Any tips for a first time solo trip?

[Stub5157]

I'm planning on heading down from NC in the fist week of March. I am going to be spending some time with my mom who needs some assistance in The Villages, and I was wondering if anyone has some tips or tricks for a solo trip. I have been to Disney a lot over the years, but never alone and I'm already feeling guilty about going.

I haven't been to the parks in a few years, so I wanted to see if anyone had suggestions on which park would have the most to do for a one day, solo trip?

Thanks in advance!

Tom -

[OhanaMana]

I would say it's a toss up between EPCOT and Magic Kingdom for a one day solo trip.

I will note, you can get a Hopper Ticket now and do both of these parks on that same day. I can explain that below.

All day EPCOT area:
When thinking of spending a day at EPCOT, I personally would include everything around EPCOT - not just the park it self. Of course you have World Showcase with the 11 countries to checkout food, small bites and big bites, amazing drinks. Given your date of early March, starting March 3rd EPCOT's "Taste of Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival" starts up (more info here: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/event ... -festival/). That enhances EPCOT's already amazing food and drink offerings, as well as festival entertainment. For rides, you have Soarin, Test Track, Frozen, Spaceship Earth, Living With the Land, Nemo, Mission Space and MAYBE Disney will open the new Ratatouille ride in France by then too. THEN you can take the new Skyliner from the International Gateway area near France to the new Riviera resort that also has amazing food and drink options, and an overall amazing atmosphere. Some people don't like it and think it's a bit bland, but from everything I've seen so far, I think it looks incredible and is FILLED with that Disney magic detail. Of course you also have the Boardwalk area resorts that you can take a Friendship boat too from the International Gateway too: Boardwalk, Beach Club and Yacht Club resorts for their own fun and unique offerings.

All day Magic Kingdom area:
The Magic Kingdom area is by far my favorite spot on the entire property. You could start with breakfast at Polynesian's Kona Cafe (make reservation) and then take a boat to the park for all the great rides - classic ones and new ones. Without FastPasses it may be challenging to get a large number of rides in, but from what I'm seeing with the crowds lately on live streams, it can be anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes or for most which isn't bad at all. Also with the first week of March being your day, that is after most school Feb breaks, and if that day you plan on going is a week day, even better for you! For dinner, I would recommend hitting up the Contemporary resort's California Grill. You will most likely need a reservation here. MK has been closing around 6, 8 or 9pm lately. Right now for all of the first week of March it's 6pm. But these times have changed almost every time Disney releases "shell hours" foreach park so you know the earliest closing time they plan for each day - they only ever will go up if they do change them. This will be a bit of a splurge, but you won't forget this experience. At any time during your meal you can step out on the observatory deck overlooking Seven Seas Lagoon, Magic Kingdom and the sun setting over the Grand Floridian in the background - bring your camera!! If you didn't want to splurge on dinner but still have a great time around the MK area, I would recommend taking a boat from MK to the Wilderness Lodge. They have great dining options, but our favorite is Geyser Point near the Copper Creek villas. Great outdoors (with heaters) lounge style dining option with incredible food and drinks. Great prices too relative to other locations around the property.

Park Hopper plan:
If you are interested at all in getting a park hopper ticket, I will note for hopper tickets right now, Disney requires you to get a ticket, and make your park reservation at the FIRST park you plan to go in the morning. Then starting at 2pm, you are free to enter any other park you want with the hopper portion of your ticket.

I think you would have 2 options here for a park hopper day: EPCOT <> Hollywood Studios or Magic Kingdom then and EPCOT.
If you wanted to do EPCOT and HWS there are easy transportation options between the two parks via the Skyliner and Friendship boats to and from each park.
If you wanted to do Magic and EPCOT, you would have to take a ferry boat from MK to the TTC and then get on a bus to EPCOT. Unfortunately there currently isn't a way to get FROM EPCOT to MK directly as the EPCOT monorail service is not running at the moment. That is okay IMO because EPCOT is usually open later than MK so you'll be gaining some time by ending your day at EPCOT.

Sorry for the large post, but planning this type of stuff is SUPER fun for me lol - especially when we can't go at the moment, and probably not for the rest of the year. If you any questions about this stuff, please don't hesitate! I'll give my best shot at helping you try and plan the best day you can.

[jm1670]

You'll get more done in Epcot for sure. The lines aren't very long there plus you have all of World Showcase. If you are going to do park hopping I would recommend starting at Hollywood Studios at park opening. You can still get several things done. Then at 2pm you can use the Skyliner to hop over to Epcot and finish the nite. Hollywood Studios opens around 8am and Epcot closes around 8pm so that's a good 12 hours.

[DLandChris]

I think I’m with everyone else about Epcot, though I might be biased because it’s my favorite WDW park. I’m a frequent solo traveler and I have a really good time at Epcot. It’s nice to walk around a lot of World Showcase in all the nooks and crannies. There’s pretty much a food festival anytime so that’s easier to do as a solo traveler. If you need more to do there is always walking around the Epcot resorts or even hopping on the Skyliner especially to Riviera.

I’d also echo the getting a park hopper ticket for one day. It’s very possible to do a lot at Magic Kingdom if you get there a little before rope drop, and then head to Epcot because it’s the park that’s open the latest nowadays. It’s probably the best combination.

[randyf79]

Hi, Stub!

I would tend to agree with what's been suggested for EPCOT and MK...but here's an expanded version of a previous suggested option...if you are a Star Wars fan. Since you haven't been there in a while, you might want consider going to Hollywood Studios to see the Toy Story area and Galaxy's Edge.

Now this is the aggressive play...get up early and be on property before 7am. Then, try to snag a Rise of Resistance boarding group when the system allows you to try at 7am. (You have to be geographically on property for this to work.). If you get one...great...if not...still go to the park and see all you can, have lunch at Woody's Lunch Box, and try to get a boarding group at 1pm. If you get one....great! If not, well darn...but if you've seen everything you want to see...then...PARK HOP...to EPCOT via the SkyLiner which will deposit you at the International Gateway where (you can enter after 2pm) and roam around the World Showcase...maybe catch a couple of rides (Soarin', Frozen) and then have a dinner at one of the pavilions. I'd suggest getting a fairly late dinner reservation in case you do get a board group for Rise of the Resistance that takes you to mid-afternoon or later...meaning you would arrive at EPCOT a bit later.

Ok! There's an alternative to consider!

Hope your visit with family goes well and don't worry about feeling guilty!

[AnimalKingdomFan79]

I'm planning on heading down from NC in the fist week of March. I am going to be spending some time with my mom who needs some assistance in The Villages, and I was wondering if anyone has some tips or tricks for a solo trip. I have been to Disney a lot over the years, but never alone and I'm already feeling guilty about going.

I haven't been to the parks in a few years, so I wanted to see if anyone had suggestions on which park would have the most to do for a one day, solo trip?

Thanks in advance!

Tom -

If you ever ended up going we would love to hear about it!

[SeaBaseAlpha86]

Hi Tom! I also travel to Disney solo from North Carolina. I'm a widow, and have learned to love traveling solo. I love the direct flights we here can get from Raleigh and Charlotte, especially since half of it is over the ocean!

First, please don't feel guilty. There's nothing to feel guilty about. Taking care of yourself and giving yourself some mental self-care is important, and I hope that's what your trip gives you.

As far as tips, first, try to realize that no one minds that you're there alone. You're not going to look weird. A lot of people solo. Also, do exactly what you want to do. Do you want to ride Spaceship Earth 17 times in a row? Do it! On my trip in December, I sat on the wall in the shade and listened to the carousel music at Magic Kingdom and watched the birds for a solid hour. The beauty of going solo is doing exactly what you want to do.

Think about the things you like and don't like. Plan the trip around you, and please don't feel guilty about doing it. Go at your pace. I walk probably 1/3 of the pace of everyone else and I carry a UV umbrella. I figure, let the kids do the running, this is how I do Disney.

Eat at those places you've always wanted to eat at.

Bottom line, enjoy yourself. You don't have anyone to please but you, and there's nothing wrong with that.