Solo veterans

[GrumpyNee]

Going solo is great. I did it once at WDW in 1995 and a couple of times at DL. I never felt uncomfortable or unsafe.
You can do whatever you want at your own speed.
When I go to WDW/DL I am going from dawn to dusk and I always find that when i go with other people I never get to do everything I planned.
Don't worry too much and just use common sense. You will have a great time!

 

[ClareH37]

It's great reading everyone's experiences.

I now have my very first solo trip booked for May 2009 (staying at YC).

I must admit to having some feelings of excitement but also a little nervous. The thing I'm most nervous about is eating TS by myself, I am determined to return to some of my favourite TS restaurants, as well as 1 or 2 new ones.

Is there a 'best time' that perhaps I would feel most comfortable with - perhaps a late lunch/early dinner?

 

[Redbudlover]

Hi, I would suggest you just relax and have a great time. I went solo a year ago and stayed at the BWI. It was terrific. I feel and felt very safe at WDW, especially at the resorts. People do just assume you are with others and just alone for a short time. I think the parking lot security keeps out most people who do not belong there and a thief or mugger is going to find an easier time than hanging out in a dark corner of a resort waiting for a solo who may never appear.... I never once felt uncomfortable.

I also travel alone a lot - even overseas - so am comfortable eating out and people watching. But disney to me is the perfect place to vacation alone. Lots of people, great rides, great other kinds of things to do like the boats and segways and tours, great restaurants and a bunch of CMs whose job it is to make me happy. Have a wonderful time!

I just wanted to add not to be too quick to join up with a lot of other people. It is easy to find other dissers to meet, but I really love the feeling of not having anyone or anything I have to meet or do. I am meeting a couple of people there this trip, but most of it will be alone and it is the aloneness I am looking forward to.

 

[Glencora]

I ALWAYS carry a book with me when I eat out alone. It will also come in handy if the lines get too long!

 

[PolynesianPixie]

Hi, I would suggest you just relax and have a great time. I went solo a year ago and stayed at the BWI. It was terrific. I feel and felt very safe at WDW, especially at the resorts. People do just assume you are with others and just alone for a short time. I think the parking lot security keeps out most people who do not belong there and a thief or mugger is going to find an easier time than hanging out in a dark corner of a resort waiting for a solo who may never appear.... I never once felt uncomfortable.

I also travel alone a lot - even overseas - so am comfortable eating out and people watching. But disney to me is the perfect place to vacation alone. Lots of people, great rides, great other kinds of things to do like the boats and segways and tours, great restaurants and a bunch of CMs whose job it is to make me happy. Have a wonderful time!

I just wanted to add not to be too quick to join up with a lot of other people. It is easy to find other dissers to meet, but I really love the feeling of not having anyone or anything I have to meet or do. I am meeting a couple of people there this trip, but most of it will be alone and it is the aloneness I am looking forward to.

I must say, that aloneness is what I am most looking forward to!!!!

 

[jamstew]

I totally agree with everything redbudlover said. In fact, we're having a meal together in May

I can't imagine anywhere safer than Disney for a single woman to vacation, but only staying on-site.

 

[CountyMounty]

A lot of great info. I'm not female but still good solo tips and reveiws.

 

[ClareH37]

I am so looking forward to my trip - I'm definitely going to do some TS restaurants, and I'll take a good book as well as people watch

 

[aubriee]

I'm leaving in eleven days for an eight day solo trip, staying at POFQ and can't wait. I was really nervous my first trip, but have since come to love my solo trips. I go down there several times a year, sometimes solo and sometimes with my family. On my solo trips I've stayed at POP several times, AS Sports twice, CBR, and Boardwalk villa (rented points). I've had a great time every trip. I've been able to take several backstage tours, have done the Segway tour twice, eat places my family doesn't really want to try, spent a couple of days last May just looking for hidden Mickeys, take my time taking pictures until I get the one I want just right, people watch, and basically do whatever I want, whenever I want. If I want to meet some fellow DISers for a meal I can or if I want to be alone I can. I've enjoyed the Flower Festival with their Flower Power concerts several times, done the Eat To the Beat concerts during the Food & Wine Festival, and enjoyed the Candelight Processional and Christmas decorations several times in Dec. Going solo is great!

For my trip in eleven days I have the DxDDP and knowing I don't want three meals/day, I have an early TS lunch planned for everyday and then a Signature Restaurant planned for every night. I'm eating at Flying Fish, Yatchsman, Artist Point, Jiko, Narcoosee, Citricos, and California Grill. I can't wait! This trip is about FOOD and the Treasure Hunt PassPorter book I recently bought.

As far as safety, I've never felt unsafe at WDW. There are nearly always people around, everywhere is usually well lit, and you just need to keep an eye on your surroundings like you would anyplace else. On one of the backstage tours I took the CM was asked about security. He talked about all of the hidden cameras and plain clothes security people WDW has everywhere. He said that Disney was the biggest employer of off duty police officers in the area and that the most bizarrely dressed touristy looking person was often a security person working for Disney. I usually got for eight nights/nine days (arriving at MCO by 9:30am and leaving MCO around 8:30pm). However, for my next trip I got a much cheaper flight by leaving a day earlier than usual. I'm already regretting giving up that extra day.

 

[ClareH37]

Your trip sounds wonderful Aubriee.

I'm also thinking about Yachtsman and Flying Fish for my signature dining, can I be nosey and ask what time you're planning on eating dinner?

I'm not sure whether to go for an early dinner or a late dinner, trying to find a less crowded time.

 

[TaraPA]

What is the Treasure Hunt Passporter Book??

 

[Simba's Mom]

What is the Treasure Hunt Passporter Book??

I have it right next to the computer. It's a paperback, about 4X9 inches, with lists of different things to look for in different specific parts of WDW. The answers to the locations are in the back of the book. It's a really fun book. Costs $11.95, specifically called Passporter's Treasure Hunts at WDW, edited by K. Marc and K. Larner.

 

[aubriee]

Your trip sounds wonderful Aubriee.

I'm also thinking about Yachtsman and Flying Fish for my signature dining, can I be nosey and ask what time you're planning on eating dinner?

I'm not sure whether to go for an early dinner or a late dinner, trying to find a less crowded time.

Flying Fish is at 7:10pm and Yachtsman is at 7:20pm. I made my ADR times depending on how early I could get my lunch ADR for that day and also what else I was doing that day.

As far as the PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World, it's a great book for people who have already done the Hidden Mickey's book and are looking for something else. It basically takes you on a treasure hunt for trivia making you seek out little hidden details the imagineers planted in WDW. You will discover that Seumm Yett is a missing person from the Jungle Cruise, that Mickey Mouse has left behind his shorts at the Muppet Motel, and that the stained glass in Belle's hidden library tells her story, what initials are on the feed buckets in the Firehouse, who are Minnie's grandparents, what brand of overalls does Mickey wear, etc. If you are into treasure hunts, it's a neat book.

 

[Redbudlover]

I totally agree with everything redbudlover said. In fact, we're having a meal together in May

I can't imagine anywhere safer than Disney for a single woman to vacation, but only staying on-site.

Hi, Jamie!!

Not too long now! The days are flying by. I am getting so excited

 

[SusanWasHere]

i was just about to post this same question myself! i am sooooooo tired of trying to talk people into taking a trip to disney (they just don't get it!) and i even own dvc and offer free lodging and people still wonder what is "wrong" with me that i want to go so often. so i think i'm going to go by myself in may over memorial day weekend and for a week in august SOLO! i can't believe i'm actually considering it, but i'm tired of asking others to go and them flaking out at the last minute, or going with people that don't know how to "do" disney LOL. so great responses - have totally made me feel better! anyone else going memorial day weekend? lol

 

[iluveeyore]

i was just about to post this same question myself! i am sooooooo tired of trying to talk people into taking a trip to disney (they just don't get it!) and i even own dvc and offer free lodging and people still wonder what is "wrong" with me that i want to go so often. so i think i'm going to go by myself in may over memorial day weekend and for a week in august SOLO! i can't believe i'm actually considering it, but i'm tired of asking others to go and them flaking out at the last minute, or going with people that don't know how to "do" disney LOL. so great responses - have totally made me feel better! anyone else going memorial day weekend? lol

Hey Susan - we'll be there that weekend (not until Monday), but I'll be with my family Just took my first solo in March, and would go solo every time as many times in a year as I could afford if my DH didn't love Disney too! Enjoy your 'you' time - I sure did!!!!

 

[PolynesianPixie]

i was just about to post this same question myself! i am sooooooo tired of trying to talk people into taking a trip to disney (they just don't get it!) and i even own dvc and offer free lodging and people still wonder what is "wrong" with me that i want to go so often. so i think i'm going to go by myself in may over memorial day weekend and for a week in august SOLO! i can't believe i'm actually considering it, but i'm tired of asking others to go and them flaking out at the last minute, or going with people that don't know how to "do" disney LOL. so great responses - have totally made me feel better! anyone else going memorial day weekend? lol

Good for you! I plan so many trips, I poor out my soul for them!! Does anyone apprectiate it? Not so much. There are so many things I want to experience at Disney...at my own pace....I can't wait to get there alone!!!! My only issue at this point? Is that I didn't plan nearly enough time to do what I want to do!

 

[SusanWasHere]

Good for you! I plan so many trips, I poor out my soul for them!! Does anyone apprectiate it? Not so much. There are so many things I want to experience at Disney...at my own pace....I can't wait to get there alone!!!! My only issue at this point? Is that I didn't plan nearly enough time to do what I want to do!

well I booked my trip today!! I figured why not? I'll be dead someday and then won't have the chance to go LOL. So I'll be there May 22 -27. Staying at Pop. I really wanted to stay at CSR again, but with no one else to help split the bill, I went to the cheapest I could get. I can't wait - first meal will be my fish & chips from Epcot and my 2nd meal will be schoolbread from Norway. I can't wait! Feel free to join whoever will be there

 

[PolynesianPixie]

well I booked my trip today!! I figured why not? I'll be dead someday and then won't have the chance to go LOL. So I'll be there May 22 -27. Staying at Pop. I really wanted to stay at CSR again, but with no one else to help split the bill, I went to the cheapest I could get. I can't wait - first meal will be my fish & chips from Epcot and my 2nd meal will be schoolbread from Norway. I can't wait! Feel free to join whoever will be there

Great!!!! I'm so happy for you! I was planning to go way cheap on my trip! I was going to tent camp! Really! I was excited about roughing it on my own. I was psyched! Then I had a nightmare about tent slashers and booked WL instead!!!! Oh well, so much for going cheap!

I plan to have sushi at CG and a margarita in Mexico!!!!!!!!

 

[mousefanmichelle]

I am doing my first solo trip too! It is exciting and nervewracking at the same time isn't it?! I am going May 16th -19th, just a long weekend away from reality. If I like it for these 3 nights I may have to shoot for longer next time! I went cheap for myself as well - so I am staying at POP too (thought about tenting it but had the same thoughts as you PolyPixie -tent slashers... too many horror movies I guess lol!!) I am soooo looking forward to not having to worry about anyone but myself for 4 days - no mom I need this or mom he hit me - peace for 4 days ahhhhh...