The Disney College program is an experience unlike any other; you are given the ability to work for a fortune 500 in one of the most technologically sophisticated parks in the world, you get paid to participate in their internship program (not many companies pay their interns anymore), and you get free access to the parks so you can enjoy it anytime you want! It’s all amazing, except getting your schedules to match up with your friends can be a lot more complicated than anticipated. I remember spending several park trips alone because I was the only one in my friend groups off on my regular days. In those days alone in the park, I found that there are many amazing things people alone at the parks can accomplish.

1. Single Rider Lines

This one is a given. Single rider lines are great because they are only offered on some of the best and longest wait times in the park and the lines are usually a quarter of the time that the standard line is. At the most I have waited 15 minutes in a single riders’ line, which was in comparison to the 120 minute wait the standard line was. They tell you several times that if you are in a party you will be split up, but on your day off adventure who cares?

2. Magical Moments

Magical moments are a cast members' resource to go above and beyond to make a guest’s day special and unique. This can be anything from free food, ride switch passes, having your room decorated by a housekeeping cast member with their favorite character’s merchandise, to front passes to shows. I have found that as a lone parkgoer, you are more likely to receive magical moments than if you were to be in the parks in a group. Cast members can justify giving a single churro as a magical moment (especially if you’re wearing a celebration pin) a lot more than giving a group free churros.

3. Parade Watching

When in a group, depending on who is in it, it can be hard to set aside times to watch the numerous amount of parades and castle shows that Walt Disney World has to offer. Groups can become too caught up running from ride to ride to be able to relax and watch the parade. However, alone you can take your time doing everything, relax in fronteirland with a frozen lemonade (available at Westward Ho Refreshments) and watch Festival of Fantasy or Main Street Electrical Parade, front and center.

4. People Watching

People watching is easily one of the most underrated activities at Walt Disney World. The best spot is on Main Street in Magical Kingdom, and my favorite thing is to grab a drink at the Main Street bakery and sit somewhere and just watch people. It can be one of the most relaxing things to do on property, just sit and watch people’s excitement as they enter the Magic Kingdom, sometimes for the first time. Watching their excitement, the gleam in their eyes for finally being “home.” There’s a lot to learn from the people that enter your parks, and what better way to relax than to see firsthand the magic you put in every day in effect.

5. Park Hop For Food

Being alone in the park means that you can get breakfast at Tusker House, mosey on over to 50’s prime time for lunch and finish the day at Be Our Guest. The parks have such different varieties of food that it’s very easy to have a different ethnicity each and every meal. Park hopping to eat is an adventure in itself, and can be almost as enjoyable as the meals themselves.

6. Watch Shows

Spending a day going to different parks to watch their shows, whether it be the various "Beauty and The Best" shows, "Lion King the Musical," "Lights! Motor! Action!," "Indiana Jones" or any of the rest of the various shows. It a nice change of pace to sit back and watch the shows instead of running from ride to ride. Plus, being by yourself helps because you have more of a chance to get a front row seat being a party of one.

7. Explore The Resorts

Resort hopping and trying something from each resort is also very therapeutic. It gives you the chance to take things slow, to truly appreciate the resort and how much attention they put into each aspect of the park and allows you to relax pool side if the resort has open pools. There is not much more that is relaxing at Disney World than to be at the Polynesian Resort and spa indulging in a Dole Whip on the beach.

8. THE KITCHEN SINK!

I mean there is no way you can eat that whole thing by yourself, but dream big right?