Are there "cool down" spots in the parks?

[weetot]

We will be traveling with my 7 year old granddaughter on our first trip to WDW. She is hyper-active and on her trip to Disneyland had to stop during the day and return to the hotel for some quiet time. Since the parks at WDW are so much farther away from the hotels (we plan on staying at CBR) I was hoping there were areas where she could have less stimulation and could chill out. Is anyone aware of places like this?
Thanks!

 

[akcire]

We will be traveling with my 7 year old granddaughter on our first trip to WDW. She is hyper-active and on her trip to Disneyland had to stop during the day and return to the hotel for some quiet time. Since the parks at WDW are so much farther away from the hotels (we plan on staying at CBR) I was hoping there were areas where she could have less stimulation and could chill out. Is anyone aware of places like this?
Thanks!

You can use first aid, they have cots. If she will be using a stroller you can park in a quiet place. WDW is much more spread out than Disneyland and has tons of quiet places. My tot has had a snack on a bench become a nap on a bench before. There's always back to the hotel too. Then you can swim.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Even though your hotel may not be close to the parks you can also take a break at one of the resorts close to whatever park you are at.

For example if you are at MK you could monorail over to GF or Poly for a break. You can explore the resort and grab a snack. Just because you are not staying there doesn't mean you can't have a look around. At the AKL you can go outside and see the animals.

 

[weetot]

Thank you for the great ideas. I didn't realize you could go to the other resorts if you weren't a guest there. And I'm still trying to wrap my head around the size of WDW. Maybe it won't be the problem we worried it would be.
I like the idea of resting on a bench somewhere where it's quiet. I doubt that she would sleep, but at least she could have less stimulation and less melt-downs because of it. (She's prone to those after too much excitement)
Thanks!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I have use the monorail and people mover as a sit and relax time out with or boys. another thing if at MK take the boat over to Fort Wilderness and use the playground near the boats or walk over and look at the horses. if inclined stop at the gift shop for a mickey ice cream bar. boat is about 20 minute ride to the fort and the rest is walkable from the dock

 

[weetot]

Thanks Betty, for your ideas. I think riding the monorail would soothe her some, but I'm not sure about taking her to a playground. There's a lot of stimulation from other kids and she'll need something quiet so she doesn't go into a meltdown.
Thanks!

 

[smidgy]

at MK, we like to relax on the wedway. the hall of presidents is dark and quiet. same with american adventure at epcot.

but we almost never spend a full day at the parks anyway. we always take a midday break to relax at the pool. she could nap. CBR has a "quiet" pool in each village. I put quiet in quotes becase it is just a smaller pool as opposed to the feature pool with the slides,djs, etc. there is no requirement that you be quiet (except after 10 pm).. but they are generally quiet.. if there is a loud group at the one near your room, just walk a bit down to the next one. the barbados and martinique pools are near each other. the aruba and jamaica pools are close to each other, and the 2 trinidad pools are clsoe to each other.

the island between the feature pool and the bridge to jamaica/aruba has pathways leading to little areas, playground, hammocks, benches etc. that are usually quiet.
and by the way, the playgrounds themselves at disney resorts are usually pretty deserted, too. I would take a midday break.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

We were there in August and took an afternoon break at the Contemporary. We rode the Monorail over and ate at the quick service restaurant, which was surprisingly quiet. We also browsed at the shops and used the restrooms. After being in the hot, hectic MK all morning, it was so nice to use a restroom with no line!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

my grandson is also hyper and we found that being able to run on the playground very helpful to just let him run and be loud. during the day most families are at the parks few kids at playground, plus you have the 20 minute boat ride there and back. we found that a half hour of free running and playing away from parks did wonders for him. really is just a small neighborhood playground. he needed the time to be himself away from standing in lines and all the sights of the parks. he also loved the pony rides

 

[MSSANDRA]

my grandson is also hyper and we found that being able to run on the playground very helpful to just let him run and be loud. during the day most families are at the parks few kids at playground, plus you have the 20 minute boat ride there and back. we found that a half hour of free running and playing away from parks did wonders for him. really is just a small neighborhood playground. he needed the time to be himself away from standing in lines and all the sights of the parks. he also loved the pony rides

I agree. A lot of kids that tend to be hyper-active need free time to run off some energy without having the constraints of lines and shows where they have to be still and quite. Playgrounds tend to work very well. There is the BoneYard at AK and the Honey I shrunk the kids at HS, and Tom Sawyer Island at MK. The Discovery Island at AK is good as well as the animal trails if its not too crowded that day. The WS has some gardens that are really good to let a child run free unless there is a show going on. A near by resort's playground is good (fine to use the playground, just not the pool), or a trip to FW is PERFECT if you are at the MK. If things are really not going well, a trip back to the resort for a swim might be well worth it.

If she needs quite time to rest, those same garden in the WS, the gardens beside of the castle in the MK, Tom's island again or a trip to any resort to maybe get an ice cream cone or just sit on the beach and chill for a bit. Sometimes a mid-day break for whatever reason is well worth the time if it makes the rest of the day go better.

 

[weetot]

I agree. A lot of kids that tend to be hyper-active need free time to run off some energy without having the constraints of lines and shows where they have to be still and quite. Playgrounds tend to work very well. There is the BoneYard at AK and the Honey I shrunk the kids at HS, and Tom Sawyer Island at MK. The Discovery Island at AK is good as well as the animal trails if its not too crowded that day. The WS has some gardens that are really good to let a child run free unless there is a show going on. A near by resort's playground is good (fine to use the playground, just not the pool), or a trip to FW is PERFECT if you are at the MK. If things are really not going well, a trip back to the resort for a swim might be well worth it.

If she needs quite time to rest, those same garden in the WS, the gardens beside of the castle in the MK, Tom's island again or a trip to any resort to maybe get an ice cream cone or just sit on the beach and chill for a bit. Sometimes a mid-day break for whatever reason is well worth the time if it makes the rest of the day go better.

I'm hoping some of the ideas work. I'm writing them down. However, I'm still not familiar with some of the abbreviations: what is WS? Because a rest in a garden might help. Also Tom Sawyer's Island would be perfect to run off her excitement and afterwards she could rest at a quiet spot while staying in MK.

 

[Mrsjvb]

Thank you for the great ideas. I didn't realize you could go to the other resorts if you weren't a guest there. And I'm still trying to wrap my head around the size of WDW. Maybe it won't be the problem we worried it would be.
I like the idea of resting on a bench somewhere where it's quiet. I doubt that she would sleep, but at least she could have less stimulation and less melt-downs because of it. (She's prone to those after too much excitement)
Thanks!

the only thing you cannot do if you are not staying at a particular resort is use the pools. everything else is all yours to experience. there are plenty of 'slow' rides or indoor attractions to take a break as well.

at AK, take the train to Rafiki's planet watch. VERY quiet and secluded. and there may be a Keeper on hand giving a small talk

 

[lanejudy]

I'm hoping some of the ideas work. I'm writing them down. However, I'm still not familiar with some of the abbreviations: what is WS? Because a rest in a garden might help. Also Tom Sawyer's Island would be perfect to run off her excitement and afterwards she could rest at a quiet spot while staying in MK.

WS is the World Showcase in Epcot. Very spreadout area with only a few rides, and some movies/shows and lots of shops, restaurants and gardens.

I think you are actually asking for "less stimulating" areas rather than quiet. Check the New DAS sticky on this forum, one of the early posts includes a link to a guide for those with cognitive challenges. I believe that lists some areas where people can "get away from it all" for a bit without leaving the parks.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[weetot]

WS is the World Showcase in Epcot. Very spreadout area with only a few rides, and some movies/shows and lots of shops, restaurants and gardens.

I think you are actually asking for "less stimulating" areas rather than quiet. Check the New DAS sticky on this forum, one of the early posts includes a link to a guide for those with cognitive challenges. I believe that lists some areas where people can "get away from it all" for a bit without leaving the parks.

Enjoy your vacation!

Yes, I found it. It has some excellent places to go. I'll download it and make a copy of the pages I need. Thanks!

 

[SueM in MN]

Since it's hot - bumping