Where to take a Relaxing Break at Disney World

• Explore the value of quiet time as a form of self-care
• Discover tucked-away gardens, fountains and water features
• Download quick reference page of quiet sanctuaries for your Disney Planner
• PDF: Retreats Low Key Disney Planner

Disney vacations can be lots of fun…but they can also be a lot, especially the crowds.

Travel and disruptions in routines are harder for some of us to deal with than others.

If you, like me, are an introvert and benefit from having the self-care of quiet time to relax and reflect every day, then you might want to add this list of quiet and uncrowded retreats to your Disney Planner.

Having time to slow down, get away from crowds and rest and recharge your batteries is something that is good for just about everyone, of all ages. That is really the essence of Low Key Disney.

But it may be especially important for you if you are introverted, are on the spectrum, have ADHD or you are an older person. Spending some quiet time — especially in nature or around water features — can be healing if you are experiencing or are prone to chronic pain, stress, anxiety, grief, PTSD or another type of challenge. Time spent near fountains or waterfalls can be especially restorative as the sound of water is soothing.  Gardens and  wildlife, such as butterflies or birds, can also help you relax, ground and center.

Daily quiet time is also important to people who are creative or spiritual — who need time to themselves to meditate, pray, read or journal.

Keep this PDF list handy when you visit the parks and other environments of Disney World and sometimes it gets to be too “peopley” for you. It is designed to be printed, trimmed and inserted into a small, 4″ x 6″ photo album, but feel free to use the list any way you wish.

If you find yourself beginning to feel overwhelmed, stressed, irritable or fatigued, open your planner and check to see if one of these spaces is near you.

Orlando Airport – Annie’s Space Sensory Room, Terminal A, Level 3, down from the Food Court area. Open 7 am – 9 pm

Magic Kingdom – Main Street USA

• City Hall and private companion bathrooms
• Firehouse, Horse Barn exhibits

• Railroad Station Balcony – quiet, exhibits, good view
• Cinderella Wishing Well

Tomorrowland 

• Terrace Restaurant (evening dessert parties) – sheltered, quiet place to sit, good restrooms 
• Walkway between Tomorrowland and Fantasyland 
• TTA People Mover; Carousel of Progress 
• Auntie Gravity’s ice cream parlor

Liberty Square

• Behind Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe – Peaceful picnic benches with shade, castle views and little foot traffic. 
• Hall of Presidents lobby – exhibits and A/C
• Columbia Harbor House – upstairs dining room, A/C

Fantasy Land 

• Tangled Rest Area: next to Small World; seating, phone charging, 10 hidden Pascals; good bathrooms 
• First Aid next to Gaston’s Tavern; good bathrooms
• Pinocchio Haus: Private bathrooms, upstairs balcony 

Adventureland/Frontierland  

• Swiss Family Treehouse (lovely at night)
• Tiki Room; water feature
• Bathrooms in Pirate area
• Pecos Bill upper level seating

EPCOT

• World Celebration: Celebration Gardens (especially at night); Dreamer’s Point; seating with Walt Disney statue
• Imagination Pavilion – waterfall, Pixar film festival
• The Seas aquarium; A/C. 
• Living with the Land water ride
• Norway: Stave Church gallery (Viking lore)
• China: water gardens; Reflections film 14 min; gallery
• Germany: garden railway
• Italy: fountain courtyard, gelato, shops
• American Adventure: animatronic show, gallery, restrooms, A/C
• Japan: Katsura Grill koi pond, gardens, gallery
• Morocco: fountain courtyard, gallery
• France: Impressions film 18 min; Palais du Cinéma gallery
• UK: fountain, hedge maze, benches; tea shop
• Canada: waterfalls, pathways, gardens, Far and Wide film

Hollywood Studios Havens

• Walt Disney Presents – exhibits, seating and A/C

Animal Kingdom Hideaways 

• Waterfall outside of Rainforest Cafe entrance
• Maharajah Jungle Trek – peaceful nature trails
• Flame Tree BBQ – seating by the water

Restoring Resort Retreats

• All Stars Music – Jazz Courtyard with fountain and benches at night
• Animal King Lodge – art exhibits; wood carvers; indoor and outdoor animal viewing areas; Sunset Lounge; Uzima Flamingo Pond
• Beach Club – Crescent Solarium with quiet seating; Friendship Boats
• Boardwalk – Belle Vue Lounge with quiet seating before 4 pm; library vibes; old time radio progams on at night; discover hidden messages in books on shelves; vintage mutoscopes
• Caribbean Beach – Cay hammocks; nature trail
• Coronado – Fountains; Butterfly Garden (Casitas section); nature trail 
• Disney Springs – Market Place Dock; Sassagoula River Boats 

• Fort Wilderness – Tri-Circle D Ranch – horse stables; Bike Barn; lake
• Grand Floridian – Gasparilla Grill patios, lobby and pianist, Citrico’s entrance lobby (2nd floor seating and phone chargers); 2nd floor patio (next to photographers); Enchanted Rose bar
• Old Key West: rocking chairs outside of lobby, facing dock; hammocks next to the “Family Tree;” bike rentals and bike trails
• Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter – peaceful riverside walks
• Polynesian – trails, beach, soft Hawaiian music outdoors
• Saratoga Springs – Bike rentals and bike trails; glades of trees; Purple Martin houses; Carousel gazebo and fountain (Carousel section)
• Wilderness Lodge – seating by fireplaces; waterfalls; Boulder Ridge Carrollwood train room exhibit; nature trail; boat to Magic Kingdom