I am also a voracious reader, but I feel a bit odd reading a book at WDW - I'd just rather absorb the experience. What I do often instead is bring a small, hardbound notebook (the kind you see in bookstores for $7-10) that I keep with me when I travel to take notes for trip reports and just my general use. What I did, who I talked to, what I was thinking about.
You don't have to be a big journal writer or anything, even just notes of a few words about what you ate or what you liked really help me absorb the experience more. I think many people may be afraid of solo because they miss sharing the experience, and I find that this really can make up for that. I use the same book on all of my trips, and I usually make some generic book cover (I like to use old calendars) each time to protect it from the abuse it gets being carried in my backpack.
It's funny, but deekapee is right. I sometimes get a glance or two from the server as to what I'm writing (never an actual question, but I catch them looking) and I too have found that my service is never less than great when that happens. Then again, I've never not felt taken care of in a Disney restaurant.
I think Simba's Mom has a wonderful attitude, and good for you speaking up for your needs! Although on the surface it may not seem so because of the "family" atmosphere, but WDW is INCREDIBLY solo friendly, especially in the restaurants. I have eaten in dozens of full-service WDW eateries and trust me, they are used to solo diners.
The only places I don't tend to visit solo are the character meals, but that's just because I don't need to see the characters (I get enough of that on my non-solo trips, LOL) and prefer a la carte instead of buffets/etc. generally. I hear great things from solos that do - just as much character interaction, etc.
In all my trips at WDW alone (probably a total of two months worth of visits in the past few years...crazy but true thanks to AP discounts), I've only had two CM's ever say anything about it. Once was at the ticket booth when I turned in my first AP voucher - the woman at guest services (MGM) said she "hoped I wasn't there alone". I smiled and said, "Today I am, thank goodness!" The second time was a year or so later at Restrauntausaurus. I was the only one at the counter, late in the day, and the guy at the counter said, "All alone?" I said, "at the moment!" and smiled. Then he said, "Oh, don't worry, you'll find someone" LOL. He assumed I was single and there looking for love? Not sure, but I just smiled and said thanks as I walked away bewildered.
Those were it, though, in terms of CM's. Once or twice I've seen a family or two looki strangely at me because I'm alone, but I just smile to myself and think if only they knew how happy I was to not be holding a diaper bag and having six kids pull on me in different directions, LOL, they wouldn't think that. There are a lot more people who may do it than you think, and the only hurdle is yourself, really.
Never be afraid to have fun. No where is it written that you cannot enjoy just about anything at WDW alone. It's definately not for everyone, but if you are the personality that can do it, it's more rewarding than you can really say. It's not the same magic as trips with loved ones; it's different. Not better or worse overall...just different, and it can allow those of us who are co-dependent vacationers when we take the responsibility of planning for others the ultimate luxury of only worrying about yourself.
NED
I'm confident with being with myself 
