tepanyaki to Garden Grill!

Here is my review if you would like to check it out....

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1239721&referrerid=&highlight=Garden+Grill+wait+so+long%3F

 

[kydeb1346]

Thank you very much for asking this! My DH and I have an ADR for a 11am lunch there in March but were contemplating cancelling it. I'm glad we haven't!

 

[Cee]

I love the Garden Grill and The Land. The food is comfort with a capital "C"!

 

[BobWerner]

Yes, if you read my webpage you'll see I did the Garden Grill on the last full day of my trip. I had the characters all to myself for around 35 - 45 mins before someone else showed up.
It was the week of 9/11 (yes, that 9/11) and Tropical Storm Gabriella was hitting FL.

What a time I had!

 

[mjf2wdw]

The Garden Grill is one of my favorites and I actually did it solo about 5 years ago. I am a 53 year old kid anyway. The food is great and the staffis has always been great. I have been there afew times since my solo trip and am sure glad the food is back to the original way. I say go for it and ENJOY

 

[westcoastdisfan]

I did the Garden Grill solo and it was great. The booths (on the lower level) have such high seats that basically no one but the server sees you. The one caveat is the entire restaurant turns, so there will be a time - unless you time it perfectly - that everyone waiting to be seated, or walking by the restaurant, can see you. Other than that, it's great and has very interesting scenery (The Land ride) for you to look at. I will be going there again this December as part of the Candlelight Processional dinner package.

Even though the meal is served family style, the waiter basically brings you a plate with a single portion of everything. Order more of what you like. I wasn't interested in the dessert they served, so requested the kid's dessert which was a decorate-it-yourself cupcake. Waiter didn't even blink.

I say go for it, have a glass of wine, and watch the scenery roll by !

 

[tnkr mom]

I was thinking about the private booths too, reading the posts!
You will have a great time - What a dream to have a solo trip!!!

 

[KerTggr]

My husband told me I had to post when he saw the title of this thread. We both say "Don't do it!" Not because you would be solo, but because the 2 times I have been and the 1 he has were not good experiences. The food and service was not so good and definately not up to par with the other places you could eat @ while in Epcot.

 

[pruesmom]

I was not impressed with the Garden Grill either. It was one of the worst places that I've eaten out off all the Disney Parks. The character experience was great but the food wasn't the best. My family all ended up ordering from the Kids Menu.

 

[floridahippy]

We have always loved the Garden Grill and have done it as a couple, as family and I will be doing it solo in September - always loved it

 

[Michelle_and_Aaron]

We have ADRs for Garden Grill next week and I hope it is good. I have read some good reviews of it lately so we will see.

 

[jamstew]

I did it solo earlier this month. The character interaction was great, but I can't say much for the food. My grandchildren will love the place, though.

 

[Fantasmiss]

Don't go to Garden Grill!! We went in May and it was horrible! The only bad restaurant experience we've ever had in WDW.. Rude, unfriendly waitress, bad food, small portions (and the waitress rolled her eyes when we asked for more, although you're supposed to! She even said to let her know if we wanted more.... Go figure!) +It's the only place in WDW where the chef's been really unhelpful and actually cheap when it comes to allergy diets.. The characters and the view were good but everything else was just awful! Anywhere else is better, my favourite is Chef Mickey My husband really likes Crystal Palace. Great food, and nice CMs both places!!