Five Tips for Visiting Walt Disney World Alone

Visiting Walt Disney World alone can be an intimidating experience, especially when passing through the entrance gate alongside thousands of families, couples and groups of friends. Having traveled solo to Orlando, Fla., to visit Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom several times, following are my five tips for visiting these theme parks alone.

Tip #1 for Visiting Walt Disney World Alone, Have a Plan
Sometimes the best vacations are unplanned but some planning should be made when visiting Walt Disney World alone. This includes deciding whether to stay at a Walt Disney Resort hotel or in nearby accommodations, which Disney parks to visit, and which attractions to see. Review available attractions at the Disney website (http://disneyworld.disney.go.com) and arrive early. If there is something you want to ride or see, make it the first thing you experience so you do not miss out because as the day progresses, popular attractions have long wait times.

Tip #2 for Visiting Walt Disney World Alone, Live Life with the FastPass Lanes
Walt Disney World's popular rides as Magic Kingdom's Space Mountain, Hollywood Studios' Rock n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, Animal Kingdom's Expedition Everest, and Epcot's Soarin' offer FastPass tickets and this feature is a way to maximize time within a theme park. If there is a long wait time for a particular ride, grab a FastPass, enjoy another ride and return to the original ride's Fast Pass Lane to enjoy. The downside is Disney guests can posses a limited number of Fast Pass tickets at once.

Tip #3 for Visiting Walt Disney World Alone, Flaunt Solo Status and Take Advantage of Single Rider Lines
There are a few Single Rider Lines within Walt Disney World and they are perfect for solo travelers. Single Rider Lines are usually less wait time than the standard lines and sometimes quicker than Fastpass Lanes. Expedition Everest, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster and Epcot's Test Track are a few of the Disney attractions with Single Rider Lines.

When in line for other attractions without Single Rider Lines, keep your ears alert for a Disney cast member calling for a single rider. On a recent trip to Hollywood Studios, I shaved off about 15 minutes of wait time because The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction needed a single rider. I answered the call to move ahead of the line to scream sooner.

Tip #4 for Visiting Walt Disney World Alone, Don't be Shy
Walt Disney World is recognized as the happiest place on Earth and most theme park guests are happy and friendly people. Do not be afraid to ask a Disney cast member or other guest to take your photograph. If you are celebrating something, such as a birthday or first visit to Disney, ask a cast member for a "birthday" or "first time visitor" button to wear. During some visits I tend to run into the same circle of people and by the end of the day, they seem like friends and although I am visiting alone, I never feel lonely.

Tip #5 for Visiting Walt Disney World Alone, Enjoy the Freedom
The best reason to visit Walt Disney World alone is freedom of controlling your day so enjoy it. Relish in the freedom of determining when to arrive, what to see and ride, when to rest, where to eat, when to leave, and when to hug Mickey Mouse.

Source:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com
Personal solo visits in 2008, 2009 and 2010.