Might be going solo! Advice needed!

[Lillian Gracey]

*WARNING* This will be a novel of a post!

So my plans for going to WDW with my boyfriend have gone out the window. While I wanted to go with him whether my mother liked it or not, I rather maintain a good relationship with my mother and decided not to go with him. My boyfriend is very understanding about it and said we could go another time. (I told him if we get engaged, we are going for an engagement trip. )

I told my mom she could come with me, but she said it depends on her work or school situation. She doesn't have a job right now, but is currently looking for one. She graduated this past spring and is a certified rad tech. She is debating whether to go back to school to do ultrasounds or not. She is also hoping to get this job at a high school where she would work on attendance (she did that at a middle school for 7 years before going back to school) so she has a good chance of getting called back.

I then decided that I might as well go solo. I only work part-time and am currently not going to school so I figured I can at least do a solo trip for a few days. My dates would be May 1st - 4th. My birthday is on the 2nd and I will be turning 21.

I am debating on a hotel. I would love to stay at POFQ. It's one of my dream hotels and I hear the buses are great because it doesn't make many stops, if at all. With the current room-only discount, it's only 20% off whereas POR is 25% (my second choice, but POFQ will have newly refurbished rooms). My third choice is ASMu because it's the cheapest. The only time I've been to WDW was January 2000 and I stayed at ASSports (I want to try something new), ASMo is more expensive because it only has preferred rooms during my stay and I don't have any interest in staying at POP.

There are a few flights I'm debating on because of time, but I think the most expensive one will be best for me ($221 round trip) because I get there early without any stops and I can leave late so I can get the most out of the parks because I have no clue when I'm going back.

I haven't been to WDW in 11 years and I am very nervous about going solo especially at my age. I'm not a local so I have no one nearby to go to if something bad happens. I would love some advice on what to do during my 4 days there. I plan on going to MK on the 1st (it's open til 2am), the 2nd (my birthday), Epcot on the 3rd and HS on the 4th. I have no desire to go to AK so I'm ok with skipping that park. I won't have park hoppers because I feel it's not worth having it for such a short trip. I also plan on going to Jelly Rolls because I hear it is so much fun! I have ADRs for California Grill on my birthday at 9:20pm so I can watch Wishes from there and Tokyo Dining on the 3rd at 6:00pm.

I would appreciate any advice on what to do while I'm there. What are the must-sees and must-dos? I don't really plan on drinking. Maybe a drink or two during the whole time I'm there, but other than that, I don't think I will. Especially without a companion. Thanks so much! I really hope all the adivce I get will make my trip extra-magical!

 

[FredQc]

I am debating on a hotel. I would love to stay at POFQ. It's one of my dream hotels and I hear the buses are great because it doesn't make many stops, if at all. With the current room-only discount, it's only 20% off whereas POR is 25% (my second choice, but POFQ will have newly refurbished rooms).

As you can see on www.portorleans.org website, POR rooms are currently under refurbishment. Not sure the whole process will be finished when you go, though. If money is an issue, I would choose ASM and go to POR/POFQ later.

I haven't been to WDW in 11 years and I am very nervous about going solo especially at my age. I'm not a local so I have no one nearby to go to if something bad happens.

To have a cell phone with you may bring a safety feeling for you... and your mother. I believe WDW is a very safe place, but bad people may be there too. Avoid to walk alone through dark places at night, stay close to other people (i.e.: families) even if you don't know them (as you return to your hotel, for instance), and don't advertize that you are alone. Anyway, people can't know if you are travelling alone or are alone just for a short time if you don't say it.

I would appreciate any advice on what to do while I'm there. What are the must-sees and must-dos?

The must-sees and must-dos are those things you like to do. You can do and re-do them as you want. Have fun!

 

[Lillian Gracey]

I think I'm going to go with ASMu. As much as I want to stay at POFQ/POR, I will wait. I can afford it, but I think it will be worth staying with someone else whom I can split the cost with. Plus, I don't see myself being in it other than at night when I go to bed.

I always have my phone on me. It's attached to me at all times. I don't like to wander around places I'm not familiar with so I see myself only hopping onto a bus to my hotel room, but never advertising I'm alone is wonderful advice! Thanks! I think I may just do parks only and not go to DTD. As much as I would love to go to Jelly Rolls for my birthday, I much rather be safe in my room than alone at night in an unfamiliar place. I appreciate the advice! I have never really been away from my family. Only for one year at college, but that was only 75 minutes away and I definitely wouldn't do it again.

I hope to convince my mom to come with me so I won't be as nervous, but I like to be prepared if she can't make it. Thank you very much!

 

[ladylinda65]

I would tell you that you would be safe on Disney's Boardwalk and that Jelly Rolls would be a fun and exciting way to spend your 21st birthday. It is a very open and fun place whether you are traveling with people or without!

Then you would just go to the front of the Boardwalk and get your bus right back to ASM.

I will tell you that I have vacationed at Disney a number of times alone and have NEVER had a problem...go and have a blast!!! Just use common sense about your safety and you will be fine!!

Have a great trip and Happy Birthday (in advance!)

 

[Missytara]

www.portorleans.org[/url] website, POR rooms are currently under refurbishment. Not sure the whole process will be finished when you go, though. If money is an issue, I would choose ASM and go to POR/POFQ later.

This is incorrect.

As you can see by portorleans.org, the rooms are being refurbed in POFQ and POR will not start until April at the earliest. That is a guesstimate made by a few of us who have been through construction projects, looking at the process and the schedule. Disney has made no announcements when POFQ will be done and POR will begin, it is mostly conjecture on our part with some information coming from CM's.

POR is also going to take much longer than POFQ. The resort is much larger, the buildings are much larger and the building permits include the refurbs on the elevators in the mansions.

This is total conjecture on my part, but if they can finish POFQ by April and start on POR right after that, they could concievably be completed around late fall.

 

[Missytara]

I actually started my travels to Disney alone, because it is where I felt safest.

I leave a trail of parks entrance and debit card purchases everywhere.

I leave my emergency number listing (which goes to my parents as well) either hanging on the mirror of the bathroom or on the table next to the door, in case I get rendered unconscious.

I get to know the people who work in the lounge in the evenings and frequent it, so I had maintained a pattern daily of my tracks and I feel more comfortable being at the resort late at night.

You will have a wonderful time there by yourself; I love to take friends, but I really, really, really enjoy my solo trips.

 

[Lillian Gracey]

Thanks guys! I was worried that it wouldn't be too safe for a youngin' like me, but you have made me feel more confident. I might try Jelly Rolls then. When does it close? I would be coming straight from Wishes (at CG not MK) to DTD and what's the easiest way to get there? I'm really worried about the drinking though. I don't drink and I don't really plan on it when I'm there, but I'm afraid that people might offer me drinks or pressure me into drinking. I don't do well under pressure especially when I don't have someone with me, but I am good at saying no.

I am going to give my mom and my boyfriend the number to the hotel and my room number so if they need to call the hotel for anything, they have that. My cellphone will be with me at all times and charging every night. I'm gonna try to refrain from texting and calling a lot because that will kill my battery. I also plan on calling or texting my mom and my boyfriend throughout the day at certain points. Like, I call them every morning when I get up, when I get lunch or some time in the afternoon, when I leave a park and when I get back to my hotel so they know that I am safe. It will make everyone feel better.

I think getting to know the CMs at the hotel is a swell idea. I feel this trip will be such a blast! I plan on booking a room at ASMu tomorrow since the checks I put in today should go through by then. Thanks so much!

 

[Lillian Gracey]

Sorry to double post, but I have officially booked my room! I got a pin a few hours or so ago and I got 35% off values and mods and 40% off deluxes and villas. I was really tempted to go with POFQ, but I went with ASSports because it was so much cheaper. It's only $231 for 3 nights while it's $200 more for POFQ. I was on the phone with my boyfriend and I squealed when I saw the email. I think his eardrums burst. I had to change my dates by a week because the PIN started on the 8th for May so I went with May 9th - 12th. I'm going to keep an eye out for ADRs at CG that are earlier than 9:15pm (Wishes starts at 9). If I can't, I will arrive at like 8pm to see if I can get in earlier.

I went with ASSports because it was the very first (and only) hotel I stayed at 11 years ago. It will bring back some nice memories.

I'm saving myself $125 off rack rate, roughly $10 - $30 on my flight and $10 on my ticket by going through UT. That's about $150! That's a ton of money for me! That will go toward a nice souvenir. I am very excited and can't wait to tell my mom in the morning. I need to call Disney to pay for the rest of my room because I forgot to pay for it all when I was booking it. No big deal. Hopefully she will be ok with it so I can book my flight! $194 round trip!

 

[FredQc]

I'm going to keep an eye out for ADRs at CG that are earlier than 9:15pm (Wishes starts at 9). If I can't, I will arrive at like 8pm to see if I can get in earlier.

Yes, you can. People with a reservation at California Grill can arrive early and access to an outdoor dock, on top of Contemporary Resort, to watch the fireworks and hear the soundtrack.

 

[Lillian Gracey]

Yes, you can. People with a reservation at California Grill can arrive early and access to an outdoor dock, on top of Contemporary Resort, to watch the fireworks and hear the soundtrack.

That's great! I will still hope for an earlier reservation though.