I Travel to Disney World Alone. These Are the 8 Restaurants That Don’t Make Me Feel Awkward.

Traveling to Disney World alone IS my specialty, friends.

When I took my first adult trip in 2021, I was turning 20 and wanted to be sure nothing got in the way of me doing what me, myself, and I wanted. After that, I fell in love with the concept and experience of going alone and really haven’t looked back since! I’ll admit though, there are a few aspects of Disney World that are a little awkward to do alone, one of them being dining. If you’re headed to Disney World on a solo trip soon, here are the restaurants that have never made me feel awkward for being a party of 1!

First, I want to say that no Disney World Cast Member has ever made me feel awkward for being by myself. Oftentimes, it’s all in your head, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t feel very, very real! Try to remember that everyone is so focused on their own day that wondering why you’re alone is probably the last thing on their mind.

Quick Service Restaurants

When it comes to dining alone, quick service spots are my way to go always. Because you’re not having to reserve dining ahead of time and put in that there’s only one of you (which there’s NOTHING wrong with!), confirm that with a Cast Member, and then be sat around all these families and friends dining together. My personal FAVORITE quick service spots are:

• Sunshine Seasons (EPCOT) — it’s so open and there’s so many seating choices!

• Sleepy Hollow Refreshments (Magic Kingdom) — complete opposite here, because there’s very little seating, but that means you can just take your snack and sit a little ways away in a picturesque spot

• Ronto Roasters (Disney’s Hollywood Studios) — again, very little seating here, but you can snag a random spot around Galaxy’s Edge and really feel like you’re chowing down quick before your next intergalactic mission (…just me?)

• Satu’li Canteen (Disney’s Animal Kingdom) — similar to EPCOT’s spot, this restaurant has a good amount of seating inside and outside, which means you can tuck into a spot much easier than families and enjoy those cheeseburger pods (which I didn’t get to EAT on my last trip and I’m still sad)

And while this next option isn’t exactly quick service, it’s also not table service, so I’ll put it here — don’t count out the Festival Booths at EPCOT festivals! All of these areas have very limited seating, so it’s very common to see everyone just sitting wherever they can. Plus, you can grab a little something from multiple booths and make it the most epic meal to ever exist.

Plus, EPCOT is seen as the most “adult” park of the four, so you’re probably the most likely to see solo travelers like yourself!

Table Service

Now if you’re looking for a more upscale meal, or something that has a little higher quality to it, you may want to head to a table service spot. While this isn’t something I personally do, I chatted with a coworker who also travels solo to Disney World a lot, and she gave me her recommendations! She likes to dine in restaurants that have an adjacent lounge with bar seating. There is usually walk-up seating available (especially when you are just looking for one seat), and these lounges usually serve the same menu — or at least an abbreviated version of the menu.

• Citricos Lounge (Grand Floridian Resort & Spa) — This gorgeous spot serves Florida cuisine with some Mediterranean flavors mixed in. The lounge serves the same menu as the restaurant, and dinner here has never let us down!

• Steakhouse 71 Lounge (Disney’s Contemporary Hotel) — The bar here can be lively in the evenings. They serve a limited menu here — but you cannot go wrong with the Steakhouse 71 Stack Burger!

• Tambu Lounge (Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort) — This is the creme de la creme of lounges according to a few members of our team! The vibes here are tropical, and really, who doesn’t NEED a drink served in a pineapple sometimes?! You can grab popular dishes from ‘Ohana, the table service spot right next door, which is a huge win,

The best part about lounges is that the fewer people in your party, the EASIER it is for you to be seated faster! So to be a party of 1 here is fantastic, and actually gives you a leg-up in a way. This is also a great way to try some fantastic dishes from these restaurants at a bit of a lower cost (and who doesn’t want ‘Ohana noodles?! I definitely have to FINALLY try them on my next visit).

Bottom line, if you’re scared to dine in Disney World alone at those MASSIVE dining spots, or where you feel you’re the odd-one-out, I completely get it. But don’t let fear hold you back from what you want to do — or in this case, what you want to eat. Make the most of your solo trip and check all those things off YOUR bucket list — you paid a lot of money to be there, don’t let other people’s opinions hold you back!

We’re always sharing the latest Disney tips and tricks with you, so stay tuned to the AllEars blog and our YouTube Channel!

Disney World recently made changes to their app that we know you’ll LOVE!

What’s your favorite restaurant to eat at alone in Disney World? Tell me in the comments!

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