mikeishere
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2010
Hey, mikeishere, I'm a fellow Brit and a fellow solo traveller and I empathise completely with your worries because I've been through the same thing when I was planning my first solo trip to WDW. So I'm just going to say that the first trip is always the most worrying because things build up in your head and you're not entirely sure what to expect. Coming here is exactly the right thing to do - I wish I'd found these forums when I did my first trip, because people are just ridiculously helpful and supportive.
Forgive the personal question, but how do you normally deal with it?
I know where you're coming from because I'm quite reserved and introverted. I live by myself and although I have a good group of friends, there are times when I am alone and every so often I do get lonely. The way I've found through it is to keep busy and make plans and WDW is absolutely perfect for that - you can use your FPs and dining reservations to plan and structure your days and there is just so much to do and see that I don't really find I have the time to be lonely. I also take a lot of photos and then do a FB post in the evening so I can interact with friends and family (yeah, ok, I'm showing off too ... ). If you fancy doing a trip report then that strikes me as a great way of focusing on what you've enjoyed and connecting with posters here. I know I'd love to read it.
There have been some great suggestions here for dealing with being in queues. My solution is to take a book and just read. It's weird how often that becomes a conversation starter with people and as I finish them, I use the alone time in the hotel room in the evening to put a review up on Goodreads/Amazon, which also keeps me busy.
Again, my solution for this is to read a book but there's free wifi in the park so you can also use the internet if you've got a phone or a tablet.
Like everyone here's said, no one really notices if you're on your own in a restaurant. In fact, the bigger issue is that you may find it difficult to get good service in some of the table restaurants (there have been a few times when I've basically been forgotten about entirely, which led to a chat with the manager).
If you're staying at a resort hotel, then you'll be on MDE and trust me, no one will notice that you're on your own at all. Everyone's so jacked up and excited to be going to WDW that they pay zero attention to who's on the bus.
Again, no one is going to notice at all because they'll be focused on the flight or each other or the in flight entertainment. I sometimes chat with cabin crew on the flight to MCO - they usually have some good tips or suggestions because they do it so often - but you don't have to if you don't want to. If your seat mate does want to have a chat then only tell them what you're comfortable telling them but please don't think you have to tell a white lie - it's a holiday route (as a generalism) so everyone's pretty much on that plane for the same purpose.
There are thousands and thousands and thousands of people in WDW at any one time so the chances of you bumping into someone you know are very small but even if you do bump into them so what? You've organised what's a fairly expensive holiday and been confident enough to do what you want by yourself. That takes guts. Believe me, people are more likely to admire your courage and be a little envious that you get to have a trip where you can do whatever you want without having to negotiate with kids or partners or parents.
Very best of luck to you with your plans and please, please don't feel self-conscious. You will genuinely have a blast once you're out there.
1F
Thanks everyone for your amazing replies, it does make me feel better so thanks.,
I’ve just keep catching up with the last page and a half as I usually get email notifications when people post in threads that I’ve made and I haven’t for weeks so I thought this thread had been given up on. So I’ll have to look into why I’ve stopped getting email notifications.
Everyone has great advice so Thankyou! I didn’t realise how many people travelled solo so I don’t feel so alone. Its surprised me how many people in this thread say they are solo travelers from the uk as for someone reason even though Disney is huge in the UK I’ve always found it had less respect among adults in the uk than it does in the USA and seen as more a family and kids thing in the uk than the USA where I feel it still has a hugely adult fan base but thought the adult Disney fan base was smaller in the uk - but maybe that’s just me.
After all this I’ve been thinking of delaying my solo WDW trip for a year or so ( not because I’m scared or anything, far from it as this thread has made me feel so much better than I ever did about solo trip) and wait till the 50th anniversary of WDW and save a bit more money then say go next year or in a few months. Does anyone know when the 50th anniversary celebrations kick off? I know WDW 50th is on October 2021 but these Disney celebrations usually kick off a few months before the actual official dates and last a good year and a half don’t they?
Even though this thread maybe a little older by the time I go to WDW for the 50th I’m certainly going to bookmark this thread and use it as a guide to my solo trip and will be reading over it before my first trip.
Good question 1nfrequent , I don’t really deal with loneliness appart from living alone. Usually do things with a small group of people when go places .
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