Solo Trip Discouragement

[Stefecatzz]

For my 27th birthday I gifted myself a solo trip to WDW for a week and it was the best vacation I've ever had. I met so many people and cast members from around the world, I only seldom felt alone. I grew a lot on the trip and I empower all to do it. Definitely felt safe the whole time and considering many people solo backpacking though Europe, WDW is definitely safer than that. My favorite dining experience was Lunch with an Imagineer at HBD and I highly recommend it (especially for solo travelers). Have an awesome time!

Just curious as to why you recommend Lunch with an Imagineer especially for a solo traveler? I've never done anything like this & was wondering how comfortable it would be to do solo.

 

[DummbGiRL]

Just curious as to why you recommend Lunch with an Imagineer especially for a solo traveler? I've never done anything like this & was wondering how comfortable it would be to do solo.

Lunch with an Imagineer (at least the one I did at HBD) is a table in the side room that is set for ~10 people with the Imagineer at the head. The Imagineer does most of the talking and the questions of the guests are really smart. The only people who seem to book this dining even are Disney enthusiasts. It doesn't really seem like an event parents book with children. In fact, there were two other "solos" when I was there that were there with their family, but left everyone to have this meal alone. Just talking about Disney with like-minded people and talking about yourselves in a very comfortable environment. It was my most enjoyable solo meal.

Plus the food is fantastic, the souvenir plate is awesome and HBD will hold on to it until you are ready to leave the park. I had heard other just took their plate and bought a souvenir from another shop and threw it in that bag and it was eventually delivered back to their resort. I wouldn't want to risk it breaking though. And you get a group meal picture! It's awesome. I should upload my pics sometime.

Sorry for the super delay in replying!

 

[Stefecatzz]

Oh, that does sound really fun & interesting! I didn't know how it was set up. Thanks for the reply!

 

[Disney Frenhines]

Moms will worry no matter what. Disney is a VERY safe place. Tell your mom not to worry!! You will be safe in Mickeys hands

My daughter is nearly 24, if she was planning a solo trip to WDW staying at one of the resort hotels all I would be concerned about is the transfers to and from OIA, but, if she was taking DME then no worries, I'd just furnish her with the normal advice that I'd give wherever she was going on holiday, don't go anywhere with anyone you just meet (common sense) accept lifts from anyone male or female and if you go to US use the Mears shuttle, only go in an official Mears shuttle and make sure you are there to pick it up in plenty of time, no last minutes rush to catch it. Apart from that, have a great time and don't forget to bring me a pressie.

 

[lulubel88]

If you're comfortable with it and you both have smartphones, get the Find Friends app and give her access to you while you're there. I'm in my 40s and give my friend access when I go on my solo adventures. I have another who calls me daily to check in.

 

[RealBlast3]

When I was in my late 20s (I'm a guy), I was trying to plan a solo trip to Disney and my mom and dad were so against it. I had to deal with alot of grief from them. My mom was very upset that I wouldn't be able to handle all the responsibility of being on my own for a vacation. It was very difficult - alot of arguing. I lived at home, which compounded the problem of my parents still viewing me as a kid.

Anyway, my trip never happened back then, it was too much drama and then we went one last time as a family and them my mother got very sick and passed away from cancer.

Anyway, some time after that devastating loss, I wanted to try to plan a solo trip again to Disney, I was now 30, and determined. My father was very against it and tried to talk me out of it, but he wasn't quite so upset about it as my mom was, so I basically held my ground and told him that I would be fine. I told him I had used the internet and researched the entire trip to a tee, and how everything would be taken care of and how safe Disney is too.

I mean, here I am, a 30 year old man (or nearly that when my mom was alive), and I had both parents worried to death something would happen in Disney. Even though we had been there twice, and they knew it was safe.

I ended up going on solo trips 3 years in a row in fact! I come from NY, so I know about having to be safe, and what looks suspicious, but honestly I have never felt safer in my life than at Disney in all the parks. Even when it was dark at night, and I was leaving a park, like Epcot, and I took some of the more isolated paths, I felt completely safe. Of course anything can happen, in theory anywhere, but really, what crime ever happens in Disney? Other than the occasional drunk who maybe drinks too much around the world or something and causes a disturbance.

I ended up feeling completely confident from these trips and impressing my dad and other relatives who thought I couldn't handle it. I have a very protective Italian-American family who believes everyone is safer at home!