Traveling- Solo Edition!

Have you ever considered taking a trip to the Most Magical Place on Earth with just yourself?

We all love our family and friends, and we love spending time with them! But, do you ever wonder what it is like to visit the Walt Disney World Resort with no one other than yourself? It’s not as uncommon as you might think! Traveling solo to the theme parks can feel a bit overwhelming if you have never done it before, but it can also be a liberating experience! Today, I want to talk about some of the benefits of traveling solo to Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, as well as some challenges to consider when traveling by yourself!

The Possibilities are Endless!

As a solo traveler, your possibilities are endless when it comes to pretty much everything! Since you are the only person traveling, your trip can be however you want it to be. You have 100% decision-making power for where you want to stay, where you want to eat, and what rides you want to ride (or don’t want to ride) because there is no one else to touch base with. If you are not a big fan of ‘it’s a small world’ then guess what: you can totally skip it for your trip! There’s no one there to tell you that you HAVE to ride it just because it is a Disney Parks classic dark ride. If you normally eat at Chef Mickey’s in Disney’s Contemporary Resort because your littles go crazy for Chef Mickey, but you secretly don’t like the atmosphere of the dining experience, then guess what? You can totally skip eating there! The choice is yours to make.

Shorter Wait Lines!

Now, this is something that many people don’t consider, but some rides within the theme parks have ‘Single Rider’ lines, which can save a lot of time! Of course, you can always purchase Disney Genie+ for the day you are visiting the theme parks, but these single-rider lines are available all of the time without the purchase of Disney Genie+! Currently, there are four attractions that have single-rider lines at Walt Disney World Resort, which contain the following:

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Test Track at EPCOT
Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

On the contrary, if you are traveling solo to the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, there are more rides in both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure that offer rides with single rider lines. Hopefully, in the future, we can see more rides with single-rider lines at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida! But until then, these four rides will definitely benefit us solo travelers, because all of them can see significant wait times, and time is money at Disney!

Safety, Safety, Safety!

One of the biggest concerns people have for solo travel in general is: Will I be safe? And the answer to that question can feel uncertain to many people despite wherever their travels take them. But from my own personal experience, I have not ever felt unsafe when traveling to Walt Disney World Resort alone. The ‘Disney Bubble’ creates a safety net, and the cast members themselves take the safety of their guests very seriously. Once you enter Disney property, you truly feel like you’re in another world and the outside worries and concerns stay exactly like that- outside of Disney property. However, even when traveling with others, it is always important to be aware of your surroundings. If you see something, it never hurts to tell a nearby cast member. At the end of the day, they want to make sure everyone is safe and they will make sure that safety is maintained for everyone, even the solo travelers!

Challenge Accepted..

There are benefits to traveling solo, but there are also some challenges to consider. One of the biggest challenges is the ability to expense the trip. Since you are traveling by yourself, there isn’t anyone accompanying you that could help split the cost of the trip, and that knowledge alone can be hard to overcome. But there are ways to make it work, especially if solo travel is something that has been on your mind for a while! A great way to overcome this challenge is to book out as far in advance as possible. A major reason for this is to give you time. Time to save and time to make payments towards your trip. It also gives you time to consider what YOU want to do on your trip! Nothing gets people more excited about a trip than counting down the days until it arrives! And planning ahead gives you more flexibility to make adjustments.

Another challenge many people face when traveling solo for the first time is surprising, but it is actually figuring out the logistics of the trip. What I mean by this is that sometimes people rarely take into consideration their own wants and needs, and taking a vacation by yourself definitely forces you to sit down and consider yourself. Which can feel like a lot if all you do is consider others before yourself. That’s why I’m here!!

Even if you are traveling alone, you don’t have to be 100% alone! When working with a travel agent like me, I am here every step of the way to make sure you feel comfortable and confident in your solo travels! As someone who regularly travels solo, I’ve learned a thing or two about traveling by myself, and I am confident in helping those starting out traveling to the Walt Disney World Resort solo for their first time! Once you’ve had your first trip solo to Walt Disney World, all you’re going to think about is when we can get you back to the parks by yourself again!

Annamae Morris

Cincinnati, OH