Who will I talk to?

Image: Brittany DiCologero

Cast members and other guests! As someone who has been to Walt Disney World alone more times than I can count, I can attest to the fact that other guests and cast members will enjoy talking with you, and it won’t be uncomfortable at all. There have been instances where I’ve become so friendly with other guests while in line for an attraction, that when asked how many in their party they’ve included me so that I could ride with them. You also may notice more solo guests now that you’re alone in the parks yourself, without the distractions of your family. Many Florida residents, annual passholders, and cast members spend time in the parks alone, so you may find that you don’t stand out as much as you had originally thought.

Especially as a solo guest you should always feel free to talk to cast members. They love talking to guests, and they actually don’t always have as much time to speak with them as they’d like. (When I was working in the parks during my Disney College Program I often found that guests with families wouldn’t be so interested in spending their time talking to me. This was not anything personal towards me, but rather because they had a whole family to keep happy, and this meant that their priority was going off towards different attractions and not standing around talking). If you’re visiting the parks alone and just looking to spend some time while having a cup of water or waiting for a line to open for a show, feel free to converse with the nearest cast member.

So should I do it?

Image: Disney 

You’ve probably never questioned whether or not you should take a trip to Walt Disney World when invited by a family member, but now that you’re considering going alone you may still be on the fence about it. There are so many positive things that come out of a solo vacation that you cannot possibly have while traveling with a group. Vacationing alone is an eye-opening and fulfilling experience that I truly believe everyone should try at least once in their lifetime.

If the thought of going to a family-centric theme park alone still worries you, plan a short trip and stay at a value resort. Leave on a Friday and come home on a Monday, and stay at one of the All Star Resorts. By planning your trip in this manner, you’ll be able to get a taste of what a Disney vacation can be like by yourself, without spending too much time and money on it. (The last thing you’d want is to realize you hate being alone on the second day and have a week left, or worse be paying top bucks for a deluxe resort during a vacation that you can’t wait to finish).

Consider all of the positive aspects of a solo trip, and come to terms with the fact that there is no real reason why you should be uncomfortable. Missing your family, especially given the destination, is totally normal but you should still be able to have a great time solo. So you may need to ask for help taking a photo once in awhile-- no big deal, cast members and other guests will be happy to help. Once you overcome the fear of checking into a hotel and dining alone, and come to realize how much fun you can have doing exactly what you want to do when you want to do, you may end up enjoying your solo trips just as much as your family vacations!