If I have a flight that arrives at a destination in the middle of night, instead of booking into a hotel really late I've just been taking a snooze in the ticketed passenger area.

This totally depends on your destination, not all airports are comfy for a nap. But I've yet to be kicked out figure I could quickly book a cheap flight if I really got threatened. It obviously has 24/7 security and is much safer than other options.

You almost get 2 years right now for the price of 299$

I would honestly just own it as an insurance policy if you travel a lot in the USA. And I’ve already checked my account, the pass is active.

Insane deal.

I am looking into buying the GoWild Frontier pass for this upcoming year (2025-2026). I am trying to avoid driving in wintery conditions next year.

A few questions for this group:

1. Does this pass allow you to book free flights or just discounted flights?

2. How much does baggage and fees end up costing people? For example, if my ticket is free but my bags and fees cost $200 I’m not sure if it’s worth it for me.

3. This year they came out with booking in advance. How often are these flights available in advance?

4. Overall, do people recommend this pass or does it make more sense to buy flights individually?

I appreciate any answers and extra advice on the annual pass! Thanks in advance.

EDIT: Thank you all for the amazing help and advice!

Landed in Denver from Los Angeles at 4am and flew out at 10:30pm, nonstop flights in both direction.

Rented a car for $45 and drove to Red Rock Amphitheater for the sunrise. With my neck pillow and portable sleeping bag liner that I brought, I was able to take a pretty comfortable nap in the car.

After my nap, I used my ClassPass credits at ROK Spa where I was able to relax and wash up for the day.

Street parking around the stadium was free since it was Sunday and my game ticket was $4 at the ticket window 2 hours before the game.

I had a few hours after the game before my flight, so I drove to Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs for the sunset, and then leisurely enjoyed dinner before heading back.

Really great first use for my pass, and happy to answer any questions.

GitHub repo

Hi fellow travelers and programmers!

I created a pretty basic web scraping program specifically for the GoWild flights since no other flight searching site accounts for the pass.

It takes your origin airport as input and will tell you every flight available with the GoWild pass at the moment.

This is my first web scraping program so it’s a little clunky. I want to make this public though for anyone else to utilize and contribute to!

I got tired of manually searching every destination to see if the GoWild price is available. This has been great for spontaneous trips, looking to get anywhere. It’s helped foster the reasons I got the pass in the first place.

For other developers on here, I welcome any further contributions!

Let’s make full use of these passes :)))

Hi,

I know I found this on a sub here, but couldn’t seem to find it when trying to forward it to a friend, so I just thought to post it if someone else was looking.

This bag on Amazon fits into the personal item sizer like a glove, and has spinner wheels, without having to remove the wheels like some options.

*bonus of some stranger’s feet if that’s your yum I’m not yucking.

I honestly don’t get what half the complaints here are about. You paid $599 (or hell, $299 if you snagged it on sale) and you literally got 12 months of travel. That’s insane.

Is it perfect? No. Sometimes you don’t get the exact flight you want. Sometimes you’ll have to be flexible. But let’s be real: this isn’t some premium pass with status perks or first-class upgrades. It’s a tool. It gets you on planes for dirt cheap.

Do the conservative math: take 10 roundtrips in a year and you’re effectively paying $30 each, before taxes (which you’d pay anyway). Thirty bucks for a roundtrip. That’s cheaper than a tank of gas.

So yeah, maybe you don’t get exactly what you want every single time. Welcome to budget travel. But the ROI here is off the charts. The pass does exactly what it promises… cheap access to flights. If you’re even half-flexible and actually use it, this thing isn’t just a good deal, it’s one of the best travel hacks on the market.

I originally bought this pass cause like many people here I wanted to travel more and I am decently flexible with travel. I work remotely and I have no kids so I thought this would be good. My girlfriend and I planned to go to colorado from cleveland this upcoming weekend and we thought it would be good since we are not near any blackout dates nor any big events/travel dates. From what I can tell this is just a normal weekend. When I went to book though, every single flight from cleveland to denver showed that it was unavailable. I was on the site at 12:01am, then later at 1:01am, and I even check again this morning and nothing has really changed. We wanted to leave on thursday with the first direct flight, but I literally can't get anything that will get us there in under 24 hours. Am I doing something wrong here or has anyone else experienced this where everything will just go blank when 12:01am rolls around?

Is there any shot that they release any freed up seats to go wild members? I can see there are still seats left on the flight but I highly doubt they will make those available at any point. Not sure what I missed here, although I suspect that this early booking bs is cutting into the number of seats for people who are actually trying to use this pass as intended. If anyone has any ideas on how I may be misusing this pass or something I am doing wrong I am all ears, although I feel that this pass seems to be less worth it now that they are offering fewer seats and selling more passes

EDIT: The go wild section at the top says $31 because there was one flight available that was almost 36 hours with flight time, so that really wouldn't work out for anyone other than someone who is stranded I feel like

Got the GoWild pass a couple weeks ago and had a break off from work. Decided to go Backpacking through the United States. It was so great, 4 cities in 5 days. This pass is so worth it and I can't wait for more adventures!

I’m mostly joking but I had to pay full price for both these flights ☹️ I’ve used GoWild on maybe 12 flights this year and have plans for many more 🤞

My home airport is Jack F. Paulus Skiway, which is basically an airstrip next to the facility. I typically fly in on ski-equipped LC-130 aircraft operated by the military, but for $299 the go wild pass is pretty tempting.

Also I heard Frontier can be a little lean on baggage. When I fly in I usually bring several thousand pounds of food and supplies, particularly in the lead up to the winter months. Do you think maybe I should spring for gold status or something for the extra bags?

Btw my schedule is extremely rigid since I have both scientific research duties in addition to regular station maintenance. Does the pass include guaranteed return tickets?

Anyway, does anyone here know if Frontier has a lot of routes going here and if the pass would be worth it to somebody in my situation?

Flying to NYC today to watch game 3 of the NBA finals locally rather than at home. Have little to no plan, hoping to find things to do to last me til my flight the next day lol. Wish me luck, GO KNICKS 🗣️

Just wanted to show you guys how much I have used my pass since May 1. I have the $600/year promo. This pass is beyond valuable for me.

Hi, I'm making this list for myself because the number one cost for me traveling outside of flights is by far hotels. I don't mind taking public transit or eating a granola bar but we all need some place to catch some zzz's at the end of the day. In order to make this list the hostel has to have at least a 4.0 review rating on Google Maps as well as loosely under 35$ with taxes and fees. Why did I pick that price point? Because besides being cheap, I want to avoid competing with budget hotels which provide privacy and more amenities. I can't vouch for each of these hostels this is just to give you an idea of how to make your Go Wild Pass go further. I have stayed in many domestically and internationally with little to no regrets. It's a good idea to keep enough cash on hand to that you can switch to a proper hotel if the hostel just isn't working out for you.

Domestic Destinations including Puerto Rico

1. India House New Orleans (student ID required)~$18

2. Bungalows Hostel Las Vegas ~$25

3. The Rumi Los Angeles ~ $27

4. Madame Isabelle's House New Orleans ~ $28

5. Generator Miami ~$30

6. Freehand Miami ~$30

7. Hi Hostel New Orleans - $31

8. Hi Hostel San Francisco ~ $31

9. Auberge New Orleans Party Hostel ~ $32

10. Hi Chicago ~ $33

11. Viajero Miami - ~$34

12. Wild Wild West Backpackers Hostel Dallas ~$35

13. Apple Hostel Philadelphia ~$35

14. Contruce Hostel San Juan ~$36

15. Hi Hostel San Diego ~$36

16. Wanderstay Houston ~ $38

Honorable mentions that didn't make the cut:

Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washinton DC and Chicago had lots of options around $40. Denver, Detroit, Seattle, and Portland are $40-50. California seems to have to most hostels.

https://www.hiusa.org/find-hostels https://www.bposhtels.com/

New York and Boston (although some intriguing options in Cape Cod and Providence) are quite expensive which in my opinion makes hostels not worth it.

International Destinations

1. Lots of options in Cancun Mexico

2. Lots of options in Guatemala City and Antigua

3. Lots of options in Puerto Vallarta Mexico

4. Lots of options in San Jose Costa Rica

5. Island Life Hostel Santo Domingo Dominican Republic ~$15

6. Mayan Monkey Cabo San Lucas Mexico ~$21

7. Mobay Kotch Montegro Bay Jamaica ~$25

8. Ecohostal Puta Cana Domican Republic ~$26

9. Hostal Juan Lindo San Pedro Sula, Honduras ~$33

Honorable mentions that didn't make the cut:

Aruba

Hostel Culture

For people new to hostels a few things to note. Hostel culture seems to be more prevalent in other countries, which means a lot of people in hostels are often foreigners. It's more common for young people in their early 20's but at every hostel I've been at there have people much people older than that. Most hostels have a locker in the room for a carry-on bag and its expected that you bring your own lock. I never use the kitchen but there's often times one available. Showers almost always communal. Safety is a big concern for first timers but for whatever reason people that stay at hostels are usually not the type of people to mess with you. Staff is often times present 24 hours a day and I feel safer at a hostel than a seedy budget hotel. It's more likely your roommates will be too loud than that they will steal your stuff. Another common rule is that hostels don't allow locals to stay and require an out of state ID to prevent people using the hostel for housing - some even requiring a foreign passport.

https://www.hostelworld.com/

The big winners:

Mexico and Central America provides an incredible value at every Frontier destination. In the Caribbean, Dominican Republic seems like a great option. Domestically New Orleans, Miami, and Las Vegas are very inexpensive with several options.

Hey Everyone,

I've been using my pass for the past 2 years to visit as many National Parks as possible. I finally condensed all of my random Notes and Files into a comprhensive post of all of the possible National Parks you can visit (within about 5 hours of an aiport) with the GoWild Pass.

I also linked my excel sheet I made with them all to it. Sadly, Kalispell isn't offering Frontier this year so no Glacier but I wanted to share it here and in the Facebook Group which I already did for those that might find it useful since I did the work already, ahaha.

Also if you see anything I can change or any updates let me know. I realize some routes may have changed since I took them!

https://www.granolagirlcollective.com/post/frontier-gowild-pass-national-parks

Like so many, I purchased a pass for the first time during the sale a few weeks ago and then matched to gold status for my daughter and I. I was skeptical of the actual value though based on what I have read.

Earlier this week, her travel plans changed and she needed a last minute flight home from college. The flight times were less than ideal, but $15 put her on a direct flight. She’s never flown Frontier before and describe the flight as “perfectly fine for what it was.” 😀

I am already ahead with the cost of that one flight. Yay!

So I went into work on Saturday because I was bored. A few hours later I thought to myself, I've got nothing to do tomorrow, let me complete Travel Challenge #1.

So I booked a flight for later that day, no bags, no preparation. Orlando had the most available flights and an early morning return that would get me back for work on Monday. I told a couple of people in my office if my plans and they thought I was semi-nuts. But they are also semi-nuts because they also voluntarily went into work on a Saturday and I have already convinced them to buy the pass. I'm showing them how to maximize its value.

I could only bring what would fit into my pockets. So I grabbed my wallet, phone, and charger which I always have on me. My gym bag was in the office so I grabbed one pair of extra underwear in case of emergency.

I just barely made it to the airport as I underestimated how long it takes on the subway. But I wasn't worried because it's only $15 dollars on the line. I breezed through security as I have Global Entry/TSA PreCheck and r/ZeroBags

Usually, I travel with a backpack. So I felt naked with r/ZeroBags

I also had zero plans up on arrival which landed after midnight.

I followed the suggestion of u/Htown_Flyer to use Wyndham as they are offering a promotion this month. Unfortunately, even at $130 it was the nastiest hotel I've ever encountered.

There was a cockroach on the door 🪳 So I asked for another room. The manager said, "This is Florida. What do you expect?" Luckily, he gave me another room with no argument. The new room has a puddle of water 💦 on the floor as the mini fridge was leaking. At this time it was 1:30 am and I didn't have the energy to complain further.

I slept with my clothes on fully expecting to be bitten by bedbugs. Luckily, there were none. But lesson learned, sleep in the airport if attempting the challenge. That $130 was a total waste of money.

I decided to visit Disney Hollywood Studios as I had worked there during r/DisneyCollegeProgram and none of my family and friends want to visit that park during subsequent visits. So I hadn't been there in decades. Also, I hear they are going to remove MuppetVision 3-D and going to remove all Aerosmith references in the Rockin' Roller Coaster. So I wanted to check them out one last time.

There definitely were changes, for better and for worse. No Backlot Tour, no Great Movie Ride. But the new Star Wars land is a great addition and what I hit up first as they were new to me.

One peek of traveling solo to the parks is you can breeze through queues if they have a Single Rider Line.

I was a bit upset because Rockin' Roller Coaster was down all day for repairs.

I hit up a few places then had lunch at 50’s Prime Time Café where the waitress pretends to be your mom in the 1950s and they serve home style meals like meatloaf, roast, avd fried chicken. I got the sampler of all three. I told her I only want breast meat. She says, "Watch your language! There are children here. We say white meat here. Geez."

I headed to the centerpiece attraction that I had worked at in college, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. I have such find memories of that attraction and goofing off there with coworkers.

I told one of the cast members that I used to work there and he gave me a little tour in the pre-show area where they don't allow guests and had me sign an alumni guestbook!

I spent the rest of the day visiting other attractions at the park including Fantasmic. As I was walking out, I saw that they finally opened Rockin' Roller Coaster and there was just enough time before the park closed. So I was able to say goodbye to Aerosmith.

As the park was closing at 9:30 pm and the cast members were shuffling everyone out the park, I wondered where I was going to sleep because I didn't want to experience that hotel again and my flight was at 5:30 am, so I knew I would not get much value at any hotel.

So I researched a bar near the airport that stays open until 2 AM. I went there and met up with a coworker who lives in Florida. And the Taco Bell next door also stays open until 2 am and the bar allowed outside food. So cheap burritos and beer were enjoyed by all until closing time.

I made it to the airport and went directly into work. My coworkers who I had seen earlier didn't think I would accomplish the mission and that I worked either spend another day on Florida or take the day off from exhaustion. Nope.

Update: I just gave all out. Sorry about that. The museum has monthly free days though. Definitely check that out.

I bought a Denver Art Museum membership and it came with 10 guest day passes. I am giving these out for FREE. You need to let me know your date of visit and an email, so I can order the ticket for you online. It's a good place to go if you have long layovers in DEN. (who doesn't, haha) First come first serve.

I am new to Reddit and I need Karma!!! Please upvote this post if you like free stuff :) Thanks in advance!

My wife and I got the pass as soon as it became available a few years ago and have the flexibility (and resources) to make it work for us. This weekend's trip was to see our hometown team, the Cincinnati Reds, lose to the Athletics in Sacramento—though we had hoped for a win.

I was able to get flights to SMF the day before for $16 each. The issue was that we didn't really want to take the next return flight, which would have been on Sunday, so we opted for an Amtrak/BART ride to SFO on Saturday. Before we left for our Friday flight, I was able to snag the return from SFO for $16 each as well. That was the only way we were going, if we had that return trip booked.

Upon arriving, we headed straight to the Amtrak station and discussed with the ticketing agent the best way to get to the airport the following morning, then booked our tickets. No wild night out for us, as our train would be leaving at five minutes to 7 AM. The good news was that our hotel was a very short walk away. We took our bag to the hotel and checked it with the clerk since our room wasn't ready, then headed out to explore Old Town Sacramento.

We went to the Railroad Museum, walked to the Capitol building, and explored the shops of Old Town all afternoon. We returned to the hotel, had a quick rinse, and went out for dinner and a pregame beer at Drake's Barn. A great band was playing there, the beer was refreshing, and the IPAs didn't taste like you were eating a grass field. With 30 minutes before the game, we headed over and watched the Reds have a phenomenal game defensively but couldn't put anything together offensively. Three solo home runs by the A's did them in. We returned to the hotel and fell asleep exhausted.

Up at 6, out by 6:15, and on the train 20 minutes before departure as requested by Amtrak. The train/subway trip cost us close to $80, which we laughed at since our roundtrip flight was a mere $64. We hit a delay coming into the Bay Area where the lift bridge was up for a boat, which made us miss the BART train we had hoped to catch. The train we eventually got arrived just 5 minutes after boarding had started! So we acted like we were in our early twenties (we're both in our mid-forties) and took off running through SFO. We made it just as Zone 1 had finished boarding and took our seats for the 2-hour flight home to Denver. I always forget the best deal on the flight is the coffee—yes, I've read the studies on how bad airline coffee is, and I don't care. At $3.99 for unlimited refills, it's a steal.

Another memorable trip. Quick tally of costs:

*Airfare:$64
*Brunch Friday:$0 (Capital One Lounge access)
*Uber:$25 (airport to downtown)
*Hotel:$225 (we could have gotten much cheaper)
*Amtrak/BART:$82
*Railroad Museum: $0 (reciprocity)
*Dinner: $55 (2 burgers and fries, 3 beers + tip)
*Ballgame: $40
*Ballgame sodas: $28 (2 souvenir cups and a few refills)
*Coffees and Dole Whip: $20
*Denver airport parking:$40

*Total:$579

Hi everybody, just thought about putting this guide on here because I solo travel a lot and Im a budget traveler. One beautiful place to go is South Beach in Miami, I just got back from there this weekend solo traveling using my Go Wild Pass and had such a fun time, oh my God, so many laughs, so much fun! And Frontier travels to both Fort Lauderdale and Miami where its easy to get to South Beach, arguably one of the most famous public beaches in the US. So Im going to give you a couple tips since I love going to the beach there and I hate spending lots of money.

First getting there. DO NOT TAKE A CAB or an Uber from the airports you will blow all your money right away. If you land in Fort Lauderdale the most important thing you need to do is get out of Fort Lauderdale. Ha, thats just a joke, sorry if you are from there but you are so close to paradise keep going south. You need to get down to Miami but its super easy, you are looking for the TriRail. This rail will take you straight from FLL Airport to MIA, its just downstairs from the FLL airport. Don't be afraid to ask the workers, there is a booth there that says information and its their job to help you. There is a new train called the Brightline train that does the same thing but its a bit more expensive and the Tri Rail works great, in no time you will arrive at the Miami airport. Go downstairs from there out of the airport to the bus downstairs, you are looking for the 150 bus, its directly below. That bus is $2 and it will take you right to South Beach. I like to travel with just a backpack that fits into the Frontier Airlines cubby so I travel light.

Once you are in South Beach the Citi Bikes are your friend. If you can find an eBike those are your favorite but if not, any bike will do from the rental stand. I'll get one for most of the time I am there but you can return and rent again if there isn't a good place to lock it up.

Okay, where to stay. Hotels in South Beach are very expensive. I mean very. You can use hotel tonight or Hotwire to look for a good deal but what I like to do is get a private room at a hostel. If you have never stayed at a hostel before its a pretty fun place to hang out. I like the Bikini Hostel because the prices are low and its so close to South Beach. But there are other good hostels around, look for one you like and try to spend some of your time in the dorms and some in a private room. From Bikini hostel South Beach if you are riding a bike is only 10 minutes away. Also its always a party there, such a great hangout.

When you look for hostels you are looking for safe first of all, needs to have multiple safety features like doors that always stay locked, guards, lockers, etc. Bikini Hostel has all those. And secondly I look for a good vibe, definitely has that and third is AC, you need a hostel with strong AC in Miami. I've found the dorms are warmer and the private rooms you can crank your own AC as cold as you want.

Here are some pictures of the dorms vs. the private room If Im staying more than a few nights like I've been doing with the Go Wild pass I'll stay the first night in the dorms. Its only $22 a night and if its your first night you are going to be tired anyway, might as well crash out and not blow your money the first night. You need good earplugs because some people snore so I have these

The rest of the nights I like to get the private room, its only around $50 a night and I really like those rooms. I feel so wasteful when I stay in a big hotel room with closets and TVs and shit, I don't need any of that. I prefer no TV, Im not in Miami to watch television, Im there for the weather and the beach. Im not sure why mine had two beds this time but it was very comfortable and the AC was cranking in this one. You always want to crank the AC right away and get the room down into the 60s in a hostel, that way if it stops working later you will still be comfortable.

Ok food, this is another way people blow all their money on trips. I don't have money to blow on food, the less I spend the more I can spend using my Go Wild Pass the next weekend. Publix is your friend in South Beach. Its a regional grocery store in Florida oh my God, their fried chicken is so fuckin good, I don't even know how they do it. 5th and Alton is the closest Publix to the hostel and the best, they have discount beer, chicken, sweet tea, all you need. Stock up and label your food and put it in the hostel fridge. I spent $44 which is a bit more than normal but I knew it was going to be a God damn party that night, I could feel it so I wanted to bring fried chicken and sweet tea and beer to share, thats the best way to meet people at hostels, share your stuff with everyone that walks into the room. Im kind of the defacto party planner at places like this so I am the DJ (at the beginning, as soon as a group gets in its fun to take requests, theres always someone who wants to play weird German music and that makes it fun, everyone singing along to 99 Luftballoons!) but Im the guy that introduces everyone and passes out shots and I get the vibe right. If your hostel doesn't have a guy like that, BE THAT GUY! Share your shit, make people laugh, do a card trick, get the chess games going. Here is what I spent my money on: https://i.imgur.com/ngUjfvq.jpg and here is what I got: https://i.imgur.com/FW5bNZh.jpg Its all stuff to share with my new friends, I'll get to that next.

Okay entertainment, this is another way people lose their money. What you want to do is befriend people at the hostel, you don't want to go to clubs, they are ridiculous in Miami. You will meet the best people in the world at hostels. Remember, people want to meet other people, if there isn't a community vibe at a hostel, you be that person! Get the music going, pass out beers to people, share your fried chicken! I buy way more beer than I could ever drink when I go to a hostel. Then I put out a chess set, start playing music and as soon as someone walks in I hand them a beer or sweet tea and before long everyone comes up to see whats going on. So many unbelievable nights at this hostel doing just that, vibing, dancing on the balcony, playing chess, sharing fried chicken. Usually the night ends with a trip to the beach and beers on the beach, so fuckin fun. On this night I made a second run to Publix and got a whole other box of chicken, a bucket of fireball and a bottle of Tequila so we had a wild night and ended up a big group of us walking to the beach. It was a full moon too so we cranked the music up and had a party on the beach under the moon and ended up all swimming together in the warm night air under the full moon right on South Beach. Wild times!

For the first time this time we went there the next morning and had mimosas on the beach and watched the famous South Beach sunrise. None of these are people I had every met before. People from Germany, Argentina, Italy, the US and Turkey all having a laugh and a wild time staying on South Beach for next to no money at all and a flight that was free (Thank you Go Wild Pass!) We all have been exchanging pictures on WhatsApp and its been so fun, I go to Germany in the Fall and the lady from there said she is going to help me drive 200 miles per hour on the Autobahn, I'll probably be friends with some of these people for a long time after this. All on a shoestring budget (Well it would have been, I went a little crazy with the extra chicken and fireball and tequila but I could have done this whole trip for less than $200 easily!) and all traveling solo. Hope you guys are having a fun time using your Go Wild Passes and hopefully this helps. Remember your traveling isn't predicated on anyone else, its up to you! You don't need other people to go with you or lots of money or gear or anything else, you got a Go Wild Pass now get out there and travel and and see the world and have some laughs and explore and make your own adventures!

I'm not a beach person, but Miami actually has quite a bit to offer. Easy subway connection to downtown from the airport. Took a wildlife tour to Raccoon Island to see loads of racoons. Not bad for a $16 flight.

tl;dr https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOURQLbDZiF/?igsh=MWxhNWgxYW5vaGJ3cA==

Last month, I did an out-and-back to Colorado Springs (IND to DEN and back). This month was a quick solo overnight to Orlando. I’m 47, single, and an empty nester. These quick solo trips are becoming a fun way to reset without overcommitting time or money.

PLANNING

This one came together fast.

• Thursday at 12:01 AM, I booked a one-way flight from IND to MCO for Friday evening.

• Friday at 12:01 AM, I booked the return leg, reserved a hotel, and debated whether to rent a car. I decided against it.

More on that below.

PACKING

I packed light with my Osprey Daylight 35L, which fits Frontier’s personal item size if it’s not overstuffed. The first seven items are always kept in my travel backpack:

• GoRumpl blanket (packs down small and doubles as a travel wrap or beach blanket)

• Blackout eye mask

• TRTL neck pillow

• AirPods

• Anker power bank and spare charging cables

• Pill organizer

• Nylon hanging toiletry bag with duplicate travel-sized items

• One pair of sneakers

• Bathing suit

• Two tank tops and one skirt

• Travel outfit (long pants and a zip-up jacket)

• Baseball cap

• Underwear and socks

FRIDAY - DEPARTURE

After work, I sped to the airport but got stuck in downtown traffic. I had planned to park in the economy lot to save money but ran out of time and had to park in the covered garage instead. 
Parked at 5:36pm 
Breezed through TSA PreCheck.

At the gate, agents were asking travelers to measure their bags. One woman had wheeled luggage that was just over the limit. As the agent got distracted, she slipped through and boarded anyway. If you fly Frontier, you probably already know that most of the plane gets called for Zone 1. Since I always plan to put my bag under the seat, I prefer to be among the last to board. It helps avoid the crowd and stress.

Boarded at 5:53pm, landed at MCO at 8:26pm.

After landing, I walked to the rideshare pick-up area and saw Lyft was cheaper than Uber. I took a Lyft to Disney Springs for $35.90.

HOTEL

I stayed at Holiday Inn, booked through Expedia using $41.23 in OneKeyCash. After taxes and the resort fee, the total came to $109. They do charge a $39 resort fee at check-in, which I think is unnecessary. I asked if they could waive it since I was leaving early the next morning, but they said no.

After checking in, I walked toward Disney Springs (9:23pm). It was a 10-minute walk along a well-lit and safe sidewalk. The path is heavily trafficked with tourists and families, which makes it feel even safer, especially when traveling solo.

EVENING AT DISNEY SPRINGS

First stop was dinner at Polite Pig. I love brisket, and theirs is top-tier. I had a full meal with a drink and spent some time people-watching. Live music was playing throughout the area, and I had even come across a salsa dancing concert that had drawn a crowd.

After dinner, I walked over to Gideon’s Bakehouse. The line was about 20 minutes, which is reasonable compared to the hour I waited last time. The cookies were for my 20-year-old son, currently in college. They’re expensive, but worth it.

These trips are as much for me as they are for him.

It was about 11pm when I decided to head back to the hotel. The crowds were starting to shift more toward adults and away from families. After a shower, I went straight to bed.

SATURDAY

I woke up early and realized I had used the last of my travel toothpaste the night before. The hotel had a pharmacy vending machine, so I bought a replacement tube for $6.99.

I had some complimentary coffee in the lobby, checked out the pool, and noticed it was already open. I went back to my room, changed, and spent the next two hours by the pool. It was quiet and relaxing. A few families were out early, and I watched some dads playing in the water with their kids while I read and enjoyed the morning sun.

By 10:15, I went back to the room to change, pack up, and check out.

I walked back to Disney Springs and went straight to Homecomin. It’s usually busy, but bar seating is open and easy. I had a morning cocktail and breakfast while enjoying the conversations around me and watching the world go by. The bill came to $46.80.

After brunch, I walked through some of my favorite stores like Sephora, Free People, Anthropologie. I took photos of some outfits I liked, but since I fly Frontier and avoid baggage fees, everything stayed on the rack.

My final stop was Amorette’s Patisserie for a Bailey’s iced coffee and a creme brulee ($23.40). I sat outside, relaxed, and enjoyed the last moments of a sunny Florida day.

At 12:55 PM, I called a Lyft and was through security at MCO by 1:25. TSA PreCheck was fast, and I had plenty of time before boarding.

EXPENSE SUMMARY

• Flights: $30.62

• IND Parking: $23.00

• Hotel: $109.00

• Uber to DS: $35.99

• Uber from DS: $29.87

• Polite Pig: $34.86

• Gideon’s: $19.70

• Homecoming’ $46.81

• Unplanned/Toothpaste: $6.99

• Unplanned/Amorette’s: $23.43

• Planned: $312.62

• Actual: $361.27

• Over Budget: $48.67

Was this trip necessary? No. 
Was it fun and totally worth it? Absolutely.

Traveling solo to a place like Disney Springs might sound unusual, but it’s actually perfect. It’s safe, there’s tons to do, and it’s designed for families, which makes solo travelers stand out less than in other tourist destinations.

I went, I ate good food, I got sun, and I brought back cookies for my kid. Not a bad 18 hours.

Starting today, it appears that Frontier has reverted back to not charging an early booking fee for overnight layovers (as it has done for the past 3 months, where the second leg was in 2 days).