I thought I would share the list of ADRs I have for my first solo trip:
Jungle Navigation Skipper Canteen--new since I was in WDW and sounded good
Biergarten--one of my favorites from before--I know its communal, but is solo there THAT much different than a couple?
50s Prime Time--my very favorite--a MUST DO every time, even a month apart
Boma--another favorite
La Hacienda de San Angel--never tried this before, but it sounds good and I do like Mexican
Le Cellier--never tried this before as it is so popular, but I have wanted to for some time
Sci Fi Dine--another new one for me, but I heard it is fun
California Grill--another favorite from before
Feel free to comment/criticize my list.
No criticism here, the heart (stomach?) wants what the heart wants
I have an ADR at
Jungle Skipper. I ate there solo in January and survived!
I'll just come out and say it-as far as I'm concerned
Biergarten is a no go on pretty much all fronts. We've been several times (both with the kiddos and as a couple) and I simply don't like it. I don't care for communal seating or German food and our last visit was somewhat less than fun due to our dinner companions. We were seated with a family of five who were at the wrong end of a loooooong Disney day. The kids were out of control and the parents were too busy snarking at each other to do anything about their offspring. Cranky children and bickering parents did not make for a nice meal, nor did the icy cold glass of Dr Pepper (BTW, who gives an already over stimulated kid a sugary, caffeinated beverage at 8:00 PM anyway?) that the eight year old dumped into my lap.
If I ever (and that's a very large if) were to try a communal table solo it would be at Teppan Edo. I realize that there's a chance for sitting with a family in the midst of a meltdown there as well but at least I like the food!
50s Prime Time is not a restaurant I ever think about. We went a lot when the kids were young and that was fun but we haven't been back since they've grown up. DH does not like hijinx at meal times and the menu is not my favorite.
I love, love, love
Boma and would definitely eat there except:
-We eat there a lot when DH is along. I mean, hello, unlimited meats? When both DH and a teenaged DS were along we regularly put a hurtin' on Boma's bottom line, even at Disney prices. On my own, I'm a fairly light and mostly seafood/veggie eater and get very little value from a buffet.
-I'm on the chubby side and would feel like the fat lady who never met a buffet she didn't like. It doesn't matter that nobody is looking, I can't help it. DH and I once dressed up as tacky tourists for
MNSSHP. Our pre-party meal was at 'Ohana and our table was right next to the entertainment. There I was dressed in a Halloween costume, in
everyone's sight line, in
everyone's videos at an AYCE dinner. I was a fat chick in a muumuu (no pesky waistband to get in the way!) in an all you care to eat restaurant. I preferred the Dr Pepper drenched meal at Biergarten. Buffets are not gonna happen. WDW is too pricey a place to spoil while working on my body image and social anxiety issues.
I actualliy considered
La Hacienda but opted for Chefs instead. Again, DH likes La Hacienda and we go fairly often. The tight tables at Chefs are a concern but I do love their salmon. Still may go with Coral Reef. I have a late lunch ADR at Coral Reef, an early dinner at Chefs. Will definitely cancel one.
There's the 2TS thing going on at
Le Cellier and I'm not really much of a steak person.
Sci Fi is on my list for an OOP trip
It looks promising and not too $$. I'm doing the Fantasmic Dining Package at DHS so don't need another ADR.
I love
California Grill but it's a very date night place for me. It was a favorite when DH and I would dump the kids for an evening. I probably would feel lonely here and it's also 2TS. I do enjoy it when DH and I go.
So, right now I'm leaning
Saturday
2:50 Mama Melrose (FDP)
or
3:50 Hollywood Brown Derby (FDP)
Sunday
5:15 Jungle Skipper Canteen
Monday
None-doing Food and Wine
Tuesday
4:10 Tiffins (RoLDP)
Wednesday
5:10 Wave (will cancel for Be Our Guest if I can get it)
Thursday
?
I'm doing Food and Wine as an early lunch, maybe dinner at a resort?
Friday
2:50 Coral Reef
or
5:20 Chefs de France
Saturday
Move to Universal
(I may revisit AK depending on the FastPass situation. I already have one morning and an evening planned. AK has some of my favorite QS and I like to use my credits here. The Satu'li menu looks very me.)
So I can just go with Brown Derby or do FDP at Mama Melrose and book a meal for Thursday. I'm leaning toward keeping Brown Derby. If the past is anything to go by I should be hitting the Free Dining wall by Thursday. I always reach a point where I'm sick to death of eating out and just want a nice yogurt in the room.
Sorry about the stream of consciousness novel! I've never been to WDW when I could pick all of my restaurants. A dining plan usually means AYCE or places where DH can get big honkin' steaks.