Odd Solo Experience

[Bushmills]

Only because you were the most recent to say it....would you REALLY think it was appropriate to joke like that?

Joking is one thing, but in this situation the woman was obviously uncomfortable and looking for a reason to single OP out. Winking, making a jokingly lewd comment, making any kind of physical gesture would have given her any easy reason to flip out. Then you're left with trying to say "But it was a just a joke, I wasn't actually going to do anything/touch her/ I wasn't actually propositioning her". I mean really let's think before we speak.

I absolutely would; and that's all I'm saying on the subject. I also absolutely refuse to get into pedantic keyboard warrior debates.

Cheers,
Bushmills

 

[tina.tina]

Dear OP,

If you consider that the lady may have a mental illness or a traumatic experience, does that make you feel less irritated by her comments? Just because someone is at WDW doesn't mean they are happy and carefree. I've always tried really hard to let things go when someone has been rude to me because I don't know what they're dealing with in their life.

I feel sorry for the lady and her daughter but, if I were you, I wouldn't let a stranger's comments bother me so much that I would waste an AP- especially someone who is obviously dealing with some serious issues of her own.

I'm sorry that you were made to feel so uncomfortable. If my DS9 were there he would have been trying to talk you to death which can be irritating to strangers when they're trying to enjoy their solitude or whatever. He's just very friendly. Before we could stop him, he climbed in a stranger's lap on a train at our local theme park. The man was very understanding and nice but when I think about it, I'm still and it was over 5 years ago!

 

[AlexHockey]

You're absolutely right and I couldn't agree more with your post.

I would just say that even if someone has been abused, it doesn't mean that others should accept their abuse. I believe that very strongly, and none of us should accept being abused by anyone -- regardless of the circumstances. (And I later realized that I allowed her to validate her world view by accepting her abuse without standing up for myself. My silence might have kept the peace, but it didn't help her either.) I understand the psychology of why people behave certain ways, but each of us are responsible for breaking that cycle. I ultimately do feel the worst for her daughter who is being taught. I've seen the consequences firsthand in my own family. Life can be hard.

I don't dwell on this anymore, and I'm actually been planning a trip with a friend for this January. No solo trips planned for now, but I won't let that stop me from going back. Thanks everyone for the great support!

 

[princessmousehouse]

Good for you. People are so paranoid. I understand how people who have been abused are overly cautious but this seems a bit beyond the norm.

I don't dwell on this anymore, and I'm actually been planning a trip with a friend for this January. No solo trips planned for now, but I won't let that stop me from going back. Thanks everyone for the great support!

 

[andree]

I say : keep thinking of all the good times and not just this one incident and just go as you feel like it. And everyone is right, it was her problem not yours.

 

[Skywise]

I wouldn't read anything into it. Maybe your "family" was off to get fitted for princess dresses and get their hair done at BBB and you weren't going to have any part of it! If she's going to be that judgmental, where was HER husband at?

In my opinion the best thing you could've done (besides ignoring it) would be to break their reality bubble, talk to them and tell them why you were there. Take ownership of the situation and turn it into a positive.

I've taken several solo trips both at DW and at Vegas and its great as I can be totally selfish about what I want to do without having to worry about my friends/family's wants (I went out for Christmas by myself last year and stood an hour in line to get good photos of the Disney Christmas Parade... then ran back to the GF to get photos there, grabbed a drink at the lounge then ran back to DW to get a good spot for the fireworks (another hour+) then back in front of the castle for the projection show, then off to Gaston's for dinner, night shots of fantasy land, then rode space mountain then back to catch the good night kiss. Yeah, try THAT with traveling buddies!) The only time I ever have real issues is dining alone which always makes me self-conscious.

 

[officialkt]

Well I've just returned from an absolutely brilliant first solo trip...and really fancy another in the not too distant future...but I would have been gutted if someone had behaved in such a way towards me...clearly its their issues and not yours but still isolated and unnecessary behavior.
I felt a bit daft having my photo taken with Characters, but now I'm home great shots that my grown up daughter loves and me to.

 

[Elevationist]

Crazy lady is crazy. You did the right thing by not acknowledging her ridiculousness. The last thing you want to do is validate her nonsense.

I took my first solo trip last month, and it was the BEST. TRIP. EVER. I did get a couple funny looks or comments. Then again, I'm in the 1% of adults who gets her face painted while running around in a tiara through the parks and to of all her character meals... Even solo. Don't care. At Disney.

The biggest problem I had was with actual CMs... Many of the PhotoPass photographers acted really awkward and even at times annoyed that I DARED to ask for photos by myself. That really shocked me.

Haters gonna hate. Keep on doing you. And don't you dare let that AP go to waste, that's a crime!

 

[Vivianne]

I'm sorry you had this experience There are rude people everywhere. Many people have had awful lives & live life wearing those colored glasses. Others just have opinions on who should be allowed at Disney. But as long as they take our money, we're entitled to enjoy Disney just as they are. Whether we're single, couples without children or big families. Too bad for those that think that way. Enjoy your trips and let this become a distant memory.

 

[Markinmd]

If something like that happens again here's what I would do. I would pretend that I got a cell phone call from my wife and tell her I would be meeting her at such and such location. I would then say quietly but loud enough for her to hear that you think their is a lady on the train that you think is mentally ill because she is acting so strange. Then try to avoid her as if shes dangerous,lol.

 

[barbaraann]

I guess that I have been super fortunate. I have taken numerous solo Disney vacations, and nothing creepy like this has ever happened to me.

 

[TanJDis2014]

I guess that I have been super fortunate. I have taken numerous solo Disney vacations, and nothing creepy like this has ever happened to me.

I'm in Orlando now with a sick Hubby, an may do some solo touring since he's so tired; an my first thought was if people will think I'm a creeper?! I'm a 30ish clean cut female, but no kiddos in toe I was worried about sideways glances. Im more worried about riding roller coasters solo since I get a bit scared. Maybe I'll just hang out at food an wine and chat some folks up, that's always fun right?
Is there a thread for current meetups??

 

[LockShockBarrel]

Women rarely get the stinkeye for being solo. We're the cheerful friendly motherly/sisterly types or some such nonsense. A man going solo, people tend to see it as creepy, pedophilac, and weird. Its basically because we were taught by the media that a single man around that many children is unusual, but a single woman around children is not.

 

[bryanb]

Women rarely get the stinkeye for being solo. We're the cheerful friendly motherly/sisterly types or some such nonsense. A man going solo, people tend to see it as creepy, pedophilac, and weird. Its basically because we were taught by the media that a single man around that many children is unusual, but a single woman around children is not.

Ugh, that so awful. Maybe it's okay because I'm still relatively young enough. But even now, I am somewhat guarded around other people's kids. For someone to even think that I was a potential threat would be devastating to me.

The fact that there are sick men out in the world who are actual creeps makes it even worse for those of us who don't even want to be accused of being one of them.