Any solos feel like they are "invisible" to others?

[Margie J]

Last week I had another solo trip to WDW. I had a good time except for a few occassions when I felt like I was ignored (or worse) by others, mostly other Guests. CM's usually make everyone feel welcomed.

Here's what happened to me:

- Seconds after Illuminations started a Guest stood right in front of me, blocking the view and spot I had been in for over 30 minutes. Mind you, there were empty spots with equal views right next to me.

- A Guest and her BF in line at ToT stopped right in front of me, at the section where you choose which elevator line to enter. It looked like she was going forward and the right line had plenty of open space. I asked, nicely, if she minded if I went to the right line and she nearly tore my head off saying "yes I DO mind ...". Geez

- As I was sailing through the MiB singles line a whole family (5) jumped into my line and then proceeded to cause problem at the load station. They weren't singles, weren't Express Pass and I had to wait behind them until it was all resolved.

- I ordered lunch at USF (counter service) and waited for my order to arrive. A family ordered after me, paid and got their meals (same as mine) while I was still left standing there. The cashier then tried to close out her register and started ringing in my soda again. I reminded her that I had already paid and was waiting for my meal, the same as the one that was already given away. I got my food quickly after that.


Anyone else have issues when you travel solo?

 

[taswira]

When solo, it is unfortunately true that you have to <I>ever so politely</I> stand up for your rights with <I>some</I> Guests or they will blatantly abuse you.

Next time you come to WDW and USF, if you'd like to hang out with someone at the parks for awhile, PM or e-mail me. I <I>promise</I> you will not feel invisible!

 

[DaveH]

I have had the cut in front of me even when I am with others. Some folks think they are entitled to cut in front of everyone.

 

[yecats]

Last Nov. I was standing in line to take a photo with Space Mickey at Epcot, a man and his two children who were standing behind me cut in front of me when my turn came up. Apparently I was invisible. I started to tell him that he conveniently cut but he was a foreigner and I don't think understood a single word I was saying or at least chose to ignore me altogether.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I always have some issues on every trip directly related to being solo! I done seven trips solo, and some issues that come to mind are:

- One thing that keeps happening is that I wind up with no where to sit on certain rides. For instance, on the Great Movie Ride, the CM assigns you a row to sit, and this row usually has 6 people. I am always assigned as the last one to a row, to help fill it up. But what happens every time is when we board, the five people ahead of me comfortably sit and settle down in the row, taking up all the room, leaving no room for me. I am left standing alone on the platform, with a CM yelling "M'am please sit down!!!!!" I say I have nowhere to sit. The CM comes over and asks everyone in my row to scoot over, which they grudgingly do, then I can sit. This has happened on three times on the Great Movie Ride, and once on the Backlot Tour. I am to the point where I won't do those rides solo anymore.

- I always have people cut in front of me in character lines. Others assume since you have no one with you, you are just "standing there" and not really in line, therefore it's fine to pass you.

- I think because I am solo, I get placed in the "boonies" in certain resorts. At CBR, I been in Trinidad South, and at CSR I been on the top floors of the farthest casitas twice. I now pay for perferred rooms or stay at POFQ which is compact. Being isolated in the boonies is not fun when on a solo trip.

- At Mission Space, I got into the singles line. This was in the slow season January so the ride was not super crowded. I waited to be assigned a ship, which seats a max of 4. The castmembers promptly place me in a ship with one other young man, and no one else. So just the two of us rode in the ship, and it was a tad awkward but fine. But afterwards it gave me some second thoughts. Mission Space is a ride where you can be placed in closed quarters with complete strangers, and I was placed alone with a man (I am female). Yeah, I'm sure not much can happen in constraints in zero gravity but even so, I wished the castmembers noticed that may not be the best idea, but obviously not! Anyone else ever have that happen?

Regardless, I will continue to travel solo to Disney, since there is no other place I rather go! I learn from past experiences, and hope for the best!

<img src="http://home.att.net/~disneysue/hugsmall3.gif">

 

[taswira]

Originally posted by HugsForEeyore
I always have some issues on every trip directly related to being solo! Some that come to mind are:
- I always have people cut in front of me in character lines. Others assume since you have no one with you, you are just "standing there" and not really in line, therefore it's fine to pass you.

Although I don't have children, I like to photograph my <I><a href="http://www.primateprojections.com/travel/magicaldisney/PalMickey/photos.html" target="index">Pal Mickey</A></I> with all the characters. I dress up my Pal, and the characters get a kick out of it. Recently I was in line for Mickey at Epcot's "Characters on Holiday" meet-and-greet. The character host came over and advised everyone that Mickey had to leave soon and now there would be no autographs, just quick photos, to save time and allow more Guests to get to Mickey. Just as my time came and the character host said "<I>One more person . . sorry</I>," the young woman (twenties, I'd guess) behind me went around me and straight up to Mickey and put her arm around him for a photo. I gave her a glaring look. Mickey removed her arm from his waist and held one hand up in a "Stop" signal to her. He then walked over to me and put his arm around me. I said I'd like a picture of him with my <I>Pal Mickey</I>. He happily obliged, then gave me a big hug and got back on the character bus.

Sure - the woman had cut in front of me. But the end result was an example of what I meant by <I>not</I> being invisible. With the exception of "public diaper changers" (even in restaurants!), no Guest is going to rain on my parade!

 

[anlashokna]

I did WDW last November and actually didnt have any issues! Tended to get along and chat with folks waiting in line. Even to the point at space mountain I got stuck in the front car and was going to end up sitting in the very front of that car..eek Ask the young girl next to me if she wouldn't mind changing seats and she was more than happy to.

CM's I've come across were always polite and I never felt ignore.

Just lucky I guess.

 

[lindamg]

Living two hours from Disney and being single until I was 45, I have traveled to Disney solo MANY times. I have to say that I think many of the examples mentioned above were NOT due to the person being single, but rather plain rudeness on the part of other guests. I'm thinking most of these people would have acted the way they did whether you were single or in a group! As for the resorts, I've never had a problem with my placement at a resort, rarely am I placed "out in the boonies" and if I am staying at one of the larger moderates, I simply say at the desk, that I'm traveling alone and would prefer a room closer to the center of the resort. That request has always been accomodated in a very pleasant and helpful manner.


I still do travel solo a couple of times a year. DH works in retail and can't take off to see Christmas decorations and he prefers not to go to some of the Pin events with me. I do still enjoy traveling solo, but I've learned there are certain perks to traveling with my hubby, and none of them have anything to do with CMs or other guests!

 

[HugsForEeyore]

lindamg said:

As for the resorts, I've never had a problem with my placement at a resort, rarely am I placed "out in the boonies" and if I am staying at one of the larger moderates, I simply say at the desk, that I'm traveling alone and would prefer a room closer to the center of the resort. That request has always been accomodated in a very pleasant and helpful manner.

Actually, one time I tried to change! When I was checking into CBR and found out I was in Trinidad South, I politely said something like "I heard that island is a far walk and isolated - any chance I can have another room?" The CM said something like - "well if tomorrow you don't like it, maybe you can switch ..." But then she kept saying how wonderful Trinidad South is, and how close the bus stop is to my room. She clearly did not want to go through all the work to switch rooms. I gave up since not everyone can get to avoid Trinidad South - someone has to stay there! My room was OK in Trinidad South, but all the other islands looked "more happening" than mine!

Like another poster said, I got to be more assertive about these things!!!!!!

<img src="http://home.att.net/~disneysue/hugsmall3.gif">

 

[BriarRosie]

Originally posted by HugsForEeyore
lindamg said:

Actually, one time I tried to change! When I was checking into CBR and found out I was in Trinidad South, I politely said something like "I heard that island is a far walk and isolated - any chance I can have another room?" The CM said something like - "well if tomorrow you don't like it, maybe you can switch ..." But then she kept saying how wonderful Trinidad South is, and how close the bus stop is to my room. She clearly did not want to go through all the work to switch rooms. I gave up since not everyone can get to avoid Trinidad South - someone has to stay there! My room was OK in Trinidad South, but all the other islands looked "more happening" than mine!

Like another poster said, I got to be more assertive about these things!!!!!!

That's when I'd smile and say, "Could you please check to see if there are available rooms in Aruba or Jamaica?" I've never had any front desk cast member refuse to check alternative availability for me. If I would get resistance in the future, I'd be firm and polite, and ask to speak to a manager.

As for the rude guests I've read about in other posts, I have absolutely no problem asserting myself. I have told other people that they cannot cut in front of me. I'm ok with people rejoining others in line if the "rejoiners" are a parent with a toddler.