Top 10 Quiet Corners of Disney World

Walt Disney World can be a crowded place, and there are a number of reasons you might want to seek out quiet corners in Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, or even the resorts. Perhaps you need a reprieve from the chaos, to escape other people, or simply need to decompress from the sensory overload that Walt Disney World often offers.

For many people, there’s no longer such a thing as a disconnected vacation, even at Walt Disney World. As laptops and smart phones have become ubiquitous, so too has the expectation that work calls and emails will be responded to within hours, even on vacation. It’s unfortunate, but always being “on call” is simply the reality for many people.

The best “quiet corner” at Walt Disney World is always going to be your hotel room. That’s probably a given, but I’ll nonetheless reiterate the how nice it is to start the day by sitting on your hotel balcony with a cup of coffee. It’s a blissful and decompressing way to start the day, and I have developed something of an appreciation for these quiet moments in the mornings. With that said, here’s our list of the other best quiet corners at Walt Disney World…

10. Town Center Welcome Center – Disney Springs has a lot going for it, but there are a few notable downsides–the lack of quiet spots and shade chief among them. Long ago, we stumbled upon the Town Center Welcome Center by accident. I appreciate the rocking chairs with a view out over the water, the awnings that provide shelter from the sun or storms, and the lack of crowds.

Any restaurant with a terrace out onto the water is going to have the same result, but you’ll have to pay for that experience (or rather, for food). Starbucks is a good air-conditioned option at Disney Springs, but it’s not going to be quiet. Finally, there’s the walkway behind that same Starbucks that runs along the waterfront and overlooks Saratoga Springs Resort.

9. PizzeRizzo Balcony – Tucked away back in Muppets Courtyard, this is far enough from the entrance to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge that it’s secluded from the crowds and is the least-busy area of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

During off-hours, you’re likely to find few people up on the PizzeRizzo balcony. If you don’t need a table, finding an isolated corner in the courtyard may be an equally good choice. We love the Miss Piggy fountain!

8. Fez House – There’s a lot tucked away in Morocco at Epcot. For that reason, it’s my favorite pavilion in all of World Showcase (sorry, France and Japan). From meandering pathways to the marketplace vendors to the often-overlooked Restaurant Marrakesh deep in the back, Morocco has a ton to offer that the vast majority of Walt Disney World guests never see.

Arguably, the very best feature of the Morocco pavilion is hiding in plain sight. That’s the Fez House, which is located just to the left of the main courtyard. Through a nondescript doorway, you enter a lovely tiled room that is meant to reflect a typical Moroccan home. It’s peaceful and serene in here, with the trickle of water providing an atmospheric soundtrack and diffused light coming from the beautiful fixtures.

7. Flame Tree BBQ Seating – Animal Kingdom has a ton of quiet spaces, particularly throughout the Oasis and Tree of Life trails, but the problem with all of those spots is that these can be relatively tight spaces, so all it takes is one loud party to come your way and eliminate what was once a reprieve.

Due to that, I much prefer chilling in the Flame Tree BBQ seating area during off hours. If you’re here outside of the prime dining hours, you can typically grab a table with absolutely no one around. Few things beat a lounge spot with Everest in the background.

6. Hotel du Canada – If you head towards the sun in the photo above (to the left of the Hotel du Canada), you’ll find yourself at a location in the Canada pavilion where few other guests venture.

There are a few benches back there, and it’s the perfect environment to relax away from the crowds. I frequently head up here for the relaxing roar of the waterfall, which can also provide a nice ‘blanket’ of white noise.

5. Disney Vacation Club Community Rooms – In almost every DVC resort, there is a community room (actually, I’m not sure if the newer ones have them). These rooms usually have board games, televisions, and reading chairs. The idea, as reflected in the name, is that they’d be a gathering place for community events.

The problem (or in our case, benefit) is that almost no one ever uses them. I’ve spent hours in the ones at Old Key West, Wilderness Lodge, and Beach Club Villas and have seldom had anyone else join me in the room.

4. Katsura Grill Outdoor Seating – There have been several times when we’ve opted to eat at Katsura Grill not because we were in the mood for Japanese cuisine, but because we wanted to escape the crowds at the outdoor seating area up here.

There’s rarely anyone around this area of the Japan pavilion, and it’s especially serene at night with the lanterns hanging overheard and the reflecting ponds nearby.

3. Crescent Solarium – I would hazard a guess that there are lifelong fans who don’t even know this exists. I didn’t until stumbling upon it by chance a few years ago.

Located in a quiet wing of Beach Club as you head towards the Villas, this hallway and airy atrium rarely has many people in it, making it a great place to work or decompress. (Pro tip: it’s also a great spot to eat whatever you order from Beach Club Marketplace, should you be forced into eating there.)

2. Tomorrowland Terrace – A quiet seating area with shade and a view of Cinderella Castle? This one is nearly impossible to beat. While it “closes” early to set-up for the dessert parties and sometimes is actually operational as a restaurant, early in the day, it’s perfect.

Pro tip: grabbing breakfast and taking it here to eat with no one around–and a castle view–is the perfect way to start a day!

1. Wilderness Lodge Fireplaces – The fireplace in the main lobby of Wilderness Lodge is “okay.” It’s so popular it sometimes has multiple rows of rocking chairs sitting out at it, which is fine if you want to see the back of someone’s head. The good news is that Wilderness Lodge must’ve bought its fireplaces in bulk, as they’re all over the place. For a more secluded experience, head upstairs to the alcoves, which have fireplaces and overstuffed reading chairs and couches around them. #SERENITYNOW

Even if you have no intentions of ever answering a work email on vacation or putting together a spreadsheet of [insert whatever people do with spreadsheets–I don’t use them!], hopefully this list gives you some insight into where you can find some quiet corners at Walt Disney World. Now, don’t make me regret sharing these with you by being loud and obnoxious in any of them! 😉

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Your Thoughts

What about you…do you have any quiet places you like to go to get down to business (or just escape the crowds) at Walt Disney World? Do you agree or disagree with our advice? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!