I Eat at Disney World Alone Every Week. Here’s What It’s Really Like.

While many people travel to Disney World with their close friends or families, some even planning multi-generational family trips that are potentially once in a lifetime, there are others, like a lot of us on the team, who go to Disney World alone.

Some people may read that sentence and feel sad, but those of us who have gone to Disney World alone know the magic that can come with solo Disney World trips! YOU get to decide what you want to do, and you don’t have to cater to anyone else’s desires or wants to ensure your whole group is appeased. However, there’s one aspect of solo trips that often feels the most awkward, or scares people the most, and that’s eating. But I’ve personally done it time and time again, and don’t have a problem continuing to do so — here’s what eating alone in Disney World is REALLY like and why you shouldn’t be scared!

I just got back from a totally solo trip to Disney World, and it was just as magical as all my other trips before! I started going to Disney World alone back in 2021 when I booked my first trip as an adult, and it’s way more rare that I’m in the parks with friends or family, especially considering my immediate family aren’t really theme park people (which I get!).

But when it comes time to sit down and eat, what does that really look like when you’re alone in Disney World? All the tables you find at both quick service and table service restaurants are a minimum of two seaters, so what does it feel like when you sit at one alone, especially if the only table you can find is for a larger party? Let’s break it down.

To put it simply, yes, sometimes eating alone can feel intimidating and scary if it’s something you’re not used to. However, remember that everyone else is on vacation just like you, and that means they’re likely thinking about what’s next on their agenda, where they’d like to go, etc. — they won’t even be looking at you! The same goes for the Cast Members at the dining location, no matter where you are — they’re all at work, and they see SO many different party sizes on their shifts. Seeing people eating solo isn’t something they’d even look twice at, just like how seeing a school group of 25+ students doesn’t often phase them either!

Plus, there are some really great perks to eating alone in the parks, and a lot of my coworkers who I chatted with about this subject agreed! The first thing that we all agreed on? It’s SO NICE to be the one to decide where and when you’d like to eat! No need to negotiate, or give in to someone else’s wishes when you really wanted to eat elsewhere. If you want to snack the whole day around EPCOT’s International Food and Wine festival, go for it. You want to book a table service restaurant at your favorite spot? Do it! There’s no one to tell you no or argue against it, and that’s pretty awesome.

Once you get your food and sit down, you also don’t feel rushed or influenced by anyone else in your party. If you’re a slower eater naturally, there’s no need to look at anyone else’s plate and feel pressured to eat faster, or if you’re a faster eater, you don’t have to wait for others to be done. Being alone also gives you a really cool opportunity to take in the details of the restaurant around you (and Disney restaurants are often themed to the MAX, even if it’s hidden), and people watch! You can also sit on your phone, catch up on social media, or look through the photos and videos you’ve taken that day and decompress a little, if that’s what you want. The choice is up to you, and you only, and there’s something really special about that.

Now, we will admit that one thing we do miss about eating with other people is that we don’t get the opportunity to split dishes with other people to try more of what’s offered. This is especially true for EPCOT festivals, or restaurants that have larger portions. Thankfully though, at restaurants that are buffets or all-you-can-eat family-style meals, you can grab whatever you’d like without feeling that same pressure, but if you’re someone who prefers to grab a little bit of everything, snacking around the park with smaller portions may be a good fix!

We also admit that sometimes not having someone to converse with and chat about the meal with can someone feel a little lonely, but we’ve almost always had incredible servers at table service restaurants who love to chat with us when they have the time, and it’s very rare that we’ve felt awkward eating alone. Other times, you meet people at tables close to yours and strike up a conversation, which can be just as joyful! It’s even better when you’re at a character meal and they’ve got young kids who are excited to meet the characters — seeing that magic is unlike anything else.

Speaking of character meals, we’ve often experienced that sometimes you get a little extra time and attention from the characters since it’s just you! I’ve personally experienced this for sure — at Crystal Palace, Pooh twirled me around in a circle like we were dancing, and Tigger gave me the biggest hug and was so energetic!

Now, something that is important to keep in mind when you’re at character meals alone is that sometimes you may only be able to do selfies with the characters, so be prepared for that! Other times, you may be able to ask your server, or the character’s attendant, if they’re able to take photos for you, but it depends on how busy they are. When one of our team members was at Tusker House, her server came over and took photos whenever he had a chance, and she hadn’t even asked him to! However, we feel this was the case because it was a buffet, and the servers have a little more time compared to restaurants where they’re running food and drinks to many different tables.

All in all, yes, dining by yourself in Disney World can feel a little scary and intimidating at first, but you shouldn’t ever let the fear of how other people will see you stop you from doing something you love, like taking a solo trip and eating at your favorite restaurant! When you’re on a solo trip, it’s up to you to do what YOU want to do, and make all your favorite memories.

If you’re looking for a travel agent to help with your vacation, we recommend our friends at Mouse Fan Travel. They’re experts in the field with over 20 years of vacation planning experience, and they can help take a bunch of the stress out of the entire booking process for you!

We’re always here to bring you the latest Disney World news, and tips and tricks to make sure you have the best vacation ever!

I Go to Disney World Alone Every Week. Here’s What It’s Really Like.

Have you gone to Disney World alone? Tell us in the comments!

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