5 Most UNDERRATED Disney World Tips to Make Your Solo Trip Easier (Traveling Alone to Orlando)

Are you looking for the best Disney World tips for your solo trip?

Solo traveling can be a most daunting task, especially at Walt Disney World. It can be overwhelming, intimidating and even jarring at times.

One wonders where you would need to start with dining, flights, tips, and safety precautions.

Thankfully, you have me, a seasoned Walt Disney World Passholder and expert to give you some of my favorite tips when it comes to navigating the Wide World of Disney.

They may seem small but they could mean great comfort or assistance to you.

Let’s dive in together and hopefully you can gain some newfound knowledge or tips!

Epcot Flower and Garden Festival 2023 Encanto Topiary at the Entrance near Spaceship Earth. Keep reading to get the best Disney World Tips to Make Your Solo Trip to Orlando, Florida Easier.

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Tip #1 Arrive to the Park 1 hour before Park Open

If you aren’t an early riser like myself, this may be a challenging one for you to achieve, but trust that it is worth doing.

Disney Magic Kingdom Gate Entrance for Parking

Usually, you are able to enter the parks one hour prior to park opening but are simply held to a certain point.

For example, at Magic Kingdom, you can go up to the castle hub, but will be held there until park open.

Disney Cinderella Castle Cinderella Castle Friendship Show at Magic Kingdom Theme Park. Keep reading to get the best Disney World Tips to Make Your Solo Trip to Orlando, Florida Easier.

This gives everyone time to get breakfast at the Main Street Bakery, take a look at what to buy loved ones at Emporium or prepare to rush over to the rides that you simply must get out of the way.

Doing this sets you up for a successful park day and allows you to get everything you really want to get done complete by lunchtime.

Epcot Food and Wine Festival Space 220 Restaurant menu

It also allows you to not have to be at the park until it closes, unless that’s what you wish to do.

This tip in particular is mainly done by Annual Passholders, so consider this a very special one!

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Tip #2 Know the Best Time to Visit Disney World

This tip is especially important because it’s a determining factor when it comes to getting a deal if you are staying on property, buying tickets, etc.

Usually, the value season gives you a chance to save a bit of money vs. the high season where you will have to deal with higher crowds, the possibility of not being able to get a park pass reservation or dining reservation or long wait times.

From my experience, the best times to visit Walt Disney World are

Recommended: The Solo Theme Park Traveler’s Guide

During these times, you can anticipate low crowds, especially for the Epcot festivals, package or room only deals for these timeframes (particularly late August and September when Food and Wine Festival is happening).

Epcot Flower and Garden Festival 2024 Princess Tiana Topiary in the American Pavilion with NikkyJ. Keep reading to get the best Disney World Tips to Make Your Solo Trip to Orlando, Florida Easier.

The chances of you getting the exact park reservations that you want are much higher too as long as you plan ahead and accordingly.

Ready to plan your theme park trip? Watch the best vacation planning tips on YouTube. Get started here!

Tip #3 Use Disney Gift Cards

This tip has been another lifesaver for my wallet!

If you are a shopaholic like me, this one will keep your debit or credit card from weeping and could even save you more money in the long run.

I started using Disney gift cards for the Epcot festivals to make sure I only spent a certain amount of money on food, beverages and merchandise during my time there.

The amount would truly depend on the person, but I say a safe number for all of this total would be between $100-$150.

Upon further research, I learned that if you buy gift cards in bulk from stores such as Costco, you can get a deal and use those to pay of your resort stays.

Keeping your goods on a Disney gift card allows you to have some self-control and keep you from screaming at your bank statement once you come back from your vacation.

This is one of the best Disney tips for your solo trip!

Tip #4 Keep Your Park Bag Ready to Go

Have you ever heard the phrase “A workman is only as good as his tools”? The same rhetoric applies with this tip.

Disney packing list infograph

It is important to find the perfect park bag to have with you where you won’t be weighed down by your necessities or feel like it’s a burden to carry everything around with you.

Main Disney Outfit Template on What to Wear to Disney World. Keep reading to get the best Disney World Tips to Make Your Solo Trip to Orlando, Florida Easier.

The goal here is to save money by not using the theme park lockers and save you time.

This mainly because it would truly be a pain to realize you forgot something in your bag that’s in a locker and have to go all the way to the front of the park to retrieve it.

There is an article shared on ThemeParkHipster by the fabulous NikkyJ about what you should have in your park bag which aligns perfectly with what I would have in my own bag.

Check out that amazing resource and consider using this bag  as your go to park bag.

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  • [Durable] The outer dimensions are 18.5 x 11.8 x 5.9in(47 x 30 x 15cm)and made up of water resistant 300D outer nylon and a protected soft cushioned inside give exceptional sturdiness and longevity. The tough materials will withstand ripping and abrasion, ensuring a long-lasting use. It can also carry your equipment like water bottle, tablets, journal, pen, cellphone, etc.

This one features a charging port and lock so you won’t have to worry about thieves trying to grab your things or worry about carrying a portable charger or buying one from Disney.

Disney Cinderella Castle and Mickey Mouse Hat and Minnie Mouse Fanny Pack at Magic Kingdom Theme Park
Don’t forget your Disney hat and fanny pack!

This is one the most important Disney World tips to remember for your solo trip.

Join the Conversation on the Solo Disney Traveler Community on Facebook!

Tip # 5 Be Aware of the Park Policies

This tip is a fairly new addition to my many lists of tips that a solo traveler should keep in mind when it comes to traveling solo in our post pandemic world.

Disney Monorail Transportation at Epcot passing by entrance and Spaceship Earth. One of the Epcot Rides. Keep reading to get the best Disney World Tips to Make Your Solo Trip to Orlando, Florida Easier.

It is thoroughly important to understand that Disney has adjusted their policies not only for the safety of their guests, but for the safety of their Cast Members as well.

Remember that when you buy a ticket for the parks, you are signing an agreement to obey the rules of the Disney parks is important.

This one of the most important Disney tips for solo travelers to remember.

Ready to start planning your next Disney World vacation? Listen to the latest podcast episode on Apple or on your non-Apple device now!

New Disney Rules to Be Aware Of for Your Visit

There are a few new things to keep in mind before your solo Disney trip.

Victoria Wade and Princess and the Frog Tiana's Palace Restaurant. Keep reading to get the best Disney World Tips to Make Your Solo Trip to Orlando, Florida Easier.

No More Temperatures Will Be Checked

You will no longer be required to have your temperature checked upon entry into all of the parks and Disney Springs.

Restrictions With Resort Hopping

Resort hopping will be limited unless you are a resort guest or have a dining reservation at said resort.

To be completely prepared for your park visit and to understand completely the policies, take a peek here.

NikkyJ The Solo Theme Park Traveler's Guide Quote: The Freedom of Wandering throughout the magical parks alone, allows you to create the story you want to have!

Preparation and research is always going to be the key to a successful solo trip.

WATCH NEXT: Top 5 BEST Quick Service Restaurants at Epcot!

My Final Thoughts on Your Solo Disney World Trip

These are just a few of the solo Disney World tips I felt were the most important to share for our solo traveler readers for the current timeframe.

Victoria Wade and Princess and the Frog Tiana's Palace Restaurant. Keep reading to get the best Disney World Tips to Make Your Solo Trip to Orlando, Florida Easier.

Hopefully, you have gained some wisdom, insight and knowledge from these tools.

I look forward to sharing more tips with you regarding solo travel to the other surrounding theme parks with you in the future!

Theme Park Travel Guide to the best Disney World Tips for your solo trip.
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What is your number one solo Disney travel tip? Share with us in our Facebook group!

Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!

Victoria Wade Disney Writer at ThemeParkHipster

About the Author

Victoria is a professional solo traveler here to make your solo trips as stress free AND enjoyable as possible for you.

She has over 5 years of Disney and Non-Disney travel experience and was featured by POPSUGAR as one of the Top 50 Black Disney Creators you should follow.

She is a Proud Native to Baltimore, Md but always will call Disney World home. You can find her at Disney Tea with V.

Planning a trip soon? If so, read the Disney Vacation Planning Guide for your next dream trip!

(Original Article Date: June 2, 2021/Updated on February 3, 2024)

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