Finding Peace and Quiet at Walt Disney World

A Disney vacation is many things….but restful and relaxing is not one of them. If anything, it is pretty much the opposite: an almost non-stop whirlwind of walking, rides, eating, attractions, parades, eating, shows, activities and eating. It’s fun…but it’s exhausting too!

It’s no wonder that many Disney veterans advise taking a much-needed break from all of this, for some downtime back at your resort or hotel. But what if you can’t conveniently…or just don’t want to…..go back to your hotel every afternoon? What if you, or your children need/want to rest a bit at the parks?

The good news is, you still can. There are many places at Disney World where you or your little ones can relax, unwind a bit, and maybe even catch 40 winks, without facing a long bus or car ride back to your hotel. Some may be perfect for a nap, while others are simply a nice spot to just sit for a while. Whichever you need, here are a few of my peaceful “quiet spots”:

1. Hall of Presidents in Magic Kingdom. Admit it, you already thought of this. I know for many, this is the ultimate snooze location, whether you need one or not. 🙂  But all kidding aside, this is a great place to relax for 10-15 minutes: it’s dark, it’s relatively quiet, it’s cool when you need a break from the Florida sun and heat, and if you nod off for a few minutes, who will really notice?
2. Tom Sawyer Island in Magic Kingdom. This is a great place, because so few people actually take the time to go here! Perhaps not the perfect place in the middle of the summer, when you may want to go inside somewhere, but for most of the year, the quiet shady spots here are just what you need to rest and unwind for a while.
3. Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover in Magic Kingdom. This is also outside, so also may not be the perfect solution when it’s brutally hot, but this has the advantage of moving (meaning it has a breeze). The movement is also perfect for those who find that motion turns them into Rip Van Winkle in an instant. 🙂 Trust me: this one really works.
4. The American Adventure in Epcot. Cool in the summer, warm in the winter? Check. Dry when it’s raining? Check. Dark inside? Check. Fifteen minutes or so? Check. Comfy seats? Oh yeah.  This has all the prerequisites. Just do yourself a favor: Go here sometimes when you’re NOT tired too, because this is an amazing show that shouldn’t *always* be slept through….
5. The Impresssions de France movie in Epcot. See #1.
6. The Writer’s Stop in Hollywood Studios. Comfy seats in a quiet secluded part of the park on the Streets of America, make this one of my current new favorites. The only problem is the coffee and snacks….caffeine and sugar won’t necessarily help you snooze. But you can relax with a good book, and that’s a nice break too.
7. Many trails in Animal Kingdom like the Discovery Island and Pangani Forest Exploration Trail can provide a natural and quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of the parks. Find a shady bench and put your feet up for a bit, while you watch for wildlife….oh and the animals too. 🙂
8. The monorail is not exactly *in* the parks, but is right outside, and you have the added movement which can put folks right to sleep. While this won’t be effective necessarily at the busiest times of the day, or during peak/holiday seasons, when the crowds are lighter and it’s the middle of the afternoon…you may be privileged to get a car pretty much to yourself. And if not, it’s still nice to get off your feet and enjoy the view.
9. Boats are the favorite of many, for relaxing transportation, as well as potentially a place to catch 40 winks. Disney loves their boats: There are the Friendship boats that go around World Showcase, between Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and the resorts in that area, as well as the boats that travel between the Magic Kingdom and the surrounding resorts. Then there are the Ferry Boats that travel from Magic Kingdom to the Transportation and Ticket Center and back again. Fun yes…but relaxing too, and a very picturesque way to rest for a bit.
10. Resort hotel lobbies may be one of my favorite places to unwind for a bit. Yes, to visit you need to leave the parks, but the deluxe resorts that are near Magic Kingdom and Epcot/Hollywood Studios are right next door, and well worth making a visit. They are each unique, beautiful, and offer many lovely and quiet benches, cushy sofas, and comfy rocking chairs. Consider dinner at one of these resorts, and head on over an hour early to relax first…it’s the perfect start to a great evening.

So now, where are your special little places for you…or your little ones……to relax for a bit?  Please let us know in the comments….if you don’t mind sharing your secret spots. 🙂

Related articles

• Quiet Spots at Disney World: Where to go When You Need a Break (theaffordablemouse.com)
• Sharing the Magic at Walt Disney World (chipandco.com)

Let our friends at Destinations to Travel help you book your next Disney Vacation. They are the preferred Travel Agency of Chip and Company and Disney Addicts, and who we use ourselves.

Get started below for your FREE No Obligation Quote.

Book With our friends at Destinations to Travel

Who is your Travel Agent?(Required)

Let us pick for youEric HilesStacy ReedAbbey JohnsonAlisa SullivanAlli WillisAmanda FolsomAmanda VannAmber BrillhartAmber FisherAmy SieburnAndrea SmithAngela AndersonAngie BaycuraAnna PetrilliAnnabelle DuboseApril StefanskiAshley RamseyBeth ParsonsBetsy SantoroBrandie McQueenBrian BuckleyBridget HatchBryan SchwartzCandice SneedCarrie ButlerCarson DockumCasey BoltCharleen HortonChelsea RoyChelsea WuebkerChris BoyerChristie GrubeChristina FratturaChristina SmithCourtney WhiteCraig YoderDan MercedDanielle NorcrossDarby MouritsenDavid ForrestDeborah AlvaradoEmilee BiegelEmily MorrisFaith HakesGail HatchGreg MatzkerHelen HummerHolly CurryJackie CavistonJaclyn PepitoneJamie SwansonJeanine JordanJeff CallahanJenni MaierJennifer BrownJennifer StephensonJennifer StoessnerJessica HatfieldJessica HuffJessica WunderJoe GuertinJon CarpentierJoseph SliwaJulie McCombJustin BrownKat AttridgeKathryn EberhartKathy AndersonKatie HarrellKatie PrevotKayla CookKelsey SullensKim HelmsKimberly HutchinsonKristi GallagherKyle RamsdenLauren DewlenLeanne MonterLinda DurhamLindsay AckermannLindsey VromanLissette BritoLori HardyMallory MorrisonMandi QuinnMaranda PerkinsMarisa AlvaradoMegan TeismannMeghan BlairMelissa ReedMichele KlineMike BeyerMissy McCormickMisty DickersonNancy CasteelNicole ThorntonPatrick O'ConnorPaul SulPeyton Ward-KubikRaylene CooganRegan OstranderRobbie BulusRobert ThomasSara SolbergSarah McCandlishShanna BrowningShelley BennettShelly MetzStacy CristStacy KrzyminskiStacy SmithStephanie DraganoStephanie FerencStephanie WalshSusannah McCordTara SlusserTerri MillerTiffany DobraskiTiffany DrenkhahnTina FarmerTonya LesiukTracy DaneTroy DuncanVeronica RenteriaVicki FesslerWendy CarllWendy HauserWendy KellehanWendy Shelley

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)

Destination(Required)

Walt Disney WorldDisneyland ResortDisney Cruise LineAulani, A Disney Resort and SpaAulani, A Disney Resort and SpaUniversal FloridaUniversal HollywoodRoyal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian or other Cruise LineI don't know yet

# of Adults(Required)

# of Children(Required)

Check-in-Date(Required)

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Check-out-Date(Required)

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Comments, Questions or Special Requests

Email

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Δ

For the BEST in Disney, Universal, Dollywood, and SeaWorld Theme Park News, Entertainment, Merchandise & More follow us on, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. Don't forget to check out the Chip and Company Radio Network too!