Getting tempted to go solo

[stealthnet]

I'm a 24 year old single guy... Never vacationed by myself before... Lately, I've been putting in long hours at work and want to take a vacation. My friends are all broke or already have vacation plans with their families... I have some vacation time to use and I don't want to 'waste' it by staying at home. With the latest resort codes released for September I am thinking of doing a split stay; I can spend 5 nights at POP plus 3 nights at AKL for $850 with all taxes included. With food, airfare, and tickets it would be about $1.5-1.8k, which I can afford. While I have been to WDW a few times, I have never stayed at one of their resorts.

Part of me is holding back because it's kind've embarassing to tell your family that you're going alone on a vacation, and there's the whole aspect of not having someone to share it with.... but then I'm thinking that I only live once... and to not let opportunities pass me by. Plus it would be kind've cool to see the parks alone and do things on a whim. Any comments? Any single Disney women want to meet up if I do go?

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

GO FOR IT!!! i would love to go alone some time!!! it could be your last chance..or you may not do it and then suddenly get strapped down and end up like me thinking.....what if i had......ya know? have fun and write a FABulous trip report!!

 

[djblu883]

GO FOR IT! Life is too short to live it just waiting around for someone to join you...seems we are all so busy just making life that we have little time for enjoying all we work so hard for!!! AND who knows what may be around the corner, illness at worst...or a single Disney Princess just waiting for a nice Prince like you to arrive!!! Try Dismates...you may find a match to meet you down there....Have a Magical Vacation solo or with....

 

[travelin' tigger]

Part of me is holding back because it's kind've embarassing to tell your family that you're going alone on a vacation, and there's the whole aspect of not having someone to share it with.... but then I'm thinking that I only live once... and to not let opportunities pass me by. Plus it would be kind've cool to see the parks alone and do things on a whim. Any comments? Any single Disney women want to meet up if I do go?

I've done a few solo trips to WDW and LOVED every one of them. My first trip back to WDW in 2001 was solo at the parks (visited bro who lives in FL 1st) and it was wonderful. And yes, there were times I wanted someone to share stuff with, but I was able to do everything I wanted - sleep late, ride RnR 5x in a row, eat when and where I desired, etc. Also I've made alot of friends thru DIS and try to meet up with people if possible while there.

Hope this helps with your decision!!!

 

[Tink901]

Going to WDW solo is a great time!! You can do what you want whenever you want. I've gone solo many times, I always end up meeting people there. That is why I invested in a annual pass. I find myself needing a Disney fix every 8-12 weeks even if its only a long weekend.

I agree with djblu you never know who you may meet. I also have joined Dismates and have meant alot of great people on that site. There is a nightly chat starting at about 9:00pm EST.

 

[hollyberry16]

You know what you could do? You could go onto the college forums, and see if there's going to be anyone down there and you could meet up at certain times. 21 isn't too young is it?

Anyway, that way you could do your own thing during the day, but still have maybe a few friends to go to the bar with...or meet up with to do some rides, get pictures with etc. Best of both worlds.

(If you didn't have your heart set on DW...you could always do a tour somewhere...there are some great 18-35 tours for under that all over North America)

 

[spiceycat]

go!

especially if work has been bad - that was and is my excuse.....

my trips to WDW kept me alive and functioning while I do college and worked full time - so no time off - except for school breaks - then I went to WDW....

all good times!

have a great time!

 

[Cool-Beans]

Go! You can do what you want, when you want, if you want. You can ride Haunted Mansion three times in a row, stay in a store for an hour, lay at the pool, sleep in - whatever!

Go and have fun!

 

[Luvchefmic]

Just don't make it....if only, I have to agree with the other posters and voice my encouragement, I'm 51 y/o soon to be 52....kids are grown and DH is Disneyed Out..... his idea of vacation is a Law & Order marathon I have been going solo (plus canine friend who "vacations" at the WDW kennels, 2x's a year...you meet the best people, guests and CMs, Go for It and have a great time,

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Besides...you never know. One of your friends might suddenly come up with enough money to go with you.

 

[grumpy.uncle]

GO,GO,GO. You can make the trip whatever you want it to be. Having read lots of TR on the DIS, I've found that most people find the POP resort very noisy w/lots of children. If this is not to your liking, you might opt for a different resort. I know you will love the AKL; it is beautiful with stunning views, a great pool, and delicious restaurants. You might see if there is some other resort you could stay at besides POP. While at WDW, be sure to hit Jellyrolls @ the Boardwalk. I go there solo when I travel w/ my sister's family and I've had a blast. It's a fun piano bar that is normally packed every night. I believe Tuesday nites is WDW nite when CM's get a discount so the place is hopping w/ them. You will have a great time even if you just hang @ your resort and lounge by the pool. After all, it is WDW. Enjoy. Ed

 

[lyzziesmom]

I agree, definitely go. When in September are you thinking of going? I will be there the first 10 days at Pop. I'm single, but will be with my kids & my parents. Actually, a solo trip sounds fantastic when I think about spending 10 days trying to be the parent AND the child!

But seriously, don't let the "what if's" hold you back from doing something YOU want to do. And September is a great time to go, last year it was like I had the whole park to myself.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

If you are the type of person that can even THINK about it, you probably are the type that would love it. I'm about the same age (two years older), and my situation is similar : my family goes every other year or so and I go with them, but it's not enough for me; and all my friends want to go to Vegas or the Bahamas (um, 3-5K to sit on a beach for a week? my good God).

Don't base your decision on what your family/friends/etc. might think. Every 3rd trip or so I take is a week solo, and at first I got those "huh?" looks too. But then they saw how much fun I had, and got to share in it as I'd call my mom from Cinderella Castle and say, "Guess where I am?", or call my best friend on her lunch break at work and they hear what a great time I'm having, and I haven't had any weird questions since. Now they just say, "So when are you going again?" LOL.

Going solo isn't for some people. It is a blessing for me when I get to go, as I'm not worrying about everyone else having a good time, and I can ride the TTA five times without getting off if I want, or I can just sit on a bench for a half hour and enjoy the atmosphere. As I said, if you can even consider it, then I'd say go for it.

I'm 86 days out on my next solo trip, and I haven't been solo in two years...I'm counting the seconds until I have a week at WDW with not a thought in the world besides "What do I want to do next?"

It's a great feeling.

Good luck! (And check out my trip report in my .sig if you want a taste of what a solo experience can be like!)

NED

 

[HawkeyeThad]

Hey stealth, I'm a 28 year old guy, and I'm leaving on Wednesday for a 10 day trip to Florida. A friend from college is getting married in Tampa next Saturday, so I figured that if I'm that close, I had to go to WDW. I spent a couple of solo days at the parks in January, and had a great time. Sure, it would be great if some of my friends were going, but I know that I'm going to have a great time anyway. I say go for it! Who cares what anyone thinks? If you need a vacation and this is what you want to do, then do it.

 

[Kaliet]

I say go for it! I am going solo in March and it will also be my very first time in the world and I am so looking forward to it.
Go have a wonderful time and I look forward to reading your trip report.

 

[Terk-1]

Having gone to WDW solo 4 times (with a 5th trip coming up later this year and a 6th one planned for next year), I can definitely recommend it as a solo vacation. I take one real vacation each year and it's usually to WDW. I am not embarrased to tell the family I'm heading to Florida for vacation. If they want to go, great. If not, then I go solo. Don't get me wrong. I really enjoy going down with family, but I love going solo too. It's a great sense of freedom. You get to go where you want, when you want. You can dine where and when you want. You can get to a park early or stay late. You can ride an attraction 20 times or skip it all together. You get to do WDW the way you want to. Some may say it sounds selfish or you'll be lonely. I don't think that way. I think if I've worked hard all year and this is where I want to spend my vacation, that great for me. I'm a avid reader, so I always have a book with me. This helps pass the time waiting for a parade or show to start, but also takes any awkwardness of dining alone. Also, speaking of dining, when you go solo, you can dine at the places you've always wanted to, but could not due to others not wanting to or not liking the menu, etc. I find myself dining at alot more table service restaurants when I go solo, then when I go with family.

I say go for it. Relax and have a great time!!

 

[tinkerbell87512]

Just wanted to add my $0.02! Im 19 and i just went on my first solo trip this past june! IT was so much fun and yes i did miss sharing the experience with someone at times but honestly you will have an awesome time solo. My parents didnt like the idea too much of me going by myself but they figured it was prob. the safest vacation i could go on solo. Plus i've been to disney before so i know how the buses work and i know where most everything is.

The thing for me is no one wanted to go with me. (they dont have that disney fever like i do haha). But i thought long and hard about going solo and i realized that I'm only young once and if i wanted to do i was just going to go and do it! Im not going to let my life pass me by missing out on stuff because i dont have anyone to do it with. I say do it! I wish i was going the same time as you because we could of met up for a meal or something.

But like i said dont think about it too much and just go for it! You deserve a vacation and why not have fun?! I'm already planning another solo trip for next may! I also have a trip report if you would like to read that.


I would love to hear what you decide and if you go let me know how it was!!!!