China as a solo traveler?

[adznyfan]

Hi - has anyone soloed on the China trip? Would love any trip reports - thinking of going solo but am worried about feeling left out/ getting lost etc


Any thoughts-



Cindy

 

[emchen]

Hi - has anyone soloed on the China trip? Would love any trip reports - thinking of going solo but am worried about feeling left out/ getting lost etc


Any thoughts-



Cindy

Haven’t done solo with ABD but have traveled through China extensively through the years including 1995 - a 2 week solo backbacking trip through central / southwest China in my early 20s.

Having been on Disney Cruises including a medical debark for my dad. The ship sent a castmember to be with us for the two days we were on Nasau. There is no way ABD castmembers will allow you to feel left out. Same with getting lost, but locals are so friendly in China that on the off chance you do get lost, you will get a lot of help immediately.

I just came back on a 2 week trip and 6 cities in China with my family of five and can confidently say you will be fine traveling alone in China, even if you weren’t with ABD.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

We did China a few years ago. We did not travel solo, but another person did. I don't think she ever felt left out of anything. We often sat with different groups at dinner, and ABD makes it a very social event. She made friends along the way and seemed to have a very nice time. And the Chinese people are terrific. It's an amazing experience doing China with ABD. It would be way better to go solo to China than to miss out on the uniqueness of that trip - in my opinion!

 

[Eastridge]

The trip report thread has a few reports on the China trip:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/china-trip-report-adults-only-may-2018.3683433/

https://www.disboards.com/threads/t...e-8-11-18-day-10-shanghai-à-la-carte.3613805/

https://kidoctr.blogspot.com/2018/09/adventures-by-disney-enchanted-china.html

 

[abdgeek]

Hi - has anyone soloed on the China trip? Would love any trip reports - thinking of going solo but am worried about feeling left out/ getting lost etc


Any thoughts-



Cindy

I travel solo all the time (11 ABDs) and did ABD China pre-Covid. I’ve never felt left out. Other than breakfast, which is OYO in the hotel, all other meals provided are with the group either at one long table or different tables. As a solo traveler, you will never be put at a table by yourself. The guides do a great job of noticing who gels together and matching them up for activities or seating them together during meals. For the OYO meals, you are free to do your own thing.

 

[adznyfan]

Haven’t done solo with ABD but have traveled through China extensively through the years including 1995 - a 2 week solo backbacking trip through central / southwest China in my early 20s.

Having been on Disney Cruises including a medical debark for my dad. The ship sent a castmember to be with us for the two days we were on Nasau. There is no way ABD castmembers will allow you to feel left out. Same with getting lost, but locals are so friendly in China that on the off chance you do get lost, you will get a lot of help immediately.

I just came back on a 2 week trip and 6 cities in China with my family of five and can confidently say you will be fine traveling alone in China, even if you weren’t with ABD.

 

[LindaOwl1]

I am also looking at a ABD China trip in 2026 and going solo. I am wondering if ABD ever facilitates solo travelers joining the same tour. I would also like to add a day before and a day after the trip to get another full day at each of the 2 Parks and am nervous about doing that on my own.

 

[jimmymc]

I am also looking at a ABD China trip in 2026 and going solo. I am wondering if ABD ever facilitates solo travelers joining the same tour. I would also like to add a day before and a day after the trip to get another full day at each of the 2 Parks and am nervous about doing that on my own.

ABD doesn't really facilitate it, but plenty of people have coordinated trips on these boards.

 

[sayhello]

I am also looking at a ABD China trip in 2026 and going solo. I am wondering if ABD ever facilitates solo travelers joining the same tour. I would also like to add a day before and a day after the trip to get another full day at each of the 2 Parks and am nervous about doing that on my own.

Are you asking if they do something like matching up roommates? Because ABD does not do anything like that. But solos are free to join any ABD tour you would like to join.

I've done 15 ABDs as a solo, so feel free to ask me any questions you may have. ABDs are *fabulous* for solos, as they will really work to make the group into almost a family, and make sure that solos don't feel left out. They will really take care of you.

If you go as a solo, there *is* a single supplement you have to pay, which is an extra 40% over the per-person double occupancy charge. A pain, but totally worth it to me. Mostly the charge is to cover the hotel rooms, because (unlike some tour operators) you get the same class hotel rooms as others.

Beyond that, I'm not sure what kind of facilitating you are looking for. They really don't do any sort of planning, etc., for you beyond booking the hotels for pre- and post-days if you want (breakfast and airport transportation included). They can also book your airfare for you if you want.

But for this particular trip, they don't do any sort of coordination for getting to either of the Parks on pre- or post-days. The only Park they do that for is Disneyland Paris.

I did meet up with a family for the China trip (even though I was booked as a solo) so I was able to coordinate the parks on pre/post-days with them. It wasn't terribly difficult. We Ubered to Hong Kong Disneyland (although could not contact Uber from the Park, so taxi'd back) and taxi'd to/from Shanghai Disneyland. I honestly felt totally safe at both parks. (Although, at least in 2017, you had to carry your passport with you for Shanghai, so I had a pouch that went under my clothes for that, just to be safe).

There are forums here on the DIS that would be GLAD to help you plan your excursions to both Parks.

There is a sub-Forum specifically for Hong Kong Disneyland:

https://www.disboards.com/forums/hong-kong-disneyland.179/

And discussions about Shanghai Disneyland in the "Other Lands" Forum:

https://www.disboards.com/forums/other-lands.176/

While gathering the links for these, I actually came across this thread that's specifically talking about solo traveling to the China Parks (although not as a part of an ABD):

https://www.disboards.com/threads/hong-kong-shanghai-solo-trip-planning.3966557/

Let us know what questions you have, we'd all love to help you on this Forum, too! It's an AMAZING trip, and as I've said, ABD is wonderful for solo travelers.

Hi - has anyone soloed on the China trip? Would love any trip reports - thinking of going solo but am worried about feeling left out/ getting lost etc

Any thoughts-
Cindy

I realized I never replied to the original post! I technically did not travel as a solo, as I met up with a family I knew (@CaliforniaGirl09 ) once we arrived in China. But I *can* tell you that, as I stated above, based on my other 14 ABDs done as an actual solo, ABD is *excellent* for solos. They will not let you feel left out. And honestly, the people on ABDs tend to be very inclusive. It's really wonderful knowing that someone is looking out for you, and expects you to be somewhere at a particular time, and will come looking for you if you're not. Ironically, I *did* get separated from the group after the ferry ride across Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong. It was the morning of the first travel day, and I was the last one who had been in the long line for the only Western toilet, and when I came out, the group was gone. I stood outside and started to look for the Adventure Guides' phone numbers when Joe called me, frantically asking where I was, as they realized I was not with them. He quickly returned for me, and both Guides were VERY strict about head counts for the rest of the trip. That's a lot of the reasons I travel with ABD. For the companionship and for the safety. I think you'll love it.

Here's the link to my Trip Report. I've just realized I never finished the last couple of days of the report. I really should go back and take care of that!

https://www.disboards.com/threads/t...e-8-11-18-day-10-shanghai-à-la-carte.3613805/

Sayhello

 

[afan]

Although, at least in 2017, you had to carry your passport with you for Shanghai

You do still need it from current stuff I've read on reddit.

 

[LindaOwl1]

WOW that 40% single supplement threw me! WHo wants to go with me in May???

Thanks for all the info. Looking to book ASAP and then do a ton more research.

 

[sayhello]

WOW that 40% single supplement threw me! WHo wants to go with me in May???

Thanks for all the info. Looking to book ASAP and then do a ton more research.

Well, I'm glad I mentioned it! Better to know going in than find out when they quote you the price!

Sayhello

 

[aggiedog]

It's not quite the same level of luxury, though their trips are not bare bones either, but Road Scholar will match singles if you are ok with a roommate, so you don't need to pay the supplement. Sometimes they also waive the single supplement all together. And if you agree to a roommate but they don't get another single, or an odd number of singles, you may end up solo (without the supplement cost) anyways.

We've done 8-9 RS trips and there is almost always at least one solo traveler in our group.