Citywalk

Ask almost any regular Orlando visitor which has the best nightlife options–Universal Orlando’s CityWalk or Disney World’s Downtown Disney–and the majority will say: CityWalk. I would have also said this, even before I visited CityWalk for the first time (mainly because I’m still bitter about Disney shutting down the Adventurer’s Club). And yet if you look at it purely from the numbers, CityWalk offers almost nothing that Downtown Disney doesn’t:

Disclaimer: Numbers are approximate; I may have missed some things.

Is this a case of “perception is reality”? Maybe it’s less about categories and more about specific offerings? Or perhaps it has more to do with the customer demographics at each place? For me, and for other adults traveling without children, CityWalk may be more appealing because it seems to offer a more adult-oriented experience at night than Downtown Disney does. That’s not to say you won’t see children in strollers at CityWalk or that there are no bars in Downtown Disney, but there seems to be a more adult atmosphere at CityWalk.

Nightlife at CityWalk

There is certainly nothing obvious about the retail experiences at each to suggest that one would appeal more to an adult crowd than the other. However, CityWalk does have more chain restaurants that may appeal to the masses (Hard Rock Cafe, Margaritaville, Bubba Gump, etc.) and nightlife options that project more of a “party” atmosphere (Hard Rock Live, Pat O’Briens, Fat Tuesdays, the groove, etc.). This explains why young adults looking for a club scene gravitate to CityWalk, not Disney World.

Hard Rock Cafe CityWalk

CityWalk wins hands-down in terms of ease in getting to it from anywhere else on Universal’s property and then getting around it. Because of how spread out Disney World is, it can take as long as 45 minutes to get to Downtown Disney from certain resorts and parks. Whereas Universal is so compact that CityWalk is a quick walk or boat ride away from any of the furthest points on property. CityWalk is also shaped like a ring, which makes getting around quicker and easier than getting from the far end of Disney’s West Side to the far end of Disney’s Marketplace.

Retail, dining and entertainment at CityWalk

If I thought Disney World executives actually gave a damn about its childless adult guests, I would suggest they made a strategic error by splitting the property’s nightlife options between two distinctly different areas–Downtown Disney and the Boardwalk–which are nowhere near each other.  For guests stuck on site without a car, you have to make a choice about where you plan to spend the evening, either/or. It’s more difficult to move from say, a movie at Downtown Disney’s cineplex to dueling pianos at Jellyrolls on the Boardwalk; whereas it’s quite easy to go from CityWalk’s movie theater to Pat O’Brien’s dueling pianos–which is just up a set of stairs. But ultimately, I don’t think Disney execs care about offering adult-oriented nightlife.

Citywalk is a short (and pretty) walk or boat ride from the resorts

Does this mean I’m going to switch my allegiance from Disney World to Universal? Er, no. What it means is that I can appreciate that each park does some things better than the other, which makes them both equally worth a visit. What Universal does very well is nightlife, and that’s mostly because of CityWalk. Now, your mileage may vary; if you’re a major Disney fan, you may prefer to be surrounded by everything Disney, all the time. But if you’re visiting Orlando and nightlife is very important to you, do yourself a favor and check out CityWalk.

Margaritaville's Porch of Indecision

Have you visited both CityWalk and Downtown Disney? Which did you prefer, and why?

Universal’s CityWalk vs. Downtown Disney is a post from: SoloFriendly.com

I get a lot of weird looks from people when I tell them I’m going to Disney World. . .alone.  They can’t imagine what could possibly appeal to me about this vacation destination for families. Many things, actually–the variety of activities available on Disney property, the fact that I get to be a kid again, and the opportunity to enjoy Disney World without having to put someone else’s needs first. The thing that perhaps surprises people the most, though, is when I tell them some of the best food I’ve ever eaten was on Disney property. Yeah, it surprised me, too. Who would expect exceptional dining experiences at a theme park? Believe it or not, Disney World has become a foodie mecca. And now, there is a new resource out there for those of you wanting to maximize your Disney dining experience.

The Disney Food Blog has published an e-book called the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining. I was one of the first to purchase a copy of this food guide, because I know the author, AJ Wolfe: She’s a passionate Disney foodie, a thorough researcher, and knows more than any other human being (who doesn’t work for Disney) about Walt Disney World Dining. Therefore, I knew this book would be full of useful information even for someone like me who has researched the heck out of  Disney World’s dining options for my previous trips. Boy, was I right.

Maple Tamarind Chicken at Yak & Yeti

I was a little intimidated when I opened up the ebook for the first time and saw that it was 256 pages long. Gulp. But don’t worry, it’s also very well organized. If you don’t want to read the whole thing, you can easily skip to the sections that are of interest to you.  Literally, everything you could possibly want to know about dining at Disney World is in this book. I can’t think of anything that was overlooked (and believe me, I tried).

The book is jam-packed with useful information for Disney World newbies as well as experienced visitors, including:

• information about every eatery on Disney property;
• a glossary of Disney dining terminology (do you know what an ADR is?);
• advice for those with dietary restrictions and allergies;
• tips for eating healthy on property (no small feat when surrounded by such tempting goodies all day!);
• a section for families who plan to cook for themselves during their Disney vacation;
• and numerous tips for maximizing the dining experience.

The Apple Crepe at Chefs de France

The layout of this book is very visually appealing.  I got hungry just looking at the photos. (Damn you, AJ!) If you’re a natural born planner, you’ll be thrilled with the checklists and downloadable planning worksheets, and for the truly lazy (er, time-challenged), there are sample dining itineraries. I would recommend this book even for those of you who prefer to “wing it”. Just download the guide onto your smartphone or an iPad and bring it with you to Disney World. If you have any on-the-spot dining questions, you can easily consult the guide. For instance, if you find that every restaurant you try is booked solid, you can consult the guide, where AJ outlines which Disney restaurants are easiest to get into as a “walk-in.”

Early on in the book, AJ offers her 5 Step Guide to Stress-Free Dining Planning. What makes planning your dining at Disney World so stressful, you might ask?  Given how spread out the Disney property is (it covers 40 square miles), and how busy the parks can get, the logistics of eating a meal can be, well, challenging.  First you have to figure out whether or not the Disney Dining Plan makes financial sense for you. Then you have to figure out where you want to eat (there are hundreds of restaurants and dining locations on property), if it’s in your budget, and if it’s anywhere near where you plan to be in the parks at a given time. If it’s a very popular restaurant, you certainly need to make a reservation (ADR), and if it’s peak season, you may have to make that reservation 6 months in advance. Without making reservations ahead of time, you could wind up eating a lot of fast food on Disney property, and that would be a shame, because so many of the table service restaurants are terrific.

Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant

There are a few sections in particular that I would like to draw to your attention, my fellow solo travelers:

• Solo Dining in Disney World (yay!), page 84. This section includes tips for making your solo dining experience more enjoyable.
• Spots to Enjoy a Show, page 75. When dining solo, it’s always nice to have something to watch since I don’t have a dining companion to talk to.
• Drinking Around the World, page 78 (and the accompanying Index to Bars and Lounges beginning on page 230). One of the perks of traveling as a solo adult to Disney World is being able to indulge in an adult beverage or two every day without worrying about the message it’s sending to Junior.

Is there anything about this book I would change? Not really. Obviously, as a solo traveler, I’d love it if the solo dining tips were expanded more, but that’s rather biased on my part. In summary, I found this guide to be extremely thorough and informative, full of tips and strategies to help Disney visitors save time and money while getting the most out of their Disney dining experience. Given how much money visitors spend on a Disney vacation in the first place, who wouldn’t want to get the most out of the experience? This guide can help you do that.

If you decide to purchase the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, you can do so via the link below. It normally costs $18.95. SoloFriendly readers can get 20% off (for a total cost of $14.95) by using the code “Solo” during the checkout process. If for any reason it doesn’t live up to your expectations, it has a 30-day, 100% money-back guarantee, so you really can’t lose by giving it a try.

Click here to buy your Disney Food Blog Guide to Walt Disney World Dining.

The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining: A Review is a post from: SoloFriendly.com

For the past 3 months, my friends and family, coworkers, people I know on Facebook and Twitter and total strangers on the street have been asking me “Where are you traveling this year, Gray?” and “What’s your next trip?” I’ve been playing it coy, building suspense, saying “it’s a secret.” Truth is, until last week, I had no idea where I was going.

As I wrote earlier this year, after the revolution in Egypt, I was experiencing some regret about not focusing on my travel priorities. In the past decade, I’ve traveled to destinations that were lower on my priority list because they were often easier and cheaper to get to.  This year, I decided to refocus on the places I most want to visit before I die. At the same time, I had some limitations because of my job, where we are understaffed and quite busy, and I have to coordinate vacation time so we’re not left shorthanded at a critical time. Also I’m not made of money, so there are budget considerations. What have I decided on?

Puerta del Sol, Madrid

Spring in Spain

First up is a trip to Spain in late May/early June. I wanted to go back to Europe again this year, but after experiencing how bone-chillingly cold it can be in the late fall, wanted to do it during a warmer time of year. I also wanted to avoid peak tourist season during the summer. So it had to be spring.

My first choice for this trip was Italy (my #1 destination following Egypt). But within a week of asking for the time off, airfares had climbed to ridiculously high levels, and it would have cost me between $1500-1800 to fly to Italy from Burlington. As I sought itinerary advice from Italy experts Jessica Spiegel and Robin Locker Lacey, even Robin advised me to wait; the price was too high.

Unfortunately, the prices were high everywhere else on my Europe list, too.  I checked airfare every single day to multiple cities, promising myself that as soon as one of them dropped below $800, I’d jump on it–no matter where it was. Last Friday, it happened. Round trip flights between Burlington and Madrid, Spain fell below $800.

The cynic in me was immediately suspicious. What’s wrong with Madrid? I thought. Surely there had to be a reason flights there were so much lower. Indeed, I quickly learned that airline workers in Spain had voted to strike for a number of days between April and September of this year. They kindly posted their strike dates online, though, and none of them coincided with my trip. So I booked it. (Now it appears there may not be a strike after all.) As a happy coincidence, Spain was #2 on my Europe hit list after Italy, so I’m very pleased to be going there.  Madrid (and Toledo and possibly Barcelona), here I come!

Unfortunately, because of the Europe trip, I had to cancel my plans to attend TBEX (the travel bloggers’ conference) this year in Vancouver. I just couldn’t manage two trips back-to-back like that. I will miss seeing all my travel blogger friends (and meeting new ones). I’ll probably be reading #TBEX tweets on Twitter obsessively and crying in my beer every night during the conference with regret that I didn’t go. But I’m going to try like hell to meet up with travel bloggers everywhere I go this year to make up for it. Anyone want to come visit me in Vermont?

Mirage Pool

Summer and Early Fall

After this, I plan to enjoy my favorite season in Vermont, summer, though I may take some weekend getaways during that time.  In September, I’m headed back to Las Vegas. Now that I have a Las Vegas website, I can’t even consider skipping a year of going there. Vegas changes very quickly, and I need to stay on top of those changes. And to be honest, though I had fun in Vegas at Christmas, I prefer to go during pool season. To mix things up a bit, I’m hoping to split my week between Vegas and San Diego, another US city that’s high on my list.

Beach at Disney's Boardwalk

Late Fall

In November, I’m headed to Disney World’s Food & Wine Festival. I blame this trip on my friend AJ at the Disney Food Blog, whose posts about the Festival last year had me salivating every single day. I plan to stay at least four nights at either the Swan or Dolphin hotel on Disney’s Boardwalk because as it so happens, last fall I won four nights at a Westin hotel in North America or the Caribbean in the Travel and Be Well with Westin Sweepstakes, which promoted the idea that Americans need to take more of their vacation time every year (a philosophy I wholeheartedly embrace in theory, though it’s sometimes hard to put into practice).

Right now, the plan is to take one day to visit Universal’s new Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park and spend the rest of the time eating and drinking my way around Epcot, sampling treats from different cultures around the world. I know, it’s not as cool as eating your way around the real world, but until I’m prepared to quit my job, eating my way around the real world is going to have to wait. I figure this is the next best thing. That said, I’d skip it if something more intriguing (in either North America or the Caribbean) came along between now and then. I’m fickle that way.

Sunset at Waikiki

Holidays

Finally, if I get the week off between Christmas and New Year’s as holiday time as I have for the past few years, I will probably take the opportunity to go to Honolulu.  I know that’s a horribly expensive time to go, but it’s also a great time to get out of Vermont and go somewhere tropical and warm. Then again, I might just go to Egypt after all.

So there you have it, my 2011 travel plans in a nutshell. Of course, as I mentioned recently, the best way to make God laugh is to tell him your plans. We’ll see at the end of the year if everything–or anything–worked out the way I intended. Do you have suggestions of things I shouldn’t miss during any of these trips? I’m open to them. Please share in the comments below.

Photo credit: Puerta del Sol by Tomas Fano and Sunset at Waikiki by hitachiota.

2011: Where Am I Going? is a post from: SoloFriendly.com

Flying Fish Chef's Counter

It’s been mentioned before on this blog how Disney parks fit the solo traveler quite well, but I think one of the best ways to indulge while going solo is by dining counter-side at some of the fabulous restaurants.

Chef’s Counters

For those who may be unfamiliar with the concept, a Chef’s Counter is a seating counter (natch) — usually facing an open kitchen — that can be found in many upscale restaurants. Guests at the Chef’s Counter are often treated not only to the show of the open kitchen, but also to the personal attention of the Executive Chef. In some cases, the chef may even make variations on the typical menu to suit specific likes, dislikes, and whims of the Chef’s Counter guests!

Two of my favorite Chef’s Counters can be found at Disney’s signature restaurants:

Steak at Flying Fish

Flying Fish Cafe
While Flying Fish Cafe specializes in seafood, the restaurant showcases incredible steaks and vegetarian dishes as well. The understated decor (including stylized flying fish, of course) and robust menu are the perfect setting for an evening of relaxation with a twist.

Vegetarian Bento Box at Flying Fish

The restaurant is located on Disney World’s Boardwalk, which offers plenty of after-dinner activity. When you’re done with your meal, head over to Epcot to catch Illuminations at 9pm or stop by Jellyrolls – a fun dueling piano bar — for an after-dinner drink. Don’t forget to bring a few dollar bills so that you can request songs!

Napa Rose Chefs Counter

Napa Rose
Located in Disney’s Grand Californian Resort in Disneyland, Napa Rose is the place to indulge when you find yourself in the Anaheim, California, area. With Chef Andrew Sutton at the helm, this spot is known state-wide for incredible food.

The counter here is active and exciting, and while it costs no more than a standard pre fixe menu at the restaurant, you are likely to have the Chef’s special touches coming your way.  Arrive armed with requests!

Sizzling Beach Rock Appetizer at Napa Rose

Other Counter Dining

While these suggestions aren’t specifically Chef’s Counters, they do offer some not-to-be-missed eats!

Wolfgang Puck Cafe
Wolfgang Puck is synonymous with fresh, inspired cuisine, and it continues here at his Orlando, Florida, eatery. This Downtown Disney district hot spot offers incredible sushi and entrees ranging from pumpkin ravioli and Chilean salmon to meat loaf and wood-fired pizzas.

Have a seat at the Wolfgang Puck Cafe counter and don’t forget to treat yourself to one of Puck’s delicious desserts.

California Grill

California Grill Sushi Counter
While California Grill has long been established as a top tier signature dining spot in Walt Disney World, its sushi counter is an up-and-coming delight. The highly recommended dishes include Yellowfin Tuna Three Ways: Poke, Tartare, and Tataki; and Yoshie’s Deluxe Sushi Platter: Maki and Nigiri.

If you time your visit just right, you’ll be treated to a wonderful view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks show through the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows!

Enjoy the Show!

While many folks think that dining at Disney relegates them to eating overcooked hamburgers and soggy french fries, think again! Any gourmand can find spectacular meals at Disney parks and resorts, and those mentioned above are some of the very best. But be sure to go hungry — trust me when I say you’ll want to sample everything on the menu!

To book Walt Disney World Resort dining, call 407-WDW-DINE or book online here. Reservations can be made 180 days in advance. To book Disneyland Resort dining, call 714-781-DINE up to 60 days in advance.

You can catch me writing about Disney Food most days of the week over at The Disney Food Blog. Hope to see you there!

This blog post is proudly featured in the 6th Dismarks’ Disney Blog Carnival.

Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining e-book can save you time and money while providing you with all the information and tools you need to make the most of your dining experience at “The World”. Read my review of the book here. Click on the image to the left to download your copy today. SoloFriendly.com readers get 20% off by using the code “Solo” during checkout.

Counter Dining in Style at Disney is a post from: SoloFriendly.com

WDW Food and Wine Festival booth

While Disney World is a fun trip no matter what, going solo during my favorite time of the year might be the ultimate in “Disney Magic.”

My favorite time of year, of course, is right around October, when Disney World showcases its Epcot Food and Wine Festival! 2010 marks the festival’s 15th anniversary, and it looks like it will be bigger and better than ever — full of international celebrity chefs, incredible dishes from around the world (in cheap tapas-sized portions, so that you can try everything at least once!), and demonstrations on everything from cheese-making to wine-tasting to chocolatier-ing to hops-tasting. Disney’s even thrown in a couple of brand new options this year.

Magnet From Festival

In my opinion, visiting the festival solo can’t be beat! I’ve had the pleasure of touring with big groups, small groups, and all alone, and that “personal” time with the Food and Wine Festival has been oh so rewarding. There’s so much to see and do that you won’t want to “compromise!” If you’re considering heading to the 2010 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival solo this year, here’s a dream itinerary:

Morning: Get Your Bearings…and a Bottle of Wine Head over to the Festival Welcome Center, located in Epcot’s Wonders of Life Pavilion, to grab a map and a Festival Guide as well as browse your favorite foodie titles at the Festival book shop, check out the wines featured throughout the Festival in The Cellar, and take a look at some of the customized Festival merchandise.

Plum Wine Drink in China

11AM: Eat Around the World Hopefully you’re hungry! The centerpiece of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival are the Festival Marketplace Booths. This year, 27 different countries will be represented with booths set up in a semi-circle around Epcot’s World Showcase Promenade; each booth will feature tapas-sized portions of some of the country’s most famous dishes, and many offer beers, wines, and other representative drinks. One of my favorite ways to spend lunchtime is grazing at several different booths, picking and choosing the dishes I’d like to sample. Usually, each dish costs about $2-$5, so you can safely try several for the price of a Disney World restaurant meal. To give you an idea of what to expect, here are photos and menus from the 2009 Festival Booths.

1PM: See a Show Now is a great time to catch one of the free or low-cost seminars happening throughout the Festival. Check out the History of Beer in America (includes samples — and it’s free with Epcot admission!); attend one of the Culinary Demonstrations, where executive chefs from around the country prepare a dish in front of the audience (includes a tapas-sized sample of the dish — $8/person); or meet your favorite cookbook author at an Authors Without Borders seminar (free with Epcot admission).

Italian Pasta Making Demonstration

3PM: Get Tipsy on Tequila OK, not really. But sort of! I can highly recommend the Festival’s new Tequila Tasting Seminars, which are held in Epcot’s premier Tequila Bar, La Cava del Tequila. These are extremely informational, especially for Tequila novices.

5PM: “Pair” Up or Be a Groupie My two favorite options for dinners during the Festival are Food and Wine Pairings and Signature Dining Events.

During Festival Food and Wine Pairings, guests are served three small dishes paired with spectacular wines; a Sommelier is on hand to describe the history of the wines and why the pairings were made. This year, Food and Wine Pairing meals are scheduled to be held in Mexico’s San Angel Inn, Japan’s Tokyo Dining, and Morocco’s Restaurant Marrakesh.

Shrimp Dish in Bangkok

Signature Dining Events offer guests the opportunity to dine under the watchful eye of their favorite celebrity chef! Premier chefs from around the country (and the Food Network!) prepare their favorite dishes just for you at these outstanding dinners.

7PM: Get Sweet or Eat to the Beat There are lots of opportunities to sample sweets and desserts around Epcot during the Festival, but a brand new event this year will be 3D Disney’s Dessert Discovery, a pre-booked event happening every Friday night during which Disney World will treat you to an amazing array of desserts, along with special seating for their famous Illuminations: Reflections of Earth Fireworks Spectacular. Tickets are a steal at only $45.

Disney's Food & Wine Festival booth

If the price (or the sheer sugar overload) is out of your budget, head over to Disney’s free-with-Epcot-admission Eat to the Beat concerts. These nightly shows featuring favorites like Taylor Dayne, Kool and the Gang, Boyz II Men, Expose, Rick Springfield, Air Supply, and Big Bad VooDoo Daddy (among others!) are sure to be worth a visit to Epcot alone.

Epcot Food and Wine Festival Tips:

• Consider purchasing a Food and Wine Festival gift card for yourself. This is smaller than a regular credit card, and comes on a plastic bracelet to wear around your wrist. You can load the card with as much money as you’d like, and use it as payment as you visit each Festival Marketplace Booth. Of course, the card is good for use at any Disney World purchasing location, so if you don’t use up the money at the Festival, it can be used for other purchases throughout Disney World.
• Before touring the Festival Marketplace Booths, check out the menus for each in your Festival Guide. There’s no way you’ll be able to sample everything (believe me, I’ve tried!), so choose a few don’t-miss items and hit those booths first.
• Paid events like seminars, food and wine pairing meals, and celebrity chef demonstrations, will sell out fast. The full itinerary of events usually comes out in July, and booking often begins in August. Stay tuned and pre-book your tickets so that you don’t miss out on your favorite Chef or seminar!
• There’s plenty to do at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival without breaking the bank. If you’re planning a budget trip, check out the seminars and demonstrations that cost only $5-$10, plan to “eat around the World Showcase” at the Festival Marketplace Booths for at least a couple of meals, and visit the free events in the Festival Welcome Center. Oh, and don’t forget to catch Air Supply at the Eat to the Beat Concert! (You KNOW you want to…)

Hopefully this helps as you plan your trip to Epcot during what I consider to be the very best time of the year! For more Disney Food information and to keep up to date on the 2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival, visit me on The Disney Food Blog!

This blog post is proudly featured in Dismarks’ 5th Disney Blog Carnival, along with a wide variety of other terrific posts about Disney World. Check it out!

Planning a trip to Disney World’s Food & Wine Festival? The DFB Mini-Guide to the 2011 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival e-book can save you time and money while helping you to make the most of your time at the Festival. Compiled by The Disney Food Blog, this handy resource is available for just $11.95. Click on the image to the left to download your copy today.

Going Solo to Disney’s Food & Wine Festival is a post from: SoloFriendly.com

Rock N Rollercoaster is one of 3 Disney rides with a Single Rider Line

1. Single Rider Lines - This may just be the most awesome feature of being solo at  Disney World.  The Single Rider Line allows you to bypass all the families, groups, and couples standing in the Stand By Queue and practically walk right on the ride.  Why?  Because they need single riders to fill in rows on rides, that’s why. Score!  The only downside to the Single Rider Line is that there aren’t more of them.  Right now, only Rock ‘N’ Rollercoaster (Hollywood Studios), Expedition Everest (Animal Kingdom), and Test Track (Epcot) have them.

Get your photo taken by a Photopass Photographer

2. Photopass Photographers – Finally! Someone to take your picture for you when you travel solo.  I wish all tourist destinations had people whose job it was to take your picture.  Photopass photographers are usually positioned at prime “photo opp” locations in the parks, such as near the Tree of Life in Animal Kingdom, near Cinderella’s Castle at the Magic Kingdom, and near the fountains with a view of Spaceship Earth in Epcot. Another way to get your photo taken at the parks is to get in line for a character photo.  Or you could offer to take a picture of someone else in exchange for them taking yours.  But the Photopass Photographers are the easiest, since it’s their job to do it.  You don’t have to purchase the Photopass, either.  They are happy to take your photo with your own camera if you ask them to.

Bartop Dining at Planet Hollywood, Downtown Disney

3. Restaurants with Counter and Bar Dining – Bartop dining is great for those solo travelers who feel uncomfortable with the idea of dining at a table for one in the middle of a crowded restaurant, or who just want some company while they eat.  It’s also great for those of you who don’t like to make Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) because you want to be flexible about when you eat. Without an ADR, you may find yourself having a hard time getting a table at a Disney restaurant without a long wait–if you can get one at all.  In those situations, try one of the restaurants that have counter or bartop dining.  There are a number of them on Disney property, including the parks (like Yak & Yeti at Animal Kingdom), the Deluxe resorts (such as the California Grill at the Contemporary), the Boardwalk (Bluezoo, Big River Grille) and several in Downtown Disney (House of Blues, Wolfgang Puck, Planet Hollywood). As a solo diner, you only need to find one empty seat at the bar.

Which leads me to. . . .

All you need is one

4. The One Seat Advantage – As a solo traveler, you can easily squeeze in where others can’t.  Whether it’s a seat on a bus, boat or monorail, a lounge chair at the pool, a seat at one of Disney’s live shows, or a hammock on the beach at your resort, you only need to find one empty seat, which is a whole lot easier than finding two or more together.

No one to tell you what you can't do

5. Freedom – This is one of the best things about traveling solo anywhere, including Disney World.  Your time is your own. No negotiating with other people about what to do next.  If you feel like sitting around the pool all day, you can.  If you want to go on the same ride three times in a row–who’s to stop you? You can also travel to Disney World whenever it’s convenient for you, without having to worry about someone else’s vacation schedule.

Enjoy a show like Off Kilter at Epcot

6. Shows - Disney has a ton of great shows, from Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor to Finding Nemo to the Lion King to the free shows at Epcot, like Off-Kilter and Mo Rockin. Take advantage of them!  Not only are they great entertainment, they allow you to blend in as part of a crowd without anyone knowing you’re alone (if you care about such things). Or you can take the opportunity to strike up a conversation with the person next to you.  Who knows? You might make a new friend.

You don't have to worry about fighting with your family if you go "Solo"

7. No Fighting with A Travel Companion – Maybe it’s the killer pace, maybe it’s the crowds, maybe it’s too much togetherness that causes people to have a short fuse at Disney World.  I don’t know.  But I have witnessed so many ugly family fights at the so-called “Happiest Place on Earth”.  Every single time I’ve seen one, I think:  “I am so glad I am here alone.”

Find a restful, quiet spot all your own

8. Peace and quiet – After a day in the parks, surrounded by hundreds of people, all talking at once, plus the ambient background music and the noise made by shows and rides, the cacophany starts getting to me.  All I want is to find a solitary spot where I can enjoy some peace and quiet. So I do.  I either find a quiet bench outside at my resort, or close the door to my resort room and enjoy the silence.  I wouldn’t be able to do that if I were traveling with kids, friends, or a significant other–unless I booted them out of the room!

Indulge yourself in some adult activities

9. Adult Activities – When you want to go out at night at Disney World and have a drink or two and enjoy some live music at Jellyrolls, the House of Blues, or Raglan Road, for instance, you don’t have to worry about what to do with the kids.  You can also do a Monorail Crawl (similar to a pub crawl, but visiting a bar at each of the monorail resorts) or drink your way around the World Showcase without having to worry about setting a bad example for your children or angering the teatotalers in your group.

Have fun!

10. Because you CAN! Look, not everyone loves Disney World.  If you do, but you don’t know anyone else who does, why should you be deprived of an experience that will make you happy?  Just go and enjoy yourself.

Did I miss any of your favorite reasons for traveling solo to Disney?  Be sure to add them in the comments section below!

This post is part of the Disney Blog Carnival, where you can find a variety of Disney articles.

Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining e-book can save you time and money while providing you with all the information and tools you need to make the most of your dining experience at “The World”. Read my review of the book here. Click on the image to the left to download your copy today. SoloFriendly.com readers get 20% off by using the code “Solo” during checkout.

Top 10 Reasons to Travel Solo To Disney World is a post from: SoloFriendly.com

If you love food and you’ve never read the Disney Food Blog, you don’t know what you’re missing.  The photos alone are guaranteed to make you hungry.  Many thanks to AJ for inviting me over to play in her sandbox.

Guest Post at the Disney Food Blog is a post from: SoloFriendly.com

In the butterfly house

Floating flowers

Lady and the Tramp

Lion King

More Lion King

Where are Minnie's eyes?!?

The Girls

Butterfly Garden on water's edge

Waterwheel view

A Rose is a Rose...

Cinderella's Carriage

More flowers

Mickey!

Epcot Flower & Garden Festival Photo Blog is a post from: SoloFriendly.com

What ride at Disney World isn’t in one of the theme parks, doesn’t involve animatronics or rollercoasters, technology, complex engineering, piped-in music or air conditioning, is about as low-tech as you can possibly get, and is one of the oldest forms of transportation known to humankind that doesn’t involve water or flight?  If you can’t guess, then you haven’t read the title of this post.

I haven’t been on horseback since I was a kid, and I’ve been eager to give it a try again.  So before I left on my trip, I scheduled an 11:30 am appointment with the Tri-Circle-D Ranch at Fort Wilderness on Disney World property.  Tri-Circle offers trail rides several times a day. The cost for a 45-minute ride is $46, and I was told to arrive half an hour early and to wear close-toed shoes and something longer than shorts (because of thigh chafing).  I looked at a map of the Fort Wilderness campground and thought I knew where I was going.  On the morning of my ride, I took a bus from Coronado Springs to the Magic Kingdom, and then a boat from the Magic Kingdom to Fort Wilderness.  The boat ride was very pleasant, and I arrived at Fort Wilderness around 10:30am, which I felt would be plenty of time to get to my appointment.  Oh, how wrong I was.

Fort Wilderness Boat Dock

I had no idea there was a bicycle race taking place at Fort Wilderness that day. Over 1,000 people were milling about the property, and many of the walkways were cordoned off for the bicyclists.  I couldn’t find my way around that maze to save my life. Every time I started down a new path, I realized I was cut off by the race course.  Eventually, I made it to some stables.  But I couldn’t get near them.  I spotted a staff member and caught up with her to ask her how to get to the riding stables.  She kindly informed me that I wasn’t even on the correct part of the property.

Pioneer Hall, Fort Wilderness

There are stables at the main property, but the horseback riding takes place at The Outpost, and to get there, I needed to catch a purple or orange (internal) bus.  She pointed out the bus stop to me.  There was a line about 50 people long waiting there.  My heart sank.  I was sure there was no way I was going to make it in time.  The staff member took my name and promised to call The Outpost and let them know I was running late. Fortunately, the majority of people waiting in line were waiting for a bus to shuttle them to a  parking lot, so I was able to jump on the first purple bus that came along.  As the bus drove along its route, I was amazed at how spread out Fort Wilderness really is.  I would get lost if I were staying there.

Outpost Bus Depot, Fort Wilderness

I finally arrived at the Outpost (an appropriate name, since it is about as far across the property from my arrival point at the marina as you can possibly imagine) and miraculously, I was just in time for my appointment.  I paid at the Kennel and signed some waivers in case I fell off the horse and broke my neck, then hurried to join the group at the paddock.  It turned out that everyone else in the party was from the same family. I was the only solo rider.  I later overheard one of the trail guides mention that I had been the only person booked for this particular time, but the family showed up at the last minute, looking for something to do that day before it was time for them to leave Disney.

Everyone in the group chose to wear helmets, including me.  I got fitted with one by the guide, a Mr. Sylvester.  He brought out my horse, a lovely brown and white paint named Uncle Louie.  He was a handsome horse, but as it turned out, also a very lazy and headstrong one.  (Sadly, I have no photos of Louie because my DSLR camera was too big and bulky to bring on the horse with me. I had to stow it in one of the lockers provided on site.)

The guide went around to us individually and gave us instructions on how to handle our horses; each horse has a different personality, thus a different set of instructions.  I was warned that Louie would probably try to veer off the path to snack on vegetation (boy, did he ever!).  I was not warned that he would get so enthused about seeing his buddy in the pasture along the path that he would decide to go for a little run.  That was an exciting twenty seconds of my life.  Mr. Sylvester quickly came alongside us and instructed me on how to rein Louie in. During the return trip, he rode between us and the pasture so Louie wouldn’t see the other horse and get excited again.

From then on, Mr. Sylvester and the other guide walked us slowly, single-file (nose to tail, as they put it), along a winding path through the woods.  Mr. Sylvester rode up and down the line throughout the 45 minutes, talking to everyone, and keeping an eye on things.  But he hung back toward the rear of the line most often, which gave me an opportunity to chat with him, as I was bringing up the rear.  He had a beautiful bi-colored horse whose hair was braided, and he was quite proud of its lineage.

Despite the fact that the Tri-Circle-D’s horses are very well-fed, almost all of them at one point or another wandered off the path to snack on vegetation.  Louie was particularly stubborn about it.  I found myself tugging on the reins and saying “No, Louie! No!” and “Over here, Louie” an awful lot.  I tried to reward him when he behaved by telling him what a good horse he was, but I just don’t think he cared what I thought of him.

Because Florida had seen no rain for 25 days, the trail was very dry and dusty.  It was also very hot–over 90 degrees out.  The only thing that reminded me we were in Florida, not the Old West, were the palm trees towering high above us.  It was a nice quiet ride, a welcome respite from the noise and crowds of the theme parks. I found myself wondering what it must have been like back in the days when horseback was the fastest transportation around, and people would ride hundreds of miles at a time.  My butt was sore after just 45 minutes in the saddle!

So I wasn’t sorry when the ride came to an end, but I was sorry to leave the horses behind.  They were returned to the stables for a little break and some chow, no doubt. Despite the sore butt (and the layers of dirt caked onto my capris), this was a really enjoyable experience for me and I am so glad I had the opportunity to do it. If you’re traveling to Disney any time soon and are looking for something fun to do outside the parks for a change of pace, do consider this.  Don’t be shy just because you’re a solo traveler.  The guides paid just as much attention to me as they did to the family I was riding with, if not more.  Despite what a pain it was finding the stables, this ride will always remain a fond memory for me of my trip to Disney World.

For reservations for a trail ride, call (407) 939-7529.   Tell Uncle Louie I said hi.

Random observations and advice:

• The slow pace of this trail ride might be boring for experienced riders, but if you don’t often have an opportunity to be on a horse, it’s fine.  It’s a great ride for the beginner.
• The guides address riders by the name of the horse they are riding to give them instructions, such as “You there on Louie, pull a little harder to the left”.  So it’s really important to remember your horse’s name.
• If you ride a horse, wear a helmet.
• Be prepared to be sore for days after your ride.
• 90 degrees might be a wee bit too hot for horseback riding.  I’d recommend a cooler time of year.  Especially since you should wear long pants or capris to ride.
• Just make sure those pants aren’t white.

Horseback Riding at Disney World is a post from: SoloFriendly.com

Here is a photo blog of some of my favorite wildlife photos from my recent trip to Disney.  (If anyone knows birds well enough to identify what some of these are, I’d appreciate it.  I have no clue.)

Giraffe at Animal Kingdom Lodge

White bird at Animal Kingdom Lodge

Pelican at Animal Kingdom Lodge

White bird at Coronado Springs resort

Bird at Magic Kingdom (maybe a wood stork?)

More birds at Magic Kingdom

Downtown Disney Duck

Duckling at Hollywood Studios

Bunny at Epcot

Duck at Epcot

Duck Silhouette, Epcot

What a showoff! (Epcot)

Duck at Epcot

Birds, Birds, Everywhere!

Gorilla at Animal Kingdom

Rhino at Animal Kingdom

Does, Animal Kingdom

Warthog in Straw, Animal Kingdom

Just wanted to see if you were paying attention

Wildlife at Disney World Photo Blog is a post from: SoloFriendly.com