Going on a solo trip & debating table service dining

[bizeemom4]

I just realized (duh!) that I can upgrade my QS dining to the regular dining plan for a few bucks. Trying to decide if I should upgrade or not.

I'm going in October during F&W so I was thinking of using my 2 snacks a day to hit the festival. I was also going to try Sanaa out of pocket and that meal alone will probably be close to the cost of the upgrade so I'm really undecided.

Has anyone done Disney table service meals alone? Is it awkward surrounded by tables of families on vacation?

 

[BriarRosie]

I've done table service meals solo all the time. Sometimes I'll eat in a bar if the restaurant has one. I am going to the F&W in October, and I tend to order appetizers as my meals because if I'm noshing at the festival, I'm not hungry for a big meal.

I was on the DDP in July and didn't like it. I didn't like having that much food in a restrictive way. But that's just me.

 

[marlower]

I just realized (duh!) that I can upgrade my QS dining to the regular dining plan for a few bucks. Trying to decide if I should upgrade or not.

I'm going in October during F&W so I was thinking of using my 2 snacks a day to hit the festival. I was also going to try Sanaa out of pocket and that meal alone will probably be close to the cost of the upgrade so I'm really undecided.

Has anyone done Disney table service meals alone? Is it awkward surrounded by tables of families on vacation?

Will you be upgrading to DDP or DxDP? If you are upgrading to just the basic dining plan, then you will receive one snack per night not two so I just wanted you to be aware of that. I've gone to WDW solo before but haven't eaten TS but I plan to next week! Like pp said, I do hear quite a few of solo travelers at WDW will eat at the bar area if the restaurant offers one.

 

[tony67]

I just realized (duh!) that I can upgrade my QS dining to the regular dining plan for a few bucks. Trying to decide if I should upgrade or not.

I'm going in October during F&W so I was thinking of using my 2 snacks a day to hit the festival. I was also going to try Sanaa out of pocket and that meal alone will probably be close to the cost of the upgrade so I'm really undecided.

Has anyone done Disney table service meals alone? Is it awkward surrounded by tables of families on vacation?

First, can you get any of the reservations that you want at this point?
Many things will be booked already, but you may get lucky.

I go on my own in October as well and usually get the QSDDP, I prefer it.
I am usually far less disappointed with the QS meals and I do not have to plan my day around meals.
Also I would rather have the two snacks per day for the F&W festival as well, you only get one with the DDP.

I will eat at a few of the places where you can order at the bar, but I really did not like eating at a table alone.
At least if you are sitting at a bar (or a table in the bar area) there are other people you can chat with or at least the bartender.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I just realized (duh!) that I can upgrade my QS dining to the regular dining plan for a few bucks. Trying to decide if I should upgrade or not.

I'm going in October during F&W so I was thinking of using my 2 snacks a day to hit the festival. I was also going to try Sanaa out of pocket and that meal alone will probably be close to the cost of the upgrade so I'm really undecided.

Has anyone done Disney table service meals alone? Is it awkward surrounded by tables of families on vacation?

I sure have! In about 25 solo trips, I've done lots of TS dining. But the first few solo trips, it was kind of awkward-feeling. Part of it is what you're used to. When my kids were home, I never ate solo at home-mealtime was busy and loud. Now that the kids are grown and gone, solo dining in front of TV is a frequent occurrence. That's probably why Sci-Fi Dine Inn was one of the first places I felt comfortable-everyone's sitting watching the movie screen. As far as the families around you-most of them won't even notice you unless you bear a strong resemblance to a Princess or the Main Cheese (or one of his friends) After trying to find a seat in a busy CS resturant as a solo, TS does hold its appeal-a guaranteed spot to sit!

 

[bizeemom4]

Thanks for the replies and ideas. After raising 4 kids, I find it difficult to go out to eat alone. Weird I know. Kind of like not knowing what to do with your hands when someone's taking your picture. LOL.

Briarrosie - I read your trip review from last year & looked at all the food pics. I def. want to go now.

Marlower - I have 2 snacks per night with the quick service plan. I'm debating whether losing one & gaining the table service is what I want if I'm hitting F&W.

Tony67 - I think I'm leaning away from TS. I don't think I will be comfortable enough, even at the bar. I did get 3 ressies though just in case. Coral Reef lunch, Sanaa dinner, and The Wave.

SimbasMom - Your post made me laugh. I'll def. remember not to dress up like a princess for my meals. Great point on the counter service table fetching though. I never thought about juggling the tray and trying to find the table by myself.

 

[ClareH37]

I had my first solo trip this May and I was a little apprehensive about dining solo, I'd had some great advice from Simba's mum and other solo diser's, and also read their dining reports, but I was still a little apprehensive.

Restaurants I ate solo at were Flying Fish (3 times - loved it!), Rose & Crown (had a great 2 top table on the patio), Cap'n Jacks (again, a great table by the water), I didn't have one bad meal I also met with some other Disboard solo's which was nice, but I really enjoyed eating solo, I took a book with me but ended up not reading it as I was too busy watching everyone else lol

 

[hopeforus]

OP - I was in the same boat. I finally decided to go without a dining plan ( I already have tickets and would have had to purcase at least one day to get the dining plan). I am going to go to either Citricos or Flying Fish otherwise just F&W snacking and of course "the ditch" Have fun!

 

[tony67]

SimbasMom - Your post made me laugh. I'll def. remember not to dress up like a princess for my meals. Great point on the counter service table fetching though. I never thought about juggling the tray and trying to find the table by myself.

Just an FYI - I did not have any issues with finding CS tables in October other than at sommerfest where they only have like 5 tables.

 

[marlower]

Marlower - I have 2 snacks per night with the quick service plan. I'm debating whether losing one & gaining the table service is what I want if I'm hitting F&W.

Gotcha!!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Just an FYI - I did not have any issues with finding CS tables in October other than at sommerfest where they only have like 5 tables.

I'm so glad to hear this! I hated standing juggling my tray. looking for a table. It also was really tough at the F&W festival, getting food, then having to find a place to hopefully sit down. That's one reason why I'm really looking forward to having DH make the late decision to visit for a few days.
I'll just avoid sommerfest solo.

 

[fla4fun]

If you think about all the convention attendees who end up dining alone, you certainly won't be in the minority! Most of my trips are solo trips, and I eat TS where and when I like. I prefer a table to a bar setting, because I like my own personal space. The CMs generally can tell if you're in the mood for company or if you prefer to be left on your own. I have a lunch at Le Cellier and one at Rose and Crown booked for my trip later this month, and I won't feel awkward at either.

I don't buy the dining plan. I generally spend a little less per day on food than the plan would cost me, and as a solo, the room discounts are pretty much always a better deal than free dining. The dining plan makes better economic sense if you're traveling with a family, particularly with children who aren't subject to the extra adult fee for the room. A lot of people who go to Food and Wine buy a Disney gift card to use for paying at the booths (if they don't want a bunch of little charges going back to their room). You pre-buy a set amount, and you eat until you're broke (relatively speaking )

 

[rlovew]

I end up solo for a lot of meals as DH takes classes in Orlando when we are at Disney- many times I will bring in a small book to read or have paper to write some notes for a trip report while I am eating in a TS by myself- other times I eat at the bar.

If you want to eat with other make a reservation at Beirgraten or Teppan Edo- both of them add the parties together to fill a table and you will be sitting with others.

You could also head over to the section of the board for adults and see about meeting up with someone from the boards for a meal.

 

[sanapp]

If I were doing solo and planning on hitting Epcot a few times for F&W then I would probably stick with QS. I might pay OP for one or two TS, but that would be it I think.

 

[BriarRosie]

Just an FYI - I did not have any issues with finding CS tables in October other than at sommerfest where they only have like 5 tables.

I'm so glad to hear this! I hated standing juggling my tray. looking for a table. It also was really tough at the F&W festival, getting food, then having to find a place to hopefully sit down. That's one reason why I'm really looking forward to having DH make the late decision to visit for a few days.
I'll just avoid sommerfest solo.

I must be in the minority of people who could order from Sommerfest and walk around eating. I grabbed a bratwurst and a pretzel there as a food stop when I was drinking around the world in December with some DISers. (No, I didn't have a drink in each country, but I knew I needed to have some food in my system to balance out some of the drinks.)