how inexpensive can 1 person do a 5day trip/ ever gone alone?

[Tiggeroo]

I can't believe it but I"m actually thinking of taking a solo trip to disney. I haven't been for 4 years. I've been and still am putting all the kids thru hs. Every time I try to plan a trip somebody has a sports event or an importang band thing, etc. Now I'm seeing value lodging going for 55. a night so I"m wondering...
How cheap do you think I could do this by myself for 5 nights, including 2 days at univ. I haven't seen most of their new stuff. I can eat super cheap, breakfast in room, snacks and drinks in a fanny pack, counter for most dinners. It seems super extravagant to spend tons of money on a solo trip so I'm trying to figure out just how cheap I could do it.
If you've gone by yourself what was it like? Did you go swim in the pools alone? Did it seem strange getting on a ride by yourself? Any thoughts?

 

[vernon]

Hotel rooms can be snagged pretty cheap if you don't mind going off site. Through hotwire, I just booked a couple of nights at La Quinta lakeside at $45 a night ( inc tax) . There were some hotels cheaper, but it's a 2.5 * and for what I'm looking for is adiquate. You can get similar rooms along I-Drive for a similar cost. Depending if you're planning on having a car it might be a better idea to book I-Drive where you can use the I Drive trolley bus service for USF and it's easy enough to get transport to Disney from that area.

I'll have a couple of spare days on my own as soon to be DW Jana can't get as much time off as I'll have. I plan to spend the time playing golf . I did spend a lot of time recently travelling alone ( not Disney) and when you're eating alone it rather takes the fun out of eating in nice restaurants so I tended to eat pretty cheap anyway. I've never had a problem spending time around a pool on my own with a decent book. I don't think I'd have problems in Epcot, AK or SW on my own but I'm not so sure I could carry it off in MK . Did you think of contacting the "singles board" on this site, I think it's more of a place to buddy up with someone in a similar situation as opposed to a " dating service". Even for a few hours ( or meet for lunch/diner) it might help to break up the trip a little to have someone to talk to and compare events. It would also give you a partner for some of the rides so neither of you feels quite so strange.

 

[Jasminesmommy]

Go in Dec during the Dis meet and you won't be alone.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Hi Tiggeroo, I am going to WDW alone for 3 days, 3 nights, and I can hardly wait. I got the $55 deal you spoke of, and since we usualy (the family) go to a moderate for a more elaborate pool, I am looking forward to hanging out at the value resort pool by myself. I agree with vernon, I won't be eating out elaborately by myself, fast food and counter service for me too. Who knows, I may even skip a meal because I am having so much fun! I was toying with the idea of going to Emeril's Tchoup Chop for lunch on my last day, but I would rather stay at WDW. Going on the rides by myself doesn't bother me, I do that to go on TT, which no one in my family has the guts to do except me.

Since I have only stayed in a hotel by myself two times in my life, that will be the "worst" part. But I plan on packing so much into each of my 3 days that I will pass out when my head hits the pillow.

Have a great time!!

 

[Annette_VA]

My 1st trip, dh was in conferences all day, so I did the parks alone. Not weird at all. Very liberating.

 

[Tiggeroo]

Nobody can say, I'm tire of being in Epcot. I can do IASW 3 times in a row if I want. I'm kind of warming to the idea. Universal might be a bit more difficult alone. I'm not a bg scary ride person. Is there any reason to do IOA if I"m not going to do any coasters?

 

[Elwood Blues]

I went on a solo trip back in April. Had a blast!!!!

I already had an AP and FF miles so that covered a big portion of the cost. In all I think I spent about $600-700 for 6 days/nights for everything (car,hotel, food, etc) but air/park tickets.

I'm on the fence of doing it again in late Oct because my AP runs out then and I still have enough FF miles for 3 (off peak) airline tickets.

 

[WDWHound]

Originally posted by Tiggeroo
I'm not a bg scary ride person. Is there any reason to do IOA if I"m not going to do any coasters?

IOA has lots of non-coaster rides:
Spiderman (still the best dark ride anywhere)
Cat In the Hat
One Fish Two Fish
Popeye and Bluto's Bilgerat Barges
Posidon's Fury
Dudley Dooright Ripsaw Falls (flume ride, one big drop)
Jurasic Park River Adventure (Boat Ride, one big drop)
Sinbad Show

 

[B'rer Karen]

I often do solo trips since I'm single and 99% of the people I know are not. Solo trips are great from the standpoint that you get to do what you want, when you want. I always feel very comfortable being solo at Disney because people are always friendly and I have no problem striking up a conversation with a stranger. You also get so much more done because you only stop when you need to stop and you don't spend a ton of time making decisions! I also eat at nice restaurants because A) I can't eat counter service for every meal for a week and B) just because I'm single shouldn't mean I can't have a nice meal. Now for a 5 day budget trip, yeah, counter service may be fine. But don't think that it would be weird to eat at a nice restaurant alone. I use to travel for business 5 days a week every week so I got really used to eating alone. Sometimes I would bring a book, sometimes I'd sit at the bar and talk to other single travellers or the bartender. It's really all in the attitude you take going into the trip.

That being said, as much as I love my solo trips, I really wish I had someone to share the magical moments with. That's the part that sucks. I do get to go with friends some time, and my mom will be with me for a couple of days, so that will be great. But I see all of you posting about watching your children light up upon meeting a character or watching the fireworks from the beach at the Poly with your SO and it makes my heart ache.

Sorry to veer off topic there. Anyway I think you can definitely do a solo trip pretty inexpensively. I wouldn't sacrifice and stay off site, though. For 55 a night I'd do the value resorts if I were you.

 

[arminnie]

I can be really bad about snacking and not eating real meals - both at WDW and at home. So I could easily not spend a lot of money on meals.

If I really wanted to save money - I would stay offsite at a place that provides a free breakfast. Most I've been to give you one of everything rather than having you pick out your own. I think this is done to prevent people from stocking up their rooms, but I find it is more than I want for breakfast so I save some of it.

I eat in the parks - late afternoon. And then have breakfast leftovers - cereal and milk for dinner when I get back. Of course there's some snacking like popcorn or a Mickey bar in there too.

Since you are not sharing a room that might be your biggest expense. That and park tickets. I have an AP so that's a one time a year thing for me.

My pass expires in October and I'm thinking about a quick trip early in the month. I have a trip planned for after the November election with some friends.

 

[Tiggeroo]

In all I think I spent about $600-700 for 6 days/nights for everything (car,hotel, food, etc) but air/park tickets.

So my budget of around #1200. might not be out of line. That's good to know. I do other things by myself like movies, occasional dinners when everybody is out, etc. So I'm not intimidated about doing those things alone. Just wondering if I can fill a week by myself. I guess going on the rides by myself seemed odd. You guys are encouraging though, since so many of you have done this.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Goodness, lots of DIS'ers go solo, check out the Solo board here. My trips since our family one in '99 have all been solo, (still working on Lady M to return to WDW and not only our other trips each year, LOL) and always lots of fun, lots to do. I make sure to meet up with others there and enjoy many days together with different folks. I also enjoy solo time there, just really taking it slow, easy, my pace. Check that solo board, send me a PM.

 

[Simba's Mom]

As you can see, there are lots of solos at WDW. And you never know if the person you see solo is there solo or just solo for the moment. Last non-solo trip, DH and I sat next to a man solo at Biergarten resturaunt. Soon we learned that the rest of his family ate lunch at Alfredo's, but he didn't want Italian food and they didn't want German. Solo trips are great-once you've gone once solo, you'll look forward to the next solo trip. That's why I've taken 6, with the 7th to come in May. Bet DH wishes he hadnt given me a "Mom's weekend" there in 1995-it's gotten costly! Every year now! Yes, please feel free to join us on the solo board, or PM me if you have any questions.

 

[LScot]

Tiggeroo,
I "sorta" did a solo trip in January. I did meet up with my folks and some of their friends from Dollywood. I had a blast though.
Staying at a value for that rate sounds great. It was a super cheap trip because I had an AP and got great airfare.
I end up riding by myself sometimes anyway when it is just the 3 of us. When Hunter was real small I'd always get her to ride with Daddy and I'd sit behind them. Meeting up with people can be fun also or just meeting them in line. I saw Ray Sharpton in May down there--he was meeting up with DIS friends. I hope you go for it. Disney seems to be fun no matter what!!
Are you thinking soon?

 

[Carl]

I always go solo. I DO like to meet other DISers while there, but never have been successful at that except in December.

 

[Poohbear123]

Here! Even if DH drives me, he goes home and I am alone, so yes I do it all the time. My next trip is going to cost me a little under 800.00 for 4 nights and 5 days! That includes transportation, food, lodging, and my Seasonal pass.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Originally posted by Poohbear123
Here! Even if DH drives me, he goes home and I am alone, so yes I do it all the time. My next trip is going to cost me a little under 800.00 for 4 nights and 5 days! That includes transportation, food, lodging, and my Seasonal pass.

Wow, door-to-door chauffuer service. That ain't bad at all..

 

[Tiggeroo]

Thanks for the encouragement guys. DH is all for it. He knows I've had a very busy/rough year. I'm going to check out the solo board too.

 

[ilovepcot]

I struck up a conversation with the sweetest little old man at EPCOT a few years back. He appeared to be in his 90's and was all alone. He told me he'd driven from Iowa to Florida just to visit WDW before he died. Said no one in his family could be persuaded to come along on the trip. He was having the time of his life and it made one feel good just to watch his face light up. Just goes to show.....we're all kids at heart.

 

[Pooh93]

He told me he'd driven from Iowa to Florida just to visit WDW before he died

Wow, that brought tears to my eyes.



I won't have the solo option for a few years, because kids are too small and enjoy it too much. Heck, I even suggested to dh that next trip, I could go down a couple days early with the girls, get settled and then he could join us. He gave me one of those looks like I had rocks in my head! So, I think they'd throw me out of this family if I tried a solo trip right now. Having said that, I would not hesitate to go alone to WDW. I am comfortable there and there are things I would like to see that they don't enjoy. I say GO FOR IT!! As others have said check the solo board or plan it around Discon and you won't be alone!!!