Solo and RUDE COMMENT!!!

[BillSears]

I travel alone most of the time. My response to "Just one?" is generally along the lines of "I'm selfish and demanding and nobody wants to travel with me".

Well, you're only telling the truth!

Actually I love doing things by myself. With the exception of a few people I'm happiest when I'm alone. Maybe I am too selfish and want everything my way?

 

[debbiepump]

I went to Rose and Crown for an early dinner, and they just seemed to have no idea what to do with a solo diner. So they put me all alone in a room by myself! Everyone else was getting outside patio tables, but I sat alone, the only diner in the whole room. The servers then seemed confused I was there when they walked by. Whole experience was a bit weird. Not hurrying back there!
******************************************************

LMAO!!!!! That's so funny. I'm the OP, at the time the comment bothered me, but only while I was doing the shoulda/woulda/coulda back at 'ya comments in my head. What made me the saddest was seeing this guys two young daughters listening to dad have that attitude. My husband and I raised two very, very independent daughters and are proud of 'em! I've done great the rest of this week out here in SanDiego alone/been to Balboa Park for 2 days and everywhere else alone-this must be the lone 'rudie' around here. The longer I'm out here doing things on my own, the more comfortable I am. When folks say they enjoy the 'doing their own thing' while solo, boy is that true, and how much more you can see w/o pleasing anyone but yourself.
I pity the next rude commenter that says something to me, got my 'guns' (comments) loaded and waiting!!

 

[angwill]

I have never gone to WDW alone but I would if I got the chance. The most interesting people and best conversations we had in disney were with people who went by themselves. One was an older gentleman who's daughter worked for Disney and he had a list of how many times he rode each ride. He was a college professor who came to Disney 4 times a year alone and came for opening of the parks everyday he was there while his daughter worked. He told us all kinds of Disney trivia and was just the kindest most interesting person. The other solo was a 15 year old boy who's mother and sister wanted to sleep in so he went to MGM solo. He was trying to find out how he could work for Disney as a singer in some way when he graduated from his musical high school in NY. I love to hear about other people so I enjoy the conversation. People who are with families tend to talk amongst themselves and ignore others. I look forward to going solo in the future. I have done a mother son trip and really enjoyed the one on one time with my son.

The best people are those who can enjoy their own company. How can you enjoy other people if you can't enjoy yourself first.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I have never gone to WDW alone but I would if I got the chance. The most interesting people and best conversations we had in disney were with people who went by themselves.

Excellent point! If I’m with other people, I’m involved in whatever the group is doing. Alone, I can start a conversation with anyone, about almost anything.

The best people are those who can enjoy their own company.

Oh, I like that. MUCH less confrontational than my standard response. “I enjoy my own company”.

 

[sk8belle]

I tend to go with "If I waited for people to have the time or money to go with me, I'd never go anywhere. Life's too short to sit around at home."

 

[PaulaSB12]

I tend to go with "If I waited for people to have the time or money to go with me, I'd never go anywhere. Life's too short to sit around at home."

I get that sort of comment alot. The haven't you found a man yet, no if I want kids I am going to use that $360 frozen sperm bank I found. How can you travel alone, its easy get on a plane and go there. Went to see Fantastic 4 on sunday on my last morning shift, how sad you can't take anyone, why I get to chose the film and get to sit where I want front seat in the middle of the row.

 

[me again]

Well, don't get paranoid about the "just one" question. Probably the server is just trying to determine the seating, oftentimes one person will go in to stand line while the rest of the group follows. The server probably just wants to make sure he got it right, I don't think he's really feeling sorry for the solo traveler, etc. Other people never think as much about you as you do (that's what I tell my dd when she doesn't want to leave the house if she has a fresh zit )

Actually, one of my best experiences at WDW was when I took off on my own, let dh take the kids back to MK, I spent the day at Epcot seeing it my way. I spent all the time I wanted seeing what I wanted (spent a lot of time at the China pavilion), was actually able to read the descriptions of the exhibits instead of having whiny kids tugging on me saying they were bored, could eat at a nice sit-down restaurant instead of CS (ate at Le Ceiler, great, even for one), you know, that was my best day. I also struck up conversations with many people, some I think felt sorry for me that I was alone until I explained that this was Mom's Day OUt, then they seemed to think it was a great idea.

Just enjoy and don't worry about what people think. I still remember my Mom's Day OUt, don't think other people who saw poor me all alone are still talking about it

 

[WindFlower]

As per the OP's experience, I think others enjoy putting down solo people because of the perception that solo people "are losers who have no friends". QUOTE]


I don't think people enjoy putting down solo people. I think the majority or travelers feel bad for them because they like having companionship on their trips. I think the man the OP was talking about was definitely rude in yelling to her "how sad" but I don't think he was trying to be mean. Reading this thread has been really interesting because it seems a few people are quick to respond with comebacks or other slightly rude comments. It seems like they are insecure about traveling solo. Honestly though, so many people are wrapped up with themselves, their families, and their own trip that I don't think they really pay attention/notice other WDW guests.

 

[aclov]

Actually I got a comment in Epcot not from a cast member but from another visitor. I was waiting in line for Soarin and there was a family also waiting close to me. The man was one of them "super-friendly, I can talk to anyone type of guy". So he asks me if I was alone and what I was doing alone. I told him DH was visiting his friend in Orlando for the day and didn't want to come to the parks. He and his wife just couldn't believe that I would go to a park alone.

When I got home, I told my friend that I had went to MK and Epcot by myself for the day and she kept saying "ALONE!" " YOU WENT ALONE??" She just couldn't believe it! And than I told her I went to dinner ALONE too...she just started laughing.

 

[kjetjl]

I want to say thank you for the posts. I am a mom of 6 and I seem to never be alone right now. But I get so frustrated with the comments made to me while out in public. "All these yours? You know how that happens, don't you?" (Like I need a sex education lesson in the grocery store, for crying out loud!)

I see being a mom of a big family is not the only situation that is rudely commented on. Why can't people just keep all rude comments to themselves?

On our trips to WDW, we always enjoy talking with those traveling solo or without kids or with families. Some of our best memories are on the busses or in long lines just chatting with different people.

 

[sk8belle]

Went to see Fantastic 4 on sunday on my last morning shift, how sad you can't take anyone, why I get to chose the film and get to sit where I want front seat in the middle of the row.

Precisely. If I want to spend all day in Epcot or go on Everest several times in a row or meander through whatever park, I can. Don't have to wait for people to get up in the morning, don't have to leave the parks early if someone else is tired before I am. Not that I mind doing it when I'm there with friends or family, but it's nice to be on my own schedule when the opportunity arises.

Honestly, I've never really had any comments (that I've heard) made to me about being at Disney or anywhere else on my own. Esp. at Disney. It gives me a chance to chat with CMs who are tons of fun, and I also meet more people than if I'm with friends or family. Just as an example, last time I was at F&W Fest by myself, I ended up sharing a stand-up table in front of Epcot with a newlywed couple and had a great conversation with them.

 

[mjy]

I go it alone almost all the time. After dealing with so many people day in and day out in my job, it is really nice to go someplace alone and be free to do whatever I want, when I want.

For what it's worth, I've met a lot of cast members through the years at WDW. We have spoken about this from time to time and there are many CMs who work the restaurants who really like it when someone comes in alone. They say that us solos are

1. usually much more relaxed and ready to engage in conversation with our table servers and
2. tip better!

For what it's worth!

 

[Tink3Belle]

I bet the person he was with wish they were along too!
I bet they were sad.

 

[PaulaSB12]

I want to say thank you for the posts. I am a mom of 6 and I seem to never be alone right now. But I get so frustrated with the comments made to me while out in public. "All these yours? You know how that happens, don't you?" (Like I need a sex education lesson in the grocery store, for crying out loud!)

I see being a mom of a big family is not the only situation that is rudely commented on. Why can't people just keep all rude comments to themselves?

On our trips to WDW, we always enjoy talking with those traveling solo or without kids or with families. Some of our best memories are on the busses or in long lines just chatting with different people.

Next time you get asked if all your children are yours give on of two answers

1 No I rent them by the hour
2 I needed new chimney sweeps so I brought them at wal mart!

 

[madenon]

Next time you get asked if all your children are yours give on of two answers

1 No I rent them by the hour
2 I needed new chimney sweeps so I brought them at wal mart!

Or when in DWD or Disney-spirit; "I feel like Snowwhite, so I decided to get myself 7 dwarfs. I'm still looking for number 7, do you know one for me?".

 

[pixdust]

What is up with people.
There are times when I revel in just being in my house by myself. Without DH and DS and D-dogs and frogs and lizards and toads and birds. People are insecure with themselves if they think every body has to be with somebody.!!

 

[kjetjl]

Next time you get asked if all your children are yours give on of two answers

1 No I rent them by the hour
2 I needed new chimney sweeps so I brought them at wal mart!

Thanks for that. I need to get the courage to say something like that!

 

[kjetjl]

Or when in DWD or Disney-spirit; "I feel like Snowwhite, so I decided to get myself 7 dwarfs. I'm still looking for number 7, do you know one for me?".

That is a great one!

 

[sk8belle]

ITA. I liked the Snow White one best, too!

 

[Kaliet]

Hubby and I went to Walt Disney World last Jan. and on the last day I went to the parks solo as he wanted to stay in and I never got rude comments thank goodness, but I did get to the head of the line on some rides. I was line for Soarin and a cast member asked is anyone was alone and I raised my hand a little sheepishly and he said come with me please. Needless to say I strutted my stuff all the way to the front of the ride and got on an empty seat. Sometimes it pays to be by yourself. It happened on a couple of other rides also.