So, I had more of a Solo Disney 4 Hours than a whole day, but that's because I was amazed at how much I got done and I got a little motion sick from the excitement (embarrassing). Still, I was so anxious about going by myself. But, once I set aside my anxiety at being alone, I had a great and whimsical time.

1. Do whatever you want.

This seems obvious, but this was huge. I didn't think much of it until I was in the parks and I was just wandering, stopping by wherever I wanted, for as long as I wanted, returning to places that I wanted to return without feeling like I was wasting another person's day by doodling. I could do what I liked and eat what I liked, on my schedule. It was nice to let go of the urge to hurry and "make the most out of the day" in a conventional way. I could make the most out of my time by my means, which made me feel much more fulfilled that I thought it would.

Getting ready to drop on Splash Mountain!

2. Use Single Rider Lines.

These save SO much time. It's amazing. Within two and a half hours of arriving at the park, on a Sunday afternoon in the summer, I rode on 5 rides (Matterhorn, Splash Mountain, Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin, Small World, and Storybook Land Canal Boats) AND watched Mickey's Magical Map! Riding rides alone was the part I was dreading the most about going solo, but instead it sorta became a game of how many things I could get done. I was texting my boyfriend every 15 minutes on a different ride.

3. Listen to an Audio Book

Or listen to whatever you want. I brought some headphones with me and it helped me with waiting in lines (not that there was much of that) - I didn't feel enveloped in my phone as I still took everything in with my eyes and I was able to know if someone next to me wanted to engage in conversation. I wasn't searching for something on facebook or the news to entertain me. I already had a book that I was ready to delve into and it allowed me to have a great time at Disneyland while partaking in a beloved hobby at the same time. If you're worried about what you'll do while waiting around, I highly recommend this tactic. If you find you don't need it, all the better.

4. Let Go of the Anxiety Early

I have never met someone who wanted to go to Disneyland by themselves, went, and then regretted it. If you have the desire, take the leap. I'm so happy I did, and am so sad I didn't do it sooner. I didn't let go of the anxiety until I was on the tram going to the park - but I could have saved myself a lot of unnecessary worry if I had learned to let it go sooner. Accept that you're going to have a good time, and be happy about it. It's okay to by unsure about the decision, but once you make it, try not to doubt yourself. You're going to have a blast.

5. See/Do something you've never seen/done before.

Doing this helped give my trip a sense of purpose. Choose something new you want to do, either beforehand or while you're there. Heck, your goal can even be just to find something new, if you're running out of ideas. I noticed so much more when I was alone. I feel like when you're with someone or a group, you're either being shown cool nuances or showing others cool nuances. You can sometimes forget to find new ones. Being able to stroll around by myself meant I could walk in circles, finding little stranded alcoves that felt like undiscovered treasure. This is where your imagination can really run free.

5 Tips for Traveling Solo to Disneyland - My First Solo Disney Day

1. Do whatever you want.

2. Use Single Rider Lines.

3. Listen to an Audio Book

4. Let Go of the Anxiety Early

5. See/Do something you've never seen/done before.