Extending solo vacation, good idea?

[Viva Las Disney]

I've already booked a 7 day/6 night solo vacation in December (POFQ with DP and ParkHopper) and am considering extending it to a 10 day/9 night vacation. This is my first solo vacation and also my first WDW vacation and I just feel like I'm trying to cram to much into a week and won't have any time to actually relax on my vacation.

Pros:
1) I can travel later since I won't need to do a park arrival night and can settle in to my resort and rest after travelling.
2) More time in the parks
3) More time to explore resorts.
4) I can fit DTD into my schedule.
5) I can take afternoon breaks if needed and still ride/see everything I want to.

Cons:
1) Will cost another $1000 (including airline change fees) for 3 additional days, I can afford it but it's still a lot of money.
2) As a single person 10 days seems like a long time to be alone away from my friends and family.

With my 7 days vacation I'll have 1 full day and 4 partial days in MK, 1 full day and 1 partial day in EP, 1 full day each in HS and AK, and 1 night to explore resorts. (Including 2 MVMCP nights)

If I go to 10 days I could have 2 full days and 2 partial days in MK, 2 full days and 1 partial day in EP, 1 full day each at AK and HS, and 3 nights to explore resorts and DTD. (Including 2 MVMCP nights)

Any other solo travelers spend that much time alone in the parks?

 

[abdgeek]

If you can swing it, I say go for the 10 days. I always travel solo and do 7 nights at WDW. As you said, you are running the whole time so that you don't miss anything. Rarely do I have anytime to rest when I do 7 days. I'm going solo for two weeks later this summer and can't wait. I have a lot planned to do, but hope that I will also have a day or two to just relax. Whenever I feel like I want to contact family I just call them to let them know I'm ok. They're fine with that and don't really expect to hear from me. I say enjoy WDW and don't worry about family. They should be ok for a week or 10 days.

 

[MouseFan Down Under]

I am going for 9 nights / 10 days solo in December. This will be he 2nd time I have gone this long solo and I LOVE it!!

Touring by yourself doesn't take the same amount of time as with a group (single rider line, move at your own pace, not waiting for anyone else...), so it just means you can get even more done!

My trip this year to the USA is actually for a month, the first half with a friend, but WDW and DLR solo - and I cannot wait.

If you are comfortable with your own company usually, then you shouldn't have a problem. And there are always people willing to chat to you at the world anyway!

I say extend! Enjoy your travls!

 

[MouseFan Down Under]

And Viva Las Disney - I just saw on another thread that your trip is for your 40th birthday....no better reason to extend!!


My whole trip is my 40th birthday present to myself!!! My best friend and I agreed many years ago we would go away together for our fortieth's - she now has 3 small kids so can only be away for 2 weeks...me no such issues - so hence the whole month away!!


Happy birthday to you - us 1973ers need to stick together!!!!!

 

[ludari]

Since it is your first WDW visit I say why not. There is so much to do and see that your going to be happy that you extended your visit. The longest I ever stayed at WDW was a week but that was at the end of a month long vacation. Even with my multiple visits to WDW I still have not seen it all. Have a great trip.

 

[Viva Las Disney]

Thanks for the replies everyone, looks like there won't be free dining my week so my trip just got a lot more expensive than I was planning and extending got much less likely.

 

[Fantaluminishes]

If I were you, I'd hope for a room discount to come out during that time. I'm going solo in September, when room discounts and free dining are offered. I also extended my stay from 7 to 10 nights. It's a better deal to use the room discount when you go solo. Again, first you have to hope that a special offer comes out. If you are going in the early part of December, you might have a pretty good chance of scoring a discount.

 

[JeffryK]

Thanks for the replies everyone, looks like there won't be free dining my week so it looks like my trip just got a lot more expensive than I was planning and extending got much less likely.

If i were you, id put those $1000 dollar in a special-2nd-solo-trip- fund for next year. Something to look forward too! Especially if you like the planning and hanging out on forums like these months before your trip.

 

[KittyKat1978]

My first solo trip, I did 6 days and my second one 7 days. I have been to WDW 4 times now, but my next trip would be 10 days. I may actually slow down and "smell the roses"

I am also hoping for a room discount as it does save me $$$

I spend $210 on food on my 7 day trip and saved $450 with a room discount (I think it was 20% at POR)

 

[Viva Las Disney]

I spoke with a fantastic CM tonight and although I don't have any PINs she was so friendly it really lifted my spirits about not getting free dining. I hadn't called in before so we went over my resort reservations, tickets, and my dining reservations and she seemed to have advice on something I had to try at every place I was eating. I don't know if she has eaten at every place in the park or if she was just fantastic at customer service but by the end of the call I had a grin from ear to ear and could care less about stupid free dining and just wanted my trip to be sooner ... she also said there's still plenty of time before my vacation and to not lose hope on a discount and even wished me a very early happy birthday.

I also talked to my Disney addict brother today and he basically said go with my booked trip and don't lose sight of the prize. All in all a great day following yesterdays disappointment.

PS.. JeffryK love your idea of setting any saved money aside for another trip next year. Win-Win!

 

[Dave McCullough]

This year will be my 5th year in a row doing Disney in December - it is definitely worth the extension of the trip to 10 days, for there is not just all the normal magic, but also there are so many extra holiday features, such as Mickey's Christmas Party (extra fee), Christmas Around the World & the Candlelight Mass at EPCOT, Extra Christmas themed entertainment throughout Downtown Disney. The only thing I will say about not extending your trip would be how close to Christmas it is, the moment school ends somewhere in the US or Canada, the park swells up beyond summer crowds through when the last state or province returns to school - so anything past December 20 and you will be dealing with massive crowds.
BTW - I will be on property from December 5-12, the rest of December popping into the park from time to time while staying at my beach condo through the holidays.

 

[Terk-1]

I'm actually heading down to WDW solo in December as well and am there for 12 days. I did a room only at AoA for my arrival day, as my flight does not arrive until close to noon and by the time I get to DME, get on the bus and get to the resort, it will be around 1:30-2pm. Instead of wasting a day of my package, it was cheaper to do a room only. This way I can relax, wander around the resort, then head over to DTD for dinner. I'm up early the next morning to check out of that resort and check into POFQ, activate my package and head straight to the parks. Will head back in the afternoon to go to the room, unpack and relax a bit before heading to a different park. I love the part hopper option! My package is for 10 days/9 nights. I also added a room only to my last night, so that I can get the most out of the package, as the park passes & dining are valid until midnight that last night. The last day will allow me to sleep in, pack, wander the resort some more, then go over to DTD for lunch (and a little last minute shopping), before heading back to the resort and to the airport (my flight is not until 6pm). If I could stay longer, I would, as there is so much to see and do. I usually know what attractions I will do (and which will be skipped), what the EMH are and take advantage of those, and have already booked my dining reservations (especially for the Candlelight Processional). I don't rush through the parks, but just take each one with a relaxed pace, taking in all that there is in the parks & resorts (especially during the holidays). I tend to spend more time at EPCOT at night during the holidays, as it is so beautiful, especially with the Lights of Winter, each country having their version of Santa Clause, the Candlelight Processional, etc. I did MVMCP once before and not really interested in doing it again. It's nice & all, but once was plenty for me, as I found the park really packed. I've planned for 4 AM half days & 4 PM half days at both the Magic Kingdom & EPCOT. I have 2 AM half days for Animal Kingdom (this may get cut down to one) and 1 AM half day & 2 PM half days at the Studios (to be able to catch the Osborne Lights). I also alotted time inbetween the parks to browse around the resorts near those parks to take pictures of all of their resort specific holiday decorations. Another thing I do is not to run down Main Street or Hollywood Blvd to beeline it to a ride, but rather take it slow and look at the store fronts. It's all in the details with Disney and the parks are no exception. My quest on my last trip was to see how many "window signs" I could find, as well as taking those little side steps to see what I can find. It was amazing how many new things I found and have been there 19 times.