Hidden gems?

[DISfam2401]

I pulled the plug and will be doing my first solo trip March 29 - April 1st! I'm so excited. As a (mostly) stay at home mom to 2 young kids, I feel extremely guilty but I really need some alone time. I love Disney and feel like it's the perfect place for my first solo trip because I'm familiar with it and don't have to deal with "the real world" very much.

I really only have 2 full park days. It's during Flower and Garden so the first day I plan to RD AK during EMH to hit up Pandora and a couple of other rides then head to Epcot (possibly after a nap) to explore the Festival stuff and have dinner at the various stations. The next day I think I'll just do MK (with the option to hop back to Epcot if I want to do more stuff there.... really meaning eat more food With 2 young kids I'm pretty familiar with MK, but are there any hidden gems or adult-centered things you recommend? I'm looking forward to hitting up Splash Mountain and 7DMT which we usually have to rider switch on and often don't bother. I may check out Hall of Presidents and the Carousel of Progress since we've never set foot in either. Besides rides (which besides those, I can take or leave) what are your go-tos on a solo trip? Any particular places you like to just hang out and people watch? I have a dinner res at Kona Cafe so I might hang out at the Poly for a bit around then with a drink. If I were to go to Trader Sam's but was wondering... do people get hit on at Disney? As a happily married late 30's female, I just don't want to deal with a "bar scene" but would like a comfortable place to sit with a drink and people watch and relax.

Any other advice for a first solo trip? March can't come soon enough....

 

[Rach3975]

On our most recent trip, there was a glorious 45-minutes that DH took the kids to a show while I went by myself to ask a few questions at Guest Services. That only took a few minutes, so I had a great time walking around taking photos the rest of the time. When we're all together, my photos are mostly of us or of classic views that I can snap quickly, like the front of the castle. It was fun to walk around the castle looking for good spot to take a photo with the reflection in the water, take photos of some of the details on main street, etc.

I'll be checking back here to see if anyone else has any good suggestions for you. We're doing our first kid-free trip in November, and I'm sure there's a lot I've never paid attention to because it didn't interest my kids.

 

[siren0119]

We took our first no-kids trip this past September, it was GLORIOUS. My biggest piece of advice is this:

Give yourself permission to enjoy it on YOUR terms.

Seriously, the first day we were there I simultaneously felt guilty about being there without the kids, and adrift because I didn't have to manage someone ELSE's good time for a change! It took a bit for me to allow myself to do what I wanted, when I wanted and be OK with it. Once I let all that go, it was a whole new way to experience Disney. we didn't plan much in terms of FP or ADRs, we just let the wind take us and it was amazing.

Have a wonderful time!!!

 

[Communicore1991]

Any particular places you like to just hang out and people watch?

Congratulations on a well deserved solo trip! I normally go with my family but took a solo trip of my own a few years ago. I'm a big fan of the resorts even more so than the parks and I find it is great for people watching. Instead of Trader Sam's, you might want to get a Dole Whip from the Pineapple Linai (I get just the soft serve and ask for a Dole Whip cup and turn the soft serve upside down in it so I don't need to rush eating it) and sit in the comfy chairs in the lobby.

Or take a walk around the grounds of the Wilderness Lodge and end up at the Geyser Point for food/beverages if the weather's nice.

Within the parks definitely take advantage of some of the shows like Hall of Presidents and Carousel of Progress, as well as Spaceship Earth in EPCOT. If I think of any other suggestions, I'll post it or PM you. Enjoy the countdown and more importantly, your trip!

 

[com_op_2000]

If you want to try something outside the parks, that is still Disney:
Depending upon what you are into:
sports: golf, mini-golf, fishing, marathon, bowling, ESPN Club, WWS/ESPN Zone, etc
shopping: DS (DTD), area outlet malls, large scale malls
drinking: Jellyrolls, Raglan Road, monorail tour of resorts, walking tour of resorts in the Boardwalk area
movies: DS (DTD) 24 screen theater some with meals served by waiters
night clubbing: Jellyrolls, Atlantic Dance, Raglan Road, Citywalk
resort tours: monorail tour of resorts, Boardwalk around the lake tour of resorts, horse drawn tour of FWC, AKL/AKV
offsite: Gaylord Palms Resort, Citywalk, swamp tour
eating: Formal GF 5* Chef's Table @ V&As

 

[squeezle]

If I were to go to Trader Sam's but was wondering... do people get hit on at Disney? As a happily married late 30's female, I just don't want to deal with a "bar scene" but would like a comfortable place to sit with a drink and people watch and relax.

I took a solo trip earlier this year and went to Trader Sam's alone a couple of times. I sat at the community table inside and was able to enjoy myself and people watch - there was occasional polite chit-chat with other parties at the table, but all friendly conversations and I was never hit on or made to feel uncomfortable (I am married, too.) GO! It is so much fun in there!

 

[georgina]

Agree about Trader Sam's - I have gone a couple of times solo and sat at the community table. I think everyone else was in couples, most people are friendly and will chat with you. Not a traditional bar scene at all!

 

[Vern60]

I went on my first solo trip a few weeks back. I'm married with three kids, but had an airline ticket I needed to use and a park ticket so went alone. It was absolutely fantastic, a whole different perspective. I loved riding the People mover in MK as well as Jingle cruise and many others. In Epcot I really enjoyed space ship earth, soarin and Living with the Land.
I found myself listening to background music I hardly realized existed before, or looking at Christmas window decorations ... so much to see I never really paid much attention to before. I'm sure you'll have a great time. And, if you have a favorite ride, no one complains if you ride it two, three or more times