Question on Going Solo

[Figaro77]

Hi everyone! I have a question in preparing for my upcoming first solo trip to Disneyland (October 24th-29th). Although I'm going solo, I still want to ride all of the rides. I have read the excellent MousePlanet article on going alone, but I still had a question: Has anyone ever ridden these rides alone, and had a problem getting their own row (or car, when possible)?

Monsters Inc.
Mulholland Madness
Winnie The Pooh
Mad Tea Party
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
Pinocchio's Daring Journey
Peter Pan's Flight
Snow White's Scary Adventures
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Gadget's Go Coaster
Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin
Pirates Of The Caribbean
Autopia
Buzz Lightyear
Space Mountain

On the rides with more than one row per car, I don't care whether I have my own car or not. I am hoping to get my own row when possible though. Any advice, tips, stories would be appreciated. Thank you!

[emmah]

I think I have gone on every single ride in DLR as a single rider; it has never been a problem at all. but as for getting my own row - i have not really ever requested that as such but its pretty much automatic for all the rides you mention because they seat in parties, except for space mountain where I have often sat next to another person. In Winnie and RR I sat in my own row but not in my own car. have fun!!

[PanFan]

When you use the single rider lines, however, you will be required to go wherever they have an empty seat, which will mean that more often than not you will not get your own row. However, you will not have to wait as long. On rides that offer single rider, if there are guests waiting in the single rider line, you will have one of them placed next to you anyways to fill in the empty seat. Rides that have single rider are Splash Mountain (the only one at DL), Soarin', GRR, Mullholland, Maliboomer, and Screamin'. They may not offer it if it's not busy, but just ask the greeter at the attraction and they'll let you know what to do.

For any attraction in FL you won't have a problem getting your own row. The only ones that have multiple rows are Alice, Snow White, and Pinocchio. With Alice, there's a grouper, so they'll know you're by yourself and will not put anyone else in the vehicle with you. For Snow White and Pinocchio, there isn't a grouper, but if you don't want anyone else in the car, just let the CM at Console know (hold up a 1 or say, "Just me!") and they'll close the lap bar on the empty row before anyone else gets in.

One thing I have noticed, though, is that single riders on POTC may be placed in a row with a group of 2. If you'd rather have your own row, let the grouper know and they may be able to accommodate your request. Everything else you shouldn't have any problem at all. Have a fantastic trip!

[Gone2Disneyland]

I've gone2disneyland solo plenty of times and never had an experience of having an CM make me ride with a stranger. Most rides a CM will ask "How many?" and I point my finger to the sky and say "One." Then I have a solo seat to myself. From your list, I can say I've ridden solo (had my own row in the car) on Monsters Inc., Winnie the Pooh, BTMRR, PotC, Autopia, Buzz & Space Mountain.

You may need to be flexible on Pirates, especially when it's busy season. But there's been more than one occasion when they sat me alone on a row to myself, usually the back row, on the bateaux.

Also, be sure to take advantage of single rider lines they have at DCA, at California' Screamin' and Grizzly River Run, if you want.

[Fableillusion]

I go all the time by myself and never have a problem getting my own row on rides. I don't even ask they are just offered.

Most of the rides you have listed they have single riders all day long. Like Mr. Toad, Pinocchio, Snow White, Peter Pan etc have kids riding them all day long as single riders.

I don't think you should have any trouble

[cstephens]

I wouldn't expect to get your own row on Pirates. It might happen, but I wouldn't be surprised if they put a party of 1 or 2 in the same row as you.

[Niwel]

yeah! Going solo rocks.
Here's my take on it.

And the few times I've gone solo on POTC, I've never had to share.

[Nonamia]

When I've gone on Pirates by myself I've gotten either the front row or the back row by myself....maybe I was just lucky..or the CMs just felt really sorry for me...

[emmah]

ditto on the pirates thing - i have never shared a row with a stranger, not because I asked not to, just because the CM has put me in my own row - again, usually the front row or the back row. i don't believe i have ever sat in the middle.

[Wendi]

I've never had a CM put anyone else in my row on Pirates. I've had no problems with my own row or ride vehicle on any of the rides on your list (well, I don't know about Mulholland Madness because I haven't been on that ride in years!!!)

[Heaven Is Disneyland]

I really enjoy going by myself. I totally talk to people in line and make friends. I usually get put in a row by myself on most rides, so I have not had a problem. Thank you Pan Fan for mentioning that Splash has a single rider line. Does Space Mountain? I like riding Grizzly, by the time the ride is over, you have totally bonded with everyone on your boat.

My husband and I went to the park recently and he was shocked how I would just strike up conversations with people. I told him I get into super social butterfly mode when I go there!

[Figaro77]

Thank you all for the awesome responses! I'm really excited about it. I've gone every year with family, and I didn't want to skip a year just because family was! In all my trips though, I've never really ridden rides on my own, so thanks for your help. I'm doing things that I can never really get the people going with me- Yamabuki, reservations at Blue Bayou, etc. Should be awesome.

[danyoung]

There've been quite a few times for me where I've shared a row on Pirates, but they usually don't pack us in. It's me on one side, and a couple on the other.

And occasionally I'll have a dumb guy try to get in with me when loading on a 2-seat row, like on Space Mountain or Big Thunder. I've since solved this by sitting the the first seat when you step in, leaving no room for another to get in. Then I just look up with a stupid expression on my face and wait till the car leaves boarding. The dumb guy usually figgers it out at that point that he needs to wait till the next car!

[Photographer]

I've been to DL a bunch of times by myself. Sometimes I'm seated with others. I really think it depends on how long a line there is and the CM seating people. I've never asked to be seated alone. Enjoy your visit.

[PanFan]

I really enjoy going by myself. I totally talk to people in line and make friends. I usually get put in a row by myself on most rides, so I have not had a problem. Thank you Pan Fan for mentioning that Splash has a single rider line. Does Space Mountain? I like riding Grizzly, by the time the ride is over, you have totally bonded with everyone on your boat.

No, Space has no SRL. Splash is the only one in DL that does.

Funny story about making friends when going solo. This last Tuesday I had to be in the park for a meeting at 9:00, but didn't work until 3:00. So I had all of this time to kill in between and, being that I work at DL, I had no shortage of things to do. So I rode Indy, then headed over to Splash. I saw that the person in front of me had her map out and a confused expression and we started talking. We ended up in the same log and just kept talking during and after the ride. I told them I was killing time until 2:30 when I had to go change for work. She hadn't been to the park since she was 12 and it was her husband and 6yo son's first time. So they were slightly lost and overwhelmed. I got them 1st visit buttons and ended up hanging out with them until I had to go to work. They visited me at the Matterhorn and then we found each other after I was off. Since I was still in costume, I backdoored them onto a bunch of FL rides, then changed clothes and rode Nemo with them. We got each other's addresses and will exchange pictures once they get home.

[Figaro77]

Thanks PanFan! and everyone else for the advice. I'm really looking forward to the experience. I've been many times, but never solo. Hopefully I can spark up a few conversations or help some people out while I'm there. I actually was going to have a friend who goes to a college in California meet me up there for a day or two, but he ended up not being able to take the time off school like I'm going to. So, it looks like its just me! I am sure once in a while I'll wish I had someone to chat with Disney-geek style, but from what I've read from others going, my worries have dissolved.

Only 20 days till the trip. I'll have to celebrate and count down by posting more here on