Heres how it goes: I am talking with an acquaintance and the conversation turns to Walt Disney World (which it almost always does with me). I then casually mention that I have traveled to WDW solo on a few occasions and love it! Now a very strange look comes over my conversational partner’s face; eyebrows pull together, her eyes shift around uncomfortably, and she slowly begins back away. Ok…. maybe this is a bit of an exaggeration, but I have received some not-so-warm-and-fuzzy responses when I share that I have traveled to Walt Disney World without my family in the past and plan to continue to do so in the future. It seems to be difficult for non-Disney fanatics to understand why a grown woman, one with children no less, would want to go the Most Magical Place On Earth by herself. Even though many might find my love of traveling the World solo a little on the nutty side, I think that the plusses far outweigh the minuses for this type of WDW vacationing.
The most overriding reason that I love traveling to Walt Disney World solo is that I get to do WHATEVER I WANT. If I want to wake up before the sun to be the first to arrive at a park, so be it. If I want to stay at the Magic Kingdom until 2 AM then turn around and be there for rope drop the next morning, there are no cranky kids to stop me! So what if by the end of my trip I am catatonic?? There have been times when I can’t even remember how I got back to my resort at night because of sheer exhaustion, but I surely don’t care. Do I want to hit all 4 parks in one day? Yes, indeed, I do, and there is nothing but my own sore feet to stop me. How about spending a day in a park without riding ANY attractions? This would be heresy to my children! I, however, have had some of my most memorable Disney moments doing just this. I have met a variety of interesting people sitting on a curb for an hour waiting for a parade, which is something my family just would not do. Photographing Walt Disney World is a true passion of mine, and without my family along I can snap away to my heart’s content. When I take my 2,000th picture of Cinderella Castle or stop to take a photo of a street grate on Main Street, U.S.A. There is no one there to groan and fall to the ground in protest. Without my family, I find that I can either go,go,go or slow down to a snail’s pace without any complaints from the peanut gallery.
Cost is another great positive to traveling the World solo. Think of how much cheaper it is with only 1 ticket (which for me is an annual pass), 1 airfare, and single meals each day. Since I am definitely the biggest Disney fan in my family, traveling solo has allowed me to get in more trips per year for the same amount of money as 1 larger family trip. I have been able to indulge in some amazing tours because I only had to pay for myself and “peeking behind the curtain” in this way is always the highlight of my trips! Dining is also easier with only 1 mouth to worry about. I can eat when I want and skip meals at will- no way my family would tolerate that! If I want to have a nutella and fruit waffle sandwich at 11:00 PM as my dinner, so be it. I have eaten table service as a solo traveler, but prefer to just stick with counter service. This way I get back to enjoying the parks and keep the food costs lower, and since I am a frequent visitor, I do not feel that I am missing out on anything.
Traveling solo to WDW can also save you precious time. When you are touring the parks by yourself, it is significantly easier to sneak between strollers and ECVs without being struck. It is far less obvious when you shimmy through the crowd to be near the exit door before loading onto the Haunted Mansion. Don’t forget those single rider lines! They are a fantastic way to minimize waits in each of the parks. Being solo in the World can definitely reduce wait times and make navigating large crowds easier.
Don’t get me wrong- I adore traveling with my family to Walt Disney World. Hearing my daughters’ squeals of excitement on a thrill ride or seeing pure joy in their eyes as they watch the sky come to life during Wishes is priceless. WDW is truly a family place. It just so happens that life doesn’t always make it possible for us all to get to WDW together as often as I would like. I feel blessed that I have been able to experience my favorite destination in the world both with and without my family. I was a touch nervous on my first solo trip, but the butterflies melted away as soon as I walked under that train station. Although I miss my family when they are not with me, I have definitely found great joy in traveling the World solo.
Have you ever considered a solo trip? Give it a try! It is a unique change of pace for any avid Disney fan. I am certain you will find great joy in experiencing Walt Disney World in a whole new way.
