Given my folks owning a lovely property near the Disney site, I have enjoyed Disney with my family numerous times. I have also had friends over on a couple of occasions to enjoy the parks together. However it has been my fate on many an occasion to spend days in theme parks alone. This may provoke pictures of a soul lost in solitude, sadly nibbling on a Mickey bar whilst watching everyone else enjoy their time in the Happiest Place on Earth. Not so. Some of the best days I’ve ever spent in the parks have been on my own.
Look at the perks:
- You don’t have to consider what anyone else wants, you just do whatever you fancy. Don’t like rides, don’t do rides.
- Single rider queues are coming into vogue, with Test Track and Expedition Everest already signed up.
- You can go at your own pace.
- Nobody is there to criticise you for having ANOTHER Mickey bar/bucket of popcorn/turkey leg/pee.
- Everyone is suddenly willing to talk to you, the group-group boundary is lost.
- YOU have the map.
- Lunch for one is cheap.
I think that probably the most important of these perks in practice is the pacing issue. If you’re someone who moves quickly in between attractions then you don’t get held back by those who lag behind “looking at things”. Likewise if you’re always being told to hurry up there are no such issues when alone.
There are more people wandering the parks looking to meet an chat to other people than you might think, notably cast members on their day off and families there for the first time. I’ve met some great people when I’ve been on my own that I’m sure I would never have spoken to had I had my own intimidating entourage. People on their own are approachable and you can derive enjoyment of the parks from others’ day as well as your own.
One particularly good practical tip for getting around on your own is to plan much less than if you’re with a group. When previously you can’t consider playing by ear you find that going solo you can ramble – not many people in the Disney parks feel comfortable enough to ramble. It broadens the Disney experience, whether you are a younger person who might want to find others to hang around with for the day, or a senior who wants to enjoy the parks without any pressure of “doing stuff”.
Far from a last resort, Disney solo is a great experience.