By: Lauren Gigliello, a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent
Traveling solo can certainly be intimidating at first! I recently returned from an agent education program at Disneyland Resort in California where I got to learn about all of the latest enhancements to Disney Destinations. I was a bit nervous as I was not traveling with fellow agents from Marvelous Mouse Travels, but Disneyland proved to be the perfect place to travel solo. I had the best time traveling alone at Disneyland!
My favorite part about traveling alone at Disneyland was that I was on MY schedule! There is nothing like visiting the Disney parks with family and friends, but a solo trip is a unique experience that I highly recommend. For starters, I didn’t have to wait around for others to get ready in the morning and could get out the door quickly. I also was able to take the time to really explore the magic and details. I did not have a strict schedule when I headed into the parks. One of my favorite things was walking around and taking in all of the Halloween decorations, specifically at the Haunted Mansion. The details are incredible! I also loved leisurely strolling down Main Street and taking in the history and nostalgia of Walt’s original park.
Disneyland has numerous attractions with “single rider” queues, which significantly cuts down wait times. These queues are perfect for solo travelers! They move quickly and are used to fill empty seats not taken by those in the standby lines. Disneyland Park has single rider lines at Matterhorn Bobsleds, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, and Space Mountain. Disney’s California Adventure has single rider queues at Goofy’s Sky School, Incredicoaster, Radiator Springs Racers, Grizzly River Run, Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure, and Soarin’ Around the World. These single rider queues are clearly marked at the entrance to the attractions, so you won’t be able to miss them. I hopped in the single rider queue at Radiator Springs Racers when there was a posted 120 minute wait in the standby line. I was through the single rider queue within 15 minutes!
Disneyland Resort is super walkable, which makes it even more perfect for a solo trip. I stayed onsite at the Disneyland Hotel and could walk right through Downtown Disney to get to both parks. The monorail is also just after the Downtown Disney entrance when entering from the Disneyland Hotel side, so I took that into Disneyland Park a couple of times too. It drops passengers right in Tomorrowland, which is incredibly convenient. After a long day, I also appreciated being able to hop on the monorail right after riding Space Mountain to end my evening. During my trip, there was no need to stress about finding transportation or navigating back to my hotel at night. Plus, I was able to zip right over to the parks for early morning entry, which is a perk for those staying at any of Disneyland’s three onsite hotels.
My young children are typically with me when I travel to a Disney park, so needless to say we don’t always make it to the nighttime shows. Traveling alone at Disneyland made seeing the evening entertainment much more doable!
Psst….if you haven’t seen World of Color: One, you’re missing out! It is my new favorite.
Do you like to pamper yourself while on vacation? If so, I definitely suggest a visit to the Tenaya Spa at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort. They offer a wide variety of services including massages, skincare treatments, and more. Another suggestion to enhance your vacation is with one of Disneyland’s tours, with my top recommendation being Walt’s Main Street Story. It’s a great way to spend time learning about the history of the iconic Main Street, USA…and you’ll even get to visit Walt’s personal apartment above the Disneyland Fire Station! It is sometimes hard to take the time to book a tour or special event when traveling with family or a group, so a solo trip is the perfect time to take advantage of these opportunities.
Prior to my trip, I was a bit nervous about eating out alone. I was thrilled to find that Disneyland has lots of options that suit solo diners! Lamplight Lounge was my favorite- they have a great bar where you can order from their delicious appetizers. Ballast Brewing Co. in Downtown Disney is another spot that I was really comfortable by myself. They have two large bars and an atmosphere that makes it comfortable to blend in. Trader Sam’s at my hotel was the best spot for a nightcap. The drinks were delicious and the bartenders were fantastic!
I had such a wonderful experience in Disneyland and can’t recommend it highly enough for anyone looking for a getaway by themselves. Between the attractions, entertainment, shopping, dining, and more, there is something for all to enjoy. It’s the ideal escape for a break from the real world! Are you ready to make a solo trip happen for yourself? Reach out to Marvelous Mouse Travels!
