Conference koolit::disney

    When I went down in October, and I was solo for some of the time.
    I played tour guide for some friends from work and for a friend
    who moved into the Orlando area.  I also met up with former trailer
    mates from the College Program and other with whom I had worked.  
    
    I had fun watching the people and I could always talk to anyone.
    I met several people alosng the way both cast members and guests.
    I sometimes got doubled up with people on rides.  
    
    The one drawback was going to Pleasure Island alone.  It was tough
    to meet people in the dance clubs since most of the people there
    were with others.

    Hi Sharon,  I/ve been to Disneyland 3 times alone.  [DECUS symposiums,
    dirty job, but someone has to do it!] Being married
    with 4 kids,  my opinion was that its the loneliest place on earth!
    Find someone, anyone to go with you!
ed
    

    I ended up doing WDW pretty much alone -- my daughters, aged 17
    and 20, were in the same parks at the same times with me, but we
    found out that we got along much better if we didn't try to do all
    the same things at the same time.  As a result, while my girls were
    off doing their "thing", I had the freedom to dawdle (or not) where
    and when I chose, and I had a ball.  An added bonus: I often found
    myself heading toward the same attractions as this very attractive
    guy, so we ended up often going on rides and things together.
    
    My advice -- go, and have a great time!  Take pictures, or videotape
    if you can.  Then you can show your trip to whomever you please,
    as well as enjoying the place all over again.
    
    Joanna

    
    re: .2
    
    ed, at this point in time, I will be going by myself.  I've been
    in a non-social mode for quite awhile now, and there is no one to
    ask.
    
    What I would like to hear from you about are hints and tips about
    your trip.  
    Did you eat in restaurants and did they seat you in (near)the kitchen?  
    Did they let you ride rides alone?
    Where there any bennies to being by yourself?
    I've personally never noticed any people alone there before, did you feel
    like a sore thumb or get strange treatment?
    How did you deal with lonliness?  (I plan on bringing some books to
    read).
    
    Thanks for any help
    --Sharon                           

    Hi Sharon,
    
    Before getting married, I was a total loner.  Now with four kids
    and a wife, it feels quit different to be alone.
    
    Digital night at Disneyland is not quit the same as your goning
    to face.  There were people that I would run into off and on that
    I knew.  And the fellowship of DECUS members who are the only ones
    in the park is something you just have to experience.  People would
    readily talk, and since I'm a speaker, a lot of people would reqignize
    me and talk.
    But still, its a sharing thing that I've grown used to in our family.
    The Disney experience is just that, an experience that you are eager
    to talk to someone about!  Just witness all these notes for evidence!
    
    Maybe taking a lot of pictures, keeping a dairy, I dunno.  I wouldn't
    want to discourage anyone.  its a great place, to be sure.
    I found no discrimination to me being alone.  Rides, etc went ok.
    If it weren't for Star Tours, I doubt that I would have went last
    fall.
    
    But,,,, its jsut one month left before me and the whole family go
    one down, and we have a new child [17] to share the adventure with.
    It'll be like seeing it anew.  We can't wait.  and I can't even
    guess how many times/days we've spend in a Disney park anymore.
    
    Go, have fun, smile a lot.
    ed
    

    	A prime weapon against loneliness is keeping busy, if not
    physically, at least mentally. I advise most people to do WDW half-on,
    half-off (in the parks half-day, goofing off the other half). For a
    single, you may be better off pushing harder: keeping busier and giving
    yourself less relaxation time. If you need the physical relaxation,
    keep mentally busy by planning the next days activities, researching
    the place and near by alternatives (Sea World, Cypress Gardens, etc).
    	Since people are at WDW to enjoy, casual conversations with
    strangers are more comfortable and can make your day for a single. The
    staff are very helpful, polite and may be a way of getting into talking
    with strangers if this is not your norm.  Common experience binds
    people and you will have much in common with many happy people after
    just a short while at WDW. Let yourself enjoy! -  Chris (a loner who
    has been fortunate to have relatives along when visiting the World)

I tend to holiday alone anyway, so going to WDW wasn't any different from that
point of view. (I went for one week last January and am going again on the 24th
of this month for two weeks...) I didn't eat in the parks except for snacks. I
usually had the car to myself on the rides; this was a bonus since I could
twist around without disturbing anyone. I suspect that I wouldn't like to be in
a group at WDW; everyone wants to do something different and at a pace which is
not necessarily the one you want. 

I had a phenominal time! I also used up a lot of film and made a great video.

Gavin

    
    	Sharon,
    
    	I can't seem to find any mention of when you're planning to go.
    	A friend and I (another DECie) are planning to be there the first
    	week of April and would welcome any company.  Let me know.
    
    	Heidi
    

    I just went to Orlando with a friend, and we spent one day in the Magic
    Kingdom.  My friend wasn't interested in going on many of the rides, so
    I went alone.  I, too, never noticed anyone alone before, and felt
    funny.  But you know what?  The reason I never noticed anyone alone
    before is because I never really looked!  There lots of people who
    at least appeared to be alone - and most of them were men.
    
    They didn't seat me on the rides with anyone else, but I certainly
    wouldn't have minded.  I didn't have to eat alone, though, so I can't
    help you there.  My guess is that everyone at Disney is treated pretty
    much the same.
    
    Susan

    
    
    This note is a couple of years old now.   Any new comments on going
    solo in Disneyworld?  Im considering it, Im a  DWM 40s and most of my
    friends are telling me Im nuts to do it.
    They say it will be very depressing and lonely.  
    
    Thanks
    
    Mike
    
    

    Well Mike, for sure you won't have any trouble deciding where and when
    to go since you'll have noone to argue with.
    
    Some of the noters have gone to WDW or DL solo, albeit it might have
    been a business trip and they left their families at home but it might
    not be as awkward as many may think.
    
    There's always Pleasure Island ;^)
    
    Mike

    I've been there single (on business ;^) more times than with someone. 
    I find that, when alone, I can visit the places that I had to foresake
    for the kids.  Things like the Walt Disney Story (is it really closed,
    btw?) and communicore, etc. that kids just won't stick around while you
    read all the related info.  I also like to eat a a different restuarant
    each time I'm there on business so that I can 1) have someone else pay
    for my dinners in WDW and 2) have an idea where to take the wife/family
    on our next big trip.
    
    The downside, IMHO, is that you have noone to "oooooh  and  ahhhhh"
    with.  Company can be very useful in this type of setting.
    
    I'd say, do it!  You have nothing to lose, as they say!

    you know yourself the best.  would you be happy?
    as I said in .2, I found that its the loneliest place on earth alone.
    
    Pleasure Island is not your typical nightspot.  mid-age people do not
    usually vacation alone and people coming to these nightclubs are not
    alone, so pickup chances are very few.  Although I will admit, I'd like
    to spend the night at the Adventure club without my wife as she gets 
    bored in there and wants to leave after a short while.
    
    the times I've done Disneyland alone I was at least going with other
    DECUS member so strikeing up conversations in lines was not hard.
    
    If I were in your spot, I'd rent a kid who otherwize could not afford
    to go.
    ed
    

    I have been in the various parks, Orlando, LA, Paris on 15 or so 
    occasions always with my family. My idea of heaven woud be a whole 
    day alone in each park. 
    
    Robin (from Warrington)

    I've travelled to Walt Disney World on several occasions both alone and
    with friends, and typically, the only time being alone bothered me was
    when I stayed in Orlando after my friends had left.  On those times I
    found myself doing a "Heydidja..." and there was no one there on the
    other side of the conversation.
    
    At the same time, in a few of the parties I travelled with, no one
    else was as much of a Disney addict as I was, so I was glad for the
    time to leave them behind and go at my own pace (which overwhelmed my
    15-year-old niece, who IS in shape; and I'm not)

    My experience as a single in October:
    
    Although I had my reservation months in advance, I still got the World's
    Worst seat at the Hoop De Doo. It was the single's table right next to 
    the kitchen door and behind a post.  I could not see the show at all.  I 
    got no attention from the waiter or cast.  I got to listen to the
    kitchen and dishwashing.  I did not enjoy the experience at all and I will 
    never go back to that show again.  An expensive waste of time.
    
    I hated Pleasure Island at night.  It was crowded, noisy, smoky, and
    most of the people there were in groups and aged 20-ish.
    
    I am pretty sure I would have got a better located room at the PO if I
    had been in a party.  And I know I would have had better dining seating
    at all sit down restaurants if I had been in a party. (Just like
    everywhere, I guess.) The Tanagorra (sp) Terrace for breakfast at the Poly 
    was the only place that I felt I was welcome as a single diner.
    
    On the up side, however, I was able to do/see more of what I wanted and
    I could move a lot faster than if I had to consider others in a party.
    It was nice doing doing the things I wanted to do  and on my own schedule.
    
    A character breakfast of my choice came with my package and I went to
    one at the Empress Lilly. It is a reserved seating meal with a fixed menu, 
    not a buffet like the others, and seating was good for singles and couples
    as well as groups. This one is hosted by Mickey Mouse and the characters 
    spent time with everyone, not just groups or kids.  Good photo
    opportunities.
    
    Things not being real busy in October, I just about always had my own
    car on the rides.
    
    I was able to get a reservation to the Diamond Horseshow Review late
    because they were down to only seats for ones. This was a good 
    show, the cast were the same as were in the Hoop and the show was very
    similar in content.
    
    I had a very good tour of the Disney Vacation Club program by myself.
    
    I enjoyed Discovery Island by myself.
    
    Soaking in the hot tub at the PO was real nice by myself.
    
    If I had to do it again, however, I would not go alone.  I think it
    would have been a lot more fun if I had someone else along.

    Marge,
    
    I think a single's experience down in WDW would be extremely
    frustrating if it were the first time for that single.
    
    The situations you described would be experienced by everyone who goes
    down solo unless certain plans were put in place to counter the fact
    that you were going solo.
    
    I think that after hearing your frustration with Hoop Dee Doo it's safe
    to say that the HDD is not for singles. The waitresses, waiters, and
    performers feed off the crowd and the bigger the table the more apt for
    the interaction.
    
    I think the Diamond Horseshoe Review is a decent show for a single to
    attend especially if you can get a small table in the balcony.
    
    I think the Tangaroa Terrace, as all hotel restaurants, will cater to 
    singles differently than a dinner show.
    
    The advantages to going alone is that you have a chance to do things 
    on your own and set your own schedule...but I'm sure there are times 
    when you'd like to turn to someone and say "Didja see that?"
    
    Maybe if I mope around enough my wife will say, "Why don't you go down
    to Orlando and unwind for a few days?" It'll never happen.
    
    Marge, don't say you'll never go back to HDD...you never know.
    
    Mike_who_hopes_Marge_gets_to_go_back_with_a_crowd

My experience with dinning single at WDW has been a little different than 
what Marge describes. Although some of her points are well made.

I have found that most of the Epcot restaurants would go out of their way to
give me a good table (if one were available) and were just as attentive to me 
as they were to couples.

At the resorts I have noticed that there are fewer small tables (this makes
sense if you take into account that Disney's resort room pricing promotes large
groups) and so it is naturally harder for the cast to find you a good one. I
just take this into account and try to be tolerant. Also, having worked
in an ice cream parlor during college, I know that large parties require more
attention than singles or couples so it stands to reason that the service is 
not always the best at the resorts. But in spite of these things I have always
been treated very well at Disney resort restaurants, much better than when 
dinning alone at most "real world" restaurants.

I have always avoided the "show" restaurants like the HDDR and character
breakfasts when I'm alone because I think that they are more fun when others
are there to enjoy your embarrassment :-)

Paul.