First time solo, suggestions?

[GrumpyOne]

I'm currently planning a Sept solo venture. Every other time has always had some family member along whether it was a parent or the soon-to-be-ex.

Any suggestions for someone who has never gone solo before? Anything to watch out for? I'm mostly looking at this as a photography trip with maybe some rides tossed in.

 

[ANTSS2001]

I'm currently planning a Sept solo venture. Every other time has always had some family member along whether it was a parent or the soon-to-be-ex.

Any suggestions for someone who has never gone solo before? Anything to watch out for? I'm mostly looking at this as a photography trip with maybe some rides tossed in.

question is what do you like to do...Location: Egypt... the country or a town... we have Egypt,Pa here thats why I ask...

 

[GrumpyOne]

question is what do you like to do...Location: Egypt... the country or a town... we have Egypt,Pa here thats why I ask...

I like to take it all in. Yeah, I know, pretty vague. I've always gone with family but my daughter will be in school and the relationship is ending so while I know some of what I want to do, ride the bigger rides and do a lot of photography, I'm TOTALLY CLUELESS about stuff that a solo traveler might do that a family might not.

For instance, I recently read about "drinking-around-the-world". Who'd-a-thunk-it? Not I, previously. Not that I'm either a lush or a teetotaler but spending an afternoon/evening going from land-to-land and sampling the drinks isn't something that you'd take a kid to and thus not something I would have considered before.

Perhaps a more proper question would be along the lines of what interesting things might a soon-to-be single guy have missed while doing the family thing? Especially with the closing of PI.

I know, read the boards. Trust me, I am! There's just SO MUCH. Which is great as it fosters a friendly atmosphere.

Re: Egypt, not PA, although I've worked in that general area before, in King of Prussia. No, I'm currently in the land of sand and camels and pyramids doing what I can to help Uncle Sam "Win the Hearts and Minds" of non-Americans. I'm used to the question though, when I was in Athens, I was often asked about the weather in GA.

Thanks for the response.

 

[ANTSS2001]

feel free to tell me to shut up anytime

 

[GrumpyOne]

I've been told I'm not the type to use three words when ten will do

 

[dis_guy]

Check out www.wdwtoday.com They just did a podcast about solo trips. It might be a good place to start. Best of luck.

 

[ANTSS2001]

I've been told I'm not the type to use three words when ten will do

hahaha thank you for your kindness!!! Hmmm when you go to wdw do you mind bringing some coffee????

 

[GrumpyOne]

wdwtoday? Will check it out, thanks!

Middle-eastern coffee? You'd be less wired if you just shot it directly into your veins!

 

[ANTSS2001]

Middle-eastern coffee? You'd be less wired if you just shot it directly into your veins!

The Starbucks Arabian Sanani (according to the label) were beans roasted in yemen... but if I can just get a block of that Kurkopwa(sp?) I will be the happiest gal in town!!! growing up.. I love to clean up after my dad and friends mess ~ after they coffee- tea (shay shay ) party!!!!!! It was so potent I feel like I am flying to heaven... hahahahaha better than red bull I tell yah!

 

[GrumpyOne]

Kurkopwa didn't mean anything to me and I didn't see anything online. I've asked my staff if they know, perhaps the name changed and they'll know it, we'll see.

 

[DisneyDreams21]

I've done both types of trips and there are certain things to enjoy on the adult ones. There are really 2 drink-around-the worlds: Epcot and the Monorail Crawl. Epcot is fun to try a drink/snack in every country (little bits of food help with the drinking) and the Monorail Crawl is an adventure through the monorail resort bars. You can tie in the photography during these adventures, just for fun.

Ok-a few more...

Jellyrolls at Boardwalk is always a good time for at night with the dueling pianos.

It's nice to eat at some of the nicer restaurants on the adult trips.

You can get some cool pics just by visiting some of the Disney resorts and wandering around.

There's also usually a few Disboards people visiting WDW at the same time, so planning a mini-meet or just meeting up for a drink is fun.

My final thought is to just have fun. Don't overplan, go down a waterslide or two, and take lots of photos of places you might not have noticed if you were doing family commando tours.

 

[buena vista]

Good advice Robin. I'd also add Golf to the list, if you play. All four courses offer good photo opportunities, but Osprey Ridge is a probably the most photogenic, with a gorgeous layout with all kinds of bird life and natural vistas. It's worth the extra bucks. I've also taken some really nice photos of and from the Lake Buena Vista golf course and the surrounding resorts - OKW, SS, POFQ.

The golf there is pretty good too .

 

[GrumpyOne]

I'm definitely looking at some of the better places to eat and trying to limit my scheduling as much as possible. Of course, with the reduction in Fantasmic shows, MNSSHP and the F&W Festival, there's still a lot that's new to be to plan for. I'll mostly work around the must-do and new-to-me plans, leaving as much flexibility as possible for those afternoons hanging around the poolside bar.

I really like wandering around the resorts and taking pictures. Haven't done much with AKL or the Poly yet so one or both will be done for sure.

Thanks for the tip regarding the "drinking around the monorail" tour as well

Of course, I'm getting the feeling I should bring the cheaper camera to the bars, not the nice one.

I don't get out and golf very often, haven't even used my clubs since I went to the range and hit an absolutely spectacular shot, one that Tiger would like, and no one would believe it. First and last time I hit a drive near 300 yds, never mind over and no one saw Someday I hope to be somewhere where it's nice to play golf again.

I'm definitely looking forward to meeting up with some people from here, would be nice to put faces to nicknames.

 

[Disney1976]

I'm definitely looking at some of the better places to eat and trying to limit my scheduling as much as possible. Of course, with the reduction in Fantasmic shows, MNSSHP and the F&W Festival, there's still a lot that's new to be to plan for. I'll mostly work around the must-do and new-to-me plans, leaving as much flexibility as possible for those afternoons hanging around the poolside bar.

I really like wandering around the resorts and taking pictures. Haven't done much with AKL or the Poly yet so one or both will be done for sure.

Thanks for the tip regarding the "drinking around the monorail" tour as well

Of course, I'm getting the feeling I should bring the cheaper camera to the bars, not the nice one.

I don't get out and golf very often, haven't even used my clubs since I went to the range and hit an absolutely spectacular shot, one that Tiger would like, and no one would believe it. First and last time I hit a drive near 300 yds, never mind over and no one saw Someday I hope to be somewhere where it's nice to play golf again.

I'm definitely looking forward to meeting up with some people from here, would be nice to put faces to nicknames.

When are you going? I've got a September solo trip planned too, 9/27-10/4
and was just curious.

 

[GrumpyOne]

It's still tentative but I'm aiming for Sept 25 - Oct 5.

 

[MyMuse]

I signed on a moment ago to ask the very same question! Too weird!

I'm also taking my first solo trip but next month (I can say "next month" now whoo-hoo!) and trying to sort out my schedule. I haven't been to Disney in over 2 years and even then it was pretty sparse.

I will also be taking photos - alot of photos! - 'cause I like that kind of stuff.

So far, I did make 3 dining reservations and 1 tour.

I'll be looking forward to the rest of the responses to this thread.

Thanks GrumpyOne!

 

[GrumpyOne]

You're welcome.

The last two trips I've been looking at WDW as my own personal photo laboratory. You can find most types of photo environments and if you don't like what you took, you can go back and do it again!

 

[Kyen]

I will also be taking photos - alot of photos! - 'cause I like that kind of stuff.

For me this was the best thing about taking a solo trip! Most people stopped to smell the roses! Well I stopped to take pictures. I took over 500 a day (Going threw them was nightmare) because I stopped to watch just about every show and "street preformance." I also lined up to get over 100 autographgs and had just over 200 pictures on my photopass CD

 

[MyMuse]

For me this was the best thing about taking a solo trip! Most people stopped to smell the roses! Well I stopped to take pictures. I took over 500 a day (Going threw them was nightmare) because I stopped to watch just about every show and "street preformance." I also lined up to get over 100 autographgs and had just over 200 pictures on my photopass CD

When I went to Italy last year (ie: the land of the ancestors ), I went through my pictures and only saved about 1,100 of them! Going through them was wonderful and exhausting at the same time.

I imagine WDW will give me the same amount. I do have pictures from previous trips, but I always went with other people and they weren't so much into photography. And I have a...let's say "different" sense of photography than most.

I also do have Photopass, but I don't think I'll be getting autographs.

 

[lauritagoddess]

It's funny because I see my upcoming solo trip as the opportunity to not have to take pictures. I normally take a ton of pics when I go with my son, but I'm leaving the camera home. It will be nice to not have to worry about missing a moment or looking for just the right shot.