For all you solo travelers...

[MsPlutoNJ]

No, no, no - it's "If someone wants to go with me , if not !"

That is very true.

 

[Terk-1]

I love going to WDW solo. Don't get me wrong. I do love going with family as well, but the freedom that you get going solo is amazing!! You get to do what you want, when you want. Dine where and when you want. Do an attraction 20 times or not at all. You get to go at your pace and not have to worry about anyone else keeping up, etc. Sounds a little selfish, but I enjoy doing WDW at my pace. I love to read, so I always have a book in my backpack. When I'm eating or waiting for a parade or show to start, I take it out and read while I wait. I find this takes an awkwardness of being there alone away from me.

 

[PirateMel]

Nice pictures
I need to learn more so I can post some to. Digital or SLR?
What are you using?

 

[english rose 47]

Just had a conversation with DD who said "You're really going alone" Yep I say. Then I asked her if she wouldn't do the same " In a heartbeat she says !! The thought of a week alone is awesome!!

 

[Glendamax]

What was the one thing that pushed you to do it? Were you afraid at first? What conquered your fears?

What pushed me was the fear of spending my hard-earned vacation time AT HOME just because no one wanted to go. When I compared that feeling to eating alone in Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, I booked the trip! I can't wait to go!!!! I'd rather feel a bit weird alone at Disney, than mad at home on my couch!

 

[PirateMel]

What pushed me was the fear of spending my hard-earned vacation time AT HOME just because no one wanted to go. When I compared that feeling to eating alone in Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, I booked the trip! I can't wait to go!!!! I'd rather feel a bit weird alone at Disney, than mad at home on my couch!

Yes, that pretty much sums it up for me as well.
I had a great time when I went alone, for a couple of really long weekends in 2006. And with 50 million of your closest friends, you are never really alone

 

[NewYorkRedNeck]

Yeah Disney will beat out the couch any vacation

 

[fla4fun]

There are lots of solo people at Disney for various reasons. Some are at a convention alone. Some are with someone who's attending a convention in the vicinity, and they spend their days at Disney alone. Some people (like me) are there alone for the fun of it. Because no one really knows why you're alone at Disney, I've never felt the least bit awkward. I use it as a time to totally disconnect from the real world, and rest and recharge. I've found that CM's tend to be more talkative when you're solo, and there's so much interesting people watching to do, I don't get bored. I've got 17 days solo planned for September, and I can't wait!

Now that solo trip to Europe that I took, that one made me a little nervous, but it was great too!

 

[Luvchefmic]

in 1988 I finally had a New Years Eve off...how did I spend it ? with Dick Clark on the TV and my husband of 2 years (5 years younger than me I might add!) snoring in one recliner and his Mom snoring in the other. I started off the year feeling very very sorry for myself and the bleek future I faced

My two DDs that I raised to be very independent young women (one is a Major USMC and the other has been a retail manager since she graduated HS) sat me down & took the mom role with me...did I want to spend the rest of my life doing nothing and watching grass grow on hubby's a$$ or did I want to enjoy my life? (thank you Francine and Jenny )

I now LIVE MY life..go to WDW 2 x's a year and this past June /July took my 1st hot air balloon ride, did the dolphins in depth program at Disney and the dolphin encounter at Discovery Cove, Mom is gone now and husband still falls asleep in the recliner "watching" Law & Order marathons..

You only live once......Go for it!

Ruthie

 

[MsPlutoNJ]

fla4fun...17 days...WOW! Now that's a vacaton. Have you done that long before?

 

[english rose 47]

Hey Luv Chef Mic I love Law & Order too! When I'm not on the Dis or planning my next Disney trip I'm watching L&O. So your hubby and I share 1 love and you & I share another!!

 

[dauser]

My first solo trip was to DL in Nov. 2002. I had a bunch of vacation time to burn, and hadn't been to DL in 25 years (when I was 8). My partner was teaching at the time, and because of his schedule wasn't able to go with me. I had an awesome time.

Since then I've alternated between solo and group trips to WDW and DL.

The OP mentioned stress in their life. I've done solo trips to Disney during stressful times in my life and I highly recommend going.

Rick

 

[Kaia119]

I've been thinking about doing Disney solo after my son is born - I'd like to take him for his 1st birthday... but I got to thinking, that he won't even remember it (not that that's even the point of taking him!) but still - he won't remember it, and it's a ton of work to take a baby with you in tow, when they can't do anything...

I might take a long weekend in December instead or something...by myself... feel it out, see I how do, and then take a longer trip later if it's a good one...

 

[Terk-1]

I was a little nervous the first time I went to WDW solo, but had a wonderful time. Have been 3 more times since then and enjoy every trip. Don't get me wrong. I love going with family, but I love going solo just as much. You get to do what you want, when you want. Go to whatever park you want. Dine where and when you want. You just get that special sense of freedom when you go solo, that you don't always get when traveling with others. I can't wait for my next solo trip!!

 

[english rose 47]

I was a little nervous the first time I went to WDW solo, but had a wonderful time. Have been 3 more times since then and enjoy every trip. Don't get me wrong. I love going with family, but I love going solo just as much. You get to do what you want, when you want. Go to whatever park you want. Dine where and when you want. You just get that special sense of freedom when you go solo, that you don't always get when traveling with others. I can't wait for my next solo trip!!

That.s how I feel!!

 

[WillCAD]

I was a little nervous the first time I went to WDW solo, but had a wonderful time. Have been 3 more times since then and enjoy every trip. Don't get me wrong. I love going with family, but I love going solo just as much. You get to do what you want, when you want. Go to whatever park you want. Dine where and when you want. You just get that special sense of freedom when you go solo, that you don't always get when traveling with others. I can't wait for my next solo trip!!

That's how I feel, too. Solo is the only way to go for me!

 

[Lenc324]

I doing my first solo trip in Jan and I'm a bit nervous about eating out alone.

 

[WillCAD]

I doing my first solo trip in Jan and I'm a bit nervous about eating out alone.

No reason to be nervous about eating, whether you're alone or with a group of 100 people.

What is it about eating alone that makes you nervous? Are you afraid of getting poor service because solo diners tips are not big enough to warrant the servers attention? This happens to me all the time, and it's a self-fullfilling prophesy - if the server figures he's going to get a lousy tip from me, so he doesn't try, well, I tip low because he wasn't trying. But it doesn't happen often at WDW; in fact, servers in many of the WDW restaurants will make an extra effort to connect with solo diners and make your meal more pleasant.

Or are you simply afraid that the entire restaurant will point at you and taunt "Look at the single person!" while laughing out loud? 'Cause after many years of dining solo in all sorts of restaurants, both at WDW and at home, I have never seen that happen, to me or anyone else.

Sure, a lot of people seem to think that any public activity requires a spouse and/or children, especially an entertainment activity like restaurant dining or seeing a movie. But it's not! Restaurants and movie and theme parks are for everybody! There's nothing strange about dining solo, even in the family vacation capital of the world - I do it all the time, and usually enjoy myself a lot.

You're simply looking at things from the wrong perspective. You're not "dining alone" - you're "going to 'Ohana!" Or Chef Mickeys, or Boma, or Liberty Tree Tavern, or whatever your favorites are.

You're not "going to Disney alone" - you're Going to Disney World! Whether you have friends or family with you is nothing more than a trip detail, like what you're packing or what time your flight lands. The most important thing is where you are going and what you are doing, not who's with you when it happens.

And if anybody does point at you and laugh in a restaurant, just throw some food at them.

 

[Lenc324]

WillCad I will keep that all in mind while I'm dining alone. Thanks.

 

[Glendamax]

I'm Back from my first solo trip! It was great! And I had NO PROBLEM eating alone! So go and have fun!