Peaceful Vacations At Disney (and beyond)

Peaceful vacations at Disney World may not seem possible to most people, but they can be a reality with the right mindset and strategies!

Vacations are supposed to be relaxing, but sadly, that’s not always the case, especially when traveling with kids. Both my kids were under five when we took them to Disney for the first time, and I was wiped out when we got home. We had a great time, but I certainly didn’t feel like I had been on a relaxing vacation when we got home – ha! In this post, we’re sharing what we’ve learned in our 30+ years of traveling with kids and now as adults with our kids and grandkids. Peaceful vacations can be a reality with the right mindset and strategies!

When someone tells me they hate Disney World, the first thing I ask is when they went. It was usually in the summer when the heat and humidity were horrendous or during a major holiday when the parks were packed wall-to-wall with people. But that’s true for all tourist destinations. Gatlinburg, for example, is a nightmare during the holidays. It can take hours to get down the parkway, and restaurant reservations are impossible – not my idea of a peaceful vacation. The time of year you visit any vacation destination will significantly impact your overall experience. To have a relaxing Disney Trip, you first need to know when to go! Let’s dive in.

Peaceful Vacations At Disney

As we discuss finding more peaceful moments, remember there are no rules. Do what feels relaxing to you. For my husband and me, that’s spending a couple of hours at Nomad Lounge or Geyser Point, strolling around our resort, hanging out at Baseline Taphouse, sharing a pretzel and a beer, or riding the friendship boats. For others, that might look like sleeping in or spending the day hanging out by the pool. There is no right or wrong, but don’t go home without doing at least some relaxing things you wanted to do. This is your vacation, after all!

Most of these tips can be applied to any vacation destination, not just Disney.

When You Visit Matters

When Disney World is packed with people, it’s simply not enjoyable, in my opinion. There will be long lines for rides, restaurants, and even Disney transportation. Rather than repeating myself, I recently posted the best times to visit Disney World. I know many people are unaffected by crowds, but in the spirit of peaceful vacations, crowds and long lines should be avoided, if possible.

Most families with school-aged children can only visit during holidays or when school is out, which are the most crowded times. If that is your situation, don’t be discouraged. We have visited Disney many times when the crowd levels are high, and you can still have an enjoyable vacation by following some of the tips below.

Don’t Over-Plan

We’ve been going to Disney World since my kids were toddlers. They are adults now, and we travel with our children and young grandchildren, so I can relate to visiting Disney World at every stage of life. This is the advice I would give to anyone going to Disney World looking to have a relaxing and peaceful vacation.

Your overall experience will be profoundly affected by how much you try to fit in. If you hit the ground running first thing in the morning and go-go-go all day long, especially if you have young kids, that’s a recipe for being stressed out and exhausted by mid-afternoon. Disney veterans call it the 3 o’clock meltdown.

Instead of doing that, cut some things out of your plan. This is hard, but you will not be able to do it all, at least not without feeling rushed and stressed. Trust me on this. We’ve gone more times than I can count, and we still can’t fit everything in. Everything at Disney World takes more time than you think it will. Embrace that you won’t get it all done, and look forward to doing new things on your next trip!

By slowing down, you change the whole dynamic of your trip. Instead of feeling rushed and chaotic, you can relax and enjoy the little moments that too many people miss. There is pure joy in those moments, like watching your kids run around the hub green in front of the castle, or riding the monorail and exploring resorts. That’s what vacation is all about! Life is already rushed and chaotic enough. Your vacation shouldn’t be.

Time Is Money

Time is money at Disney World. Waiting in long lines, Disney transportation, and getting from point A to point B will take longer than you think. If you have to wait an hour or more for just 3 to 4 rides, that’s 3 to 4 hours of your day waiting in line. Depending on how many days you have at Disney World, this could consume precious hours, possibly making you feel rushed and stressed.

Take Advantage Of Rideshare

You will never find us riding a bus. A peaceful vacation is not being crammed onto a bus like cattle and stuck on it for 45 minutes to an hour. Nope! We are huge fans of rideshare. The picture above was from last year. We had just arrived at Magic Kingdom in our Disney Minnie Van, no ticket and transfer center, no monorail or ferry, and no stress. Just a peaceful trip to the front of the park and $45 WELL spent! You do not have to take a Minnie Van. Regular Lyft options are available, but Minnie Vans are perfect if you have a child in a car seat. They come fully equipped, and the drive does everything for you!
The first thing people say is, “It’s too expensive,” but hear me out. Rideshare saves time and stress. I added up all of our rideshare receipts from our last 14-day trip, and the total was $228, including tips (and I’m a very generous tipper). That averages out to $17 a day. That’s the cost of a beer in most places, a Mickey pretzel, or a turkey leg. The price is a non-issue as far as I’m concerned, especially if less stress getting to and from the parks matters to you.
Disney World encourages rideshare, so multiple vehicles are usually lined up outside virtually every parking resort. You rarely have to wait more than five minutes, and you’re taken directly to your destination. Instead of being crammed into a bus or monorail with long lines that take forever, you’re starting and ending your day relaxing while also saving a ton of time. If you prioritize rideshare, you will have a much more relaxing trip!

Purchase Lightning Lane

Who wants to spend half their day waiting in long lines? Not me! Purchasing Lightning Lanes passes is another way to save valuable time, have a more relaxing vacation, and ensure you can ride your favorite rides!

When you purchase a Lightning Lane pass, you essentially book a time to return to the ride. It allows you to skip the standby line, which can sometimes be a very long wait. You can read how the Lightning Lane system works here, but I highly recommend budgeting for it. It can save hours, not to mention the stress of not having to wait in long lines, especially in the heat and/or if you have young kids.
Some people like to ride as many rides as possible at the beginning of the day and then have a slow and relaxing afternoon. While others want to space their ride times out, which is what I like to do. Booking ride times an hour to an hour and a half apart gives us plenty of time to leisurely make our way to the next ride without feeling rushed. This is when you can stop and enjoy a Micey pretzel, or let the kids play. The overall trend here is no rushing because rushing = stress!
Depending on who you’re traveling with, sometimes Lightning Lane isn’t necessary for all four parks. If you have kids, for example, you will need it at Magic Kingdom, especially if it’s a busier time of year. But if you’re visiting with low crowds, you may not need it at Animal Kingdom. We purchase it for every park. At this point, we are so spoiled by not waiting in lines that it’s just something we budget for every trip, and the time and stress it saves us is well worth the expense! Having said that. We save a TON of money in other ways. You can read my Cheapest Way To Do Disney post for some ideas.

Peaceful Vacations Are Slow Vacations

It’s OK to go slow and take a break. As discussed above, you won’t be able to do it all anyway, so embrace going slow. Slowing down also means you won’t miss the little details. Most people have blinders on when they arrive at the park. They hurry to get to that first ride and blow past everything around them. Disney spends millions of dollars on the details, so slow down and pay attention to the magic around you.

Sometimes, you may need to feed your kids, take a break from all the stimulation, or escape the heat. Even on the most crowded days, there are quiet spots all over Disney property. Some are more secluded, while others have beautiful views, like the stadium in Animal Kingdom. Although it’s not shaded, it is almost always empty. We like to grab a drink or a coffee and hang out here for a while. If you want more peaceful moments like this, be intentional about making them! Here are some of our favorite spots.

Animal Kingdom

Harambe Market or Flame Tree BBQ has tons of seating before the lunch crowds set in.
Discovery River Amphitheater (no shade but beautiful views and ample seating)
Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail and Maharajah Jungle Trek (especially in the morning)
The not-so-secret little pathway that runs parallel to the main walkway from Africa to Asia.

Magic Kingdom

Center Street near Uptown Jewelers on Main Street offers seating perfect for people-watching.
The courtyard behind the Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Liberty Square.
Ride the train and stay on it. It’s a beautiful, breezy ride that keeps the kids happy!
Hall of Presidents is quiet, has air-conditioning, and is a great place to cool off and decompress.

Hollywood Studios

Backlot Express, before opening, has tons of seating, which is mostly shaded.
The tables and chairs in front of ABC Commissary are perfect for sitting and people-watching.
Sunset Boulevard is a vibe. Most eateries are closed in the morning, with plenty of open seating.
There is a seating area outside the Tower of Terror exit that most people miss. It’s secluded and quiet!

Epcot

The Morocco Pavilion (pictured above) has secluded seating areas and the Fez House.
Waterfront seating in front of the France Pavilion. It’s not shaded but typically empty and peaceful.
Japan Pavilion offers serene gardens and ample seating. We love sitting in the bamboo trees.
Connections Eatery is pretty empty before lunch. There is TONS of air-conditioned seating.
Disney Springs
The walking path along the water on the West Side is our favorite place to relax at Disney Springs!
Terralina Crafted has an outdoor bar we LOVE. It’s relaxing, covered, and the drinks are great!
The tables behind The Art Corner on the Marketplace side are a little hidden and quieter.
In my opinion, nothing beats sitting at the Dockside bar behind The Boathouse. Hanging out here is a whole vibe. It’s casual, the servers are incredible, it’s breezy even on hot days, and you can watch the Amphicar Water Taxis go by as you relax and enjoy the company around you. It’s our favorite way to start and end a vacation in a relaxing and peaceful way!

Pro tip. Several restaurants around Disney property have seating that can be accessed even when the restaurant isn’t open. For example, the Rose and Crown dining room in the UK at Epcot has ample indoor and outdoor seating that you can enjoy when the restaurant is closed. We often get fish and chips from Yorkshire County Fish Shop and eat inside Rose and Crown, which is air-conditioned. Another favorite is Harambe Market in Animal Kingdom. It’s enormous, and most of it is covered. Before it opens at 11 AM, it is virtually empty and relaxing!

Do The Opposite Of Everyone Else

One of the most enjoyable times to explore the World Showcase at Epcot is first thing in the morning. Most people have one thing on their mind, and that’s to get to their first ride. This is when you want to go! On our last trip, we arrived through the international Gateway (the back entrance) as soon as it opened. As you can see in the photo above, it was practically empty. We slowly strolled around, exploring the countries while drinking our coffee, and it was one of the most enjoyable mornings of our trip!

This tip can be applied to every park. While they might not be as empty as the World Showcase, if you do the opposite of what most people do, which is hurrying to get to the rides, you can usually find these little peaceful moments on your vacation.

Disney Trip Essentials
Disney Purse	Disney Suitcase	Adult Raincoat

I hope this post has given you some helpful ideas for a peaceful vacation. If you have any suggestions, please share them in the comments below!

I hope this is helpful! If you have any tips you'd like to share, please let us know in the comments below. Be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook, and sign up for my email list so you don’t miss anything new. Thanks for being here, friends ♥

Peaceful Vacations At Disney (and beyond)

Peaceful vacations at Disney World may not seem possible to most people, but they can be a reality with the right mindset and strategies!