Safety for solo female question...

[RVGal]

Okay, first let's get the disclaimers out of the way...

I have been to WDW 40ish times. I have been to US 15ish times... the last trip was in 2000 where we did IOA as well (previous trips, IOA wasn't open yet). I am NOT a Disney snob that can't enjoy Universal for what it is. I love all things Disney, but that doesn't mean I don't love Universal's parks too. I have enjoyed all my previous trips to ALL the theme parks in Orlando. I have had a few bad experiences and run into some rude people, but that's life. I've had a few bad experiences and run into some rude people in my local grocery store. It doesn't color my overall view of the place. I am capable of forming my own opinions and don't let a few bad apples spoil the whole bunch. There's a song in there somewhere, but I'd be showing my age to start singing anything by the Osmonds... so let's move on...

That being said, I am not... repeat NOT... looking to bash US/IOA or to incite any kind of debate on the overall experience of visiting. I just have one question/concern since it has been almost 7 years since my last visit. The only reason for the gap in visits is that in 2001 I became pregnant with our DS who is now 5. We waited until he reached an age where there were things to interest him and enjoy with him. Since he is a HUGE Spiderman fan and is currently obsessed with all things Shrek, we figured the time to return to US/IOA has come.

We will be arriving in Orlando late on Saturday, May 27th. Our current plan is for DH to take our DS2 on Sunday and do the grocery shopping and settle us into our home away from home... while I take DS5 to US or IOA for a few hours to ride some of the rides that will have a long line no matter what and that DS2 couldn't possibly do anyway. With that being a Sunday... and the Sunday before Labor Day... we already know that we will be facing larger that average crowds. That's okay. We're not planning on trying to pack in everything on that day and waiting in line is just part of the process. No big deal.

My concern is this. My 18 y/o niece just returned from a trip to US/IOA a few weeks ago for a Senior Choir group trip. She informed me when I saw her last week that she had felt "uncomfortable" as the afternoon hours progressed into evening hours. That she and her group of girlie girlfriends had noticed large groups of what she assumed were local fellas on the prowl and they were approached more than once with... shall we say... interesting offers. Hey, she's a beautiful 18 y/o and she is going to get hit on. Perfectly normal. It was the way she described feeling uncomfortable that got me thinking. Now, I know that I am an older mom and not that likely to attract any unwanted attention or whatever anyway, but I'd just like to hear from those of you that have been to the parks recently. Is there a time frame that I should aim for making sure that I & DS5 are out of the parks? Am I worrying in advanced over nothing? Should I switch places with DH and let him take DS5 to the parks? I'm looking for an "is it safe for a solo mom with her preschool son to be in the park all day/evening" kinda answer.

It's amazing the things you worry about after you have kids. I'm sure I'm making mountains out of molehills, but I need to hear it from those that know so I can bulldoze those mountains in my mind...

 

[yaytezIOA]

I dont think I'm qualified to answer this question, but I've never seen anything like that ever at Universal..........ever. I've seen it at Citywalk, but lets be honest, I've seen it at Pleasure Island too. I think you'll be fine, and there is security everywhere should there be a problem, all you would have to do is tell someone.

 

[damo]

I've never felt uncomfortable alone at USF with my son. There are lots of security people hanging around.

 

[inkkognito]

I would not be uncomfortable going to Universal or IOA solo. My husband does it all the time when I am working...granted, it's not too likely that guys will be hitting on him. But if I had the time and he didn't, I wouldn't hesitate to go myself. CityWalk in the evening might have some people who might comments, but as has been said, no worse than Pleasure Island. And there is LOTS of security, so just ignore it because nothing will happen.

 

[NotAmused]

I have been to UO with my female friends (and we are all in our teens and early twenties) and we've never felt uncomfortable. Now if we walked around the bars/clubs, I'm sure that would be a different story. I think you and your son will be just fine as long as you avoid the club/bar area of CW late at night (which I think is a given anyway, since you will have your DS)


Have fun!!

 

[macraven]

i go solo to orlando every year since 2003.
prior to that i took sons with me.


i go for hhn which closes at 2 in the morning on peak nights and midnight on non peak nights.

i leave the park around 2:20 in the morning and walk to the hotel. last year it was rph years before hrh. i have never been afraid or suspected anyone stalking me. never been harassed at the parks by myself or walking back to the hotel.

you would be surprised at all the undercover security/cops that are in the parks in regular non event times. at hard ticket events such as hhn, the parks are packed and more security are present.

i saw people that i thought were park guests and were not. they were plain clothes men and women cops. i saw them intervene in a few cases. (minor got caught drinking and shoplifting.)

believe it, the place is full of security.

when i took my sons, 3 of them to the parks when they were little, never encountered any issues your niece did. i'm sure she did if she said she did, but i haven't heard of issues with single women or ones with small children have problems with males. of course it could happen, but i am not aware of any incidents.

don't be fearful of that type of problem happening to you. if something would happen, go to the nearest TM and describe the person immediately. they know who to call. the situation will be handled immediately

 

[RVGal]

Thanks for all the responses. I'm sure we'll be fine and have a great time. DS5 is counting the days... and so am I!

I'm sure my niece probably wasn't aware of the security measures in place in the parks. I'm trying to think back and put myself in her young shoes. Late teens... away from home and family and, therefore, away from comfort zones as well... her group of teenaged females approached by a large group of somewhat older males... and, yeah, I might have felt uncomfortable too. For all I know, it could have been a tour group of guys in that vacation we'll-never-been-seen-by-these-people-again mode. I just didn't want to dismiss her experience because she is a level headed urbanite and I thought it best to hear from those that frequent the parks that this was an isolated incident and not the norm.

This time next week we'll be immersed in the fun and fantasy of one of the theme parks. I can't wait!

 

[tlinus]

RV Gal -

Be sure to stop on by after your trip to let us know how much fun you had ....and to dispell the rumours that Universal is nasty! Its people going who haven't gone recently(last few years) that need to come back and tell us what they saw and how they felt! I know I have never seen nasty at UO and we went twice in 6 months!!!

 

[Ruth B]

I have been to universal and IOA twice alone with my son and have never had hassle or felt unsafe. We tend to stay onsite and go back to the hotel by 5ish but then go back to citywalk for dinner/movie and return to the hotel by 10pm ish. The crowd at city walk does get older but not uncomfortable. I'm going this summer again and can't wait- your have a great time

 

[SusanDK]

Will you be staying at a Universal hotel, or will you be driving to Universal/IOA? As others have said, I don't think you'll have any problems and I would feel comfortable going alone.

However, if you are driving and will be leaving the park at an odd time (eg. when few people will be returning to the parking garage because it's not near to closing time yet), you might want to consider valet parking for your day there. When you valet, you will not have a long walk to or from the parking garage which could otherwise be the case.

Again, a walk to the parking garage would not concern me, but it might give you an extra level of comfort to use the valet.

Susan

 

[RVGal]

Will you be staying at a Universal hotel, or will you be driving to Universal/IOA? As others have said, I don't think you'll have any problems and I would feel comfortable going alone.

However, if you are driving and will be leaving the park at an odd time (eg. when few people will be returning to the parking garage because it's not near to closing time yet), you might want to consider valet parking for your day there. When you valet, you will not have a long walk to or from the parking garage which could otherwise be the case.

Again, a walk to the parking garage would not concern me, but it might give you an extra level of comfort to use the valet.

Susan

We are staying off property. I let DH have a free hand at planning this trip since I've done it on most of the others we've taken together. I always thought since I've been to Orlando SO many times that I should do it, but this time I decided to see what he would come up with. I'm always game for trying something new!

I hadn't even thought of using the valet, but that's a great suggestion. Depending on our arrival time and plan for departure, we might just do that. Thanks!

 

[Cass]

I've had 2 Mother/DD trips to Univseral - one for 5 days, one for 7.

In my 12 days at the parks I have never felt uncomforatable, you have absolutely nothing to worry about.