First solo trip - will I need as much time?

[madalex]

After a dozen trips to WDW with my children (now ages 12 and 7) over the last 10 years, I am now planning my first ever solo trip to the World for April 2007. When I go with the kids, the primary focus is on doing what they want (of course) and, in order to fit everything in, I feel shortchanged if the trip is less than 7 - 8 days.

However, I am of the belief that I don't need quite that much time at WDW as a solo traveler. My thinking is that since it will be "all me, all the time," I will be able to focus on the things I want to do and, as a result, will be able to do a lot more in a shorter time frame on my solo trip. Thus, I was thinking that the solo trip will only be 3 nights/4 days.

Comments or thoughts regarding this approach and line of thinking from veteran solo travelers would be appreciated.

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

If you are going solo, then I would pick a time of year when most kids are suppossed to be in school.
( Unless, of course, you are a teacher )

When you go in April, is that spring break or anything like that?

I don't have any children, and I've had 4 WDW visits WITH my DH, and then 6 SOLO vacations.
I usually go somewhere during the first 2 weeks of December, for 6 nights.

I think a lot depends on if you are going at a busy time of year, not if you're going solo.
You may find yourself skipping a lot more of the kiddie things, but doing more of the grown-up things more than once.

 

[Terk-1]

When I take my solo trips, it's for at least a week or longer. My last 2 were for 10 days. I headed for WDW the day after Thanksgiving and was there through the following Sunday. The first 2 days, there were crowds, but then it thinned right out. I take one real vacation each year and most of the time it's to WDW. My upcoming trip is for 10 days. I find that giving myself more time, I can relax and take my time getting everything in and go at a comfortable pace.

 

[maine_jennifer]

My first solo trip was only my second trip to WDW and I only spent 4 days there. I got a ton done but on my solo trips, I like to just chill out and relax. To me, it's not as much of getting stuff done as it is a true vacation. Last October I took a 12 day solo trip and had a blast! In August I did a 3 day solo trip followed by a 6 day solo trip. Have to say that while I had fun, the longer trip was definitely my favorite.

 

[barrie]

I took a 4 day solo trip in May. I actually found that I needed more time when I was by myself than I did when travelling with other people. For my next solo trip I want to shoot for at least 7 full days, maybe 10.

What I loved most about being there solo was being able to meander and take my time with out worrying about holding anyone else up and being able to change my plans at any moment and do what I felt like right then. I wish I had way more time for that than I did. Barrie

 

[dizneycc]

My first solo trip, I got to Epcot around noon and figured I spend a few hours there, go back to the room and rest and head back for Illuminations. HA HA
I never left the park until 10:30 pm. It was just wonderful being able to walk around at my own pace, browse the shops as long as I wanted and stop for an adult beverage and people watch for as long as I wanted, without having to worry about someone waiting for me.

When I'm with DH, we can do two parks in one day. So I would say, I need more time when I'm solo. LOL

 

[Karnak]

I have made a few solo trips to Walt Disney World (with my next one booked as below), and it seems to me like five nights is about right for me. I do everything I want to do with four full days (using one full day for each park, with no park hopping), and parts of a couple more to work with. I do try to go at times in the year when things are not too crowded, when it's "value season," and when the weather is nice.

It's easy to have a great vacation because there's no waiting for others to: (1) decide what to do next, (2) take photos, (3) rush right by the street performer you would really like to watch for a while, (4) take a rest room break, (5) mill around and study the map, (6) stop to trade pins, (7) use up too much time eating lunch, (8) stop for every character that pops up, (9) stop to press coins in some silly machine, (10) walk super fast when you are really worn out, (11) stop at every gift shop in the park, (12) insist on taking a break at the resort in the middle of the day, (13) not be ready to go in the morning, resulting in increased crowd level by the time we arrive, (14) stopping to rest when you are ready to move on, (15) deciding what to order at a counter service eatery only after arriving at the register. (And I bet you can think of plenty of other advantages to traveling alone at WDW.)

I relax, people watch, and have a great time. WDW is a wonderful place to spend a vacation.

Enjoy.

 

[Disneyfan63]

Hi,

This'll be a ramble. I hope you don't mind.

I've been to WDW six times, all but one trip (the 1982 hs senior class trip) solo, because if I waited for someone to go with me, I'd never leave home. That hs trip was for four days (April 2-5, 1982); and while we got a lot done, we also explored Cypress Gardens and Wet 'n' Wild. In WDW on April 3, 1982 I got separated from my group and got some solo time at Magic Kingdom (WDW's only park at the time; Epcot was six months out from opening. Did you know that on the date of Epcot's opening--October 1, 1982--the very first compact disc player, the Sony CDP101, was released in Japan?).

My solo trips since then have been fairly lengthy: 8 days/7 nights; 12/11; 9/8; 9/8; 7/6. The first solo trip was in the month of October, and the only WDW trip I've ever taken for which I used absolutely no vacation leave at work: a seasonal employee (at the time; I became permanent on October 18, 2004) at IRS, I was on "furlough"--i.e., temporary layoff; the last in the month of May; and the others in early- to mid-December during MouseFests One through Three.

I'm a theme-park semi-commando who wears underpants. (When I was a kid, going "commando" meant that you didn't wear underclothes.) That means that I usually try to fill each moment of each day with activity but also allow some "smell the roses" time. The best part of a solo trip is the ability to do as much or as little as you want. During MouseFest I usually roll around like a chickenless head, going from meet to shining meet. A solo trip usually gives time to enjoy some of the unheralded attractions of Walt Disney World. For example: on December 3, 2003, the first of twelve full days at the World, I used my Ultimate Park-hopper (bus-hopper? pre-MYW) ticket to resort-hop POR, CBR, and CSR. (Once I told the first bus driver what I was doing, he radioed the others--presumably saying, "Look out, we have a resort-hopper! Alert security!") of my plans. Another time I took monorails a full circuit among Epcot, the TTC, MK, and the three monorail resorts. At Magic Kingdom one day I took the WDW railroad for a full circuit of the park.

A solo trip can be great fun, particularly if you enjoy your own company; but if you can meet with other Disney-loving friends, you can have the kind of blast that you can't approach with dynamite.

Jim

 

[sramille]

I've taken a few solo trips or at least partially solo trips over the last few years. I think you will be happy with a 3/4 day trip or a 7/8 day trip. But, if it's your first and you're concerned about it...take the shorter one for now. If you run out of time, you can take notes on what you want to do on your next solo trip. (assuming you want there to be a next time, of course!) Besides, being away from the kids for 3/4 days will feel like 7/8 days!

 

[spiceycat]

April 13 is the first day of the garden & flower show at Epcot

see link - 2007 & 2006 information
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/epcot/events/ep-flower-garden.htm

2005 information
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/epcot/events/ep-flower-hidden-mickeys.htm

So I would definitely try to do some of its things. there concerts I like better than the food/wine.

you need to decide what you want to do - rides, shows, demonstrations, tours, nothing (I like this one), swimming, etc....

then pick one or two per day to do. no more. you want to relax and enjoy this trip.

or you could do what I do - do a bunch one day none the next.