Despite our love for Walt Disney World, it’s fair to say theme parks aren’t necessarily everyone’s cup of tea. Indeed, they can be downright stressful places if you aren’t caught up in the throes of the magic.
There are dozens of reasons you might find yourself visiting Walt Disney World despite being someone who just isn’t into the theme park experience. The most common scenario is the family vacation—you’ve agreed to go along with a Disney trip, but it certainly wasn’t your top choice for a relaxing getaway. Maybe you got invited along for an outing with friends or you just didn’t have much of a say in the matter. Likewise, maybe you started off excited about finally visiting the Most Magical Place on Earth, but the crowds, non-stop stimuli, and general clamor of the parks just wears you out.
The nice thing about Walt Disney World is that it really is designed to have something for everyone. If you know where to look, you can find hidden refuges throughout the Most Magical Place on Earth where you can enjoy an experience that doesn’t feel anything like the usual theme park noise.
Not feeling the usual theme park craziness? On your next Disney vacation, take some time to discover these unlikely gems…
1. Take a spa day
If there’s a place where a trip to the spa can prove a game-changer for a stressed out adult, it’s Walt Disney World. Fortunately, Disney has not just one but three different spas on-site for tired adults looking to unwind.
Senses Spa, run by Disney, has two locations—one at The Grand Floridian Resort near Magic Kingdom and another at Saratoga Springs Resort near Disney Springs. Currently, only the Grand Floridian location has reopened since the pandemic closures. Both spas are excellent, offering services including massages, facials, specialized treatments, hot tubs, steam rooms, and all-day access to relaxing facilities throughout the day of your visit.
The Mandara Spa at the Walt Disney World Dolphin near Epcot is another great option. Themed after a southeast Asian sanctuary, Mandara offers a more traditional adult spa experience with an impressive range of treatments and packages designed to encourage maximum serenity and relaxation. Because they aren’t owned by Disney, you may find more options for discounts through SpaFinder, Groupon, and credit card rewards than you would with Senses Spa.
The last option is the spa at the Four Seasons Orlando, located in Disney’s Golden Oak neighborhood. If you are looking for maximum luxury in a secluded location that feels worlds away from the parks, this is the place to go. You can expect to enjoy Four Seasons’ world class service, incredible treatments, and access to gorgeous facilities and grounds during your relaxation time.
2. Explore the serene corners of World Showcase
Epcot remains the ideal park for Disney guests who aren’t into the traditional theme park experience. Often considered Disney’s most adult park (though that isn’t entirely accurate), Epcot is home to some of Walt Disney World’s best shopping, restaurants, gardens, and festivals.
If you are looking to enjoy a less hectic time at Disney parks, one of the best places to explore is World Showcase—11 pavilions representing an idealized picture of countries from around the world. It remains one of the best places in Walt Disney World to take your time and free explore. While we enjoy the entirety of World Showcase, there are a few spots you definitely will want to linger at if you want to get away from the craziness of the park for a bit.
Our favorite refuges are Epcot’s gardens, located in the pavilions for Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan (up the stairs by Katsura Grill). These expertly curated havens are some of the best places in Walt Disney World to slow down and enjoy a little calm and beauty. The garden at the Canada pavilion is particularly vibrant, and we love the peaceful bonsai garden in Japan.
Some of the pavilions also offer quiet refuges tucked away from the normal bustle of the park. Our favorite is Morocco, a maze of tiled courtyards, marketplaces, and peaceful fountains. This is one of our favorite pavilions to just sit and take a breather. Another great place to explore is the mini-museums located throughout World Showcase, such as those in Norway and Japan.
3. Take a break in the quietest part of each park
If you’re visiting Walt Disney World with family, you will probably spend extended time in the parks. If you find yourself needing a break but unable to leave the parks entirely, it’s a good idea to know some of the best spots to regather your calm.
Epcot does have several options beyond World Showcase. While it does involve taking a short kids’ ride, the aquarium area of The Seas with Nemo and friends is an excellent place to slow down and watch the dolphins, fish, and manatees. Spaceship Earth is another excellent attraction if you’re looking to unwind for a few minutes. Throughout the parks, you will also find plenty of quiet refuges, such as locations along the World Showcase lagoon waterfront.
If Epcot is one of the easiest parks to find a quiet refuge, Magic Kingdom is definitely the trickiest. As Walt Disney World’s most attraction-packed park, it can initially feel impossible to find anywhere to get a break. Our favorite choice is taking a raft trip over to Tom Sawyer Island. While it may sound counter-intuitive, the island is home to a surprising number of quiet spots, including several porches with seating and rocking chairs. If Tom Sawyer Island is inaccessible due to closures, an alternative is to take a ride on the PeopleMover in Tomorrowland or to visit the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse in Adventureland if it isn’t too busy.
Similar to Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is another park that makes it surprisingly easy to slow down and take some peaceful time for yourself. The busiest places in the park all surround major attractions, so your best bet is to explore the park’s walking paths. The Discovery Island Trails offer a simple walking experience that isn’t usually packed with people. We particularly enjoy the Maharajah Jungle Trek and Gorilla Falls Trails in Asia and Africa. We especially love finding a seat in the aviaries and watching the birds. Alternatively, if you find yourself in the World of Pandora at night, you may be able to find a quiet corner to take a moment for yourself in an otherworldly setting.
Last, we have Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Your best bet is to visit Star Wars Launch Bay or Walt Disney Presents, a pair of museum-style attractions that offer limited seating in an air-conditioned space. Launch Bay offers more spaces for relaxation but sometimes has limited hours, while Walt Disney Presents is quieter but more compact. At nighttime, we have also found some surprisingly peaceful spots throughout Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
4. Have a meal at one of Disney’s more-adult restaurants
Theme park food is not the first thing most people think about when considering options for classy dining. Usually we picture fast food staples, greasy turkey legs, and bustling buffets. Fortunately, Walt Disney World resort is actually home to an impressive number of excellent restaurants—including quite a few themed specifically for guests looking for a more refined experience.
Inside the parks, our favorite choices are Tiffins at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (along with its outdoor porch, Nomad Lounge) as well as Spice Road Table, Tokyo Dining, and Tutto Italia at Epcot. If you can get seating specifically on the porch, The Rose and Crown Pub in the UK pavilion is quite a good choice, and many guests enjoy the candlelit atmosphere of La Hacienda de San Angel in the Mexico pavilion. The Brown Derby is a good steakhouse option at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Beyond the parks, you will find quite a few options throughout Disney’s resort hotels. A few favorites include The Contemporary Resort’s California Grill, Jiko at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, The Flying Fish at Disney’s Boardwalk, and pretty much everything at the Swan and Dolphin resorts (such as Kimonos and Il Mulino). Over at Disney Springs, you will find an even wider selection, with some of our favorites so far being Jaleo, The Boathouse, Terralina Italian Crafted Italian, and for seafood lovers, Paddlefish.
5. Stay (or take a stroll at) Disney’s classiest resorts
Just because you’re staying on Walt Disney World property doesn’t mean you have to stay at a resort with heavy-handed kids’ theming that feels like you’re stuck inside the parks. As a matter of fact, Disney offers several resorts that offer a perfect balance between family-friendliness and a classy atmosphere.
The sort of resort feels relaxing to you will vary from person to person. The Yacht and Beach Club offers the atmosphere of a quiet waterside retreat, as does Old Key West. Animal Kingdom Lodge blends the beauty of Africa with the relaxing presence of a menagerie of wildlife. Wilderness Lodge is more secluded than other Magic Kingdom resorts, offering a rustic atmosphere reminiscent of America’s national parks. The Bay Lake Tower Villas at the Contemporary Resort walk the line between preserving Disney themes while giving guests upscale rooms complete with full kitchens, massive walk-in showers, a soaking tub, and sharp decorations.
For those who want easy accessibility to the parks without staying at a Disney-owned resort, both the Swan and Dolphin are excellent choices. These two resorts are owned by Marriot and have a feel closer to luxury hotels you would find elsewhere in Orlando with access to a number of the same perks as Disney hotels. They also tend to offer excellent pricing compared to Disney with top quality accommodations.
Don’t get a say in what resort you’ll be at? You can still take the opportunity to get away from the parks and enjoy a stroll at one of the resorts mentioned above, exploring the grounds, restaurants, and lounges.
6. Visit The Four Seasons Orlando
In a similar vein, there’s one resort we’ve mentioned already that is well worth a visit if you’re looking for a break from the parks in a luxurious setting without leaving Walt Disney World.
The Four Seasons Orlando is unique as it isn’t owned by Disney (similar to the Swan and Dolphin) but is located in Disney’s exclusive Golden Oak neighborhood. Despite its gated location, you can easily visit The Four Seasons Orlando by planning to eat at one of the resort’s restaurants.
The pool bar, PB&G, offers a full menu of casual appetizers and entrees better than much of what you’ll find throughout Walt Disney World as a whole. Alternatively, Ravello offers both casual dining as well as a classy take on Disney’s character breakfasts (with elevated food options). Looking to enjoy an extra special date night? For an evening meal with a Spanish flair, Capa is one of a handful of Florida restaurants that has actually achieved a coveted Michelin star.
While visiting, it is well worth taking time to explore the resort’s beautiful grounds—they are stunning, and you’ll find plenty of places to enjoy some serenity away from the parks. They also have quite a good coffee and ice cream shop.
7. Find a peaceful spot to watch fireworks
Even if theme parks aren’t your thing, you may still enjoy viewing fireworks. How do you get a decent view of Disney’s fireworks displays without being pressed into a massive crowd though?
You have a few options to find yourself a more secluded spot to enjoy Disney’s fireworks. Within the parks, this will require some exploring and creativity, as well as possibly foregoing the usual spots where guests can see projection effects on the park’s landmarks like Cinderella Castle. In some cases, finding a quieter spot to watch fireworks can be well worth it just to eliminate the stress of crowds.
You also might be able to procure reserved seating for fireworks by purchasing a fireworks dining package or booking one of Disney’s fireworks dessert parties—small exclusive gatherings where guests get to enjoy a dessert buffet while enjoying prime fireworks viewing.
For a more laid back experience, several of Disney’s resorts host some excellent locations for viewing Magic Kingdom fireworks from a distance. The most popular of these is the Contemporary Resort which has a number of lounges and porches with good fireworks-viewing potential. They also sometimes offer rooftop fireworks viewing packages. Similarly, resorts around Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon offer exclusive fireworks dinner cruises.
8. Enjoy some shopping and a meal at Disney Springs
If shopping and dining are more your speed than theme parks, you definitely will want to plan a visit to Disney Springs, Disney’s sprawling entertainment district.
Disney Springs can get very busy on weekends, in the evenings, and around holidays. If you prefer a less hectic experience, it’s best to plan a trip on a weekday in the daytime. During your visit, you’ll be able to explore hundreds of top-tier shops, bakeries, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
We mentioned a few good options earlier, but the area is home to a great selection of restaurants including Jaleo, Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, Terralina Crafted Italian, Paddlefish, Morimoto Asia, Raglan Road, Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming, Frontera Cocina, and The Boathouse. Whatever your tastes, you’ll certainly be able to find something to scratch the shopping and dining itch during your visit.
What are some other great ideas for places to go in Walt Disney World if theme parks stress you out? Let us know in the comments or on Facebook! Thanks for reading!
