Hey friends!
I hope everyone is doing well and you are enjoying the transition into the fall season! The year is flying by and in no time the holidays will be here. A few months ago, I was able to go on sort of a solo trip. My beautiful mom came along with me; however, she did not go into the parks. She decided to enjoy Disney in staycation mode, enjoying the resort and whatever she wanted to do really. So in a way I was going on a solo trip! Need some tips on things to do outside of the parks? Check out our blog here!
In this blog I want to share what I have learned while exploring Disney parks by myself. There are definitely pros and cons to going on a solo trip and if this is something you may be interested in in the future then keep reading!
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Now on to the blog!
Would you ever consider it?
Planning a trip to Disney can seem a bit daunting and overwhelming at times. Where to eat, where to stay, how long is your trip going to be, how many rooms will you need? All of these things to think about can be a lot.
I will say though, when you are planning for yourself, it is a bit simpler. It really is all up to you and what you want. And if you don’t feel like planning it yourself, use a Disney travel agent to help you, free of charge. Erica can do just that!
Let’s get into some cons.
*Parent Guilt. It is a thing. Sadly, I don’t have any kids of my own. However, I do have nieces and a nephew I am very close to. Knowing I was going without them made me feel incredibly guilty. Especially since they ask me almost weekly to go back!
I know some of you wouldn’t even consider going without your kids. And that is more than fine. But sometimes going without them is ok too.
*While it is nice going on your own and being on your own schedule, sometimes it is really nice to have someone to share the magic with. If you see a new show or go on a new attraction, or try a new snack there is no sharing that experience. I found myself wanting to do that on this trip and would consider that a con of being solo in Disney.
The PROs!
You may be reading this and be thinking “Well that doesn’t sound like the magical time I want”. None the less, let me share with you some fun and magical things I learned while going on a solo trip!
- You can do whatever you want with your time. If you want to rope drop, you can. If you want to sleep in, you can. If you want to go shopping, you can. You literally have the ability to do whatever you want because you are on your own schedule. There is no planning the day around potty breaks or wonder if this restaurant will have food your littles or whoever you’re traveling with will like.
2. Planning a solo trip is a lot cheaper than traveling with a lot of people. We all know how expensive the most magical place on earth can be. Solo trips can be much more manageable.
3. Utilize the single rider line for those attractions that offer it. You may get placed sitting next to someone you don’t know but you get on rides much quicker. Additionally, this allows you to get more done in a shorter period of time.
4. Get lightning lanes. I did and it was amazing. I don’t think I could recommend doing this enough. Being I was only in the parks for two days; this made my trip exponentially easier. The longest I waited I think was for spaceship earth in Epcot, and only because the ride was having some technical issues. Worth it, worth it, worth it!
5. Going on a solo trip can actually be very relaxing. There is no rush to make sure you get it all done or to keep others happy. There are several spas on Disney property, it might be nice to book a massage or a manicure or pedicure for yourself if you want. Changing plans on the drop of a dime is way less stressful. You don’t have to consult anyone; you can just do it. Thinking you were going to watch Happily Ever After on Mainstreet in Magic Kingdom, but the crowd doesn’t sound too appealing, you can take a boat over to the Polynesian Resort and watch fireworks from the beach!
6. Some people might do this already, but something I did on this trip was stay late in Magic Kingdom and just take in the atmosphere and ambiance. It was my last day in the parks, and I wanted to soak it all in. After fireworks, many people tend to leave. And as the crowd is thinning the castle becomes a little easier to see, people are smiling and taking pictures. It is quite something to sit and enjoy what’s around you. A perk of being by yourself; you can do that.
Was it worth it?
In my opinion, going on a solo trip is absolutely worth it.
Just like any trip, no matter where you go, you never know what will happen. Going on this solo trip wasn’t all magical. I had horrible luck with bus transportation and my feet, which normally give me no issues, were blistered up by lunch on my first day.
However, if you are a Disney loving person, and you need an escape a solo trip can help cure some of those blues. The world is chaotic, and I know once in the Disney bubble things feel a bit better. At least for a while. I would highly recommend planning one. Maybe it’s a pipe dream, but if you can save up for it I would definitely suggest trying to make it happen. After all we all need a little magic.
