Help Me Decide- Cruise vs Solo Trip

[dreamer17555]

Hi all. I am having a hard time deciding. My birthday is coming up in early November and my family decided it would be healthy for me to take a solo trip to WDW. I had my daughter at 18 and have never really been anywhere on my own without my family and everyone thought this would be wonderful and healthy and I would love it.

My DD is a CP and she got me a pretty good rate a AKL which I have always wanted to stay at but as it is getting closer I am getting more and more anxious. I am uncomfortable with the money being spent on just me (where as I could easily justify it if I had some family along). And things like my DD needing to wake up early to get me in the parks when she works evenings... plus honestly not knowing what to do with myself solo. I really have never been away from my family much but maybe it's something I need to practice? I would have 3 days in the park, reservations already made.

For almost the same price I could take my son, 15, on a 3 night Wish cruise over my birthday. I have heard mixed reviews on the Wish but it would be nice to see the new shows and try the new restaurants and would give us a chance to test out an oceanview stateroom and make sure it will be okay for our 14 night PC cruise already booked for next year (we normally stay with a balcony). He is also homeschooled and tends to hang out non stop at the teen club as he miss his peers which will give me a lot of solo time to do things like trivia on my own.

What do you think? Try the solo trip? Go for the cruise? Neither?

 

[Marthasor]

Hi all. I am having a hard time deciding. My birthday is coming up in early November and my family decided it would be healthy for me to take a solo trip to WDW. I had my daughter at 18 and have never really been anywhere on my own without my family and everyone thought this would be wonderful and healthy and I would love it.

My DD is a CP and she got me a pretty good rate a AKL which I have always wanted to stay at but as it is getting closer I am getting more and more anxious. I am uncomfortable with the money being spent on just me (where as I could easily justify it if I had some family along). And things like my DD needing to wake up early to get me in the parks when she works evenings... plus honestly not knowing what to do with myself solo. I really have never been away from my family much but maybe it's something I need to practice? I would have 3 days in the park, reservations already made.

For almost the same price I could take my son, 15, on a 3 night Wish cruise over my birthday. I have heard mixed reviews on the Wish but it would be nice to see the new shows and try the new restaurants and would give us a chance to test out an oceanview stateroom and make sure it will be okay for our 14 night PC cruise already booked for next year (we normally stay with a balcony). He is also homeschooled and tends to hang out non stop at the teen club as he miss his peers which will give me a lot of solo time to do things like trivia on my own.

What do you think? Try the solo trip? Go for the cruise? Neither?

You will probably get a ton of different answers, but, here are my thoughts. I'm also a mom of a DS15. After years of taking DS to WDW (which is really my happy place and just a place the rest of my family tolerates), I was finally able to take a solo trip this past year. I thought it was going to be great - I would finally do everything I wanted to do in WDW without compromise. Well, that was true, but I found I just missed having my family or a friend with me. I did enjoy parts of it, but I don't think I would go alone again. I just sailed on the Wish a few weeks ago with a friend and we had a blast. I loved the new MDRs and it was fun exploring a new ship and doing all of the activities. I visited all of the kids clubs during open house times and thought how much DS15 would really enjoy the teen club which is right next to the Hero Zone, which he will love! So - next Wish trip will be with him. My vote would be to go on the Wish with your DS15. Adulthood is fast approaching for him and I don't know how many more trips we will be able to do together as post-HS/college fast approaches.

 

[Clarkson U]

First decision you have to make is do you want to go anywhere solo or is that just not in your nature and you really want to go somewhere with any other family member.

Once you decide that - you will have more clarity on your answer.

If you choose to go solo - keep what you have

If you choose to go with some family - in this case DS15 - then I would definitely do the wish. We have been off the wish 5 days now and I would definitely do that ship. It has lots of new stuff to see and explore and enjoy.

You won't go wrong either way - but really it comes down to do you want solo or not. No right or wrong decision but just your personal preference.

 

[Cheburashka]

My advice is for you to cruise with your son. And this is coming from a person who doesn't like the reports about the Wish. I would still sail her with my son in a heartbeat if I thought he could make the trip. I've taken my vacations solo for the past year and a half due to my son's chronic illness that currently keeps him homebound. My best memories in life are of traveling with him before his illness. Your son is 15. Pretty soon he will fly the coop. You'll have ample time later to vacation alone. Treasure this time with your son while you have it. Another way to frame it is to think about which trip you'd rather look at photos from 20 years from now: a solo trip, or a mother and son trip. That indicates which trip would be more meaningful.

 

[auntlynne]

(From a single woman, no kids, and have sailed solo.)

It’s a tough decision. Your family wants you to face the world alone, perhaps in preparation for your upcoming empty nest. But with Disney vacations tied to memories of visiting with your son, maybe a different experience would be better suited for that.

It really is a question of what do you want to do / what do you think will make you happy? Especially when celebrating a birthday.

WDW is completely doable for me as a solo. I never feel alone (how can you with the crowds?!). And I love the AKL but only spend one night there due to cost. (I won’t go to a park that day). This opportunity may not come again. And sounds like you will have your daughter nearby; perhaps a little time with her?

If your son is independent and going off to the clubs, this seems like the cruise would be a good transition trip. You get solo adult time, but also a dinner companion (that is the hardest aspect of traveling alone, I believe).

A big adventure, for sure. As for money being spent on just you - I’m guessing they are honoring you with this gift. It is okay to allow others to treat you. That’s a hard lesson for many.

Good luck with your choice. Hope you can be calm with your decision and enjoy your vacation. And Happy upcoming Birthday!

 

[dreamer17555]

Thank you for the advice everyone! I spoke to my DD tonight and told her I just wasn’t comfortable with a solo trip and she and everyone agrees I should take her brother on the Wish for my birthday.

My DD is 20 and we had plenty of adventures just the two of us when she was growing up so she was more than OK with her brother getting a chance to have some of the same.

The advice about spending time with them while I could really struck a chord with me. I have a lot of potential solo trips ahead of me in my life but not as many family trips. I’m not good at doing things on my own and I think my family recognizes that and wants me to develop myself beyond them but I think I’m going to hold on to trips with my kiddos as long as I can.

I will still get some solo time on the cruise. But I will also get some time to make great memories with my son. Thanks everyone!

 

[Towson Tiger]

Hi all. I am having a hard time deciding. My birthday is coming up in early November and my family decided it would be healthy for me to take a solo trip to WDW. I had my daughter at 18 and have never really been anywhere on my own without my family and everyone thought this would be wonderful and healthy and I would love it.

My DD is a CP and she got me a pretty good rate a AKL which I have always wanted to stay at but as it is getting closer I am getting more and more anxious. I am uncomfortable with the money being spent on just me (where as I could easily justify it if I had some family along). And things like my DD needing to wake up early to get me in the parks when she works evenings... plus honestly not knowing what to do with myself solo. I really have never been away from my family much but maybe it's something I need to practice? I would have 3 days in the park, reservations already made.

For almost the same price I could take my son, 15, on a 3 night Wish cruise over my birthday. I have heard mixed reviews on the Wish but it would be nice to see the new shows and try the new restaurants and would give us a chance to test out an oceanview stateroom and make sure it will be okay for our 14 night PC cruise already booked for next year (we normally stay with a balcony). He is also homeschooled and tends to hang out non stop at the teen club as he miss his peers which will give me a lot of solo time to do things like trivia on my own.

What do you think? Try the solo trip? Go for the cruise? Neither?

SOLO!
I am leaving on October 31st on a Disney cruise without my son! Wellness is so important for the mind.

 

[auntlynne]

Nice to hear your decision is sitting well with the family.

The world is a big adventure for those who can handle it. Best wishes as you move forward into a different phase of life. Tiny steps… and

Bon Voyage!

 

[Flying Fish]

which trip you'd rather look at photos from 20 years from now: a solo trip, or a mother and son trip. That indicates which trip would be more meaningful.

I know you have already decided, but I think this deserved repeating here. I am a big fan of both solo travel and traveling with someone, since I think one gains so much and such different stuff from each. This is just too true, though. Our kids are younger, but I already realize how this time is moving much too fast. With one already at Disney on a CP and the other already 15, you'll soon be thrust into solo travel whether you like it or not. A trip with laughs and memories with your son is worth more than anything you would get out of a solo trip to WDW in my opinion.

Plus, let's be honest, who would turn down on a birthday cruise?