Favorite Way to Tour: Solo, Pair, or Group?

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I have toured parks in WDW all three ways, and I have determined that touring in a pair is by far my favorite. I first took my older daughter to MNSSHP when she was 6 and we had a blast - just the two of us. No strollers. No "But I want to go to Splash Mountain - not Space Mountain!" No "I'm hungry!" Paired with "I'm not hungry" or "I want to sit down and eat" with "I just want something quick." No "Can you sit out here in the sweltering heat with the baby while I ride?"

I've seen lots of family arguments at the parks, too. Lots of whining about not doing what one person or the other wants.

I find that touring solo, I am lonely. Touring with more than one other person, we are all significantly slowed down - and no one gets to do most of what he or she wants to do because we just can't please everyone.

I tried to convince some friends of ours to split up when they went (they have two older boys and a younger daughter) and I suggested splitting up Dad with the boys and Mom with the girl. My friend didn't want to do it. She wanted the whole family to be together. Of course, she told me later that the boys complained about having to do the princess experiences, and the girl was upset when she had to wait for the boys to ride the bigger rides. IMO, theme parks are not conducive to great family time together, especially when you have multiple ages and genders. Meet up for a nice lunch or dinner, but split up for riding fun.

What do you all think? How do you prefer to tour?

 

[LaurenT]

I didn't vote because I like all three for different reasons...
But even as a group we never stay together for everything.
The trip I just got home from was me and my friend with our two daughters. The girls are good friends, but me and my daughter can keep going from open to close while my friend and her daughter prefer to stay half a day and then relax. So we spent the mornings together and then met up later on. That way everyone gets to do what they want....

 

[andreajanowiak]

I've toured with as small as myself + 2 parents, a group of 4, and any other number up until 14 family members. It's always a blast, since the youngest is 16. We split up frequently during the day, people who want to ride thrill rides ride thrill rides, people who want to meet princesses meet princesses, and whoever wants to take a break and sit and people watch does it. Usually we'll meet up at night for dinner, or park hop to Epcot and eat around the world, since we usually go during F&W.

 

[pixi3ness]

I enjoy solo and as a pair equally. I don't like group settings anytime, especially when touring. I prefer a more personal experience.

 

[Rosebud123]

I voted group! My family of 4-5 is happy to go along with my touring plans, which I create with them in mind. We've gone with extended family the past two times and split up a lot. Extended family isn't my favorite option because I'm too worried if everyone's having a good time, even when we split up.

So I vote small group!

 

[Lorelai]

I say group, because being there with my husband and kids is my fave way to play...I really enjoy the grandparents with us too. But my park plan can tend to be a little extreme for them some days. I make an alternate plan to make sure they can reduce the speed and chill a bit. Usually each of the kids, and I, take turns doing something more relaxed with them if they get wiped from my overly jazzed pace

 

[Stinky_Pete]

Right now I find I much prefer touring solo. I can do what I want when I want. I can change my plans on a whim and no one is sad about it. I can sit on a bench and just relax without worrying about if anyone else wants to go go go. Or I can go go go and not worry about if someone else is tired and wants to rest.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

Right now I find I much prefer touring solo. I can do what I want when I want. I can change my plans on a whim and no one is sad about it. I can sit on a bench and just relax without worrying about if anyone else wants to go go go. Or I can go go go and not worry about if someone else is tired and wants to rest.

That's what I call touring Matthew Wilder Style. Ain't Nothin' Gonna Break My Stride. I definitely see the appeal. I keep threatening my husband that I am going to leave him with the kids and go WDW Solo for a week. Maybe one day I will actually be bold enough to do it.

 

[SeilerBird]

I used to live in California and went to Disneyland frequently starting in 1959. I developed a theory I called Tom's First Theory of Disneyland and it goes like this;

If I spend 12 hours at DL by myself I will go on 20 rides. If I bring a girl and spend 12 hours we will go on 15 rides. If she brings her kids with her we will go on 12 rides. If she also brings her parents we will go on 10 rides.

 

[starsweeper]

I can't imagine enjoying a solo trip personally, I'd miss having someone to share everything with during the day. I love touring with my family (6 of us) but we split up in the evening so the 2 big kids and I can have fun without the preschoolers to please/slow us down. The big kids get along great when it's just the 3 of us and take turns with everything.

I'm taking my first trip with extended family this October (stepmother & stepsister) and I'm planning everything for them--we'll see how it goes.

 

[roselark]

So far, my favorite is solo. I have toured as a pair with hubby, sis-in-law, and mother. I have also toured with a larger, extended family group (never doing this again). No one in my family is as much into the parks as I am, hubby is a very large bear of a guy and cannot keep up with me, love my mom, but she drives me crazy after about an hour, and sis-in-law loves Disney, but is a major complainer. When I am solo, I can do what I want, when I want, no complaints from anyone. I am introverted, so I am happy being by myself.

I am heading down the first week of June with a good friend and coworker who is as much into Disney and the parks as I am. I am excited to see how it goes.

 

[Mouse of Mystery]

I'm a big-time introvert, but I can't imagine going solo. I might have to talk with all of those scary people in line with me!

I think I prefer a pair or the right group.

 

[dsdeleon]

A pair, specifically my youngest son. Solo is my second favorite, followed by the family of 4, and lastly taking both sons myself. That is the worst because we can't split up.

 

[SilverSynchro919]

I've gone with my family (anywhere from 5 to 7 of us), with groups of friends, and alone, and I prefer alone every single time. Someday, though, I want to go with a friend or two that likes the parks as much as I do. I want to be with people who will appreciate everything at my same level. My family loves Disney, but I want people who can keep up with me!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

The best times of my life have all been moments spent with my family, so I voted group. I have never had a bad trip, and I have several trips solo and just with my wife, but family is #1 in all things in my world.

 

[jsmla]

I chose as a pair. Fifteen years ago it would have been with a group but our kids are all long grown and out of the house and we have no grandchildren. I often go solo and it's nice to set your own pace but I miss having someone to talk or go to a restaurant with.

 

[Mikie]

my family of 5 always also brings my single sister, and I grew up in a family of 7, and went as a college student with 8 of us, and have taken large extended family trips . . I've never been without a group!! I can easily see the appeal of going in a smaller group and look forward to going with "just" my immediate family some time. BUT I definitely think a group is still fun if you can manage the splitting/re-grouping well. There's always someone willing to rest with you, do the thrill ride with you, or go do the "kiddie" stuff with

 

[Bluegrrl]

Any group of even numbers is usually good to go with. It's those uneven ones that suck. I went in a group of three once and it sucked! Never again!!