Best resort for solo visitor

[lovedoggies]

I will be going to WDW by myself for 5 days in early August (Aug 4-8). I will be in town for a convention (in Tampa) and then decided to add a few disney days afterwards. What resort would be the best for a solo traveler (woman in her 30s). I like the idea of the Beach Club or something in that area because of the ease of getting to Epcot, Boardwalk & MGM, but the prices are kind of high.

Im trying to stay to about $200 per night max. What resorts would you suggest for me? I want to go to the parks, but also want to enjoy a nice resort, and have a nice comfortable room. I have AAA and since we have another trip planned I may get an AP. I do have a code attached to my name, but the prices sound like rack rate to me. I'll keep hoping for a 40% off code, but until then, what are your suggestions?

Thank you!

 

[mickey&minniealways]

rent from a dvc member. You can get one for a lot cheaper.

 

[reneempayne]

what about Swan/Dolphin? Close to the action and since you do not have kids with you theming isn't that important. See what the AAA rate is there.

 

[Jrabbit910]

CSR- Its a beautiful resort & the buses are wonderful. There is also a convention center there & plenty of other solo travelers + you might even run into some dis'ers.

 

[iluveeyore]

Enjoy your solo! I just did my first one, and I soooo want to do another! We own DVC but save our points for family trips, and my solo was last minute so I didn't have time to rent from another member, so I got an AP rate at Pop. I know I would have loved to sit on a balcony at Saratoga, and make a cup of tea each morning in my studio kitchenette, but honestly Pop was just fine. It seemed so much larger in my room because I was all alone!!! I got a lake view in the 50's building, and had a short walk to get my tea in my refillable mug each morning. I spent a couple of hours late each afternoon in my room, usually to freshen up, relax with my book or surf the Family and Disney channel on tv before heading back out to EMH at night. Since I loved being out and about on my own, it wasn't that important where I stayed - it was just nice to have two beds to choose from, a bathroom I didn't have to share, and a remote I didn't have to pry out of DH's hand!!
I went for my 'solo before 40' early birthday gift to myself, and also to get away from the winter blahs (the snow up to my knees was getting to me! ).
I enjoyed saving the money on the room and having extra to be able to buy what I wanted to eat when I wanted, and to pick up a couple of extra guilt souvies for the kids!
Enjoy your solo time - we leave in seven weeks, and my DH already knows I'll be taking a whole day for myself during our family trip to help with my solo itch

 

[auntfrannie]

I've traveled solo a few times and stayed at the Poly, POR-Riverside, and POP. For my next trip later this month I'm staying at Boardwalk Inn. I thought the grounds at POR-Riverside were beautiful and very relaxing. However, you are sacrificing the direct access to Epcot & DHS that you would have with the Epcot resorts or the MK access that you would have with the monorail resorts. On the other hand, it's a lot less money!

When I stayed at POP it was as a few days added on after a conference. I thought it was nice and the bus service was very good. Honestly, I don't think you could wrong with any resort on disney property!

 

[kkmauch]

I am doing a solo trip in a little over a month. I've also done a few in the past two years. I've stayed at everything from moderate to deluxe and dvc. For my upcoming trip I only have 4 nights, so I decided to split and stay at SSR on points (for the relaxing last two nights-spa!!!) and at Pop for the first two park-pounding EE nights!!!

You really can't go wrong. I might suggest that you stay at a moderate as I have always found them to be less "busy" than the values but they still have the food courts, good themes, great bus service, pools and good/comfortable rooms. Deluxe might be a little harder to get at your price point without discounts, but it can be done. For me, it's more important to save the money for the extras, like spa days, good dining and anything "extra" that I didn't see or forgot to buy the last time I was there.

Wherever you stay it will be fun...you're in DISNEY!!!

 

[dmwang9]

I second a PP's suggestion about the Swan and Dolphin -- you'd still be in the Boardwalk area, and they do offer AAA discounts.

 

[Northern_Julie]

I went with CSR when I started this trip solo. I liked the idea of it being a little more convention orient (perhaps adult) and the good busses not sharing. I thought the theming was a little less whimiscal. Also loved the big hot tub.

 

[cheerforchelsea]

I think that most any resort would be wonderful - I have never felt like I wasn't "safe" at any Disney property. Most likely I would choose AKL or WL - simply for the inside corridors to the rooms and the price is not as high as some of the other deluxe resorts.

 

[spiceycat]

pop for value
POFQ or CSR for moderate
Polyn or BC for deluxe (WL and AKL too)
BCV, BWV or VWL for DVC - these are the closest to the parks.

 

[karemore]

I would stay at POFQ. It's such a small beautiful resort.

I felt that the CMs at FQ "knew" us because the resort was so small. I'd feel safest there if I were alone. Though I think I'd feel safe at any Disney resort alone.

I love the boat to DTD from FQ, it's much more personal than another bus ride or having to deal with driving.

The hot tub at FQ was private, but not secluded feeling. I felt comfortable using it alone while DH was in the room with DD.

I don't think you'd feel lost in the crowd at FQ like you might at a larger resort. One thing about travelling alone at WDW is you can start to feel invisible after awhile unless you are outgoing and comfortable talking with strangers.

 

[TinyBit]

Im going to be staying alone for a couple days at Pop Century this summer. I am a little nervous about it, but I think it will be a great experience. I am super friendly and I think that is what is bugging my mom. She thinks Im gonna meet some weirdo that will follow me back to my room. I will be very careful so that doesnt happen.

I went ahead and reserved a preferred room because people said it was closer to things. So you might want to do that too, depending on where you stay. Not sure if it matters in all hotels, though. Have fun.

 

[iloverags2]

When traveling solo, I always prefer staying at a resort with interior corridors, which pretty much leaves you with the deluxe resorts (other than the Polynesian, unless you consider the longhouses interior corridors!). When discounts are available, you can typically find a room at Wilderness Lodge close to what you want to pay (although you have to book pretty fast as those rates are snatched up quick!). Plus WL is so beautiful!

You will be at Disney, so you can't really go wrong anywhere!

 

[fla4fun]

I would give you the same advice I'd give if you were traveling with a large group. Pick the resort that best fits both your budget and your personality. Each resort has it's fans and detractors, and each resort has pros and cons. Think about how much time you will spend at the resort, think about what amenities you prefer, and think about what parks you will be spending the most time in.

I've done solo trips at all levels (value, mod, deluxe) and had a good time at all of them. I prefer deluxe for long trips, when I know I'll be spending as much or more time at the resort as I will in the parks. Mods and values are great for the shorter trips, and offer plenty of room for the solo traveler. I prefer interior corridors, more from a weather standpoint than anything else, so I try to avoid the mods and values during the hot and rainy summer season.

I think the mods are a great compromise between deluxe amenities and value pricing. CSR has a few more amenities than the other mods, and CBR has slightly larger rooms. POFQ is a compact resort, so you're never far from anything. For a solo trip, I would probably splurge on a king bed room, as it not only gives you a larger bed, but it gives you more floorspace as well (having only the one bed). Another thing that would steer me toward recommending a mod over a value is that there is a refridgerator in the room. There's nothing better after a hot day in the parks than to come back to cold drinks in the room.

 

[jennib5426]

I am going on my 4th solo trip next week at BCV, but I just bought a DVC so that is the only way I could stay there. I couldn't pay for a week out of pocket.
I have stayed at Pop, preffered room, twice and CSR solo. I liked them both, CSR was a bit more relaxing since my room was in the Casitas section by the quite pool.
But I think the Pop food court is the best at WDW.

For Mod I would go CSR, but you could also try CR garden wing for a deluxe. They often give room discounts for them and we had one for around $250 a night. The room was huge and recently remodeled and a one minute walk to the main building and the monorail.

good luck

 

[suzimar57]

whenever i've gone solo, i like to stay at CR - feel better in a deluxe with interior hallway entrances, the monorail - have also stayed at the all-stars and pop, but just felt "better" at the CR when alone

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I traveled to Disney solo many, many times. My biggest issue is getting a well-located room. Being alone, I hate to get isolating rooms in the "boonies", which unfortunately happens to me everytime I am at a moderate. I can't remember the last time I wasn't in the boonies at a moderate! At POR, I got the parking lot view of Parterre Place; at CBR I was in Trinidad South of course; and CSR I was in the Ranchos. POFQ is the only moderate where I can get a room close to any ammenities, so that's where I prefer.

I also really like POP, because I get centrally-located rooms (always in the 50's section, even though I never ask for it), and the resort is lively and the food court is great.

I also love AKL, but WL is off my list now. As a solo, I hate ground floor rooms with a patio instead of a balcony (partly for security reasons, partly because I want a view!), and I get ground floor rooms every time at WL. This is because solos are often placed in unused handicapped-assessible king bed rooms, and most are on the ground floor it seems. So I am done with WL for now - ground floor rooms are just not my cup of tea when solo. I never have the same problem at AKL, which is similiarly designed.

So I guess my preferences as a solo are AKL, POP, or POFQ! And Swan and Dolphin are terrific, too!

 

[lovedoggies]

thank you all for your ideas. I am still undecided. so if you think of anything else, please share

 

[kittythepoohbear]

I have stayed at POP for almost all of my solo trips and really like it. The room is an ample size for one and the resort itself is a nice size. The lake is beautiful and I always enjoy walking around the lake or sitting on the bridge enjoying the wildlife. The bus service is usually great but the lines coming back from the parks can be very long. I don't stay till park closing anymore since I don't want to get stuck on them.
Since I would rather have more frequent trips than one very nice resort stay, I choose POP. But if money were not a consideration, I would like to stay at an Epcot resort as well. For that, I third a PP's recommendation on the Swan and Dolphin. Their rates seem flexible with both AAA and AP. Have fun!