What is rude when going solo dinning?

[chrisdadrocks]

Ok so I am headed down sep 20 to ASM for the free dinning and am going solo. So my question is what is rude while dinning solo, is reading a book. I do not want to seem rude to the waitestaff. MP3 earplug in one ear ok? any advise would be supper awesome.

 

[unkadug]

Ok so I am headed down sep 20 to ASM for the free dinning and am going solo. So my question is what is rude while dinning solo, is reading a book. I do not want to seem rude to the waitestaff. MP3 earplug in one ear ok? any advise would be supper awesome.

I doubt that anything you would normally do anywhere else is going to be considered rude to the waitstaff .


As long as you don't stiff or leave no tip, they probably won't care what you do. :shrug:

 

[Daneault]

Reading a book or a newspaper seems perfecly fine with me. Thats always what i do when i eat alone and it doesnt seem to bother anyone.

You are alone, i think peoples understand that you need some kind of activity Staring at the ceiling for 10min and falling asleep in your soup might be more rude then reading a book if you ask me :ROFLOL:

 

[SeaBreeze]

Ok so I am headed down sep 20 to ASM for the free dinning and am going solo. So my question is what is rude while dinning solo, is reading a book. I do not want to seem rude to the waitestaff. MP3 earplug in one ear ok? any advise would be supper awesome.

I've seen plenty of solo diners with books and never thought it was rude. Now, if you hold your hand up to the wait staff and go "shh, I have one more paragraph to go" that might be a bit rude As for the earphones... I personally get annoyed anytime I see someone inside with earbuds in but that's just because I've had to endure students sitting class with them :hammer:Overall, I'd say you're fine!

 

[figmentmom]

Bring the book! I do that when I go out by myself.

Enjoy your trip! :wave:

 

[yankspy]

I would not consider that rude at all. I have seen this many times.

 

[marinoalulema]

rude solo

hey there
i have been to wdw solo once before for 5 days

the wait staff are very accomodating, i had reservations in 10 different places and had no problems in any of them

they went thru the same routine every time, finding out why i was alone and if there was anything special that i needed while dining, if you say you are there just to relax and unwind they will leave you totally alone and allow you to chill out on your own

if you get chatty, like i usually do, they will hang out and have conversation after conversation with you

am also going to be there the same time, we are going from sept 11 thru the 19th

 

[carenyllie]

I can't stand it when someone is sitting alone at a table with their handsfree device for their phone in and they are sitting there "talking to themselves." LOL!! I mean, if you are sitting at a table doing nothing, can't you hold the phone?????

 

[righttrack]

I bring something small and unobtrusive to read. I don't listen to a player, but would read my blackberry, for example. I also talk to the waitstaff, who, if they aren't too busy, would enjoy being engaged in a little conversation.

 

[Ravenclaw87]

I think it would be less rude to read than to listen to music--- even with just one ear bud. I know from my cashiering days that the customers with their ipods irked me. But, a book (or a newspaper or what have you) you can easily look up from.

But that's just me.

 

[xsupaxmanxsfnex]

I'd say listening to an mp3 in one ear is alright as long as you are not blasting it or bothering other people around you. A book seems like the perfect thing to me and talking to the wait staff. Do what you feel comfortable doing while everybody else stares at you I guess. I am always worrying about what people think of me so I would just bring a book probably, but that's just me.

 

[jillmo1474]

I am a server and the one thing I find that is rude, not nessesarily with solo diners, but with all diners, is when someone is on the phone and finds their conversation is more important than addressing their server that has walked up to greet them. In my restaraunt, we have a time limit we need to fulfill to greet a table. We do have secret shoppers that time us ( sounds kind of ridiculous does'nt it). So when we see guest's on the phone, we usually watch for them to get off and then approach them....but then that could be up to 5 min. Sorry to go off on a tangint ( if that is how you spell it). Basically, just give the server the same respect you would want to be given, I personally think that if you listen to music in both ears, they might feel scared to approach you, like they are intruding or something. That is just my info. Have a great trip:wave:

 

[maryszhi]

i think its nice to bring something small and non obstructive or not something that could potentially bother others, like a loud ipod or what not. i also give you props for going to wdw alone, as well as dining alone..it seriously takes alot of courage, but sounds fun, and the best part; its cheaper and you can do what you want and feel when you want, something i have yet to experience

 

[coltow]

If I were solo, you'd absolutely see me with book or newspaper at any meal, eating alone you need something to occupy your wait time. Not sure if I'd use my iPod in restaurant, but would in lines, ditto with cell phone.

 

[bgraham34]

Ipod would be a big nono for me. A book is perfectly fine and most likely someone will strike up a conversation with you.

 

[RiversideBunny]

I used to travel a lot and as a result often ate by myself.

There's no problem.
I would just add that it is best to always sit where the hostess wants you to sit rather than trying to take up a table for 4 - 6 people just because it's by the window or something.

 

[J_Krafty24]

My personal opinion is that an ipod, book or cell phone (on the condition that you use an inside voice - no louder than if you were talking to someone sitting at the same table) is fine as long as when someone comes up to the table you immediatly set down the book, cell phone or ipod earpieces and give them your full attention. If on the phone don't take the time to say good-bye and hang up, just set the phone down and make sure whoever you are talking to on the phone knows this will happen now and then.

 

[Tinkerbella16]

I am going solo in November, but I'm not on the DDP so I don't have any sitdown meals. I did book a breakfast for Kona Cafe because I love the Poly, and I figured it would be nice to sit alone and have breakfast, it's not really an upscale kind of place, so I won't feel uncomfortable eating alone there. But I was thinking about bringing a book to read so I'm not twiddling my thumbs. No one should be bothered by you reading a book.

 

[Iknewagirlnamed]

As a server myself, my suggestion to you would be this:

There's nothing wrong with dining solo. I, myself, have taken a solo trip to Disney before and ate at many sit down restaurants. Sit where the hostess seats you. Don't speak on your cell phone until after you have ordered, because I know that many servers won't approach you until you get off your phone, which not only takes away from them being able to flip the table but takes away from your experience because you'll be there longer. There's nothing wrong with reading a book or listening to your ipod, but just make sure that as soon as your meal is done and you pay, leave. It takes away from the server's tips if you "camp." Also when using the ipod only put it in one ear just in case someone is trying to get your attention. And if the service is good, tip 20 % Have a great time! :sohappy:

 

[MousDad]

There's nothing wrong with reading a book or listening to your ipod, but just make sure that as soon as your meal is done and you pay, leave. It takes away from the server's tips if you "camp."

Even when it's Marrakesh, and the belly dancer just came out!!!!???? :wave: