Question for former apprehensive solo travelers

[sunsetandgower]

I've been reading a lot of old threads from the archive over the past few years of solo travelers going alone for the first time and wondering if they would enjoy themselves.

I'm curious though if the posters who were nervous about taking their first solo trip are still here, how it went?

I'm going to be going by myself in December, I'm not really nervous about it but I'd love to get some perspective from those who were apprehensive how the experience was.

 

[jordancej]

Well, my first solo was in 2006... this was after i went with my family in 2004 and 2005, so i had a pretty good lay of the land and knew what to expect, but i was still super nervous! I would have to admit the first night, i was thinking what did i get myself into, because for my first day, i went to MNSSHP and a character dinner solo.... for the party, i got frustrated cause i thought i knew MK better than i did, (the park looks totally different from day-time to night-time), then it took forever to get seated for dinner... then seeing all the families... i was having an anxiety moment... but then as i was eating dinner, i had the greatest waiter, the characters payed alot of attention to me... i had a great meal... then my night turned around... and i had a total blast! So much so, that this May will be my 4th solo trip!! I will have to tell you that going solo is so addictive, and so much fun! I can do what i want, when i want! Yea, i get the "your going again?" remark from work, and i'm like Heck YA!!

Bottom line i was like this the first night , then it turned into !

 

[APB513]

Hi sunsetandgower -

I'm not a former solo traveler but I wanted to chime in. I will be taking my first solo trip from May 12th - May 19th. I was apprehensive about spending all of that time by myself. That is until I checked the solo threads on this board and found out that there are a lot of people going the same time as me.

I have arranged to meet several DISers for meals, Jellyrolls and we are even planning to do Kim Possible World Showcase adventure together!

I will have the best of both worlds - time to myself as well as spending time with people who love Disney as much as I do

 

[disneylove69]

I like going alone because you get to eat where and when you want. Go on any ride, sleep in, etc. I am also going in May and this will be my second solo trip.

 

[sunsetandgower]

I'm really looking forward to this, my apprehension is more about late night than anything else. I'm also not 100% sold on the idea of eating TS by myself, but I'm going to try it. No character meals on this trip though.

I have a trip that is planned this summer to tentatively have a friend join me who is more interested in the vacation aspect than the total Disney experience, so that will be a training wheels solo trip for me, in that I'll have company, but at the same time I'm going to be on my own quite a bit as well it's looking like.

 

[DisneyHolidayFan]

My husband and I have been going to WDW at least once a year since 1996. For my 60th birthday, my husband gave me a trip to WDW while my son was there on business. I spent the first two days alone and then a day and a half with my son. I was a bit apprehensive but I had nothing to worry about. I had a wonderful time enjoying everything that I wanted to do. I ate at TS restaurants (including character meals) and it was fine except for my lunch at 50's Prime Time Cafe. I felt very rushed; I believe that the waitress was hurrying me through so she could seat 2. Usually, I have dessert at Prime Time but avoided it as I felt so uncomfortable. Meals at Cape May and Liberty Tree Tavern were fine. I would do this again in a minute!!!! It was the best birthday present that I have ever gotten.

 

[nurse.darcy]

I traveled solo last May and this past December (though I was there with someone else, I was on my own during the day). I love the freedom of doing what I want. I didn't do TS cause my travel companion had TS for us in the evenings. I went to Yak and Yeti Counter service, Flame Tree BBQ (uh I spend a lot of time at Animal Kingdom), and at the slushi stand in France. . .also went to Tune In Lounge for a quick bite and a nice drink. . .I had the BEST time ever and would do it again in a heartbeat. Though I must say I think I prefer TS as a solo than CS. . .at cs there are too many other people watching you. . .

 

[pdchris]

My first solo trip was back in December. My DS was planning to go with me but due to work and college, he had to bow out. I thought about canceling but really wanted to see the World with the Christmas decorations up.
I had a really good time (not great since I was solo) and even went to MVMCP (I think Dis oversold the event as it was very crowded and this was on the 8th.)
As others have posted, the biggest benefit to solo was doing what I wanted to do went I wanted to do it. The single ride lines were nice, too. Better than fast pass, imho. As I'm not a big eater, I didn't do any CS restaurants so I can't comment on that.
The one piece of advice I can give you, though, is to purchase the park hopper option. Since I was solo and had park hopper, I was able to visit a particular park in the morning, see what I wanted to see and then "hop" over to a different park for the rest of the day. Not surprisingly I a few days I closed the day at Epcot (since it is my favorite park).

 

[Simba's Mom]

My first solo trip was way back in 1995, but I still remember that I didn't have any chance to be apprehensive. I'd gone in 1994 with my family and came back with one day left on my hopper pass. Jokingly, I said something about going back myself, but my family conspired behind my back-bought me a plane ticket, made hotel reservations, etc. Easter, 1995, in the bottom of my Easter basket, there it was, a "Mom's weekend" solo at WDW. I later asked if DH thought I might be a little hesitant to be solo-"Never even crossed my mind" he said so it couldn't bother me either. I admit that I was nervous about flying alone, but my airplane seat was next to a small child so I didn't dare act nervous since the child wasn't. Now, many solo trips later (at least 20), I'm definitely not nervous!

 

[skyeblu79]

I just did my first solo trip 2/28-3/7. I had a great time. My best friend had to cancel about a month before the trip. I started not to go until I started reading about other people that went solo. I decided to go about 2 weeks before the trip and I am so glad I did.

I have decided to take a solo trip somewhere every year. I thought maybe 7 nights would be too long, but it was perfect. I only ate in for dinner one time at a bar. I did breakfast one time in the food court at Port Orleans and a snack one time at a bakery. Most of the time I got take out and took it back to my room. I ate outside at the parks.

Sometimes I let my insecurities get to me, but it wasn't so bad. I felt like people were looking at me at the hotel sometimes. I would occasionally get the loud "1" from the ride operator and a strange look. Not often, but occasionally. I knew what they were going to ask and I started saying "1" before they even asked, lol.

I loved being free and doing anything I wanted. I didn't feel obligated to anyone to do anything I didn't want to. I loved that part. I rode the Mummy 6 times back to back and I never would have done that with my friend who hates rides.

I never felt scared or really lonely. I may not do Disney again next year, but I would definitely do Disney again solo.

 

[Candice30]

i was definitely nervous and apprehensive about going solo the first time. i was afraid i would be sad about not being with family (and it was easter). i was afraid i wouldn't speak to anyone all week. this was actually making me sad about the trip. it definitely was not so when i went. i had a lot of fun though i felt the long trip was too long solo. the time did seem to drag on for me. my second solo trip however was the best trip i have ever taken. i enjoyed myself so much. the second time, i slowed things down and did do the parks commando. i left in the middle of the day and headed to a far resort just for dessert. i attended the halloween party alone and trick or treated thru MKG. i even ate at a table service alone.

definitely give it a try. it is hard the 1st time but once there, it got easier and easier. my 1st solo report is below if you want to read.

 

[knewton64]

I've been reading a lot of old threads from the archive over the past few years of solo travelers going alone for the first time and wondering if they would enjoy themselves.

I'm curious though if the posters who were nervous about taking their first solo trip are still here, how it went?

I'm going to be going by myself in December, I'm not really nervous about it but I'd love to get some perspective from those who were apprehensive how the experience was.

...went for the very first time (Jan 2009) and really got a big kick out of it. Yes, there are some out there who will look at you like you are from a different planet (becuz u are a solo traveler) ..to wit I respond verbally:

...."Disney.....either ya get it or ya don't. and if ya don't - don't ask."

p.s - I am heading back in the Fall and looking forward to it again.

 

[sunsetandgower]

Thanks everyone for your feedback - my trip this summer is not going to be solo after all, that was a miscommunication.

I am taking a 7 day trip in December by myself, staying at POR and I'm really looking forward to the whole concept of what I want to do when I want to do it, and the chance to take some tours that I normally would not do when I'm with other people.

A little apprehensive, I've never taken a trip that long by myself before, but I'm also very much looking forward to it. I am going to make a bunch of TS reservations, I don't know if I will actually use them or not, still not sure how I feel about dining alone in a restaurant. And I am definitely still apprehensive of the idea of doing character meals by myself, so I think I will most likely skip any of that kind of interaction, although I may stand on line to do characters -which is something else I don't normally do when I'm with others.

Looking forward to planning this trip!

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

I absolutely loved going solo last year! Don't get me wrong, I love my partner, Corey, but she is a picky eater and hates crowds. It was like a whole new world being able to go and do as I liked without anyone else's wants, needs, or desires to consider. I took the opportunity to go to the Lunch with an Imagineer at the HBD, which would have bored Corey to tears and she would have hated the food, but to me it was a really wonderful experience. I traded over 100 pins in about 3 1/2 days. It was perfect.

It was so perfect in fact, I am going back again at the end of April for another solo trip. I have two ADRs, but I may be canceling one of them. The one that I am going to keep no matter what is Chefs de France, so that I can see Remy. I am a total sucker for Disney magic. I have a ton of pins to trade and I have plans to do as many Kim Possible Missions as I can. It should be a great trip!

 

[Missytara]

I went on my first solo trip in 2000, celebrating my 40th birthday. We didn't travel much when I was a kid, because my family owned a property on a lake - we vacationed there.

I decided to dip my toes in the water, since I never married or had kids, to start doing some major traveling when I turned 40 and my boss suggested the combined park/cruise trip. I have gone every year since. Once I took my mom and this year, I am taking two friends.

It is the safest place in the world to go by yourself - and each year I get some new idea using the transportation. This year, I am going to take the riverboat over to the Wilderness Lodge for dinner from MK. Every year, I discover something new! It also gave me the confidence to do other trips; especially on cruises. I also do those by myself or with my mom.

 

[Missytara]

I should add that I eat out almost every night at home, and I have a few places that I haunt - I sit at the bar, so there is always company; either the bartender or other patrons.

My fav has become the Rainforest Cafe. I am from DE, and last year, one of the bartenders was living there for a few years while his wife was going to school. He was from MD and he was terribly homesick. I ended up going back a few other nights, when he was working - he was desparate to hear familiar things from home - and I felt like I had made a good friend.

Another thing I do is go to dessert at the bar at CA Grille; they dim the lights and you watch the fireworks from MK after dark. Good evening.

I have also had snacks at any of the lounges at the resorts - and watched a college football game on the weekends. You never sit alone!

Enjoy!