Solo travel can be an incredibly enriching and empowering experience. The main concern for many solo travelers is their safety.

Here are my top 10 safety tips for solo travelers.

Tip #1: Research your destination.

Understand the local customs and traditions, and research any potential safety concerns. Check for any travel advisories. If you’re traveling to another country, register with your country’s embassy.

Tip #2: Share your itinerary, where you’ll be staying, and your contact information with a family member or a trusted friend.

Update your friends and family regularly during your trip. Talk with them before you leave so they know how often to expect you to check in, and talk about what actions you’d like them to take if you haven’t checked in when you were supposed to. 

Tip #3: Plan ahead of time where you will stay, and choose reputable accommodations.

Choose centrally-located accommodations.  Check out the most recent online reviews. Also, even if you are in a private room with locks, consider bringing a security alarm that wedges under the door to alert you if anyone tries to enter the room while you are sleeping or are in the bathroom.

Tip #4: Be cautious with your personal information.

Don’t share too much personal information with strangers, such as your full name, your address, where you are staying, or other travel plans. Be careful how much you share on social media about your travel plans and your real-time location.

Tip #5: Keep your valuables secure.

Use a hidden money belt or a RFID travel pouch to store important documents, cash, and cards. Also, consider putting tracking devices in your suitcase and other bags, like AirTags.  To use the AirTag, you just press it to activate it, put it where you want it to track an item, and then use the Find My app on your iPhone. There are also various types of protective covers, like keychains, to put your AirTags in. There’s also a safety feature about AirTags that I really like. It’s designed to alert you if someone else puts an AirTag in your stuff to try to track you. If an AirTag that isn’t yours is near you, you’ll get an alert on your iPhone that reads “AirTag found moving with you.” At that point, you can open the Find My app and disable the tracking of that AirTag, or you can choose to have the AirTag play a sound. If you have an Android phone, you can use the Tracker Detect app. If you haven’t found it in a certain amount of time, the AirTag will start playing a sound, a beep. Another part of keeping valuables secure is to avoid showing in public expensive items like jewelry, smartphones, or cameras. If you use your phone in a public place, consider putting a privacy screen protector on your phone, and it’s always good practice to have a phone case to protect your phone if you drop it.

Tip #6: Blend in with the locals.

Dress so that you blend in with the local culture. Also, learn a few basic phrases in the local language to improve communication with locals. 

Tip #7: Always stay aware of your surroundings.

Be vigilant, especially in crowded or unfamiliar areas. Trust your instincts. If you feel uneasy or unsafe, don’t hesitate – move somewhere else. Also, avoid using headphones or being distracted by your phone in public places. Avoid walking alone at night, particularly in unfamiliar or more desolate areas. Instead, take a taxi or ride-sharing service. Consider carrying a self-defense tool, such as pepper spray or a personal safety alarm. I like this pepper spray because it has a practice spray. If you are traveling in the United States and you plan to carry or purchase pepper spray, read the pepper spray laws for the states you’ll be traveling in. Pepper spray is legal in all 50 US states, but several states have certain restrictions. 

Tip #8: Use reputable transportation:

Choose well-known, licensed providers for taxis or any other public transportation. Avoid accepting rides from strangers. Use the official taxi line or a ride-sharing service, or go on public transportation if you consider it safe. Always know the route before you start your trip. On rideshare apps like Uber or Lyft, share your location with a friend or family member so they can receive your driver’s information and see where exactly you are.

Tip #9: Be cautious with your food and drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.

Limit your alcohol consumption, and never leave any drink unattended. When traveling to different countries, know where the tap water comes from. If you have any doubts about its safety, only drink bottled water.  Also, be cautious when trying new foods, especially street food. Go to reputable places. When you arrive, observe their food handling practices if you can.

Tip #10: Always have a backup plan.

Carry photocopies of important documents (your passport, visas, driver’s license, insurance cards) in case you lose them or they are stolen. Save emergency contact numbers, including a friend or family, and if in another country, your country’s embassy, on your phone, and keep a physical copy. Keep some extra cash in a separate location for emergencies. Also, be prepared to not be able to charge your phone for a long time – carry an external charger for your phone. 

With some pre-trip preparation and then awareness and alertness while you are traveling, you can have a safe solo traveling experience that you will enjoy.

Here are my top 10 ways to enjoy the Disney parks solo.

#1 – Don’t Feel Self-Conscious

On my first solo trip to Walt Disney World in 2014, I thought people would see me by myself and would wonder why I was at a Disney park alone. Aren’t Disney parks supposed to be for families, especially kids? It turns out that everyone was so focused on their own plans, like rushing to their next FastPass (at that time) or comforting their cranky kid, that they could have cared less that I was by myself. Now when I go to Disney parks solo, I don’t worry about what others may think. I wait in line to have a PhotoPass photographer take my picture solo because I want to capture the memory of my visit for myself and share it with family, friends, and you!

#2 – Talk to Cast Members

If you’re traveling solo and are feeling a bit lonely, or just want some great conversation, talk with a Cast Member. When I’m going solo, I find that Cast Members take more time speaking with me. Most Cast Members enjoy sharing their wealth of Disney knowledge, discussing where they’re from (indicated on their nametags), or answering any questions you have.  It’s usually challenging to engage a Cast Member in conversation while waiting for an attraction because they’re doing their job to keep the line moving and safely loading people into the attraction, and I don’t want to interfere with that! The best places to speak with Cast Members tend to be in shops when they’re not busy, at the resorts when there’s not a line of people behind you at the front desk or bell services, and at restaurants and bars when it’s not super busy. If you’re lucky enough to have a solo bus (yes, it’s happened to me a few times), some bus drivers really love to chat, and they have some great stories!

#3 – Sit at the Bar or Counter

Most restaurants with table service in Disney parks and at resorts will have an option to sit at the bar or the counter. If you don’t have an Advanced Dining Reservation (ADR) and it’s a busy time of day, ask at the host stand if there’s room at the bar or counter. This has worked for me at Beaches and Cream at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, and it was great fun to watch all the food being cooked and the sundaes being made!  Sitting alone at the bar or counter is another great way to interact more with Cast Members – of course, you have to understand that they are doing their job, but if it’s slow, it’s a great time to talk with them, as well as other guests sitting around you who are open to chatting.

Amanda’s advice…

Sit at the bar in a lounge because you’ll typically be served faster by the bartender than the servers who come around to the tables. Plus, it’s usually easier to find one open seat at the bar than to find an open table. One of my favorite bars is Phin’s inside of the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort.  

#4 – Reserve a Special Activity

If you’re hesitant about going to the parks by yourself, reserve a special activity that you’ll do with a group of people. Disney Parks offer several guided group tours. I loved the Keys to the Kingdom tour at WDW’s Magic Kingdom, a 4-hour backstage tour. Our tour group had about 24 people and included lunch with assigned tables. Disney planned it well and assigned me to sit with 2 other solo travelers and the tour guide – bonus! Another great solo activity is to make a spa appointment. Disney has some terrific spas at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. I highly recommend the Mandara Spa at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel in Disneyland.

#5 – Put Your Phone Down

This tip is really for anyone, not just solo travelers. These days when I’m in the Disney parks, everyone is on their phones – in lines, while eating, and sometimes while walking! When I travel solo, my first instinct when I’m waiting in line is to grab my phone. I encourage you to put your phone down and really take in the park with all your senses. Did you know that the sense of smell is most closely linked to our memories? Take in the smells of a nearby food kiosk or of the dampness in Pirates of the Caribbean. Listen to the background music playing in each land. Watch other people in line or walking by. See if you can spot other people traveling solo – I almost always do these days in the parks.

#6 – Explore Outside the Parks

Even though I’m now a local to Walt Disney World, I know the feeling of wanting to cram everything in each park into the limited number of days on a Disney trip. I’ve done it many times, and I’m telling you – resist that urge! Disney has so many great resorts that are worth exploring. One of my favorite moments on an unexpectedly cool November trip to Walt Disney World was exploring Wilderness Lodge for the first time and finding a fireplace on a higher floor with a rocking chair – it was heavenly! Also, don’t forget to check out Disney Springs at Walt Disney World and Downtown Disney at Disneyland when you need a break from the parks.

#7 – Meet Characters

Do you enjoy meeting characters? I admit as an adult, I felt awkward about meeting characters at first. Once I started meeting them, I realized how much fun these interactions can be. Some characters, like the princesses and Mary Poppins, will carry on conversations with you. The characters who aren’t ‘face’ characters (like Mickey and Minnie) don’t often speak, but they are still a lot of fun to meet!

You can meet characters at a character meal, wait in line at designated meeting locations in the parks, or watch for characters wandering around the park. Characters in training seem to frequently be spotted around EPCOT’s International Gateway and the UK. I was exiting EPCOT that way and ran into Gepetto and Ariel on different days.

#8 – Skip a Park Opening

I know this tip sounds crazy! It pains me to write it because, as a Disney planner extraordinaire. I know that park opening is the best time of day to experience the most attractions since the lines are the shortest. If you are blessed to spend multiple days at a Disney park, I recommend skipping a park opening one day.  One morning, I went swimming at the Port Orleans Riverside leisure pool, and I had the entire pool to myself.

Amanda’s advice…

Often, it can be easy to make a last-minute ADR for one person. I’ve made same-morning breakfast ADRs several times when I woke up and felt like taking it slow that morning. The Grand Floridan Cafe is a favorite of mine for breakfast and often has morning availability. 

#9 – Be Spontaneous

Again, the planner in me wants to resist this, but some of my favorite memories have come from allowing myself to be spontaneous. On that same cold November trip, I was in the Magic Kingdom for the evening. Many people had left because it was so cold, but I stuck it out. I had a great view of the nighttime parade, the Main Street Electrical Parade, because hardly anyone was still in the Magic Kingdom.

Another way to be spontaneous is to try bus roulette at Walt Disney World. Take the first bus that comes from your resort. It may be to a park or to Disney Springs. (Full disclosure – I love my plans and haven’t yet been able to bring myself to jump on the first bus yet, but it’s a goal!)

#10 – Don’t Wait to Go Solo!

Perhaps the most important tip… don’t wait to go solo! Don’t wait for your friends and family to decide if they want to go with you. Set the date, plan the trip, and do it! Going solo costs more than splitting the cost of a hotel room with others, so consider that when setting your budget. If you can’t afford to go solo, then carve out some time during your next visit to a Disney park with friends or family. If they want to sleep in, tell them you’ll meet them later and go on your own for a few hours. This is a great way to see if you like going solo.

Do you have favorite ways to enjoy the Disney Parks solo?  Connect with me here »