While many think of the Happiest Place on Earth as a family destination, there is a whole new world of possibilities if you visit solo. Perhaps the biggest perk of traveling alone to Disneyland is that you can plan your entire day doing exactly what you want, from experiencing your favorite rides to enjoying the park's iconic entertainment and dining options.
For many, the idea of doing Disneyland alone may be a little bit intimidating, and they might not be sure if taking a trip solo would work well. Thankfully, there are so many fun things that you can do if you are visiting Disneyland alone, and we will share some of these to help you have the best time possible.
With that thought in mind, here are our top tips for doing Disneyland alone!
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Visiting Disneyland Solo
When visiting Disneyland solo, a concern that some visitors have is that others may judge them for being at the parks alone. While it is perfectly understandable to feel a bit self-conscious and nervous about enjoying your trip solo, it's important to remember a couple of things.
One—nobody knows the exact circumstances of your trip! You could be splitting temporarily from the rest of your party to enjoy a certain experience for all they know. And two—everyone else will be so wrapped up in their own plans for the day or their conversations with their own party that it is unlikely they will even notice you are by yourself. Put yourself in the shoes of someone who is enjoying a trip with their family—you're either busy chatting, trying to figure out where you're going to book your next Lightning Lane reservation, or taking care of the kids, and your focus is likely not going to be on the solo traveler next to you.
This is all to say that the most important thing is to allow yourself to relax and enjoy your trip! Below, we will share some of our tips and ideas for what to do if you are enjoying Disneyland by yourself.
Make a Loose Plan for Top-Priority Items
As we mentioned before, the biggest perk of traveling solo to Disneyland is that you can do whatever you want when you want. Given that, it can be tempting to show up at the parks without a plan, but you might find yourself aimlessly wandering around or missing some of your top-priority experiences if you do that.
Instead, we recommend looking ahead at what will be offered during your visit and making a loose plan so that you have a little bit of structure for your day. See if there are any special events happening during your visit that you are interested in. For instance, if you are visiting during the Disney California Food & Wine Festival, you might be eager to try some of the foods, or if you're visiting during Christmas at Disneyland, you may want to prioritize special attraction overlays like Haunted Mansion Holiday or “it's a small world” Holiday. Also, be sure to look ahead at any refurbishments or ride closures that are going to be happening during your visit.
You don't need to decide what you're doing during every second of your trip by any means, but it will be helpful to start thinking of your top-priority items so you can plan accordingly. If you've got your heart set on experiencing a particularly popular attraction, you may want to make it a priority during rope drop in the morning, or if you want to dine at a certain table-service location, you'll want to make dining reservations ahead of time.
Bring a Portable Charger
One particularly important tip we have for solo Disneyland travelers is to bring a portable charger! While this is already something you will not want to forget during your Disneyland trip, it's especially important when you're traveling alone because you will likely be spending more time scrolling on your phone while waiting in lines and throughout the day without other people in your party to talk to. You'll be using your phone to take photos, check wait times, make Lightning Lane reservations, and much more, so you won't want your phone battery to drain. We recommend the Anker PowerCore 10000 as a great option that is lightweight and holds 3-4 phone charges.
If you do find yourself without a portable charger at the parks, you can find one of the FuelRod kiosks located around the parks and purchase one for $30, then swap it for a fully charged replacement for free. See everything you need to know about FuelRods at Disneyland in our guide!
You can also see our Disneyland packing list for more information on what else you may need to bring in your park bag.
Find Single Rider Lines
As you might expect, traveling solo to Disneyland is the perfect time to utilize Single Rider lines. The Single Rider service will allow you to enter a separate, often much shorter line and fill the remaining spaces in the ride vehicles that are not occupied by parties in the standby line.
This is offered for several attractions in the parks (listed below) and is our go-to option for Radiator Springs Racers in particular to avoid the cost of Lightning Lane Single Pass entry. Single Rider can be especially fun for attractions like WEB SLINGERS where you are competing for a high score. I have always had a very positive experience utilizing Single Rider for WEB SLINGERS and it's fun to congratulate each other on your scores at the end!
One thing you'll want to keep in mind for utilizing Single Rider is that you can't make row requests. If it's your priority to sit in a specific row for certain attractions, like the Incredicoaster for example, you will be better off using Lightning Lane entry for this option. However, keep in mind that you can easily do both Lightning Lane Multi Pass to experience your row of choice and then go back and enjoy the attraction using Single Rider if you'd like to ride multiple times.
DISNEYLAND PARK SINGLE RIDER LINES
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Matterhorn Bobsleds
- Space Mountain
DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE PARK SINGLE RIDER LINES
- Goofy's Sky School
- Incredicoaster
- Radiator Springs Racers
- Grizzly River Run
- WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure
- Soarin'
Utilize Lightning Lane Multi Pass
Even though you'll have more flexibility in riding attractions if you are going to Disneyland alone, there will still be times when you'll want to bypass the long standby line for attractions that don't offer Single Rider. That's where the Lightning Lane Multi Pass service comes in, which allows you to select a Lightning Lane return window once per ride per day and get quicker entry to the attraction. Several of the most popular attractions at the park offer Lightning Lanes.
You also have the option of purchasing Lightning Lane Single Pass entry for a couple of the most highly demanded attractions at the park including Rise of the Resistance and Radiator Springs Racers (though, as mentioned above, we highly recommend Single Rider for this one).
When you get closer to the front of the line, listen closely for the Cast Member calling out for any single riders. Although Single Rider may not be offered at certain rides, they may still be looking to fill a single spot which can save you a few extra minutes of waiting time if you are pulled up past several people.
Interact with Characters
If you're traveling solo to the parks and want some interaction during the day, you can see some of your favorite characters and grab a picture with them. While you may normally be rushing to your next destination if you're traveling with a party, you might be traveling at a slower pace on your own and want to take the opportunity to say hello to any roaming characters who appear spontaneously. See our guide to Disneyland characters for everything you need to know!
Even if you don't catch a glimpse of Princess Tiana or Edna Mode, you'll feel like a kid again asking Goofy to sign your autograph book. You'll find character meet-and-greet times listed on the Disneyland app.
Get Some Quality Solo PhotoPass Pictures
Going to Disneyland alone is a great opportunity to get some PhotoPass pictures of yourself at your favorite spots at the park! PhotoPass photographers will often be found at character greeting locations as well as popular landmarks like the Sleeping Beauty Castle, the Millennium Falcon, Route 66, the Pixar Pier Bridge, and more.
The PhotoPass photographers will take high-quality pictures that you can look back on as a memory of your trip or share on social media. If you're in the mood for some extra fun, you can also take advantage of Magic Shots, when a PhotoPass photographer will pose you and then digitally input some Disney magic into your photo, like holding Groot in the palm of your hand (as seen above)!
Whether you choose to take a PhotoPass picture with a character or on your own, a solo trip to Disneyland is a good opportunity to get some great photos of you alone at the happiest place on earth! You can see our full guide to PhotoPass at Disneyland for everything you need to know about the service.
Make Dining Reservations or Splurge on a Dining Package
When doing Disneyland alone, the Resort is your personal buffet. No sharing with friends or family, and you get to choose the menu! Whether you feel like playing it by ear with some of Disneyland's fantastic quick-service locations or enjoying a table-service meal, you can enjoy whatever you'd like.
If you do feel like treating yourself to a sit-down experience, eating for one is a lot more affordable, so you can justify big splurges such as the Blue Bayou or Carthay Circle, some of the best Disneyland restaurants. Because it's just going to be you, there's also the option of splurging on a dining package for the park's entertainment. You could get a dining package at the Plaza Inn to enjoy reserved viewing for the parade or enjoy the World of Color Dessert Party for the show in the evening. This could be a fun way to treat yourself to some food and the best viewing for these entertainment offerings!
If you do decide to participate in one of these dining experiences, you'll want to be ready to make dining reservations in advance (the reservation window opens 60 days before your visit). If you're having a hard time finding a reservation for one, you may have better luck searching for a reservation for two and then modifying it to one or keeping it as is and showing up to the restaurant as one. You can see more tips on getting Disneyland dining reservations in our full guide! If you didn't make reservations before your visit, you have the option of joining a walk-up list for certain restaurants.
Experience Live Entertainment
When guests visit Disneyland Resort, most seek the big entertainment shows, like the fireworks and parades. However, if you're traveling solo, you won't want to overlook the smaller live entertainment that is offered at the parks that is worth viewing.
You'll find a full list of the entertainment offered for each day in the Daily Events Schedule, but some great examples include the Dapper Dans, the Disneyland Band, the Golden Horseshoe Piano Player, and the Main Street Piano Player at Disneyland Park and Avengers Assemble!, Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Dance Off!, and Five & Dime in Disney California Adventure.
Take a look at some of these smaller shows or atmosphere entertainment and make time for them during your visit! You may also encounter these during your day and spontaneously decide to stop and watch them. This leads us to our next tip…
Embrace Spontaneity/Treat Yourself
As the main purpose of going to Disneyland solo is to do whatever you're feeling like, embracing spontaneity is key. There's nobody to tell you where to go or what to do other than yourself!
If you see a character out and want to stop to take a picture with them, or if you are feeling the urge to ride an attraction you haven't experienced in a while, go for it! If you're walking by the Tiki Juice Bar and suddenly get hit with an urge to get a Dole Whip, nothing is stopping you from enjoying one. If you're heading to your next stop and see something eye-catching in a shop window, take a few minutes to peruse the merchandise and consider getting a Disney souvenir. The sky is the limit when you're visiting Disneyland solo! This is a great opportunity to indulge and treat yourself if you feel inclined to.
Keep an eye out for what is happening around you at the parks, and if something grabs your interest, don't be afraid to switch up your plans. Everything is on your time when you're visiting Disneyland solo!
Take a Guided Tour
If you want to treat yourself to a really cool experience during your trip to Disneyland solo, you can splurge on one of the special tours that are offered. In a similar train of thought as dining, buying these experiences for just one person is more affordable than buying for a group. If you're interested in soaking up some Disneyland history and behind-the-scenes magic, or if you know you'll want a little bit of interaction during the day while visiting Disneyland alone, these tours are a perfect option to consider. You can see the inside of Walt's apartment, get the opportunity to ride in the Lilly Belle, and more during these tours!
Depending on what time of year you visit, there may be seasonal tours offered. See our full guide to Disneyland tours for everything you need to know!
Here is a list of all of the tours offered at Disneyland:
- Walt's Main Street Story Tour: This 90-minute walking tour includes a walk down Main Street U.S.A. to learn little-known facts and trivia, a visit to Walt's apartment, refreshments, and PhotoPass photos with complimentary digital downloads.
- Cultivating the Magic Guided Tour: On this tour, guests will learn about how horticulture can help tell a story at Disneyland Park, and you visit multiple areas around the park like Town Square, the Central Plaza, Frontierland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, and Adventureland. You will also get a ride on the Jungle Cruise and a special keepsake.
- Disneyland Railroad Guided Tour: On this two-hour tour, you'll get a beverage and pastry to start the day, then learn about Walt Disney's passion for trains and the impact they had on him, get a rare look at the Disneyland Park Roundhouse, enjoy a ride on the Lilly Belle, and receive a special keepsake.
- Disney's Happiest Haunts Tour: This two-hour walking tour is offered during the Halloween season at Disneyland and takes you behind the scenes to learn the spooky details of many of Disneyland Resort's developments including the Haunted Mansion. The tour includes a ghoulish treat, a fun photo op with the hitchhiking ghosts, and a reserved viewing area for the Halloween Screams! nighttime spectacular. See our review of the Happiest Haunts Tour for everything you need to know!
- “Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort” Guided Tour: This 2.5-hour walking tour is only offered during the holiday season at Disneyland. On the tour, you'll hear about favorite Disneyland holiday traditions, have reserved viewing for A Christmas Fantasy Parade, enjoy holiday treats and access to “it's a small world” Holiday, and more.
Pace Yourself
When you're visiting Disneyland with a group, it can be easy to dash between thrill attractions, entertainment, and character encounters without taking the time to slow down and savor less-rushed experiences. When traveling to Disneyland solo, it's easier to appreciate some of these slower-paced experiences that you may normally overlook.
Whether you'd like to take the time to explore the Main Street Opera House and see Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, spend some time strolling around Tom Sawyer Island, visit the Animation Building, or walk along the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail or Grizzly Peak Pass, there are several more relaxed experiences you can enjoy during your day. You can see our list of our favorite secret spots at Disneyland including some places where you can relax and enjoy some quiet at the parks.
One of my personal pastimes while doing Disneyland alone is spending moments people-watching. Take a rest on one of the many benches spotted on Main Street USA or scattered around Disney California Adventure Park and just watch. You'll see large groups with matching t-shirts, guests celebrating special occasions, or even maybe glimpse a child witnessing Sleeping Beauty's Castle for the first time. Try to spot DisneyBounding guests too! DisneyBounding is dressing with inspiration from a certain character or attraction but not in costume. This trend has grown quickly and immensely over the past few years. Maybe you'll see some inspiration for your next Disney trip!
Doing Disneyland Alone? Start Planning Now!
Enjoy your solo trip to Disneyland Resort! Try one, two, or all suggestions for doing Disneyland alone, or find your own adventure out there! For more great Disney travel tips, subscribe to our FREE Deals newsletter!
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Frequently Asked Questions
It can be very fun to go to Disneyland by yourself, as you plan your day doing whatever you want! You can enjoy your favorite rides, foods, and entertainment at the parks without needing to be on someone else's schedule. It can also be fun to splurge on some higher-end experiences if visiting Disneyland by yourself like dining packages and guided tours, as you are only paying for one. See all of our best tips for how to have fun at Disneyland by yourself in our guide above!
You can ride Disneyland rides alone. Single Rider is a service offered for multiple Disneyland rides that allows you to enter a separate line and fill any remaining spaces in ride vehicles that aren't occupied by parties in the standby line, and this often is a much shorter wait. You can also ride alone on Disneyland rides that do not offer Single Rider as well.
An adult can certainly go to Disney alone. Disneyland is not just for kids—there is so much for adults to do at the parks, from going on thrill rides to enjoying all of the food and entertainment. You can meet characters, go on a guided tour, or spend your time alone engaging in some of the slower-paced experiences offered at the parks. We include some of our best tips for doing Disneyland alone in our guide above!
There are many ways to enjoy Disney by yourself, but the most important thing is to have a loose plan based on the offerings that are most interesting to you and then be willing to adjust it if anything comes up that you spontaneously want to do. Also keep in mind that you have full control over your day, so you can treat yourself if you feel inclined to—whether that means getting a treat or that souvenir you've been eyeing or planning ahead to splurge on an experience like the World of Color Dessert Party, upscale table-service dining, or one of Disneyland's guided tours.
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