Top 10 Tips for Doing Disney World Solo

Taking a solo trip to Walt Disney World can be an intimidating, yet incredibly enjoyable experience. This post offers tips for making the most of doing Walt Disney World by yourself, highlighting what you can enjoy when you’re alone, and offering some reassurances. (Updated November 6, 2024.)

The idea of going alone may seem off-putting, even. For many people, the highlight of a Disney vacation is spending time with family and making memories of fun, laughter, and little moments shared with the people you love. That’s not to say flying solo at Walt Disney World is a lonely and laughter-less experience. Well, depending on your personality, maybe it is.

I think that doing Walt Disney World solo is sort of like Home Alone (minus the burglary). Intimidating and scary at first, but pretty awesome once you realize you can run around doing and eating whatever you want without anyone to stop you. I’ve made a few solo trips in the last few years and have gone from being scared of the very idea of going without Sarah to being so comfortable that I spent an afternoon at Typhoon Lagoon and ate a bucket of ice cream by myself…

November 6, 2024 Update: I’ve gone solo to Walt Disney World over a dozen times in the last two years, with Sarah unable to accompany me due to erring on the side of caution during pregnancy, before Baby Bricker hit the six month mark, and for quick long weekend trips ‘for the sake of research.’

In so doing, I’ve learned a lot of lessons along the way. Perhaps more importantly, I’ve made a lot of unforced errors. So many, in fact, that I’ve made a counterpart to this post: Mistakes I’ve Made Going Solo to Walt Disney World. This is worthwhile if you’re nervous about visiting Walt Disney World by yourself and want to avoid embarrassment. (For example, did you ever consider that family style meals are a really bad option as a party of one?!) If so, I’d recommend giving that a read as a supplement to this so you can learn from my mistakes.

Even with that said, solo trips are not for everyone. I suspect those who go primarily to see the reactions of their children or serious extroverts may be less inclined to enjoy the experience. However, I’ve learned that as an ‘outgoing introvert’ (that’s what the government scientists who interrogated me at the bunker in New Mexico studied me concluded) a solo trip from time to time is great for me.

If you think a solo trip might be right for you, here are 10 tips to making it a great experience…

10. Eat Where You Want

My biggest fear before my first solo trip to Walt Disney World was eating alone. I don’t know why…maybe the stigma? It turned out to be fine. That first trip I ate entirely at counter service restaurants, wanting to minimize awkward encounters by not dealing with a server.

I’ve become more comfortable eating alone, and have since done table service meals. There has been no issue with this, and I’ve found most of the time Cast Members at the restaurant are more conversational with me to make my experience better. One thing you might want to tell your server when you are order is that you are in no rush (assuming you are in no rush).

On several occasions, I’ve had servers rush the meal along, probably under the assumption that I want to be in and out (which I did–but you might be different than me). Another reason for this is that servers work for tips and a smaller party often means a smaller tip. You might want to be cognizant of this, especially at busier restaurants, and tip well.

9. SINGLE RIDER

We recommend using single rider lines on this blog even when you are with others, but so many people are staunchly opposed to single rider lines when they are in groups. While that still perplexes me, when you’re traveling alone, there’s absolutely no reason not to take advantage of single rider lines.

Granted, this is only available at Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Test Track, Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster, and Expedition Everest, but these are three of the longest waits at Walt Disney World, and thrill junkies can really get their fix via these single rider lines. There have been times where I’ve looped Expedition Everest, riding it 3 times in about 15 minutes!

If you’re incorporating Universal Orlando Resort into your solo trip, you can take advantage of single rider lines on many attractions there. This can be an immense time-saver, and something to use even when you’re traveling with others (we do!).

8. TREAT YO SELF!

If you have a family of 5, you probably balk at the prices of some experiences at Walt Disney World. Even things like a buffet mean dropping at least $250. There might be a lot of pricey things you haven’t done at Walt Disney World because of how much it would cost for your entire party. When you are traveling alone, the cost of your entire party is the cost of YOU.

It might seem super selfish, but this is America. George Washington would roll in his grave if we all didn’t act like we are the center of the universe. Joking aside, a solo trip is an opportunity to do a couple of those expensive things that simply cost too much with your entire party.

It might be something relatively straightforward like a Halloween or Christmas party, or you might go all out and get a spa treatment or do surfing lessons at Typhoon Lagoon. Signature Restaurants are a fantastic option, especially if you have younger kids for whom they’re inappropriate.

Guided tours are another great option, as those are both costly (making them a non-starter for many families) and suited more to niche and/or adult interests (so it’s often difficult to convince the family to do them in the first place). Behind the Seeds at EPCOT may not seem like a ‘treat yo self’ splurge given its low cost, but it can be when you also consider the cost in time, and that your whole family may not be on board.  Regardless, Tom & Donna would be proud.

7. Be Someone Else

Whenever I travel to Walt Disney World, the people I encounter along the way meet George Kaplan, secret agent and international man of mystery. Actually…that’s not what I mean. When you’re on a trip by yourself where you’re only interacting with people who don’t know you and probably will never see you again, you can feel freer to step outside of your “normal” personality.

This might sound silly because you could always step outside of your comfort zone if you so desired, but that’s easier said than done. I think quite often we comport with others’ expectations of us…or might be embarrassed to have friends or family see us step outside of our comfort zones.

When you’re solo, it’s easier to go out on a limb, so to speak. Whether this is manifested in talking to strangers on the monorail, getting up and doing karaoke, or eating a porterhouse the size of your head if you’re a vegetarian, it can be a fun way to try things you normally wouldn’t.

On a similar note, you can also step outside your family’s comfort zone. Take the opportunity to do things your spouse or kids wouldn’t want to do. This is a win-win, because you get to do something you otherwise wouldn’t, and they’ll be less-jealous about the experience you had. Again, the Behind the Seeds Tour at EPCOT comes up as a prime example. Few kids are going to be upset about their parents doing that without them!

6. Dine at Bars

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from over a dozen solo trips to Walt Disney World between last year and 2024 is that bars and lounges are far and away the best and most efficient way to eat. I’ve actually added this as its own entry, consolidating points about social media and meeting up with friends into #2 (if you’re wondering why that one is so long).

This is a really important point because many Walt Disney World fans assume that bars and lounges are only–or mostly–for drinkers. That couldn’t be further from the truth. I never order alcohol when dining at these spots, which are overwhelming family-friendly, anyway.

What bars and lounges offer is food menus at relatively reasonable prices, greater efficiency, and less awkwardness. I’m mostly not a fan of the Magic Kingdom dining scene, so I frequently leave the park to head over to Disney’s Contemporary Resort where I dine at Steakhouse 71 at the bar (pictured above). I can watch football with fellow dads (many of whom are here alone, even when traveling with family) and have a fantastic burger and be back in the park in an hour or under.

Eating at bars & lounges is also a great option at Signature Restaurants. These fine dining locations mostly have bars where you can order from the full menu, making them less uncomfortable for solo travelers. These restaurants cater largely to convention guests, so you often won’t be the only solo guests dining at these bars. Beyond this, consult our List of the Best 23 Bars & Lounges at Walt Disney World. There are some great options!

5. Vacation Kingdom

I’m not entirely sure why I view this as a solo activity, but I find myself stepping beyond the turnstiles of the parks out into the rest of the Vacation Kingdom of the World when I visit by myself. This is probably because the theme parks are broadly appealing to a wide range of people, whereas the rest of the Vacation Kingdom–whether it’s golf, fishing, or specific resorts–is all more targeted to certain hobbies and interests.

You can also venture outside the park by simple “riding the rails.” Take a flight on the Skyliner or monorail, a leisurely ride around Bay Lake on the boats, or simply a stroll around Crescent Lake. One form of transportation we’d probably skip is the buses. While practical, there’s not much fun to be had simply riding around random bus routes.

One place I often find myself is Fort Wilderness, a resort I really love. Perhaps this is because I am accustomed to being alone with nature when I travel alone in the real world, so I gravitate to that same type of location at Walt Disney World. There’s a reason “at one with nature” is a popular saying, and I’ve found that Fort Wilderness is a great place for quiet strolls and introspection. Oh, and it doesn’t hurt that Trail’s End is an awesome place to eat.

4. Choose Your Own Adventure!

Want to do Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin 10 times in a row? How about spending the day watching ducks wandering around? Maybe your spouse hates hot dogs and thrill rides, in which case, it’s a good time to feast at Casey’s Corner before doing TRON Lightcycle Run. (On second thought, perhaps you should space those out a bit.)

One thing I’ve learned through this blog is that different people get different things out of Walt Disney World. I can tell you that my ideal day is radically different than some others’ idea of a perfect day. When you travel solo, your vision of “ideal” is the day you get to have, no matter how odd that may seem to others.

I once spent an entire day in Epcot by myself once, and literally did nothing besides watching Impressions de France (twice), American Adventure, sitting on a bench listening to background music, and taking photos. So go ahead, stare at those ducks. You’ve earned it.

3. Fly by the Seat of Your Pants

Having a solid itinerary for Walt Disney World when you’re with several other people makes sense because there are certain pressures of a multi-thousand dollar trip. These pressures are significantly lower when you’re by yourself. This is not to say a Walt Disney World vacation is cheap when you’re by yourself or that you should go in without Lightning Lanes or any goals, but the stakes are lower.

It is to say that going solo at Walt Disney World makes for a more flexible vacation. If you don’t have a plan and you’re with a larger party, every step must be discussed, and making decisions on the fly is inefficient and unwieldy.

When you are by yourself, you can easily pivot and do things on the fly, as there’s no collaborative element. Not having any plan may make you feel somewhat “naked” at first, but it is another way to have a different type of day at Walt Disney World. Spontaneity is one of the highlights of a solo Disney trip.

2. Make “Internet Friends”

If this blog post were written 15 years ago, that heading might sound like the creepiest thing ever. “Internet friends” was probably associated with having a sit-down with Chris Hansen. The dynamic and perception of the internet has certainly changed a lot since then, and socializing online is no longer viewed as a hobby of the anti-social.

Now, there truly is a Disney online fan community, and it’s a great place to make friends. The thing about this is that you have to go about it the right way. If you’re not currently active in any online communities, don’t sign up 2 weeks before your trip and start randomly posting your travel dates in Facebook groups about Disney or doing TikTok dances to lure people to meet up with you.

You need to make friends online just as you would in the real world, interacting and forming friendships over time, and then privately messaging them closer to your travel dates. I could write an entire post on the “right” way to do all of this, but I’m going to assume the readers of this blog are the coolest of the cool, and not socially maladjusted, so you can probably figure most of this out for yourselves.

Meeting up with friends is a nice safety net, so to speak, or a way to balance out the trip. This way, you can choose when you’re by yourself and when you experience the parks with friends. Personally, I know after a couple days of only superficial interactions, I’m ready for a ‘break’ from the solo thing and looking for meaningful interactions.

Similarly, social media can be your lifeline to the outside world. While there is something to be said for actually experiencing what you’re doing rather than sharing the supposed experience, I think a solo trip is somewhat different because it gives you a chance to engage with others.

Part of what makes a trip with others fun is sharing those little moments in the parks with someone else. Sharing online provides a quick and easy way to have a semblance of that, while still traveling solo. Just be careful: the fear of loneliness can make it easy to spend too much time sharing on social media, and not enough time actually enjoying yourself and doing things on your solo Walt Disney World trip.

My recommendation here would be to live in the moment and ‘catch up’ on sharing when you’re waiting in lines. Oh, and be sure to bring an external battery charger for your phone. The dullness of certain queues is amplified when you’re by yourself, and you will use a lot of battery killing time…

1. Disney Enlightenment

One of the odd problems I have with a group dynamic is that I always feel compelled to be ‘accomplishing’ something, regardless of whether the people I’m with are even more laid back than me. It’s this odd, slightly neurotic thing, I guess. For example, Sarah says ‘she’s just happy being there’ but I still feel the need to keep things moving along. I don’t want to stop for too long to take a photo, or linger after a meal. There’s just something in the back of my mind prodding me along.

By contrast, when I’m by myself, this does not even enter my mind. I am perfectly fine taking my time, whether that means doing a lap around Crescent Lake or sitting poolside for an hour just soaking up the sun. You might think that if you didn’t have anyone else slowing you down, you would do attractions non-stop, but inevitably, everyone I know who has gone solo talks about how they really loved the leisurely pace.

I refer to this as getting to know Walt Disney World. It’s my favorite part of going solo. There’s something about this that I just love that’s almost impossible to articulate, but you end up seeing the parks in an intimate, different way. It’s tough to explain, but after about a day of this, it feels almost like you have heightened senses: you see things you normally don’t see, hear things you normally don’t hear, etc. I suppose it’s like enlightenment, Disney style. That might seem embellished or even preposterous if you’ve never had solo time in the parks, but trust me on this. It’s a “thing.”

One thing I didn’t mention above was safety. Personally, I don’t think this really qualifies as much of a tip. You should be safe wherever you go. Although incidents do occur at Walt Disney World, bad stuff happens everywhere, and I view Walt Disney World as one of the safest places on the planet. So, yeah, don’t do anything stupid that jeopardizes your safety. Otherwise, I think I covered my favorite tips for flying solo at Walt Disney World!

If you are planning a Walt Disney World trip–solo or otherwise–check out our planning resources! If you’re interested in learning more about hotels, our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page is a good place to start. For where to eat, try out our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews page. If you want to save money on tickets or determine which type you should get, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at unconventional things you should take on your trip. Once you arrive at the parks, our Walt Disney World “Ride Guides” are great for determining what to do and when to do it. For overviews of all of these topics and so much more, the best place to start is our comprehensive Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide to make the most of your experience!

Your Thoughts

Have you done a solo Walt Disney World vacation? Any additional tips? Are you thinking of flying solo at WDW? Does a solo trip seem like something you’d enjoy, or would you miss being with your friends or family? Hearing from you is half the fun, so if you have other thoughts or questions, please share in the comments!