Magical Quests Blog

Tag: Walt Disney World

My Favorite Things at the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival
I have been lucky enough to visit EPCOT’s International Flower and Garden Festival three of the last four years, and it is (potentially) my favorite time of the year at this theme park. From the bright, vibrant colors to the delicate floral aromas, EPCOT is absolutely gorgeous throughout this festival. With dozens of Outdoor Kitchens to sample from and a Garden Rocks Concert Series line up to make you feel extra nostalgic, there is so much to do, see, and eat at this festival.

Running from March 5 through June 2, 2025, this year marks the 30^th anniversary of the International Flower and Garden Festival, and I think that shows how much the festivals in general have grown over the years in size and popularity. I was fortunate to travel to Walt Disney World on many family vacations in the 90’s and 00’s, and frankly don’t remember there being food booths everywhere with winding lines – but maybe I was just focused on my next Mickey Bar at that age.

I’ve put down some thoughts on a few of my personal favorite things about this botanical event. As you’ll quickly tell, I think it’s important to, well… stop and smell the roses. So, grab your Festival Passport and let’s start exploring!

Goofy chasing dandelions, Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival

#1. Festival Gardens, obviously!

An easy choice, these themed gardens are one of my favorite seasonal changes at EPCOT. With gardens unique to each country represented in the World Showcase pavilions, as well as fun and creative gardens spread around World Discovery, World Celebration, and World Nature, there are flowers everywhere at this festival. Some of the featured gardens this year are Prehistoric Plants, The Community Garden, the “Inside Out 2” Emotion Garden (NEW this year!), the Tropical Rainforest Garden, and the Spice Garden.

A few of my personal favorites are:
- Shishi Odoshi Garden in the Japan Pavilion: Made of bamboo, these features of many Japanese gardens create a relaxing sound when they tap together as water flows through them. They also have a practical gardening purpose – shishi odoshi translates to “deer scaring,” and these beautiful fountains are actually used to scare away pest animals from the garden. I just love having a little Zen moment watching the peaceful kinetic energy of the shishi odoshi, and afterwards taking a stroll through the Bonsai Collection Garden.
- Blossoms of Fragrance (Presented by Scentsy): Located along the walkway to the World Showcase, you might smell this garden before you see it. Populated with pungent blooms, the scent of these flowers carries along the light breeze coming off the waterways and it’s impossible not to notice. I love this garden because the strong florals bring you into the “Flower and Garden Festival” frame of mind, and it is the perfect entry into the World Showcase, where many of the other gardens, topiaries, and Outdoor Kitchens are located.
- Festival Blooms and Floating Gardens: These are, without a doubt, my favorite gardens at this festival year after year. Drifting on the waterways along the bridge to the World Showcase, more than 170 mini gardens create a beautiful floating rainbow of flowers. I frequently say that I wish these gardens could stick around year-round. The view of the Imagination Pavilion with the gardens in the foreground creates a feeling of whimsy and inspiration that encompasses what that pavilion is all about. The panoramic Festival Blooms turn this expanse into one of the must-have photo ops in EPCOT.
Watch the Shishi Odoshi gardens in Japan, and enjoy a moment of relaxation and Zen.

Recorded May, 2024

#2. Edutainment

Scatted throughout the gardens you’ll find facts about the plants featured, and why they’re located where they are. You’ll also get a chance to learn about the pollinators that are vital to healthy plant life, and our food system.

I am sure lots of people bypass Butterfly Landing (presented by AdventHealth) unless they have kids who are into bugs and butterflies, but this is a personal favorite activity. Take a few minutes to visit the Butterfly Landing tent, and learn about several species of butterfly – including malachite and the recognizable monarch. Crucial for pollination and evidence of a biodiverse ecosystem, we should take every opportunity we have to protect and promote a healthy butterfly population and I love that Disney hosts this experience every year.

If you’re ready for a snack, you can head over to The Honey Bee-stro (Hosted by National Honey Board) and learn about helpful bee pollinators while you nosh on a bite from the Outdoor Kitchen next door. The food and drink items on this menu feature (you guessed it) honey! And it’s fun to read a couple factoids while you enjoy some Chicken & Waffles with spicy honey drizzle or a Honey Lager. If you have a kiddo or kid-at-heart with you, you can purchase the festival’s scavenger hunt game, Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration ($9.99 +tax), and search for Spike around the World Showcase, adding a sticker to each location on the map. Once complete, return to one of the participating merchandise locations to claim your prize.

3. Edible Flowers featured at the Outdoor Kitchens

Spring has some of the best, fresh food items. The Outdoor Kitchen are a big draw for guests, with small-to-mid-sized shareable plates of themed dishes spread around the World Showcase. I have spent many a dinner hour hopping from kitchen to kitchen, sampling different bites and sips from around the world.

For this list of personal favorites in particular, I am looking specifically at food items with edible flowers featured. This year, the Refreshment Port is serving up fresh lavender atop Provence Poutine, and BRUNCHCOT serves edible flowers atop a classic Avocado Toast item. We eat with our eyes first, and the pops of color and texture that little blossoms add to a dish genuinely make me excited to eat. (Or maybe I just love eating flowers!)

4. Topiaries

See some of your favorite characters come alive in a whole new way in these living topiaries spread around the park. Each year we get to enjoy some returning favorites, and also welcome new characters to the event. A few of my personal favorites are Lumiere & Cogsworth, Goofy Blowing Dandelions, Buzz Lightyear near Mission Space, Isabella from Encanto (it’s a family ensemble scene but she’s by far my favorite!), and Captain Hook vs. Peter Pan. Regardless of which characters top your list, the sheer size and detail of these topiaries is breathtaking, and it’s often hard to believe they are made of living flowers and succulents.

5. Springtime Overlay on Living with the Land

One of my must-do rides each time I visit Walt Disney World is Living with the Land, and it gets one of its many beautiful overlays and theming during the International Flower and Garden Festival. Take a luxurious boat ride through various ecosystems, culminating in everyone’s favorite greenhouse tour. The sets throughout the greenhouses are updated each season, and this year you can catch scenes inspired by Moana, Tangled, and Princess and the Frog, as well as decorations celebrating the festival.

“A flower blossoms for its own joy.” – Oscar Wilde

Nothing beats a springtime trip to Walt Disney World after a long, cold winter, and EPCOT’s International Flower and Garden Festival is a highlight of these visits. While there’s so much to do, see, and eat at this event, it really is the flowers themselves that bring the festival to life for me.

Have the Walt Disney World seeds been planted? There’s still time to squeeze in a visit to this year’s International Flower and Garden Festival, or look ahead to 2026! Let’s map out your next Magical Quest today!
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April 15, 2025
The Perfect Early Morning at Animal Kingdom
As the earliest park to open each day at Walt Disney World, rope drop at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is not for the faint of heart. But, setting my alarm to beat the crowds and the midday heat at Disney’s warmest theme park is a strategy that has served me well over the years. For non-resort guests, official park opening is at 8am, meaning Early Entry Rope Drop begins at 7:30am for guests staying at a Disney Resort or other participating hotel. This post will cover the logistics of traveling to and entering the parks for Early Entry Rope Drop, along with strategies to help you make the most of these early morning hours. I’ll also touch on best options for non-resort guests, what to do if you arrive “late” to early entry, and how to spend all that glorious free time you’ll have left. (Unsure of what “Rope Drop” is? Read my earlier post “Why You Should ‘Rope Drop’ at Disney World” for some helpful background information!)

Getting to the Park

Disney bus transportation begins running an hour before Early Entry begins. For Animal Kingdom, that means the first bus is pulling away from your resort around 6:30am. During very busy times of the year, transportation will often begin running earlier than the 60-minute mark. If you are staying anywhere besides Animal Kingdom Lodge you want to be on the first or second bus of the morning. It is a good 15-20 minute ride to Animal Kingdom from almost all other resorts (10-12 minutes or so from Coronado Springs and the All Star Resorts), and it’s important to factor travel time into your morning. If you are driving, parking also opens 60 minutes before Early Entry begins (occasionally earlier during peak seasons).

So, what time are you waking up? Plan to call it an early night the day before this rope drop. I recommend leaving your room to head to the bus by 6:10am, which means waking up sometime in the 5am hour depending on how quickly you and your group can get ready while it is still dark out. It’s okay. It’s nothing a Joffrey’s can’t fix!

Security and Park Entry

Security typically opens 45 minutes or more before Early Entry begins. This allows any lines forming outside the park to be let into the space between security and the turnstiles/MagicBand readers. There you will gather with everyone else who woke up before dawn to wait. Yes, while the main point of rope drop is to avoid long lines in the park, you are still waiting a good 30 minutes outside of the gates. The theme park logic in this is that you are not waiting during the park’s operating hours, at least for the first few rides of the day.

3/14/2022; 7:07am Early Entry Rope Drop crowd waiting after security, before entering the gates.

Cast members will usually start allowing guests into the park about 10-15 minutes before Early Entry starts, to alleviate the crowds gathering from the later busses, and to allow guests to walk up to the lands that are open to…wait. If you are a non-resort guest and arrive early for official park opening, cast members will direct to you to a separate queue/corral area to wait.

After you tap your band, phone, or keycard and fingerprint for park entry, you’ll be directed towards cast members who have handheld readers to scan your ticket again. This is to ensure that you are eligible for Early Entry based on your resort. If you are traveling with others, be sure that everyone included on your resort reservation is together for this step, so one person can be scanned, let the cast member know how many people are on the reservation, and they will simply count heads and let your group in.

Fly on an Ikran, Go Get that Dino, or Be Chased by a Yeti?

Animal Kingdom has the least number of ride attractions in Walt Disney World, and even fewer are open during Early Entry. As you enter Discovery Island, take a brief moment to appreciate just how beautiful the Tree of Life is at sunrise. This is a great time to grab a couple of pictures in front of the park icon with no crowds in the background.

You have four attractions to choose from: Avatar Flight of Passage, Na’vi River Journey, DINOSAUR, or Expedition Everest: Legend of the Forbidden Mountain. All but one of these rides (Na’vi River Journey) have a height requirement, and two popular rides are not open during Early Entry – Kilimanjaro Safaris and Kali River Rapids.

The vast majority of people here this early in the morning are headed to Pandora – the World of Avatar, with most of those people queueing up for Flight of Passage (FOP). This exhilarating 3D ride on the back of an Ikran over the Valley of Mo’ara sees wait times as high as 120+ minutes during peak seasons, so it is a great move to check this one off your list during Early Entry. Though you will literally see hundreds of people heading for the same attraction, and it may feel like you are not “skipping” any line at all, you will save a huge amount of time by joining this queue. For the most part, you will continually walk the entire time, as the queue for FOP is long enough to accommodate a 6-hour wait. Translation – you will be slowly meandering through a gorgeously themed queue for about 20 minutes, unless you were at the very head of the pack through the gates and did not stop for a picturesque Tree of Life sunrise photo.

Assuming you are in the World of Avatar and have successfully accomplished FOP, you can head to Na’vi River Journey, which is a gem for all ages. While this relaxing boat ride utilizes scenic dark ride storytelling and newer screen effects, the big draw is the Na’vi Shaman animatronic featured towards the end. Reportedly costing somewhere between $10 and $23 MILLION to build, I am always completely blown away by how fluidly this “machine” moves. This attraction will also have a very high wait time as the day goes on, and is a smart choice for your second ride of the day.

Visit Harambe Wildlife Reserve

If this slow moving (beautiful) boat ride is not your speed, (or perhaps you were on the first bus from your resort, rode Flight of Passage AND Na’vi River, and are really winning the day at this point), this is a great time to head to Kilimanjaro Safaris. Odds are it is at least 8:15am-8:30a by this time, and Kilimanjaro Safaris typically opens at 8:15am. Take the path from the back of Pandora along the river to Africa for the quickest route to this attraction. Kilimanjaro Safaris will take you on a tour of Harambe Wildlife Reserve, which is home to over 30 different species and covers 110 acres – that’s larger than all of Magic Kingdom.

An early safari is ideal for catching animals that are more active during the cooler morning hours. Spot cheetahs, peep elephants, and admire the Masai giraffe – who recently welcomed a newcomer to their tower, baby Tucker! If you’re lucky you might even hear the lion and lionesses waking up the savanna with their roar.

At this point in your rope drop morning, you have potentially accomplished three of the most popular rides at the park by 9am. Superb! The park has been open for at least an hour and Early Entry Rope Drop is sadly “over,” but you have positioned yourself to enjoy the rest of the park a bit more leisurely pace. Now is a good time for a breakfast snack and a Joffrey’s. In Africa, you have Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery, Harambe Fruit Market, and Zuri’s Sweets Shop available for quick service/grab-and-go. Harambe Market does not open until 10:45am, and my personal plan is to keep moving. In my case, I’ve got two directions to go:
1. Head to Asia for the Joffrey’s stand, and grab a pastry to enjoy with that glorious caffeine or
2. Backtrack to Pandora for a hearty breakfast at Satu’li Canteen or a snack at Pongu Pongu.
Option one puts you in prime position to hop on two thriller attractions after a breakfast break if you’re ready for more rides, while option two is going to fuel you more for the rest of the day. Choose, but choose wisely… Heading to Pandora is going to use more time (though it is so delicious). If hitting all the main attractions before 11am is your gameplan, you might want to continue towards Asia for breakfast, if needed. (Maybe you are a true rope drop professional and brought a stash of granola bars to the park to get you through the first three hours. I applaud you!) You can also call it a morning and head into Tusker House for a fun character breakfast if that is more your speed.

Frittata with Beef at Satu’li Canteen

Pongu Lumpia from Pongu Pongu snack stand

They’re Not Gonna Make it, They’re Not Gonna Make it!

Can we complete all 6 ride attractions before 11am?!

The next two attractions are more than likely going to have short, manageable waits by this time in the morning, because the park is in full operation and Early Entry Rope Drop is now just a memory. DINOSAUR will be closing at some point in 2026, and as a result has seen higher than average wait times as of late. Even so, wait times for both DINOSAUR and Expedition Everest: Legend of the Forbidden Mountain should be at a reasonable level during the 9am-10am hour, except for peak seasons. This is because folks who slept in on vacation (how dare they!) are strolling into the park now and are more than likely heading towards the three big attractions you’ve already experienced.

If you’re heading across the park from Satu’li Canteen, it’s time to “Go get that Dino!” If you traveled to Asia from Africa, you’re headed to Expedition Everest, and then to DINOSAUR in Dinoland USA afterwards. Either of these options is the right move at this point, having tackled the logistical Tetris of FOP-Na’Vi River-Safari.

You Made It!

You hit every major ride attraction before 11am! Congrats!

Wait, what about Kali River Rapids? Okay sure, you can ride Kali River Rapids as well at any point after Kilimanjaro Safaris, when you tackle Expedition Everest and DINOSAUR. Hot take: I skip this ride, often even if it’s 100 degrees out. You will get wet; you may get soaked. If you are not okay with having a wet bottom all day, you may want to skip this ride as well. It is, however, a fun option for kids, if you’ve brought a change of clothes, are heading out of the park shortly afterward, or simply don’t care about getting drenched. For me, skipping it also makes my rope drop morning even easier.

Hit Snooze 17 Times?

What if you show up “late” or are staying off-site or simply don’t want to rush to Pandora World of Avatar first thing in the morning? While heading left to Flight of Passage is going to be the most efficient use of your early morning time, sometimes you miss that first bus or the parks are just busy. A few other ways to have a great time during your Animal Kingdom morning are:
- If you love thrill rides and roller coasters, head to Dinoland USA or Asia first. Both DINOSAUR and Expedition Everest are usually a walk on for the first hour of park operations. I speak from experience, having arrived “late” to Early Entry one morning, finding myself at the back of the pack with a 45-minute posted wait for Flight of Passage. I pivoted east and was chased by a Yeti five times in about a half hour. (I then needed to sit down and gather my thoughts and ask myself if I’m too old for that sort of thing. The answer was, “maybe.”)
- If you rope drop official opening (i.e. not Early Entry) as a non-resort guest, you could head to Kilimanjaro Safaris first to catch one of the early trucks on the savannah. As previously mentioned, the morning is a great time to see animals in a more active state. Good or bad, this tip has become common knowledge for many guests, and you will see a line form for Safaris early on, so it is in your best interest to head there first if you want to enjoy this park’s premiere attraction without a lengthy queue.
- If you are not on a strict budget, you can also purchase an Individual Lightning Lane for Flight of Passage ahead of your trip, which will drastically alleviate the logistical decision-making process at this park. It’ll also make the early morning rush to the bus more manageable, as arrival time will not really make or break your day. If you plan to park hop and/or don’t want to rope drop, you could purchase Lightning Lane MultiPass and use your first mid-morning ride bookings at Animal Kingdom, and book for your second park as you use your Lightning Lanes.
Time to Luxuriate

Now the park is your proverbial oyster and there is so much to do and see at Animal Kingdom. Sometimes zipping through a rope drop morning means skipping the animal trails during the early half of your day or speed walking past the show theaters. Now that you’ve accomplished all of the rides in the park at least once, you can:
- Say hello to Gino and family on the Gorilla Falls Trail in Africa
- Check out show times for The Festival of the Lion King Show at Harambe Theater – in my opinion, easily the best theater show at Walt Disney World
- Walk the trails around Discovery Island, and dance with Viva Gaia Street Band!
- Take a few minutes to squeal over the adorable new baby tiger Bakso with mom Sohni on the Maharaja Jungle Trek
- Hop on the Wildlife Express Train to Rafiki’s Planet Watch, and pet miniature goats in the Affection Section, participate in the Animation Experience, or – if you’re lucky – catch a routine medical procedure on one the inhabitants of Animal Kingdom at Conservation Station
- Nosh ‘til you need to nap! Animal Kingdom is one of, if not THE best park for quick service locations, snacks, and sit-down restaurants
Setting my alarm and rising before the sun adds to the sense of adventure that I feel when visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Hitting some of my favorite attractions in all of Walt Disney World, beating the intense midday sun, and spending extra time exploring this immersive park make the early mornings well worth it for me.

Ready to start planning the perfect Rope Drop morning at Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Let’s map out your next Magical Quest today!

Resources:

Participating Early Entry Resorts
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April 12, 2025
Solo Travel at Walt Disney World
The Disney properties are typically regarded as family vacation destinations, with a focus on multi-generational fun for all ages. While family and friend group vacations are certainly the norm at Walt Disney World, more and more adults are venturing to the parks on their own – including me! In fact, adults have always been taking trips to the Disney properties. Walt himself referred to them as “oldsters” at Disneyland– adults who would visit the parks while their kids are in school.

My first solo adventure at Walt Disney World was actually just one evening at EPCOT while my travel buddy was feeling too tired to head back out. (This was my first trip post-Covid and I was not wasting a moment!) I bopped around the World Showcase enjoying a few drinks and snacks, and explored the empty pavilions. My next dabble was a solo day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom on a family trip, while the rest of the group did pool or golf days. After these minor forays, I made the deep dive down the rabbit hole, and haven’t really looked back. There is a lot to consider when thinking about a solo trip (or maybe you are just “solo-curious”) and I’ll review the things I took into consideration, along with my personal strategy when it comes to traveling to Walt Disney World as a single rider.

Walt Disney discussing “oldsters” visiting Disneyland, 1962.

Air Travel and Resort Transportation

I live in New England, and I have very few options for direct flights to Orlando. Thankfully more have been added recently to my local airport, but for the past couple of years I have endured many a layover on my way to/from MCO. In addition to the cost of the flight, I am also looking at the location and length of the layover. Some airports are easier to navigate than others, and I have a few personal preferences based on my familiarity with the location and prior connections. On the East Coast, I am always going to choose to connect through JFK or LGA in New York over Newark or Regan, primarily because of how the airlines are spaced out at different terminals. Ever had to catch a bus to get to your next gate? Never again, Newark. Never. Again.

Resort transportation options cover rideshare, taxi, personal car service, or Mears Connect shuttle service, and my usual choice when traveling solo is Mears Connect. Experiences can vary a bit and have read some stories of long waits, though the service is always professional. Personally, my wait time has ranged from 10 minutes to 30 minutes for bus arrival with anywhere from 1-4 stops before my resort. This will cost you $16 per person ($32 roundtrip), and is the most economical option. Lyft/Uber is also available and rideshare costs will run anywhere from $30 to $45 during peak times. I prefer to save the money on the total cost and relax a bit on the bus ride to property. I also have had a couple of rather odd experiences where my Lyft or Uber driver got lost on Disney property, and I had to direct them to the resort I was staying at. Walt Disney World is private property and google maps will not route drivers through there regularly, so if your driver happens to be unfamiliar with Disney property (and you are too), you could be in for one wild ride.

Which is faster? Lyft or Uber (or taxi or a personal car service) is faster by far, and it’s not even close. It is about a 30-minute ride to Disney property from MCO, and I budget 90 minutes from gate to resort when using Mears. With rideshare or car service, it is closer to 45 minutes from gate to resort.

Taxiing for takeoff

Early Morning Departure

Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance

Traveling by yourself means you can prioritize the things you really want to do. But what ARE those things? When it comes to Disney World, take the time to consider how long you’re willing to wait in line for any given attraction, and which things are the most important that you feel you MUST accomplish at some point on your trip. This will allow you to plan whether or not you’ll want to purchase MultiPass or Individual Lightning Lanes – Disney’s skip the line service, or perhaps Rope Drop the parks to check off some of the more popular rides with lower wait times.

Some simple things to acquaint yourself with before going are the park operating times, park transportation options from your resort (yes, it varies depending on where you stay!), park maps (and specifically where the Joffrey’s stands are), and where to find this information if you forget (when in doubt, always check the My Disney Experience App).

PIVOT!!

One of the main perks of traveling solo is the ability to go with the flow and change gears when you want or need to. While I do recommend planning out a few things on your trip and in general knowing your priorities and where things are, being able and willing to pivot from those plans is where the fun really begins. Walt Disney World is an operational behemoth, and attractions or shows can close temporarily or have showtimes cancelled with little to no notice, for a variety of reasons – weather, technology, guest behavior, you name it. When you are traveling solo, you don’t need to consult with anyone but yourself about what your next move is. Space Mountain not launching? Put me on the PeopleMover. Tower of Terror not dropping? Maybe I grab a snack and a Joffrey’s, and catch the next showing of Beauty and the Beast right next door. These are perfect pivots, and doing a little prep work to know where things are makes these transitions easier.

I once missed the bus from Coronado Springs Resort to Hollywood Studios, and rather than simply waiting for the next bus, I headed over to Three Bridges for a light dinner, winding up at Hollywood Studios two hours later for some evening fun. I was able to try out a new lounge at my resort without a reservation (keep reading to hear about dining!), still made it to Hollywood Studios later, and didn’t use up any precious Disney time discussing other options with a group. Win-win!

No Reservations

Potentially my favorite thing about planning a solo trip to Disney World is watching my 60-day Advanced Dining Reservations (ADR) window come and go without batting an eye. When you are traveling with a group, this particular morning is as high stakes as they come, with many popular locations already full due to earlier bookings, or lacking any normal dining hour availability – dinner at 9p for a family of 4? Probably not ideal.

As a solo diner, you have a greater ability to walk up to bar or lounge seating without needing any sort of reservation. If you do enjoy solo sit-down meals and are unable to score reservations for a party of 1 or 2, you can try to pop over to the restaurant earlier in the day (if they are open) and see if they have anything available day-of. With more flexibility in your day, this is easier to do. For certain restaurants like Cinderella’s Royal Table or Space 220 Lounge, you may still want to wake up for that early ADR window for a coveted reservation, if those are must-do eats for you.

The Stack Burger at Steakhouse71 Lounge is among the best on property. Just a short walk from Magic Kingdom, this lounge at the Contemporary Resort is a great stop to find a single bar sear.

Single Rider Queues and “Party of One” Calls

There are several single rider queues at Disney World, and the specific operations of these queues can and do change occasionally. As of April 11, 2025 the attractions with single rider queues are:
- Expedition Everest: Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (NEW)
- Rock’n’Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith
- Millenium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
- Rise of the Resistance*
- Test Track (currently closed for refurbishment, reopening Summer 2025)
*Rise of the Resistance’s single rider queue does cut off the pre-show and transport portion of the attraction. If this is your first time riding, or if you want to experience the entire attraction from start to finish, this single ride queue is not for you.

If you find yourself in the standby line, pay attention as you near the loading area. Cast members frequently call out for parties of one to round out a ride vehicle and it truly feels like you’re having a “Price is Right” moment when you (politely) skip past a dozen or so guests in front of you. (This happens often at Avatar: Flight of Passage!)

Pro Tip: One “sneaky single rider queue” that is very much a hit or miss can be found on Space Mountain. The standby queue will split into the left and right rides when you get to the larger loading area. If you let the cast member there know you are a single rider, they may have you walk around the last leg of the queue, which can save about 7-10 minutes depending on how busy things are.

Soak it all in

Focusing on your priorities and utilizing single rider queues to save time in your day opens up a world of possibilities beyond attractions at Walt Disney World. These parks are highly immersive, and when you take a break from the mad dashes between rides, you will find pieces of Disney history mixed with details that bring these stories to life.

Some of my favorite ways to luxuriate at the parks include:
- At Animal Kingdom, explore the animal viewing walking paths, including the Tree of Life Trails that snake through Discovery Island. You might even meet a character or two as you explore.
- At Hollywood Studios, grab a Joffrey’s coffee and check out the hand prints and signatures in cement outside of the Chinese Theater, with the likes of Audrey Hepburn, Roger Rabbit, and Mary Tyler Moore.
- At EPCOT, watch a performance of Forces of Nature by AntiGravity in the World Celebration gardens. This act is a real highlight of the International Festival of the Arts as well.
- At Magic Kingdom, take a stroll down Main Street USA and take in all of the details in the second floor windows. You might find a few nods to Disney history, like the Seven Summits Expeditions window, “For those who want to do it all,” which is a tribute to the late Frank Wells, President of the Walt Disney Company 1984-1994.
You’re surrounded by other DisNerds

Regardless of how long your trip is, odds are you are not taking a vow of silence on vacation and will more than likely find yourself chatting with other guests at some point. Whether in line, at a bar or lounge, or stuck in a delayed queue (it happens!), this is a great opportunity to broaden your horizons and strike up conversations with total strangers. You all have at least one thing in common because you’re all at the same place!

(If the idea of talking to a stranger just made you physically cringe, download the Play Disney Parks app before your trip. Many of the newer queues have games that you can play while you wait, and there is always trivia to help pass the time.)

Hot Takes

I skip a few attractions when I go to Disney by myself, in favor of nerding out on the things I find more enjoyable. I am unlikely to ride Smuggler’s Run (always the engineer), Kali River Rapids (don’t want to get soaked), or It’s A Small World (sorry, not sorry) when I am on a solo trip. These rides have their own drawbacks for me, and I don’t need to consult with anyone about skipping them. I am going to ride Living with the Land at least once, maybe twice, and I am definitely taking the train out to Rafiki’s Conservation Station at Animal Kingdom to pet goats and participate in the Animation Experience.

Take the Leap!

Traveling anywhere by yourself can have a profound impact on your life, in ways that you wouldn’t expect. From tackling travel anxieties, to eating a meal (or several) by yourself, to even – gasp – talking to strangers! – you might find that you are more capable doing difficult or uncomfortable things than you realize. And, it’s kind of fun to do the impossible.

“Your life can be life changing anywhere, as long as you pay attention to it.”

– Former Imagineer and Disney Legend, Joe Rohde. (Lou Mongello’s WDW Radio Episode #800. “Joe Rohde: Our Conversation on Art, Wildlife, and Culture.” 09/09/2024.). WDW Radio # 800 – Joe Rohde: Our Conversation on Art, Wildlife, and Culture – WDW Radio

Ready to start planning a solo trip to the Disney properties? Let’s map out your next Magical Quest today!

The Animation Experience at Rafiki’s Conservation Station in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
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April 11, 2025