Solutions For When You Need a Mid-Day Rest at The Magic Kingdom

It’s the middle of the day at Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park, and you can already feel the effects of that morning coffee wearing off. The kids are getting a little whiny and restless, and everyone could do with just a bit of a break.

But you’re at Disney! This is the experience of a lifetime, and you don’t want to miss a single moment of the magic. Taking some time out may be the best course of action, but it also feels like a sacrifice. So, what’s the compromise? You search out some low-key venues where you can sit one out without forgoing any of the magic.

While there are many obvious areas to take a break at, like baby changing stations, you want to keep it all appealing for everyone in your group. Well, here are 12 tentative solutions for you to consider as you pursue that much-needed mid-day break.

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12. Mickey’s PhilharMagic

If you need to get off your feet but you’re still craving the action of an engaging attraction, then this is the perfect go-to over at Fantasyland. Spanning a grand total of 12 minutes, this 4D indoor theater show offers the perfect mini respite from the Florida heat, allowing you to sit for a bit in the AC while enjoying all of Donald Duck’s amusing antics and interactions with beloved classic Disney characters from a range of well-known films. The non-stop action unfolding on screen (and stunning tactile elements beyond the screen) will keep you amused, fully-focused and may even rejuvenate and motivate you for when you’re ready to continue on your way.

11. Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room

Here’s another excellent, engaging theater attraction for when you need to beat the heat and get off your feet for a bit. Because it is such an iconic opening day Disney attraction, to begin with, it really should be on everyone’s list anyway. Based in Adventureland, Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room is presented as a 15-minute show featuring myriad colorful animatronic birds, original music by the Sherman Brothers, and that very real sentiment you get from what is essentially an authentic Disney Classic.

10. Country Bear Jamboree

Cuddling up with a teddy bear may give you that calming effect, but when you’re in the midst of the bustling Magic Kingdom, perhaps seeing a cast of big performing animatronic bears is what you need. It’s another opening day attraction that’s pure Classic Disney. Originally intended for the highly anticipated but later scrapped Mineral King Ski Resort, this cute animatronic show is around 12 minutes and is another engaging way to come in from the heat while still taking in an attraction.

Related: Disney’s Lost Plans to Build a Ski Resort

9. Tom Sawyer Island

Tired Theme Park Guests are sometimes prone to falsely misjudge this go-at-your-own pace attraction as one that will entail plenty of walking. But what you need to know is that there are literally lots of places where you can sit and rest a bit here, away from Magic Kingdom Park crowds. It literally is an on-your-own venture, so you get to decide how long you want to stay when you want to stop and start, and whether you want to sit this one out while others in your party go exploring. Don’t pass on this viable offer for mid-day relaxation.

Related: Our Picks for Disney World’s Most Underrated Attractions

8. Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover

Want to do nothing but still feel like you’re doing something? Perhaps you should go for a ride aboard the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover. A slow-moving aerial-based track ride designed as an urban mass transit system, it offers you a 10-minute drive-by over the Park, zipping in and out and even behind the scenes of certain Tomorrowland staples, including Space Mountain. It’s both a very informative and very relaxing ride to enjoy.

Related: How to Find Personal Space When Disney Parks Reach Capacity

7. Walt Disney Carousel of Progress

Here is another Tomorrowland-based solution for resting up via an animatronic theater production. Presented in a revolving theater and featuring scenes and depictions of American life throughout history, it can be great for those seeking rest in two very specific formats. A history buff or someone who is genuinely interested may enjoy the show as a treat, being able to sit for circa 20 minutes and still feel like they’re doing something. But for small children or those who need a power nap, so to speak, the darkness within the theater provides just the right atmosphere for snoozing.

Related: Photos: Disney’s Carousel of Progress Changes End Scene

6. Hall of Presidents

If the Carousel of Progress was too interesting for you to fall asleep in, then the Hall of Presidents may just let you catch some much-needed shuteye instead. While I don’t want to offend anybody by calling it an absolute snooze fest, there are many who feel the same way. This is an especially boring attraction for small children. So, if you’re looking for a way to get a tiny tyke to take a quick nap (and you want to nod off a bit yourself), this attraction will certainly do the trick.

5. Rapunzel Bathrooms Rest Area

Just between Liberty Square and Fantasyland, you’ll find this colorful, intricately decorated rest area themed after Disney’s beloved animated classic Tangled. Sure, it’s the perfect spot to do your business, change babies, and all that, but it’s also a welcoming spot to sit and rest, enjoy the scenery, and try to find “hidden Pascals” all around. It’s also an excellent location to charge your smart devices via their complimentary charging stations. Be warned, though: this spot is lacking in shaded areas and may not be the best choice when the hot Florida sun is at its highest point in the sky.

4. The Storybook Circus Tent

Continue on to Fantasyland and head specifically for the yellow Storybook Circus tent. This may very well be one of the best of unassuming secret spots in Magic Kingdom Park for recharging both yourself as well as your smart devices. That’s right, aside from plenty of unoccupied “hidden” seating, they also have lesser-known outlets you may want to utilize. This is a good chance for kids to pick out a souvenir or two.

Related: 12 Overlooked Experiences at the Magic Kingdom

3. Town Square Exposition Hall

It’s interesting to note that one of the most ideal resting stops to make within Magic Kingdom Park can be found right in plain sight—over on Main Street, U.S.A., no less. If you ever stop and truly look around this busy section of the Park, you’ll notice that right outside of Town Square Exposition Hall, there are plenty of places to sit a bit. What’s more, if you enter the Hall by way of Tony’s and continue on past the cameras, you will find a nice little area with seating and animated Disney shorts being played on a continuous loop on a screen. Take the moment to decompress and potentially prepare for your upcoming visit with Mickey!

2. Unassuming Dining Nooks

Sometimes when you need to relax, you also need to refuel with some satisfying snacks, a refreshing drink, or even a convenient meal. But what do you do when you don’t want to sit in a congested, noisy area? Just head for one of the many quiet dining nooks that remain some of the Magic Kingdom’s best-kept secrets. Two such recommendations, in particular, include the upstairs dining rooms at both Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café (in Frontierland) and Columbia Harbour House (at Liberty Square). Both locations offer versatile menus that are sure to satisfy you and every picky eater in your bunch. Then, just head for the upstairs to the unassuming dining rooms—both of which continue the wonderful themes featured throughout these quick-service eateries. Whichever location you venture to, it’s sure to be the perfect, peaceful setting that will hit the spot in more ways than one.

Related: Upstairs Dining Locations at Disney That No One Talks About

1. Liberty Belle

For some, true peace comes by being out on the calm and gentle waters of the Rivers of America. That’s where the Liberty Belle—alternately known as the Liberty Square Riverboat—comes in. As one of the Park’s gentlest, most soothing attractions, plenty of people can board all at once without crowding your space. And you can sit as long as you’d like in a given spot or even move around as you take in the surrounding scenery of the Rivers of America. And with Mark Twain as your narrator for the less-than-15-minute duration, it’s a wonderful, versatile way to take it easy a bit as an optimal rest and relaxation answer that works best for just about everyone in your party and doesn’t halt or hinder any of the fun.

Related: A Boat Lover’s Guide to Staying Afloat While Visiting Disney World

You may not have realized it, but there really is no shortage of the many different places throughout Disney World Parks, as well as at Disney Resorts, where you can stop and take a much-needed rest. You just have to find the spots that work best for you and create your own little magical respite.