It’s a great irony, isn’t it? We work all year to save money and earn vacation time. We toil away each day, picturing that glorious trip where our time is ours, and all we have to worry about is relaxation. We choose to visit Walt Disney World – The Vacation Kingdom – as a way of kicking back and forgetting our problems.
Yet, like clockwork, around 72 hours into your vacation, you’ll hit The Wall.
Some power through, going full Clark Griswold and thinking to themselves, “I’ve spent so much money on this trip, and taken so much time off, I will have fun! I will! I will have so much freaking fun!” Then, come the end of their trip, they say those familiar words we’ve all heard way too much:
“I need a vacation from my vacation.”
But here’s the thing: If you take some time during your Walt Disney World vacation to sneak off to a quiet spot and leave your worries where they were, you’ll find Disney can be just as peaceful as any other trip. You just have to know where to look.
So, with that in mind, the next time you find yourself at Walt Disney World and you think you need to get away from it all, keep these five spots in mind. They can be the brief respite from the stress of your vacation – which, of course, is the brief respite from the stress of your daily life. Funny how that works.
1. Crew’s Cup Lounge, Yacht Club Resort
Image: DisneyI sing the praises of the Crew’s Cup Lounge as much as I can, because this little tucked away gem is as close to Disney bar perfection as you can find. It may lack the flashiness of Trader Sam’s or Jock Lindsays. It may not have the same gorgeous view of Mizner’s Lounge. It may not feature pineapples and backscratchers like the Tambu Lounge.
But on a hot summer afternoon, when you’ve spent hours and hours waiting for Soarin’ Around the World or Frozen Ever After, the only thing on your mind will be the dark, cozy booths, the relaxed atmosphere, and the legitimately tasty food.
Crew’s Cup Lounge is more straightforward than the modern Disney bar, but it is no less welcoming and comfortable. It’s rarely full, meaning the hectic energy that drives most of Walt Disney World is missing here, and its proximity to The Yachtsman Steakhouse means the crowd tends to be a bit older, more mature, and less antsy. Plus, finding a table is usually pretty easy, meaning you can take at least one meal off from the stress of Disney dining.
Ultimately, this handsome bar let’s you turn your brain off, enjoy some delicious food or drink, and recharge your batteries – just in time to head back into Epcot for that Mission: Space Fastpass you’ve got. (Pro-tip: the air sickness bags are real).
2. Bellevue Lounge, Boardwalk Inn
Image: DisneyThe Grand Floridian Resort and the Boardwalk Inn are essentially twins separated at birth. While the Grand Floridian wound up living a life of luxury and ostentatious class, the Boardwalk found its way to the upper class through a bit of wit, guile, and elbow grease. The Grand Floridian may have a piano player or a small orchestra, but the Boardwalk has carnival barkers and street magicians. They’re both glamorous, but one feels a bit more down-to-Earth.
And so, since the Grand Floridian has the deliciously elegant Mizner’s Lounge, the Boardwalk must have its own rendition on the classy hotel bar. Only, for the Boardwalk, elegance isn’t quite as important as familiarity.
That’s the conceit of the Bellevue Lounge, located just to the side of the resort’s lobby.
Honestly, the Bellevue Lounge isn’t so much a bar as it is a room, but it’s a really relaxing room, which earns it a spot on this list. Modeled after a 1930s sitting room, the lounge is outfitted with pieces of early 20th century popular culture – everything from books to art to knickknacks. The chairs and sofas are unforgettably comfortable, making it a perfect place for a late-afternoon retreat from the nearby parks. Just grab a board game, a drink, and some friends and you’ll feel ready to go in no-time.
3. Sanaa Lounge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani Village
Image: DisneySanaa at Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Kidani Village is quite possibly the single most overlooked restaurant at Walt Disney World. For one thing, it’s at Animal Kingdom Lodge, which is already one of the more difficult resorts to get to on property. For another, it’s quite the hike to actually find the restaurant even once you’re at Animal Kingdom Lodge – particularly if you found yourself dropped off at Jambo House. And, of course, you can’t forget that Sanaa’s food is, shall we say, more adventurous than most vacationers’ palates are hoping for.
All of those factors combine to keep Sanaa largely off the map for the average Disney vacationer. Thankfully, their loss is your gain – and the Sanaa Lounge is as out of the way as you can get while still being on Disney property.
Somehow, the lounge manages to be both transporting and familiar. It combines the African-influenced design elements with the coziness we’re used to with Disney’s lounges, and the result is a place that feels like a new experience – but one that still keeps you at least somewhat close to your comfort zone. Add in the fact that it’s nearly always empty, and it’s quite the relaxing experience.
It’s not as simple to duck into for a midday break as some of the other bars on this list, but what it lacks in convenience, it more than makes up for in solitude – something that’s sorely needed on a Disney vacation. Plus, you can get the bread service here – trust me, do it.
4. Tutto Gusto, Epcot, World Showcase
Image: DisneyWha? A bar in a theme park? And not just any bar – a bar in one of the most iconic wine-producing countries in the world? How could that be relaxing?
Don’t ask me how they do it, but somehow, Tutto Gusto feels as far from Epcot as the actual St Mark’s Campanile.
Themed to appear as an old Italian wine cellar, Tutto Gusto is a bar that latches on to Epcot’s fancier dining establishment, Tutto Italia. The dark wood and cool interior make it truly feel like an escape – both from the heat, and also the tourists trying (and failing) to Drink Around the World.
But once you’re inside, you’ll understand what I mean. The menu is excellent, with a copious selection of wine, cheese, and charcuterie, but it’s the atmosphere that truly makes Tutto Gusto special among World Showcase bars. Others are more jovial and energetic – like Mexico’s agave-soaked La Cava del Tequila and England’s Rose and Crown – but none are quite as calm, which makes it the perfect place if you’re looking for a break from Epcot. Without taking a real break, that is.
5. Territory Lounge, Wilderness Lodge
Image: DisneyGetting out of the scrum of the Magic Kingdom is perhaps the most difficult of all the parks. With the monorail being so close, and an attraction in its own right, the three monorail resorts become a bit hectic in the afternoon and early evening. That’s not to mention the park itself is can often be as crowded as Times Square on New Years Eve – and that’s on the good days.
So, if you’re trying to escape the Magic Kingdom mob, the task can seem kind of daunting. But here’s a tip: Instead of heading for the monorail, grab a boat.
Wilderness Lodge is essentially a physical representation of the word “serene,” and its Territory Lounge is the crown jewel among Walt Disney World’s out-of-the-way watering holes.
I was recently here on July 3rd – one of the busiest days of the Walt Disney World year – and even at 6 o’clock, the lounge was only about half full. It’s as zen as zen gets – a cozy corner of the immaculately themed National Parks-inspired resort.
The motif is pure Americana, but not in a garish way. And the food and drinks are legitimately great – a perfect treat for spending the afternoon far away from the crowds of the world’s busiest theme park.
But, ultimately, the experience of getting to the Territory Lounge and back is as relaxing as any one of these bars. Gliding across Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon on an old Disney boat is the kind of vacation you don’t need an escape from. If all else fails, just take that steady cruise a few times – it’ll also do the trick.
