Where's that ONE place at DL or WDW........

[zeitzeuge]

Where is that one place at WDW or DL that you can sort of get away from the hustle and bustle, relax and soak up all the magic? Some times you just have to get away from all the kids, strollers, crabby parents. When we go to WDW, I'm hoping to find a couple places like that.

Here's a few of our favorites:

At DL there's the Carnation Plaza that has been around since day one. It's tucked away on the right hand side of the castle, across a bridge, surrounded by trees and totally cut off from everything. There, you can sit and relax in an open air dance floor and watch professional balroom/big band dancers. Some people had been dancing there every Friday and Saturday for the past 40 years or more. Anyone can dance of course. It's just truly one of the most unique things at the park and we love getting away from everything and listen to the bands and watch people.

There's also the Hungry Bear restaurant, which the patio overlooks the Rivers of America. If you can find a spot near the water, it's great to sit there and watch the ducks, the cats (DL has a handful of wild cats that roam the park, keeping the mice/rat population down) and the Mark Twain go by ever so often. Quite peaceful if you go when it's not rush hour for lunch/dinner.

And if you're lucky, there's one store front on Mainstreet that has a tiny porch with a porch swing. It's rarely available, but there's been a few times we've seen it open and snagged it early in the morning, sitting there with our cinnamon rolls and coffee, watching the park come alive. Great place to watch a parade if you get the chance too.

 

[C&G'sMama]

Our favorite in EPCOT is to go through the Arcade in France where there are some benches and a fountain. There is KP mission stop here, but that didn't seem to take away for the quietness when we were there in December. And of course you have to have a pastry while you're sitting there.

In MK our favorites have always been the path between Tomorrowland and ToonTown and Exposition Hall but I don't know how those have been/will be affected by the construction/refurb.

Animal Kingdom has lots of little places along the paths that people tend to hustle by in getting to the big attractions where you can just sit and watch animals.

-A

 

[SandrA9810]

lets see... At MK, you can sit on the second floor of columbia harbour house over the pathway that connects fantasy land to liberty square. As well there's bathrooms on the second floor, so if there's line downstairs, just go up. Pinnichio's also has a second floor and it has a balcony you can sit out on. There's only like 8 tables up there.
Tom sawyer island has lots of quiet places. And picnic tables if you want to bring your food.
If you go up past mickey's house past the smoking section, there's a round about and on tuesdays and another day, you can find a random assortment of characters coming out through out the day.
center street on main street has tables and chairs hidden bck there. But not a good vantage popint for the parade.
tomorrowland noodle terrace is a great place to seek some coolness and quiet... When they're not serving. It's actually air conditioned, and not many people pass though there to tomorrowland. It's a great place to eat an ice cream cone. And the vantage point is pretty good for the parade, but that's where they do the desert package thing now.
There's rocking chairs in front of the frontierland trading post, and on the expo hall porch. If you need quiet and dark, they still run the old cartoons in the back of expo hall. But DVC and AAA use that spot on occassion for certian things.
The list can go on....

for Dak, there's a ton of cool places along the animal trails that people just fly right by. If you hang a right at the africa bridge, go all the way to the end is a waterfall off the tree and macows (sp??) and there's benches along the way too for relaxing.
One of the coolest places, is right in the oasis, right when you get to the bridge, turn around, and there's a cave there with a bench, and you have the waterfall falling behind you against the rocks.
That's about all i have for now. I can't think of any special places in the other two at the moment.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Fun question

Hmmm, I think my favourites at each park would be:

MK--there is a store to your right as you head into Haunter Mansion (you pass by it on going through to Fantasyland. The main entry is in this passage). It has a small porch area facing HM wich has often had a rocking chair on it. Nice palce to sit and watch the people in Liberty Sqaure. I also love to just take a ride on the TTA

Epcot--By the furhter up garden area on the right as you enter Japan. Very few people wander up there and it is so relaxing.

AK--As everyone says there are a lot of great places. We especially like to wander around near the base of the tree and look at animals and the carvings from there.

HS--The seating area for starrinng rolls, out by the Brown Derby is quiet for most of the day in spite of its central location.

 

[unfreshdiva1]

I tend to hang out at the Tune-In Lounge at Prime Time. Nothing like a Long Island Iced Tea at 11 a.m.!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

If I sit still in the parks I twitch. If I am so strung out that I require relaxation it is best to just go back to the hotel.

 

[enigmaMN]

I tend to hang out at the Tune-In Lounge at Prime Time. Nothing like a Long Island Iced Tea at 11 a.m.!

I'll second, third and floor -- er fourth that! They make a great Long Island there!

For us at MK it's always a ride or two on TTA. It's been my favorite thing at MK since I was a kid. If we really need to relax though we head to the beach at the Polynesian.

 

[MonorailMan]

-Cabana on the beach at the Poly.
-Main building at the Grand Floridian when someone's playing the piano
-TTA (WEDway People Mover) at the Magic Kingdom
-Any of the smaller lesser-known corridors in some of the World Showcase pavilions in Epcot.
-The boat ride in the Mexico pavilion. We rode it twice with no one else in our boat.
-Seating area over by PotC. (Sorry, I don't remember exactly where, but it's easy to find once you're there.) The mixture of architecture and greenery is calming and there's usually very few people over there, but you can still look out and see life going by in Adventureland.


Places to stay away from
-Tomorrowland (with the exception of the TTA, of course). It can get noisy, especially with the gas-powered "race" cars.
-Fantasyland. (Although this could change after the upcoming renovation.)
-The Grand Ceremonial House at the Poly between 5pm and 9pm, otherwise it's pretty relaxing at other various times of the day.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Let's see...

We really like the World Showcase.

The nooks and crannys of Morocco provide some space, not so much to sit and be leisurely, but to get away from the crowd. Same with Japan. There is an upper tier that is nice.

UK has the back garden of course, but moreso, it has the side garden. Follow the little side path and the side garden is to the right (has an entry to the shop too). We also like the areas that are down by the lagoon. They have benches for relaxing and eating a snack, or having a drink.

France is fun. We like the little tables between the counter service bakery and the shops. Not always quiet, but a great place to people watch. A quieter spot is along the fencing to the extreme right along the canal (when facing France with the lagoon at your back).

Ooops! Just been called by the wife! Have to go. Will return! LOL!

 

[OrlandoMike]

Main building at the Grand Floridian when someone's playing the piano

Try to get up to Mizners when the Grand Floridian Orchestra starts around 5:00! Great place for a hidden, very entertaining, mid afternoon adult pleasure!


And believe it or not, there is a blog about places to sit and relax in the four parks!

http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2010/01/have_a_seat_in_walt_disney_wor_1.html

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Ok, let's see where were we?

Ah yes.

OK, Italy has the promontory over the lagoon. We like to take a break there sometimes, or inside the courtyard area. Another good people watching place.

China has the little walkway that acts like a bit of a trail. That's a nice little place, but again, no where to actually sit.

Germany, Norway, and Mexico all are really popular places so finding a quiet place is a bit tricky, but the new Margarita Cave in Mexico could be a place to start.

Future world has some "around the edges" places to chill... not too many as the place is pretty open, but some.

We don't spend much time at all in DHS so can't help you there.

AK, we really like the area down behind Flame Tree, and we LOVE the Pangani Forest Trail!

There are loads of other places. Not hard to find a quiet area there at all.

MK, again, not hugely familiar with this park. We go for Gay Day, and when the little guy wants to go, otherwise, we are EPCOT people. LOL.

Hope that helps a bit.

Oh, the resorts have some GREAT places. Visit as many as appeal and have a good old nosey around.

 

[jharrowell]

Hmmm....

I can't really think of anything for DHS or AK but in MK there are two spots:

1) Down main street on the right hand side as you face the castle is a side street after the pin shop. There's usually a portrait cart there but it's nice and quiet.

2) Just by the exit of the Hall of Presidents is two rocking chairs on a porch. It's a great place to sit and people watch.

In Epcot my favourite place is on the benches near the bridge to France that leads to the International Gateway. The Gateway is pretty quiet as only through traffic to the Epcot resorts use it ans it's a great place to people watch after 11am once the World Showcase is open.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

We used to really (and I do mean REALLY) love Mizner's.

Unfortunately, they have the SCARIEST CM serving there now (not at the bar) and it made a significant difference (and not in a good way) in our enjoyment of the place.

So, if you go, sit at the bar, and don't expect much in the way of Disney courtesy and you'll be fine.

 

[OrlandoMike]

We used to really (and I do mean REALLY) love Mizner's.

Unfortunately, they have the SCARIEST CM serving there now (not at the bar) and it made a significant difference (and not in a good way) in our enjoyment of the place.

So, if you go, sit at the bar, and don't expect much in the way of Disney courtesy and you'll be fine.

I so know who you are talking about! You get a better view of the band from the bar anyway.....

 

[zeitzeuge]

Try to get up to Mizners when the Grand Floridian Orchestra starts around 5:00! Great place for a hidden, very entertaining, mid afternoon adult pleasure!


And believe it or not, there is a blog about places to sit and relax in the four parks!

http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2010/01/have_a_seat_in_walt_disney_wor_1.html

Wow there's some great suggestions. Finding out of the way places is how we force ourselves to relax, without having to go back to the hotel for a nap. Which never happens of course, because I lay there thinking about what all I'm missing. We tried it one time. Steven was snoring within minutes. Plus, he's able to take cat naps and wake totally refreshed after 30 minutes. I can't do that.

I love the AllEars site, but never knew about this section of it. So odd that someones devoted a blog to nothing but places to sit! Very informative though.

 

[zulemara]

I go to the parks to relax, but that's cuz I live here!

When I don't want the experience of the parks, I love going to Ft Wilderness and sitting on the beach with a drink and watching the boats come and go(I might be slightly biased here). It's so awesome to just watch the water and it's pretty quiet even with the horns blowing from the boats. I think Ft Wilderness is awesome for getting away because you really have no idea you're in the middle of this huge resort. Somehow no matter what you're doing there, it seems like its own little world.

 

[PghLybrt]

I tend to hang out at the Tune-In Lounge at Prime Time. Nothing like a Long Island Iced Tea at 11 a.m.!

Us too! ( Although my choice is yuengling) or at the backlot bar( or whatever it is called) at DHS.

 

[SandrA9810]

i'm totally with you zule. The fort is the absolute best place in the world to be. Although at night and chilly days, you'll find me in front of a fire place at the lodge. Either the DVC train room or the fourth floor fire place in the main lobby.
i know the fort and the lodge like the back of my hand. Best place on earth. Although yacht and beach club are slowly growing on me cause of the free wi-fi.

 

[MonorailMan]

The bar at Prime Time is really a bit odd, but I enjoy it. It doesn't feel like you're at WDW any more when you're there......and I'm still trying to figure out if I like that or not. It feels like you've been swooshed away (yes, I said "swooshed") to some strange place in the midwest during the 70's or 80's that had owners who just refused to change the 50's decor. It feels very different during the daylight hours than it does at night, mainly because it feels less like a bar and more like something you'd find in your grandma's basement, and there are fewer people during those hours. I like the tongue-in-cheekiness of it, but it's definitely on my "top-5" list for "WDW's strangest places".

 

[zeitzeuge]

The bar at Prime Time is really a bit odd, but I enjoy it. It doesn't feel like you're at WDW any more when you're there......and I'm still trying to figure out if I like that or not. It feels like you've been swooshed away (yes, I said "swooshed") to some strange place in the midwest during the 70's or 80's that had owners who just refused to change the 50's decor. It feels very different during the daylight hours than it does at night, mainly because it feels less like a bar and more like something you'd find in your grandma's basement, and there are fewer people during those hours. I like the tongue-in-cheekiness of it, but it's definitely on my "top-5" list for "WDW's strangest places".

Where is this Prime Time place?