Alone For The First Time

[dandydad12]

I have been going every year for the past twelve years and the kids are grown and the wife and I are no longer togeather . I am 57 years old and was thinking of going this summer and staying for 14 days at PO Riverside my favorite,and playing 10 rounds of golf and taking in all the great fun at the parks . Will I be able to have as much fun alone as I did in the past or is it just wishful thinking . Not ready to give up the magic , love that mouse .

 

[Missytara]

Do it; I love going down there by myself. Believe, I enjoy sharing it with friends, but I love, love, love being by myself.

Try eating out at some of the lounges at the resorts - my favorite is WL. I took the Sunday paper, did the crossword puzzle. The lounge at POR is also fantastic, but not much food selection. I suggest taking the ride to DTD and then eating down there a few times (i.e. Fulton's) and then returning to the lounge mid-evening for a nightcap.

I just stayed at SSR and the Turf Club was beautiful and right next to the golf course. Try out their lunches, especially their salad and sandwiches.

Just enjoy the time to yourself.

 

[extraredstuff]

First off, lemme say I'm sorry that things didn't work out with your wife, going thru a divorce certainly can't be fun.

But I agree with Missy, I love doing Disney solo. Eat where you want to eat, bring a book to help pass the time or make you feel more comfortable eating out alone. Ride the rides you want to ride, make use of the single-rider lines, and just enjoy yourself.

POR Riverside is one of my fav places too, it's beautiful there. Hope you go and have an excellent time

 

[pdchris]

Dandydad, my situation is almost the same as yours (other than the golf). I just turned 56 and my children are grown up, too.
I did a solo back in Dec 2008 and had a good time. I will confess, though, that when I first got there and visited DTD that night, I did get a tinge of loneliness. But I was over it by the next day.
As other solo visitors have mentioned, one of the big benefits of solo, is going at your own pace. I had park hoppers (highly recommended if your solo) and would spend time at one park and then drive on over to another. No problem since I didn't have to worry about someone not wanting to go someplace else.
Have fun and perhaps someday we can meet up at one of the parks. (Altho if you only go there during the summer, not much chance. I couldn't take the heat and humidity of FL summers.)

 

[PhillipA82]

It depends on your character. I could never do it without wife and kids...

 

[ttester9612]

Going solo for the first time can be scary. It took me awhile to get use to the idea, but I love Disney to much to give it up. So I got up the courage, and been going solo since 2006. With the Disboards, I always finding others that are going around the same time as me so I will normally meet up with a few of them at the parks and ADRs. I enjoy going through the parks at a slow stroll and looking at everything. Every time I go I'm seeing something new. It's great!

 

[SoloFriendly]

Do it, dandydad12! If you love Disney and you want to go, you should go. WDW is actually a lot of fun solo, and as ttester9612 said, you can always try to set up a meetup with other people traveling at the same time. You might have an occasional pang of loneliness--it does happen--but you'll probably have too much fun to think about the fact that you're alone.

 

[MOmousefan]

I really enjoyed my first solo trip last September. The obvious advantages have already been mentioned:do what you want when you want. Other things I enjoyed was when a CM came down the long line at Soarin' looking for a single, Right Here! I was placed on the outside on attractions like Safari, Great Movie Ride, Catastrophe Canyon, and Ellen's. Great for a phorographer like me. The single rider line at Everest was faster then Fastpass. I got to see attractions the family didn't want to see on previous trips. FOLK, BatB were my favorites.
I do enjoy seeing WDW with the family, but this trip was great.
Enjoy!

 

[nurse.darcy]

I have mostly gone solo on all my WDW trips, however, as Teresa said, I have met up with many wonderful DISsers on each and every trip and have never truly been solo.

When by myself I love to enjoy my resort as much as I can, swimming, lounging with a good book, eating at the restaurant, etc. I also enjoy going to the parks and taking in the shows and stuff that I don't normally get to when I am with a group of people. I also LOVE LOVE LOVE wandering around world showcase at Epcot and taking in the shops, shows, food and any rides in that area. If you love Animal Kingdom (as much as I do), take in the trails where you will find animals lounging about in some really nice "habitats". Take a ride on Expedition Everest through the single rider line and have almost no wait. There are several rides that have single rider entrances at the various parks. For dining, I tend to gravitate to the bars that are at most of the nicer restaurants where you can find a full menu and friendly people to chat up.

Some Favorite:

Tune Inn Lounge (next to 50's Prime Time at DHS) - Home cooking and friendly bartenders.

Fulton's Crab House (Downtown Disney) - Awesome seafood and fish, Lovely atmosphere.

Jiko (Animal Kingdom Lodge) - Delicious food and a beautiful setting

There are many others but these are favorites of mine.

Also, not sure if you would be interested but we have a large group of singles/couples that go every May. This year's trip is May 13 to 18. Some of us are staying at the Boardwalk. We range in age from late 20s to 60s (I know, wide variety but ya know. . .lots of fun). There is a thread on here that I will find the link for and post.

All, in all, have fun on your trip and enjoy. You will love it.

 

[nurse.darcy]

May 2010 Meet

 

[pdchris]

MOmosuefan: Good point about single rider line. I forgot to mention that. That's a big benefit of solo. I just wish they would expand it to more rides.
Nurse.Darcy: How are you? I haven't been on the boards lately. I didn't make my December trip this year so I kinda got out of the 'posting mode.' Anyway, to my question: do you stay at AKL and wander the grounds or do you just drive over and park? If the latter, do you have any trouble with the sec guards just driving over and parking?

 

[nurse.darcy]

MOmosuefan: Good point about single rider line. I forgot to mention that. That's a big benefit of solo. I just wish they would expand it to more rides.
Nurse.Darcy: How are you? I haven't been on the boards lately. I didn't make my December trip this year so I kinda got out of the 'posting mode.' Anyway, to my question: do you stay at AKL and wander the grounds or do you just drive over and park? If the latter, do you have any trouble with the sec guards just driving over and parking?

I take transportation or a taxi. . .If you have a dining ressie (or even if you don't), just let them know you are dining at Jiko. You should be let in. Of course, AKL is my favorite resort so I prefer to stay there. And good to see you on the boards again.

 

[dandydad12]

I want to thak everyone for there imput and I will be going to the World at tthe end of June thru the 4th of July . I can now concentrate on making my dinner reservations as well as some tee times . Thanks especially to you Darcy I have seen your advice in many other post in the past and it was very usefull , thanks again

 

[DisVacNut]

This is the first time I haveever heard of this. I have always traveled with entire family. But as life changes things, I could find myself planning an alone trip. Glad to know there are others out there in the same boat. I just came back from a 12 day trip over Thanksgiving. While waiting in line at O'Hannas for check-in, I talked to a man. Later I saw him at his table enjoying his meal all alone. I thought how nice, but it was the first time I have ever seen this. I will keep checking this thread to see if I could ever hook up with anyone else alone.

 

[disneylove69]

Being with people is great but sometimes going alone is even better. It gives you a chance to relax and unwind. Staying at home you may find yourself working and not relaxing. I did 7 days at WDW and 7 nights on the DCL alone. I found many people to talk to and on the cruise even hung out with people I didn't know but found I had similar interests. I came back a much happier person. Plus what every one else said.

 

[jakeybake]

I took 3 solo trainings/conferences to WDW in a 12 month span from March 2008 to March 2009. I had always gone with my DW and later on my DW, DD and DS.

I have to tell you that going solo was phenomenal and I think it's something that every WDW fan should experience at least once in their life.

I'm the kind of guy who likes to run around at 100+ miles an hour from the time I step off of the plane in Orlando until the time I step onto the plane for the flight home. My DW on the other hand likes to go at a much slower pace. Because of that I would have to force myself to slow down, which at times was tough.

When I was alone I could run all over the place as often as I wanted to. I remember laughing to myself as I was running to the airport monorail and the Magical Express counter during my first trip. I just kept picturing my DW saying, "Can you just slow down and wait for the rest of us please!!".

It really is great to be able to go at your own pace, see the attractions only you want to see etc.

Jay

 

[pdchris]

That's referred to as "commando-style," Jay. I know what you mean. I was like that, too, when I went solo. However, sometimes the Disney crowds can slow you down (like never expect ToonTown to be a shortcut; not with all those kids).

 

[CynthiaC925]

I agree with everything everyone else has said. I've been going to WDW since 1988 and most of the trips have been solo - just love these!

Also sent you a PM. I'll be there again in August for 6 days and can hardly wait.

 

[MOmousefan]

One other thing I want to mention is that I have always taken at least one child with me (They are all in their 20s), but I have never told them how much fun I had going by myself.
We just had our first grandchild and I can hardly wait to take her. I still want to take more solo trips!

 

[2luvmickey]

I'm number 7 out of 8 kids, and I have three DS and my loving DH. Yet, the thought of going to WDW by myself is pretty tempting.

But, being around family all of my life, I'm not sure how I would do. Then, there's that "selfish" guilt that I would feel. But I do loooovvveee the World and going this year just doesn't fit in our kids' schedules.

Really? I should try it by myself? Talk me into taking the leap!