I don't understand, Please enlighten me

[JenK]

I want to start by saying I hope I don't offend anyone by my post.

Here is what I don't understand.....

I've read a lot of posts about people (straight and gay) that are in committed relationships or married where one partner goes to Disney for a solo trip and the other stays home to watch the kids or work.

My partner of 11 years and I have gone to Disney many times together. We have so much fun. I can't imagine enjoying myself alone at Disney. Without her by my side enjoying all the magic of Disney I think I would be a little sad and just wish she was there with me.

I think the magic of Disney is meant to be shared with family and friends. Don't get me wrong, I'm a very independent woman and can do things on my own. I just don't think Disney is one of the things I would do all by myself.

Thanks is advance for the responses!! Jen

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I am answering as a straight woman, married to the same man for 39 years, I could never go by myself. I love being in Disney with my husband, he loves it too.. For now, we go as a couple....while we are both together.. he is not well, I am not sure how I will feel about Disney without him..

 

[Sheribo]

I agree. I don't get it either but there must be something there. I can just see me enjoying a quiet drink on a patio or watching the fireworks and feeling so lonely. I'm going to check out the trip reports for a single traveler. Curious now.

 

[ConcKahuna]

Well, if your DP wasn't the type who liked Disney, would you rather not go at all, go with someone who is miserable, or go alone?

It's a tough choice sometimes, but there are many who would rather go alone than miss Disney or not have as good of a time

 

[jlewisinsyr]

This past year my partner and I went on vacation in Disney from September 6th through September 13. Then on September 27th he flew back down to Disney for a week and took his sister and brother and I stayed home.

I don't need to be around my partner 24/7, I trust him and although I love to experience things with him, sometimes life takes higher priority.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Some of my friends did a "girls" weekend where they all went to WDW and left the kids back at home with their husbands. I tried to figure out a way to go, but between the expenses and the schedules it was impossible. I think I would have had a good time.

I have talked about taking DS and doing a trip for just the 2 of us. I do think we would miss DH, but I think it would be a fun trip.

Would I book a trip by myself and go off to WDW when nobody else I knew was going to be there? No.

 

[kenaiwitch]

My brother and sister-in-law go on different vacations all the time. It just wouldn't feel right being on vacation without my DH he is my best friend and soul mate.

 

[JenK]

I get what all of you are saying. I went on a trip last summer with my Mom, Sister and other family members without my partner.

What I am asking about is a "solo" trip, which to my understanding is alone, all by yourself.

I just don't get it, I don't think I would enjoy myself.

Jen

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

I travel quite a bit for work, so am gone from home more than I like. I wouldn't want to take a holiday/vacation without my wife, but that's just me. If we don't want to go where the other wishes to, we simply keep picking places until we hit on one that we both want to visit!

Those that we don't agree on? Meh. Maybe one year we will. Too many places to do things together and being together is more of what it is for us.

I do know a woman who is in a conventional marriage who suddenly started traveling to WDW alone. Only she wasn't alone. Seems she was now spending her holiday time with her lover instead of her husband and children. Again, to each her/his own, but that was pretty tacky to me.

And NOT the point of this thread!

 

[OrlandoMike]

We travel together mostly. But on occasion I will travel alone. A year and a half ago I had a trip that took me to Pasadena. Do you think I'm gonna go all the way to California without going to Disneyland? NO! So I went one day by myself, had a blast! I did what I wanted to do, when I wanted to do it, and it was very nice.

I also go to a large amusement park in Ohio every year with a friend, not my partner. Why? My partner does not like coasters.

 

[MemoToMe]

Before I met Rob (rpmdfw), I lived in California and would make yearly trips out to WDW by myself with no qualms whatsoever. I've always been very comfortable doing things by myself, I think largely because I grew up an only child in a single-parent household for most of my childhood, that I learned to be able to entertain myself.

Now that we both live in the Orlando area, there have been times where I have had to go back to California for various reasons, and because of scheduling, Rob has not been able to join me. On those trips I've made the occasional day trip to Disneyland. Sure, I would love to have him there, but we realize that sometimes opportunities come up where one can have fun without the other, and we never hold it against each other. Now, of course we've done more things with each other, than without.

But, then, that's how we are, and other couples are different. I think each couple has to learn about what works best for them.

 

[rpmdfw]

Before I met Rob (rpmdfw), I lived in California and would make yearly trips out to WDW by myself with no qualms whatsoever. I've always been very comfortable doing things by myself, I think largely because I grew up an only child in a single-parent household for most of my childhood, that I learned to be able to entertain myself.

Now that we both live in the Orlando area, there have been times where I have had to go back to California for various reasons, and because of scheduling, Rob has not been able to join me. On those trips I've made the occasional day trip to Disneyland. Sure, I would love to have him there, but we realize that sometimes opportunities come up where one can have fun without the other, and we never hold it against each other. Now, of course we've done more things with each other, than without.

But, then, that's how we are, and other couples are different. I think each couple has to learn about what works best for them.

And I'll add on to this. At first, Scott would ask me, "Is it okay . . ." I told him that I would never begrudge him the chance to have fun because I wasn't able to be there. If the shoe is on the other foot, I know that I'm going to want to go and have fun while I've got the chance, so by no means do I have any right (or inclination) to be jealous if Scott has a chance for fun and takes it.

In the case of a couple where one partner doesn't like Disney and the other one does, it's very possible that the non-Disney partner understands how much their loved one loves it, and encourages them to go and have fun. Sort of saying "I give you permission to go and have fun without me. Go and do what you love so much, I won't make you give that up". To me that's a very healthy way to handle it, and no one ends up resenting the other for either forcing them to go, or forcing them not to go.

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

Corey and I have been together almost 10 years now. There is no doubt in my mind that we were meant to be together, even though we are very different creatures. She travels a lot for work and I stay here at home. We have 4 dogs and 3 cats, so someone has to be here or else we are spending $125 a day to board the dogs. I was an only child and my Dad and former step-mother were only children. I never was around my mother's side of the family & my cousins for more than a few weekends out of my life, so I learned to keep myself entertained.

This past year, Corey and I decided to make some changes to how we did vacations. I took a solo trip to WDW in April, she took a "girls weekend trip" to the mountains with her best buds from high school, and then we took a joint vacation to WDW together in December with my MIL. It was great!

Corey is the sleep in and do whatever the day dictates kind of traveler and when it comes to WDW, I am go go go! Corey hates crowds and I am fine, it just gives me more cute kids to watch and more people to chat with. Corey isn't much for chatting with strangers, but I love chatting with CM's and other guests. Corey is a picky eater, and I am more adventurous. Disney without Corey was still very magical and in some ways more so. There was a wonderful sense of freedom that I don't get much in my everyday life. In everyday life, there are lots of responsibilities and "have to's", but being at WDW solo, I didn't have to do anything. I didn't have to worry about what someone else wanted to do, needed to do, or should do in order to have a good time. I just did as I pleased. I ate when I was hungry. I called it a day when I was tired. I chatted with CM's and other guests as long as I wanted without having to worry about how uncomfortable my dear shy Corey was.

Basically, I had a blast, even when the crowds were I had so much fun that I am going back again in April. We are working on plans to go back together in October too. Oh, and she and her buds have a trip to Key West planned for late September. Solo vacations work for us.

 

[rosiep]

I get what all of you are saying. I went on a trip last summer with my Mom, Sister and other family members without my partner.

What I am asking about is a "solo" trip, which to my understanding is alone, all by yourself.

I just don't get it, I don't think I would enjoy myself.

Jen

I usually go to Disney with my adult daughter, last year I took my Mom and this year I had to cancel a trip planned for my husband and myself. When Mom and I went I arrived a day earlier than she did and I was thrilled to be at the park alone.
Someday I would like to go and have three days all to myself and then have someone join me. I'd love to being able to look in the shop windows, stop for a performance, or stake a place to watch a parade -all things I usually don't do when I go with someone...however, I think it would wear thin after three days and then I'd want someone to share the Magic with.

 

[wallyb]

I hate going anywhere alone.

I can't imagine dining alone.
It be a great diet plan for me.

 

[MonorailMan]

There were several instances where I spent time alone in October at WDW, and I've gotta say from my experience that people who are alone tend to get "special treatment", so you don't really feel like you're alone. Some big pluses are:

-The cast members tend to talk with you more
-You tend to get on rides with long waits a lot faster
(Tower of Terror had a 20-minute wait: I got on in 7. Rock 'N Roller Coaster had a 50 minute wait: I got on in 20.)

I'd say if you ever do have to go alone to go during an off season so that the CMs have more time to talk to you, if that happens to be your thing.

 

[rosiep]

I hate going anywhere alone.

I can't imagine dining alone.
It be a great diet plan for me.

You can bring me along in a suitcase anytime! Just please remember to feed me more often.

 

[RAPstar]

I almost always do everything alone. I'm used to it. It makes planning things easier.

 

[tazdev3225]

I went on a trip several years ago with my aunt and her GF. I left my DH at home with the kids. The trip was originally my aunt and me as she was separated from her GF and then they reconciled. It was a weird trip for me in many ways. I missed my family and felt like a third wheel at times. My aunt and her GF also like to spend more time at the hotel and I hit the parks at a full run. I didn't want to go at first but my DH actually encouraged me to do it. It actually turned out to be a great trip and being solo let me see many things that I had missed before with the family. DH takes trips solo for a weekend now and again and I am fine with it because I totally trust him.

 

[soulmates]

I guess it does depend on the couple. As for "Trusting", I don't think that has anything to do with it, at least for us. We simply prefer to be together on trips, and such. My DP travels to Dallas to see her family at least once a year without me. I understand they need time with just them, and I get that. That doesn't mean we don't miss eachother. The same w/ me, I do things w/ my family and because of work, she can't attend...again, we miss eachother. Of all the people in the world, she is the ONE person, I want to share everything with. As for Disney, this will be her FIRST trip there. She's always wanted to go, but past g/f's weren't interested. We've traveled everywhere together and as much as I wanted to do Disney first, I waited for her to suggest it. Now, our trip in Aug....I am BEYOND excited. I get to share my most happiest place on earth, with my Beloved. I guess we're just lucky, in that we BOTH enjoy spending time together and the thought of doing vacations alone, doesn't enter our minds. Our friends say, we have it bad, guess so!