18 "Secret" Spots to Find Peace and Quiet in the Disney Theme Parks
Sometimes you need a break, but not so long a break that you want to go all the way back to your resort. These are our favorite "hidden gems" places to rest your feet inside each of the Disney theme parks at Walt Disney World.
Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom makes efficient use of space and is the most popular of the four theme parks, so naturally, it's a bit harder to find a quiet spot. Nevertheless, there are a few places I would suggest:
1) Tomorrowland Transit Authority. It's like an attraction and a rest at the same time. It's rarely crowded, and will take you on a breezy journey through Tomorrowland while you rest your feet.
2) The end of the side street by the Crystal Arts shop on Main Street USA. There's no attractions down this side street, so no one goes there but there is sometimes some pretty flowers in pots and a bench or curb to sit on.
3) The top of the train station on Main Street USA, except before a parade or before evening fireworks. There are several benches up here and if it's not a few hours before a parade or fireworks, there is often very few other people up here.
EPCOT
EPCOT is a park full of wide open spaces, offering lots of interesting spots to have a rest. The bonus of EPCOT is that there are some places where you can find nearly total peace and quiet, and many of the resting places have the added benefit of drinks being available.
4) The seating behind the UK Beer Cart in World Showcase. This is a lovely area of tables and chairs right along World Showcase Lagoon and next to the Rose and Crown. This area is seldom busy, though it is roped off before and during Illuminations.
5) The English garden in the UK pavilion in World Showcase. Walk back into the UK pavilion and you will find a lovely garden with benches on either side. It is often very quiet back here and is a great place to sit and enjoy the scenery.
6) The way way back of the Morocco pavilion in World Showcase. The Morocco pavilion doesn't get the credit it should for being so amazing. This is one place where it feels like you can walk way back right into the middle of a courtyard, complete with fountain. Hardly anyone gets this far back into the pavilion and the peace and quiet that can be found here is unparalleled in EPCOT.
7) Choza de Margarita in the Mexico pavilion at World Showcase. This margarita kiosk is near the World Showcase lagoon and is the perfect spot to grab an icy cold adult beverage and relax for a little bit.
8) The zen garden in the Japan pavilion at World Showcase. There isn't a ton of seating back here, but it's so zen that it makes the list. The Japan pavilion is one of the more popular pavilions so don't expect to get entirely away from people, but the scenery earns this its place for a little zen break.
9) The courtyard of the Journey Into Imagination pavilion. Not many areas of Futureworld make this list because of lack of benches, lack of adult refreshments, or lack of scenery, but this area is all but a ghost town. The Imagination pavilion is still open, but it isn't the attraction it once was, and the courtyard by the dancing fountains is often fairly sparsely filled with people. There are some benches and of course the edge of the fountain to sit and rest your feet.
10) Spaceship Earth. This ride is long, dark, and cool. If the line isn't too long and your feet are tired, this is a nice rest.
Disney Hollywood Studios
This park is smaller in real estate than the other parks at this time (at least until Star Wars Galaxy's Edge opens), so uncrowded real estate can be somewhat hard to come by. Fortunately, this park is also home to the most stage shows and seeing these are a great way to rest for a good 30 minutes or so.
11) Voyage of the Little Mermaid stage show. This particular show is rare for a stage show because it's air conditioned! With a run time of 17 minutes, it's longer than your regulation break at work.
12) Beauty and the Beast Live Onstage. This production is a bit longer than the Little Mermaid and is outside (but under a canopy with fans). The length, however, makes it a good place to rest, coming in at a nice 25 minutes.
13) Any bench along Echo Lake. This area is right in the center of the park, which makes it a great place for people watching, but it's also nicely picturesque and has several benches and covered tables for seating.
Disney's Animal Kingdom
This park is a true gem for finding secret hidey spots. The whole motive of the park is to make you stop, take a moment, and look around yourself, and so the park almost lends itself to a quieter moment. With the popularity of Pandora, though, parts of the park feel like, well, a zoo. Here's where you should go to get away from it all:
14) The seating area in the courtyard behind Tamu Tamu in Africa. This is just hidden enough that not many people go in here, but there is a little shaded courtyard with about eight tables where you can rest while you enjoy your Dole whip.
15) Dawa bar in Africa. Dawa bar is an open air, but covered, bar. It can get noisy with wonderful live African music, but the music is good and the adult beverages are even better, making this a wonderful place to spend an hour. Or two.
16) The seating area behind Flame Tree Barbecue. This quick service restaurant has the most beautiful seating area of all the quick service restaurants, in my opinion. A wooded terraced area with plenty of tables in little "pods" of seating is bounded to one side by the wide part of the Discovery River. Dine here and you might make some bird friends as well.
17) The path between Asia and the Theater in the Wild. I wouldn't go out of your way to find this path as it is indeed out of your way, but if you are the Everest area of Asia, or are coming that direction from Dinoland, this is a pretty quiet section of park. Until a few hours before Rivers of Light, the seating area that is used for the show is also open and is a nice place to sit and look over the water.
18) The path between Africa and Pandora. Most guests don't take this route between these popular sections of the park and there have been times when I've felt like I'm the only person on this path. Benches might be sparse, but it's quiet. Bonus points if you walk it during the night because as you enter the woods near Pandora, the sounds and sights may surprise you.
That's it. My secrets. My favorite most beloved places to rest where I can get away a little bit from the hectic pace of the theme parks. Use this knowledge only for good, not evil.
Do you have a "secret" place you like to find respite in the parks? It's your turn to share in the comments below or on our Facebook page. And if you like this blog, share the link with a friend. See you next time!
