Apparently going to WDW solo is "sad and depressing" LOL

[LaLalovesWDW]

I just got back from a solo trip & it was just as awesome as the last two were! I'm sorry for anyone who've had comments like OP's in the parks or anywhere on property. The saying Ignorance=Bliss is pretty accurate for some people. Fortunately, I tend to meet some pretty cool people who are there solo as well or are impressed by me being there solo.

The 1st time I planned & took a solo trip was last July & I admit I was a bit nervous but as soon as I entered the parks, all negative feelings went out the window in a hurry b/c I became so focused on what I was going to do next.

I have never had a CM make a strange comment to me about being solo but that may be b/c of the way I announce that I am a party of one, lol. I can't help it, I love not having to squeeze into a ride with someone else or wonder if they are having as good a time as I am. It feels so nice to be there by myself that telling them I am 'just one' naturally brings a smile to my face & a sense of pride b/c I am not ashamed or afraid to be there alone.

The only thing that still does bother me a little is the attention that I sometimes get from adults or children who see that I am there dining alone & begin to stare (whether they realize or not). This happened to me a couple times at different QS restaurants but as soon as I acknowledged them, they stopped paying any mind. It's one thing to people watch but to do it while others are eating to me is just rude & a bit creepy. But I do understand that sometimes they (especially children) don't realize they are staring & are just curious so I try not to be offended at all & smile at them.

I Love the planning part of my trips but also Love being spontaneous when things don't work out as planned or I have time to kill, whether it's stopping to relax & take in the atmosphere or choosing to hop to another park or resort.

Just the thought of planning my next solo trip is getting me excited again! Maybe that means it's time to begin.

Great post and thanks for sharing!! Funny you mentioned the staring thing during meals. I had lunch at San Angel Inn and.. I was sipping on my Blood Orange margarita, and munching on my chips and salsa as I waited for lunch. As soon as I sat down, the little girl and her Mom and another woman kept looking back at me. The little girl did a full 180 in her chair to stare lol... anyhoo. The next time one of the women turned around I said.. "omg have you tried their margaritas??? When you get a moment away from the kids you should try it. Deeeelish!!" I smiled a big smile and said hi to the little girl... It was fiine after that... I was dying laughin inside... I dont know why, maybe a little tipsy lol

 

[Stefecatzz]

Great post and thanks for sharing!! Funny you mentioned the staring thing during meals. I had lunch at San Angel Inn and.. I was sipping on my Blood Orange margarita, and munching on my chips and salsa as I waited for lunch. As soon as I sat down, the little girl and her Mom and another woman kept looking back at me. The little girl did a full 180 in her chair to stare lol... anyhoo. The next time one of the women turned around I said.. "omg have you tried their margaritas??? When you get a moment away from the kids you should try it. Deeeelish!!" I smiled a big smile and said hi to the little girl... It was fiine after that... I was dying laughin inside... I dont know why, maybe a little tipsy lol

Thanks & np!

I like your response at San Angel Inn! Maybe that margarita did help with it! Cheers to that.

That's also one of the things I look forward to about my solo trips..not getting comments or looks from those who choose not to have a drink about how I like to. One friend actually told me that I had a 'problem' if I didn't feel like I could have fun without a drink. I tried to explain to her that it's not a necessity for me but when I'm out w/friends or on vacation, I look forward to it like many others do. It doesn't bother my stomach when I go on rides & I don't act rowdy so it's never an issue for me.

I remember one thread on here somewhere that was about solo diners & a few DISers who weren't dining solo were wondering if it was appropriate to ask them if they would like to join them. There were mixed answers but I personally would rather dine alone if that's the way my meal started out. I wouldn't be offended if someone asked me at all but would just say no thanks. It's one thing if there are no empty tables & someone asks to join you at a QS location. But people can have a bad habit of assuming things about people & believing what they assume to be the truth.

One thing I really like about the DIS boards is that you realize you are not alone, no matter what you like or dislike. That's a good feeling to have.

 

[wallie40]

Its a tough thing to do. Being from CA, I used to go to dland with my annual pass when i was bored. Go have lunch, ride one ride and head home.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

And no one will talk me into EE this time!

Hey Suelala, wanna go on EE in October?

Just kidding!

 

[DaisyDuck001]

Planning my first solo this fall.

When in fall are you going? I'm there in late October.

 

[aacvacation]

I know what you mean, Lanasia. I had several moments where people gave me sad eyes too.

Also, I sometimes felt uncomfortable when older men would approach me and be like, "Ohh what's a cute girl doing here by herself blah blah." You'd think if they recognize I'm there alone, and they AREN'T creepy that they would know better than to approach me...so that weirded me out some.

Other than that...I was having a blast. Definitely my best trip ever. I'm so happy I went solo...and I'm going back Monday LOL!

 

[Suelala]

Hey Suelala, wanna go on EE in October?

Just kidding!

Uhh, NO! But thanks for the offer!

 

[Ellwood970]

I'm running out of my snappy one-liners to come back at those who think that traveling ANYWHERE solo is "sad and depressing." I'm here at WDW now since Monday and, other than the constant reminder that I need to work out more because my body is like a bowl of jello right now, I have been having a wonderful time!!! But at least once a day, I run into someone who gives me this look like I just told them I have terminal cancer when I tell them Im here solo... one guy even said that the thought of him going on a vacation alone, especially to Disney is "sad and depressing." As I said to him, "aww whats sad and depressing is that the obvious insecurity in your personality renders you handicapped in initiating new interactions and experiences without the crutch of others, but its ok...bless your heart." I said it smiling so it wouldn't sting as much, but he got the point. LOL I really don't have that generalized idea of those who chose not to travel solo. I do understand that this is not everyone's cup of tea...but don't knock my hustle if its what I enjoy just because you don't understand. But I digress... heading to Bongos tonight for good Cuban food and drinks!!

why is anyone even asking you could just as well be separated from your party. I travel solo frequently and no one asks.

 

[alwaysadisneykid]

I got similar reactions from guests. Snow White at Epcot asked if I was lonely by myself but I told her I had fun seeing my favourite Princess every time I visited, and that made her smile.

Really, though, it irritates me a bit when people comment. I did Chef Mickeys solo, and my server was lovely, taking pictures for me and chatting to me, but the guests next to me kept giving me very weird looks. Meh! I love solo trips, I've just booked up for March 2015 solo.

Enjoy, everyone!

 

[DWGal210]

OP, I was there until just a few days ago, too! Darn it, we could have had a quick meet-up! I was there from May 2-5 for the Expedition Everest 5K.

I get "looks" too when I go solo. Not very many, thankfully.

I like seeing the parks solo; I am doing a B2B cruise on the Dream during Labor Day week and am kind of getting nervous about that, I have to admit. But I'll have fun!

 

[keahgirl8]

I'm running out of my snappy one-liners to come back at those who think that traveling ANYWHERE solo is "sad and depressing." I'm here at WDW now since Monday and, other than the constant reminder that I need to work out more because my body is like a bowl of jello right now, I have been having a wonderful time!!! But at least once a day, I run into someone who gives me this look like I just told them I have terminal cancer when I tell them Im here solo... one guy even said that the thought of him going on a vacation alone, especially to Disney is "sad and depressing." As I said to him, "aww whats sad and depressing is that the obvious insecurity in your personality renders you handicapped in initiating new interactions and experiences without the crutch of others, but its ok...bless your heart." I said it smiling so it wouldn't sting as much, but he got the point. LOL I really don't have that generalized idea of those who chose not to travel solo. I do understand that this is not everyone's cup of tea...but don't knock my hustle if its what I enjoy just because you don't understand. But I digress... heading to Bongos tonight for good Cuban food and drinks!!

Good for you for not letting these people get you down! I couldn't have said it better myself. They are the ones who are sad and depressing, not us!

 

[Vito]

I just did my first solo trip in April. It was great! Crossed off a lot on my bucket list (take a tour, take a picture with a villain, and lastly buy (and wear) mickey ears.

I totally geeked out by myself and didn't care. Only a few times did I feel strange or self conscious but only because I made myself hyper aware of it when something exciting happened and turned to share it with no one...but got over that fairly quickly.

Only time that was strange was I picked Germany to eat at one night and sat with 2 parties of 2 and a party of 3. None of them did anything but talk to each other for the most part. The 2 parties of 2 did start talking business though.

I would go back in a second by myself. I no longer fear that stigma! I would like to go again for some sort of meet up though...that might be fun

 

[Suzie13]

I've never ever been on a solo trip but once when I was a little girl I did get lost in disney. I didn't panic and after a while I liked it alot. I just kept going on rides all day until my family found me.(after 5 hours) They said they weren't worried because I knew the place really well. I don't know how the cast members didn't catch on I was alone but I had fun as a kid doing disney alone for that one day Maybe I would do it alone when I am older and more confident in myself traveling as I can be clumsy.

 

[asmit4]

I know it's not the same but yesterday I drove 2 hours, went to Canada's Wonderland for the day, checked into a hotel, had dinner, and hung out in a 2 person jacuzzi alone while watching TLC all night....it was AWESOME!

Happy Mother's Day to ME! A day ALONE where I could eat when I wanted, go to the bathroom when I wanted, sleep when I wanted, listen to the music I wanted....I seriously need to do this twice a year. I'm a BETTER mom for it!

Im also driving to DW alone in October (family is flying)....it will be ME, MYSELF and I during my 3 day drive. I'm leaving on a Wed. night, and won't arrive in Disney until Friday afternoon. Looking forward to 2.5 days completely ALONE.

 

[canyoncam]

When in fall are you going? I'm there in late October.

Oh, I am late Sept/early Oct so will miss you. Just tacked on those days in Oct when the fall discounted rooms came out because I did not think the week I already had to myself was long enough!!! You have a great trip.

 

[mevelandry]

Pretty sure those people can't watch tv alone, eat in a restaurant alone, go out for a walk or shopping alone, go to the movies alone. I feel sad for them!

 

[barbaraann]

I was talking about this with my grandson today. He can do some things by himself, but there are a lot of things that he won't do unless there's someone else with him. He would never do Disney by himself. The first time I did, he asked me if I would be bored. No Way, I exclamed. Never bored. Too much to do in life, and especially at WDW and Disneyland too, to be bored.

 

[ebtbmom]

I'm running out of my snappy one-liners to come back at those who think that traveling ANYWHERE solo is "sad and depressing." I'm here at WDW now since Monday and, other than the constant reminder that I need to work out more because my body is like a bowl of jello right now, I have been having a wonderful time!!! But at least once a day, I run into someone who gives me this look like I just told them I have terminal cancer when I tell them Im here solo... one guy even said that the thought of him going on a vacation alone, especially to Disney is "sad and depressing." As I said to him, "aww whats sad and depressing is that the obvious insecurity in your personality renders you handicapped in initiating new interactions and experiences without the crutch of others, but its ok...bless your heart." I said it smiling so it wouldn't sting as much, but he got the point. LOL I really don't have that generalized idea of those who chose not to travel solo. I do understand that this is not everyone's cup of tea...but don't knock my hustle if its what I enjoy just because you don't understand. But I digress... heading to Bongos tonight for good Cuban food and drinks!!

Love that! I'm going to borrow it if that's ok

One of my coworkers wanted to get a new dress for an office party but she didn't have anyone to go to the mall with her so she wouldn't go. The mall, in her hometown, right down from her home! But she thought I was weird for enjoying solo travel?

 

[keahgirl8]

Love that! I'm going to borrow it if that's ok One of my coworkers wanted to get a new dress for an office party but she didn't have anyone to go to the mall with her so she wouldn't go. The mall, in her hometown, right down from her home! But she thought I was weird for enjoying solo travel?

She thought it was weird, because if she can't go shopping alone, she can't imagine traveling alone. I try to remember that these kind of comments say more about the person talking than they do about me.

 

[JillyBean1899]

Just tell them that you only enjoy traveling with people you get along with.