Solo trip in December 2022, New Trip Report link! 5/2/23 Try it out!

[disneyAndi14]

Happy New Year Everyone

I wanted to add some pro and con points when traveling solo!

Pro
You can do what you want when you want
Taking the time to look at park details for as long as you want
Talking with other guests and CMs more
Eating what you want and when you want
The whole resort room to yourself, this was such a luxury
Getting the photos you want when you want
Con
For some eating alone maybe a negative
Don’t forget silverware and napkins once seated because you will need to leave your table to get these. I did this so many times, ugh I think because Andi usually does this part while I get the food.
Not being able to share special/memorable events right then and there with someone

I really can’t think of anything else.
This solo trip was magical and would I go solo again? Yes I would!

The crowds were a mixed bag! I thought the first few days were much more crowded.
The Christmas party was very crowded and I am a pretty good judge of the parties because I have been to so many.

Thanks again for following along and if anyone has questions let me know.

I’m working on an April trip and plan on staying at WL nature view room at this time. Andi won’t be coming but hold on to your seats because my son Jack and my sister Donna are thinking about it! I would love for Jack to come and I would definitely plan the trip around GE activities for him. I also think he would love the Savor the Savannah tour!
Time will tell! The kid didn’t say no so that is a plus right there!


Thanks again for following along!

 

[disneyseniors]

Thank you for reading along! It really was a fun trip and easy to do the updates since I was solo

Ugh! Our weather can be very trying in the winter! The older I get the more I despise the long, cold, snowy winters!
Do you live in Brainerd? My son went to UND Grand Forks and that ride from Duluth, ugh!
The de icing was a time sucker this last trip like way longer than it should be!

My daughter and I have stayed here at least 3x we love it and it really was the perfect resort for a solo trip!

I really did have a good trip, Genie+ is such a pain but with just 1 person it was easy to get everything I wanted. I would love to go back this February, March, April…lol
I love Universal, we have been AP holders for US as well and when my daughter travels with me, we always spend 1-2 nights at US. We have stayed at Portofino Bay and Royal Pacific, loved both!
Have a wonderful trip and a Happy New Year

Thanks so much for answering, disneyAndi14!

You are too far south for us. We live in Bemidji! Sounds like you had a wonderful trip even with the Genie+. I don't want to mess with that and all that you have to do now at disney. This is from a long time disney fan. We have been going there since l977 and kids/grandkids too. But with the changes and money grabs, we are switching gears towards a more relaxing, spontaneious vacation at Universal. I really, really hope things change with Bob Iger so we can go back to our favorite place.

I think you are brave to go solo and I envy you. I am a chicken by nature and always go with my husband and family. My husband loves disney as much as I do (even with the changes) so I wouldn't leave him behind. But I really would like to try solo one day. Who knows?

 

[Lsdolphin]

I have really enjoyed following your trip and I remember your trip with your daughter...Taking my first trip that isn’t part of a conference....just me and Disney....April 19th-27th...

 

[disneyAndi14]

You are too far south for us. We live in Bemidji!

I was going to say Bemidji!

But with the changes and money grabs, we are switching gears towards a more relaxing, spontaneious vacation at Universal. I really, really hope things change with Bob Iger so we can go back to our favorite place.

I totally get what you are saying. Disney has really changed in the last few years and not for the better! I hope some things change and get better!

I think you are brave to go solo and I envy you.

I was really proud of myself, I usually always travel with someone so this was a big change!

 

[disneyAndi14]

I have really enjoyed following your trip and I remember your trip with your daughter...Taking my first trip that isn’t part of a conference....just me and Disney....April 19th-27th...

Thank you so much for following along! I will be there the same time. My dates right now are 4/17-4/24. Maybe we can meet up and say hi
Solo really was fun and I was surprised how much I enjoyed going by myself!

 

[Lsdolphin]

Thank you so much for following along! I will be there the same time. My dates right now are 4/17-4/24. Maybe we can meet up and say hi
Solo really was fun and I was surprised how much I enjoyed going by myself!

I would love that!

 

[vamassey1]

Thanks for reading! I know you were enjoying a trip yourself right before mine!
Solo is really nice for taking the time to do whatever you want and yes you can really get to many different things!
I think Christmas season is a must for me now. I have been the last 2 years and plan on going again fingers crossed
Happy New Year

Christmas Season has become a must for us too. I insist we see Danielle during the season since she can't travel home to us.

 

[disneyAndi14]

Christmas Season has become a must for us too. I insist we see Danielle during the season since she can't travel home to us.

I think it has for me as well! I love the ambiance and it makes me very happy to not see any snow when I’m down there except the snoap!

 

[pkondz]

I wanted to add some pro and con points when traveling solo!

I'm with you on pretty much everything you said.

For some eating alone maybe a negative

I actually like eating alone. As long as I have a good book with me, I'm in heaven.
And yes... I will carry one just for that reason.
However, having said that...

Not being able to share special/memorable events right then and there with someone

...yeah. This.
Especially in Disney, I want to turn to someone and say "Wow! Did you see that?"

I’m working on an April trip and plan on staying at WL nature view room at this time.

Nice!

I also think he would love the Savor the Savannah tour!

Thanks again for following along!

Thanks for inviting us along!

 

[disneyAndi14]

I actually like eating alone. As long as I have a good book with me, I'm in heaven.
And yes... I will carry one just for that reason.
However, having said that..

I’m the same! I like to read if I am alone or just take in all the happenings going on around me! There is always so much to see and listen to!

This.
Especially in Disney, I want to turn to someone and say "Wow! Did you see that?"

This was maybe the one thing I missed! I wasn’t sure I would like being solo but I really was surprised how nice it was the majority of the time!

Thanks for inviting us along!

You are welcome! Do you have any plans to return to WDW in 2023?

 

[pkondz]

I’m the same! I like to read if I am alone or just take in all the happenings going on around me! There is always so much to see and listen to!

You are welcome! Do you have any plans to return to WDW in 2023?

Not at this time, no.

 

[Lyndarella]

I was interested in your flying from and to MSP. I do the same thing, and there is never enough time between flights!

 

[disneyAndi14]

I was interested in your flying from and to MSP. I do the same thing, and there is never enough time between flights!

Any little snafu can have you missing your flight! I am always very nervous until I am seated on the plane in Minneapolis and we are moving down the runway!
In April, I chose a little later flight so hopefully, we won’t be running from one end of airport to the other!

 

[disneyAndi14]

Today was ADR day!

I was up and ready at 5am to start making dining reservations!

The plan was to try for a Topolinos breakfast, Space 220 lounge, Hoop, and Via Napoli.

I got everything I wanted! What?? That has never happened.

My plan is to do several lounges through out our trip.

We want to do Steakhouse 71 lounge, Geyser Point, Tambu lounge, Nomad lounge, and Bar Riva at Riviera so I didn’t make a bunch of sit down reservations.

My son, Jack, is still very noncommittal so I really don’t think he will be joining us.

Here are our park days at this time

4/16. Arrival day, I do have us going to MK in the evening. I am hoping to start out with a drink at GP and the brisket dip. We should arrive at WL by 2-3pm.

4/17. AK park, I didn’t make an ADR for today. I’m still deciding if we will do the HEA dessert party this evening. It isn’t available yet to book. I think Donna would enjoy that. Vanessa is trying for that party as well. I think we will eat at Nomad Lounge during the day and maybe Tambu lounge for dinner.



4/18. Epcot, Our plans this day our sampling some of the F&G booths right when they open up. I also have Via Napoli this evening at 5:30pm. May ditch the Via Napoli for time in DS.



4/19. DHS, I don’t have any ADR plans today. My plan is to take the Skyliner over to Riviera and have lunch and a drink at Bar Riva. Extra evening hours at MK this evening.



4/20. MK, This is the evening we have Hoop, I wasn’t able to get Tier 1 so took 2. I think this will be fine for my sister and I. It is the 6:15 show and Vanessa and her family will be at this one.



4/21. Epcot, more F&G booths during the day and Space 220 lounge at 5:30pm



4/22. AK, I have a Topolinos for breakfast at 8:30am. I don’t have any evening plans yet. We may try for Sanaa lounge and have the bread service for our meal.



4/23. We will head to Portofino Bay at Universal Orlando early in the day. We have one night here. Our flight is a later one on 4/24 at 6pm. We will spend Sunday and some of Monday in the parks



I also want to meet up with @amazingact21 and as I mentioned @vamassey1. also @Wood Nymph and
@Lsdolphin will be there and maybe we can meet up as well!


I will be on the look out for The After Hour event for MK while we are there. So far it is only loaded through March. I see some DHS ones for the week we are there. Maybe MK isn’t having any that week.

I also want to fit in the extended hours for MK since we are staying at a deluxe. Epcot isn’t as much of a to do for us and if they have DHS we will try to do that one.

I also want to try for Trader Sam’s again and spend a little time at DS.

There are so many things to do and so little time, lol

Resort question

I made an extra reservation at The Swan for the trip, same dates as our WL reservation.

My sister loves the Boardwalk area so I am torn! I think we will stay with WL but if you read this and have any suggestions or opinions let me know!!

The Swan all in with the fees is about $600.00 less than WL, this is a nice savings.

I have never stayed at The Swan or The Dolphin.

I don’t like the bus situation but I think we can just go over to BW or YC and use the bus there.

What would you do??

 

[vamassey1]

I got everything I wanted! What?? That has never happened.

I'm so happy for you!

4/17. AK park, I didn’t make an ADR for today. I’m still deciding if we will do the HEA dessert party this evening. It isn’t available yet to book. I think Donna would enjoy that. Vanessa is trying for that party as well. I think we will eat at Nomad Lounge during the day and maybe Tambu lounge for dinner.

We'll be in AK this day too. Danielle and I would love to try Nomads Lounge, we just need to work on Dennis. We don't have any meal plans this day so we're very flexible. Alisha is also trying for the HEA party. Fingers crossed we all get it.

4/20. MK, This is the evening we have Hoop, I wasn’t able to get Tier 1 so took 2. I think this will be fine for my sister and I. It is the 6:15 show and Vanessa and her family will be at this one.

Another day we'll be in the same park. It's perfect that we both got HDDR. I've never been but so looking forward to it. Are you thinking about going back to MK afterwards? I am and I'm ok with leaving Dennis behind if he's too tired. He will be the one doing the driving home the next day.

I also want to meet up with @amazingact21 and as I mentioned @vamassey1.

If you stay at WL you should be able to meet with @amazingact21 and hopefully we all get HEA Dessert party.

My sister loves the Boardwalk area so I am torn! I think we will stay with WL but if you read this and have any suggestions or opinions let me know!!

WL is on my bucket list so I'm going to have to go with it.

Good Luck making your choice.

 

[disneyAndi14]

I'm so happy for you!

Thank you, after talking with you yesterday I didn’t have much hope for Space 220 lounge and Topolinos is always so difficult

We'll be in AK this day too. Danielle and I would love to try Nomads Lounge, we just need to work on Dennis. We don't have any meal plans this day so we're very flexible. Alisha is also trying for the HEA party. Fingers crossed we all get it.

Yes, we should say hi for sure that day. Nomad is so wonderful, I think Dennis would love it. I’m so excited HEA is back!

Another day we'll be in the same park. It's perfect that we both got HDDR. I've never been but so looking forward to it. Are you thinking about going back to MK afterwards? I am and I'm ok with leaving Dennis behind if he's too tired. He will be the one doing the driving home the next day.

I’m not sure if we will, if DHS has extended evening hours for deluxe, we would try to do that

If you stay at WL you should be able to meet with @amazingact21 and hopefully we all get HEA Dessert party.

Yes, I’m excited about that!

WL is on my bucket list so I'm going to have to go with it.

It is such a beautiful resort I’m so torn. I love the convenience of the Epcot resorts as well. The “Disney” resorts in this area are crazy priced in April without offering any of the 3 discounts Disney has right now!

 

[starousse]

I would keep your original plans for WL....Btw, that was awesome that you were able to get a Space lounge ressie. I thought they were still impossible to snag.

 

[vamassey1]

Thank you, after talking with you yesterday I didn’t have much hope for Space 220 lounge and Topolinos is always so difficult

You really scored. Were you making reservations for 2? When I did it for 2 when it was just Danielle and I last year I had much better luck.

Yes, we should say hi for sure that day. Nomad is so wonderful, I think Dennis would love it. I’m so excited HEA is back!

I just spoke with Danielle this morning and told her we have to work on Dennis.

I’m not sure if we will, if DHS has extended evening hours for deluxe, we would try to do that

I can understand that. DHS with less crowds is not something to pass up.

It is such a beautiful resort I’m so torn. I love the convenience of the Epcot resorts as well. The “Disney” resorts in this area are crazy priced in April without offering any of the 3 discounts Disney has right now!

The convenience of being close to 2 parks is hard to pass.

 

[Alison S]

I'm going to be making my ADR soon too (I think we'll overlap one day at Epcot!) and was wondering what availability you saw for Space 220 lounge? How many days out did you see reservations available? We're also doing lots of lounges for the first time!

 

[disneyAndi14]

I'm going to be making my ADR soon too (I think we'll overlap one day at Epcot!) and was wondering what availability you saw for Space 220 lounge? How many days out did you see reservations available? We're also doing lots of lounges for the first time!

I did see several Space 220 lounges on 4/21/22. This is the day I looked for it.
My ADR is for 2 people so maybe that helps as well.
You may already know this but if able plan your Space 220 lounge for later in your trip and try booking that first.
I did that with Space and Topolinos and it worked!
The lounges are the way to go, I love it!