Due to my jobs over the years, I have a lot of friends across the world. Since we can’t always visit each other in our hometowns, we sometimes do theme park meetups. Over the years, I’ve learned some of the best and worst places to find a friend in Orlando, and I want to save you from some of my horrendous mistakes. Here are some of the best meetup and hangout spots in Orlando.
Backlot Express seating area
Image: DisneyOne of the rules I have for this article is that I must select at least one place from every park plus Disney Springs and a resort. The thought process here is that you’re most likely to meet up with someone inside a park or at a free location nearby that doesn’t require admission tickets.
Under these criteria, I actually have the hardest time with Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Due to the intimate nature of this park, it doesn’t have that one spot where everyone knows to meet. The Chinese Theatre area can get too crowded, and BaseLine Tap House is now the place where everyone waits to enter Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. So, it’s out.
Historically, I’ve favored the area to the right of Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Tower Hotel Gifts is a charming place to shop, and it’s easy to find. Alas, it’s also the end of that side of the park, which makes it a lot of excess walking.
Image: DisneyThe place that I’m suggesting is a similar situation, but it works better in my experience. Backlot Express provides a ton of seating, almost all of which is covered. You can escape the heat while waiting for your party.
While you do have to the far left/west of the park to get here, there’s plenty more to do once you’ve found your friends. Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple, Celebrity Spotlight, and Star Tours are all close. So, you can hang out in the shade and then pick a fun group activity in the surrounding area.
The dinosaur at DINOSAUR
Image: DisneyI have a young friend named Luna, who once met me at the giant dinosaur near the entrance to the DINOSAUR attraction. While I’m told that Luna doesn’t remember me, it was her first time riding DINOSAUR, something that I will remind her about in later years.
Her mother, who happens to be the content editor at Theme Park Tourist, chose that place for a simple reason. Everyone can find that dinosaur, even if they’re unfamiliar with Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Better yet, the walk from the entrance of Animal Kingdom to this part of DinoLand U.S.A. is manageable, which isn’t true of other options at this spacious theme park.
You need to pick spots like this one that are easy to locate and don’t require maximum effort to reach via walking. Otherwise, everyone will be grumpy by the time they meet up.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge lobby
Image: DisneyI’m listing three hotel resorts here and two lobbies. My thought process is that some members of your party won’t have admission tickets. As frequent guests know, official resorts are nearly as magical as the theme parks, though.
Perhaps the best example of this is the lobby at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House. This place is majestic in structure, yet it has ample seating for large parties. Couches and chairs are seemingly everywhere, making it a tranquil hangout spot.
When people get bored, entertainment is only a few steps away. Just outside the lobby is an animal preserve where zebras, giraffes, and gazelles frolic merrily. It’s like experiencing the best part of Disney’s Animal Kingdom without paying for the price of admission.
PS: Should you get hungry, The Mara is a wonderful Quick Service restaurant, while Boma is among the finest buffets at Walt Disney World.
Geyser Point
Image: DisneyI’ve chosen locations at a pair of Disney resorts as great hangout/meetup spots. I’ve intentionally picked ones close to Magic Kingdom since it’s the most trafficked theme park at Walt Disney World. Seemingly all roads lead to this park, and the transportation to and from this place is convenient.
To reach Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, you can take either a bus or a boat from the park. When you reach the resort, you’ll find Geyser Point near Bay Lake. It’s a relatively new restaurant and bar constructed as part of the Copper Creek Disney Vacation Club expansion.
I recommend spending time with friends here for three reasons. The first part is the view. You’re right by the lake, and the panoramic setting is a glorious combination of rustic and serene.
Image: DisneyThe second advantage is that the place is nature-proofed. It’s an outdoor restaurant most of the time. During inclement weather, cast members lower the walls and turn the site into an indoor location. Think of it like a retractable roof domed stadium.
And the final reason is the price. Geyser Point is a Quick Service restaurant with a Table Service type of menu. The flavors are eclectic and robust, with several daring menu items available. Every entrée is less than $20, though. It’s an affordable place to eat, drink, and be merry with friends. The restaurant even has televisions where you can watch sporting events.
Grand Floridian lobby
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is the most upscale Disney resort in Orlando. While you may not want to pay the nightly rate to stay here, you can still hang out as much as you want. All you need to do is jump on the resort monorail and stop here. You’ll exit the monorail on the second floor of the hotel and walk down the stairs to the lobby.
Here, you’ll discover one of the most peaceful places at Walt Disney World. Disney’s styled this lobby to be elegant yet relaxing. Ample seating is available, and you’ll get a free musical performance as part of the festivities. A live jazz orchestra plays many of your favorite Disney songs throughout the day. It’s one of the most magical experiences on the Disney campus.
Plus, if you get hungry, Grand Floridian Café usually has seats available and serves delicious cuisine at reasonable prices. And everyone can find this place due to the convenience of the monorail drop-off.
The Land Pavilion
Image: DisneyPicking an excellent hangout spot at Epcot isn’t easy. The World Showcase has plenty of great options, but it’s at the back end of the park. Your friends may not want to walk more than a mile to reach a destination. If they do, I strongly recommend America Gardens Theatre as a meeting spot, but that’s not my actual suggestion here.
The Land Pavilion is simple to find due to its location just off the main walking path of Future World. It sits on the top of an incline, and the signage makes it impossible to miss. Since the area really has only two attractions, one of which (sadly) isn’t that popular, it’s rarely crowded, making it a wonderful place to spend time with friends.
You’ll enter the Land Pavilion on the second floor. My recommendation is to take the escalator down to the bottom and use the seating at Sunshine Seasons as your congregation point. The fresh food here is an added bonus for this location.
Main Street Plaza Gardens/Casey’s Corner
Image: DisneyPicking the perfect meeting location at Magic Kingdom isn’t easy. One of the worst rookie mistakes that you can make is to choose Cinderella Castle as your destination. Everyone will be fresh out of curse words by the time they find one another. This spot is overly crowded, extremely chaotic, and potentially mood-altering (in a bad way).
Right across the way from this locale is a better choice. Casey’s Corner is a restaurant that you can’t help but notice due to its prime location on Main Street, U.S.A. On light park days, it’s a fantastic place for everyone to meet. On more crowded days, however, the limited seating here is problematic.
On such occasions, I recommend that you take your party to Main Street Plaza Gardens, which is just past the restaurant. Cast members do a lovely job in maintaining these grounds, allowing you just to sit down and relish the view of Cinderella Castle. You’re close enough to the action to appreciate it but far enough away that you’re safe from the frustration caused by castle traffic.
Splitsville
Image: DisneyHoo boy! Disney Springs is where you may have the most problem meeting people. Frequent visitors here sometimes forget the scale of the place, something I must confess I’ve done. I once booked a table at The BOATHOUSE for my in-laws, only to watch them need to take a break from walking on the way to be seated.
Similarly, the food trucks seem like an ideal hangout spot, and they can be for those who know Disney Springs well. To others, this area is a nightmare to find due to the circuitous nature of the entertainment complex.
I can even describe the worst place where I’ve ever hung out with friends. It’s at one of my favorite Disney restaurants, T-REX. Every 20 minutes, this place recreates the meteor strike that ended the dinosaur race. It’s loud enough to make the walls shake. Your friends will have to shout over the noises, and you still won’t be able to hear them.
Image: DisneyDear Edwin: I’m really sorry about that evening. I’m sure that everything you said that evening was insightful, even though I have no idea what it was.
A decidedly great place to meet and hang out at Disney Springs is Splitsville. After all, bowling is a time-honored method to spend an afternoon/evening with friends. Since Splitsville is such a massive building, you’ll find plenty of places to sit, and there are televisions everywhere, too. It’s a terrific group activity that gets overlooked since there’s so much to do at Walt Disney World.
