Last minute seating for dinners - easier for solos?

[librarylady]

I am doing a four day solo to Disney before proceeding on to visit friends in Northern Florida. I have made a couple of PS for meals (1900 Park Fare-breakfast Whispering Canyon - dinner and Clam Bake - dinner). I thought I would just wing it for the other meals. I do want to schedule my time too heavily. I was wondering though if, as a solo diner, I would have an easier time securing a table at the last minute. My guess is that there are so many large groups that smaller tables might just be available - either that or, on the flipside, they have fewer tables for two or one persons. I would appreciate any feedback on this topic. Thanks Gail 10 days and counting!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I've found this to be the case, both on my solo trips, and when traveling just with DH. I remember several times walking up to a resturaunt and hearing the family in front of me being told the wait is an hour or more. Then I go up, and the CM says "Oh, a table for 1 (or 2)? We can seat you right away!"

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

I was in MGM one early evening this past December, on my solo trip. I really wanted to eat at Sci-Fi
Right away. First I went to that MGM park podium where you can make reservations. They could get me a PS for just 15 minutes later. I just walked to Sci-Fi at a relaxed pace, and got seated almost right away. The Sci-Fi is perfect for a solo!

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

I had great luck at 'Ohana one night: I'd had a PS for 7:00 but was wiped out by about 4:30 (up at 3:00 am for the flight to Florida), so I joined the loooong line at the podium at 5:00 and asked if there were any way I could be wedged in early. Despite the fact that walk-ups were being told they'd have an hour's wait, the fantastic CM said they could get me in and I was paged within ten minutes.

OTOH, a few nights later at Le Cellier, I approached the podium ten minutes ahead of my PS time and was told I'd have a 40-minute wait from the time of my PS, while a walk-up ahead of me was told they could seat his party in 40 minutes - it seemed that neither being solo nor having a PS helped there.

 

[WillCAD]

It's always easier for singles to get into restaurants at the last minute.

You don;t always get seated right away, but the ait times for singles or couples are far shorter than for larger groups in any restaurant.

I never make advance PS for Disney restaurants; on my solo trips I always just show up at the podium and usually have pretty short waits, except for the really busy places like Boma and 'Ohana.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

I was just there and was able to change my times to earlier ones at the resturant itself without a problem. I am sure you could go and put your name in and probably wouldn't wait as long as say a family of 4 or 5 would since it's just yourself.

 

[disneytraveler]

This has not been my luck soloing with last minute choices. Last year i tried
making arrangements for dinner at 2 disney places from my hotel and was given the times of 4pm and 9pm.

 

[WillCAD]

This has not been my luck soloing with last minute choices. Last year i tried
making arrangements for dinner at 2 disney places from my hotel and was given the times of 4pm and 9pm.

Time of year and day of the week also play a part. Busier times mean fewer available tables, as do special events like the CP dinner packages at Epcot during December.