First Solo Trip-WDW/Orlando Area Need Recommendations

[Mika02]

Decided to take a solo trip to Disney this year for a few reasons, I separated from my husband last year and he never really was a Disney fan anyway, my mom moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida so I will visit while I'm down there but she works so she may not be able to come to the parks with me and I want to go for the Food and Wine Festival for the 1st time ever.

While I'm excited to to go I have never traveled alone by myself for longer then a day anywhere. Always with my husband or my kids. I purchased a Annual Pass for the year knowing I would travel to WDW a few times this year (I am going in August with my Kids and we will be staying at POR for the week and I will probably visit again in November before the holidays but stay off property with my mom).

I want to travel solo September 20-24 and I plan to visit all the parks while I'm on my solo trip mostly Epcot as I have never been. I don't mind renting a car while I'm there but don't want to be too far away from the property.

So I need a few recommendations:

Where to Stay while I'm there solo.

If it's on property when is the best time to book my hotel stay. I know the F/W schedule won't be out till July and there doesn't seem to be any discounts on hotels for September.

Any sights, events or attractions I definitely should but on my itinerary while I'm there?

Any other tips for Traveling Solo especially Disney for a Novice.

Thanks In advance

 

[arminnie]

I've traveled solo many, many times. Started when I went to Orlando for business (from the West Coast) several times year starting in the 90s. I couldn't travel 3000 miles across country and NOT go to WDW. After I retired to Arkansas to take care of an elderly parent I used to go to WDW for my respite.

I've stayed everywhere - well not really but a lot of places both on and off property. I've been happy at values, moderates, some deluxes (mostly DVC) and offsite. The only times I didn't like where I stayed was once when I stayed pretty far off property and the traffic was awful. And once when I stayed at Westchase, and they were brutal with trying to put on timeshare pressure. (Note I would NEVER buy there).

I do not have advice about when to book on site as I've been DVC for several years now. I don't think you can go wrong with the non-Disney properties on Hotel Plaza Blvd if you can get a good rate. As I was born in CA plus went to school there and most of my career I pretty much have to have a car. It's in my blood.

I used to always use my car even when staying on property. Now that I am an old lady and use an ECV sometimes I do appreciate the bus transportation. But it never bothered me to drive to the parks. But we are all different so my only advice is to know yourself.

Don't worry if you don't do everything. You have an AP and are going back multiple times. Just enjoy yourself. totally.

Honestly I very much enjoyed taking new people to WDW - but my favorite trips have probably been the solo ones where I can do exactly what I want. After being single forever I married 5 years ago. My DH is not a big WDW fan, but he is great about accommodating me. What works for us is that I go to the parks, do my thing, and then we have dinner together. So I have semi-solo trips now.

 

[Mika02]

Thanks I figured that being close would be better as I might get antsy and in my head if I am too far. I know I want to focus on Epcot because my family never want to visit and so that will be my focus along with going on all my favorite rides at the other parks.

 

[goofyernmost]

Chose your price range and target the Main Gate area of 192 if you want to stay-off site there are many quality hotels along the strip and when I travel alone I usually just aim for 3 star ratings. Much cheaper and I have never really been unhappy with the accommodations. There is a lot of competition on the strip and to be less then on top of things could be very costly to them. Anywhere along that area is a quick/easy entry to the parks, especially Epcot. I never stay onsite, not because it isn't a good place, it is just way to expensive for what I get in return, but, that is an individual decision. Oh, yea, and there are all the choices of restaurants within an easy driver of even walking from a lot of the hotels along that way and no reservations are required. You will have to pay for parking at the parks ($20.00 per day) but the hotels are so much less expensive that you easily still save money doing that.

 

[Mika02]

Chose your price range and target the Main Gate area of 192 if you want to stay-off site there are many quality hotels along the strip and when I travel alone I usually just aim for 3 star ratings. Much cheaper and I have never really been unhappy with the accommodations. There is a lot of competition on the strip and to be less then on top of things could be very costly to them. Anywhere along that area is a quick/easy entry to the parks, especially Epcot. I never stay onsite, not because it isn't a good place, it is just way to expensive for what I get in return, but, that is an individual decision. Oh, yea, and there are all the choices of restaurants within an easy driver of even walking from a lot of the hotels along that way and no reservations are required. You will have to pay for parking at the parks ($20.00 per day) but the hotels are so much less expensive that you easily still save money doing that.

Thanks for the suggestion I will look at that area and the 3 stars as well as on site. I think with my Annual pass I get free parking which is why I am not too concerned about the driving. I stayed at one of the hotels near the main gate in 2014 when we came to Disney to compete in a tournament but that was all booked through the tournament itself at a steep discount. I believe it was a Westgate hotel it was fairly comfortable and had a kitchen. I don't remember much about the surrounding area past that as we mostly went from the hotel to Wide World of Sports and then the parks while we were there.

 

[goofyernmost]

Thanks for the suggestion I will look at that area and the 3 stars as well as on site. I think with my Annual pass I get free parking which is why I am not too concerned about the driving. I stayed at one of the hotels near the main gate in 2014 when we came to Disney to compete in a tournament but that was all booked through the tournament itself at a steep discount. I believe it was a Westgate hotel it was fairly comfortable and had a kitchen. I don't remember much about the surrounding area past that as we mostly went from the hotel to Wide World of Sports and then the parks while we were there.

I use https://www.trivago.com to get the overall view of the area, exact locations and prices for all travel sites. Saves a lot of time.

 

[Mika02]

Wow great I wasn't finding anything on Priceline or Expedia for me to compare.

 

[Sheldonman14]

If you can afford it, I would say stay on site. I think not worrying about transportation/parking removes one of the stresses of travelling. Plus, it's a great way to immerse yourself in Disney, which helps fight off any feeling of loneliness.

 

[Oneanne]

I do solo more often than not and always stay on-site as I like to stay "in the bubble" and never get a rental car. POP is my home-away-from home for a number of reasons: cost, it is in a good location with short "commutes" to the parks, it doesn't share bus service with any other resort and there's a central building for the food court, front desk etc. - this is a biggie for me traveling alone. In the Moderates I prefer POFQ for the same reason. And as a bonus it's a nice a walk across the bridge from POP to AoA, for a different food options.

 

[daae3]

Another fan of on site for solo trips. Pop/ value is very affordable. There is a free quick service plan with package deal now, though those go quickly so may already be gone. Plus it is nice esp if you are planning to enjoy food and wine to not have to think about driving. I would go ahead and book if you have your dates set. On site has advantages such as 60 day fastpass etc. as for traveling solo, if you have never done it it can be scary. But seriously, don't be scared. The things that catch most people are the dining issues- if you don't dine out in restaurants by yourself, it will likely be uncomfortable when you do it on vacation. So practice at home first. Take yourself out! Start small and build to a full meal if that works. If it never feels right, plan to eat at the bar or quick service. If that is not an issue for you great- no worries! The best part of solos is doing what you want, so take stock and make sure you are enjoying yourself. If not, do something else!

 

[janicept]

Good for you for getting out. I'll be there those dates in Sept also. They have HHN at Universal it you're interested. For me staying at someplace I feel secure is important. Disney has gates at all their entrances which helped me feel secure. I also don't go to malls or park in parking garages. I've never felt unsafe at Disney riding on the buses. I don't think I would go to Disney Springs at night unless I parked in valet but that's just me. I'm paranoid about being carjacked. I've been going solo to Disney, Universal, and SeaWorld for years and love it. Get up when you want and do whatever you want.

There's not many ride at EPCOT but there's plenty to see and do. You could easily spend all day wandering around the countries and going to the little shows. A lot of the Food & Wine things have separate charges which irritates me. You can walk around the marketplace I think it's called which is like a bunch of little shops similar to Black Lion. Of course you can buy wine. Saturday night is normally evening EMH at MK and I love to walk around there after midnight when there's hardly anyone there. You can get some really good pics. Even if you don't stay onsite they don't kick you out at pm EMHs you just can't get on rides. Of course I would go to Pandora sine Sept is a really slow time you could easily see everything. With your AP you don't have to pay for parking or going to more than one park in a day so have fun and see as much as you can.

 

[spiceycat]

there will be discounts for Sept - disney just has not released them - also probably free dinning - that is generally also offered in Sept. Pop is a great place would be staying there - but I brought DVC. so if don't stay at DVC have been staying offsite or driving home (live about an hour away). silly I know. going this May.

look at skyauction for offsite timeshares. timeshares generally give you more space and the good ones give you more entertainment options.

or just wait - believe me there will be discounts for Sept. the food/wine festavial is now starting early Sept (might even be Aug).

now if you don't mind spending money - BC/V and BWV/I - you can walk to Epcot.

 

[spiceycat]

forgot recommendations - Silver Lake is very close to Animal kingdom and it on Black Lake road which turns into Sherberth rd which is the short cut to WDW - at the end (traffic light) turn left for AKL/V, turn right for everything else WDW

 

[Mika02]

Thanks for the great suggestions I am going to look into each one. I did try to book free dining but it didn't see reasonable because of the length of stay plus buying at least a 2 day ticket.