Stopping solo travel due to age?

[goofyernmost]

My daughter shared her Life360 app with me a couple years ago. We both keep track of each other while on the road and after. Initially she wanted me to have that in the event that she couldn't reach me by text or call and she could see where my phone was located. If I was home and not responding she would know to physically check, but both of us use it when each other are traveling. A little over a year ago both of us made a trip back to Vermont. (Different times) and they could track me and I could track them in real time all the way, over a thousand miles, and knew when we had reached our destinations.

It is comforting to know both where they are and conversely for them to know where I am.

I quoted myself to give an update. A week or so ago, my daughter and her husband celebrated their 25th Anniversary by taking a trip to Hawaii. I was able to know, in real time, every place they went, including a mall. I saw when they were touring the Pearl Harbor memorial as well as when they were on a cruise touring all the islands. The thing that made me smile and at the same time made me gobsmacked was when they were actually sailing on the cruise ship the indicator announced that she was on a "boat" and the circular indictor was moving up and down like it was simulating a boats movement on the water. Technology has some good points and also some of concern. The only time that app. wasn't available was when they were on a plane and their phones were on Airplane Mode.

 

[leebee]

I posted earlier in this thread about the very successful trip I took to WDW in November of 2024. I have just planned my Nov. 2025 trip. DD will be with me the first 2 days and then I'll be truly solo the last four. One thing I learned last time that I'll pass on here. I was booked at ASMusic last year in a standard room, which is what I always book, but was "pixie dusted" with an upgrade to a preferred room (Calypso building). It Was Awesome to be at the front of the resort, with such a short walk to transportation and food. I am not a nervous person, but it was also great to not be walking waaaayyyyy to the back of the resort by myself around midnight, too. I've never understood paying extra money for a room location (because who isn't already paying way too much for everything at Disney), but when I booked for this year, I booked a preferred room (at AllStarSports). I know there have been times on my solo trips that I've chosen to stay in at night because of the long walk to the bus and the even longer, darker walk back to my room at night. It's worth the extra money to me, now, to book a preferred location. Lesson learned.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I am not a nervous person, but it was also great to not be walking waaaayyyyy to the back of the resort by myself around midnight, too. I've never understood paying extra money for a room location (because who isn't already paying way too much for everything at Disney), but when I booked for this year, I booked a preferred room (at AllStarSports). I know there have been times on my solo trips that I've chosen to stay in at night because of the long walk to the bus and the even longer, darker walk back to my room at night. It's worth the extra money to me, now, to book a preferred location. Lesson learned.

Thanks! I've never stayed solo at OKW, mostly because I wouldn't feel comfortable getting all the way from either the bus or main building to my room after dark, especially with all the vegetation. Never realized, until I read this, that there's a category of rooms closer to the main building and probably better lit-the HH category. Now I feel much better about staying there solo.

 

[AnnaS]

Thanks! I've never stayed solo at OKW, mostly because I wouldn't feel comfortable getting all the way from either the bus or main building to my room after dark, especially with all the vegetation. Never realized, until I read this, that there's a category of rooms closer to the main building and probably better lit-the HH category. Now I feel much better about staying there solo.

I always book HH. They go quick. Waitlist just in case.

 

[Chuck S]

Thanks! I've never stayed solo at OKW, mostly because I wouldn't feel comfortable getting all the way from either the bus or main building to my room after dark, especially with all the vegetation. Never realized, until I read this, that there's a category of rooms closer to the main building and probably better lit-the HH category. Now I feel much better about staying there solo.

And the nice thing is, Near HH isn't anymore points than standard rooms at OKW. The near HH buildings are "officially" 11 to 14 and 23 to 26. If they overbooked or have other issues, they sometimes will use 62 to 64 or 27 to 29.

 

[Simba's Mom]

And the nice thing is, Near HH isn't anymore points than standard rooms at OKW. The near HH buildings are "officially" 11 to 14 and 23 to 26. If they overbooked or have other issues, they sometimes will use 62 to 64 or 27 to 29.

Thanks! We requested a golf course view next month (not a solo trip), and 27 is technically not HH, but supposedly has a great golf course view. And we've been fortunate enough to be in 63 twice-so there's a possibility of one of those. I know that 63 is a building I'd feel perfectly safe in as a solo.

 

[StephPlum]

I quoted myself to give an update. A week or so ago, my daughter and her husband celebrated their 25th Anniversary by taking a trip to Hawaii. I was able to know, in real time, every place they went, including a mall. I saw when they were touring the Pearl Harbor memorial as well as when they were on a cruise touring all the islands. The thing that made me smile and at the same time made me gobsmacked was when they were actually sailing on the cruise ship the indicator announced that she was on a "boat" and the circular indictor was moving up and down like it was simulating a boats movement on the water. Technology has some good points and also some of concern. The only time that app. wasn't available was when they were on a plane and their phones were on Airplane Mode.

I know this is a little old but wanted to share we use Life360 too - just the free version. Works very well for us. I travel solo a lot and my spouse “follows” me around Italy, Switzerland and in the back country of the NPs. I don’t think he has ever had any issues “following” me. I’m going on my first cruise. I’ll have to ask if he can see the boat movement.

 

[Chuck S]

I know this is a little old but wanted to share we use Life360 too - just the free version. Works very well for us. I travel solo a lot and my spouse “follows” me around Italy, Switzerland and in the back country of the NPs. I don’t think he has ever had any issues “following” me. I’m going on my first cruise. I’ll have to ask if he can see the boat movement.

Life 360 isn't always the most accurate, but it is good. My extended family and I use it (also just the free version) when we plan to meet somewhere so we can see how far away everyone is.

 

[goofyernmost]

I know this is a little old but wanted to share we use Life360 too - just the free version. Works very well for us. I travel solo a lot and my spouse “follows” me around Italy, Switzerland and in the back country of the NPs. I don’t think he has ever had any issues “following” me. I’m going on my first cruise. I’ll have to ask if he can see the boat movement.

I thought it was just my imagination but that movement was only when she was on the boat. As a cruise around the Hawaiian Islands they were off the ship doing local tours often. There was no up and down movement then, but it did tell me that she was walking around. It is amazing and it is in real time. There is no delay and for me they were around 6,000 miles away, or more. I think the one I use is free. I know I don't pay anything for it, but I was joined into my daughters account and I don't know if she pays or not. This type of technology has both very positive uses and a whole lot of scary things that I am not going to think about right now.

 

[Chuck S]

On life 360. if anyone in the circle pays, the upgrade seems to apply to the entire circle. One more recent member of our circle decided to pay, and we can see each others driving habit, and view some reports. But for most people, the free version should work just fine. Just be sure everyone you add to the circle is OK with sharing the info, but you can turn the tracking off from time to time, if you wish, it's easier for most people just to leave it on unless they really don't want anyone to know. You can also leave a circle completely or remove the app from your phone, of course. Also, the app will show not available or may show your last known location, if you are in a cell phone dead spot and are not connected to wifi. It will also show if someone's phone needs charging or is dead.

 

[goofyernmost]

On life 360. if anyone in the circle pays, the upgrade seems to apply to the entire circle. One more recent member of our circle decided to pay, and we can see each others driving habit, and view some reports. But for most people, the free version should work just fine. Just be sure everyone you add to the circle is OK with sharing the info, but you can turn the tracking off from time to time, if you wish, it's easier for most people just to leave it on unless they really don't want anyone to know. You can also leave a circle completely or remove the app from your phone, of course. Also, the app will show not available or may show your last known location, if you are in a cell phone dead spot and are not connected to wifi. It will also show if someone's phone needs charging or is dead.

Yikes! The phone or the someone? Just kidding, but that is the way I read it the first time.