Traveling as a Solo Female, Help me Calm my Family's Worries

I would be traveling alone as no one I know would want to go with me.

When will you be going?
 
Bunless said:
I've been lucky enough to travel to many countries, mostly on my own. It doesn't matter that I've done this a lot, and it doesn't matter that I'm a forty year old woman who has her own business. My family, and particularly my dad, will always express their concern about my safety. I tell them, "I appreciate your concern." That is it. Of course, it is accompanied by a look that is clearly indicating that they are the insane ones, not me. If they keep going, I might add something to the effect of 'all of our lives are in danger every time we walk out the door and get in a car, but we don't stop doing that.'

I will say this, though, based on traveling in Europe and going to Disneyland Paris... there are further steps that WDW could take to ensure safety. However, I'm not sure that Americans are ready for luggage screening, really scary looking dogs, and metal detectors at both hotel and park entrances and Downtown Disney.
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Thank you for responding :)

jenniy122 said:
I'm just going to "ditto" most of what's already been said. At 19 I moved to Chicago on my own and lived solo doing everything solo for 7 years. I've gone to Orlando twice solo. After moving back to MI I travel back to Chicago all the time solo. I'm 28 and my parents still worry. That's parent's jobs, but the easiest way to combat fear is to hit it head on.
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Thank you :)

loves to dive said:
Worrying about your child is normal, my son is 35 and is on a trip with the University to Costa Rica right now. I asked him to at least email me when he arrived so I knew he made it and to shoot me an email every once in a while, not every day or even every other day, maybe once a week just so I'll know he is o.k. I've traveled solo since I was 17, I flew from Saudi Arabia where I lived with my parents back home to the States and flew back and forth between the two many times. Now, I travel solo all the time as well, my honey doesn't like to travel and my son can't always go places with me, I've been to WDW 3 times solo and am getting ready to take my 4th trip in Sept. I always text my honey and my son when I get there, I drive from north Georgia about 7 1/2 hours. Usually every night I'll text or IM with my honey just before bed to let him know things are o.k. I used to do the same thing when my parents were alive, even when my honey and I would take a trip or my son and I would take a trip. I stay on site, normally in the moderate and deluxe resorts, lately I've been booking through Orbitz when Disney is offering a discount and staking the Orbitz discount on top of it. I never use my car when I'm there, I only use Disney transportation. If I'm walking around the resort at night, which I do, I'm always aware of my surrounding. I've even walked from HS to YC at night, it is well lit and there is almost always many other people on the path. I also get up very early in the mornings, sometimes before sun up and jog/walk around the resorts and I've always felt safe. When I'm alone after dark I always have my cell phone out and available in case I need it. I always have the deadbolt on the door when I'm in the room, no matter what time of day it is, I even do this when I travel with others as well, don't want housekeeping to walk into the room.
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Thank you for your response :D

Bethnde1 said:
I would be traveling alone as no one I know would want to go with me.

When will you be going?
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I don't know yet, hopefully some time next year.
 
nerdydisneygirl90 said:
Hi, I really want to make a trip to Disney World but I would be traveling alone as no one I know would want to go with me. My family is worried because I'm a female and don't want me to go alone because they think something bad will happen as you never know if there are bad people at Disney/Orlando.

What should I say to my family to help calm their fears? Also how may of you solo travelers are girls?

Thank you for the help :D
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I've solo traveled to Disney as well as many other places. In my opinion, I felt more confident and safer at Disney than other places. There is always a Cast Member around. I had a great time and felt really comfortable. You will have a wonderful trip!
 
I'm 38 and I've traveled solo to both WDW and DLR (plus other cities as well - Las Vegas, Kansas City, Miami). I'm an only child so I totally understand the parents being worried situation. My parents are good with me traveling solo now, but a few things to make them feel better are:
1. I text when I arrive and make sure I text/call once a day to check in and just say "hi". In this day of social media, my mom usually just sees my posts on FB and is good with that too.
2. I have a RoadID bracelet I purchased when I started marathon training and now I wear it when I travel solo. It has my name and two emergency contact's info on it in case something happened to me. People could read it if I was unconscious, if my regular ID had been stolen, etc... I wear it with my contact info on the inside of my wrist. https://www.roadid.com/

Things I do just for me as safety precautions... when staying at a hotel, I try to find a place with interior hallways (rather than motel style doors that open to the outdoors). If you can find a hotel with a keycard access elevator, that's great too so not just anyone can come up to the guest floors. Pack light so you can easily get to/from your hotel room without being caught off guard with your hands full. If you're at a WDW resort with large grounds, consider carrying a flashlight (can be used as an impromptu weapon) or wear a headlamp to navigate where you're going. Also, it lets you see other people that are out/about so you can be alert. If you're out walking with earbuds, be sure to only wear one so you can stay alert of your surroundings. Make sure to fill up your car's gas tank before you get close to empty so you can avoid getting gas in the evening.

I hope you're able to plan an amazing solo trip and enjoy it as much as I do and these other ladies do too!
 


You can also use Hotwire and Book the Bonnet Creek area of Disney, and you get transportation to the park some really good discounts on rooms!!! The hotels end up being either Hilton Bonnet Creek or Wyndham Bonnet Creek, I did this in March and got the Wyndham for $83/nt for 2 nts.
 
nerdydisneygirl90 said:
Hi, I really want to make a trip to Disney World but I would be traveling alone as no one I know would want to go with me. My family is worried because I'm a female and don't want me to go alone because they think something bad will happen as you never know if there are bad people at Disney/Orlando.

What should I say to my family to help calm their fears? Also how may of you solo travelers are girls?

Thank you for the help :D
Click to expand...
My mom was worried about me going to Disney alone too. I told her that there are pretty much ALWAYS lots of people around and that I would be careful. I've taken two solo trips and I had a great time with no problems at all. I hope you have a great time as well!
 


I did my first solo trip last December, and wondered if I would feel safe as a female traveling alone. I flew and stayed on Disney property (I recommend it, I think it is a little safer than staying off property, but I suppose it depends upon where you are staying off property.), but I rented a car as I wanted to go to Universal Studios and the local grocery and it's a PITA without a car.

No problems at all for me, but at night I was very much aware of my surroundings, and throughout I did not advertise that I was staying by myself.

I had a great time, and will be going solo again for a few days this November before friends join me for the rest of my trip.
 
Bethnde1 said:
I would be traveling alone as no one I know would want to go with me.
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I see that you plan on traveling next year. If finances are a consideration, and they always are, IMO, I would look at discounts that appear and try to stay on property. I see no reason to avoid a value resort, and that will get you free parking at any Disney Park. I think that once you factor in the costs of staying offsite, vs onsite, given that you are solo and do not need the additonal space that may families look for offsite, you may find that you at least come close to breaking even.

I think that as a parent, I would feel more comfortable knowing my child, even as an adult, is in a safe environment that offers transportation in what can be unfamiliar territory.
FWIW, I have wanted to plan a solo trip and the only way I would do this is to stay onsite. I like the idea of reducing any stresses that can occur, remove any travel concensus (translate that to if I want a glass of wine I can without worrying about driving)
 
I also stay on site at a Value (POP or All Star) when I travel solo. Love the included airport shuttle, transpo to parks and no need for a rental car. The small room is not a problem for a solo traveler. My family is also less worried about me. At this point, I personally wouldn't look at staying off site. I've done it in the past yrs ago and for 1 person, IMO I didn't find the savings to be worthwhile.
 
I often travel solo and prefer it. When my family expresses concern, I agree to regularly check in via email or texting with the understanding that they are free to "instigate emergency proceedings" if I do not respond within agreed upon time frames. I think they over react, but I understand their concern. I have been traveling on my own, more or less, for over 20 years, I think I'm pretty safe. I agree with most of what other posters said. Don't advertise you're by yourself. Don't take shortcuts through less populated areas to get where you need to be. I travel budget conscious, but I always check hotel reviews and I never completely cheap out for places that seem unsafe. And I would also recommend staying onsite at WDW, even the value options offer you a level of "safety" that you lose, even if just a little, offsite. I guess the only thing I don't agree with is the driving distance. I often drive long distances by myself. Things can happen close to home just as easily as they can far away. Make sure your car is in good repair and you're comfortable with the distance you're driving, but I don't think distance is that big of a contributing factor as far as safety unless you're driving farther than you should or your car can handle.
 
On the WDW Radio show (podcast) there is an episode where he covers going to Walt Disney World solo. It made me want to go solo even more. And himself and all his guests agreed about how safe, and welcomed they felt in the parks. If you can find his Podcast in itunes, its worth the listen!! (Along with all his other episodes to get all excited for WDW!)
 
I just took my first solo trip this past February and stayed at a Disney resort, which I initially booked through Orbitz, but then ended up booking through Disney for a moderate resort (Port Orleans French Quarter) when I had to take a serious look at my budget. I told them I was a single female traveling along and wanted to be located close to the lobby. They honored my request was easily a 2 minute walk (or less!) to the food court. I liked that I didn't have to worry about driving when it came to transportation by taking the Disney buses (or boats when I went down to Disney Springs).

Even if you do not choose to stay on Disney property, it would be useful to tell the hotel you book with (either when you book online or calling them, and even when you check in) to request to be near the lobby. As other have said above, make sure you always keep the deadbolt flipped in the room when you're there so people do not walk in unannounced.

As for going into the parks by yourself you just need to keep your wits about you. Yes, there are cast members everywhere and like it or not Disney is definitely watching. However, I wouldn't suggest your first solo trip is when you undertake drinking around the world or drastically impairing your judgement in anyway. That being said, don't be afraid to talk to people! Everyone at Disney seems to be that much friendlier. Plus, I loved having a solo trip. I got to decided what to do when and if I was hungry I got to choose where I ate. You can't beat that!

Just stay safe, sane, and keep yourself aware of your surroundings.
 
Nancyg56 said:
I think that as a parent, I would feel more comfortable knowing my child, even as an adult, is in a safe environment that offers transportation in what can be unfamiliar territory.
FWIW, I have wanted to plan a solo trip and the only way I would do this is to stay onsite. I like the idea of reducing any stresses that can occur, remove any travel concensus (translate that to if I want a glass of wine I can without worrying about driving)
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The transportation is one of the biggest reasons I prefer staying onsite. I'm not a big drinker by any means, but I appreciate being able to have a couple here and there without worrying at all about how soon I need to be fit to drive myself back to my hotel. Frankly, a long day at the park is about as hard on your mental processes as a couple of stiff drinks, so not driving myself around after closing also strikes me as a significant improvement in personal safety (especially having known a cast member who hit a deer on property in the middle of the night and totalled her car!).

I've never stayed at one of the resorts solo, but when I was in the Disney College Program I'd go to the parks alone constantly, and now that I'm a bit further into adulthood I'm big into travel in general whether or not I have anyone to go with me. People have offered a lot of good advice here regarding basic safety as a solo traveler (particularly a solo woman), and IMO WDW is probably the safest, easiest place in the world to dip your toe into solo travels.
 
nerdydisneygirl90 said:
Hi, I really want to make a trip to Disney World but I would be traveling alone as no one I know would want to go with me. My family is worried because I'm a female and don't want me to go alone because they think something bad will happen as you never know if there are bad people at Disney/Orlando.

What should I say to my family to help calm their fears? Also how may of you solo travelers are girls?

Thank you for the help :D
Click to expand...

Your post reminds me of another lady I met on the Mears shuttle (yes, this was about 15 years ago) as we were both headed to WDW for a solo trip. She said that her family was so afraid, she didn't even tell them. Her husband would answer the phone while she was gone and say she was in the shower-she took lots of showers that week!
I'm the biggest wimp, yet if you stay on-site you'll be fine. And if you ever feel uncomfortable, I always found a nearby CM who was quite willing to accompany me. Or just walk near another family-I remember one night, I just tailed another family through an area that I didn't feel comfortabhle walking in. I was waiting for them to turn around and accuse me of stalking them, but thankfully they didn't!
 
Simba's Mom said:
Or just walk near another family-I remember one night, I just tailed another family through an area that I didn't feel comfortabhle walking in.
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I've been in a few situations like this (but not at WDW) and often just asked a family or couple in front of me if it was OK if I walked behind them & kept them in sight because of my concerns. Never a problem. In fact, every time they told me to walk with them & have a chat rather than walk behind. :-)

As PPs have mentioned, WDW is a good place to get your feet wet doing solo travel. Just use the same common sense you use in your own community and keep your eyes and ears open. You will do fine. ps since I'm an early morning rope-drop person, I am often so tired by the middle of the evening that sadly I rarely make it to the fireworks and other later evening events. I'm ready to drop by 8pm. However, many solo guests love the evenings and the festival atmosphere when the parks are lit up at night. Go and enjoy and have a great time!
 
If you stay at a Disney value resort, where the buildings are sometimes quite far from the lobby and the rooms open to the outside rather than a hallway. You can tell someone at the front desk that you're alone and would like an employee to walk with you to your room and they're happy to do it. For that matter I imagine any hotel or motel would provide this if you ask.

Just to add to the chorus, i've been to WDW as a solo woman many times -- and I'm severely disabled. It's actually the only place that I feel comfortable and safe traveling by myself. If you stay on property, you're never alone.
 
I've a lot by myself and love it, especially solo trips to WDW. My most recent was in June of last year. I flew a thousand miles away from home and did my thing.
 
samsteele said:
I also stay on site at a Value (POP or All Star) when I travel solo. Love the included airport shuttle, transpo to parks and no need for a rental car. The small room is not a problem for a solo traveler. My family is also less worried about me. At this point, I personally wouldn't look at staying off site. I've done it in the past yrs ago and for 1 person, IMO I didn't find the savings to be worthwhile.
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Ditto to this!! Disney is one of the safest places around. I always prefer staying onsite when traveling solo (im a solo female traveler). I have never felt unsafe at Disney. There are tons of CM and families around...even when you're closing the park late at night. I too wouldn't stay off site as a solo traveler. In the end, youre not saving that much money. in fact, it probably turns out to be about the same. Plus, I love the on-site perk of EMH...i love EMH at night in particular. I couldn't give that up. :teeth:
 
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