Feeling discriminated against... :(

[Magnoliafan]

If someone is trying to sit next to you on those (not sure about Splash), the people sent into the line behind you have misunderstood completely.

This happened to me on BTMRR once. Just as the train was pulling up, a young man was directed to my row. It was obvious (to me, at least) that he was supposed to wait for the next train and ride alone, but he misunderstand and got in the ride with me. I was surprised and I said something to him, but he just grinned at me and I realized that he was from another country and had no idea what I was saying. So I just shrugged, thought "why not?", and rode with him - trying my best not to slide into him during the ride. Lol. It was awkward for like a second and then it was totally fine. Just two solo strangers sharing the wildest ride in the wilderness.

Honestly, I'm pretty sure that CMs are directed to seat solos alone for most rides. I've twice been asked if it was okay to sit someone with me. Once was at FEA, when there was another solo rider near me in line and the CM asked us if we would mind riding together. (We both said it would be fine, by the way). And the other time, I was directed to the front row in a car at Journey into Imagination and a group of four adults were directed to sit behind me. I could tell that they were pretty cramped, so I told them that it would be okay if one of them wanted to sit in the row with me. The CM seemed shocked for some reason and said "Are you sure?" I said something like "yes, I think I'll be fine sitting with a stranger for three minutes" and one of the women in the other party moved to sit next to me. In retrospect, I think that my comment to the CM was a little more sarcastic and borderline rude than it should have been, but I was genuinely surprised by her response. Seating us by numbers instead of parties had obviously never been a consideration, even though it meant one person sitting in a row alone and four people crammed in a row together.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

I am new member of disboards and I am huge Disney World fan and I mainly go for the characters like Goofy, Donald, Mickey Ect. but I recently just came back from a week vacation at Disney World, I am a sliver passholder, and I felt like I was being judged everywhere I went from seeing Pluto at Hollywood Studios to seeing Goofy and even getting on the rides was horrible because it was like no one wanted to sit next to me. Just because a tall black guy wants to get his picture taken with Goofy doesn't mean I am a freak. I always travel solo and I love it but sometimes I hate it because I have to say only 1 when I meet a character or get on a ride and always get strange looks. I'm there like everyone else there, to have a good time and not worry about reality for a few hours. I was dancing with Pluto at Hollywood Studios to the kiddy tune that was playing and cast members were talking among themselves looking at me and strange looks come again. Some cast members were wonderful and even remembered my name but the rest I wanted to tell off and sometimes my character interactions were short and rushed. I go there because I feel happy and the hugs and it's very comforting. I don't care about the other families wanting a turn because I'm not there for them, I'm there for me. I'm just sick of it and making regret ever buying this pass because if i can't be myself there...I'll just go else where, where I feel accepted and not left out.

You're probably going to think my reply is being mean but it's not, I'm really trying to give you my honest opinion here.

First of all, what you describe is not discrimination. Let's get that straight.

Second, your race has absolutely nothing to do with anything.

Now, let's move on to the rest. I don't know how old you are but you have to realize that MOST people would never understand why a young, single, adult male would want to go to Disney by himself. Obviously almost everyone here on the Dis would understand it but most of the rest of the world would not. My friends would absolutely laugh at me if I told them I was going to Disney by myself, they would question my sanity. So that is where most people are coming from.

Honestly, I would laugh too if I saw a grown solo man dancing with Pluto. That being said, if you enjoy it, do it. Don't worry about what anyone else thinks or says about it.

I don't understand your point about "nobody wants to sit next to me." Can you explain this? People who go to Disney are sitting next to their friends, significant others, or families. Why would they sit next to you?

 

[Sweettears]

You're probably going to think my reply is being mean but it's not, I'm really trying to give you my honest opinion here.

First of all, what you describe is not discrimination. Let's get that straight.

Second, your race has absolutely nothing to do with anything.

Now, let's move on to the rest. I don't know how old you are but you have to realize that MOST people would never understand why a young, single, adult male would want to go to Disney by himself. Obviously almost everyone here on the Dis would understand it but most of the rest of the world would not. My friends would absolutely laugh at me if I told them I was going to Disney by myself, they would question my sanity. So that is where most people are coming from.

Honestly, I would laugh too if I saw a grown solo man dancing with Pluto. That being said, if you enjoy it, do it. Don't worry about what anyone else thinks or says about it.

I don't understand your point about "nobody wants to sit next to me." Can you explain this? People who go to Disney are sitting next to their friends, significant others, or families. Why would they sit next to you?

I think that you are off target on this. What qualifies you to speak for MOST people. MOST people don't realize or care if someone is solo or not regardless of their age.

 

[Davey Jones II]

If you are getting strange looks or other unfriendly interactions from CMs, I would recommend complaining about them, either during or after the trip. They have no business judging how one enjoys their WDW vacation, or acting in a way unbecoming a CM.

 

[Davey Jones II]

You're probably going to think my reply is being mean but it's not, I'm really trying to give you my honest opinion here.

First of all, what you describe is not discrimination. Let's get that straight.

Second, your race has absolutely nothing to do with anything.

Now, let's move on to the rest. I don't know how old you are but you have to realize that MOST people would never understand why a young, single, adult male would want to go to Disney by himself. Obviously almost everyone here on the Dis would understand it but most of the rest of the world would not. My friends would absolutely laugh at me if I told them I was going to Disney by myself, they would question my sanity. So that is where most people are coming from.

Honestly, I would laugh too if I saw a grown solo man dancing with Pluto. That being said, if you enjoy it, do it. Don't worry about what anyone else thinks or says about it.

I don't understand your point about "nobody wants to sit next to me." Can you explain this? People who go to Disney are sitting next to their friends, significant others, or families. Why would they sit next to you?

That's true, most times when I do a ride on my own, no one sits with me and I don't take it personally. Occasionally, someone does sit with me because they are a single rider, too, and happen to get to the ride at the same time. I might chat a bit with that person, but either way, it shouldn't matter to you if you do the ride alone. If you want to make friends at WDW, talk to people while waiting in line.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

That's true, most times when I do a ride on my own, no one sits with me and I don't take it personally. Occasionally, someone does sit with me because they are a single rider, too, and happen to get to the ride at the same time. I might chat a bit with that person, but either way, it shouldn't matter to you if you do the ride alone. If you want to make friends at WDW, talk to people while waiting in line.

It's pretty easy to make friends in Downtown Disney or Jelly Rolls at the Boardwalk, if that's what the OP wants to do.

 

[Chuckers]

It also depends on the ride. For dark rides, i.e. Pooh, Snow White, Peter Pan, Pinochio's Journey, I have never had anyone sit with me. If it's a two (or more) row car, I may have strangers in the other row, but never in my row. On California Screamin', Everest, and DL Space Mountain, for example, I've always had someone seated with me (or i've been the addition from the singles line).

 

[Missymoe4]

I'll be going on my 6th solo trip this May, and I have experienced some things that made me feel bad. However, I agree that it's up to you to be strong and like that Eleanor Roosevelt quote says that Euby posted above, ""No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." I am going to remember that.

So yeah, I did have one trip in particular where I let it get to me all the times I got asked "How many?" and I got anxiety about saying "1". And it wasn't really anyone else's fault but mine.

The only thing I really, really don't like that cast members do, which is rude, though it may not be their intent, is when I go to restaurants, and it's usually signature ones that this happens at, they really, REALLY, try to push sitting at the bar to me. Like, do you really think I would have went to the trouble of making a dining reservation if I was the kind of bloke that wanted to just grab chow at the bar? To me, when they ask me if I want to sit at the bar, even they they wrap it up in the bow of "Oh, we thought you might enjoy the social experience of dining with other patrons and talking to the bartender!", to me, what I see is "Gee, we really rather not waste a whole table on a single diner, plus his meal and our tip is likely to be much less, so let's see if we can shuffle him off to the bar and make some more $$$". I mean, honestly, am I wrong here? Is it just my cynicism talking here? So, yeah, though I am used to it, and always ready with my response of "Oh, no I prefer a table, thank you.", it still irks me. And I'm sure all the hosts have been told to say that to solo diners, I know, but again, I'm convinced the reason is monetary and not to increase my dining pleasure.

One time, I had the embarrassment, at Jiko, after telling the host I wanted a table after she pushed the bar or the cooking place by the fire on me, she gave me to the waiter, who promptly escorted me right to the cooking place by the fire and I hated to have to tell him but I really didn't want to sit there and she had just asked me! So, I had to tell him, and I made a point of telling him how I just told the hostess I wanted a TABLE after she had just asked me, and I gave quite the look to show I was annoyed and I never do that, but I really was annoyed LOL. Anyway, I felt bad for the waiter, because he was very friendly and the hostess had made a big thing of introducing him to me, and once they moved me to a table, I ended up with a different waiter.

Anyway, one of my favorite things about Disney is the Dining experiences and I love sitting at a table - I don't want to socialize with people at the bar or other interactive areas at restaurants LOL. That's not for me. Plus, those bar stools are really uncomfortable and for me, that kind of meal doesn't feel like a real meal and is rushed. I like long meals, where I can take my time, and relax comfortably. I don't want a noisy and uncomfortable bar-stool that I can't wait to get off of. Bars are for drinking or maybe munching on a snack. Not for long meals, as far as I'm concerned. And while I understand some people might consider it an exclusive and cool thing to sit by the fire at Jiko and watch them prepare your meal, again, I have no interest in that, and get hot easily, so I really don't wanna be right on top of a fire! LOL I guess I'm kind of high maintenance.

And incidentally, even though I'm a solo diner, I can assure you they get a high priced meal out of me, with multiple apps, cocktails or wine and dessert. To be honest, most of my solo dinners likely out-cost most families of 4, which is why it's so ironic they wanna push me off to the bar for a quickie meal that would be far less lucrative for them.

Anyway, that's my main pet peeve about being a solo vacationer, the dining. But I am used to it now. And I get my table no matter what!

Good for you! What a wonderful post.

Although I have yet to travel to WDW solo, I do travel solo on my other vacations. I'll never forget Boston, and many female waitresses I had would remark that they'd never travel alone (I really didn't want people around me to know I was alone, to protect my safety, so I would simply shrug). My issue with going to WDW alone is that I have so many wonderful memories with my family (parents and siblings) and I would probably be a blubbering mess at first thinking about being with them and being all nostalgic. Although, like you, I do tend to treat myself dining and have no issue splurging. When I'm on vacation, I'm on vacation and don't mind spending a few extra bucks to try new things.

And like you, I don't do bar seating.

Anyhow, your photo with Cinderella is super cute! Good post.

 

[theone74733]

It also depends on the ride. For dark rides, i.e. Pooh, Snow White, Peter Pan, Pinochio's Journey, I have never had anyone sit with me. If it's a two (or more) row car, I may have strangers in the other row, but never in my row. On California Screamin', Everest, and DL Space Mountain, for example, I've always had someone seated with me (or i've been the addition from the singles line).

Yeah, most rides I have been solo have you sitting with no one next to you or in the entire row like BTMRR , Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Carribean, PeopleMover etc., but it depends on the number in the party before or after you and Cast Member discretion. Sometimes I noticed they will fill out your row like on BTMRR if you call out 1 and the party behind you calls out 3, they will fill the extra person in your row. The single rider lines are the only ones where you are mandatory to sit next to a person because you are there to fill empty spaces.

OP- Unless you are referring to rides like Hall of Presidents where people have a choice where to sit, don't take it personally. Either Cast Members are sorting out seating for rides rapid fire or people usually stay in their group and usually leave a seat between you and their party. Although I remember when I was at the park solo for an afternoon going into Carousel of Progress. I chose the back row and had maybe 7-8 seats between the next person to the left or right of me. About a minute before the attraction started, there was a family of four with the dad who chose the seat next to mine. I almost chuckled as there were plenty of other spots, but had to choose the one next to me. Those are the times you should be thankful to not have people sitting next to you.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

OP, if you want people sitting next to you, go to Test Track, Soarin, Safari. Guarantee you will have a neighbor.

 

[Jamie77]

OP, if you want people sitting next to you, go to Test Track, Soarin, Safari. Guarantee you will have a neighbor.

And Rock 'N Rollercoaster. I've always been seated next to someone. Once a drunk guy and his drunk friends were seated in my car, with the drunk guy next to me. He was very loud and very bubbly. He thought I was one of his friends from somewhere and raised his hand for a high-five. I played along and high-fived him. That was a wild ride!

 

[happyplace79]

I'm sorry to hear that you had this experience. I'm doing a solo trip for my birthday. I'm sure I'll get the "double-whammy" from a few CMs and other guests. "You mean you are at Disney by yourself on your BIRTHDAY?!"

To which my reply will be, "Yep, isn't that cool?!"

One of my favorite quotes is from Eleanor Roosevelt - "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

Sounds wonderful to me! Hope you have a great birthday

 

[Sabathamk]

I love reading all the points on here. I am definitely not a solo traveller... but I would love to go alone some day to experience things without all the kiddos. Our first trip I went on Everest in the solo line (DH was with the two and one year olds as he refuses to do roller coasters anyway) and I had never been on a real coaster before (unless you count the kiddie ones at the fair that are one little loop with a few hills, haha). I was directed to the singles line, and then into the very front car. I struck up conversation with another lady in the single riders line, and she ended up sitting next to me. She had ridden before, but never front row, and advised me to remove my hat (or I'd have likely lost it, ha). We had a great time! I love meeting new people. But, I also have no trouble striking up a conversation with other families. It is easier with the kids than solo, and sometimes you can just tell who is willing to have a chat, and who is not. I am often engrossed in my kids when we go, so I never notice others unless I need help with something, or my kids are making new friends in line, or I have a breather moment. Honestly, though, those are the best times. Seeing other people, even if not interacting with them. I think I might do some people watching this next trip while my family does rides I cannot do (as I'm pregnant this time around. Aw shucks! I'll miss out on all the coasters. My poor hubby will have to do them with our older two, haha).

I think we often let our own insecurities get to us, though. I do it all the time at home, not so much when on vacation. But my goodness, I have some moments where I really question myself on things. Usually if I am annoying family or friends. My husband lets everything slide off his back. He constantly tells me not to worry about it, he didn't notice any issues at all. But there I am convinced that they were annoyed at me or something. After a few days, I often realize how silly I am, especially when seeing them again and things are totally normal. Yup.

 

[bryanb]

This happened to me on BTMRR once. Just as the train was pulling up, a young man was directed to my row. It was obvious (to me, at least) that he was supposed to wait for the next train and ride alone, but he misunderstand and got in the ride with me. I was surprised and I said something to him, but he just grinned at me and I realized that he was from another country and had no idea what I was saying. So I just shrugged, thought "why not?", and rode with him - trying my best not to slide into him during the ride. Lol. It was awkward for like a second and then it was totally fine. Just two solo strangers sharing the wildest ride in the wilderness.

Honestly, I'm pretty sure that CMs are directed to seat solos alone for most rides. I've twice been asked if it was okay to sit someone with me. Once was at FEA, when there was another solo rider near me in line and the CM asked us if we would mind riding together. (We both said it would be fine, by the way). And the other time, I was directed to the front row in a car at Journey into Imagination and a group of four adults were directed to sit behind me. I could tell that they were pretty cramped, so I told them that it would be okay if one of them wanted to sit in the row with me. The CM seemed shocked for some reason and said "Are you sure?" I said something like "yes, I think I'll be fine sitting with a stranger for three minutes" and one of the women in the other party moved to sit next to me. In retrospect, I think that my comment to the CM was a little more sarcastic and borderline rude than it should have been, but I was genuinely surprised by her response. Seating us by numbers instead of parties had obviously never been a consideration, even though it meant one person sitting in a row alone and four people crammed in a row together.

This story makes me laugh so much. I worked at BTMRR at DL years ago, and remember putting a solo guest in her own row. While she was boarding, I put two more people into that row for the next train. Then I turn around, and realize that those two people jumped into her row... so now three people were sitting bottom-to-bottom, cheek-to-cheek, squeezed together. Oops too late. Gates were closed, lap bar was down. Luckily they were all very thin. The first lady's eyes were wide open in annoyance. The other two were not English speakers. Oh well!

I don't recall being told to keep solo riders alone, but for comfort this was usually the norm. Groups of 3 would get two rows. On busier days, we'd try to minimize waits by grouping singles together... including putting odd numbered parties into shared rows. It was like a puzzle.

Another story was a very busy day when a group of 30 teenagers came up in line on Pirates of the Caribbean. Each one said they were a party of one. Guess they each wanted their own row, but couldn't make that happen!

 

[Chuckers]

Another story was a very busy day when a group of 30 teenagers came up in line on Pirates of the Caribbean. Each one said they were a party of one. Guess they each wanted their own row, but couldn't make that happen!

If I was in line behind them, I would have been fuming!

 

[bryanb]

If I was in line behind them, I would have been fuming!

Not to worry, in that case, I put about 3 "solo riders" in each row.

 

[Punkbar]

I'll be going on my 6th solo trip this May, and I have experienced some things that made me feel bad. However, I agree that it's up to you to be strong and like that Eleanor Roosevelt quote says that Euby posted above, ""No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." I am going to remember that.

So yeah, I did have one trip in particular where I let it get to me all the times I got asked "How many?" and I got anxiety about saying "1". And it wasn't really anyone else's fault but mine.

The only thing I really, really don't like that cast members do, which is rude, though it may not be their intent, is when I go to restaurants, and it's usually signature ones that this happens at, they really, REALLY, try to push sitting at the bar to me. Like, do you really think I would have went to the trouble of making a dining reservation if I was the kind of bloke that wanted to just grab chow at the bar? To me, when they ask me if I want to sit at the bar, even they they wrap it up in the bow of "Oh, we thought you might enjoy the social experience of dining with other patrons and talking to the bartender!", to me, what I see is "Gee, we really rather not waste a whole table on a single diner, plus his meal and our tip is likely to be much less, so let's see if we can shuffle him off to the bar and make some more $$$". I mean, honestly, am I wrong here? Is it just my cynicism talking here? So, yeah, though I am used to it, and always ready with my response of "Oh, no I prefer a table, thank you.", it still irks me. And I'm sure all the hosts have been told to say that to solo diners, I know, but again, I'm convinced the reason is monetary and not to increase my dining pleasure.

One time, I had the embarrassment, at Jiko, after telling the host I wanted a table after she pushed the bar or the cooking place by the fire on me, she gave me to the waiter, who promptly escorted me right to the cooking place by the fire and I hated to have to tell him but I really didn't want to sit there and she had just asked me! So, I had to tell him, and I made a point of telling him how I just told the hostess I wanted a TABLE after she had just asked me, and I gave quite the look to show I was annoyed and I never do that, but I really was annoyed LOL. Anyway, I felt bad for the waiter, because he was very friendly and the hostess had made a big thing of introducing him to me, and once they moved me to a table, I ended up with a different waiter.

Anyway, one of my favorite things about Disney is the Dining experiences and I love sitting at a table - I don't want to socialize with people at the bar or other interactive areas at restaurants LOL. That's not for me. Plus, those bar stools are really uncomfortable and for me, that kind of meal doesn't feel like a real meal and is rushed. I like long meals, where I can take my time, and relax comfortably. I don't want a noisy and uncomfortable bar-stool that I can't wait to get off of. Bars are for drinking or maybe munching on a snack. Not for long meals, as far as I'm concerned. And while I understand some people might consider it an exclusive and cool thing to sit by the fire at Jiko and watch them prepare your meal, again, I have no interest in that, and get hot easily, so I really don't wanna be right on top of a fire! LOL I guess I'm kind of high maintenance.

And incidentally, even though I'm a solo diner, I can assure you they get a high priced meal out of me, with multiple apps, cocktails or wine and dessert. To be honest, most of my solo dinners likely out-cost most families of 4, which is why it's so ironic they wanna push me off to the bar for a quickie meal that would be far less lucrative for them.

Anyway, that's my main pet peeve about being a solo vacationer, the dining. But I am used to it now. And I get my table no matter what!

Dude, you are my spirit animal. I would totally have a meal with you!

 

[Sydney2977]

I read this before our trip last week and I was a little worried. OP- I am sorry you have had some negative experiences but sounds like people on here have convinced you to give it another try!

On our MK day I did the first part of the day solo which was a first for me. I like meeting new people but can also be a bit paranoid about what others think. I actually had an ok time though! First off I did BTMRR and thought I might have been put with someone else since it was busy but got a row to myself. I got a Doombuggy to myself at HM and the back row to myself on Pirates. I missed having someone to talk to in lines and the people around me in those lines were either playing on phones ignoring their travel companions or really engaged in conversation. The only solo character meet I did was at DHS- when DS and friends did Star Tours I went to meet Olaf. There were nothing but parents with little kids in line but I didn't care. And they actually took time to take pics with photopass and my camera and I even got a nice hug from Olaf.

Though I won't be doing solo travel any time soon I was relieved to know that I can handle some solo time. Hope your next experience is awesome!

 

[DisneyMemee]

I guess that I have to say that I have been discriminated against too. Happily, I never thought about it like that until you mentioned it. I always travel there solo. My wife is gone, my kids are grown, and I with a smile on my face tell them that it is just (1) when they ask me how many. I don't think it has anything to do with being a tall black guy as I am a short fat white guy and I don't see anyone knocking down barriers to have the honor of riding with me either. I like it that way. More elbow room.

That last statement puzzles me. Left out of what? You are in the park, you are riding rides, you are getting your picture taken with characters. What's missing. Do you really expect that people that you don't even know would be doing anything other then trying to keep their own family together and not really thinking about you at all? Whether you ride alone or not really has nothing to do with choice. The CM places you and if the crowd is heavy you will indeed be paired with someone if there is another single available to ride at the time. If not they will let you have your space and keep the others together as much as they can. You get your visitation on in the queue line, that's where I do it. I chat, talk about the day, the ride, the experience and go about riding. If there is room and the numbers work out many times someone will be sitting with me, if not I ride alone and never once thought that it should be any different then that. I believe the strange looks are all in the imagination.

This is a great response. I am about to make my first solo trip, and though slightly nervous, am actually very excited. I found it helpful to watch some YouTube videos about traveling to Disney solo. I'm sad the OP felt this way and hope it will not let this stop him from traveling solo again.

 

[DisneyMemee]

Decades and decades ago I went to Disneyland for an afternoon with a business associate. He and I were seated in tandem on the Matterhorn. It was embarrassing for both of us. He was a married man that I barely knew. And there we were with me sitting between his legs.

I'm sorry..that visual did make me laugh. Yikes!