Disneyland Solo-What Should I Know?

[BWV Dreamin]

Looks like I will be visiting my son in California the end of September 2010 to help out with last minute wedding arrangements. While there I've decided to do three days in Disneyland. I'll be travelling alone which will be a first for me as well as my first visit to Disneyland. Any help and comments would be greatly appreciated! Also will need some pixie dust as I will be trying to get a studio at GCV at 7 mos!

 

[sonnyjane]

Going alone is wonderful because you can use the Single Rider Lines on selected rides. As of now, those rides are Splash Mountain and Indiana Jones at DL, and at California Adventure there is Screamin', Soarin', Maliboomer, and I'm sure I'm forgetting another but someone will chime in. I know Toy Story used to have one but rumor is they are no longer doing SRL. Anyway, just ask the CM at the front of the ride if they are doing Single Rider Lines, then they will give you a little piece of paper that lets you go in the SRL entrance (usually through the exit) and you basically get to cut in front of the entire line and will be used to fill an empty seat for one when one becomes available. I LOVE going alone for that reason! I feel like such a VIP!

Since it will be your first trip to DL in general, take time to read some of the stickied posts at the top of the forum page, with tips about using FastPass, dining options, etc.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Lostgirlz]

Honestly it is a bit daunting going it alone. I was ver nervous my solo in July, then again in Oct, now again in just a week, and like 2 days away. I got a little less nervous in Oct, but it being the Holidays makes it feel not as fun without someone, so if you start feeling like that I found a GREAT pick me up. I go top the Blue ribbon Bakery, order a non fat- no whip mocha, I then go to the candy palace grab a treat, and do some shopping /something tottally out of the norm like bibbity bobbity. It really made me feel like hey it's Disneyland I can be a child at heart again. Also the first time doing a char meal alone was weird, but now while I still feel semi out of place around the families you know what they actually interacted me with me more. I now do them with/without someone. I actually hald aladdin, and dale at goofy's dinner, and aladdin asked if I would go get him, and dale a plate of popcorn shrimp. I thought they were kidding but nope, so off I went to get it. I came back with them, and they thanked me profusely, and took off out the door with them with waiters yelling like in agrabah (sp) lol. Just goes to show sometimes alone might feel weird, but you get some excellent chances at seeing tiny details you never caught, or getting a big char experience you normally might not get. Have a great time, and congrats.

 

[DLR29]

Single Rider lines will help a ton!

DL:
-Indy
-Splash

DCA:
-Soarin
-Grizzly River Run
-California Screamin
-Maliboomer
-Mulholland Madness

Unfortunately, Toy Story Midway Mania's SR line has been discontinued as of recently.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Thanks for all of the info!!! I live on the east coast so I don't get many opportunities to visit DL. Since the kids can't take off work so close to their wedding (Oct 24 at Wayfer's Chapel) I thought I would try it alone. I admit I will be scared but I won't venture out at night too much away from DL/DCA. It will feel so totally weird getting an ADR for one! Keep all the advice coming!

 

[Dizneydaz]

Since you are just a party of one you might try to to the things only small groups can do-

Ride in the engine of the train-ask at the Main St. station. They'll let you know if the right train is available and how long before it comes back around. You'll have to ride the train all the way around-no getting off at any other station. The platform isn't long enough. DD10 and I have done this-it's pretty interesting and you can ask the engineers questions.

Ask to ride in the wheelhouse of the Mark Twain. DD and I did this for the first time just this month. We asked one of the CMs standing there while we waited to board "I hear that sometimes people can ride in the wheelhouse...." We were escorted to the top and the CM we asked was the captain. DD was put to work ringing the bell and blowing the whistle. She also got a signed cert saying she piloted the boat.Pretty cool experience.

And one we haven't done yet-ride the Lily Belle. It's the caboose on one of the trains and isn't always available. Again, ask at the train station.

Single rider lines are great but keep your eyes and ears open when you are on other rides as well as some of them will call for single riders. This can happen on rides like Matterhorn, alot. First one who raises their hand, gets the seat.

You should be there during Halloweentime. All the fall decor will be up. If all goes the same next year as this year, they'll have special fireworks and Space Mtn. will be converted.

I would make an ADR at Wine Country Trattoria in DCA. If you pick a time near a parade time, you'll be able to see it if you sit outside. Most seating is outside.

The area around DLR isn't too scary. You can stick with DTD and Anaheim Garden Walk and have plenty to do as well as the parks.

Feel free to ask if you have any more quetions. Have fun!

 

[ukstitch]

Ride in the engine of the train-ask at the Main St. station. They'll let you know if the right train is available and how long before it comes back around. You'll have to ride the train all the way around-no getting off at any other station. The platform isn't long enough. DD10 and I have done this-it's pretty interesting and you can ask the engineers questions.

Is this "easy" to do? I was there alone last year and was privileged enough to be able to ride the Lily Belle

I'm hoping riding the engine is a little more "commonly available" than the Lily Belle ride, as I'd love to do this when I go back in just under 2 weeks - is this the case?

 

[Dizneydaz]

Is this "easy" to do? I was there alone last year and was privileged enough to be able to ride the Lily Belle

I'm hoping riding the engine is a little more "commonly available" than the Lily Belle ride, as I'd love to do this when I go back in just under 2 weeks - is this the case?

It was pretty easy the time we did it. You just have to wait until the right train comes around. I can't remember the engine name but I believe there is only 1 train that can take riders on the engine. I would think it would be easier than getting a ride on Lily Belle. I haven't tried to do this yet.

As long as no one is waiting already, and the train that takes riders is being used that day, you can ride along. If someone is already waiting, you can always come back.

When we did it, it was in May (must have been 2008). It was a pretty hot day. We asked one of the CMs there if we could ride and she said "yes" we would just have to wait for the train to come around. It had just left the station. About 15 minutes. Told us to wait off the side and she would get us when it came.

We did have a problem though, the CM we spoke to apparently took a break before the train came and even though she said she told someone else, the train we were waiting for came, and went, without anyone riding in the engine. I thought it was the right train but figured they (the CMs) would come to get us. I asked another CM and he said he didn't know we were waiting and that was the train we wanted. We needed to wait 20 more minutes. I wasn't very happy but at this point we had waited long enough that I wanted to wait to ride it. He was very apologetic that he didn't know we were waiting and gave us a "front of the line" pass to use anywhere in the park (except Nemo).

It was interesting riding. But it was pretty hot. I would do this again but not in the heat of summer. Also, make sure you visit the restroom before you board, you can't get off early. DD was fairly dancing in her seat from TL station to MS. We sprinted for the bathroom when we got off.

Like I said, I would do it again, but I think we liked the Mark Twain a little more. Plus, we didn't have to wait at all. Cool thing was that the CM we spoke to took us around to a side gate and we got to get on before anyone else boarded. Made us feel like VIPs. We did it at twilight so it was pretty out.

 

[Brendella]

I'm sure you'll have a good time! I have a 17 year old and he's always ditching me when we go, so I'm used to it. I was there in Oct this year for 3 days alone and relished it! I met some new friends while I was dining, enjoyed using the single ride lines, sat and people watched, and just enjoyed the parks without hearing "Mom! I'm hungry!" or "Mom, what can we do next?!". Do things you wouldn't ordinarily do. You can always check the boards here before you go and see if anyone else is going at the same time!

 

[laura&fam]

I spent a couple of hours by myself last trip and loved it, but I had three kids the rest of the trip so any break was nice. I would definately reccomend photopass. There were some photo ops I would have loved but being solo I couldn't be in the picture. Photopass helped with that some.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Looks like I will be visiting my son in California the end of September 2010 to help out with last minute wedding arrangements. While there I've decided to do three days in Disneyland. I'll be travelling alone which will be a first for me as well as my first visit to Disneyland. Any help and comments would be greatly appreciated! Also will need some pixie dust as I will be trying to get a studio at GCV at 7 mos!

If it is any encouragement, I got a GCV studio for us for the end of May at a little less than 7 months, if I remember correctly, I am not sure how soon after the 7-month mark I called, but it was not on the first day.

 

[jlmarr]

If it is any encouragement, I got a GCV studio for us for the end of May at a little less than 7 months, if I remember correctly, I am not sure how soon after the 7-month mark I called, but it was not on the first day.

The Disboards has a forum for keeping track of DVC non-availability. Here's the forum for May 2010, which shows that nobody reported non-availability at VGC for any date that month. I would have expected lots of people to be dialing in once the 7 month mark hit, so that is promising. Of course the OP wants to be looking at the September 2010 forum, but that's 10+ months out so only home resort reservations are available and no DVC resorts have been booked up for any date.

 

[jlmarr]

I'll be travelling alone which will be a first for me as well as my first visit to Disneyland. Any help and comments would be greatly appreciated!

The sticky notes at the top of the forum are useful. This note lists the rides with single rider lines: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32518085&postcount=5

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

Bring a camera and take time to photograph unusual things or things you wouldn't normal stop to photograph. I thought I would miss my DH on the one day I was at the park alone in September, but the whole day went by so fast and I had plenty of time to look at things we wouln't normally stop to see/ride/experience w/ my DH and DS in tow.

 

[DanT]

If I recall correctly.
The two engines that you can ride up front are
Engine #1 the C.K. Holiday
Engine #2 the E.P. Ripley

these are the two original engines that were built at Disneyland. They had the seats placed on the front of the "tenders" so Walt and a friend etc, could ride up front. Being that the whole concept of Disneyland was built around and from Walt's love of steam trains.

This is a great ride, since you can converse with the Engineer, and Fireman during the ride.

As was stated previously, you will only be able to do one complete circuit of the park starting and ending at the Main Street Station. Also if the train needs to stop for water or dumping of excess steam, you will need to wait until the next trip around, since they do not allow riders during those times.
It is also up to the Engineer, sometimes during training or other issues, you will not be able to ride up front.
Just ask one of the conductors when you enter the station. They will find out for you if you can ride up front. If not at that time, check back later. We have never had a problem, and it is a great ride.

 

[disneyobsessed808]

Going alone is a lot of fun. I like to take it easy when I'm alone. I usually do a lot of strolling and discovering, looking around the parks. I just got back from a solo trip and had a blast. It gives you the opportunity to go one rides that others don't enjoy but you do, and watch the shows that you want to watch.

I also think that Napa Rose is a great place to eat alone, mostly because you don't have to shovel out for two, and especially if you eat at the counter because you can interact with the chefs (at least watch them). I don't think I could convince my friends (other poor college students) that it is worth shelling out the dough to eat there. I know I am living beyond my means when I go there, but hey, its worth it, and you can save by bringing snacks the rest of the trip.