Single Diner

[TEK224]

Do you think I'll need to make reservations if I'm a single diner or will I be able to walk up and not have a problem getting seated?

Also, what do you do while waiting for your food? People watch, read a magazine, etc. Just wondering how others handle dining alone.

Oh, I'm going in early January (week after New Years).

 

[snykymom]

Unless there's a bar area which has single seats, you will need an ADR. You will be taking up a table for 2, and those are reserved.

 

[winterman]

I agree with what PP said. I don't eat alone at WDW but I did see a woman eating alone at the bar in Narcoossee's last year and she was reading I book. I don't see any problem with that.

 

[jedijill]

I often dine alone at WDW. I usually take a book or just generally relax and enjoy my surroundings. I did however spend my dinner alone at Narcoosee's staring at Tom Cruise for 2 hours. That was a dinner to remember!

Jill in CO

 

[The_Banking_Scot]

Hi,

I will be travelling on my own to WDW in October for 7 days . I have made a few Breakfast lunch and dinner reservations but will be trying out the food at Epcot Food & Wine festival so I doubt i will need dinner reservations then. Often I will just have a counter service quick lunch. When dining on my own I have guide book and map and plan my next activities ( generally I have done all the headliners that i want to do in the morning )

Regards

TBS

 

[MickeyNicki]

January is very quiet so with a single diner you may be able to get walk ins to most places. I did two single lunches June 09 and walked in to Tutto and Chefs de France.

I didnt feel odd being by myself and while I was waiting I just looked around the restaurant and relaxed. At Chefs I had a window table and watched Belle and the Beast interact with the kids.

 

[KittyHellstrom]

My boyfriend and I were able to walk in to Yak & Yeti with no wait time in August.

-Kitty

 

[Simba's Mom]

I do lots of solo dining at WDW. What I do while waiting for my food is to write a trip report of what attractions I've been on, what/where I've eaten, things that have happened, etc. Then when I get home, I tuck it away in my pack of mementos-tickets, receipts, etc. Whenever the mood strikes me, I take it out and read it. It makes for a nice memory of the trip. Yes, my little 59 cent notebook always travels with me. That and now, my electronic sudoku puzzle.

 

[Hugpug]

I ussally make ADR'S as I prefer a table but I would guess if it is not a popular place you could walk up. Just because you make an ADR does not mean you have to go there. If I decide I don't want eat at the place I made an ADR I call and cancel which is the polite thing to do. This has happened to me a couple of times once I was just ill. I always take my guide with me and plan the rest of the day and take lots of food porn pictures.

 

[TEK224]

Thanks!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Going that time of year you may have some luck just walking up, I was able to get walkups at Kona for breakfast and 50's Prime Time for lunch before, but if there's any place you have your heart set on eating at, you should make an ADR.

 

[fla4fun]

Make an ADR if it's a restaurant you simply must go to or your vacation is ruined. If you're flexible, you will find somewhere to dine, maybe not your first choice. Is your week one of the weeks next year with Free Dining? If so, that will make it harder to do walk-ins.

Almost all of my Disney trips are solo, so I've had lots of experience dining alone. The CM's are usually really good at knowing whether you want to talk or be left alone, and I've had some very nice conversations with them. Since there are so many conventions at Disney, there are always other solo diners, so you won't feel out of place.

Personally, I prefer to dine QS, because I'd rather schedule my eating around my day, instead of my day around my eating. This is actually sometimes more difficult, as there's no one to save a table for you if a restaurant is really busy. More than once I've had to take my tray to a bench somewhere instead of dining at a table because they were all taken or saved.

 

[madalex]

If there are particular places you want to eat, then make ADRs for those places. Being a single diner does not make it any easier to walk up and get a table.

As to what to do, I usually just people watch or write in my trip diary about what I did that day. Relaxing over dinner is the best time to do this and keeps me occupied while I wait for my food.

 

[tony67]

As others have said you really need an ADR unless they have a bar area.

I also found that when making ADRs if there is no table for one available there are sometimes tables for two. It's the same table, but for some reason it does not show up unless you look for a table for two.