Walt Disney World is the most Magical Place on Earth for millions of guests a year. It can be a child’s dreamscape, a honeymooner’s fairy tale, and an extrovert’s paradise.
But how is an introvert supposed to cope with one of the busiest tourist destinations in the world?
An introvert isn’t necessarily a quiet or shy person. Rather, an introvert is someone who gains energy in solitude but is drained by overly stimulating environments. We’re given to introspection, creative pursuits, and rich mind-wandering, but we tend to run out of steam after social encounters.
We’ve assembled seven tips to help introverts not only survive their Disney trip but thrive.
1. Plan ahead
Image: Disney
A Disney vacation can be made or broken on planning. For an introvert, this is especially key. Disney World is a busy place at any time, but seasoned visitors know summer, holidays, and spring break can quickly crank the crowd levels from “slightly uncomfortable shoulder bumping” to “they’re-storming-the-castle-we’re-all-going-to-die”.
Disney’s marketing team love putting out sales to lure guests to Orlando during these congested times. Resist this temptation. While it is still possible to enjoy your trip during peak season, it may prove too jarring an experience for the most introverted among us.
Instead, book your vacation to take place during the lighter months like January and February (avoiding President’s Day), September, or weekdays October through December. Before making your reservation, also give Disney’s Events Calendar a quick check to make sure you aren’t arriving during an occasion that may draw extra crowds.
Second, introverts can benefit greatly from planning to stay on property at Disney World. Why?
2. Retreat!
“We will fight… to run away.”
Image: Disney
No matter what time of year you visit, crowds in the parks swell right around lunch time. Late sleepers and guests with dining reservations pour in and wait times surge. Instead of powering through these challenging parts of the day, make plans to arrive at the parks early, then execute a strategic retreat around midday.
This is where staying on property becomes so helpful. Sure, you could hop in a rental car or catch an Uber back to Orlando, but Walt Disney World is massive: you’ll lose a good deal of time just getting to and from your hotel.
Instead, if you are staying on property, you can hop on Disney’s transportation system to be back at your resort in no time. This works especially well at Epcot’s resorts since they are within walking distance of both World Showcase and Hollywood Studios (if you have sturdy calves).
Image: Chad Sparkes, Flickr (license)
The second reason staying on property helps is that it gets you access to Extra Magic Hours. This perk allows you to arrive at one park early (which varies throughout the week). That extra hour can prove one of the least busy times of the day and is a great opportunity to ride E-ticket attractions without long lines.
However, it is worth noting that Extra Magic Hours can be something of a mixed bag for introverts. It is a recorded trend that whichever park has Extra Magic Hours tends to draw the most crowds that same day. If you have a park hopper ticket, one solution would be to use Extra Magic Hours in the morning, then hop to a less busy park when crowds surge.
What if you’re not staying on property though?
3. Find the quiet places
Image: daveblogs007, Flickr (license)
While the eye-popping bustle of Fantasyland can test the fortitude of even the stouthearted, a short raft ride away at Tom Sawyer Island, the difference in crowd intensity can be night and day.
Scattered throughout the parks are quiet refuges where the hustle and bustle diminishes. Some of these are purposefully executed, such as the walking trails at Animal Kingdom. Others are areas Disney wishes guests to look away from, such as the stretch of space in Epcot that used to lead to the Wonders of Life pavilion near Universe of Energy.
Another great choice for introverts are dark rides and boat rides. Attractions like Spaceship Earth, Pirates of the Caribbean, or Living With the Land provide great decompression time. World Showcase, in particular, is ideal for introverts with its hidden corners and gardens in the Canada, Japan, China, and UK pavilions.
Here’s a few more options in the parks:
- Magic Kingdom
- The Magic Kingdom Railroad
- The upstairs of Columbia Harbor House
- Sleepy Hollow restaurant
- Epcot
- The path that passes the defunct Odyssey restaurant between Future World and World Showcase (unless a festival is taking place)
- The interior areas of the Morocco Pavilion
- Impressions de France
- Hollywood Studios
- Star Wars: Path of the Jedi
- Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream
- Animal Kingdom
- Pangani Forest and Maharaja Jungle Trails
- The courtyard outside “Dinosaur”
- The train to Rafiki’s Planet Watch
Outside the parks, the choices are endless. You do not have to be staying at Disney’s resorts to visit them. Go enjoy a cushy chair at Animal Kingdom Lodge, relax on the balcony outside the Boardwalk Resort, or take a quiet hike at Fort Wilderness.
4. Hack your trip
Want to take your introvert’s Disney trip to the next level? It’s time to employ some straight up hacks.
Consider all five of your senses…
First, the Florida sun is cornea-searing bright as is. Bring some dark sunglasses for shade and a bit of privacy. It’ll make it much easier to sit back and reflect in those aforementioned quiet places.
Second, if the crowd noise is draining your energy reserves, bring a pair of in-ear headphones and download a noise generator app like Relax Melodies. Pop on some pink or brown noise, and like magic, the roar of a million tourists vanishes. A web-based option is MyNoise.net which offers ambient soundscapes to match any setting. You can even use YouTube to listen to ambient music for each section of the park.
Third, skip the funnel cake and treat your taste buds to some of Disney’s unique culinary treats. Pick up a soothing cup of tea at Joffrey’s Anandapur Royal Tea Shop in Animal Kingdom or The Joy of Tea in Epcot. Have a healthy, sustainable meal at Sunshine Seasons or savor a tray of comforting delights at Kringla Bakery.
If you’re a natural fidgeter, get yourself a Fidget Cube to engage your sense of touch. This tiny device comes with a wide array of buttons, switches, and dials to busy your hands without anyone being the wiser. When the crowds start to stress you out, you’ll have something to calm that fidgeting impulse. Also, if you’re concerned about germs, you can also bring a light pair of gloves to trick out your Disney gear.
Did you know you can actually hack your brain using your sense of smell? Disney is well aware of this and offers a number of don’t miss aromatic experiences (“Soarin’ Over the World” is one of these— “It’s Tough to Be a Bug” is NOT). However, you can take this concept to the next level using essential oils. Dab some on your wrists and rub them together, then breathe in the scent. Oils like peppermint, lemongrass, and rosemary can invigorate and stimulate the mind. On the flip side, lavender, jasmine, and frankincense can calm anxiety and help you relax. Be aware some essential oils need a carrier oil so they don’t burn your skin.
Last, learn how to calm your nerves with anti-anxiety breathing exercises. Inhale through your nose for four seconds hold that breath for seven seconds, then exhale for eight seconds.
5. Accept the crowds
“They told me I was daft to build a castle in a swamp…”
Image: ckramer, Flickr (license)
This is something of a Zen statement, but it’s true. It is almost impossible to completely avoid crowds at Disney World. At some point, you are probably going to end up next to a bellowing extrovert, bump into someone’s dear grandma, or nearly get run over by a stroller. People will get in your way and you will do the same despite your best efforts.
The key is to accept that this is okay. You’re not the only one, and these human-bumper-cars situations are perfectly normal.
You have three choices to deal with moments when the sea of humanity becomes overwhelming: retreat to your resort, withdraw to a quieter part of the park, or use your toolkit of hacks to withstand the storm. Learn how to move like water through the crowd. Unless you are dead set on seeing a parade or fireworks display, avoid areas where guests are staking out viewing spots. Those times are actually a great opportunity to get on attractions that normally have long lines!
If you have a seriously unpleasant situation with a guest, alert a nearby cast member. They’re well equipped to handle it.
6. Stop and smell the roses
Image: Disney
Just like extroversion can seem like a superpower in social situations, the very thing that gives introverts their power is introspection. We notice the little details, reflect on what we see, and let our imaginations wander.
The amount of detail Disney puts into their parks is insane. A cast member once told us a whole story about an end table in the lobby of the Hollywood Tower of Terror, how Imagineers purposefully installed a slow drip above it (one that’s almost impossible to notice) just to add to the ambience. Disney’s attractions brim with rich details in their costumes, props, and scenery. They’ve gone to extraordinary lengths to make every guest experience as immersive as possible, and introverts are just the type of people who may appreciate this.
So get lost in your imagination next time you’re on Pirates of the Caribbean. Soak in the fine craftsmanship of the micro-village next to the Germany pavilion. Linger in the aviary on the Maharajah Jungle Trek and watch the birds creep out of hiding. Try to decipher the Aurebesh letters in Star Wars Launch Bay. Read every placard you come across. Search for Hidden Mickeys.
This is your vacation after all.
What tips do you have for introverts visiting Disney World?
