To me they are acquaintances. For me, I cannot develop trust to the degree I would commit to anything more than coffee with someone I only knew from online. Could they become a friend? Possibly. But my bar for that is incredibly high.
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As I said, it depends on how you define friendship. For me to use the term a very high bar has been set. If it’s just casual like we see each other at running team, they are teammates. For some they may be friends, but for me, not unless friendship has been earned.
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I picked with immediate family, and with spouse. I did NOT pick solo. I’ve never actually been solo…BUT…I did go into MK by myself in May 2021 for the morning (to ride PM), and I spent most of my time there wishing my wife was there with me. Just felt weird being alone. And I’ve also been alone when I had to chaperone my son to Toronoto (twice) when he was doing work for Mozilla as a minor. I spend my days by myself wandering the city. It was fun…for about an hour. Then, once again, I spent my time wishing my wife was there with me.
So, I can’t imagine enjoying going by myself.
I MIGHT enjoy going with friends.
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I do admire people who can meet people online and be besties - or close enough to travel with. But that is not me.
I have traveled with a friend before and we had a good time, but we also had an agreement before that we did not have to be together all the time. Heck, even my family operates that way when we travel. Some things we do together, but we don’t have to do the same things all the time.
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The dates don’t matter as much as we’re both solo traveling around the same time to the same hotel so it would be interesting to see how our results play out.
As far as the rooms go, I think the handicapable are probably the last rooms to be filled so once they have most everyone housed they stick the solos in those unbooked room types. It’s often resulted in me getting upgraded to preferred from standard at value resorts and also having my room available much earlier in the day.
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I know it’s not easy at times, but I try to prioritize earning friendship from others rather than having others prove their friendship to me.
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I also met my husband sitting next to each other on a 3 hour flight! I am apparently fairly trusting, until I have a reason not to trust. Trusting him turned out to be a great decision for me (17 night trip to Florida 
)
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Yeah.
I’ve spent the last several hours imagining of someone gave me $XXXX and told me to take a solo trip where I would go or what I would do. I really couldn’t come up with anything. I’d probably decide to go out to dinner with DH and then do some level of home improvement.
But if someone said here’s 2 • ($XXXX) or 8 • ($XXXX) I’d be all over planing a trip. I just don’t think I’d enjoy myself.
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I had a wonderful time on each of my short cruises with a good friend. DH was home with the kids enjoying his staycation, the kids enjoyed no school, and I enjoyed the pampering and time with a friend. *At that time DH was traveling a lot for work.
My trips were 3+ years apart.
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I forgot I once went for a convention. I worked the convention during the day and went to the parks in the evenings. I had a friend who had a silver pass back then… that was fun, but it’s funner with close friends/family.
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Have never travelled for pleasure solo. But I feel in sync with @Jeff_AZ on balancing absolutely loving family time and sharing memories with them but also not losing yourself and finding connections to experiences all on your own. I’ve done so little just for myself at this point.
My DW is more clingy and social than I am and probably wouldn’t want to go somewhere alone too often, but I totally could relish it, use it as a mental health recharge, and wouldn’t spend much thought missing people for the duration of a trip. We’re all wired a bit differently, and that’s a good thing.
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Should I start a new thread in case others would like to Meet Up? I did launch a discussion back in May specifically about the Disney Dish events happening in December that week, but this wouldn’t necessarily be tied to that.
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Indeed!
This conversation has been fascinating. I had no idea when I chose this topic for the poll that it would generate so much philosophizing! It’s interesting how differently each person approaches the concepts of friendship, family, community, society, and self, and how each of us is able to find fulfillment and joy (or not) in each of those spheres.
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Yeah it couldn’t hurt. I am unsure what they are actually doing those days and I still don’t have my plans confirmed either to be able to commit to anything. Do you know any details?
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I know you subsequently found the details I posted, but for the benefit of others they are here.
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I am not a solo traveler either, I think WDW would be lonely without others to share it with. But I am 100% a leave my family at home and come with the Fab 4+ anytime traveler!
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Exactly!
I can’t be having anxious, frustrated, irritated thoughts. I have to focus on positive ways to view current circumstances.
Something I’m getting lots of practice at. Eventually I figure I’ll be really really super good.
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I aim to be a (+) someday on one of your trips.
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We would love that!
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I, by contrast, aim to REPLACE one of the Fab 4. Which one will it be?
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