Anyone who has visited Walt Disney World knows that crowds are part of the package. There is just no escaping them… or is there?
We’re about to let you in on a secret; while there may be no real way to visit Disney without vast crowds, there are certainly ways to evade them or at least take a break from them for a little while.
Come with us on a journey where we travel around the Walt Disney World parks, finding those special spots where you can find some peace and quiet away from the crowds and commotion…
Timing Is Everything
Time of year isn’t the only variable for avoiding crowds at Disney. There are times when Disney is more crowded than others, and avoiding these times will help in the crowding issue. Strategizing your day can not only help you skirt the crowds a bit but also get in some more ride time.
At the Magic Kingdom, Fantasyland is one of the more crowded areas of the park, especially during the late morning and early afternoon. Arriving early and staying late at the park can be a real game-changer. Plan your ride time in Fantasyland first thing in the morning or late in the day, before closing. This will give you more time to visit other areas of the park and avoid the headache of stroller-geddon.
When Walt Disney utilized the hub and spoke design of the parks, he did so with the idea of directing people around the park while alleviating congestion. If you pay attention, you will notice that the pathways in the park will always inherently lead you right. When you enter the park in the morning, you can avoid the crowds being herded to the right by simply going left and working your way through the park counterclockwise.
If you don’t mind missing the fireworks, we have found that you can often walk right on many of the rides, especially ones that are typically crowded earlier in the day. When visiting Epcot, we always leave Spaceship Earth to late in the day. Spaceship Earth is one of the first rides people pass when entering the park, which is why it tends to have long lines throughout the morning and early afternoon. By evening time, we can usually walk right on. Future World itself begins to thin out once the World Showcase opens late morning.
Attractions That Give Visitors Breathing Room
Speaking of rides, not all of the plethora of attractions at Walt Disney World have wait times that suck up hours in the day. There are rides that, while they retain the time-honored Disney magic, are not as popular as the more contemporary rides, which means the wait times are dramatically lower. The best part is that most of these rides are indoors, air-conditioned, and you get to take a load off your tired feet while enjoying some classic Disney entertainment.
Disney’s Magic Kingdom
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover – Take an aerial ride through Tomorrowland and enjoy a sneak peek into many popular Tomorrowland attractions. This attraction does get a line, but the line moves pretty quickly with the multitude of cars on this continuously moving track.
Tom Sawyer’s Island –This is more or less a giant playground for kids (a cool one at that.) However, there are a lot of places to rest alongside the water and take in spectacular views of Frontierland and Liberty Square.
The Carousel of Progress, Hall of Presidents, The Enchanted Tiki Room, and The Country Bear Jamboree – These audio-animatronic stage shows are Disney classics. Unfortunately, these shows often get overlooked because of the other more popular park attractions. This also makes them a great place to enjoy some quality entertainment in an air-conditioned theater while resting your feet.
Epcot
Living with the Land –This indoor boat ride is often overlooked due to its proximity to Soarin. Living with the Land is an educational and entertaining yet completely relaxing boat ride through the future of farming.
American Adventure – Take a journey through American History hosted by audio-animatronic Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain. This massive theater, rarely filled to capacity, is a great place to escape from the masses of people wandering through the World Showcase.
The Movies in the World Showcase: Impression de France, Canada Far & Wide in Circle-Vision 360, and Reflections of China – People tend to forget that there are cinematic masterpieces at three of the pavilions in the World Showcase. Guests are treated to spectacular views of France, Canada, and China from the air-conditioned rotunda in each respected country.
Hollywood Studios
Thanks to the arrival of Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, finding an uncrowded corner of Hollywood Studios is quite a challenge. There are a few attractions that visitors can still escape to hide from the mobs.
MuppetVision 3D – Nobody does 3D movies like Disney, and MuppetVision 3D is no exception. The colossal theater can hold far more than the usual number of people who attend each show, giving guests a chance to find a place to spread out and enjoy a hilarious movie.
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular – Take refuge from the elbow to elbow crowds and be prepared to be riveted at an action-packed spectacular. The hour-long show gives guests enough time away from the mass to reenergize.
Star Tours – This ride has had several alterations since its opening in 1989. While it was always a popular ride in the past, since the arrival of Galaxies Edge, it has become one of the few Star Wars-themed rides with very little wait time and crowd.
Animal Kingdom
It’s Tough to be a Bug – Entering the world of bugs and insects might not be your ideal way of getting away from the crowds, but I promise you you will find room to spread out and be entertained at the same time.
Rafiki’s Planet Watch and Conservation Station – There is a legitimate reason this area of Animal Kingdom has very few crowds, and that is because it takes some effort to get there. A train ride separates this great destination from the rest of the park. You might think that this isn’t worth visiting, but the petting zoo and conservation station on the other end might just change your mind.
How about those special uncrowded places that are off the beaten path that you need to be told about to be able to enjoy?…
Off the Beaten Path
There are places within the parks where you can find quiet corners and hidden walkways where guests can find a break from the teeming masses.
Magic Kingdom
Disney Railroad Station on Main Street – After the initial morning rush through the gates. This area tends to be fairly empty during the afternoon.
Tomorrowland Terrace – A walkway leads from Tomorrowland to Fantasyland that takes you right past the Tomorrowland Terrace. There are rarely any people in this area, and we have always found it a great place to separate ourselves from the crowds.
Space Mountain Area – This sounds counterintuitive, but the area next to Space Mountain is astonishingly free of crowds, and there are numerous benches to rest.
Epcot
The World Showcase – There are many places within the pavilions of the World Showcase where visitors can slip away and find some peace and quiet, such as the Fez House or back alleys in Morocco, the waterfall in Canada, and the gardens in England and Japan.
Odssey Center Walkway – his walkway links Future World and the World Showcase. People tend to take the main thoroughfare into the World Showcase for some reason, which leaves this walkway pretty much empty.
Hollywood Studios
Echo Lake – It’s hard to find a quiet, uncrowded place in Hollywood Studios, but the area around Echo Lake near the 50’s Diner is about as good as it gets.
Lightning McQueen Racing Academy – The courtyard in front of Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy rarely has a crowd, is out of the way, and is just perfect for taking a break from the swarms of people.
PizzeRizzo – Outside of mealtimes, this area near Muppet-Vision, is a great place to shake the crowds.
Animal Kingdom
Grandstand for the River of Light – This area is relatively empty during the day. There is plenty of room to spread out.
Walkway from Africa to Pandora – This pathway is rarely crowded, probably because it is slightly out of the way. Bonus: You get a beautiful view as you enjoy your stroll.
Cretaceous Trail – is a quiet paleontologist-themed trail with dinosaur statues stationed throughout the beautiful garden settings. This is not only a great place to get away from the crowds, but it’s also a fantastic place to snap pictures.
Let us know if you have found any other peaceful areas away from the crowds at Walt Disney World by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page.
