Best way to get over break up? Solo Disney Trip!

[muppetofaman]

So my ex and I had been planning my dream Disney vacation in May. I'd done all the touring plans for the parks, gotten all the ADR's ready that I was going to make, you know all the bells and whistles. Then out of no where she breaks up with me. So instead of canceling my trip I decided to move it up to the first week of November. What better way to get over a relationship ending then going to the most magical place on the planet!

The only downside? Having to massively scale back the plans as I won't be able to to pull out the cash in 8 weeks as I would about 7 months . As it looks right now I will be in the parks for 6 days from 11/2 -11/7.

Now it has been 4 years since my last trip down and this is my first ever trip that is more then just trying to squeeze EVERYTHING into one day. This is also my first ever solo trip. I have been wanting to go back for about 3 years now but couldn't ever find anyone to go with me. At this point I have grown tired of waiting and just want to go!

So things that I would love some advice/tips/opinions on...

Money is going to be tight. Are there any MUST do restaurants or can I simply get by with counter service and/or just bringing in sandwiches and snacks?

As I stated earlier I haven't been in a few years so is there anything fairly recent that people would suggest?

Have any solo people ever gotten Photopass and did they think it was worth it?

I am sure I will want to pick people's brains a whole lot more as departure time gets closer. Much thanks for anyone's input!

 

[lazer]

You're gonna have a blast! I'd say, if needed, you can totally get by with QS meals, and treat yourself to great snacks and desserts (thinking Werther's and French bakery for sure)! I've never gone solo, but am envious. I think you'll be able to see everything at your pace!

 

[spiceycat]

if money is tight might stay offsite and rent a car - still should be cheaper than staying at WDW.

offsite condo and most houses are pretty cheap compared to WDW.

w/condo you get a full kitchen - so making meals is easier

 

[Deanie1]

I am so glad that you are heading to WDW anyways. I agree, go to the happiest place on earth! If it was me, I would totally do CS as it allows you to pay less $ and also does not take away too much precious park time. Is the Food and Wine Festival still on then? It is always fun to sample food along the WS.

As for Photopass, if money is tight, I would probably skip that. You can always ask other people to take your photo.

You are going at a quiet time but I would still go to www.easywdw.com and make a good park plan. I am sure you will have a wonderful trip!

 

[lazer]

Also, meant to add: if skip photopass. Keep in mind most staff, and especially the photopass CMs, will gladly take your picture with your camera! Easy way to save!

 

[wiigirl]

You're gonna have a blast! I'd say, if needed, you can totally get by with QS meals, and treat yourself to great snacks and desserts (thinking Werther's and French bakery for sure)! I've never gone solo, but am envious. I think you'll be able to see everything at your pace!

Agree!

 

[muppetofaman]

Oh yea I am definitely staying off site unfortunately. As much as I would like to camp out at Fort Wilderness...I just save way too much money by staying at a local hotel. And I am indeed renting a car. I am a firm believer in the Clark W. Griswold approach to vacationing in that half the fun is getting there!

From the feedback I'd say definitely skip photopass as well. It's a fun idea (especially with them inserting characters in certain spots) but my camera will work just as well.

Thanks for the easywdw.com tip! I am using touringplans.com to make all my park touring plans but that is a pretty awesome site that I plan to check out thoroughly!

I appreciate the quick feedback everybody! I am currently working on my first day touring plan of Animal Kingdom (never been!) and am enjoying the being able to do everything I want to do at my own pace aspect haha

New question! What are some of people's favorite quick service restaurants? I think the only actually reservation I am going to make is at Via Napoli so that is still about 5 other days worth of eats up for grabs!

 

[lazer]

We love Raglan Road QS (downtown)
Columbia Harbor house (MK-love the veggie)
Cantina de San Angel (Epcot, Mexico)
And
Flame Tree BBQ (AK)

This has all the menus:
http://allears.net/menu/men_chh.htm

 

[Krista in MA]

One of my favorite quick meals to have for lunch - popcorn & a Mickey ice cream sandwich (it's Disney after all!). :-D

 

[Goofcoaster]

Just wanted to let you know that I did a solo after my ex and I broke up, it was the best thing I could have done. Really cleared my head and reminded me that I could be happy without my ex.

I hope you have a great time.

 

[princessdawn2011]

I go solo all the time! First time was after I broke up too-2 week trip I didn't cancel. Anyway, you'll be there for food & wine @ Epcot, always a good time! I would plan that as a day & all the booth menus are online @ disneyfoodblog.com, which is also a good resource with the allears.net website a previous poster wrote about. I would do the photopass s an option, you don't need to buy anything just to use the card for any cool pics. You can decide when you get home.

Disneyfoodblog.com has great guides you can download-there's one for all Disney dining. It's not free, but the website is free w/similar info. I learned a LOT of great stuff from there. Cheapest place to eat in DTD: Earl of Sandwich. In MK, I like Tortuga Tavern, Epcot,I suggest experiencing Food & Wine fest or Tangierine Cafe, although new Somerfest menu looks good. HS Backlot Express or Studio Catering company, AK Yak & Yeti quick service.. I do think its worth it to eat @ the Mara in AKL. It's all different food the you might not get in Anytown, USA. Snacks: Dole Whip, Mickey Bars, popcorn, frozen drinks.

I would also suggest anticipating a cab ride to & from food & wine. If you check out the menus, you may understand what I mean. Enjoy! It's a good thing to go alone, I usually prefer it

 

[bikerjenn]

Well looks like I will probably be in same boat for my trip 11-12 to 11-17 things aren't looking good for my relationship right now. I did all the planning too but he and I just don't see eye to eye on things in our relationship. But like you I fully intend to go alone if I have to. Good luck and let me know how it goes and if u have any suggestions.

 

[princessdawn2011]

Well looks like I will probably be in same boat for my trip 11-12 to 11-17 things aren't looking good for my relationship right now. I did all the planning too but he and I just don't see eye to eye on things in our relationship. But like you I fully intend to go alone if I have to. Good luck and let me know how it goes and if u have any suggestions.

Muppet & Jenn-go to the Christmas Party! Eat all the junk you want! Do monorail pub crawl! Go hang at the Boardwalk-JellyRolls is fun & dance like its 1999 @ Atlantic Dance. If you feel funny dining alone, sit at the bar. Ooh, la Cava de Tequila is fun in Epcot. If you can go to Candlelight processional, do it!
Single rider lines are fast. Do a tour. I was only thinking food in my earlier post. I get side-tracked by food.

 

[str86diesel]

Muppet - sorry to hear about the bad news. You gave me some great advice in another thread about doing a solo trip, I wish we were going at the same time so that I could say thanks for the great advice. I will be onsite from the 8th - 17th though.

Jenn - you too, you'll have a blast. hope you can make the best of the trip.

Good luck with the trip, you'll have a blast.

 

[karly05]

I love Via Napoli!

My favorite CS places are Tangierine Cafe (lamb shwarma platter!) and Yorkshire County Fish Shop in Epcot, and Columbia Harbor House at MK - AND, if the line isn't bad or you don't mind waiting - try lunch at Be Our Guest in MK. It's the "Beast's Castle"-themed restaurant in New Fantasyland; lunch is "quick service," brought to your table on real dishes (not paper plates), and the braised pork is more like a table service meal than "fast food."

Last time you were there, did they have the new version of Star Tours, where you get different scenes/destinations and it's in 3D? I love that, it's really fun, especially since you never know which scenes you'll get. Something else fun to do at DHS is the Animation Academy, where you learn to draw a Disney character.

I've become a big fan of doing WDW solo.

Oh! Oh! I just went back and read that you've never been to AK before. Be sure you make time for the shows there. Finding Nemo: the Musical is one of my favorite things in all of WDW, although you'll get mixed reactions here (some love it, some not). EVERYONE (well, 99.9% it seems) loves Festival of the Lion King - even me, and I'm not a Lion King fan. And Flights of Wonder (the bird show) is really neat - I finally went this year after reading about it on the Dis, and it is worth seeing.

 

[mevelandry]

As for Photopass, if money is tight, I would probably skip that. You can always ask other people to take your photo.

You don't have to buy the CD, you can just take pictures once in a while and then, at home, you got 1 month to decide which pictures you wanna buy (15$ each).

I think it's worth doing it... I've done it every time and never regretted it.


That being said, the same thing (with NYC) happened to me in 2008. Was planning a trip to New York with a young man. He broke up... I decided to go to New York anyway and I had a blast!

 

[dromio42]

will you have a mini fridge? toaster? microwave? We usually have that in our DVC studio plus a car and we do a lot of our own food and then splurge on meals and snacks that we really want.

 

[LovesTimone]

A really good friend just went through this, and with some encouragement decided and went it solo. She had a magical time. Here's a few things that she suggests.

She stayed on site, POFQ and was glad she did, as she enjoyed some adult beverages in the evening. She did not want to rent a car and have to navigate around Orlando. She did look at staying off site, but once she added the cost of rental car, gas, parking at the hotel and then parking at the parks, and the cost of wifi, and the resort fee which was 25.00 a day. She ended up spending about the same.

Eat breakfast in the room, and took some snack along.

She really used the pool and enjoyed reading, and napped an afternoon or two.

QS for most lunches.

She did photo-pass, a few times, she just kept her ticket and just reused it.

Single-rider line was great.

In the evening she would eat dinner at the one of the Bars at one of deluxe resorts hotels, DTD or Boardwalk, sometimes she would just get an appetizer then move along and maybe have a drink and another appetizer somewhere else.

She did splurge and eat at Cali grill - got a window seat and watched the fireworks.

The best part she said was just doing what she wanted, she loves Epcot and said she went in to all of the lands, and explored, which she had not ever been able to do before.

She said she really got some time to get her head on straight, and make a plan for herself, and move forward. She was in this relationship for about 6 years, and he was very wishy washy, on and off again. When she got back he started with the on again, and she said nope, I am done. and has been moving forward and is happy with were she is right now.

Wishing you pixie dust and a magical trip.

 

[MannyB]

Well looks like I will probably be in same boat for my trip 11-12 to 11-17 things aren't looking good for my relationship right now. I did all the planning too but he and I just don't see eye to eye on things in our relationship. But like you I fully intend to go alone if I have to. Good luck and let me know how it goes and if u have any suggestions.

Maybe I am just getting tender hearted as I age... but a guy posts he is going solo in November after a breakup and planning everything. Then a girl posts she is going solo in November after a breakup and planning everything.... to one of the most fairy tale places in the world.... where romance is a specialty

I think maybe a PM exchange should take place between bikerjenn and OP.

If nothing else you will have someone to toast shots with and compete against when you ride things like Toy Story or Buzz Lightyear...

 

[LindaBabe]

I go solo at least once a year, and i'm married. (he skis)

Search for a photopass share on facebook. One person acts as coordinator, up to 10people join. for a 1/x share of the cost of the cd plus postage, you're in.

IF it was me, I would stay on site, at Pop, and skip the car.

Food.
CS with "real food" - Sunshine food fair, in the Land, Tangerine, Yakitori house, Flame tree, yak & yeti, Cosmic Ray, Be Our Guest. Mara at AKL.

Table service often cost less if you go at lunch - Plaza restaurant has homemade potato chips and ice cream sundaes (I skip the main course). Had a BLAST as a solo walk in at Tusker House character lunch.

Have FUN!