Should I Do a Solo?

[disney_mommy]

Okay, here's my situation: I booked a trip in January to run the half marathon, but I'm not ready for it, so I won't be running. I'm debating whether to still go for a solo, or skip it altogether. I've already lost my entry fee, so that's depressing. I've already bought the plane ticket, so I don't want to lose that money, too. I would feel guilty about leaving my son for 5 days while I go to Disney. If it's just me, there's nobody to share the room costs with. And I am quite shy, so I'm worried I won't enjoy it. It's just in the last year or so that I've been able to sit alone in a cafe and eat. It's hard for me to start talking to strangers, though I am very friendly if they should approach me. My family really doesn't understand this idea of mine, to go alone. They say "why don't you save your money so we can go on a family vacation in the summer?"

Does anyone have any advice or wisdom to share with me?

 

[norybell]

Well...having just gotten back from an absolutely amazing solo trip (see my TR in my siggie if you want to hear more!), I'm very tempted to say you should go solo! A solo trip is a whole lotta fun, in a completely different way from a family trip. It's a lot more relaxing, being able to do whatever you feel like whenever you want to.

But I realize that everyone is different. I guess what I'd ask yourself is, Am I comfortable not talking to anyone for a day? The last half of my trip, I was very social and chatty with random strangers, and I met a lot of great people. But the first two days, I was really too tired for small talk. So I barely talked to anyone. Now, I'm a person who finds not talking to anyone for a day to be a rare, wonderful, and peaceful treat! But if you wouldn't like it, and you think you're too shy to chat with strangers, then it might be harder.

I do think WDW must be one of the easiest places on the planet to be alone...there's so much to do and see, you barely notice! Especially if you're busy taking pictures or taking notes for a trip report or whatever.

How long were you planning on going for? If it's only a few days, I think you'd be fine -- you'd probably have a great time!

 

[Candice30]

i agree...you won't really know if you like it till you try it. don't not go because you are afraid of it. it almost stopped me the first time and i'm glad i went. yes, at first it was weird not talking to anyone as i am a really shy person also. i didn't speak to anyone the first 2 days of my trip. fearing that i would get lonely i tried packing all these activities in and commando the parks. bad move....i only ended up being exhausted and too tired to do anything and gave me way too much time to think and that made me lonely. i left the first time thinking i wouldn't do solo again but luckily i realized where i went wrong and went again and now am hooked.

now i stop to "smell the roses" as they say and do things at my pace. mostly i use the time away for "true vacation" and relax as much as possible. somedays never leaving the resort but it's my vacation and it will be yours to do whatever you want to do or not do. i say try it for a few days the first time and see what happens.

 

[Judy in Texas]

GO!!! Also consider that a number of the people won't be able to actually run the entire race but they will be participating anyway. Can you jog a couple miles then walk through the water stops? You might be surprised at what you can accomplish with all the adrenalin associated with being at Disney and the race itself. I used to run local races and even on the shorter ones there were always people who walked through the water stops.

 

[Dolce27]

As you can see from my sig, I'm doing the full marathon. As long as you can maintain a 16 minute/mile pace, you can do the half marathon. There are plenty of walkers doing the half this January. On the main page, scroll down to the WISH board, then click on the sub-forum (Events) and there's a thread titled 'Donald' something - its comprised of people doing the half-marathon this January... oh, and me! I butted into that thread since no one started a Mickey (full marathon) thread. You can find friends on there to walk/run with. They are a very encouraging bunch of people.

I say GO! But, I have a few solo trips to WDW under my belt so it's easy for me to say that. I'm normally a shy person but when I'm at Disney I open up for the most part. I'm having too much fun to remember that I'm supposed to be "shy".

Truthfully, I do think that you should give it a try - even the 1/2 marathon. The worst case scenario for the 1/2 marathon: you get swept, can say that you gave it your all, spend this next year working hard to do 13.1 miles in under 3 1/2 hours and come back for the 2011 half-marathon to try again. The best case scenario: you make it to the finish line in under 3 1/2 hours, earn your Donald medal and proudly hobble around the theme parks boasting of your accomplishment! I think that you can do it - we still have 9 weeks of training. Are you on a 1/2 marathon training schedule? Where in it are you at?

 

[beansmom]

i say GO! i have been solo twice before and truly love it. In fact...I'm thinking of taking a solo trip next year. DH is a workaholic but I'M NOT. I think you all just made up my mind...a week in October next year! Yeeehaw!!

It's real nice not to have to worry about what other people want to do...to do just what interests you..eat when you want...sleep when you want. People watching is always great...especially the little ones...they are sooo darling with their excitement.

Yes...go solo and LOVE every minute of it. As for your DS...don't feel guilty. Mommy deserves some 'mental health' time.

 

[cbg1027]

I say go! A solo trip is better than no trip!
And solo can be just as fun- and much easier and relaxed! Just think - no one to confer with on where to go and what to do and when to eat....you think it and then poof you can do it right then!!

 

[DisCopper]

Based solely on the wording in your post, I say, "Don't go," or at least look very deeply inward to decide if it's going to be right for you.

You say that you're very shy, so you're probably not going to be up to starting a conversation with people in line, at bars, etc... You've got several other legitimate reasons of concern. Are you comfortable with spending five days alone? Where you might go a whole day without really talking to anyone?

If you've never done a solo trip before, and you're worried about it, five days can be a LONG time to be alone.

What about reducing the length of your trip? Airline tickets can sometimes be changed for a fee (the last time I had to do it, it cost me $150). Even with that fee, the trip will still cost less than a five day trip.

 

[iluveeyore]

I say go for it - I've been twice and loved it - one for four days, one for seven. My family doesn't 'get it', but they were happy that it made me happy. I'm very shy too, and kept to myself most of the time. But I met some nice people who I would take pictures for so they could all be in it together, and they would return the favour when they knew I was alone. I shopped, I saw movies at DTD, I ate alone (buffets are great for that so you can serve yourself and not feel under the spotlight), I read books by the pool, and I sat on a bench in front of the castle just taking it all in and thinking how wonderful life is! Single rider lines are awesome, fastpasses work great for solos, and it's so nice even in the room alone to watch what I wanted on tv, get a shower without waiting my turn, even having a relaxing bubble bath with the door open and the radio on. I've never enjoyed Epcot so much and been able to stop and notice every little detail in each country and gift shop, and Animal Kingdom was great to be able to wander through the different viewing trails and not have someone complain I'm taking too long looking at birds or fish!
I think you'd enjoy it. At least give it a try to say you did it once! I love my family vacations, but my solos are my 'me time' that I think all Mom's deserve at least once!

 

[Dolce27]

Must agree that single rider lines are awesome! New Years Eve last year - 6:00 pm ... DHS... got onto Rock n' Rollercoaster within 15 minutes (I think) b/c of the singles line. Trust me, the stand-by line was nowhere near 15 minutes that night!

 

[delaneyc52]

If you really must rationalize it to yourself...think about this. Going solo you can really focus on all the good things to do at Disney. The great shops, the nooks and crannies, the wonderful shows, the best rides... and then when you do go with your family, you are the star who knows it all! Just another perspective! =)

 

[austinosphere]

YOU CAN RUN THAT HALF MARATHON!

You DO have time to get ready.

Seriously - 100% serious. And I'm an overweight guy who ran a half marathon at Disneyland - with little training - 8-10 weeks will be A-OK.

Do it!@ You CAN and WILL be able to run! Not 9 minute miles, but something!

 

[Vivianne]

Well, I'm a fine one to be giving advice about solo..cause..I've never done it. BUT, I do many things alone and think I could do it. The only thing that stops me is DH. He would be......cause he loves Disney too (it's just him and me), so it's not an option. Besides, I tell him he can go alone after I croak. He says the same about me....

The only problem I see is your son. You don't mention his age. If you can work that out, I say go for it. I've always been a shy person but if a friendly (non-shifty type) person talks to me..sure..I'll talk. Besides, there's so much to see and do, talking is the last thing you need to worry about. You may not need to talk to anyone, now money is another thing, I would hate to lose ANY of it, so I would definitely go..

 

[richardsa98]

DO IT!!!! No other reasoning necessary! And don't just do the trip, stop making excuses, train for the marathon and run or walk! But DO IT... We believe in you

 

[Snipedog]

I say you should go for it. I am a shy person myself, and evene witht hat I still find myself striking up conversaions with complete starngers and there families while waiting in the lines for a ride. You find out some really neet stuff expecially from the international travelers. I have done at least one solo trip every year for at least 6 days. It is the best one I do all year. I do what I want when I want. I can eat at the resterant that catches my eye at the time. There is also no need to come up with a detailed trip plan like you would have to do with a group of people. If you feel like going to do somethign just go and do it. Now if you need more to try and justify it, you can consider this trip a reserch trip for the big family vaction that you can take later on.

 

[disney_mommy]

I just want to say THANK YOU to everyone who gave me encouragement to take a solo, and those that are telling me to do the half-marathon.

I've decided to go ahead and go for it! I figure I'll at least start the race, and as the W.I.S.H. motto says DLF -> DNF -> DNS. Plus, I can enjoy the expo and get my goody bag!

My son is 11, and his grandma agreed to watch him for that time, so I'm okay with that. But he tends to be clingy and will definitely guilt me about going without him.

I've made the decision that this is something I am going to do just for me. It's something I've been toying with for a while, and now is the time to do it.

I'll get to try a new resort and do the things I want to do. I have a tendancy to go commando with the family and they hate that (plus, they don't respect my schedule!), so this will be a good opportunity for me to get everything in that I want to.

You guys have been a great source of encouragement for me and I really appreciate it. Thanks again!

 

[ahoff]

There are probably many that are axious about attempting something as ambitious as a half or full marathon. I had some concerns when I went last month to do the ToT 13K. It was the longest I have run ever, and had some worrys about how I would be feeling. it sure beats running by yourself, all the people there gave me a boost. and I wound up in the top 10%.

Now I am worried about how I will do for the half but the experience will help. Good Luck!

 

[xenole]

Shouldn't worry. I'm coming over by myself from England to do the Goofy Challenge and the 5km on the Friday (might as well get all the shirts and medals!). Sure there are a few others in the same boat.

No-one else is allowed the time off work at the same time as me, especially since it's the first week of the year, so it's a case of either taking the opportunity or missing out.

I've been to NY, San Francisco and Las Vegas by myself before and there are pro and cons to everything.
It's nice to have someone to talk to about things, although being solo, you can do what you want when you want.
Photos aren't too bad. Plenty of people willing to take them for you - last time I went to Disney, 3/4 of the photos of myself were taken by my friend and vice versa so there were hardly any with both of us in (did get a joint one on Test Track but I was looking down at the time so went back solo and ruined someone else's photo but putting my arms up in the air blocking their faces!)

As mentioned in other threads, dining is usually the worst thing. I tend to feel really embarassed about sitting alone eating. Sure it's fine if you're in a coffee shop or small cafe for example, but anywhere bigger and busier makes you stick out like a sore thumb. Not nice sitting down with families all around you and you're trying to eat and get out of there as quickly as possible! Does pose a bit of a problem with things like ADRs.

Personally, I'm planning to make what I can out of this trip. 3 mornings will involve running, and another revolving around a trip to the Expo. Will most likely visit Sea World and Universal the week after so it will be a bit of a change. I'll try to not to miss out on anything at the end of the day - I would rather feel embarrased for a short period of time in front of strangers who I'll most likely never see again than miss out on memories I'll have for life.

 

[Sarah4382]

Okay, here's my situation: I booked a trip in January to run the half marathon, but I'm not ready for it, so I won't be running. I'm debating whether to still go for a solo, or skip it altogether. I've already lost my entry fee, so that's depressing. I've already bought the plane ticket, so I don't want to lose that money, too. I would feel guilty about leaving my son for 5 days while I go to Disney. If it's just me, there's nobody to share the room costs with. And I am quite shy, so I'm worried I won't enjoy it. It's just in the last year or so that I've been able to sit alone in a cafe and eat. It's hard for me to start talking to strangers, though I am very friendly if they should approach me. My family really doesn't understand this idea of mine, to go alone. They say "why don't you save your money so we can go on a family vacation in the summer?"

Does anyone have any advice or wisdom to share with me?

I have gone solo four times! I love it!! I actually have a hard time going with my family and/or friends now. I love the freedom and independence going solo brings. I love being able to get the best seats at the parades and shows and not having to worry about anybody else. I say go for it!!