How many days for a solo trip to DW

[jessica289]

Hello,


I am thinking about doing a solo trip to Disney World in September. I am a little concerned on how many days should I book? What resort should I stay at? Should I do a split stay?

Also I am from Iowa so I have to fly but I am trying to keep my budget at 3,000 for the entire trip. Do you think that's possible to do and stay at a nice resort?

I'll take any advice

 

[Sweettears]

I like to do 4 days. I usually fly in the night before my first day in the parks. A split stay will certainly help with the cost. I'll usually spend the first night and maybe one more in a moderate and then switch to a deluxe. The BWI, BC or YC work we'll for me as a solo as I spend a lot of time in Epcot.

 

[kwdw]

With a total budget of $3000 - depending upon the cost of your airfare, you can do ALOT!

So - price an airline ticket for stays that are 4-7 days - to give you a rough idea of the cost for that.

Then - use the Disney site for resort pricing at the time. There's a HUGE difference in price between a value and a deluxe - and well, your "nice" may be different than mine. I define "nice" as clean, well-kept, safe, and having the basic amenities of a hair dryer, some soap, refrigerator, ironing board, pool, and access to laundry facilities. Well - that's the definition of a value resort at Disney. Trust me, I LOVE deluxe resorts/DVC places - but those features are all "extras" to me.

For my solo trips, I'd frankly, rather stay LONGER, and hence at a cheaper resort, then blow all my money on the room. I don't spend that much time in the room. To me - it's 4 parks. At least one day per park. So - I need at least a 4 day trip - and that's if I arrive very early the first day and depart very late the last day. I think 4-6 days is good for a solo trip. If you are comfortable being alone longer - I love trips that start one Saturday and end the next Sunday - that's nine days! I've never done a solo that long.

Food budget is another consideration. I USUALLY either bring some breakfast foods and snacks with me in my suitcase (room for souvenirs!) or I get a delivery from one of the grocery delivery folks. I've done the first option for short trips in a value, and had delivery for a longer solo trip (5-6 days) where I was staying in a DVC resort (by renting points). I COULD eat at Disney and "be happy" for about $40 per day, and that's assuming refilling a water bottle, probably either all quick service or one "cheaper" table service per day. I can also eat at Disney for $200 a day if I do a character breakfast and a signature table service with alcohol on the same day.

So - you ask a "non-simple" question - you can easily do a solo trip for $3000 and have a great trip. But where you spend that money could vary ALOT.

 

[karly05]

I've done two solo trips so far. My first solo trip in 2012, I splurged on the Beach Club, because I'd stayed there before and knew I liked it. I had such a great time, I decided to go back this year, but this time I decided to save some money by staying at Port Orleans French Quarter. It was my first "non-deluxe" stay, but let me tell you, I really liked POFQ and would happily stay there any time. As a PP said, it depends on your definition of "nice," but POFQ is pretty and comfortable with recently refurbed rooms, and it has the advantage of being compact and easy to get around. For me, the big advantage of BC is the walk/boat options to Epcot and DHS, but my experience of the bus service at POFQ was fine. Personally, I would not do a split stay (unless I was there for at least 2 weeks with an unlimited budget ).

As for the length of stay: In 2012, I did a 5 night trip, so I had 4 full days plus an afternoon/evening on arrival day. This year, I extended by one night/day, so had 5 full days plus pm of arrival day - that was really perfect for me. I felt like I had time to do everything I wanted, even spent some time at DTD, started 2 mornings at DHS, 2 mornings at MK, 1 at AK, did what I wanted at Epcot during afternoon/evening hours (including Soarin' and Test Track).

A couple of tips on money: I don't do the Dining Plan, so don't need a Disney package. Thanks to advice from the Dis, I signed up for the free monthly newsletter from MouseSavers and have used their link to purchase discounted tickets from Undercover Tourist. I've booked Room Only reservations with my AAA member discount (I got 20% off POFQ this year), and Disney will often come out with Room Only discounts as well (got 35% off BC last year). I don't have numbers in front of me, but I know this year's trip came in under $2500 including plane tix. (I'm not from Iowa, but a similar distance to WDW.) I did 4 TS meals (including 1 signature), daily breakfast at the POFQ food court, and counter service for the rest.

General advice: Set your priorities, then go with the flow. If you are at MK and craving Epcot fish & chips for lunch, hop on the monorail and go for it! (Been there, done that.) Don't be shy about solo TS dining, and don't be shy about meeting characters. (I've preordered the PhotoPass CD both trips and been glad of it.) As everyone will tell you, the biggest joy of going solo is the freedom to do what you want when you want. I'm already thinking about when I can go back next year.

Oh, one more thing: I swear by the Park Hopper and wouldn't go without it. If you think you don't need it, however, that can save another bit of money.

 

[spiceycat]

how many days depends upon you

from 4 to 10 days. 4 days to give each park a day - although would give both epcot and mk 2 days.

where to stay?
well one of my solo trips was at Pop and it was wonderfully.

Pop is very well designed.

 

[sue Z]

in 2011 and this coming sept I did Tuesday to a Tuesday staying at POP with the Quick Service DP it was nice not worrying to have money for food as it was already paid for!

I like going for a week that way I don't have to rush at the parks and can spend as much time as I want in any one day at a park I do get park hoppers to break up my day!

 

[want2bminnie]

I am going solo in September also, and I will do 4 nights 5 days (unless I find some crazy discount then I may add a night or 2).
I don't mind the value resorts though because I do not spend that much time in the room.
What are your dates?

 

[jessica289]

Thank you for all the good advice. I like the idea of spending less on the room and more time in the parks. I may have to look into some of the moderate and value resorts. Are there any other moderate resorts or value that you guys would recommend? I've heard before(don't know if it's true) that the further the resort is from MK the bus schedules are hardly ever on time. Is this true? If it is which resorts did you find most convenient for traveling to parks?

 

[theworldneedscolor]

I am planning on a super budget trip in Dec. of 2014. I think I will get a red eye flight, so I will have 2 and 1/2 park days, and then one pool/DTD day with MVMCP in the evening. I'm just going on with a value. As long as it is safe, clean and comfy, I am happy.

It is the perfect quick trip for me!

 

[spiceycat]

older so need close stay in BLT for MK and Epcot

stay in BWV for Epcot and Studios

now in the values
love Pop Century - it has a lake. it and AOA are the only ones with a lake
a fairly good food court, arcade, pool bar

for moderates - like POFQ or POR - they are basically in the middle - close to Epcot, Studios, and MK. Love the food court at POR.

for deluxes - would go with a DVC resort - so you can rent a reservation from a DVC member or broker.

would go with BLT you can walk to the MK and monorail to Epcot, BCV you can walk to the Epcot (and boat to Studios), BWV you can walk to Studios or Epcot (and boat as well)

that say AKV is beautifully so is VWL.

problems (my opinion)
bwv/i has nothing inside the resort to eat -you must go out on the BW to eat.

VWL, BCV and BLT are all attached to their wdw resorts so excess to restaurants is alot eaiser. not to mention the gift shops, stores, arcades.

 

[ILGoofy]

I stay at All Star Movies solo in September every year. To me, the room is just for sleeping and showering purposes, so I see no sense in spending more money for a moderate or deluxe. I've never had a problem with buses at Movies. Never any problems at all, actually.

 

[kwdw]

For the values, I pick the cheapest at the time as they aren't that different in my opinion. For mods, I've only stayed at CSR and I loved the theming there. Plus I liked being a solo there because you see more solo adults there because its a conference location and conference goers are around. I don't love their food court though, and I was a long ways away from it, so it wasn't good for picking up a quick bite to eat. I also struggle with booking at mods because I've always managed to rent DVC points for less in a studio than the rate at a mod. Cheapest is values... And now that they have wifi and"chillers"... They are good enough.

 

[Couchy]

Think about the Swan and Dolphin . You would be in the Epcot Resort area with the ability to walk to Epcot and DHS not to mention the many dining options in the area. It tends to be priced more like a moderate even with the resort fee, but more a deluxe feel. The pool area is beautiful as well

 

[boreas154]

I stay at All Star Movies solo in September every year. To me, the room is just for sleeping and showering purposes, so I see no sense in spending more money for a moderate or deluxe. I've never had a problem with buses at Movies. Never any problems at all, actually.

I'm with ya. Though I may actually be going a little more extreme. Planning a solo trip down the road, and decided just to set up a tent at the Fort. That cuts lodging by half yet again, so I have plenty of extra for food and souvenirs

 

[Tink03477]

September is having Free Dining so look into that. It will be public knowledge tomorrow I believe. It's good from Sept. 2-25. I'd stay at the BC because I know it best and feel comfortable there. Also, I think you should book in some pool time too.
If you want to go for a moderate, I vote POR French Quarter, my favorite moderate for 2 reasons. It's small and has boats to DownTown Disney. It also has a nice piano bar if you want to go have a drink and listen to some jazz.

 

[Mikeypro]

I'll be going solo for 10 days and staying in Pop Century. You only get the quick service dining plan at Pop for free, but for $18 a day you can upgrade it. With Park Hopper and free dining for 10 days total cost is less than $2,000. Like some others have mentioned, I only use the room for shower and sleep, so Pop fits the bill perfectly. You are going at a great time of year: crowds are at their lowest levels of the year - book it now before the free dining rooms fill up!

 

[karly05]

Thank you for all the good advice. I like the idea of spending less on the room and more time in the parks. I may have to look into some of the moderate and value resorts. Are there any other moderate resorts or value that you guys would recommend? I've heard before(don't know if it's true) that the further the resort is from MK the bus schedules are hardly ever on time. Is this true? If it is which resorts did you find most convenient for traveling to parks?

There's not really a bus "schedule," as far as I know. You just wait for a bus to show up, and it's usually no more than 20 minutes. My experience with POFQ was good. Especially during the "morning rush," there seemed to be plenty of buses coming frequently. I know one day I just missed a MK bus, and not 5 minutes later another one came. Sometimes at POFQ the bus will also make stops at POR, but it seemed to be more common at "off hours" (middle of the day/afternoon) when there were fewer people on the bus anyway.

Someone mentioned Swan & Dolphin - you do get the great Epcot/DHS location with those, but be aware that you cannot use Magical Express (the bus service back and forth to the airport) there. For me, that's a dealbreaker, but if you are renting a car or don't mind booking your own towncar/cab/shuttle, it's probably worth a look.