DeterminedOne
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2004
Hey folks. I’m from my very first solo trip, and excited to share my dining experiences with you.
I was in the Disney bubble from Thursday, August 22 to Monday, August 26th, and used the Regular Dining Plan.
To purchase the Dining Plan, or to not purchase the Dining Plan - that is the question I often see asked on this forum.
For me, the answer is an easy yes. I have been using the DDP since before there was ever an official DDP. Many, many
years ago there was something called the Magic Your Packages. It had several tiers, much like the current dining plan,
and it included recreational activities. After being spoiled by those deluxe dining packages, an inclusive dining option has
been the way to go for us. But this time I was solo. I knew the Deluxe Dining Plan would be too much, and the Quick Service Dining Plan
would offer too little as far as selection goes. I decided to go with the Regular Dining Plan, which includes one quick service option,
one full service option, and two snacks. I like the idea of the food being paid for upfront.
First up on this solo dining adventure was ABC Commissary at Hollywood Studios, and Storybook Dining at Wilderness Lodge.
I hope you will join me. There will be pics!! And I hope to give you a feel for what it’s like to dine solo inside the happiest place on earth.
ABC Commissary - Hollywood Studios (Quick Service)
I debated what to do on this first day of the dining plan and my quick service credit. Having never done a quick service plan,
I wasn’t too sure where to start. Hollywood Studios doesn’t get much credit when it comes to their quick service locations,
or so I’ve read on this forum and elsewhere. My experiences here have taken me to Hollywood Brown Derby, Sci-Fi and 50’s Prime Time. Never a quick service location. Keep in mind, this particular dining plan will run you $75.49 a day. So I would be lying if I said I wasn’t cognizant of getting the best bang for my bucks. In order to maximize at quick service locations, I would need to top $21 per meal.
Therefore, Woody’s Lunchbox was off the table. Cute little quick service location, and some fun food options, but value wise -
tater tots and grilled cheese just weren’t going to cut it. So I took this one off the list almost immediately. Everything else was left on the table, except PizzeRizzo, and only because pizza is generally not that impressive to me.
I wandered into HS around 10:00, and my first FP wasn’t until 12:50, so I had time on my hands. But I was hungry, and lunch was definitely on my mind. Upon entrance, and taking the obligatory photo pass picture with the Chinese Theatre in the background,
I took a left turn. Not sure why, other than I was solo and could do whatever I wanted. I happened by ABC Commissary, but it was closed until 11. Stopped and perused the menu, which looked decent as far as variety was concerned. It was then I decided 11 would be the perfect time to have lunch. The restaurant would just be opening, and the crowd would likely be low. If there was one thing I was concerned about with quick service meals as a solo traveler - it was having trouble finding a place to sit. You know - no one to find a table while I stood in line.
Just across the way from ABC Commissary was a meet and greet spot for Mickey and Minnie. This was not in my plan, but the wait was only 20 minutes, and it was a perfect way to kill time. It ended up being the best meet of the trip. But then again, it’s hard to top a meet with the main Mouse himself. So after the meet I noticed they opened ABC a little early, so I headed in. First impression of the place was good. Lots of open seats, which was a plus. And plenty of tables for two that were in a good location - a problem I ran into several times as a solo diner. The line was organized, as in they hand out the menu while you wait in line. And I liked the warm feeling of the dining area. The warm colored carpet made it feel more of a table service than quick service restaurant.
I decided on the BBQ Rib Platter. It’s true it was the most expensive item on the menu, but it was also the best looking, based on what I saw on other people’s plates. The picture of it on the menu doesn’t do it justice. From the menu it appears meatless and bony. But that was not the case. I questioned myself on this choice, knowing it was really hot out, and I my heart could potentially react negatively to pork + heat. Pork is like that for me, sometimes. Gets my heart thumping.
But if you’re going to make poor choices, you may as well go all in. So I ordered a beer with my meal. Because alcoholic beverages are included. Now, I’ve had grapefruit beer before (mainly Leinenkugel), but this stuff was TASTY. Schofferhofer from Germany. So delicious, I may have had a few more
of those throughout the trip ...
The ribs, while a little heavy on the sauce, were pretty good. Not too fatty, and tender, but not so much to the point of resembling the texture of pulled pork. I hate it when restaurants do that to ribs. The portion was huge, but I managed to polish off most of it. I told you I was hungry …
The shoestring fries were nice and hot, and decent for not being real French fries. The meal included a side of coleslaw, which I didn’t touch because surely I had enough to eat. And in case you are wondering, there was an adverse reaction to pork + heat, but I will save that story for the regular trip report.
Overall, a really solid lunch. (QS lunch total = $28.53)
I was in the Disney bubble from Thursday, August 22 to Monday, August 26th, and used the Regular Dining Plan.
To purchase the Dining Plan, or to not purchase the Dining Plan - that is the question I often see asked on this forum.
For me, the answer is an easy yes. I have been using the DDP since before there was ever an official DDP. Many, many
years ago there was something called the Magic Your Packages. It had several tiers, much like the current dining plan,
and it included recreational activities. After being spoiled by those deluxe dining packages, an inclusive dining option has
been the way to go for us. But this time I was solo. I knew the Deluxe Dining Plan would be too much, and the Quick Service Dining Plan
would offer too little as far as selection goes. I decided to go with the Regular Dining Plan, which includes one quick service option,
one full service option, and two snacks. I like the idea of the food being paid for upfront.
First up on this solo dining adventure was ABC Commissary at Hollywood Studios, and Storybook Dining at Wilderness Lodge.
I hope you will join me. There will be pics!! And I hope to give you a feel for what it’s like to dine solo inside the happiest place on earth.
ABC Commissary - Hollywood Studios (Quick Service)
I debated what to do on this first day of the dining plan and my quick service credit. Having never done a quick service plan,
I wasn’t too sure where to start. Hollywood Studios doesn’t get much credit when it comes to their quick service locations,
or so I’ve read on this forum and elsewhere. My experiences here have taken me to Hollywood Brown Derby, Sci-Fi and 50’s Prime Time. Never a quick service location. Keep in mind, this particular dining plan will run you $75.49 a day. So I would be lying if I said I wasn’t cognizant of getting the best bang for my bucks. In order to maximize at quick service locations, I would need to top $21 per meal.
Therefore, Woody’s Lunchbox was off the table. Cute little quick service location, and some fun food options, but value wise -
tater tots and grilled cheese just weren’t going to cut it. So I took this one off the list almost immediately. Everything else was left on the table, except PizzeRizzo, and only because pizza is generally not that impressive to me.
I wandered into HS around 10:00, and my first FP wasn’t until 12:50, so I had time on my hands. But I was hungry, and lunch was definitely on my mind. Upon entrance, and taking the obligatory photo pass picture with the Chinese Theatre in the background,
I took a left turn. Not sure why, other than I was solo and could do whatever I wanted. I happened by ABC Commissary, but it was closed until 11. Stopped and perused the menu, which looked decent as far as variety was concerned. It was then I decided 11 would be the perfect time to have lunch. The restaurant would just be opening, and the crowd would likely be low. If there was one thing I was concerned about with quick service meals as a solo traveler - it was having trouble finding a place to sit. You know - no one to find a table while I stood in line.
Just across the way from ABC Commissary was a meet and greet spot for Mickey and Minnie. This was not in my plan, but the wait was only 20 minutes, and it was a perfect way to kill time. It ended up being the best meet of the trip. But then again, it’s hard to top a meet with the main Mouse himself. So after the meet I noticed they opened ABC a little early, so I headed in. First impression of the place was good. Lots of open seats, which was a plus. And plenty of tables for two that were in a good location - a problem I ran into several times as a solo diner. The line was organized, as in they hand out the menu while you wait in line. And I liked the warm feeling of the dining area. The warm colored carpet made it feel more of a table service than quick service restaurant.
I decided on the BBQ Rib Platter. It’s true it was the most expensive item on the menu, but it was also the best looking, based on what I saw on other people’s plates. The picture of it on the menu doesn’t do it justice. From the menu it appears meatless and bony. But that was not the case. I questioned myself on this choice, knowing it was really hot out, and I my heart could potentially react negatively to pork + heat. Pork is like that for me, sometimes. Gets my heart thumping.
But if you’re going to make poor choices, you may as well go all in. So I ordered a beer with my meal. Because alcoholic beverages are included. Now, I’ve had grapefruit beer before (mainly Leinenkugel), but this stuff was TASTY. Schofferhofer from Germany. So delicious, I may have had a few more
of those throughout the trip ...
The ribs, while a little heavy on the sauce, were pretty good. Not too fatty, and tender, but not so much to the point of resembling the texture of pulled pork. I hate it when restaurants do that to ribs. The portion was huge, but I managed to polish off most of it. I told you I was hungry …
The shoestring fries were nice and hot, and decent for not being real French fries. The meal included a side of coleslaw, which I didn’t touch because surely I had enough to eat. And in case you are wondering, there was an adverse reaction to pork + heat, but I will save that story for the regular trip report.
Overall, a really solid lunch. (QS lunch total = $28.53)
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