Solo Trip Discouragement

[cteddiesgirl]

My dad hasn't said or done anything to discourage me from my first solo trip, but my best friend has.

She tried telling me that no one travels so far away by themselves. I'm only going 1000 miles to WDW. I'm not going to Timbuktu.

In 1997, at 24 yo I took my then 11 yo niece by myself to WDW and my parents didn't discourage me then either.

But, my best friend is a mother and a worrier by nature.

As long as you use common sense such as not telling everyone you're by yourself, walking at night only in well lighted areas and making sure to notice who's around you, you will be fine.

 

[DisneyFan2013]

Thanks everyone! I think my mom is starting to relax a bit but either way...my trip is booked!

 

[BongoFury]

Thanks everyone! I think my mom is starting to relax a bit but either way...my trip is booked!

 

[Fantaluminishes]

Many people don't understand how others can take solo vacations. I live in the SF area. When I ewes younger and single, my friends never wanted to go on vacation. I couldn't understand how people lived such sheltered lives.

I've been to Las Vegas, Reno, Seattle, Grand Canyon and San Diego on my own. I've traveled solo to Disneyland countless times. 4 of my 7 trips to WDW have been solo, including the past two years. I LOVE going solo to WDW. I have more fun doing what I want to do each day.

Fifteen years after my first solo WDW trip, I still have people commenting about me going alone. Whatever. If you have the means and the desire, go for it. Never let others try to dictate your happiness.

 

[aacvacation]

Thanks everyone! I think my mom is starting to relax a bit but either way...my trip is booked!

YESSSSS. Oh man, now you have to keep everyone updated, not just MOM!!

 

[tstidm1]

Mom's always worry about things. Just say you will call her every day to let her know your safe and having a good time. It's also a sign that your an Adult that you get to experience new things and places without supervision.

 

[FelineVintage]

I'm sort of similar - booked a solo trip to WDW this June (also female, also an adult over 25!). I've not lived at home since I started university years ago, and have done a number of solo trips (including Disneyland and Disneyland Paris) and mentioned wanting to go solo to WDW for months before I booked... but she was still worried! I think it's just moms being concerned.

(Things have now changed a bit for me as I have a friend coming along for the first few days so my mom is less worried now! - but am still going to be solo for the last few days...)

Hey, you're overlapping with my trip from good old Blighty! Also solo female traveller.

Anyhoo, I've been travelling solo as long as I can remember, starting with a train to York to visit my mum from Edinburgh when I was still at school. I have been to the States and went to live in New Zealand on two occasions all by myself. It just doesn't bother me or the people I know, they're so used to me just taking off now. They check in to make sure I'm okay but I think the biggest hurdle for other people is the first trip. Especially is they're not particularly independent spirited themselves, they just don't understand how you could want to spend so much time alone or how it could ever be safe.

Go, enjoy and I bet the next solo trip mom won't be nearly so bad.

 

[TPTraveler]

I'm planning my first solo trip in September. It'll be my 3rd year in a row going, so I feel like I'm familiar with the parks and the whole Disney experience. I had originally planned to go with a friend, but she's unreliable, and since people got on my nerves the last two times I went, I figured I'd have more fun taking a solo trip anyway....
lol

I have been to WDW multiple times solo and I suggest you go for it. Disney World is actually quite a bit safer (in my opinion) than many other places you might go alone as a woman. As a solo female traveler, you always have to take precautions but do not let that spoil your fun.

 

[klmall]

I have gone solo two times as a woman and loved every moment! I took normal precautions for safety both trips and had absolutely no problems.

If you asked DH about how much he worries about me he would say something like "Disneyworld is the only place I don't worry about her travelling alone at."

He worries when I drive to my mom's (1.5 hours away) or when I drive to the local mall in the evening. But he doesn't worry about me at Disney!

Call your mom once a day during the trip and it might help. My mom still worries about me even though I am middle-aged and very organized. It's normal and nothing she can anything about.....it's in the mom genes!

 

[zanzibar138]

After talking to my mum yesterday I couldn't but think of this thread! We are going to the US in August/September as a group, with DH too. However, I have a few days on my own tacked on at the beginning (Anaheim) and the end (Phoenix and San Antonio). I'm sure she's been worried internally, but she only started voicing her concern when I told her that I plan to hire a car and drive myself around while I'm there She made me promise to lock the car whenever I'm driving it, and to buy a cheap mobile phone (our Australian ones will be too expensive to use) so that I can keep them in the loop.

I'm 30 and have traveled solo domestically (including long road trips) and partially solo internationally before. It's a mum's job to worry

 

[JeffryK]

You and your mom should watch Finding Nemo, theres a lesson there for her ;-)

 

[Britdisneyfan]

You and your mom should watch Finding Nemo, theres a lesson there for her ;-)

Lol this made me smile,

 

[Stefecatzz]

Maybe assuring your mom that you'll be checking in w/her while you're there will help ease her anxiety. My mom wasn't too sure about me going to do the CP but she saw how bad I really wanted to do it & she let it go. Also, if something does happen like you have a minor injury or you feel sick, there's a First Aid station w/a nurse there in each park that will give you OTC meds or bandaids free of charge.

Just know that when you do go, you should still always be aware of your surroundings b/c there are people of all types in the parks. If you get into a conversation w/someone in the parks or at your resort, don't tell them details about where you're staying or what your schedule will be like. I guess the best advise I can think to give is listen to your gut feeling about someone or the situation. If you get a weird initial feeling about someone, avoid them. I have met plenty of really friendly people in the parks & at resorts that I've enjoyed conversations with so stay aware & have fun on your trip!

 

[DisneyFan2013]

Maybe assuring your mom that you'll be checking in w/her while you're there will help ease her anxiety. My mom wasn't too sure about me going to do the CP but she saw how bad I really wanted to do it & she let it go. Also, if something does happen like you have a minor injury or you feel sick, there's a First Aid station w/a nurse there in each park that will give you OTC meds or bandaids free of charge. Just know that when you do go, you should still always be aware of your surroundings b/c there are people of all types in the parks. If you get into a conversation w/someone in the parks or at your resort, don't tell them details about where you're staying or what your schedule will be like. I guess the best advise I can think to give is listen to your gut feeling about someone or the situation. If you get a weird initial feeling about someone, avoid them. I have met plenty of really friendly people in the parks & at resorts that I've enjoyed conversations with so stay aware & have fun on your trip!

Thanks! That is my mom's main complaint that I'm not aware enough of my surroundings, but I don't agree with her.

 

[Lmans77]

I imagine that traveling in and around WDW is way safer that what most of us do as part of our daily lives. I would not hesitate for one second to travel to WDW alone.

Sure the world theoretically can be a scary place, and I'm not about taking stupid chances, but letting fear hold me back from living my life when the statistical chance that something bad happening is infinitesimal is equally terrible.

I have a best friend who in her 20s, traveled the world solo. From SE Asia, Europe, Israel, etc. Never had issue.

Go. Have fun.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I went alone at age 28 and I was fine. Took the usual precautions (aware of surroundings, not telling strangers where I was staying, asking for a room in a well-lit area). I checked in with my mom regularly and was fine.

 

[Oodalally13]

Here's a random off the wall thought that I have sometimes encountered. Now I love my mom and dad, they are 2 of my best friends in the world now that I am a grown up. I also LOVE traveling with them. However, on occasion when I plan solo trips to visit friends in Austin for multiple days, I find my mom being negative about it. "What are you going to do there? Havent you been enough?" or "Why dont you just wait and WE can go somewhere together?"

I find these times that it isnt that she is really worried, it is that she is feeling left out. I know it is juvenile, but that's just her sometimes. Do yall hang out often? Is it maybe that she would be lonely or feel she was missing out?

 

[DisneyFan2013]

Here's a random off the wall thought that I have sometimes encountered. Now I love my mom and dad, they are 2 of my best friends in the world now that I am a grown up. I also LOVE traveling with them. However, on occasion when I plan solo trips to visit friends in Austin for multiple days, I find my mom being negative about it. "What are you going to do there? Havent you been enough?" or "Why dont you just wait and WE can go somewhere together?"

I find these times that it isnt that she is really worried, it is that she is feeling left out. I know it is juvenile, but that's just her sometimes. Do yall hang out often? Is it maybe that she would be lonely or feel she was missing out?

I hang out with my mom all the time. We took a mother/daughter Disney trip last year. Yes, she'd like to go this year too but she can't afford it. So yes, she feels somewhat left out but it's really more of an issue of her feeling like I'm not "responsible" enough to travel alone because she still thinks of me as a naive child.

 

[ebtbmom]

I've done 2 solos and they are wonderful!! I've never felt uncomfortable or unsafe.

Tell her that unless you tell people, how will they know you are alone? If you're walking around the resort or park you could be going to meet up with your family. If you're on the bus you could be returning for something. Honestly when I see people alone this is what I assume.

 

[DummbGiRL]

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!