I ​stayed at a Disney resort​ ​for ​a​ solo weekend getaway. I ate breakfast with Goofy, got a massage, and saw fireworks.

31.07.2023 - 11:45 / insider.com

I'm a 42-year-old mother of two, and one of my favorite places to go when I need some time alone is Walt Disney World Resort. I visit the park regularly with my husband and teenagers, but there's something special to me about strolling through EPCOT's World Showcase alone or renting a pool cabana at a Disney hotel and spending the day reading. Even if I'm not inside a Disney theme park, it brings me joy to know I'm hanging out on Mickey's turf.

Moms are no strangers to the idea that self-care is important, but sometimes we question how far we're allowed to go with it. A face mask seems fine, for example, but judgment starts to creep in when we consider taking a couple of hours — or days — to ourselves to lounge by a pool. Barbara Greenberg, a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in families and adolescents, says this shouldn't be the case for a few reasons.

Greenberg, who's been seeing kids and teenagers for over 30 years, says that when mothers don't take time for themselves, their children take note. "One thing that comes up with the children of exhausted and depressed mothers is that the idea of becoming an adult is very scary to them because it looks bad," she said. It may seem counterintuitive, but taking time for yourself to recharge and have fun shows your kids that adulthood isn't all work and no play.

"You're one of your child's most important role models," she said. "You've got to model that life is worth living. Disney — or any other activity, like going somewhere with friends — shows that all throughout life you can maintain a playful and joyous spirit."

If you're wondering what a mom at Disney should do all on her own, here's what I did during a recent two-night stay at the Four Seasons Resort on Disney World property.

When I checked in online before my visit, the Four Seasons allowed me to choose the type of bedding I preferred.

Since it was only me, I didn't have to think about anyone else's preferences. I chose a pillow mattress topper and microfiber pillows, and I slept like a baby — right in the center of the bed, surrounded by pillows — for two nights.

My hotel featured several works from the Disney fine artist Dom Corona, so I spent time walking through it and seeing his art.

Normally, my kids would've found this boring, but because I was alone, I had time to take in the colorful paintings and play with an Instagram filter that brought the characters to life.

One of my top ways to distract myself from the crowds and heat of Disney World is to listen to an audiobook through my AirPods as I walk around. When you travel with a group, zoning out isn't possible, so I took full advantage of this on my solo trip.

Call me strange, but I love meeting Disney characters at the