• I've been visiting Disney World for over 10 years, and I love going to the parks alone.
• Visiting solo allows me to get amazing dining reservations, meet rare characters, and more.
• I also find lots to do by myself at the hotels and shopping areas on the property.

My first visits to Disney World were long ago — before I moved from Maryland to Florida — and always with my family in tow.

When my husband, kids, and I relocated to Central Florida seven years ago, it was a no-brainer that we'd purchase annual passes. For years, we made memories in the theme parks, but, as my kids turned into teenagers, they weren't as interested in visiting anymore.

I decided to keep my own annual pass because I love visiting Disney alone. Even when my husband and kids held passes, I still loved nothing more than escaping alone for the day to visit a Disney park or shop at Disney Springs.

I visit alone even more now, and I love it. I'm 42 years old, and while I don't consider myself the stereotypical, over-enthusiastic "Disney adult," I do find Disney World to be a magical place full of pure fun, incredible food, and unique experiences.

Here are 13 things I always do when I'm visiting the parks alone.

Grab a coveted seat at a popular Disney World bar.

Whether it's grabbing a glass of red wine and some truffle fries at Enchanted Rose Lounge in Disney's Grand Floridian Resort or sipping craft cocktails in Dahlia Lounge on the rooftop of Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, my solo trips to Disney World have taught me to appreciate the ability to snag a seat at the more popular bars on the property.

When you're a party of one, it's rare to find a bar you can't walk right up to and grab a seat at.

Take things slow and experience hidden gems.

When you visit a Disney park with a group — be it your family or your friends — the day can get hectic quickly.

When I visit a theme park alone, time seems to slow down, and I notice I'm in much less of a rush to make sure I fit everything in. This has allowed me to stop and take in my surroundings, finding hidden murals, statues, and other Disney touches scattered throughout the property.

One of my favorite finds is the beautiful Cinderella glass mosaics located in the walkway that runs through Cinderella Castle.

Wait for the best parade seating.

I love watching a Disney World parade. But my kids usually don't have the patience to arrive before they begin and sit for a bit to ensure we get the best possible view.

If I'm in a Disney park by myself near a parade start time, I'm free to choose a seat along the parade route and camp out for as long as I'd like. I almost always have a fantastic view of the action.

See the shows I actually want to see.

Visiting a Disney park with a group of people means navigating a lot of different opinions and agendas.

Often, I skip watching a show I really love because my kids are complaining or my friends made a conflicting dining reservation.

When I visit solo, I'm free to prioritize getting a great seat for the shows I love the most, from "Festival of the Lion King" to "Finding Nemo: The Big Blue … and Beyond."

Relax on a resort room balcony.

One of the most important things I like to do on a Disney trip is take a rest in the afternoon before heading back into the parks for the night.

I love nothing more than taking advantage of the beautiful hotel balconies at resorts like Disney's Yacht Club Resort and Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. I'll order a glass of wine or a snack from one of the resort restaurants and put my feet up while I enjoy a bit of fresh air and beautiful scenery.

Order snacks I don't have to share.

One of the ways my family has always saved money at Disney World is by sharing snacks throughout the day.

When I travel to the parks alone, there's no one there to ask for a bite of my cheeseburger spring rolls at Magic Kingdom or my Dole Whip at Epcot.

In fact, I try to save the really great snacks for my solo trips and share more basic treats, like Mickey pretzels and popcorn, with my family.

Take magical Disney photos.

Long ago, my preteens started complaining about waiting in line to have our photos taken in the various Disney World theme parks.

When I visit on my own, I always take a moment to have a Disney PhotoPass photographer snap pictures of me.

Moms rarely get photos of themselves alone. And at the parks, there are even magical touches the photographers can add that make it look like you're posing with characters like Tinkerbell or Figment, Epcot's beloved purple dragon.

Go for a quiet morning walk.

My kids tend to complain about tired feet pretty early on in a Disney day, but when I stay alone in a Disney resort, I always go on a walk around the hotel property in the morning.

Disney resorts have masterfully themed properties complete with gardens, plants, walkways, and other scenery, so it's a great way to explore while taking in some peace and quiet.

Explore a festival at Epcot.

Epcot holds multiple festivals each year, from the International Food and Wine Festival to the International Festival of the Arts.

These festivals bring limited-time food items, entertainment options, and more for the duration of the event.

Since the festivals can get crowded, a solo Disney trip is a perfect time for me to explore the event, taste foods from the menus that intrigue me most, and experience all of the entertainment the festival has to offer.

Stand in line to meet the characters.

Once my kids lost patience with waiting in line, meeting and taking photos with characters at Disney World became something I added to my must-do list when traveling alone.

I don't stop for a photo with every character I pass in the theme parks, but being by myself allows me to hop in line to meet more obscure characters (or my favorites) without having kids complain about how long it'll take.

Snag a walk-up dining reservation.

Disney restaurants like California Grill and Le Cellier Steakhouse serve some of the most luxurious meals on the property. But reservations fill up quickly.

As a solo traveler, I've had amazing luck getting seated as a walk-up guest by approaching the host stand and asking for a table or joining the walk-up list in the My Disney Experience app.

Many popular Disney World restaurants also have bar seating available, so I often try my hand at that and order my meal from there.

Sip some Starbucks.

On a hot day at a theme park, I love to order an iced Starbucks drink, walk around people-watching, and take in the sights.

If my feet are particularly tired, I'll even take my coffee or tea to a bench and sip it in the shade.

Starbucks at Disney for a family of four can get pricey — not to mention how long the lines are — so I save this splurge for when I'm traveling solo.

Take time to dine and shop at Disney Springs.

Disney Springs, the resort's retail and dining district, has incredible restaurants that serve up delicious food and drinks.

At Wine Bar George, I always know I can get an incredible wine recommendation and a fantastic meal to nosh on. And at Chef Art Smith's Homecomin', I can't resist grabbing some Southern-inspired cuisine and a to-go squeeze bottle of moonshine to sip on while I shop.

Traveling alone makes a seat at these sought-after restaurants easier to snag (ask to sit at the bar) and leaves lots of me-time for shopping at the stores I love the most.

I've also been known to take in a solo performance of Drawn to Life, a stunning show presented by Cirque du Soleil and Disney. Since tickets for the performance can get expensive, it's a great opportunity to check it out.

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