Places to chill in the park...

[minmate]

We have younger kids going with us (8, 5, 6, 4) -- not sure if we'll truck all the way back to the hotel (staying offsite at marriott residence inn) for a mid-day break - or if we will want to just find a relaxing place to chill in the park. Are there any places like this? What/where?
Thanks!

 

[quiltymom]

Now, the true question is, is the rest for you or the kids?

We've never taken a break outside of the park, but then we're only there for one day and don't want to miss a thing. So, here are a few recommendations for you that I would consider doing.

If it is for you and the kids still have excess energy, then :

• Go to Toon Town and let them play in the houses while you sit a spell with something cool to drink or eat
• Let the kids run loose together on Tom Sawyer's Island while you sit near the dock
• Get a snack to eat while you sit & watch the Buzz show in Tomorrowland. There's plenty of interaction for the kids and they can get Buzz's autograph afterwards.

If the rest is for the whole family,

• take a couple of round the park trips on the Disneyland Railroad. Get off when you feel you're well rested.
• Get your hands stamped and get a snack somewhere in Downtown Disney
• Grab a snack at Casey's Corner and listen to the piano player
• sit on a bench along Main Street to take in the sights and people watch
• Grab a late lunch at the Blue Bayou and take your time eating
• See a show or ride the Mark Twain
• Sit on the balcony seating area at the restaurant in Critter Country and watch the boats, canoes & ducks go by.
• Listen to the band play at the French Market while eating fritters and drinking mint juleps

Yeah, a lot of these deal with food, but I feel that resting and refueling is the best way to go, especially if it is a mint julep that's part of the plan!

I hope these help.

 

[Rapunsel]

FYI TSI and the Train are both under construction..

 

[disneychrista]

And the Buzz show is long gone. There is something new in its place, some star wars things.

 

[quiltymom]

Sorry for the mis-info... I haven't been to DL since last summer.

But at least the mint juleps are still there!!

 

[momto2nenas]

We escaped through CA to Storyteller's Cafe and had a quiet lesiurely lunch. My youngest slept in her stroller through most of it and my then 3 yr. old received some cool kid's stuff to keep her entertained at the table.

 

[Kailua's Belle]

With kiddos that age, going back to the hotel will be worth it. My 4 and 5 year olds couldn't make it past 9:30 without a nap. On nap days, we powered through much later, which is great because the lines are a lot shorter.

We stayed at the Residence Inn too. Loved it. The ART was pretty reliable for us. They take an afternoon lunch break, so plan around that, or the walk isn't too bad either if you miss it.

I never believed in leaving for a nap, until this trip with the little ones. DH is much wiser (and sleepier) than I. It killed me the first day, but once I saw the benefits, I was happy to do it.

 

[Itinkso]

The Animation Building in DCA is probably the "coolest" place to chill while watching animated features on the huge screens. There are couches there to kickback and relax!

We also like taking a break in the lobby of GCH. Plenty of easy chairs and couches and usually fairly quiet. Sometimes there is a pianist quietly playing!

 

[funnygarcia]

Catch a show.. rests the feet and no need to hustle children on and off rides..
Watch old Mickey cartoons in the theater on Main Street
Tiki show
Billy Hill and the Hillbillies
Band concerts/dances near the castle
Lincoln or whatever they have going.. I heard Lincoln's coming back but not sure when??

Hideaways to take a break from sensory overload:
Gallery above Pirates
Walkway that skirts the River in front of Splash.. you can look down and watch people on the ride at the bottom of the plunge... all wet and laughing. There are also tables and chairs there (Harbor Galley .. Mcdonald's fries) that are under utilized.
Sit and watch the fountains in DTD
Sit and enjoy the outdoor fireplace at the Grand.

 

[minmate]

thanks for the ideas!
I guess I didn't realize you could go "hang out" in the disney hotels. I know that it is taboo to "pool hop" in WDW so I've always felt like if you weren't a guest of the hotel, people didn't want you there... but maybe we'll go just to see it. We stayed at the DLH ten years ago -- it has been remodeled I believe, hasn't it?

 

[DangerMouse]

thanks for the ideas!
I guess I didn't realize you could go "hang out" in the disney hotels. I know that it is taboo to "pool hop" in WDW so I've always felt like if you weren't a guest of the hotel, people didn't want you there... but maybe we'll go just to see it. We stayed at the DLH ten years ago -- it has been remodeled I believe, hasn't it?

Oh yes, definitely visit the GCH for a break. We consider it a must-do on each one of our trips. We grab a bite to eat at White Water Snacks and refill our drinks as we are leaving (FREE REFILLS HERE!), and then stroll over to the fireplace in the Grand lobby and sit back and listen to the lovely piano while we rest our weary feet and eyes. We have even napped here. You will find that others are doing this too, so it isn't frowned upon at all.

 

[nurse.darcy]

Hotel touring is ENCOURAGED. They want you to see how wonderful they are so that you will book them on your next visit. Another great spot to chill out is McDonalds at DCA. . .They have all kinds of climbing stuff for the kids and you and DH can chill out in the AC.

However, when my son was young we would always go back to the hotel, swim for an hour and take a short nap. Then we would hit the parks later and still manage to get everything in. He needed it. It made for a very sane trip.

We are going to WDW this summer and are building in hotel rests into our trip even though we are all older. I know we will be thankful that we did this.

Enjoy your trip.