Last Solo trip had two bad guest encounters turn me off

[LivingLifeAndTraveling]

A ride in the MK crashed so the employees asked us to get out of line and choose a fast pass from the machine nearby. An employee called me to come swipe my card and pick which I did. She moved to the guest two kiosks away. Two women in their late twenties came back to the kiosk and began screaming at me because I used the kiosk and they lost the fast pass they were holding while checking with someone in the bathroom two rides away. It was so loud the employee came over. She told them she told me to do it and they needed to calm down. I completed my change and left but realized they were following me so I returned to the employee who called security. They told the women they would kick them out of the park if they didn't stop acting in a menacing way. I literally hopped on the train and left MK for the day.

I returned the next day and was directed to the front row on Pirates of the Caribbean. A grandma behind me began berating the employee for putting a solo rider in the front row when she had grandkids who never rode it before. He told her I was first. She then flipped out, saying her daughter told me to go ahead because she took a kid to the bathroom but they were back now and would have had the front row. She then asked me if the kids could sit with me. The employee stopped her and said they were riding with her or not at all. Also, he would call the manager if she couldn't settle down. Throughout the ride she made loud comments about how I stole their seat. I hopped off the ride and walked out as fast as I could while the grandma kept telling the kids to hurry up.

It was my fifth solo trip and the first four were uneventful. Both happened during the day at MK. I felt more unsafe than in Times Square alone. I am going back in the Spring but w onder if anyone has any advice to not look like an easy target.

 

[ThistleMae]

A ride in the MK crashed so the employees asked us to get out of line and choose a fast pass from the machine nearby. An employee called me to come swipe my card and pick which I did. She moved to the guest two kiosks away. Two women in their late twenties came back to the kiosk and began screaming at me because I used the kiosk and they lost the fast pass they were holding while checking with someone in the bathroom two rides away. It was so loud the employee came over. She told them she told me to do it and they needed to calm down. I completed my change and left but realized they were following me so I returned to the employee who called security. They told the women they would kick them out of the park if they didn't stop acting in a menacing way. I literally hopped on the train and left MK for the day.

I returned the next day and was directed to the front row on Pirates of the Caribbean. A grandma behind me began berating the employee for putting a solo rider in the front row when she had grandkids who never rode it before. He told her I was first. She then flipped out, saying her daughter told me to go ahead because she took a kid to the bathroom but they were back now and would have had the front row. She then asked me if the kids could sit with me. The employee stopped her and said they were riding with her or not at all. Also, he would call the manager if she couldn't settle down. Throughout the ride she made loud comments about how I stole their seat. I hopped off the ride and walked out as fast as I could while the grandma kept telling the kids to hurry up.

It was my fifth solo trip and the first four were uneventful. Both happened during the day at MK. I felt more unsafe than in Times Square alone. I am going back in the Spring but w onder if anyone has any advice to not look like an easy target.

Wow...just wow! I know there are some folks here and there that always make a big deal out of nothing, but the two girls following you...yikes! I think for the most part people are happy to be there and be on vacation. I'm glad to hear the CM's were right on top of things. From what you said here, I don't think you are the kind of person that will sour on solo travel. I love the fact that you are livin' life to the full, even if you are doing it alone. Do you always travel solo?

 

[brad813]

A ride in the MK crashed so the employees asked us to get out of line and choose a fast pass from the machine nearby. An employee called me to come swipe my card and pick which I did. She moved to the guest two kiosks away. Two women in their late twenties came back to the kiosk and began screaming at me because I used the kiosk and they lost the fast pass they were holding while checking with someone in the bathroom two rides away. It was so loud the employee came over. She told them she told me to do it and they needed to calm down. I completed my change and left but realized they were following me so I returned to the employee who called security. They told the women they would kick them out of the park if they didn't stop acting in a menacing way. I literally hopped on the train and left MK for the day.

I returned the next day and was directed to the front row on Pirates of the Caribbean. A grandma behind me began berating the employee for putting a solo rider in the front row when she had grandkids who never rode it before. He told her I was first. She then flipped out, saying her daughter told me to go ahead because she took a kid to the bathroom but they were back now and would have had the front row. She then asked me if the kids could sit with me. The employee stopped her and said they were riding with her or not at all. Also, he would call the manager if she couldn't settle down. Throughout the ride she made loud comments about how I stole their seat. I hopped off the ride and walked out as fast as I could while the grandma kept telling the kids to hurry up.

It was my fifth solo trip and the first four were uneventful. Both happened during the day at MK. I felt more unsafe than in Times Square alone. I am going back in the Spring but w onder if anyone has any advice to not look like an easy target.

Sadly, it’s is a hazard of travel that you sometimes run into people who feel entitled even though they wouldn’t at home. It’s a lot more prevalent on cruises. You just had a little bad luck this time, but the cast members did go above and beyond so you can look at it as a test of customer service, and they came through with flying colors.

 

[LivingLifeAndTraveling]

My husband is very disabled and he hate to leave the house so now, I travel solo or with our teen. I also signed up for a group music cruise four times though I knew no one. I learned to tell the waiter to sit me with adults only, my age.

 

[LivingLifeAndTraveling]

My first solo trip was on a religious group Cruise. There was a drunk man who yelled at anyone who sat near him and his girlfriend during a concert because she needed room to dance. I scooted over one seat and glared at him for a moment. When he yelled at a man bigger than him, I realized he is nuts and moved away.

The next incident happened when the waiter took me and an elderly couple to sit at a table with another elderly couple. The man yelled "They can't sit with me. I want to sit with the people I ate with last night." I stood up and the waiter tried to tell me I didn't have to move. I said "I know I don't "HAVE" to move but there is no way I am sitting with someone who acts like this on a CHRISTIAN cruise." The other couple couldn't understand why they couldn't sit there. The maitred finally came over and said to the rude man"The group you want to eat with came i and requested a table for six, not eight, from now on. They do not wish to have you join them at their table again." I laughed out loud and walked away.

 

[brad813]

My husband is very disabled and he hate to leave the house so now, I travel solo or with our teen. I also signed up for a group music cruise four times though I knew no one. I learned to tell the waiter to sit me with adults only, my age.

I can understand that.

 

[samsteele]

You've had some terrible luck but were smart to always involve the nearby CMs in these confrontations. Sadly, some family groups view single guests as less worthy citing the "we paid more money" mantra. You are just as entitled to your enjoyment of the parks and your vacation as anyone else. I have had similar experiences at WDW but also on European bus tours and when boarding air flights. It is not just a WDW problem but is alive and well in the outside world as well. If you otherwise enjoyed your WDW vacation, give it another go. You've seen some of the worst behaviour. Now go back and with any luck you will see much better. You certainly deserve much happier memories.

 

[brad813]

My first solo trip was on a religious group Cruise. There was a drunk man who yelled at anyone who sat near him and his girlfriend during a concert because she needed room to dance. I scooted over one seat and glared at him for a moment. When he yelled at a man bigger than him, I realized he is nuts and moved away.

The next incident happened when the waiter took me and an elderly couple to sit at a table with another elderly couple. The man yelled "They can't sit with me. I want to sit with the people I ate with last night." I stood up and the waiter tried to tell me I didn't have to move. I said "I know I don't "HAVE" to move but there is no way I am sitting with someone who acts like this on a CHRISTIAN cruise." The other couple couldn't understand why they couldn't sit there. The maitred finally came over and said to the rude man"The group you want to eat with came i and requested a table for six, not eight, from now on. They do not wish to have you join them at their table again." I laughed out loud and walked away.

Not Christian personally, but manners are important. Even when I cruise, and I do have one planned for early 2019, I would not put up with it. It’s important to feel safe while traveling.

 

[brad813]

You've had some terrible luck but were smart to always involve the nearby CMs in these confrontations. Sadly, some family groups view single guests as less worthy citing the "we paid more money" mantra. You are just as entitled to your enjoyment of the parks and your vacation as anyone else. I have had similar experiences at WDW but also on European bus tours and when boarding air flights. It is not just a WDW problem but is alive and well in the outside world as well. If you otherwise enjoyed your WDW vacation, give it another go. You've seen some of the worst behaviour. Now go back and with any luck you will see much better. You certainly deserve much happier memories.

Exactly, and in most types of travel solo travelers pay up to 200% of guests traveling with others, per person.

 

[LivingLifeAndTraveling]

I flew into Barbados alone to cruise and had the best luck. I arranged a private driver and I felt totally safe. There were only 7 other solo travelers, all divorced, but we had a meetup and began sitting together. We were laughing and married couples began joining us. We hired drivers with vans on each island and had a great time.

 

[LivingLifeAndTraveling]

As soon as I can walk long distances, I am going back to Disney. Has anyone done the Epcot Wine and Food? I went to the little one they had this year and there was not much to it.

 

[LivingLifeAndTraveling]

Is the food and wine festival a good time to go solo?

 

[kwdw]

I love the Food and Wine Festival solo! But you need to go on a weekday and start visiting booths early in the day. Don't go as a solo on the weekend!!!

I love it solo because I browse the kiosks listings before I go (I even print the menus to carry with me!) and I know I will get to pick what I want to try when I want to try. No negotiating with others. My boyfriend doesn't like paying for the food during the festival - so without him along - there's no guilt on my part!!!

The day of - I typically get to the park before the countries open - and I ride a couple of things in Future World. Then I start my slow crawl through the countries - getting food/drink as I want. This past year - I liked one dish so much - I ate it twice in one day - and went back over to get it a third time (had an AP - so it was literally a quick stop for an early lunch while I was really visiting another park that day!).

Basically - you need to want to try the food and drink choices. If that interest you - then yes its great solo!

 

[LivingLifeAndTraveling]

Ooh, I like the idea of menus ahead of time. I think the Hilton Bonnet Creek is much cheaper but I don't want to lose a lot of time traveling. I am leaning towards the Yacht club because I like the pool but the Beach club is so close to epcot.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

They are more likely to seat a party of one or two in the front row of POTC because there is a need to balance the weight in the boats, so the larger parties need to sit in middle rows.

Best advice to reduce your chances of being a target when solo is to be alert and aware of your surroundings at all times. Unfortunately even with that, it is still possible that someone will be mean.

You could also arrange to meet up with other Dis'ers during your trip, and then you wouldn't be solo the whole time.

 

[ThistleMae]

My husband is very disabled and he hate to leave the house so now, I travel solo or with our teen. I also signed up for a group music cruise four times though I knew no one. I learned to tell the waiter to sit me with adults only, my age.

I like you spunk! I will be a solo traveler these days, so looking to expand my horizons.

 

[ThistleMae]

As soon as I can walk long distances, I am going back to Disney. Has anyone done the Epcot Wine and Food? I went to the little one they had this year and there was not much to it.

If you are having trouble walking I suggest renting a ECV. I had to use one two years in a row because of my knees, it was a life saver. I had a great trip, which otherwise would have been torture. I have to say, that this year was my first year of walking again. I had a knee replacement and did great! Where there is a will there is a way...and it's so true.

 

[magical-me]

It’s horrible that people could be so mean in such a nice place.

I know I try to be extra courteous while I’m there. It makes me feel happier xD

The CMs in your case did a good job making sure you were treated well tho.

 

[StageTek]

Is the food and wine festival a good time to go solo?

It's a great time to go solo. I did it this past September.

I ate too much. No such thing as drinking too much...

 

[ludari]

I'm sorry to read about your solo experience but as someone who visits DLR solo every other week I too have had my run-ins with those type of visitors from time to time. I usually tell the person that is clearly having a bad day to take it up with a cast member (CM) if they are not happy and usually just walk away or ignore them. I definitely do not interact with them which is clearly what they want. On a few occasions I've had a CM apologize for the visitor and offer me fast passes. I would not let this experience ruin your future plans.