I don't get it

[Dawn68PA]

Wow. I really admire all the people who go solo. I think someday I may want to, but don't know if I really would. I love to share the specialness of WDW. I feel uncomfortable eating in a restaurant alone. I can totally see the magic of going alone. The total relaxation, no worries about doing anything. Dreamy.

 

[christa112]

I wouldn't go alone, nor would I go without my kids.

 

[moray26]

I go on a solo day trip to Disney at least once a week. Once in a while, I take my brother with me, but that usually turns out to be a disaster (ahem, loses cell phone, loses money, has an incident with a CM at France in Epcot). I LOVE going solo...I look forward to my little trip each week, it helps get me through work and school and all the other little humdrums in life. Nobody should ever be embarrassed to go solo, or to eat at the restaurants alone. You're there to have FUN, whether you have kids and a hubby or not.

 

[MickeyNicki]

I would love to go to WDW solo!

 

[fla4fun]

People go alone because even though you may be single, you want to go on vacation. People who are married and have families forget that not everyone does. Often single people have friends and family who only travel with their family. I mean really...just because you may be single doesnt mean you shouldn't travel and live life, even if you do it alone!

Exactly! I'm doing a two week solo trip in September, and then a 11 day solo trip in January.

It also doesn't help that I get over 4 weeks vacation each year, and most of the people I hang out with only get one or two weeks. So living here, they don't necessarily want to spend their one week of vacation here. I've also traveled overseas solo (for pleasure, not business) and had a great time. I think you need to be really comfortable with your own company to truly enjoy solo travel. It's extremely liberating, and it kind of spoils you. You don't realize how much of your vacation time you spend compromising with others until you don't have to anymore. You can do what you want, where you want, when you want, and how you want, and no whining or complaining from anyone about it.

I still vacation with family and friends, but I actually prefer the solo trips.

 

[lustergirl]

I just experienced a solo trip this past may- during the first week. I had a marvelous time and would love to go back. I rode what I wanted, got up when I wanted and didn't feel rushed. I got to sit at the bar at the ESPN Club finally without worrying about waiting for a table to open up. I did miss my family and spoke with them everyday but had a great time.

 

[eliza61]

great ..... but alone? I personally would feel too alone, know what I mean? Who has gone alone and why?
Disney is my happy place!!

First, are you comfortable going places by yourself? I know people who don't like to eat at restuarants by themselves.

I've gone to Disney alone by myself to recharge. First, I'm a busy working mon & wife. Most women put themselves last on our "to-do" list so some times it is wonderful to have a long weekend without kids and husbands. I love my Dh but some times I feel as if he is my extra "child"

I can enjoy Disney and not get fixated on "doing" every thing. When I go with the kids, it becomes more of a "must do the rides" type of vacation. by myself I can take 5 hours to stroll world showcase and not worry about how it's effecting some one else.

I do meet interesting & wonderful people.

It's just as magical as any ohter trip.

 

[triciadanna]

In summer of 05 my husband had a conference that was being held at the Downtown Disney Hilton. It was a nice time for us to get away just the two of us so my mom watched the kids for me. We were offered discounted tickets thru the conference so I went to the parks while he was in conferences during the day. We had been in 03 with a 4yr old and a 3 month old and while I was alone I was determined to walk thru everything in the Epcot World Showcase without having to worry about little hands touching/breaking anything. It was really nice to be able to take it all in, and yes I did do some of my favorite rides and I even got "adopted" by a few families after talking to some for a while.

 

[Bouncing4Tigger]

If I did not go Solo, I would not be going at all. My sister is one of those that say she has been there once, no need to go again. I am single and most of my friends say they can't afford to go or just have no interest in going. So I go solo and have a great time.

I don't get lonely at all. I find I talk to fellow guests in line, CM's and have even ended up hanging with a few of them for some part of the time in the park.

I have been going with a friend my past few trips and a friend is going with me for my trip next month. I am finding myself wanting to plan a solo trip in the future as I also enjoy going solo. Not that I don't enjoy going with a friend, I love those trips too

 

[tinkerbell87512]

I took my first solo trip when I was 19 and since then I've taken 3 more and most recently was this past May for my 21st birthday. My best friend her boyfriend and I went on a disney cruise then I went back to Disney while they went back home. Yes you get lonley sometimes but thats nothing a quick phone call home can't fix. Like others have said it's total freedom and single rider lines are such a perk. Also you don't have to snach a spot for fireworks hours ahead of time. It's much easier to find a spot as a single.

I'm not saying I don't love going to Disney with family or friends it's a totally different kind of trip when you go solo. My family and friends aren't into Disney as much as I am so in order to get my WDW fix I go solo. It's such a freeing independent experience.

 

[Suzie Zoo]

Disney is my happy place!!

It's mine too. So why should I have to stay away because I don't have anyone to go with?

Same reason why I go other places alone. What am I supposed to do? Sit home by myself all day?

 

[just4today]

I travel solo all the time. I've never been to WDW alone, but I've taken 3 other major trips this year by myself. I like having the freedom to do whatever I feel like doing, whenever I feel like doing it, without having to run it by anyone else. I like not having someone chastise me for spending too much (or little).

Sometimes it can feel a bit lonely, especially at night when other people are going out to dinner or shows. But I'm not much of a night-time partier anyway, so I just turn in early and spend my energies during the day being a tourist.

 

[MOmousefan]

Our last trip (2007) my daughter and her fiance wanted to spend some time time alone, so I had two nights and one morning to do what ever I wanted. It was real quality time for me to take hundreds of pictures and just wander. I stayed for a MK PM EMH and came back to the PoP around 2:00 AM ( See trip report below)
I am going back with son, daughter, and SIL in December and am looking forward to some alone time. They had planned on going to Pleasure Island several nights, but that isn' going to happen. I liked to the mix of solo and familty, but I want to try a complete solo one of these days.

 

[DVC-Don]

I went alone this past January. Wife could not get away, had an AP that expired in February, had a free round trip voucher with Southwest and some DVC points not commited, so I spent 4 days at WDW on my own. Very peaceful.

 

[Dolce27]

Some people dont have a choice. Its either go alone or dont go at all. Im a little more well off than the rest of my family and friends and can afford to go two or three times a year. I've even paid for friends and family members whole trips just to have someone to go, but I can't do that all the time. So Im left with either going to my favorite place in the whole world alone or not going at all. I haven't had to actually do it yet, but I know its going to happen soon as my friends and family aren't into Disney like I am, so they think Im crazy for going so much. This Nov. its just me and my dad and he wont be able to go all day long because of his age and stamina, so Im sure there are going to be times when I am forced to just go it alone. Im going to use it as a way to test the waters for a solo trip.

That's how I first began going solo. I had a trip booked and scheduled with a friend for May 2002 – we were both in college at the time. Late September 2001 she called me and said that she had mismanaged her money and could no longer afford to go. Her parents could help her out with the trip money, but she decided she didn’t like Disney after all. A second friend stepped in and everything was set … until a week before final payment was due. Suddenly the second friend refused to answer when I called and wouldn’t return my phone calls. I’d already paid for my ½ of the trip by that point – my friend had paid none. Finally she called to say that she hadn’t budgeted for the trip and didn’t have the money to pay for it. I had a decision to either cancel my trip last minute or go solo. I called Disney reservations and changed it to a solo trip. I went and I had a blast. I went on a second solo trip in 2006 and I have a big trip planned for this December that will be ½ solo and ½ with family.

I agree with fla4fun: it does spoil you.

 

[Doc CW]

I couldnt go alone it would drive me nuts not having somebody to talk to and I wouldnt have anybody to just hang out with I just couldnt do it so I commend you if you are able to do it

 

[Karnak]

Who has gone alone and why?

Two part question here. Who has gone alone?

I have. Several times.

My first visits to WDW were with family, sometimes with my children who are older and have children of their own, several visits with my spouse which were also very enjoyable, and one with my oldest son, his daughter, her husband, and their two daughters. (three generations on that trip. lol.)

While these have all been great trips, it occured to me that a solo visit might be fun as well. And after that first solo visit, I have made several drives down there alone, and have yet another planned for November of this year as well.

Second question was WHY?

That's easy too. Here are a few of the reasons a solo visit to WDW are so much fun.

No waiting for others to:

(1) decide what to do next
(2) take photos
(3) rush right by the street performer you would really like to watch
(4) take multiple rest room breaks
(5) mill around and study the map
(6) stop to trade pins
(7) not be interested in visiting the restaurant you would really like to try
(8) stop for every character that pops up
(9) stop to press coins in some silly machine
(10) walk super fast when you are really worn out
(11) stop at every gift shop in the park
(12) insist on taking a break at the resort in the middle of the day
(13) not being ready to go early in the morning
(14) stop to rest when you are ready to move on, &/or not wanting to stop when you need to rest
(15) not wanting to repeat an attraction that you would like to do again

I could go on listing, but you get the idea.

A solo trip is a great trip, at least for me it is. (But I'm still ready to go when family members are ready to go as well.)

Karnak

 

[KittyKitty]

I was trying to remember how many solo trips I've been on, I think about 4-5.
I can talk to complete strangers easily at WDW,especially in line. The last time, I met a wonderful family from England while waiting for AK to open up. We talked for awhile then went our separate ways.

The next day, I hear "Susan...Susan" while waiting for MK to open. The same family. So we decided to hang out together that day. So much fun! Of course the next day at Epcot I ran into them again!

We are still in contact 2 years later, the girls are growing up, and hopefully we will see each other again at WDW.


Going solo can create Magic

 

[roselark]

I am taking my first solo trip in November and I am super excited!! DH just is not into WDW like I am. He has made it clear that he does not want to go again until 2010 at the earliest! I simply cannot wait that long. I want to take one to two trips a year, which is why I bought into DVC. While DH is not into WDW much, he is completely supportive of my addiction...it was his idea that I go in Nov. I have a trip planned with DM in May 2009, but am having a hard time waiting even that long!

I will do what I want, when I want, and for as long as I want. Everyone in my family has different things they want to do/see and we don't always mesh. For example, DH doesn't care much for the shows and hates the parades (I love them!). DM loves to spend hours shopping (ugh! Boring!). On this trip, I don't have to make sure everyone else is having fun, don't have to worry about holding anyone back or them holding me back, etc.

 

[J'aime Paris]

I would love to do a solo trip, but dd would probably disown me if I did
Dd and I have gone without dh, and would do that again if he was unable to get away from work. Maybe when dd goes off to college.........