Touring EPCOT alone?

[KimR]

We are staying at the YC this trip and are planning a non-park day for the girls to enjoy Stormalong Bay. I don't really enjoy the pool much, so I am considering getting an extra day on my park hopper and going over to EPCOT by myself. EPCOT is my favorite park and I figure it will give me time to enjoy the things the rest of the family finds 'boring'. But I'm wondering how enjoyable it will be by myself with no one to share it with. Has anyone done this before and did you enjoy it? Is it boring standing in lines by yourself? (I'm not really the type of person to strike up a conversation with a stranger). Did you feel weird or self-concsious being by yourself? I do think I would like the fact that I could wander around and do what I wanted when I wanted without a group consultation, but I'm worried I'll get bored after an hour or two and want to be with my family again! Has anyone done this and did you really enjoy it?

 

[dcmbshafe]

One of the things you can do if you decide to go it alone is get a times guide and try to hit the ad hoc shows that take place in the WS countries. The Chinese acrobats are terrific, as are the street performers in England & Italy...the living statue in France is pretty great and the Japanese drummers...you could really pattern your whole day around these shows (which would eliminate the "standing in line by yourself" syndrome) and take in the shops and other sights in each country while waiting for the next performance. The plusses are that you'll be able to do everything at your own pace and you'll probably end up experiencing things you otherwise wouldn't with the others.

 

[daannzzz]

I have done 2 ten dat trips to WDW alone. Sometimes you will wish someone were there to share it with but much of the time is great being alone. You don't have to worry about anyone tugging you into shops or attractions you may not be interested in. You don't have to wait for anyone to ride something or hit the rest roo,. You can eat what you want, when you want without imposing on anyone else or having them complain about your choices. You can spend time looking in shops that you might otherwise take a galance at or not go in at all. You might feel more apt to converse with others from around the country and the world. I love being in the parks alone as much as I do going with people.

 

[4greatboys]

I think you might enjoy a little alone time. When we go on our family trips I normally get in some DTD time alone and I always enjoy it. Or you could check the solo and adult travelers board and might find some other Disers are there at the same time that might enjoy hanging out with others for a day.

 

[litlpixie]

omg, if there was only one thing I could choose to do alone w/o DH and my 3Dkids, it would soooooo be EPCOT! I would enjoy that. You know, you got me thinking, I wonder if maybe I could sneak away for a couple of hours to WS. I'll have to talk w/ my DH. Just look what you started!

 

[travelbug]

I had 2 days solo in December before my extended family arrived. I split time between Epcot, MK, and MGM and had a blast! I never felt self-conscious standing in line. Nobody else seemed to care or even notice if I was alone. And you know what? When I'm doing Disney with other people, I don't really care or pay attention to which other people are alone for the moment. So I didn't worry about it for myself at all either.

I think you should give it a try. I have a feeling that you'd love enjoying Epcot on your own for a while. Go do some things that the rest of the family would not want to do with you. Let us know how it goes, and have a great trip!

 

[SYDNCLAIRESMOM]

I envy you! I would LOOOOOOVE to wander around WSC without having to condsider what everyone else wants to do. I would spend more time really LOOKING at things. For example the Norway church-the gardens/maze in UK-the shop in China-the tour in Morroco-I could go on and on. My troop wants to get in and out and on to the next thing. I blame my DHs ADD Im a browser and that drives them nuts
Have a great time!!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I went on a week-long solo trip in December, staying at the BCV, and spent at least part of every day exploring Epcot solo. One morning, I entered the International Gateway with a book and my coffee, sat on a bench in UK, read and enjoyed just being there. You might enjoy lunch in Chefs de France. Request a window table, get the luncheon special (very good deal financially), and enjoy the people-watching outside. One afternoon I took the 1/2 hour tour of the Moroccoan Pavillion. You don't have to sign up beforehand. When I was there, it was offered at 1:00 and 3:00, and best of all, it's free! If you want to spend some time over in FW, grab a pastry and a table in Fountainview and watch the fountain for a while. So do I think you can enjoy Epcot solo? I love it!

 

[yecats]

Back in November, I completed a 10 day solo vacation which I must admit was the best vacation I have ever had. I did exactly what I wanted when I wanted to do it.

I am not married nor do I have children but in the past have gone to Disney several times with my family, usually my mother. We have very different taste. She loves Epcot, but not the WS. I love both. This past trip, I split the WS into 3 different afternoons touring 3/4 countries a day. I was never bored and truly, not once, every really felt lonely. I took my time in each country exploring the shops and whatever the country had to offer. I got to watch Off Kilter in Canada and the Beatles in the U.K. Stop and have a great pastry in France and people watch as your eating. Everyone is generally happy getting their daily sugar fix. My mom hates to watch the shows so I never really get to see them. My favorite is the France show. The theater is cool with seats and I just love to look at France from the air and Eiffle Tower. As stated above the Japenese drummers are great as are the Chinese acrobats.

I didn't notice too many lines for the rides and when there were a few I can always strike up a conversation with someone which always turns out nice. By the way, I certainly wasn't the only walking around alone in the WS area. Don't worry if your the only one, don't worry about your kids they will be having a lot of fun on their own. Enjoy the one day your given and do everything that YOU want to do. Trust me, the day will go by so very fast.

 

[lindsey]

I am going to Orlando this month for a conference and have scheduled one day by myself at EPCOT. I am so excited!! Like others, my dh and ds don't care to see the shows and other stuff. I are going in June with the family, so I have already bought my PHP with an addition day for my trip.

 

[capnho]

I went to a conference a few years ago at the Dolphin (nothing better than going to WDW and having work pay for it!). The conference started early on Monday, so I took the first flight out of Boston on Sunday, got to Epcot by noon and toured it myself. I had a great time! I did what I wanted when I wanted and didn't feel strange at all about going around the park myself. I say go for it!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by KimR
We are staying at the YC this trip and are planning a non-park day for the girls to enjoy Stormalong Bay. I don't really enjoy the pool much, so I am considering getting an extra day on my park hopper and going over to EPCOT by myself. EPCOT is my favorite park and I figure it will give me time to enjoy the things the rest of the family finds 'boring'. But I'm wondering how enjoyable it will be by myself with no one to share it with. Has anyone done this before and did you enjoy it? Is it boring standing in lines by yourself? (I'm not really the type of person to strike up a conversation with a stranger). Did you feel weird or self-concsious being by yourself? I do think I would like the fact that I could wander around and do what I wanted when I wanted without a group consultation, but I'm worried I'll get bored after an hour or two and want to be with my family again! Has anyone done this and did you really enjoy it?

I love having time to myself in the parks. I get to take pictures, go at my own pace, don't worry about boring someone with my poking about, etc. Do I feel weird? Nope, not in the least.
I am also not one to strike up conversations with people I don't know. Give it a try, it is a wonderful break from the norm.

 

[CarrieAP]

A few years ago I tagged along with my husband who attended a conference at the Dolphin. My alone time was precious. I absolutely loved getting up early in the morning and spending the day at Epcot! It is one of my fondest Disney memories. I am not an outgoing person either, but I did not feel one bit self-consious being alone. There is so much to explore and refreshing doing it at your own pace.

I say go for it and have a great time!

 

[woodybuzzy]

I did this last January for an evening. I never get to go to the World Showcase with my family, they find it boring. So I was a the Swan for a conference and went down to the boat launch at 3pm to go to Epcot for a night to myself. My plan was to leisurely walk through all the countries and shop and eat. While in line at the boat launch this wonderful old gentleman starting talking to me. He was there for a religious conference as well and he had never been to the parks, he just wanted to go on a boat ride. He was from Scotland. He ended up coming to the park with me and we had a great time just strolling through the countries and eating. He had daughters my age so we talked easily. We still keep in touch via e-mail. It ended up being a great time.

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

Well, Now I have had 5 annual solo vacations to WDW, for 6 nights each. It is fantastic! Hubby stays home to watch our 2 cats. He doesn't really want to go, anyway.

For my first solo vacation, I hardly talked to anyone in line. Then, in those other vacations, I would deliberately challenge myself to
find something to say to someone next to me in line.
Maybe I would admire a kid's hat, or a T-shirt, or whatever.
This got me chatting with a person in line, and I felt wonderful about it. I think I taught myself to be more outgoing.

I am a 50 year old woman, no children, therefore no grandchildren, and I don't have any sisters. When my DH didn't want to go anymore, it meant that I didn't really have anyone else to go with. Now I enjoy it so much, that I actually prefer to go alone.

Just try it for the day, I think you will love it.