First solo trip: Tips for 3 days and dining alone?

sugarbobbin · Mar 31, 2015

I ended up being passed over for a promotion at work and nothing like a disney trip put the pep back into your step. So I just booked my first solo trip May 5 - 9th of this year. I'm staying 5 nights but arrive late and depart early, so I really only have 3 full days in the parks. I'm staying at All Star Music and I thought it was smart enough to get a park hopper pass to give myself flexibility.

So, I have three full days for the parks. I've been to Disney previously with a family member for a week, so I thought 3 days would be okay because it was just myself, but now I'm worried that I might have made it a rat race to see everything before the trip ends. Has anyone done 3 day trips and found that it suited them fine when it came to solo trips?

I'm wondering if I should have one really nice sit-down dinner experience for myself, but I'm not sure if I want to sit in the restaurant all alone with nothing to do. I think I'll probably be on my phone the entire time. Should I pass on that idea and spend what I would in a nice restaurant on something else?

Any other tips for a first time solo-er would be appreciated.

I'm actually quite nervous, it will be my first time traveling alone!

Fantaluminishes · Apr 1, 2015

I've dined solo in many WDW Signature Restaurants. There's nothing wrong with it. Actually, you'll probably be in and out much faster than when you're with a group. I highly recommend solo dining at pretty-much any place you want.

sky13 · Apr 1, 2015

I'm going solo next week!

It's a 7 day trip for me, but I'm taking the attitude that I'm not likely to see everything I want (there's just so much to see and reading these boards doesn't help as there's now an insane number of things I want to do!). So am hoping that this won't turn into a rat race to see everything... Although that being said on my past Disney solo trips (DL and DLP) I've generally found that I can do a lot when solo!

I've had nice solo table service meals in DL and DLP. I brought my Kindle and read a book during the meals, and it was quite nice to have some downtime from the parks. (I have a BOG ADR for next week by myself!)

Brocktoon · Apr 1, 2015

sugarbobbin said:
I'm actually quite nervous, it will be my first time traveling alone!

For this reason, I think a shorter 3 day trip is actually perfect. If you're a little nervous, 3 days can be considered a nice trial trip to get your feet wet on solo traveling and scout things out. The park hopper is a great idea as a solo ... DHS and AK may not be full day parks, and as a solo it's pretty easy to hop the buses to another park whenever you fee like it.

If you're looking for a nice sit down dinner, there's another thread on this board talking about bar style seating at the restaurants that may be more comfortable for solos. I know when I'm traveling by myself (for work or at WDW), I prefer to sit and order a full meal at the bar if possible. I know Jiko has bar style seating at the open kitchen that many times has solos dining there. Over the years I've seen some Disney Imagineers and execs eating at the Jiko bar seating so that may be a good reccomendation

readytogotodisney · Apr 1, 2015

For my first solo trip I picked restaurants that most of my family would want to skip and wouldn't normally get to try. I have the same plan for my next solo trip.
I also did a long weekend - arrived mid day Friday and left early Monday. For my first full days I went to TL, which isn't something we normally do as a family bc we tend to go in the winter. The 2nd day I made good use of my park hoppers and did 4 parks in 1 day, and did rides like Kali (usually closed when we're there and I had never been on it), 7D (first trip with it open), and did all the movies around WS.

Grumpy247365 · Apr 1, 2015

I've traveled to Disney solo on two occasions and I LOVED IT!!!! You get to dictate the entire trip. Embrace it. I usually do 4 day trips (one day at each park) and found I don't get to see everything, but that just motivated me for the next time I visit. I've dined solo all over Disney and it's great. I've noticed that when you eat solo, the food comes out pretty quick, so you might not have much time to play on your phone. If you're looking for a big splurge, I recommend Artist Point. It's pricey, but really, really good. If not, Downtown Disney (I'll always call it that) has plenty of places to choose from. Hope you have a blast.

lustergirl · Apr 3, 2015

I am going solo in the end of April and have booked a couple of ADR's. Originally I had all my days booked with somewhere to eat but quite honestly it is too much food for me. I would sit down and think about what you want to really see and which parks you really want to go to. For me I will skip HS all together and hit MK, EPCOT, and AK only.

Good Luck!!

lustergirl · Apr 3, 2015

sky13 said:
I'm going solo next week!

It's a 7 day trip for me, but I'm taking the attitude that I'm not likely to see everything I want (there's just so much to see and reading these boards doesn't help as there's now an insane number of things I want to do!). So am hoping that this won't turn into a rat race to see everything... Although that being said on my past Disney solo trips (DL and DLP) I've generally found that I can do a lot when solo!

I've had nice solo table service meals in DL and DLP. I brought my Kindle and read a book during the meals, and it was quite nice to have some downtime from the parks. (I have a BOG ADR for next week by myself!)

Wow 7 days. Have a great time. One thing that is going to be weird is sleeping alone at night in the room. I am so used to having someone around.

seltzer77 · Apr 4, 2015

Take advantage of the single rider lines that some rides have. Test Track, Aerosmith Rock n Roller Coaster, and a few others. This is a nice perk to traveling without a group. Beyond that, just look at everything and decide what you want to do the most...and go for it! Have a great time!

MinnieMO · Apr 5, 2015

I had my first solo trip in 2013 and stayed at pop and loved it!! Stayed 4 days just to try it and see how I liked it and I wished it would have been longer but I didn't want to go overboard on something I wasn't sure I was going to like
Right now I'm planning my second solo trip for sept for 9 nights and ten days :cool1:

and I'm going to have a relax day and a day at sea world, I'm also going to try table service dining which I didn't have a lot of last time but was fine at counter service
Hope that helps :goodvibes

Sir William · Apr 5, 2015

Did a 3 day solo two years ago and had a great time. My schedule was my own and I didn't have to coordinate or negotiate with anyone as to where or when to go, where to eat, what to ride, etc.

Park hopper is a good idea as it gives you the flexibility to go to whatever park you're in the mood for. I was going to MK one evening and just after entering the gate decided to go to Epcot instead. I like to break up my park visits, visiting one in the morning to mid-afternoon, taking a break in the afternoon (nap, pool, etc), then another in the evening.

Most of my meals were quick service but I had a couple of ADRs. I was always treated well, and in fact, think I received better attention from the servers because I was dining alone. I always take a book to read when dining alone, and I'll even read it when waiting to go on a ride, waiting for the bus, the parade to start, etc. That said, I also occasionally talked to other guests.

Main thing is to pamper and enjoy yourself. One evening at DTD, I had a huge ice cream sundae for dinner! In Epcot, I did a "wine tasting" around the World.

loves to dive · Apr 6, 2015

I've done two solo trips, the first was 3 nights/4 days (I drive down and get there mid-afternoon and usually leave around noon or 1 to drive home) I have an AP but before that always bought park hoppers. The first trip was for my birthday which happened to be during F&G and spent most of my time at Epcot but did manage to get in all 4 parks. Since I go so often I don't feel like I have to do everything and have found on solo trips I tend to ride less rides and spend my time just going slow, watching shows and soaking it all in. My second solo trip was 4 nights/5 days during F&W. I'll admit I felt a little rushed during that one because I had a lot of seminars booked and felt like I didn't get to experience the booths as much as I would have liked. Still went to all 4 parks. I have one booked for May, 5 nights/6 days(see a theme they keep getting longer) for F&G. My son and DIL may actually join me on this one and I have mixed feelings about it. I was looking forward to going at my own pace but know I will enjoy spending time with my son since I haven't seen him since Oct., which is way too long for me. I've done TS by myself and just have my kindle on my phone and read that. Enjoy the time, like me you may find you prefer it.

ShadowBoxer · Apr 6, 2015

Sugar Bobbin you almost in the same boat as me. I am going to Disney World alone from June 19th-22nd. However I will only have two full days in the parks. My flight arrives at 4pm that Friday of the 19th and Magic Kingdom stays open until 12 midnight and Epcot and Hollywood Studios stay open later into the night when I arrive. So Friday won't be a total lost. My flight leaves at 3:30pm that Monday but I plan to visit on other park early that Monday morning before I leave. I have a lunch reservation at Be Our Guest but I am worried it might be weird if I end up at a table with some random people or something. Also, I concerned it might be creepy if I ride some rides alone and end up with some else's kids or something ( I am 27). For example, Toy Story Mania is made for at least two people, so that means I would be paired up with a random person or most likely someone's kid if I ride it. Now I don't mind kids, but I will feel a little creepy riding with kids I don't know. I can handle a teen or adult fine though.

TillyDe · Apr 6, 2015

I am doing a Solo trip in October. I wll arrive around noon on Sunday and leave early on Thursday. The only thing that is planned is Kona Cafe for breakfast one day and Keys To The Kingdom. Besides those two, I plan on going to the bus stop and getting on the first bus. I will go where ever it takes me. Return to the resort after lunch, rest, and repeat. But I will make a trip to EPCOT to eat around the world. This is my birthday present to me. I am not nervous with any of it. I am looking forward to going with no other plans.
Just do what you want to do and do not worry. You will not be the only one there alone.

Finiamh · Apr 8, 2015

Having traveled there solo 30+ times for work, I'd like to think I have some experience.

If you are going to eat, do a buffet. You aren't staying a long time so though you may think you want to have all that time to eat right now but once you are there you may decide you want to do 5 other things. At a buffet you aren't waiting on anyone but you really, and get the check early. Then you can lolly-gag all you want or you can get in and out after having great food. If you must do a wait-staff oriented place, then it's good to know what you want going in and again, ask for the check early.

Counter service is your friend on short solo trips. I and out.

Also allows more time to hit the single rider lines like crazy.

DaisyDuck001 · Apr 14, 2015

ShadowBoxer said:
For example, Toy Story Mania is made for at least two people, so that means I would be paired up with a random person or most likely someone's kid if I ride it. Now I don't mind kids, but I will feel a little creepy riding with kids I don't know. I can handle a teen or adult fine though.

There are some other rides where they will put someone next to you, but on Toy Story Mania whenever I've been solo, they left the seat next to me empty.

DaisyDuck001 · Apr 14, 2015

sugarbobbin said:
I'm wondering if I should have one really nice sit-down dinner experience for myself, but I'm not sure if I want to sit in the restaurant all alone with nothing to do. I think I'll probably be on my phone the entire time. Should I pass on that idea and spend what I would in a nice restaurant on something else?

It would be a great opportunity for you to look around and notice all the details of the décor and theming in the restaurant, which you would not have much chance to do when dining with others. But if you would be on your phone the whole time instead of being present in your surroundings, I think it would be a waste of your money and you'd be better off to skip it.

kristyn13 · Apr 14, 2015

Be confident in dining alone! It can be very relaxing and allow you to really enjoy the food - on that note, I would suggest going to restaurants known for having good food! Good luck and enjoy your trip!

Oneanne · Apr 16, 2015

In addition to buffet style and sitting at the bar to dine (I've done this at Flying Fish and Fulton's and had lovely meals interacting with the Chef or Barkeep), try the places that have communal seating, like Teppan Edo or Germany... more often than not I've had great luck sitting with nice/interesting people and both have entertainment in case you're seated with some duds. I've only occasionally had less than stellar service while dining alone, and it's usually after they know I'm not going to jack up the cost of the meal with alcohol not so much that I'm seated alone.

Stefecatzz · Apr 17, 2015

sugarbobbin said:
I ended up being passed over for a promotion at work and nothing like a disney trip put the pep back into your step. So I just booked my first solo trip May 5 - 9th of this year. I'm staying 5 nights but arrive late and depart early, so I really only have 3 full days in the parks. I'm staying at All Star Music and I thought it was smart enough to get a park hopper pass to give myself flexibility.

So, I have three full days for the parks. I've been to Disney previously with a family member for a week, so I thought 3 days would be okay because it was just myself, but now I'm worried that I might have made it a rat race to see everything before the trip ends. Has anyone done 3 day trips and found that it suited them fine when it came to solo trips?

I'm wondering if I should have one really nice sit-down dinner experience for myself, but I'm not sure if I want to sit in the restaurant all alone with nothing to do. I think I'll probably be on my phone the entire time. Should I pass on that idea and spend what I would in a nice restaurant on something else?

Any other tips for a first time solo-er would be appreciated.

I'm actually quite nervous, it will be my first time traveling alone!

I worked at a job for several years that could be really stressful. The great things about it though were the discounts I was able to get on timeshare units near Disney & the vacation time I had to take advantage of that! Although I'd only go for 3 nights most of the time, I was able to go once every 2-3 months for a couple of years. I honestly do believe that Disney is the one thing that really got me through the last years of working there, lol.

Some things that I learned from my personal experiences: when you plan your trip, the more you prioritize the better so as not to overwhelm yourself. Even the best laid plans can fall through so be prepared to be flexible with them. I've found that the best thing for me is to make my FP+s in advance (even if I don't end up using them in the parks for whatever reason) & take a look at some menus you think you might be interested in, whether they're QS, stands or TS so you have a general idea of where you can go to find what you want w/out having to stop & do research in the park. That alone will save you a good amount of time, unless you are on to just wonder in anywhere & order something. If you don't get to see & do everything you were hoping to, there's always the next trip!

As far as dining alone, I've only done so at QS's. I do have a couple of ADRs made for breakfast & lunch, which I'm looking forward to.

First solo trip: Tips for 3 days and dining alone?

Mouseketeer

To all who come to this happy place, welcome!

DIS Veteran

21st Century Schizoid Man

DIS Veteran

Mouseketeer

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

Earning My Ears

If you can dream it, you can do it!

RETIRED!

DIS Veteran

Nerdy Storyteller

Mouseketeer

Mouseketeer

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

Earning My Ears

DIS Veteran

"If nothing changed, there'd be no butterflies."

Share this page