Which is the least physically congested park and/or nice uncongested rest spots?

tentaguasu

Mouseketeer
Joined
Aug 19, 2002
Messages
390
Without getting into a masking debate, we'll have one person in our party who has health issues and needs to be more aggressive with masking. That said, we need outdoor breaks from it as much as we can. How would you rank the parks in terms of just open space to get away from people for a bit of (at least somewhat) distanced, relaxed maskless unwind time?

I'm thinking Epcot has the most open space, HS the least, and AK and MK somewhere in the middle.

Also, if you have favorite "out of the way" rest locations for some "distanced time outs" I'd love to hear them!

(Again, not going for a covid/mask debate here, just hoping for some space suggestions.)
 
MK is tough - there is a little street to the right (when looking at the castle) on Main St. where the silhouette artist sits that typically isn't crowded at all - I just can't recall if there is any seating. If you walk past the silhouette artist, down the little street, you will probably encounter very few people there. Typically if you head over to the Space Mountain area, you can find some spaced out seating near the ride. There are some real choke points with lots of crowds at MK - Liberty Square from the steamboat heading into Fantasyland toward Small World is pretty bad - you may want to try to avoid that area altogether

AK - if you stroll around the Tree of Life to see the carvings, you may not encounter many people at all (I just did this in Feb. and I was the only person there) - no seating though.

EP - The gardens in UK are a good spot for some distanced, outdoor time. Even if there are people there, it will be very spread out.
 
In MK i like that little alcove off Main St, there are bistro tables down there. I think the silhouette cart is usually set up on the corner.

In AK after you come out of Dinosaur as you are walking towards the gift shop there are some nice spots that are usually pretty empty. Also the eating space off flame tree, down by the river are pretty open if you are not there during peak dining times. Just about the whole river of light theater right now too (well, maybe not during the kite show but i have not been there during that yet).

In Epcot usually the maze behind the UK pavilion is quiet, not sure if there are any seats around there though. Over behind Figment, near the bathrooms.

HS... Ive got nothing!
 
Without getting into a masking debate, we'll have one person in our party who has health issues and needs to be more aggressive with masking. That said, we need outdoor breaks from it as much as we can. How would you rank the parks in terms of just open space to get away from people for a bit of (at least somewhat) distanced, relaxed maskless unwind time?

I'm thinking Epcot has the most open space, HS the least, and AK and MK somewhere in the middle.

Also, if you have favorite "out of the way" rest locations for some "distanced time outs" I'd love to hear them!

(Again, not going for a covid/mask debate here, just hoping for some space suggestions.)
Epcot future world in the evening is pretty empty and wide open. Animal Kingdom also in the evening. Midday? It's going to be packed everywhere.
 

Epcot or Magic Kingdom. You can find some places in AK. I hate to say it but really think about whether this is worth it. You have a high chance of being exposed to COVID at WDW. There are just so many people from all over the world there.
 
I think it all depends on time of day. But we have found nice, large open outdoor areas (with tables and chairs) in HS and AK. HS backlot express (next to the star wars ride) is a good option. Note that this might be busier during meal times.
One good place is AK is where they used to do the night show.
 
Each park does have their places where you can get away (as much as it is possible in WDW).

In MK, the area behind the Christmas shop in Liberty Square is nice (where they used to have the Tiana M&G), this is also one of our go to places to watch the fireworks if we are with a group that doesn't care about the projections.

In Epcot, more often then not there is some room to get away in front of the building in China where Reflections of China is, plus a nice little garden there.

In HS, probably the least amount of space away, but usually the area around Echo Lake can be a little less busy than others.

In AK, once you take the Express Train to Rafiki's Planet Watch, there are usually a few places to sit down that are not too crowded, but you do need to take the train over there, so it's not the most convenient to get to.
 
There are bottlenecks in every park like entrances and certain bridges and transportation points that are crowded, even AK. I guess you could walk around Epcot or go to the kite show at AK. But any ride is going to be crowded and also just walking around at many places. I can only think of a couple rides that would work, like Soarin or teacups or triceratops.

I would skip HS altogether. Even the filler rides, Frozen or Muppets, are really crowded.
 
Epcot had more relaxation space available before all of the construction began, but it's still at the top of my list. Favorite spots:

- Inside the main gate then immediate turn to either the left or right

- Pass Club Cool on your right as you walk toward Mission Space and take a left down a sidewalk past Geoffrey's Coffee

- UK garden area

DHS: Leave Toy Story Land (not the exit toward Galaxy's Edge, the other/main exit). As you pass the large restroom complex on the right, turn right. It's now a quiet dead-end walkway (that used to lead to the former entrance to Toy Story Mania).

MK: Unfortunately, the Tron construction has wiped out the only real quiet spot I have used (between Dumbo and Space Mountain). A poor substitute is the little alley where silhouettes are made to the right as you are walking up Main Street after the jewelry store.

DAK: As you approach Tusker House Restaurant from Discovery Island, turn left. Pass the Harambe Theater on your right. The walkway along the water is usually uncrowded and has a few places to relax.
 
I'll play.

Epcot is pretty easy, lots of big open space between most pavilions, lots of outdoor seating.

MK isn't as hard as it seems, the walkways and areas are designed to handle large crowds. Liberty Square and Frontierland are pretty open. And Tomorrowland Terrace is covered pretty empty 90% of the day. There are also some large outdoor dining areas where crowds will vary.

AK may be the congested, but there are some less taken pathways and trails

DHS has some big open spaces, but those offer little reprieve from the sun or standing.
 
Some of my favorites:
MK - Tomorrowland Terrace, past Pirates in the breezeway between Adventureland and Frontierland next to Tortuga Tavern.
EPCOT - the tables next to Katsura Grill in the Japan Pavilion (shaded and relatively quiet, just don't go during meal times)
HS - again not during meal times, but the table in the corner behind Sunset Ranch Market is perfect for people watching and chilling out. Also the tables on Sunset Blvd behind the Trolley Car Starbucks are pretty spread out.
AK - near the waterfront behind Flame Tree
 
All good suggestions. It's been a while but I used to enjoy the dock along the River below BTMRR ...until they turned it into a smoking area(which is no longer) -they had nice rocking chairs and was a good spot to unwind. Also -in Japan next to Katsura Grill is usually quiet during non-peak dining hours, and relaxing. Connections Cafe & Eatery looks to be a nice large open space(and cool) that hasn't seemed overly crowded on videos I've seen recently(obviously not around peak dining times).
 
Most space or hidden pockets ---
1) Epcot is bigger and more spread out, has tons of places to sit and breathe though mostly wall sittig.
2) Animal Kingdom we have no problem finding empty areas and open seating everywhere.
3) MK has a few spots though you have to travel mostly crowded areas most the time to get anywhere.
4) DHS is last simply because of it's size. There are plenty of outdoor seating as most QS is outdoor and if you know the park or ask for specifics you know the spots and where to avoid.
 
I have long sought out all the quiet spots to take a break - mostly because I'm a very frequent Disney visitor, DVC member, annual passholder, and Florida resident...that means I'm never in a rush, have no must-do rides, and often take a relaxed approach with as little planning as possible in the parks. Finding lovely spots to take a break, have a drink, and be out of the crowds, is one of my favorite things to do. Note: there are always spots like restaurant seating areas that can occasionally be quiet and wide-open, depending on time of day, so I'll instead focus on non-restaurant spots that are good places to take a break and not be around the crowds, even if you can still watch them buzzing around...most of these are spots with a bench or seating of some kind, and shelter from sun and rain.

MK - Definitely the most difficult due to the sheer number of people there, and not having as many carve-out sections with no ride or entertainment...but a few I like:
- Behind Liberty Tree Tavern and the Christmas Shoppe, there's a park-like section with a bridge going from Liberty Square to Adventureland - there are some tables back there, benches, and even just places to sit on the stone wall, and there isn't a ton of cross traffic going through there - even those that pass through won't be right on top of you.
- A pavilion that sits on the river by Big Thunder Mountain - it's covered and has rocking chairs...there's a smoking section NEARBY, but it does not include that pavilion, so a lot of people don't even realize it's there.
- In the seating section between Pecos Bill and Tortuga Cafe, there's usually tables along the back balcony, not in the main table area, where you can usually sit and relax without the crowding - the narrow covered porch area that extends across from the Pirates restrooms and the fry cabin.
- In the Fantasyland circus area, there are seats and chairs way back by the Fantasyland train station that even in the most crowded times you can find a spot to relax - if it's not raining and you don't need the cover, there are open tables with umbrellas, and even some nice low flat walls to sit on.
- In Tomorrowland, the far back corner between Carousel of Progress and Space Mountain has plenty of open space and very few people - it's not rain or sun-sheltered, but a nice place to get away from the crowds.
- In Tomorrowland, because Tomorrowland Terrace is closed 98% of the time, the vast covered seating area there is a nice place to settle down with plenty of space to distance from others.

Epcot - Usually plenty of space here, but some odd little spots include:
- In China, there are covered benches along the side of the Temple and museum, that sit in the shade most of the day, and few people walk by there - when they do, they're plenty far away.
- In Morocco, there are little cafe tables and chairs along the wall back by Restaurant Marrakesh, rarely occupied. Not rain sheltered, but rarely anyone there.
- In Japan, the Katsume cafe has a wood balcony extending around the entire outside - it serves as a great bench even though it technically isn't one, and few people pass by - it's also covered from sun, and can be a getaway in rainshowers too.

Animal Kingdom - Other than the restaurant seating areas like Flame Tree that can have some empty spots and tables, especially if you head down close to the water...that's time-of-day dependent, some non-restaurant spots:
- On the walkway between Harambe and Anandapur, just as you leave the Harambe drumming area, there's a path that breaks away to the left - it's a carve-out path that's just a few hundred feet long then rejoins the main walkway - but halfway up is a small, covered gazebo with lights, fans, and tables. Few people realize it's there - you can sometimes be there by yourself for an hour, or maybe one other family or group comes to sit for a bit - there are 4 tables, so there's usually enough room and few enough people to not feel crowded or too close to anyone.
- There's a long walkway path that connects Pandora to Harambe, running along the river and coming up along the back of Lion King theatre - it's not very crowded as not very many realize it's there - and along the way are a few spots to stop, and some benches and walls as you approach Harambe and the restrooms.
- The paths that wind under the Tree of Life, between the Africa and Asia sections, are very quiet - not very many people know they're there or bother to take them. Along with the bonus of seeing some animals that many don't even know are in AK, such as the Galapagos tortoises, porcupines, kangaroos, etc...they are also just great places to leave the crowds.

DHS - Another difficult park because it's often so crowded. With not everything fully reopened, there have been spots where you could find some quiet and get out of the crowds such as seating areas for closed restaurants...but as things reopen, those will go away:
- There are some quiet spots along the lagoon, behind Keystone Clothiers, down the stairs - some benches, and some low walls that you can easily sit on - there's no pass-through down there, so few people ever walk down there unless they're going to look at the lagoon.
- There are usually tables unoccupied along the outside of the Commissary, and that path is not as commonly taken, so it's generally a good spot to get out of the crowds.
- Across from the exit to Tower of Terror, behind the Joffrey's stand, there are little carve-out walkways winding behind - they have a trellis roof that's not rain protected, but provides some sun relief, and the walls there are low enough to sit on - as it's just an area popped out near a ride exit and doesn't go anywhere, you can usually be pretty well spaced from people back there.
- If you must find a restaurant spot to sit and hopefully be away from people, despite sometimes being crowded, many don't realize PizzaRizzo has a second floor, covered, outside balcony...so seating is usually plentiful and socially distanced.
 
I have long sought out all the quiet spots to take a break - mostly because I'm a very frequent Disney visitor, DVC member, annual passholder, and Florida resident...that means I'm never in a rush, have no must-do rides, and often take a relaxed approach with as little planning as possible in the parks. Finding lovely spots to take a break, have a drink, and be out of the crowds, is one of my favorite things to do. Note: there are always spots like restaurant seating areas that can occasionally be quiet and wide-open, depending on time of day, so I'll instead focus on non-restaurant spots that are good places to take a break and not be around the crowds, even if you can still watch them buzzing around...most of these are spots with a bench or seating of some kind, and shelter from sun and rain.

MK - Definitely the most difficult due to the sheer number of people there, and not having as many carve-out sections with no ride or entertainment...but a few I like:
- Behind Liberty Tree Tavern and the Christmas Shoppe, there's a park-like section with a bridge going from Liberty Square to Adventureland - there are some tables back there, benches, and even just places to sit on the stone wall, and there isn't a ton of cross traffic going through there - even those that pass through won't be right on top of you.
- A pavilion that sits on the river by Big Thunder Mountain - it's covered and has rocking chairs...there's a smoking section NEARBY, but it does not include that pavilion, so a lot of people don't even realize it's there.
- In the seating section between Pecos Bill and Tortuga Cafe, there's usually tables along the back balcony, not in the main table area, where you can usually sit and relax without the crowding - the narrow covered porch area that extends across from the Pirates restrooms and the fry cabin.
- In the Fantasyland circus area, there are seats and chairs way back by the Fantasyland train station that even in the most crowded times you can find a spot to relax - if it's not raining and you don't need the cover, there are open tables with umbrellas, and even some nice low flat walls to sit on.
- In Tomorrowland, the far back corner between Carousel of Progress and Space Mountain has plenty of open space and very few people - it's not rain or sun-sheltered, but a nice place to get away from the crowds.
- In Tomorrowland, because Tomorrowland Terrace is closed 98% of the time, the vast covered seating area there is a nice place to settle down with plenty of space to distance from others.

Epcot - Usually plenty of space here, but some odd little spots include:
- In China, there are covered benches along the side of the Temple and museum, that sit in the shade most of the day, and few people walk by there - when they do, they're plenty far away.
- In Morocco, there are little cafe tables and chairs along the wall back by Restaurant Marrakesh, rarely occupied. Not rain sheltered, but rarely anyone there.
- In Japan, the Katsume cafe has a wood balcony extending around the entire outside - it serves as a great bench even though it technically isn't one, and few people pass by - it's also covered from sun, and can be a getaway in rainshowers too.

Animal Kingdom - Other than the restaurant seating areas like Flame Tree that can have some empty spots and tables, especially if you head down close to the water...that's time-of-day dependent, some non-restaurant spots:
- On the walkway between Harambe and Anandapur, just as you leave the Harambe drumming area, there's a path that breaks away to the left - it's a carve-out path that's just a few hundred feet long then rejoins the main walkway - but halfway up is a small, covered gazebo with lights, fans, and tables. Few people realize it's there - you can sometimes be there by yourself for an hour, or maybe one other family or group comes to sit for a bit - there are 4 tables, so there's usually enough room and few enough people to not feel crowded or too close to anyone.
- There's a long walkway path that connects Pandora to Harambe, running along the river and coming up along the back of Lion King theatre - it's not very crowded as not very many realize it's there - and along the way are a few spots to stop, and some benches and walls as you approach Harambe and the restrooms.
- The paths that wind under the Tree of Life, between the Africa and Asia sections, are very quiet - not very many people know they're there or bother to take them. Along with the bonus of seeing some animals that many don't even know are in AK, such as the Galapagos tortoises, porcupines, kangaroos, etc...they are also just great places to leave the crowds.

DHS - Another difficult park because it's often so crowded. With not everything fully reopened, there have been spots where you could find some quiet and get out of the crowds such as seating areas for closed restaurants...but as things reopen, those will go away:
- There are some quiet spots along the lagoon, behind Keystone Clothiers, down the stairs - some benches, and some low walls that you can easily sit on - there's no pass-through down there, so few people ever walk down there unless they're going to look at the lagoon.
- There are usually tables unoccupied along the outside of the Commissary, and that path is not as commonly taken, so it's generally a good spot to get out of the crowds.
- Across from the exit to Tower of Terror, behind the Joffrey's stand, there are little carve-out walkways winding behind - they have a trellis roof that's not rain protected, but provides some sun relief, and the walls there are low enough to sit on - as it's just an area popped out near a ride exit and doesn't go anywhere, you can usually be pretty well spaced from people back there.
- If you must find a restaurant spot to sit and hopefully be away from people, despite sometimes being crowded, many don't realize PizzaRizzo has a second floor, covered, outside balcony...so seating is usually plentiful and socially distanced.

Thanks to everyone who replied, this was very helpful! Double thanks to Zakiedawg for such a detailed list!!
 












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