6 Simple Ways to Make Your First Solo Trip to Disney World So Easy! [tried & tested]

Are you trying to eliminate stress on your solo trip to Disney World, so you can go and have the best time possible?!

I took my first solo Disney trip in August 2024, and discovered 6 ways to make the experience so much easier (and less stressful).

In a recent post – 5 Mistakes I Made on My First Solo Disney World Trip & How to Avoid Them – I discuss what I got wrong on my Walt Disney World solo trip.

However, today, I want to talk about the opposite: what I got right – to help you plan an amazing solo trip to Walt Disney World! Let’s discuss the 6 helpful Disney solo trip tips you should know before your visit.

This post is all about the 6 things you can do to make your first solo trip to Disney World easy (and fun).

Solo Trip to Disney World

1) Staying in Solo-Friendly Disney Hotels

Choosing the right hotel can make or break your solo trip to Disney World.

When you’ve got the right place to rest after a day of fun, everything just clicks.

On a solo trip, you don’t get to split the cost of the hotel. Luckily, there are ways to save money (I’ll mention these in a moment).

Firstly, you have to decide whether you should stay on-site or off-site.

I would recommend staying on-site if possible. The extra benefits (such as Early Theme Park Entry and free transportation to the parks) make it worth it on a solo trip – based on my experience.

Safety is key on a solo trip. All Disney World hotels are generally safe, however, some resorts may feel a little more secure than others.

For example, if you’re returning to your hotel at night, you may feel more comfortable in a resort with internal hallways (I know I did).

Looking for the best Disney resort for solo travelers? Here is a list of the “most comfortable” resorts for guests on solo trips to Disney World:

Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge or Disney’s Copper Creek Villas (Boulder Ridge would also be a good option, but isn’t part of the main building at Wilderness Lodge).
Disney’s Riviera Resort
Disney’s Contemporary Resort or Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn or Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
Disney’s Beach Club Resort or Disney’s Beach Club Villas
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

You may have noticed that there are no value resorts on the list above. In fact, there’s only one moderate resort, with the rest being deluxe.

Don’t worry, I’m not suggesting that you pay over $450 per night on your hotel (unless you want to).

To save significant money, consider renting DVC points (especially at Animal Kingdom Villas or BoardWalk Villas, which are some of the cheapest DVC resorts).

But what if these resorts are too expensive?

If that’s the case, I recommend that you stay in a value or moderate resort which is A) smaller (like Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter) or in a preferred area (which may cost a little more, so check out for promotions to make this affordable).

solo trip to walt disney world — Some Preferred Rooms at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort are in the 101 Dalmations section

For reference, on my 9-night solo trip, here are the resorts I stayed at:

Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resorts
The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (I stayed in the original DVC building. If you are considering staying at the Grand Floridian, I would recommend booking a Resort Studio – instead of a Deluxe Studio – so you’re closer to the amenities).
Disney’s Beach Club Villas
Copper Creek Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

(For reference: I am a DVC member, and used points to pay for my resorts. I would not have paid standard hotel rates to stay at these expensive resorts. However, keep checking discounts or DVC rental options if you’re interested in a deluxe stay at a less expensive price).

Another thing I noticed on my solo trip is that I liked to avoid taking Disney buses when possible.

If I could walk to a park from my resort, take the Monorail, Skyliner or a boat to the parks, I would!

It just saved time and was more pleasant.

That being said, it absolutely wouldn’t be a dealbreaker to stay at a Disney resort that only offers bus transportation (after all, I think Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs and Animal Kingdom Lodge / Villas are some of the best resorts if you’re traveling solo to Disney World).

2) Planning Ahead Made All the Difference

Choosing the Right Time to Visit

One of the best decisions I made was picking the right time to visit.

Disney World can be crazy busy, but by choosing to go during the off-peak season can mean less crowds (and chaos).

I visited the second week of August (for the start of the Halloween celebrations).

Crowds weren’t at their lowest, but were pretty moderate.

I wouldn’t dissuade any solo travelers from visiting during summer, but please remember that hurricane season is between June 1st to November 30th.

Chances are, you won’t have a problem, but it’s important to be prepared and aware of this.

Booking Accommodations in Advance

Unless you’re taking a last-minute trip, booking your hotel early is your best bet.

If you have your heart set on a particular resort or room type, book it when you can (especially if there’s a good cancellation policy or limited-time discount).

If you’re renting DVC points, you can make your request 11-months in advance. You can also book confirmed reservations (pre-booked hotel reservations) after that.

Alternatively, if you’re booking through Disney, a travel agent or another trusted website, you may be able to book even further in advance.

3) Packing Smart for My Solo Adventure

Creating a Disney Packing List

Portable Chargers: I always kept a portable charger in my bag. I got a Fuel Rod charger at Disney World (it was $38 – which was very steep – but being able to swap it out for a new one at any of the machines at Disney made my days so much easier!).

Sunscreen: Florida sun is no joke! I packed a travel-size sunscreen to reapply throughout the day.

Comfortable Shoes: Believe me, stylish shoes can take a backseat. Comfort is key with all the walking you’ll do. Opt for sneakers that you’ve worn in or sturdy sandals.

Snacks and Water Bottle: I kept a reusable water bottle and some snacks (such as popcorn) in my hotel room for a quick snack!

I also used packing cubes (one for each resort I was staying at) to make my split stay so much easier!

4) Mobile-Ordering Food & Avoiding Table Service Restaurants

Why Mobile-Ordering can be a Lifesaver

how much is a solo trip to disney world — The Mobile Order collection area at Contempo Café at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

With just a few taps on my phone, I could order, pay, and pick up my meals without the fuss. Here’s why it’s useful:

Time-Saver: You can get meal faster so you can head to the next attraction.

Flexibility: Eat when you want and choose from numerous (mainly quick service) locations.

Don’t get me wrong; Mobile Ordering isn’t a perfect service – as I recently discussed in my post: Why Disney World Mobile Ordering Can Be a Misleading & Unhelpful System [& how to make it work for you].

However, most the time, this is a great service that can save you time on your solo trip to Disney World.

Steering Clear of Table Service Restaurants

Table service restaurants can be wonderful, but they often mean paying more and waiting longer for your food.

Why go through all that when you can have delicious on-the-go bites? Opting out of a traditional dining experience meant more time for fun and less structured mealtime constraints.

Here’s what I found beneficial:

More Park Time: Skipping reservations opens up your day for more spontaneous park adventures.

Budget-Friendly: Quick service is generally easier on the wallet, leaving more budget for souvenirs!

5) Maximizing Solo Disney World Experience

Lightning Lane Multi Pass

On my 9-night trip, I only paid for Lightning Lane Multi Pass twice (on my Hollywood Studios days).

This allowed me to go on more attractions, whilst skipping insane wait times.

Do you need this for every park? Probably not. After all, I didn’t bother buying it for Epcot, Animal Kingdom or Magic Kingdom (though I did attend Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party on this trip, which allowed me to go on attractions with low wait times).

Lightning Lane Multi Pass prices vary depending on the park and day that you visit.

Please note that I am not speaking about the outrageously expensive Lightning Lane Premier Pass available to Deluxe Resort guests (it will cost $129 – $449 + tax per day).

As I mentioned in my previous post – 5 Mistakes I Made on My First Solo Disney World Trip & How to Avoid Them – I mentioned that I skipped single rider lines.

6) Documenting My Journey

Documenting my solo trip to Disney World turned out to be one of the best decisions I made.

I took photos and videos of where I was to send to family and to post on social media (make sure you’re taking safety protocols when posting when traveling solo).

I didn’t take lots of photos of myself, however if you want to, here’s some helpful tips:

Invest in a tripod: A compact, lightweight tripod can be a lifesaver, making it easy to take steady, well-composed shots on your own.

Use the timer on your camera or phone: Most smartphones and cameras have a timer feature. Use it to set up your shot, step into the frame, and capture a picture-perfect moment.

Use PhotoPass: This means you can get your ride photos and photos taken by the photographers around the parks.

Creating a Trip Journal

Keeping a trip journal is another great way to preserve your Disney World memories.

I also wrote postcards each day for my parents, and it’s also a way I can look back in the future and recall all the fun memories I have from my first solo trip to Disney World.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding How to Make Your Solo Trip to Disney World Easier

1) How much is a solo trip to Disney World?

This will depend largely on the cost of:

Transportation
Accommodation
Disney World tickets
Food (quick service or table service etc.).

2) Is it safe to go to Disney World alone?

Disney World is generally one of the safest places to go as a solo traveler.

That being said, it’s important to take precautions, such as:

Stay in a safe hotel (do your research before booking this).
Not staying out too late (I was always home before 11 PM – usually by 10 PM).
Carrying a personal safety alarm (you can find these online at places like Amazon).
Making sure your phone is charged at all times.

If you have any other safety tips for Disney World solo trips, please share them with us in the comments.

3) Is it weird to go to Disney World alone?

Absolutely not!

There is a (wrong) narrative that traveling solo is weird, and that people will judge you.

In my experience, most people are too busy to notice if you’re alone. And anyone who did speak to me was polite and kind.

(I recommend that you don’t tell strangers that you’re a solo traveler for safety reasons).

Ta Ta For Now

Have you taken a solo trip to Disney World? If so, please share your top Disney solo trip tips!

This post was all about the 6 things you can do to make your first solo trip to Disney World easy (and fun).