Solo Disneyland Vacation

[Montana Minnies]

Hi Everyone

I've been to Disneyland about 4 other times, but this will be the first time I will be going by myself. Am I crazy? So far no rebuttals from any family members. My one niece maybe able to meet me there for a day or two.
I am a little nervous , but also very excited to go! I have read about others going to WDW solo and they seem to enjoy it, so I hope I will too!
I just wanted to let you all knowI'm Going To Disneyland!

 

[Disneyland_emily]

I rather enjoy flying solo because a) you can ride what you want when you want b) you can eat when and where you like (if ya want only popcorn for lunch then so be it) c) if you want to shop more then go right ahead d) if you want to wait in line for Mickeys autograph then you can!

and for me the #1 reason... I can hang at the pin carts as long as I want to and noone gets mad...

Enjoy it- Its a totally different experiance but its great

 

[iceskatejen]

I also love to go solo. For many of the same reasons Emily listed. I also went to WDW solo and had a blast. Yes, it's fun to share DL with family and friends, but it's fun to go by yourself too.

 

[Montana Minnies]

Thanks! for your words of encourgement!

 

[Stacerita]

Go for it solo. Just imagine how great it is gonna be to be able to do what ever you when when ever you want. As much as I would love to go solo I never have had the chance. There is always someone else going with me or I take the sweetpea. But I would love to be able to go and not have to worry about what someone else is wanting to do. Im sure you will have a great time.

 

[Mom2Joce]

You are NOT crazy at all. When I worked at Disneyland (my early college years) I would go by myself or after work ALL the time.

It was so cool and most the time I'd just sit on main street and take it all in and a parade or show. I really enjoy watching others and the exitement they have being there.

Also, I could take in details of buildings, rides, and the like at my leisure instead of just rushing through Disneyland like when I'm with family!!

ENJOY your alone experience, you'll LOVE it!!

 

[lulubelle]

I go semi-solo all the time. Case in point, this last week. DD18 gets out of school at noon on Tues & Thurs. She drove to my work at noon on Thurs, Feb 3rd, we drove to Anaheim Sheraton (only 20 minutes from my work, 40 minutes from my house) and checked in. Got to the parks before 2 pm and due to most everything being a walk on, did everything we wanted by 6:30 pm. Met DH at Hooke's Point for dinner (he drove from work to the DTD parking lot) and we leisurely walked through DTD and drove DH's truck back to the hotel about 9 pm. DD went to school the next day, DH went to work and I went to DL/DCA solo. I was on my own until dinner at 7 pm at Catal, but like Em said....did what I wanted, shopped when I wanted, ate what sounded good at the time and had a great time. Sat. I was on my own again, but left fairly early due to crowds. We do this drill every few months as I am a DIS FREAK and my family could care less. DD and I have annual passes, I did not renew DH's this year as he really only goes to appease me and why spend the $$ for that? So, I spend about 1/2 of my DL/DCA time alone. Given a choice, I would like my family with me, but if it is by myself or not at all, you will definately hear me replying to the CM's when asking how many in my party? "Just one!"

DH and I are going to WDW in October for the F & W Festival, but he has already told me this is the last time he will go (it will be the fourth time), so I am entertaining the idea of Florida alone in two years cause I just LOVE WDW!

Anyway, sorry for such a long post, but I want to encourage you to go by yourself, it is not that bad and any trip to DL is magical

 

[disneychrista]

My "dream" is to be able to go on a solo trip. If I didn't live 10 hours away I would have done it already. I enjoy doing things on my own. I go to the movies by myself all the time and actually get frustrated if my mom wants to go along.

 

[WheresGoofy]

My first trip to DL was a solo trip. I stayed at the Caroussel Inn and had a blast. Took a side trip to Universal Studios while there. I thought it was great. Now I have a wonderful DW and DD to share my adventures with. Enjoy your solo trip!

 

[BriarRosie]

I've done solo trips to WDW, and one to Disneyland, August of 2003.
Since you asked about Disneyland...

I booked Candy Cane Inn online. I had a terrific rate for 4 nights, and when
it's 100 degree weather, the air conditioned shuttle is the way to go!
I would have walked had the temps been in the 80s.

The best part of going solo at Disneyland: Single rider lines!

It was incredibly busy, but so many attractions had single rider access,
even if there were no dedicated single rider queues. It took me a few
hours to discover this treasure. Indiana Jones at a 200+ minute wait?

Nope! I found out that single riders can head through the exit,
up an elevator, around a corner, down the other elevator....and in
the loading area. (Sure, you bypass the cool queue, but I've seen
the queue before. LOL).

If I didn't see a sign for single rider entrances, I'd just ask any
cast member working the attractions. I must have saved
hours upon hours.

Also, I was able to dine solo at the Vineyard Room at DCA and Napa Rose
at the GC. Yum.

 

[Montana Minnies]

Thanks Everyone!

I am looking forward to my Disneyland trip.
Do all 3 of the Disneyland Hotels offer a Character Breakfast? If so, which one would you reccomend to go to?

 

[iceskatejen]

Yes they do. I've only been to Goofy's Kitchen. You can't go wrong with that one. It probably has the largest selection of characters of all of them (probably the most expensive, too).

 

[jmuboy]

Solo trips are GREAT you can pace the day as you want. Extra time to stroll the shops. Reading every menu at every restaurant to decide what you really want. Running for fastpass and riding all those little rides that some might complain about. I was in LA back in Ocotber on buisness and did a day trip to DL by myself. I loved it.

 

[Party Teacher]

I recently did a solo trip to the parks. My original intent was to
do a little shopping for friends and see the 75 Mickeys. I arrived
about noon and figured I'd be done by about 2:00. Well, I ended
up staying until about 9:30. I visited all the lands in both parks
(quite a feat since the train wasn't running), road my two favorites,
Soaring and Storybookland Canal Boats, saw the Snow White
show and took my time to check out a lot of little details that
I hadn't noticed in the hundreds of times I've been there before.
I'd definately go solo again.

Party Teacher

 

[funnygarcia]

I went solo in November- it was great! The holiday decorations were up, they had the Holiday Believe fireworks, Haunted Mansion Holiday, Small World Holiday and I decorated a cookie by the fire station. Treated myself to Fantasia ice cream (sadly has it has gone to Yesterland - boo hoo!) and ate at places I never tried before.

It was fun to find and use the single rider lines.. BTW Indy no longer has single rider as they have redone the que to make everone watch the safety/ intro video. The best single rider lines were for Splash (walk thru exit, wait for a CM to notice you, walk over a little bridge and wait all of 2 minutes !) and Screamin (ask for single rider pass - walk up a rampway to the left of the entrance for a special gate marked "single rider". Take elevator up, walk to other elevator and go back down and wait for CM to put you in line).

The other rides offering single rider: Soaring - ask CM for single rider pass.. they do run out but go back and ask again. Mullholland Madness - special gate marked single rider.Very short wait!
I believe GRR and Maliboomer offer single rider when the parks are very busy.

It was easy to navigate thru crowds and the only times I felt odd were on some of the Fantasyland rides (Casey's train was odd as you end up sharing seating with a family).

Have fun!