First Solo Trip!

[ninecrayons]

Hi all!

I'm Cristen and I'm a reformed lurker! I'm putting the finishing touches on my seventh trip to WDW. This will be my first solo trip as well!

Previously I'd gone with my best friend, however now she's doing the DCP so I'm going solo!

I went solo to England and Ireland for two weeks this summer and I think that was a great prep for travelling solo. I figure if I can go to another continent, take planes, busses and boats to get where I'm going, WDW should be a snap!

Like most of you one of my favorite parts of going on a solo trip is doing exactly what you want, when you want. I'm excited to experience the World on my own!

My only concern is I'm thinking about driving down from NYC by myself. I've done long drives by myself - 8 to 10 hours or so. However, the trip to FL from here is more like 14-16. I'm thinking I may stop along the way, especially since NC and SC take so long to get through.

Have any of you done a long solo drive to the World? (Or anyplace else) What do you do to keep yourself occupied. I'm imagining I'll load up some podcasts and audiobooks on my iPod. Anybody have any other ideas or tips?

 

[ludari]

Hi all!

I'm Cristen and I'm a reformed lurker! I'm putting the finishing touches on my seventh trip to WDW. This will be my first solo trip as well!

Previously I'd gone with my best friend, however now she's doing the DCP so I'm going solo!

I went solo to England and Ireland for two weeks this summer and I think that was a great prep for travelling solo. I figure if I can go to another continent, take planes, busses and boats to get where I'm going, WDW should be a snap!

Like most of you one of my favorite parts of going on a solo trip is doing exactly what you want, when you want. I'm excited to experience the World on my own!

My only concern is I'm thinking about driving down from NYC by myself. I've done long drives by myself - 8 to 10 hours or so. However, the trip to FL from here is more like 14-16. I'm thinking I may stop along the way, especially since NC and SC take so long to get through.

Have any of you done a long solo drive to the World? (Or anyplace else) What do you do to keep yourself occupied. I'm imagining I'll load up some podcasts and audiobooks on my iPod. Anybody have any other ideas or tips?

First I like to say, have a great trip. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time.

I've done long solo drives but not to the World. The favorite thing I like to do during long drives is listen to XM radio, which is essentially what your planning with podcasts and audiobooks. I also like to plan a stop for lunch/dinner at some place where I have a nice meal, not expensive but definitely not fast food. I also do a little research to determine if my route will take me past anything worth stopping for such as a famous residence, view or a historic place and you'll should have plenty of that on your drive.

I hope my advice helps and have a safe and fun drive.

 

[Disneylover1971]

Hi Cristen...I have been around the boards a few years...but had to re-enlist so to speak....I've never gone to WDW solo but this year I have planned on going...Not sure I want to go alone but might as well, right?

 

[NJDiva]

Hi all!

I'm Cristen and I'm a reformed lurker! I'm putting the finishing touches on my seventh trip to WDW. This will be my first solo trip as well!

Previously I'd gone with my best friend, however now she's doing the DCP so I'm going solo!

I went solo to England and Ireland for two weeks this summer and I think that was a great prep for travelling solo. I figure if I can go to another continent, take planes, busses and boats to get where I'm going, WDW should be a snap!

Like most of you one of my favorite parts of going on a solo trip is doing exactly what you want, when you want. I'm excited to experience the World on my own!

My only concern is I'm thinking about driving down from NYC by myself. I've done long drives by myself - 8 to 10 hours or so. However, the trip to FL from here is more like 14-16. I'm thinking I may stop along the way, especially since NC and SC take so long to get through.

Have any of you done a long solo drive to the World? (Or anyplace else) What do you do to keep yourself occupied. I'm imagining I'll load up some podcasts and audiobooks on my iPod. Anybody have any other ideas or tips?

I would have to agree, I travel a lot for work and most of it is by car. I LOVE XM!! I was probably the best purchase I've made (along with my GPS). I don't have issues with driving alone; again, it's along the same lines as vacationing along, you can stop when you want where you want. if you can do the stops along the way in somewhere of some interest (Williamsburg, Rahleigh, Atlanta....) and find some interesting places to eat (the food channel is a great way to find those places) it would be a fun drive. Of course I would let someone know where you are during your travels, I leave a paper trail as well as a cell phone trail so that if something unfortunate should happen I am traceable. It's not something you want to think of, but really when you plan trips like this you do have to have a plan...it's the safety manager in me!
good luck, and if you want to swing past my house as you drive through Jersey, I would be more than happy to help you drive...

 

[CarolinaMike]

Hi Cristen i've made several solo trips since my divorce -i'm in North Carolina so it's about about a 10 hour drive. Being a woman and alone I do my best to be careful and keep my family updated as to where i'm at where i'm stopping. I've done it solo by plane, driving and even rode the train down once by myself. In the car i've found playing disney songs helps keep keep me awake and I do stop and stretch every couple of hours to keep me from getting so sleepy. I have to say I was surprised how much I enjoyed riding the train last time. I brought my laptop and watched a movie and slept. Much easier than driving. I have some local friends who were able to pick me up at the train station. On a drive as long as yours I would probably have to stop over somewhere or I'd look into taking the train and getting a rental car or taking a taxi to the hotel.

 

[richmo]

Hi all!

I'm Cristen and I'm a reformed lurker! I'm putting the finishing touches on my seventh trip to WDW. This will be my first solo trip as well!

Previously I'd gone with my best friend, however now she's doing the DCP so I'm going solo!

I went solo to England and Ireland for two weeks this summer and I think that was a great prep for travelling solo. I figure if I can go to another continent, take planes, busses and boats to get where I'm going, WDW should be a snap!

Like most of you one of my favorite parts of going on a solo trip is doing exactly what you want, when you want. I'm excited to experience the World on my own!

My only concern is I'm thinking about driving down from NYC by myself. I've done long drives by myself - 8 to 10 hours or so. However, the trip to FL from here is more like 14-16. I'm thinking I may stop along the way, especially since NC and SC take so long to get through.

Have any of you done a long solo drive to the World? (Or anyplace else) What do you do to keep yourself occupied. I'm imagining I'll load up some podcasts and audiobooks on my iPod. Anybody have any other ideas or tips?

From NYC, you're looking at 16 hours minimum...17 or 18 is more like it. I would definitely plan on stopping. Staying awake for 18 hours is tough and even if you do make it straight thru, you'll be so tired it'll take you a couple of days to recover. As far as keeping yourself occupied, your plan of loading up the iPod is a good one. Just make sure you have enough for the return trip, because thats the one that's really boring.

 

[serenita05]

Hows the 7 hour back stage tour just for adults.

 

[darthspud]

I love going solo I'm planning my 3rd solo trip for this august... as far as driving by yourself its not that horrible. I drove from Mass to KY (to visit my brother) the summer before last. I had 2 audio books that I had DLed onto my Ipod plus tons of music. I had a soft sided cooler on the passenger seat with some soda,water, carrot sticks, grapes etc. If you don't have AAA get it! I blew a tire in the middle of no where ohio I mean it was 5 miles before I even saw a house on the side of the road it was all farm land.

Good Luck Drive Safe and most importantly HAVE FUN!

 

[DirtyDiana]

I've done the drive (well, I didn't drive, but I rode) from Maryland to Disney one year. You probably couldn't pay me a million dollars to do that again. But if you like driving, then I say go for it. Also, if you are looking for good podcasts to keep you busy, I HIGHLY reccomend "DNTO" (aka Definitely not the Opera). Looove it.

 

[auntfrannie]

Hi Cristen! I've done several solo trips driving from Pittsburgh. That's about 16 hours. I love it! I like the freedom of stopping when I want, where I want. I stop every 2-3 hours even if it's just to get out and stretch.

I take my ipod and have it plugged in to my radio plus I take a couple of back-up CDs for when I get into the mountains and don't have any radio signal for my ipod to use.

Have a great trip!

 

[kaffinito]

Planning a solo trip as well. I have driven down from MI by myself and it's a better drive for me solo than it is for me with the kids in tow. I made it to Valdosta GA in record time, and then it was just a short drive to WDW.

I just listen to Pandora radio on my cars speakers and enjoy the scenery. I agree about leaving a good phone/paper trail on the way down.

When you stop for the night go to a well traveled hotel/motel and get a room where you can see your car. For tips on better areas to stay in, look at the room rate signs posted on the freeway. Hotels that cost 39.00 per night are not in good areas, while ones that cost a bit more than that are.

Check the locks on the doors of your room right away, and make sure that there are not a lot of people around to watch you check in by yourself.

Do pack an easily accessible overnight case that you can just grab and take in the room with you. That way you don't have to fiddle around with your luggage in your trunk after dark.

 

[catra121]

Never been the solo driver to Disney as an adult (though when I was little my family always drove down to Disney from Chicago). But I have made the drive from Chicago to Nashville several times alone in the past few years (9-10 hour drive).

Seems like you have a good plan with loading up the ipod or bringing audiobooks. I have found that what I like to do (and I have very eclectic tastes in music ranging from rap to opera to pop to country and everything in between) is put the ipod on shuffle and just take the songs as they come. All stuff I can sing along with so it keeps me up beat and away.

Sometimes I choose to listen to audiobooks and as long as the book is good it can be a great option. But if it's just so so then that can make for a boring drive.

A also like to break up the drive a little bit with calls to loved ones. Make sure you have a hands free device and all that for the phone calls...but I have found that just talking with friends or family for bits of time can make the time fly.