Solo ADR Advice

[juuuliebeth]

I was able to make my ADR reservations today for my solo January trip, and I ran into a hiccup that I wasn't expecting. It's on me, really, but I'd forgotten about it and thought I'd post as a reminder to other solo diners.

Sometimes when you're dining solo, you need to search for ADRs by putting in two people. For the first two restaurants I chose, I selected one person, and it was fine. Then I went to search Coral Reef, and the only availability was 8pm. That's a bit too late for my taste, but more than that, I found it odd that there were so few options. There were more options at Space 220 Lounge just a few minutes before. After my next search at Sci Fi returned the same limited options, I realized I should check for two people, and many more options became available. I was able to get times for both restaurants that were within an hour of what I was hoping for.

I'll add that I have never been given a hard time by host staff when I say "It's just me" while checking in. I'm sure if I reserved a table for eight and only I showed up, they might be frustrated, but I'm likely going to get a two-top table anyway as a solo diner.

(Also, I was successful in booking Geo-82, Space 220 Lounge, and Beak & Barrel. I'm making it my mission to try a bunch of the new(er) lounges on property. Once Wailulu reservations open in December, I'm going to try for that one too. I'm getting really excited for this trip. Completely solo for eight days. Staying at Caribbean Beach. Buying tons of art at Epcot. It's going to be great!)

 

[gottalovepluto]

Often, but not always, you can go modify the ADR after booking down to 1 at the time you have booked.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I always put in a reservation for two people when I make an ADR on solo trips. That way I'm covered if I either run into someone I know, meet someone that we want to chat longer, or DH surprises me and shows up. But none of that has happened in my 30 years of solo trips, so I've had many times of saying "just one" when I check in. It's never been a problem or a charge.

 

[zackiedawg]

I pretty much always look for 2 - and it works 99% of the time - so many times in the past I used to try the 1, and often end up not finding availability, then switching to 2 and everything opens up.

And like Simba's Mom said, it is nice to have the flexibility if a friend does join in, or I meet up with a local friend there. This has happened to me several times - in fact, my upcoming December trip was planned as solo, and now a friend has decided to join - happily, all my reservations are for 2, so no problem. I booked everything based on being there solo, so she's just going to have to accept the restaurant choices I made which are more casual this trip and convenient to Saratoga Springs where we're staying (Homecomin, Boatright's, T-Rex, Frontera Cocina, plus a Beak & Barrel). Usually when she comes we pick more signature type dining spots.

My February trip should be a solo - but when my booking window opens next month, I'll book all for 2 as usual. I've got two friends who live near Disney, and sometimes they'll meet up one night if they have the time off. My June trip is already booked with a friend, and September is still unknown if I'll be solo or if a friend is joining.

 

[CoachBeard]

I am there for two weeks in January and have been booking like a madman (split stay). I haven't had as much trouble selecting a party of 1 as I have in the past.

Book as party of 1:
Olivia's brunch
Yachtsman dinner
Space 220 Lounge (2 times)
Geo-82 (2 times)
Be Our Guest (2 times)
Beak and Barrel (3 times)
Flying Fish
Yak & Yeti
Steakhouse 71 breakfast
Raglan Rd (2 times)
Ale and Compass breakfast
Boathouse

I had to book as a party of 2:
Geo-82 (2 times)
Le Cellier lunch
Toppolino's

This is a lot of ADR's and I will be whittling them down as I go. I think the thrill of the hunt, finding times and messing around with planning is part of the fun for me. I generally cancel pretty far in advance so others can have the ADR, and often find ADRs on a whim last minute depending on how I feel. I also don't think I want to spend that much on meals! I haven't been to 90% of these restaurants, so it is difficult to decide.

Anyhow, I've done the party of 2 trick in the past and either modified to 1 or told the host stand and never had a problem.