I don't get it

[SurfinTX]

I think a common theme here is that when you Solo travel it really is a vacation for yourself. Do you need to blow off steam? Work is grinding you down? The people around you really getting on your nerves? Then take a solo trip. The freedom you feel doing what you want without worrying about anyones schedule but your own.

On my '07 trip we had four adults and one child with us giving me plenty of alone time to do what I liked. If I wanted to hang out with the group, fine. If I wanted to commando 3 parks in the morning (I did), fine. The freedom just washes over you. You become relaxed. You want to talk to total strangers and you know what? Mostly they will talk back sharing unique perspectives and experiences.

Now I wouldn't recommend taking an entire Disney trip alone. Eventually even the most hardened solo travelers will want to reach out and have a connection with loved ones, especially at Disney.

 

[izzys4]

Yeah, I guess after reading all of your responses, I could see myself going solo for a day or two but then I'd probably get too lonely. I am lucky that my DH loves Disney as much as I do. My kids do too actually even though my DS is getting older. Thanks for all of your feedback and maybe someday I'll do it myself!!

 

[goofy4tink]

I love going to WDW with my dd...we've made many mother/daughter trips, as well as family trips with dh included. But, dh just doesn't love WDW the same way dd and I do. And now, with dd getting older, it's hard for her to miss school. So that means some trips without her. I like to head down to WDW every Dec, early in the month. Yes, there are a bunch of people I have come to know very well from these boards. And they go at that time as well. In fact, I have become very good friends with another DISer over the years, and we now travel to WDW together. Although we head there together, we seldom room together (well, we are on our cruise in Dec, but that's it), we get our own rooms, sometimes at different resorts. We tend to meet up together at least once a day...we do stuff as a group, and like to enjoy meals together.
But, it's really nice to just amble about the park, at your own pace, stopping and doing exactly what you want to do, when you want to do it. I love being by myself in WDW. But, I know there are people I can hook up with if I want to.

 

[Straughn]

DH and I went to WDW at least twice a year. He thought WDW was a golf resort and rarely went with me to the parks. If he spent two half days with me in the parks, that was a lot. So I was very comfortable spending the days by myself. I quickly got spoiled being able to do what I wanted, when I wanted, for as long or as short of a time as I wanted. After DH passed away last year, I realized that if I wanted to travel, much of it would be as a solo traveler. I had done numerous business trips by myself, but never a vacation. I took a solo trip to Disney last January because I had some use or lose DVC points. As PP have pointed out, people "adopt" you. Families in line will invite me to sit with them in the rides. I got badly beaten by a six year old girl on Buzz Light Year. She volunteered to ride with me because "its no fun if you don't have someone to play the game with". There was an odd number of people in her family, so one of them would have been in a car by themself.

I enjoy TS meals for dinner. As a business traveler, I am used to eating alone in restaurants. Cast members come over and keep me company. People at the next table often strike up short conversations. Traveling solo to Disney is, in many ways, much better than traveling a lot of other places by oneself.

 

[Sehsun]

I used to go to the parks solo very frequently and enjoyed it a lot. I love that I can see the attractions I want to see and go on the rides I want to ride. I find that I can get on rides a little quicker (than if I were with other people) because when you're a party of 1, sometimes they need single riders to fill in spots. For example, on my last visit, I saw quite a few empty seats on the Space Mountain rockets as they left.

When I am waiting in line, I will sometimes engage in conversations with other guests. I also enjoy helping other guests if they need help finding something or have questions about the park (but I guess you can do that whether you are there by yourself or with others).

 

[MomofCKJ]

I am a very happily married mom of 3 kids (dd11, dd8 and ds6). DH is not a Disney loving guy at all. The kids do love it, though no one in the family loves it as much as me. I just took the kids in March when DH was on a work trip to Peru. In January DH is being dragged down for the Half Marathon. And I'm taking my oldest on a birthday trip just she and I next August.

However when I won a little dinero this Spring I was faced with the decision about taking a Solo Trip. DH told me to do what I wanted with the money, it was mine. I have always wanted to go alone. I thought about it for a good week and then booked.

So why am I going alone for 6 days/5 nights to Disney, leaving my family behind? Well I'll tell you and they are quite similar reasons to other ones I have read in this thread:

*To do and see what *I* want. Selfish? Perhaps, but I love all things Disney. I want to take my time through One Man's Dream. My kids don't. I want to go through the Animator's Studio more than once. My kids don't. I want to do more than run from ride to ride to ride. We tried to see Off Kilter last trip and about 46 seconds into my middle child was asking when we could leave, it was too loud. I want to see shows and really stop and smell the roses (hence the Tag!). I want to shop without having to keep an eye on little people and fear losing them in the crowd or having to buy something because they break it. I want to sit with a Grey Goose Slushie and just be.

*I want a trip free from the following:
Can you hold my pins?
I have to go to the bathroom.
Can I have my pins?
I have to go to the bathroom.
I'm hungry.
I have to go to the bathroom.
I'm tired.
I have to go to the bathroom.
Why do we have to go on this?
I have to go to the bathroom.
This ride is lame, no one wants to go on it but you.
I have to go to the bathroom.
My feet hurt.
I have to go to the bathroom.
How much longer till the bus comes?

I love my kids but I want to experience a whine free, not visiting every bathroom on property, not being the family pack mule kind of trip.

Do I feel guilty? I've worked through that. I have always been a HUGE fan of having time for your own interests. I don't think that becoming a Mom meant that I had to give up things for myself ALL the time. DH and I also make a huge effort to have regular date nights and couple time. We aren't *just* Mom and Dad. And I want my kids, especially my girls, to get that. I can do something fun for myself, it is OKAY. In fact I think it is healthy. Getting away for a few days will definately be relaxing and rejuvenating and for this Mama that is a good thing.

Will I be lonely? I don't think so. I'm an only child, I actually like being alone and truth be told I *need* alone time on a regular basis. I was never the Mom crying on the first day of school, no I'm the one doing the jig! LOL! I am meeting up a couple times with friends. Which is another cool thing. I never call my Orlando area friends when we are there as a family because I don't want to take my family's vacation time up with meeting up with my friends. This trip, it works! I am having dinner one night with a friend and touring Epcot another day with a friend. I am doing the KTTK tour one day. I don't think I'll have much time to be lonely. I have about 12 people I am Fairy Godmailer-ing for and during dinner at Kona I will spend my time writing out the post cards. I also have purchased the Lost Journals of Disney (or something to that effect) book and it has sort of treasure hunting/trivia kind of activities to do in each section of each park. It will be fun!

So sorry to go on and on but with my first solo trip ever just 10 days away I found this thread to be very interesting!


Allyson

 

[eliza61]

*To do and see what *I* want. Selfish? Perhaps, but I love all things Disney. I want to take my time through One Man's Dream. My kids don't. I want to go through the Animator's Studio more than once. My kids don't. I want to do more than run from ride to ride to ride. We tried to see Off Kilter last trip and about 46 seconds into my middle child was asking when we could leave, it was too loud. I want to see shows and really stop and smell the roses (hence the Tag!). I want to shop without having to keep an eye on little people and fear losing them in the crowd or having to buy something because they break it. I want to sit with a Grey Goose Slushie and just be.

*I want a trip free from the following:
Can you hold my pins?
I have to go to the bathroom.
Can I have my pins?
I have to go to the bathroom.
I'm hungry.
I have to go to the bathroom.
I'm tired.
I have to go to the bathroom.
Why do we have to go on this?
I have to go to the bathroom.
This ride is lame, no one wants to go on it but you.
I have to go to the bathroom.
My feet hurt.
I have to go to the bathroom.
How much longer till the bus comes?

I love my kids but I want to experience a whine free, not visiting every bathroom on property, not being the family pack mule kind of trip.

Do I feel guilty? I've worked through that. I have always been a HUGE fan of having time for your own interests. I don't think that becoming a Mom meant that I had to give up things for myself ALL the time. DH and I also make a huge effort to have regular date nights and couple time. We aren't *just* Mom and Dad. And I want my kids, especially my girls, to get that. I can do something fun for myself, it is OKAY. In fact I think it is healthy. Getting away for a few days will definately be relaxing and rejuvenating and for this Mama that is a good thing.




Allyson

See Allyson, I don't think it's selfish whatsoever. I'm willing to bet if you are a typical mom during the course of real life you probably take care of every one else (including Dh some times ) and flop into bed bone tired at the end of the day.
I always think it's funny that if a mom says she's taking time off and doing a spa weekend, no one bats an eye but if you say your taking time off and going to disney world, you're committing some mortal sin. Why?

Go, recharge and remember my favorite saying "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!"

 

[Stacybaeasm]

I LOVE going solo to Disney. In fact, I have a week long solo trip planned in 2 months. 7 days on my own in the parks AND MNSSHP! I'm driving people at work nuts with my countdown. It really is a relaxing way to do the parks and you can guarantee the trip is about you. I do whatever rides and shows I want, when I want. If I want to sit on the curb for an hour and a half to get a good seat for the parades, I do it and no one complains. I bring along my trip journal and a paperback to pass time but honestly, most of the time I people watch or talk to people around me. It's great! I'm pretty much a solo person though. Even at home, I go out to dinner and the movies alone and do all kinds of other things solo. Maybe that's why I'm comfortable with it. It's not for everyone, though so don't feel bad if you don't get it. I suggest trying it for part of your next trip. Take an hour or two on your own and see how it feels. That will give you some idea of whether you would like to do a day (or a week or a month) on your own!

 

[Del]

I would love to go alone, but have never voiced it aloud. To do what I want when I want. This next trip we are going to Epcot because Mom wants to go!!!!

 

[JUJU814]

I feel so guilty saying this, but I would LOVE to go solo to Disney! I am leaving in 13 days for a week with my family: hubby, dd 16, dd 4, and ds 6..and I can't wait. I do however love travelling alone and find it exhilerating!

I got a DD PIN for this fall and you all are making me want to take advantage of it..just for myself!

Hmmmm...wonder if hubby will let me go for a few days alone......

Julie

 

[Wild4Walt]

Yes, it's always nice to have someone to share the magic with, but not everyone has that. So, be brave and try it. It's not as lonely as it sounds.

An up point is that you are the sole schedule maker. You can do what you want, when you want to do it.

 

[kaffinito]

I enjoy going with my kids, well, with my youngest anyway. The oldest boy takes off as soon as we arrive and I only see him at meals and when he needs more money.

Some day my youngest won't want to tour with me either, so I will be solo during the day, and the first national bank at night. I will not mind going solo one bit. There are so many people to talk with and so much to see, I'm sure I will have a good time no matter what! I might just book deluxe resorts and spend all day reading or swimming. It's obviously a fantasy of mine to go solo!

 

[inkkognito]

I go alone all the time, and so does my DH. We live next door to WDW, and he works mornings while I am usually busy in the evening. Thus I often go early for a couple of hours and he often runs over at night for Fantasmic or Illuminations. It never feels strange or lonely. It gives me a chance to do all my favorite things, and I often have wonderful conversations with my fellow guests. Even before we lived here, DH did some solo Disney visits once when I was here for a conference. He insisted on tagging along and played all day while I worked. He likes to take photos and video, while I am very impatient about that, so he enjoyed being able to do it without my nagging.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

I am a very happily married mom of 3 kids (dd11, dd8 and ds6). DH is not a Disney loving guy at all. The kids do love it, though no one in the family loves it as much as me. I just took the kids in March when DH was on a work trip to Peru. In January DH is being dragged down for the Half Marathon. And I'm taking my oldest on a birthday trip just she and I next August.

However when I won a little dinero this Spring I was faced with the decision about taking a Solo Trip. DH told me to do what I wanted with the money, it was mine. I have always wanted to go alone. I thought about it for a good week and then booked.

So why am I going alone for 6 days/5 nights to Disney, leaving my family behind? Well I'll tell you and they are quite similar reasons to other ones I have read in this thread:

*To do and see what *I* want. Selfish? Perhaps, but I love all things Disney. I want to take my time through One Man's Dream. My kids don't. I want to go through the Animator's Studio more than once. My kids don't. I want to do more than run from ride to ride to ride. We tried to see Off Kilter last trip and about 46 seconds into my middle child was asking when we could leave, it was too loud. I want to see shows and really stop and smell the roses (hence the Tag!). I want to shop without having to keep an eye on little people and fear losing them in the crowd or having to buy something because they break it. I want to sit with a Grey Goose Slushie and just be.

*I want a trip free from the following:
Can you hold my pins?
I have to go to the bathroom.
Can I have my pins?
I have to go to the bathroom.
I'm hungry.
I have to go to the bathroom.
I'm tired.
I have to go to the bathroom.
Why do we have to go on this?
I have to go to the bathroom.
This ride is lame, no one wants to go on it but you.
I have to go to the bathroom.
My feet hurt.
I have to go to the bathroom.
How much longer till the bus comes?

I love my kids but I want to experience a whine free, not visiting every bathroom on property, not being the family pack mule kind of trip.

Do I feel guilty? I've worked through that. I have always been a HUGE fan of having time for your own interests. I don't think that becoming a Mom meant that I had to give up things for myself ALL the time. DH and I also make a huge effort to have regular date nights and couple time. We aren't *just* Mom and Dad. And I want my kids, especially my girls, to get that. I can do something fun for myself, it is OKAY. In fact I think it is healthy. Getting away for a few days will definately be relaxing and rejuvenating and for this Mama that is a good thing.

Will I be lonely? I don't think so. I'm an only child, I actually like being alone and truth be told I *need* alone time on a regular basis. I was never the Mom crying on the first day of school, no I'm the one doing the jig! LOL! I am meeting up a couple times with friends. Which is another cool thing. I never call my Orlando area friends when we are there as a family because I don't want to take my family's vacation time up with meeting up with my friends. This trip, it works! I am having dinner one night with a friend and touring Epcot another day with a friend. I am doing the KTTK tour one day. I don't think I'll have much time to be lonely. I have about 12 people I am Fairy Godmailer-ing for and during dinner at Kona I will spend my time writing out the post cards. I also have purchased the Lost Journals of Disney (or something to that effect) book and it has sort of treasure hunting/trivia kind of activities to do in each section of each park. It will be fun!

So sorry to go on and on but with my first solo trip ever just 10 days away I found this thread to be very interesting!


Allyson

ITA with all of your reasons for going solo, very well put!

You will have a fantastic time enjoying the roses!

 

[Missin'Disney]

Allyson- your trip sounds heavenly

I wish you the best on your 1st solo trip and many who can't get away from their mommy-duties will be living vicariously through you! (including me!)

Have a great time and let us know how it went when you return to reality!

 

[jordancej]

Another soloist here!!!

I LOVE going solo!!! I'm one of the folks who doesnt have anyone to go with... so why sit at home just cause no one can go with me!! Went the first couple times to WDW with mom, sister and nieces... the third time to WDW... no one could go... so i said "What the heck... i'll go by myself"... and off i went... since i was already familiar with the parks and the transportation... it was a no brainer!! That trip was a total blast... was able to attend MNSSHP 2 times in a row... and i only had to ask myself where i wanted to go! hehe... then i just went this year to celebrate my 40th bday.... and yes.... i celebrated my b-day by myself!! Heck i was in the happiest place in the world!! This was my longest stay.... 6 nights, 7 days. On both of my trips i did the dining plan and had table dinners.... that part doesnt bother me cause i do it all the time in my home town... i just bring a notebook to jot stuff down on. This last trip, i was able to talk to people from all over the world.... it was great! Dont think i would of done that if i wasnt traveling alone.... Also, us soloist do have cell phones .... so if we are feeling lonely or want to share the magic... i just call my mom, sister or friends... and tell them what i'm up too... so really i guess its what your are comfortable with.... i'm divorced, no kids, and live alone... family and friends cant go as often as i do... and i'm not going to stay home!!!

 

[marivaid]

*I want a trip free from the following:
Can you hold my pins?
I have to go to the bathroom.
Can I have my pins?
I have to go to the bathroom.
I'm hungry.
I have to go to the bathroom.
I'm tired.
I have to go to the bathroom.
Why do we have to go on this?
I have to go to the bathroom.
This ride is lame, no one wants to go on it but you.
I have to go to the bathroom.
My feet hurt.
I have to go to the bathroom.
How much longer till the bus comes?

This was hilarious !!!!

I just came back from a trip with my mom and I'm already thinking about the next one. Somehow I'll have to squeeze a few days solo before the end of the year.. It's great to go with family (well most of the time) but you can do Disney in a very different way when you're solo.

HAVE A GREAT TRIP !

 

[bytheblood]

If nobody else wanted to go, I would go solo. The magic still exists if I am by myself or with my family. Actually, I have found that I have more magical times when I am alone or one-on-one with my husband or daughter.

 

[bumbershoot]

For anyone nervous about being alone, on your next family trip, take a few hours to go off by yourself. While one spouse goes back with the kids for a nap, you stay and do something fun! If the kids want to go go MK again, go off to your fave park, give the other spouse some time alone with the kidlets. If it's just a couple, take a little while to ride different things than the other is doing.

I knew I would be fine alone, as I was alone for so long and loved it, but on our December trip to Disneyland it started raining, and DS was miserable. So DH took him back to the hotel while I played in DCA by myself. Rode Grizzly River Rapids in the December rain at night, in a raft of 11 year old chess players who had just won a tournament. They were hilarious, and asked me to go on it again with them. I wandered alone, went on things I wanted to go on, and had a blast. Then I went back to the hotel room and hubby went back, but he didn't have as much of a blast; he's too sappy and kept avoiding things (like fantasmic) b/c he didn't want to see them without me. I am NOT like that; when I went on my solo trip in January, I saw the Electrical Parade and am happy to have done so! I wish hubby had watched F, that way we would know if it's worth scheduling a trip during the weekends or busier season to see it!


Anyway, for those who are nervous, take some practice solo time on your next family trip.

 

[MissMichelle]

I hate being in a hotel/sleeping alone...but the idea of Disney alone sounds AWESOME...single rider lines (wooohooo) every chance, slowing down to take more in, speeding up and not feeling like dragging someone else...ahhhhhh how nice...but I dont like eating alone thats for sure.