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Going to WDW for the fifth time, first time alone
- Thread starter Animaniac
- Start date
DisneyGator
New Member
Just relax and have a good time! I have been to WDW more times than I can count (annual passholder and I live about an hour away). However, it wasn't until fairly recently that I have gone solo. I have been solo at the parks on 3 or 4 different occasions within the last year, for various reasons, and I enjoyed it more than I expected to. It's nice that you can do whatever you want, at whatever pace you want, and not have to worry about everyone wanting to do something different. Bring something to do while you are waiting in the longer lines (play games on your cell phone, read a book/kindle, something like that). Maybe bring the Hidden Mickey book, but that won't keep you entertained for all of the lines. There are some good books on Disney trivia and history, that could be a fun thing to do while in line. But most of the time, there are so many people around that you won't even feel like you are alone. I am a very outgoing person, I don't know if you are or not, but I found it fun making friends in lines and on the bus/monorail, etc....when you are alone you seem to talk to more people than you would otherwise. And you will notice details around the parks that you have never seen before, which is pretty cool too. When I go, I am generally with friends and family, and we are talking and doing all sorts of things, and you don't always take the time to just take in your surroundings, and being alone will give you the chance to see some pretty cool things. Plus, the rides that have single rider lines will be great (Test Track, Rock N Roller Coaster, Everest, to name a few).
Let me know if you have any questions--I hope I have been at least a little bit helpful!! And have fun!!!!
Let me know if you have any questions--I hope I have been at least a little bit helpful!! And have fun!!!!
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I have always gone alone and enjoyed it. The great thing is that you can do whatever you like when ever you want and don't have to worry about what other people might want to do. Definitely use the single rider line on the rides that have them.
Like the previous poster said if you are an outgoing person talk to the people that you meet in lines, on the monorail and even at parades as you will meet a lot of great people that way. I have talked to people that were from England and even Australia and sometimes have even given them info about things around the park that they didn't even know about. When I went in October to Orlando for a weekend I made some new friends where I was there because of this and even did a few rides at the Magic Kingdom with a guy and his daughter that were from New York state that I had met on the Monorail as he asked if I wanted to join them for a little while.
I went over the New Year this year and of all places to meet a Disney Cast Member I met a young lady that was one of the dancers in the Block Party Bash at Hollywood Studios on New Year's Day at Universal Studios. She was off for the last day of the Block Party Bash and was at Universal Studios to support one of her friends that was in the Universal parade. It was interesting talking to her and she told me she had been working at Disney for the last four years and because they already had all the dancer positions filled for the new parade at Hollywood Studios she was going to be in the celebrate Parade at the Magic Kingdom now.
That's the good thing about talking to people as you never know who you might meet and you may even hang out with them for a little while that day.
Like the previous poster said if you are an outgoing person talk to the people that you meet in lines, on the monorail and even at parades as you will meet a lot of great people that way. I have talked to people that were from England and even Australia and sometimes have even given them info about things around the park that they didn't even know about. When I went in October to Orlando for a weekend I made some new friends where I was there because of this and even did a few rides at the Magic Kingdom with a guy and his daughter that were from New York state that I had met on the Monorail as he asked if I wanted to join them for a little while.
I went over the New Year this year and of all places to meet a Disney Cast Member I met a young lady that was one of the dancers in the Block Party Bash at Hollywood Studios on New Year's Day at Universal Studios. She was off for the last day of the Block Party Bash and was at Universal Studios to support one of her friends that was in the Universal parade. It was interesting talking to her and she told me she had been working at Disney for the last four years and because they already had all the dancer positions filled for the new parade at Hollywood Studios she was going to be in the celebrate Parade at the Magic Kingdom now.
That's the good thing about talking to people as you never know who you might meet and you may even hang out with them for a little while that day.
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That's the one thing though, I'm not the most outgoing person (I'm mildly autistic aka socially awkward. :ROFLOL
By the way, would anyone recommend House of Blues?
While I'm not socially awkward, I never engage with other people while I'm there. So you don't have to strike up conversations with people if you don't want to. You'll find plenty of things to amuse yourself (peoplewatching is guaranteed, and you will feel like the most normal person around). You'll also find that it is much easier to navigate the parks by yourself. You can spend as much time or as little time in any one place you choose. I'm so spoiled by going alone I almost can't go with anyone else. I went with my friend to universal last August and was miserable because I had to take what he wanted to do in account.
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Disney_Belle
Well-Known Member
Don't be scared! I went on my solo trip when I was 21 back in 2005. I had the time of my life! I met so many wonderful people and experienced so much. I was able to take my time and appreciate every little detail. The only *awkward* part for me was eating alone lol. I didn't do any table services, normally I just did quick service meals either at such places like Electric Umbrella or Cosmic Ray's, or at the hotel for an evening break. I would buy dinner in the food court and eat in my room. But other than that, it was truly a wonderful experience you are going to LOVE! :wave:
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TRONorail10
Active Member
"Imagineering Field Guide" while it's not ur normal travel book, it's a nice insight into the design of the parks. They have one for each of the four parks, and it's an insider's look into what the imagineers went through designing and planning out Walt Disney World. Provides some fun little secrets about the parks that one might only have time to look for on a solo trip. Disney Imagineers have a reason for everything in the parks, so its fun learning all of the different background information as your walking through the parks, its almost as if you are giving yourself a self-guided tour, for free! Also, Hidden Mickey Guide is another great book. Hidden Mickey scavenger hunts are sooo much fun around the park. As, with other things, the imagineers have hidden hundreds and hundreds of Mickey's throughout rides, queues, resorts, parade floats, buildings... anything and everything you can think of! Definitely, try and grab these books, they are all small paperbacks, so they are very lightweight and easy to take around the park, and they're cheaper than some of the other bigger books. Here's a parade secret, look behind the float with Alice, Hatter, Peter Pan and Wendy during the 3 o'clock parade, you might just get a glimpse of Walt Disney himself!
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dreamfinder
Well-Known Member
Going solo can be fun. You can do whatever you want, whenever you want. If you are concerned about lines, bring a pocket sized book of some sort, or an iTouch to play games. Or just people watch. Do stuff you normally don't do. Stop for different characters, see shows you don't normally see, stuff like that.
For dinner? It's not bad food. Soul food type meals, flavors turned down a bit if that makes sense. If you don't have one nearby, its a decent choice. I prefer the food and environment more than at Rainforest and T-Rex. I've done solo meals at other HoB locations, didn't feel awkward. FYI, the restaurant tends to be under lit, so its a bit dark in there.
For dinner? It's not bad food. Soul food type meals, flavors turned down a bit if that makes sense. If you don't have one nearby, its a decent choice. I prefer the food and environment more than at Rainforest and T-Rex. I've done solo meals at other HoB locations, didn't feel awkward. FYI, the restaurant tends to be under lit, so its a bit dark in there.
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Sounds like I should give it a go then. Don't mind eating at a table alone.
Oh and trust me, I'd never go to the Rainforest Cafe again. Most disappointing restaurant ever. Even worse was when it was at my local mall (in the middle of suberbia lol.)
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slappy magoo
Well-Known Member
I've never done a solo trip, but I've done a few hours alone here or there while my wife is either napping or getting a spa treatment or something. I'm not the most outgoing person either but have started conversations with people, usually if I hear them confused about where they can find what they want, I become helpful harry. It's not a bad trade-off, sure sometimes you may wish there were someone around to share the experience, but at the same time, you can do whatever you want in the order you want, change your mind at the drop of a hat without disappointing somebody, do things 5 times in a row if you want. Enjoy.
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