Solo table service dining

[peachiepie]

My solo trip is coming up in January and I'm starting to think about dining. I had been planning on sticking with quick service, but I'm now wondering about adding some table service.

Where do people recommend for table service solo dining?

 

[gottalovepluto]

If you feel awkward about it Sci-Fi is a nice one since it’s got the movie clips running. You’re placed in a car as a hitchhiker and promptly ignored by the rest of the car as the restaurant experience doesn’t lend itself to small talk.

If you want something to do I like to download a book onto my iPhone. Keeps me distracted from those around me while keeping my from scrolling social media/news.

 

[peachiepie]

TBF I'm not awkward about being on my own. I'd rather not be forced into a social interaction with group. I'm happy to dine alone, I'd prefer somewhere were people didn't feel they were forced to include me, or leave me feeling like is gatecrashed another group.

 

[Miffy]

I eat solo pretty often at WDW since my travel companion is often done in at that point. I don't go anywhere where there's a group table (I gather Biergarten is like that) and I'm not usually into character meals but I love Tusker House, so I always have a meal there every trip, either with my travel companion (my sister) or by myself.

OP, you should just go to the TS restaurants that you like and avoid the places with group seating. I don't know where all those places are, but perhaps someone else will chime in and let you know. You might want to avoid '50s Prime Time, since there's interaction with the waitstaff, but you wouldn't be seated with anyone else at your table, if that's your main concern. You'd probably be seated with a group at Hoop De Doo as well, but that's another animal altogether.

And enjoy those single-rider lines! The one for RotR is always quite short.

 

[jimmymc]

The bars at Flying Fish and Steakhouse 71 are great for solos who want a good meal.

I personally also like Jungle Skipper Canteen, Jiko, Hollywood Brown Derby, and Wine Bar George.

 

[gottalovepluto]

The bars at Flying Fish and Steakhouse 71 are great for solos who want a good meal.

I personally also like Jungle Skipper Canteen, Jiko, Hollywood Brown Derby, and Wine Bar George.

I’d add Swolphin’s bars at Il Mulino and BlueZoo. The new steakhouse also has a bar, not sure if they do their full menu too.

Jungle Skipper is the one that feels a bit weird to me as a solo. The staff try to interact and it for some reason it doesn’t play well when it’s just me, just kinda ends up awkward.

 

[Skippyboo]

I eat solo pretty often at WDW since my travel companion is often done in at that point. I don't go anywhere where there's a group table (I gather Biergarten is like that) and I'm not usually into character meals but I love Tusker House, so I always have a meal there every trip, either with my travel companion (my sister) or by myself.

OP, you should just go to the TS restaurants that you like and avoid the places with group seating. I don't know where all those places are, but perhaps someone else will chime in and let you know. You might want to avoid '50s Prime Time, since there's interaction with the waitstaff, but you wouldn't be seated with anyone else at your table, if that's your main concern. You'd probably be seated with a group at Hoop De Doo as well, but that's another animal altogether.

And enjoy those single-rider lines! The one for RotR is always quite short.

Biergarten doesn’t sit you in a group anymore. Only place where you might get put with other people is Beak and Barrel or Oga’s. Oga’s you probably get put at the bar.

I like Boma and Liberty Tree Tavern.

 

[AcusTwinhammer]

The biggest problem tends to be getting the reservation, as the system only will allow single diners to grab one as long as there are two-person tables available--and there's usually not a ton of them at any given location.

Other than that, I have noticed that places where there is some sort of special server interaction (like 50's Prime-Time cafe or Skipper Canteen), I didn't get much when I was solo. Granted, I don't have a huge sample size (one time at 50s, never in a group, twice solo at Skippers plus once in a group), so I may just be unlucky, but I suspect it's harder to bounce the jokes and such off of a single diner.

 

[zackiedawg]

I've eaten solo almost everywhere, from Signature dining to family/interactive spots. With exception of the popular bars, and Biergarden, I've always gotten my own table.

At 50s Prime Time, Whispering Canyon, and Skipper's Canteen, there was still interaction with wait staff - often they'll do the schtick on you in a way that includes nearby tables - like 'he didn't eat all of his green beans!'. Or if I wasn't looking for the full interaction, I just made a hint of it early on and the CMs take the clues very well and will play it down.

Last trip, I did Steakhouse 71, Topolino's, Geo 82, Prime Time, Trattoria Al Forno, Nomad Lounge, Cake Bake Shop solo. I prefer to get tables, not bar seating - more room to spread out, relax - tables are close enough that if you feel like engaging or talking with others, you can - but unlike the bar, you're not shoved right up against others (fine when they are social and you wan tto talk too - but awkward if you get a party next to you that clearly doesn't want to be social).

My December trip upcoming is likely to be solo (a friend is considering trying to make it, but probably won't be able to swing it) - I've got T-Rex, Beak & Barrell, Art Smith's Homecomin, Boatright's, and Frontera Cocina booked.

In February, I'll be with a friend and doing two, and in June will be there with another friend...September next year may be solo, then December with a large group - my trips are random mixes of solo, one friend, some family, or big groups.

As long as you don't have any hang-ups about eating solo, don't worry about it and choose anyplace you want to try or eat at - there are only 3 or 4 restaurants/bars where they may seat you with others - 99% of them you'll have your own table.

 

[nursejackie]

I have eaten solo at Sci-Fi diner, Yak and Yeti and the Plaza. No problems as a solo diner at any of them.

 

[ArielAbigail]

My solo trip is coming up in January and I'm starting to think about dining. I had been planning on sticking with quick service, but I'm now wondering about adding some table service.

Where do people recommend for table service solo dining?

I just went on my first ever solo trip and honestly going in I was so scared to dine on my own in a sit down to the point of booking and cancelling reservations several times over in advance of going. I gathered the courage on the monerail on a whim trip from Magic Kingdom to the Polynesian to walk around. Booked a table for 1 at Kona Cafe about 15 minutes out and it was lovely!! Not awkward at all and the food was delicious. I was in a table along the back wall and I didnt feel as though people were staring. I would go back again in a heart beat. I listen to the youtube blogger Disney Solo Magic and that helped build my confidence to book a solo trip. I booked my second one next year already! Have fun!!

 

[loves to dive]

Short answer is anywhere you can get in to. I go solo 95% of the time. I go out to eat at home solo sometimes when hubby is out of town so I'm used to it. If you have a real hankering to go to Sci-Fi just ask for one of the tables in the back not the cars. You still see the screen and get the food, just aren't included in someone else's group.

I personally don't do buffets, character meals or AYCTE but that doesn't have anything to do with interacting with other people. Character meals because I have no desire to meet characters. AYCTE because I don't eat large amounts of food at one time, heck if I'm eating QS I get a kid's meal and have the dessert or fruit left over for later because I'm too full from the meal. Buffets for a few reasons - the don't eat a lot at one time so it's a waste of money reason, if you have a bag with you you have to take it to the buffet when you go or I'm always a little afraid the server will think I'm done since my table is empty and the biggest - if I want to serve myself I'll eat at home.

Having said that my favorites are - HBD Lounge because you can do walk up wait list and I like to sit outside and people watch - Nomad Lounge again walk up wait list, sitting outside and people watching and the food is great - Spice Road Tables at Epcot, I love the food again I sit outside and again, walk up wait list. I don't make ADRs that far in advance. Usually day of for later that day. Since I've eaten at most restaurants in the parks and a few at the resorts I'm not picky about where I can get an ADR. I just hop on MDE and search for that day and go from there. My only limitation is I won't do DS, just because I'm not a fan of DS and I won't do somewhere at a resort that the meal is going to be done after the last park closes. That is because I would have to UBER back to my resort if I can't hop a bus to a park to get back to my resort. Oddly enough, I'm more nervous to UBER as a solo woman than to be eating solo.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Short answer is anywhere you can get in to. I go solo 95% of the time. I go out to eat at home solo sometimes when hubby is out of town so I'm used to it. If you have a real hankering to go to Sci-Fi just ask for one of the tables in the back not the cars. You still see the screen and get the food, just aren't included in someone else's group.

I personally don't do buffets, character meals or AYCTE but that doesn't have anything to do with interacting with other people. Character meals because I have no desire to meet characters. AYCTE because I don't eat large amounts of food at one time, heck if I'm eating QS I get a kid's meal and have the dessert or fruit left over for later because I'm too full from the meal. Buffets for a few reasons - the don't eat a lot at one time so it's a waste of money reason, if you have a bag with you you have to take it to the buffet when you go or I'm always a little afraid the server will think I'm done since my table is empty and the biggest - if I want to serve myself I'll eat at home.

Having said that my favorites are - HBD Lounge because you can do walk up wait list and I like to sit outside and people watch - Nomad Lounge again walk up wait list, sitting outside and people watching and the food is great - Spice Road Tables at Epcot, I love the food again I sit outside and again, walk up wait list. I don't make ADRs that far in advance. Usually day of for later that day. Since I've eaten at most restaurants in the parks and a few at the resorts I'm not picky about where I can get an ADR. I just hop on MDE and search for that day and go from there. My only limitation is I won't do DS, just because I'm not a fan of DS and I won't do somewhere at a resort that the meal is going to be done after the last park closes. That is because I would have to UBER back to my resort if I can't hop a bus to a park to get back to my resort. Oddly enough, I'm more nervous to UBER as a solo woman than to be eating solo.

I also go solo about 95% of the time, and have no problem eating solo at most anywhere-now. But it took a # of years, and I still don't like eating solo in my home town. Also, at WDW, I don't like eating at places with communal tables. What was hardest was when I first ate TS solo-so many people said it was OK so I felt I shouldn't be nervous. But that only made me MORE nervous (if that makes sense). So do it when YOU'RE ready! My first was Sci-Fi Dine Inn-felt like I was sitting at home, watching a dumb movie on TV. And who hasn't done that?

 

[Simba's Mom]

To the solo who's done Spice Road Table-what did you eat? I've always wanted to eat there, but I don't know how to order since it's all small plates. I really don't think my appetite would allow more than one small plate's worth. And since I have no one to share with, wouldn't that mean I'd have to get one plate of 1 item? I really don't want to do that, because sharing seems like most of the fun there. Or do I come with a ziplock bag, order 2 items, then take what I don't eat back to my room. Please help!

 

[disneydreamer781]

Tiffins and/or Nomad Lounge. Food is so good! Also, a great staff in addition to a lovely and peaceful vibe.