“Giving up is for rookies“- my first solo-trip

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heck! I’m going too...
BUT I do have 3 kids and a husband. I’ll keep you posted Lol
I need a friend like you! My husband and kids do love Disney but I need someone as excited as I’m to be there.

danielocha30 said:

heck! I’m going too...
BUT I do have 3 kids and a husband. I’ll keep you posted Lol
I need a friend like you! My husband and kids do love Disney but I need someone as excited as I’m to be there.

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Hahaha, I know what you mean.
I've been with friends, you know, but when I take that first look at the castle and start tearing up....they just don't GET it.

SoarinSupergirl said:

Hahaha, I know what you mean.
I've been with friends, you know, but when I take that first look at the castle and start tearing up....they just don't GET it.

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OMG!!! you cry too!
My firts trip was 30 yrs ago obviously being 8 years old I cried and my heart was racing just seeing the castle from the parking lot! My aunt was with me, and one night she was telling my husband the story and he stopped her and told her he knows what she was talking about I still do that every single time I see the castle

danielocha30 said:

OMG!!! you cry too!
My firts trip was 30 yrs ago obviously being 8 years old I cried and my heart was racing just seeing the castle from the parking lot! My aunt was with me, and one night she was telling my husband the story and he stopped her and told her he knows what she was talking about I still do that every single time I see the castle

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Maybe it's something in the scents they spread over Mainstreet, maybe they mix some tear gas in
But seriously, nothing beats that first view of the castle.
But then, I cry at most things Disney at some point.
I remember distinctly, watching "Frozen" in a movie theatre with five billion children, and when Olaf said "some people are worth melting for"...I'm telling you, I SOBBED. None of the kids did, but I BAWLED. Clearly, they all didn't have a heart

So, I have almost decided on September/October 2019 for my trip.
It just makes sense. I would still love to go in May, but only because it would get me there sooner. Patience IS a virtue. Most unfortunately, I am not very good with that.

This is SO exciting!

Firstly, congrats on working so hard to get back to your true self and the person you want to be. I had similar words of wisdom from a friends grandmother years ago and it was the best advice I have ever received and I never forget it. It’s not always easy but it certainly does get easier and feels so right for me now (I am 35 too)

I went on a 3 day solo trip nearly two years ago and it was wonderful! I definitely learned a lot that I would alter in my plans for my next solo trip (hopefully next year). Even though I do things alone in my everyday life (go for a drink, dinner, movies, etc) I was afraid it would feel weird at Disney. It was unite the opposite — Disney is a place full of friends you just haven’t met yet

Loved your trip introduction, the format was so cute! I'll be following along!

SoarinSupergirl said:

It’s been a tough year for me. I finally found the courage to end a long and complicated relationship about a year ago and I really struggled badly. I simply didn’t remember who I was without him.

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I'm glad you were able to make a difficult change. Leaving a familiar and comfortable situation with someone you love can't be easy and I hope you continue to heal

SoarinSupergirl said:

But you have opportunities I never had. There isn’t just one way in this world to lead a happy life.

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Love that attitude! That's sort of what I've been trying to do too lately. My friends might have husbands and kids, but they also don't have the same opportunities to travel that I do. I may want a husband and kids, but I can be happy this way too!

SoarinSupergirl said:

making them play my little mermaid cassette tape for the entire drive for our summer vacation in Italy.

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So cool that you spent your summer vacations in Italy!

SoarinSupergirl said:

Over the past couple of months I read a ton of trip reports, some of them solo trips, and they made my heart ache to be back at WDW. And more importantly, they made a solo-trip look FAR from pathetic.

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Definitely not pathetic! I think traveling alone is super admirable, and Disney World is a great place to travel to, alone or otherwise! Really think you'll love it!

SoarinSupergirl said:

and I would like to spend just one night at a deluxe, preferably the Boardwalk, or the Beach Club with a nice dinner, an evening at Jellyrolls, maybe some pool time.

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Might I suggest Animal Kingdom Lodge?

SoarinSupergirl said:

Since I am a huge Harry Potter fan, I want to spend two days at Universal, as well.

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Ooooh you'll love it! Diagon Alley is so magical!

SoarinSupergirl said:

- Character breakfast

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I really enjoyed Trattoria Al Forno!

SoarinSupergirl said:

- An extensive tour of all the Disney resorts (does Disney offer a guided tour of the resorts, that would be exciting)

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I've never heard of such a thing, but I do know that Animal Kingdom Lodge offers tours of their restaurants in the morning, and it's free!

SoarinSupergirl said:

So, I have almost decided on September/October 2019 for my trip.
It just makes sense. I would still love to go in May, but only because it would get me there sooner. Patience IS a virtue. Most unfortunately, I am not very good with that.

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That's a great time to go! You would see it all decked out for Halloween, and you could attend a Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party! Of the two holiday parties, I definitely prefer the Halloween!

SoarinSupergirl said:

Over the past couple of months I read a ton of trip reports, some of them solo trips, and they made my heart ache to be back at WDW. And more importantly, they made a solo-trip look FAR from pathetic.

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Solo trips are awesome! One of the things I actually miss about being single is going on Solo vacations! LOL

I am on-board! Looking forward to seeing your plans and eventual trip report.

You intro is very relatible. At age 33 I was much in the same place life-wise. I am happily married now, but at THAT time I had to struggle through and accept my identity and life as there were without that.
Remember too.. you did not waste 8 years of your life. Every moment becomes part of who you are and is valuable, even if that value is in learning a difficult lesson!

precious pixie said:

This is SO exciting!

Firstly, congrats on working so hard to get back to your true self and the person you want to be. I had similar words of wisdom from a friends grandmother years ago and it was the best advice I have ever received and I never forget it. It’s not always easy but it certainly does get easier and feels so right for me now (I am 35 too)

I went on a 3 day solo trip nearly two years ago and it was wonderful! I definitely learned a lot that I would alter in my plans for my next solo trip (hopefully next year). Even though I do things alone in my everyday life (go for a drink, dinner, movies, etc) I was afraid it would feel weird at Disney. It was unite the opposite — Disney is a place full of friends you just haven’t met yet

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Thank you so much for reading
What would our world be without grandmothers, right? I still struggle, but I am so grateful for the opportunities I have.
I LOVE the way you put that "Friends you just haven't met yet". I am SO looking forward to my trip.

paradesintherain said:

Loved your trip introduction, the format was so cute! I'll be following along!



I'm glad you were able to make a difficult change. Leaving a familiar and comfortable situation with someone you love can't be easy and I hope you continue to heal



Love that attitude! That's sort of what I've been trying to do too lately. My friends might have husbands and kids, but they also don't have the same opportunities to travel that I do. I may want a husband and kids, but I can be happy this way too!



So cool that you spent your summer vacations in Italy!



Definitely not pathetic! I think traveling alone is super admirable, and Disney World is a great place to travel to, alone or otherwise! Really think you'll love it!



Might I suggest Animal Kingdom Lodge?



Ooooh you'll love it! Diagon Alley is so magical!



I really enjoyed Trattoria Al Forno!



I've never heard of such a thing, but I do know that Animal Kingdom Lodge offers tours of their restaurants in the morning, and it's free!



That's a great time to go! You would see it all decked out for Halloween, and you could attend a Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party! Of the two holiday parties, I definitely prefer the Halloween!

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Thank you so much, for reading. Like I said, I SO admire you. It is trip reports like yours that have inspired me to do this.
I am working on myself and my attitude, daily. Inspiration comes from all kinds of sources. God bless strong women
I so love Animal Kingdom Lodge, but I am kind of hell-bent on that magical night at the Boardwalk

Nakkira said:

Solo trips are awesome! One of the things I actually miss about being single is going on Solo vacations! LOL

I am on-board! Looking forward to seeing your plans and eventual trip report.

You intro is very relatible. At age 33 I was much in the same place life-wise. I am happily married now, but at THAT time I had to struggle through and accept my identity and life as there were without that.
Remember too.. you did not waste 8 years of your life. Every moment becomes part of who you are and is valuable, even if that value is in learning a difficult lesson!

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Thank you so much. It isn't easy. I still struggle. It is crazy how much women are being judged based on things like that to this day.
But you are totally right: The life I have lead to this day has shaped the woman I have become. I am good people. I try to be, anyway
Thank you for your words of encouragement. Women are awesome

Hi Anna!

I'm going on my first solo trip in January 2019! I had a major family health issue this year and just like you I feel like I need to get away from home and hit a reset button. I'm hoping this trip as empowering as I hope it will be!

Wooow, I really failed with this pre-trip-report, holy moly!

it has been a turbulent year for sure, including some health issues (I'm alright now) a totaled car (again, I'm ok, but my bank account took a bit of a hit). BUT my plans for my trip are still going strong. I had a hard time deciding on a time frame. I admit, I went into this and was WAY, WAY too naive. I haven't been to Disney in a while, almost going on a decade, and I thought "Oh well, how much could it have changed, really?" Well, it turns out: a LOT Like, duh, HOW did I not know this. It starts with airfare, really. I kid you not, my last trip to Disney (again, almost a decade ago), I booked my flight to MCO for less than 400 €, round-trip. It looked like I was going to have to cough up twice this amount, more or less. I had even startet pushing different ideas around, like flying into Miami, or NYC, or even flying out of London, because those flights are significantly cheaper, but when you factor in everything else, it would about come out to the same price, OR it would be a major pain in the butt. And THEN I got the price alert the other day and snatched up a really decent connection for just over 500 €, and I literally got up at 3am to book it, so, YAY, that’s super exciting.


Then, it seems I have decided on the craziest times to go. Stupidly, I did not know, that those master minds at Disney have effectively succeeded in making every single day at the parks crowded, but, like a pro, I have chosen the last week of September and the first two weeks of October. I knew about Food and Wine, of course, and the Halloween parties, but I had not factored in Columbus day, OR Galaxy's Edge. I do not like Star Wars. I tried to get into it. I couldn't get through any of the original movies. Please don't hate me. I am sure the theming will be superb, though. Same with Pandora. Couldn't get into the movie, but I love the look of it at AK.


But anyway, I digress, I looked into the prices of staying on property and decided not to do it for this three week trip, except that ONE night at a deluxe, that's still on the table.


I couldn't warm up to any of the value resorts, watched a lot of videos on youtube, and have decided, if I'm going to stay for more than a few nights, I'd have to go for a moderate. And the prices I pulled up (and I naively didn't know about the resort fees that have been added) ....I can't justify it. I'm never going to put a vacation on a credit card (not judging anyone who does, just not something I am comfortable with), and taking this much out of savings would make me feel bad for the entire duration of the trip.


So, I have decided on spending two weeks at a nice, off-property resort, possibly one of those “good neighbor” hotels, if I can get a decent price. (I’ll use hotwire or priceline express deals)


Extra Magic Hours would be awesome, of course, and the 60 days in advance access to fastpass would be an added bonus, too. But if it doesn’t end up happening that way, that’s ok, as well.


I really just want a nice hotel with transportation to the parks. I don't mind, if it takes me a bit longer to get there.


With the number of days I’ll be spending at the park (I am looking at one of those 21 day Ultimate passes), I will have plenty of time to do everything I want.


The part I am most stoked about is that I will be there in time to see Illuminations one last time!!


So, yeah, that’s where I’m at right now! So excited! Only 4 months to go.