Benches/Seats

[lovethattink]

Sometimes benches are hard to find, especially during busy seasons. Where have you found places to sit that aren’t in direct sunlight?

I’ve noticed during festivals at Epcot, picnic tables are often added. And the new area outside of Creations and Starbucks has seating and tables.

At Hollywood Studios, I’ve found little nooks and crannies for sitting outside of the ToT store.

Between the food stand and restrooms at Rock n Roller is a plantar with seating area that often is empty.

Where else?

 

[loves to dive]

Epcot is easy as there are tons of little nooks and crannies in WS. My favorite is what I call the tile room in the Morocco pavilion. There are the gardens in the China pavilion and the tables for the QS in Japan.

At MK there is the porch with the rocking chairs across from the Christmas Shoppe, usually during the day the area where the dessert parties is open to use, there are also some benches behind the Christmas Shoppe, there are table and chairs inside the GS area in Liberty Square, while it is still there lots of shade on Tom Sawyer's Island.

At AK, lots of little paths with little shaded areas with either benches or big ole rocks you can sit on. The area behind Flame Tree BBQ has loads of tables and shade and I've never seen it full.

At HS, this one is tough as there is not a lot of shade in this park. The benches outside of the Star Wars meet and greet are usually shaded, the area in front of Brown Derby has some benches and certain parts of the day is shaded. The little courtyard that used to be for a QS beside HBD has tables with umbrellas as well as the area across the street from it. There is a bench on the porch of ToT before you turn into the lobby room that is under cover, not sure how you would get to it without going through the line for ToT though. There are also some benches off to the left after you exit the ToT gift shop that are in shade parts of the day. Speaking of ToT you can go through the gift shop and there are benches inside the "lobby" area after you exit the ride.

 

[miksicnarf]

If I remember correctly there's some spots to sit along the exit from Toy Story in HS. It's accessible, people wait there for friends who rode.

 

[kimmar067]

....I've always wondered why there aren't more benches located throughout the parks, whether covered or non-covered. I have TWO bad knees and need to sit from time to time. One great location is right across from the Saucer Swirl...not a true bench per se, but a good place to catch one's breath. It's just beyond Woody's Lunchbox, near the restroom entrance, and it's pretty shaded too.

 

[Simba's Mom]

One of the advantages of using an ECV is that it's a built in bench, and always in whatever shade you find. I have noticed a decrease in the availability of benches over the years, and although I really fought using an ECV (with the ugly crying), I found that it does have that BIG advantage.

 

[LoveToDisney]

As the parks got busier since the 90s, Disney gradually removed hundreds of benches throughout the parks…most notably MK and many in HS. There used to be a LOT of benches in the central hub area and along the walkways. It was pretty easy to rest when one needed to but not anymore. Once Disney changed from fireworks to using more projections, it was more important to maximize standing room in the hub and Main Street since the castle became central to the show.

 

[jo-jo]

And another reason for those that really need a seat, think about a rollator. At home, many times, if we are going to a grand kid's game and the walk from the car is a several hundred feet, DH will walk and rest, walk and rest. Once we were staying at AKL Kidani and didn't get scooter yet, since our room was almost at the end of the wing.... it took about 30 mins to get there.

 

[Dan Murphy]

It is a shame that they gave removed so many of the very welcome benches that used to be there.

 

[maxiesmom]

They have removed many benches, but have added planters and low walls. Maybe because they don't want you sitting for hours on end? I know in Epcot people used to claim the benches a long time before the fireworks show.

 

[Bete]

I would use quick service restaurants for a break. You are inside and it's air conditioned. There are plenty of them at all the parks. Get a drink and just relax for a while. If hungry get a snack or meal. Also, take turns with rides and shows. The shows provide a good rest, too.

 

[Chuck S]

I've found a nice shaded seating area near Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom, tucked sort of behind where the Skyway Station used to be, between the restrooms and Space Mountain.

 

[Willows909]

Are there plenty of benches while walking the Gorilla Trail and other treks in Animal Kingdom Park? I haven't had the chance to do this, and my husband and I are mobile, but need "time outs" LOL.

 

[CarolynFH]

Are there plenty of benches while walking the Gorilla Trail and other treks in Animal Kingdom Park? I haven't had the chance to do this, and my husband and I are mobile, but need "time outs" LOL.

Unfortunately, no, I don’t think so. The trails are kind of set up to keep people moving. You can pause to watch the gorillas, etc., but the viewing areas are standing only.

 

[Lady Hiss]

Here now and was just remarking to my partner that the walk from the exit of AK to the Disney buses can be brutal in the heat. I don’t know why they can’t install a few benches along the walkway and offer some shaded areas as well.

 

[Willows909]

Well, ugh to the bench situation. Thanks for the info, CarolynFH!

 

[maxiesmom]

Here now and was just remarking to my partner that the walk from the exit of AK to the Disney buses can be brutal in the heat. I don’t know why they can’t install a few benches along the walkway and offer some shaded areas as well.

Not a bench, but they used to have that little gift shop open that you could shop at and get out of the sun. It was nice.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Not a bench, but they used to have that little gift shop open that you could shop at and get out of the sun. It was nice.

Do you mean that one in the octagonal (I think-I didn't count the # of sides) shaped one? That seems to be among the things that went away during COVID and never came back. I miss it. But I also don't like seeing an empty building-I wish they'd put something there.

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

As the parks got busier since the 90s, Disney gradually removed hundreds of benches throughout the parks…most notably MK and many in HS. There used to be a LOT of benches in the central hub area and along the walkways. It was pretty easy to rest when one needed to but not anymore. Once Disney changed from fireworks to using more projections, it was more important to maximize standing room in the hub and Main Street since the castle became central to the show.

We noticed that figuring Disney thinks if you’re sitting down you’re not spending money.

 

[lovethattink]

We noticed some picnic tables and benches close to the Goofy Topiary. Not many were using them when we walked by.

 

[Mai Ku Tiki]

Here now and was just remarking to my partner that the walk from the exit of AK to the Disney buses can be brutal in the heat. I don’t know why they can’t install a few benches along the walkway and offer some shaded areas as well.

Agree! My new rule during high heat & sun is to leave every park an hour before I "need" to... That last hike to transportation can be grueling.