Disney alone, love it or hate it?

[Perdygirl]

I'm going to a company meeting and I will be staying at the Hilton Anaheim. I'm thinking of coming in a day early to spend a day in the parks. I'm pretty familiar with both parks, but I've never gone alone. Can you have fun, alone, in Disneyland?

 

[Belle Ella]

LOOOOOOOOVE IITTTTTTT!!! I have done one entirely solo trip and I usually end off on my own for some time when I'm with others. First of all, you get to do what you want when you want rather than conferencing with everyone about what to do next and compromising when need be. You can get around a lot faster because you aren't travelling in a group. A few rides offer a single-rider line, and I know I can get through Indy (walk and all) in as little as 8 minutes.

I always have a blast by myself, not to say going as a group isn't fun either

 

[knewton64]

LOOOOOOOOVE IITTTTTTT!!! I have done one entirely solo trip and I usually end off on my own for some time when I'm with others. First of all, you get to do what you want when you want rather than conferencing with everyone about what to do next and compromising when need be. You can get around a lot faster because you aren't travelling in a group. A few rides offer a single-rider line, and I know I can get through Indy (walk and all) in as little as 8 minutes.

I always have a blast by myself, not to say going as a group isn't fun either

and looking forward to more.

P.S. My very first trip to Disneyland & DCA is coming up in 55 more days (see below trip report) but hey.....who is counting?


T.T.F.N.

 

[iKristin]

I'm gonna try this December to do a 3 day trip alone so i'm hoping to like it

 

[Perdygirl]

Thanks for the encouragement!! I'll try it and let y'all know what I think.

 

[stitch1986]

I am doing my first solo trip this fri and I am actually excited about it

 

[21yankees]

Did it in December. I LOVED IT!!!!!



steph

 

[Gisele]

I second and third the previous posters! It is great! Yes, if you are going with someone that will not drive you nuts, that can be nice too. But there definitely is merit to being by yourself. No waiting around for people to make up their minds about anything,no one looking at you like what? HM again? So soon? No, I don't like that ride, place, show, food, I am tired..... now I am cranky.... etc.
Now if you would like company, just let me know......

 

[Karlzmom]

I always take an extra day when I'm in town for a conference to go to DL alone. Its amazing how much you notice when you are alone with your thoughts....I've seen things I never would have noticed when walking/talking with someone else. Add in the single rider line, etc.....its a great time.

 

[Disneyluvr2]

I love it too!!!! You're never really alone when you're at Disneyland. I've met so many wonderful, fun people in line. Many times people will want to take you under their wing when they find out you're alone and invite you to ride with them. The only time I really feel lonely is at dinner time. I'll usually just grab a corn dog or a turkey leg and keep walking instead of sitting and dining alone and watching the families around me.

 

[spacemermaid]

I LOVE going to the Park by myself. The first time I went by myself, I still lived in L.A. & really, really wanted to go to Disneyland, and everyone flaked on me the day I was planning to go. Having already purchased my ticket, I went anyways, wondering if it'd be terrible...NOPE! I got to go on every ride I wanted to, when I wanted to, and didn't have to, say, pass up going on Space Mountain when there was a 10 minute wait to go stand in line for an hour for some other ride someone else wanted to go on. I thought mealtimes would be lonely (and perhaps, embarassing), but...NOPE. I could eat where I wanted to, when I wanted to.

It can be equally fabulous for me to go to the Park with those whose company I enjoy (and who share my enthusiasm!), but I discovered that I like going to Disneyland by myself enough to have been on several multi day solo trips since I first went by myself 4 years ago.

I'm sure you'll have fun!

 

[Leofoenget]

I love going alone. I dont think I could do 3 days alone but alone the first half day then a full day the next is great. Much more than that and I start to get lonley

 

[Monkey Monkey]

LOVE IT. Can't wait to get a chance to do it again! I went the day after Mothers' Day once, and it was a bit rainy and the park was EMPTY. I had a blast all by myself!

 

[Albort]

On a Busy day, HATE IT...

On a slow day, LOVE IT!!!

 

[DisneyMax74]

I had the chance this last Novemeber. I was in town on business for a week and we came in the Friday before the week I needed to be there. We had plans with my sister and her husband down in San Diego so this trip we didnt get to do Disneyland. (However we had just spent a week there one month earlier)

Anyway, My wife and girls were going home on Monday while I stayed for the week. I dropped my wife and two daughters off at the airport at 8:30 am and didnt have anything to do till Tuesday. I went over to Dowtown Disney to pick up a couple stuffed Simbas to take home to my girls and was right there by the gate thinking...."Why not? I dont have to be anywhere today"

Well, long story short, I love Disneyland but just could not make myself go in. I know I would have had fun but I think I would have been miserable without my wife and daughters. (My 3 girls as I call them) We always have so much fun. I would have just spent the whole time thinking..."Oh she would have loved this" or "ah they would all have had fun doing this" It was tuff enough spending a week away from my girls, whom I consider to be as important to my health as oxygen. Going into D-land and having fun without them would be darn near impossible for me.

 

[heatherleigh]

I did it once before I had kids, and I remember liking it. However, I was not a big DL nut at the time, so I suppose I liked it as much as non-Disney freak would.

Now, I think it would be much different. Like the last poster, I'd be thinking about my kids the whole time.

 

[tholczer]

IWell, long story short, I love Disneyland but just could not make myself go in. I know I would have had fun but I think I would have been miserable without my wife and daughters. (My 3 girls as I call them) We always have so much fun. I would have just spent the whole time thinking..."Oh she would have loved this" or "ah they would all have had fun doing this" It was tuff enough spending a week away from my girls, whom I consider to be as important to my health as oxygen. Going into D-land and having fun without them would be darn near impossible for me.

Sadly, this is what happened for us. Hubby and I went for a day by ourselves and we ended up leaving early. It just wasn't the same without the kids.

But I've never tried it all alone...maybe a different experience.

Tracy

 

[bumbershoot]

Well, long story short, I love Disneyland but just could not make myself go in. I know I would have had fun but I think I would have been miserable without my wife and daughters. (My 3 girls as I call them) We always have so much fun. I would have just spent the whole time thinking..."Oh she would have loved this" or "ah they would all have had fun doing this" It was tuff enough spending a week away from my girls, whom I consider to be as important to my health as oxygen. Going into D-land and having fun without them would be darn near impossible for me.

It's possible you would have felt that way.

But I felt, when I had those feelings, not just sad, but also happy. I was happy to be experiencing it, and I did *different* things than what we do. I saw "it's tough to be a bug", to preview it for DS. By doing that, I know we don't have to take the time to see it with him for a LONG time, and didn't waste any family trip time in doing it.

I find little things that I can tell them about, and then it enhances the family visits.

When I see kids having fun, I get sad, but know that DS and DH are at home having fun dad/son time. When I see kids tantruming, I think "I'm glad that's not me having to deal with it" AND "aw now see that's not so bad, I'll try to deal with tantrums at the parks better next family trip".

Sadly, this is what happened for us. Hubby and I went for a day by ourselves and we ended up leaving early. It just wasn't the same without the kids.

But I've never tried it all alone...maybe a different experience.

Tracy

I wouldn't go to WDW or DLR with only my husband, but I will go solo. Then again, utter lack of competent grandparents kind of negates even the possibility of a trip like that happening!

 

[Monkey Monkey]

It's possible you would have felt that way.

But I felt, when I had those feelings, not just sad, but also happy. I was happy to be experiencing it, and I did *different* things than what we do. I saw "it's tough to be a bug", to preview it for DS. By doing that, I know we don't have to take the time to see it with him for a LONG time, and didn't waste any family trip time in doing it.

I find little things that I can tell them about, and then it enhances the family visits.

When I see kids having fun, I get sad, but know that DS and DH are at home having fun dad/son time. When I see kids tantruming, I think "I'm glad that's not me having to deal with it" AND "aw now see that's not so bad, I'll try to deal with tantrums at the parks better next family trip".



I wouldn't go to WDW or DLR with only my husband, but I will go solo. Then again, utter lack of competent grandparents kind of negates even the possibility of a trip like that happening!

This was me.

When I went by myself, I got to ride all the rides that I couldn't while with DS.

 

[Sherry E]

My 'solo hours' in DLR have been precious few thus far (a few golden hours alone at night and a few the following morning in December 2008, and a couple of hours in 12/2009 as I waited for my friend to show up to meet me in DTD). I always say that my ideal DLR trip would probably be one that spanned the course of several days, and half of the trip would devoted to friends while the other half would be devoted to being by myself. I have done other solo trips (not to DLR) where the time was broken up into 'friend time' and 'alone time.' That seems to work well for me.

But during those rare occasions where I have been able to roam freely by myself in DLR, I automatically begin to take many more photos of the little details and nuances of DLR that I would not be getting when I have 3 or 4 other folks with me, as well as I just notice more things in general. I think you can't help but notice more things when you are by yourself because you are in a different mindset, not having to be concerned with anyone else, and your focus automatically shifts elsewhere. So suddenly you are examining the walls, the ground, the carpets, the paintings, the plants, etc.!! I saw cool things in ToonTown when I was by myself that I had never paid attention to before! I was taking pictures of the display cases/curio cabinets in the GCH lobby, which I had never done! I was standing at the proper angle from which to capture the Hidden Mickey in the GCH grandfather clock on camera when I was alone, whereas normally my friends and I just sail right past it at warp speed. And I have so many more things to discover!

So, if you are really into pictures and soaking in all the often-hidden gems and details of DLR, going solo is a perfect way to suddenly 'see' all that you may have been missing. If you are someone who has a hard time doing anything solo in regular, daily life (and there are many people like that, who have to have accompaniment for every chore or errand they run), then a solo trip to DLR may not be for you.