Moms who have travelled solo

[MomofCKJ]

Was it hard for you to go without your kids? The kids and I were just there in March. In January DH and I are running the Half Marathon and we'll be there with friends Jan 8-11 but only will have about a day and a half in the parks. We are travelling with our friends, no kids that trip. But I still have this huge desire to go alone. I want to see what I want, do a tour, stop and really smell the roses. I have always wanted a solo trip. DH has said he is fine with me doing this and I just priced it out for 4 days during free dining and I can swing it.

But I feel bad. I can picture my kids (10, 8, 5) telling their friends how their Mom took off to Disneyworld without them. I guess I'm feeling guilty about doing something so just for me. And I was just there and will be there in 8 months.

Did any of you struggle with this? I went to the casino with my Mom today (she asked me to, I go maybe once a year) and I walked in with $60 to spend and walked out with $700 so I can pay for this without even impacting the family budget. I just need to get past the feeling bad. I am hoping some of you Moms who have gone solo can offer some words of experience!

Allyson

 

[suzycute]

Congratulations on your win!

Don't even think twice about having some time for yourself in WDW - it's great to go with your family but it's SO nice to go on your own too - do what you want, when you want. As mom's we are so conditioned to putting everyone elses needs first that it seems strange to do something for ourselves.

My kids were a bit older than yours when I went solo (from England too!) but they knew we'd be going with them again as a family. They were envious but were great in understanding that mom needed her own time.

Hope your solo trip doesn't end up as expensive as mine did. I took the DVC tour when I went and ended up buying in to SSR so I can go solo every year until I'm 93 - although the family seems to want to keep joining me and doesn't look as if I can go solo again until 2010! (But if I had your luck at winning at the casino I could afford more DVC points and go more often!).

Have a great trip and let us know how it went!

 

[nurse.darcy]

I agree. . .go solo and love it. I am going solo in May and then taking my boy and a friend of his in August. I don't feel bad at all. . .in fact, he encouraged me to get some ME time. . .

He figures if I get me time now, I won't want to shadow him and his friend the ENTIRE trip in August. . .lol. . .little does he know. . .lol.

 

[iluveeyore]

Go, go go!!!
I just did my first solo in March, and my whole family was fine with it (although they didn't understand why I would actually want to go alone! )
We are going as a family in just 19 days, so that's another reason they weren't too concerned, but we go every year anyhow, so Mom throwing in a selfish trip didn't phase them in the least. In fact, when I voiced some concerns they might be jealous, my DD 13 said "just go Mom, we'll be fine - you deserve it" - God Bless her! So I went.
I cannot describe the euphoria I felt driving myself to the airport with just my luggage, getting on the plane without checking who was where, who was carrying what bags, who had to go to the bathroom, who was sitting with who, and so on.
When I checked into my room, you couldn't wipe the smile off my face! I have to use the bathroom - what, no line-up?
I'd like to take a bubble bath before bed - no knocking on the door!! (IN fact, leave the door open and listen to the Disney Channel like I did )
Getting up in the morning, got my tea in my refillable mug, got ready at my own pace, and headed out whenever I chose to whatever park took my fancy that morning. Headed back to the room whenever I felt like it, ate when and what I wanted, went back to the parks whenever I wanted.
It truly was five glorious days of heaven! Sure, I talked to DH or the kids at least once a day - but they called me just to see how I was doing and give me a daily report on life at home (where it was snowing at the time! )
No guilt, and it went way too fast. Can't wait to get back soon, as DH promised I could have a 'me' day and he might even try an alone day too just to see what his crazy DW is talking about! (He better not enjoy it though, cause I'm the only one that can do a solo )
So go for it, enjoy every wonderful moment, because it will be over before you know it.

 

[jake&samsmom]

I was having the same exact dilemma as you. Then I came upon the following posts, and it made me feel so much better (hope it does the same for you )

I am thinking of going solo sometime in June. I am quite apprehensive though. I just came back with my family (DH, and DS 7and DS5) from WDW a few months ago, and we all had a blast, but of course there's always some "drama filled moments"

I want to do/see things that I want, as opposed to what the family wants -- this is my main motivation for a solo trip. Also, it would be quite nice to avoid the drama.

I'm just worried that I'll feel guilty doing a solo trip Or maybe I'll miss the boys and cut the trip short. But then again, maybe I'll have an awesome time!

If you have any other tips/advice for solo travelers, please do not hesitate to PM me. I am the only true Disney fan in my household (and among my friends too) and I think they are getting tired of hearing me talk about WDW. They truly believe I'm in some kind of Disney cult

Chanelgal: I read your post and just had to respond. I've been to WDW several times as a solo. I even went on a 4 day Disney Wonder cruise solo. I would encourage you to go. I notice that there are things I want to do when I'm traveling with others that I don't do out of concern for the group dynamic. Even over the past 2 trips with my I am aware of that dynamic. We have a great time together, but when I was going solo I felt such a sense of freedom. I wasn't responsible for anyone else and could follow my curiousity whereever it led me. One day on our last trip my needed to go back to the room and insisted that I remain in the parks. I honored that request and felt that sense of freedom again.

Therefore, I would encourage you to take at least one solo trip just for you. You can shop to your heart's content. You can sit on a bench and people-watch while you soak in WDW as long as you want to without someone insisting that the day was being "wasted". (Let me recommend the Dole pineapple juice and pineapple icecream float at Aloha Isle called a Dole Whip Float. I had a great half hour sitting and slurping and watching the crowd go by!!) You can ride one ride as many times as you want or skip a ride that everybody else but you enjoys. It may be the best thing you could do for yourself and thus the best thing you could do for your family. Go solo and enjoy!!! Then when the family goes again you won't be wondering what lies beyond that corner or in that shop that no one else wants to visit. You'll know.

As the only WDW fiend in my house I'm seriously considering coordinating one of my DW's business trips with another solo trip to WDW for me.

 

[twotoohappy]

My first trip without my dd was when she was 10.
It was really hard at first, but as soon as the plane
took off then I was ok. Every now and then I'd wish
she was there, but it made me enjoy our trips together
even more! Now I do 2 trips with her and 1 without her.
She's fine with it as long as I bring her back a present

Definitely try it once
I'll see you marathon weekend!

 

[webster76]

I will be going without the family for the first time in Sept for my birthday. I am also the Disney nut in our family but they all love our family vacations to WDW. Whoever can make it will go next year for our family vacation ( it's only every other year but we really look forward to it.) I decided I deserved to do something for myself after always doing for everyone else. I've been divorced for 9 years so most of my time is still devoted to my family,even though they are now 17,22,25. It took me quite while to actually committ to doing this trip alone (can't really afford it but I will make sure it is no burden by the time I leave). Serveral teachers at school have been talking about going together for the last year - dates have been tossed around but no one committing- so I just decided to go for it. My kids were surprised that I would go alone but very happy for me. In fact, one of the teachers didn't want me to go alone (guess she thought it wouldn't be fun for me alone) and we are now going together! I guess I really needed to know that the kids were ok with me going without them and they are! It will be nice to do what I want instead of always doing what everyone else wants. Since I will be an empty nester this fall ( my youngest is going off to college) it's finally my turn to relax -at least for the 4 days I'll be in WDW ! I have to thank all the people on this site that encouraged me to do this too. They are wonderful.

 

[TaraPA]

I just got back this week from my first solo trip. I DID feel bad for the 1st whole day. I just had this guilt/sadness/loneliness feeling while in MK. My boys are 7 & 10. I did meet up with a lot of DIS-ers while on my trip which was really great. When I woke up on the 2nd day the guilt was gone & I had the best time of my life. I enjoyed my days in AK & Epcot the best, maybe because those are 2 parks with tons of non-kid things to do (in my opinion). I shouldn't have chosen MK for the first day I guess, it reminded me of all the things my kids DO love to do there.

I came home & told the family that they will not be returning to Disney with me again - I'm only going solo from now on! So there is obviously not a guilty bone in my body over my solo trip!

 

[MomofCKJ]

These are great to read, thank you all for posting! I have been thinking about this all week and I am feeling like tonight is the night I book. I already had my TA work up a quote for me a few days ago and there is a Mother's Day Sale on Southwest that ends tomorrow so I can get good prices from Hartford. I think I'm really going to do this. DH is fine with it. It falls over his vacation time (he gets 10 weeks a year so I don't feel bad for leaving over some of his time off) so he'll be home with the kids. I would go on a Sat-Wed.

Did you do Table Service? How was that for you? I think that is what makes me most nervous, just feeling awkward eating alone. I'm able to get free dining for Sun-Wed of the trip so I'll have TS credits to use and dining is always a favorite part of a trip for me so I do want to, I just don't know if I'll feel nervous.

I am excited and scared and happy all at the same time about doing this. I think I just need to get it out of my system, I have wanted to do a solo trip for so long and with the money just falling into my lap I kind of feel like now is the time. I really don't want to tell anyone I'm doing this. How did your friends and family react? I feel like they will think I am nuts for A. Going again so soon (just there in March, going again in January) and B. Going by myself. I kind of feel like this is something only a DIS-er would get!

And those that met up with other DIS-ers there, how did you arrange that? Through a thread on this Solo board?

Oh and how did other people react to you when you were there? If you struck up conversation with anyone in line were they suprised to learn you were alone? I don't know why I worry so much. I think that is another reason I want to do this trip. Kind of to prove I can. I am an only child and actually like spending time alone. I'm happily married, 3 great kids and life is busy. I kind of want to take just a few days to be by myself, to see the things they never want to (do the KTTK tour, Animator's Studio, One Man's Dream, etc), and to just enjoy and be a little independant.

So thanks for the encouragement and if you want to share more and can answer some of my above questions, please do!

Allyson

PS Happy Mother's Day to you Moms!

 

[TaraPA]

I only did CS but never once felt wierd eating alone - you'd be surprised how many other people are also dining alone. In fact out of all my meals there was only one where there was no other solo diner in sight!

There are SO MANY solo travelers in WDW, I was amazed. No one commented at all if they knew I was there alone. I used the single rider line when I could, well, then EVERYONE else is alone too in that line!

I pre-arranged my DIS Meets on this very thread - check the "Whose going in May 2008" thread for pics of all of us. At one meet we had 10 people from this thread show up! That was so nice, it gave me something to look forward to, knowing I'd have conversations ahead. I also chatted with people on my shuttle bus to the parks, and met a very nice elderly couple, and we actually spent about 2 hours together in AK. They hadn't been to WDW since the 80's & we so overwhelmed with everything. I showed them the ropes & they kept me company!

As far as friends from home thinking I'm odd for going alone - yes I did encounter that. And a lot of jealous friends that wanted to be me! My very best friend just doesn't get it, and that's too bad for her. I now know to not even ask her to come alone. I'm already planning & plotting for my next solo trip - and I can't wait! I will definitely plan to meet up with DIS-ers again, that was one of the highlights of the trip.