As my 31st birthday crept up on me, I knew I wanted to feed my travel bug. I tossed around ideas like a train ride to San Diego, a trip to Salt Lake City to hang out with my little sister, or a road trip to San Francisco. After going over those ideas, I decided to stay close to my new home in LA and go to Disneyland. Since my friends weren't able to make the trip with me, I decided to go solo. Yes, this single 30-something went to Disneyland with no children and no friends and had more fun than I've had in years. The Disney brand has a special place in my heart since it's where my family and I spent time at least one family vacation per year. We (OK, my dad) would pack up our van and drive eight hours to visit the most magical place on earth. We even went on a Disney cruise! So spending the day at Disneyland not only helped me create new memories but also helped me relive memories from my childhood.
1. You'll Get Out of Your Comfort Zone 
When I told my friends and family I was going to Disneyland alone, everyone had the same reaction. "You're going to Disneyland by yourself?" in a tone that said, "Who does that?" Truthfully, I never imagined I'd visit a theme park solo, but spending the day at Disney was something I wanted to do for my birthday. So I did it! I understand taking on a theme park alone might seem like an unrealistic thing to do. Asking strangers to take pictures of me, chatting with fellow Disney-lovers waiting in the ride lines, and getting around on my own was liberating. As an introvert, interacting with people I didn't know was a challenge, but the only way to grow is to get out of your comfort zone.
2. The Nostalgia 
I was a Disney kid. I saw every new movie release in theaters, had the commemorative VHSs, and went to Disney World every year. So when my sister surprised me with a ticket to Disneyland, I felt this child-like excitement rush over me. A few hours into my adventure, I was making my way across the park to Tomorrowland. I saw the crowds gather for the 4:30 afternoon parade. My initial reaction was to keep walking, but I stuck around to watch it. As the parade made its way down Main Street, I began to do a little two-step. Before I knew it, I was grinning from ear to ear and moving my body from side to side the same way I did as a kid. Watching the parade prompted so many funny memories, like the time a bird pooped on my dad's head while we watched the afternoon parade at Disney World nearly 22 years ago. I realized midway through my trip that I wasn't there for the rides. I was there to relive great memories and make new ones of my own.
3. Single-Ride Lines 
Before my trip, I did a little research. I saw that Disneyland offers single rider lines. The three attractions were Indiana Jones, Splash Mountain, and Matterhorn Bobsleds. I have a confession to make. I hate roller coasters and loud noise. I am the girl that spilled an entire cup of hot cocoa on my mom watching the live-action Indiana Jones attraction at Disney World. I have yet to live that down. My immediate reaction to the single ride options was "no way." But I challenged myself to at least ride one of them. I chose Indiana Jones because it looked like the least scary of the three. When I walked up to the line, I was handed a blue single rider ticket and told to walk up the exit. Once I made it to the line inside of the attraction, I along with seven other solo riders waited for 15 minutes before boarding the ride. While everyone else waited 40 minutes, I'd say that is a major perk.
4. The Food 
It's easy to get hungry at Disney with all of the walking and the smell of popcorn at every turn. When we'd take our family trips, my mom and I were the snack queens since we were both too scared to ride anything. The first thing I had was a pickle. I was told it was a must try by a fellow park guest while I rested in the shade in Toontown. There were two options: spicy and regular. I went for the spicy. Not only was the pickle delicious, but it was also a perfect treat to cool me down in the 96-degree weather.
Next up was Cafe Orleans. If you use the Disneyland app, you can make a reservation before arriving at the park. The average wait was an hour. Since I was dining solo, I got the text that my table was ready in 26 minutes. When I sat down, my waitress told me the cafe was known for it's Monti Cristo sandwich and pomme frites. She also mentioned the gumbo was one of her personal favorites. Having had authentic gumbo in New Orleans, my expectations weren't very high. I was wrong. The gumbo wasn't as spicy as I like it (I had hot sauce in my bag, don't judge me), but it was full of flavor that reminded me of New Orleans. The pomme frites were just as tasty, fried to perfection with a sauce that made them my favorite pick of the day.
5. Your Inner Child Will Shine Through 
I truly felt like a kid during my visit. When I arrived at the park and walked through Main Street USA, the first character I saw was Goofy. Goofy is in my top three favorite characters. I mean, have you seen Goof Troop or A Goofy Movie?! What's not to love? The adult in me kicked in. "I'm too old to take a photo with characters," I said to myself. Wrong! You're never too old to enjoy something you love, even if it's hanging out with your favorite childhood cartoon character.
6. Your Spirit Will Be Renewed 
When I walked out of Disneyland, I was exhausted. My feet ached and I was a sweaty mess. Even with all of the physical fatigue and heat-induced face highlight, I felt this overwhelming feeling of happiness. As I looked around, I saw people of all ages and nationalities enjoying time with their loved ones. I realized that one thing brought us together was our love for the magic of Disney. For one day, I put my work, worry, and adult-like mentality aside. Though I missed my family taking in this experience with me, I was able to recall memories visiting Disney I hadn't thought about in years. Visiting Disneyland marks one of the best birthday celebrations I've had thus far. It is certainly an experience I will always cherish and hope never to forget.
