Tips and advice for traveling solo to WDW

[Kidtcha]

He last time I went to WDW for any extended period of time was in 1993 with my mom and my best friend. Currently, everyone I know who goes to Disney have kids. That's fine but I would love to do Disney on my own or with another single friend.
Does anyone have any tips for me as I research this future trip? Time of year, places to stay.....do y'all have any meet ups or planned trips? I know this is kind of vague and the cost of things all depend on many variables but I'm dunking my toe into this!

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

I have had about 15 annual solo Disney World trips, so far. I do not have any children, and my DH prefers to stay home. If you are going to go solo, first of all, I would choose a time frame when most kids are in school. It will then be less crowded. There still is plenty of kids, but just not so much. Personally, I like to choose somewhere within the first 2 weeks of December, but that is up to you. I would suggest staying at the deluxes, or the moderate resorts, but not the value resorts. The first few times that I did WDW solo, I did a couple of DIS meet ups with women in my same age group. This worked very well for me. We only had a buffet breakfast together, we did not do park touring together. I never had any problems at all in eating in any of the WDW restaurants alone, but a place like the Sci Fi Drive In at the Studios is extra nice for a solo. In all the other restaurants I ALWAYS brought with me a small notebook, a pen, and the park map of the park I wanted to be in that day. This made me feel more comfortable eating alone. I had something to do instead of looking at everyone else. Also ... I must say ..... I think that it is best to visit the bathroom BEFORE you are seated in a restaurant alone, especially a quick service place. I hate having my food on the table and then
using the bathroom because I am afraid that if no one is there, my table might accidently be cleared. It is surprising wonderful to go on a WDW trip alone. It becomes a TRUE vacation because you can do whatever you want, whenever you want !! I know you will have a wonderful time !!!

 

[Califgirl]

Going solo is a blast. If you are interested in any tours or special events, it's nice to do those activities as a solo. There is usually a small group of like minded people and they are easy to talk with.
I didn't make any advanced dining reservations, and seldom have a problem getting a table, or eating in the bar. If you have your heart set on a certain restaurant, then I would make reservations, but I tend to go with the flow and if one restaurant is full, there is another one steps away.
I am much more free spirited and easy going solo - I don't have to worry about pleasing anyone else, or making sure everyone is happy.

 

[PlutoPatrol]

I am about 3 hours away from Disney and I go solo all the time. Sometimes I meet people sometimes I do not, but I always have a good time.

 

[amlynn5]

I would vote for AKL for a solo visit...it is so relaxing and the animals are in your backyard, so to speak!

As for advice, if you aren't comfortable eating alone get quick service, and use the extra money for a spa treatment!

Think of it as a "ME" holiday and treat yourself well, which doesn't mean expensive but good to you...You can spend a whole day at AKL and then have a nice dinner for the price of a one day ticket...

Enjoy yourself!

 

[goldstar97]

I never been on any trips solo. Is it weird? Just curious...

 

[EvoldicA]

I don't find it weird at all. Its nice to be able to bounce around however you'd like without bothering others. I think I get more done because if an area is just extremely crowded Its easy for me to bounce through the crowd to somewhere else

~B

 

[Missytara]

I never been on any trips solo. Is it weird? Just curious...

I have been on several solo trips, including the old land/sea package.

A few years ago, I did an 8 day, no parks, all resorts trip. I brought a bunch of books I had been meaning to read for a while.

I stay at POR, and that year waterview was the only category to get the view of ANYTHING facing water; fountain, pool, puddle, river, etc.

Where did I end up, but a king bed, corner room, in Parterre Place, not 30 feet from the river. It was wonderful.

I ate at a different resort every night, saw all the xmas decorations, woke up late every day, spent a bunch of time by the pool, read all day, met some wonderful staff I had overlooked.

That trip is one of my favorites.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Also ... I must say ..... I think that it is best to visit the bathroom BEFORE you are seated in a restaurant alone, especially a quick service place. I hate having my food on the table and then
using the bathroom because I am afraid that if no one is there, my table might accidently be cleared.

Boy, Claudia's so right about this one! Been there, had that happen to me several times. Usually, for me, it's that I get half way through my meal and realize I need a napkin or spoon or something. I've finally found something that usually prevents this problem-I grab the nearest CM who's cleaning up and just ask him/her not to let anyone clear my table. Often, the CM is nice enough to bring me what I need (won't help if what you need is a restrom, though!)
I find CMs to be much more "open" and willing to converse honestly about their job when I'm solo. I've had some real nice conversations with CMs about what their job is like, and also, if you're looking for hidden mickeys, CMs have given me info about where they are (and took photos for me!). I still remember one night when a couple CMs on Spaceship Earth told me where there were about 4 HMs on the ride, then sent me around about 3 times until I'd found them all.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

I just returned from a solo trip on Wendesday. We are WDW vets and visit often (even though I live 12 hours away its only 1 hour 15 min flight). We take the kids once every year or so and DH and I have APs and go 3 or so times a year. So when this opportunity presented itself for me to get to come down for a quick trip and I jumped on it. The kids (my steps) were at thier moms for vacation, DH was going on a mission trip with the church to work on a reservation in Montana and I had some extra time off work to kill. I found a cheap flight and an awesome DISser offered me some DVC points cheap, eveyrthing fell in place quickly.

I jumped right in and at TS my first meal there at HBD, my watier was fabulous, chatted with me quiet a bit and even suggested when I sat down that I move tables so I could people watch better in the resteruant. QS dining didn't bother me at all I had 2 times when I offered my mostly empty table to others waiting and chatted a wee bit with them. I met up with one couple from home that I had met online on a Disney board and chatted with them one night and hung out for a bit but the rest of the time I was on my own. I rode what I wanted when I wanted, I park hopped like crazy and went to whatever I wanted on a whim. I ate wherever I wanted. I lingered over meals and people watched more than usual, etc. I stayed at SSR and loved it, it was my first stay there and I wil lbe back again. I found that on my own I spent more time at the pool and the resorts than normal since DH doens't like swimming that much and when my kids are with me I'm too tired to have to chase them around the pool everday after being in the parks.

I had a blast. I never felt lonely or unsafe the whole trip. I did miss DH some but I would have been much worse off and upset by it had I been home the whole time. I highly recommend it and would do it again if the opportunity ever presented itself.

 

[dahirsh]

I have been on several solo trips, including the old land/sea package.

A few years ago, I did an 8 day, no parks, all resorts trip. I brought a bunch of books I had been meaning to read for a while.

I stay at POR, and that year waterview was the only category to get the view of ANYTHING facing water; fountain, pool, puddle, river, etc.

Where did I end up, but a king bed, corner room, in Parterre Place, not 30 feet from the river. It was wonderful.

I ate at a different resort every night, saw all the xmas decorations, woke up late every day, spent a bunch of time by the pool, read all day, met some wonderful staff I had overlooked.

That trip is one of my favorites.

Sounds like heaven. But I don't think I could keep myself out of the parks.

 

[Kidtcha]

Thank you for all the information! I'm excited to get started on planning my first solo trip!