While Disneyland is filled with a variety of exciting experiences, from thrilling rides to dazzling entertainment, it can be very easy to become overstimulated or caught in a mindset of needing to rush from place to place. It can be difficult to not become overwhelmed by the crowds, noise, and heat during your park day.
One of the biggest mistakes that people make on their trips, and a common one with so much happening at the parks, is rushing through their day without carving out some time to spend in a quiet spot and recharge. It is especially important for younger kids to be able to take a break in a peaceful part of the park to get a rest from all of the action or even take a quick nap in their stroller.
Thankfully, there are a variety of relaxing places at Disneyland that are perfect for enjoying some peace and quiet. It's easy to overlook these spots, and you may not even know about some of them! As a frequent visitor, I've discovered a few quiet places hidden among the masses where I've been able to take a breather and embrace the magic of Disney at a slower pace.
We will share 13 of our favorite quiet places at Disneyland and what makes them ideal for taking a break.
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Quiet Places at Disneyland
Especially during some of the more crowded times of the year at Disneyland, finding a quiet spot to relax in is especially important. It's easy to become overwhelmed by the fast pace of the parks, and these relaxing places provide the opportunity to experience a slower-paced attraction, have a treat, or enjoy some beautiful views and environments at the park.
During our own trips to Disneyland, we gravitate towards these quiet places that often tend to be underappreciated by guests. Each location on this list holds a special charm and is an ideal place to take a break from the crowds and recharge. Though the majority of the items on this list are within Disneyland Park or Disneyland California Adventure, there is a wealth of incredible secret spots you can explore across the resort that you can read more about in our guide to 20 secret spots at Disneyland.
1. Tom Sawyer Island
Tom Sawyer Island is without a doubt one of the best quiet places in the parks to take a break and recharge. If you really want a place to relax, taking the raft across the Rivers of America to Tom Sawyer Island is the ultimate way to do it. You'll immediately feel the change in atmosphere as soon as you step foot on the island. You'll be able to enjoy the tranquility of the trails surrounded by trees and look out over the sparkling water of the Rivers of America.
Whether you'd like to stroll along the shaded trails, sit on one of the several benches overlooking the river and enjoy the quiet, or explore the island's caves, suspension bridges, and more with your kids, this is the perfect slower-paced experience. This is also an ideal place to come in the afternoons when the parks are hot and crowded, giving everyone in the group a much-needed reprieve. When I have visited Tom Sawyer Island, I always find the atmosphere so relaxing that I want to linger for a bit before returning to the other side of the river.
2. Grizzly Peak Pass
If the mountains and trees call you, then Grizzly Peak in Disney California Adventure is your go-to location. I have always adored this area of the park for its beautiful scenery and incredible atmosphere. If you've only taken a wet trip down Grizzly River Run and then dashed off to the next fast-pass station, you've missed out on a beautiful overlook! Next time, hike the short trail behind the attraction queue and you'll see gushing waterfalls and native evergreen trees. You'll be transported directly to California's Sierra Nevada Mountains.
As you walk along Grizzly Peak Pass, you'll be surrounded by the peaceful sound of running water. You can stop and watch the Grizzly River Run rafts floating by and take a leisurely walk along the path which begins just before the attraction's entrance and connects back to the main walkway near where the land connects to Paradise Gardens Park. This is one of the most beautiful areas of the park and provides a nice change in pace.
3. Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in California Adventure
Also in Grizzly Peak across from Grizzly River Run is the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. Although this location may indicate masses of smaller guests, it really is a pleasant rest stop during your adventure. Redwood Creek Challenge is a place to recharge your energy while younger visitors expel theirs.
There are plenty of benches to just sit and absorb the view of the idyllic redwoods or listen to the trickling of the small creek. You can stroll along the trail and let your kids play and explore, or grab a map and follow the animal tracks dotting the inter-crossing trails.
4. Main Street Opera House
One of the best quiet places in Disneyland Park is the Main Street Opera House. Fans of Disney history will appreciate the rare memorabilia you'll find here, including a carousel horse from the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round, the Griffith Park bench where Walt Disney dreamed up Disneyland watching his daughters on the carrousel, rare illustrations, artifacts, artwork and models of attractions, and more. It's a great break from the crowds to enjoy the quiet and admire this Disney history.
If you're feeling like you want to rest your feet and enjoy a show, you can see The Disneyland Story Presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, an informative narrative about our 16th president. You'll see a film about Lincoln's life and humble beginnings, then witness Lincoln deliver highlights from his greatest speeches. It's a really cool experience to see this audi0-animatronic, whose first version debuted in 1964 at the New York World's Fair and was called “alarming” by National Geographic magazine due to how realistic it was. Usually, a scattering of guests attends each show so you'll have some much-needed rest and an engaging presentation. You won't want to miss this underrated attraction that doubles as educational entertainment and a nice break from the crowds!
5. Main Street Cinema
Farther along on Main Street is the Main Street Cinema which is a great location to take a break especially if you have little guests with you. Several of Mickey Mouse's early black and white cartoons continuously play and there is plenty of room to stand or sit on the floor and watch the animation.
You'll be able to see cartoons including Steamboat Willie (1928), Plane Crazy (1928), The Moose Hunt (1931), Traffic Troubles (1931), The Dognapper (1934), and Mickey’s Polo Team (1936). Each of these shorts is around 6-8 minutes long. Main Street Cinema works especially well for a short break to stop in and relax for a little bit before returning to the parks.
6. Mint Julep Bar in New Orleans Square
If you arrive at the park in the morning, head straight to the Mint Julep Bar in New Orleans Square. You can order some Mickey beignets with a delicious hot coffee and can easily picture yourself within the streets of New Orleans. Revel in the sweet smell of the beignets, the hiss of the steam engine as it rolls into the nearby station, and the sight of the majestic Mark Twain steamship sailing along the Rivers of America. This is a peaceful time to experience Disneyland waking up.
Check out our guide to the best Disneyland restaurants ranked to find more delectable eating spots near some of our suggested quiet places!
7. Harbour Galley Seating
One of the best quiet places to take a break from the crowds is located in Critter Country at The Harbour Galley, a quick-service location that serves up a seafood menu (and the viral Disneyland chocolate chip cookies). Behind this establishment is a meandering path with a few spots to sit and embrace the quiet solitude at the edge of Rivers of America. There is a quiet seating area tucked behind the restaurant that feels nice and secluded from the crowds of the park, with several tables to sit at offering waterfront views. This is the perfect place to rest your feet and enjoy some quiet.
Nearby, Hungry Bear Restaurant also has one of the better resting caves in the park. There are plenty of seats and the location is perfect for viewing the activities along Rivers of America.
8. The Disney Animation Building in California Adventure
One of our favorite quiet places is the Disney Animation Building in Disney California Adventure has a large selection of things to do and enjoy, all inside a nice and air-conditioned building. In the lobby, you can watch videos and still images of the creative process of animation. Sitting in the lobby is already a wonderful break in itself and very relaxing! You'll feel immersed in the magic as you watch favorite moments of Disney movies come alive on screens all around you and hum along to iconic songs in a beautifully lit space.
You can also visit the Sorcerer's Workshop and create your own animation in the Magic Mirror Realm, or you can cruise over for a live chat with Crush, the turtle from Finding Nemo. You can also learn how to draw your own Disney character at the Animation Academy. The vast size of this building offers plenty of space for everyone in a quiet and cool place! All of these activities are slower-paced and the atmosphere of the building as a whole is very relaxing, making it one of the best quiet places in the parks.
9. Grand Californian Hotel Lobby
One of the ultimate quiet places at Disneyland is the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa lobby. You'll find several comfortable places to sit and relax, soaking up the incredible ambiance of the space.
The lobby is built in a stunning American Craftsman style with warm lighting and a crackling fireplace you can rest in front of, and there is often piano being played in the background. You do not need to be staying at the hotel to enjoy this beautiful space! There is something that is so incredibly peaceful about this spot that makes it one of our top picks for a quiet place at Disneyland to rest. If you want to enjoy an even more secluded space, there is also comfortable seating on the third floor as well that you can seek out.
You can even grab a drink and dessert from the nearby Hearthstone Lounge while you're here. It's a perfect end to a Disney-filled day!
10. Snow White Grotto
Another quiet, picturesque place is Snow White Grotto, a path with a wishing well located to the east of the Disneyland castle. I will always go out of my way to visit this spot each trip so I can take a moment to enjoy the sound of running water, Snow White singing, and the beautiful statues of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Foot traffic here ebbs and flows sometimes throughout the day depending on whether there are characters out greeting guests or not, but you'll often be able to enjoy this relaxing area with few to no other guests around.
This is a perfect quiet place to spend a few moments enjoying the beautiful view, and if you want to rest your feet for a bit, there are a couple of secluded benches located nearby if you keep walking towards Fantasyland.
11. Silly Symphony Swings Deck
One of the lesser-known quiet spots at the park is the deck below the Silly Symphony Swings attraction that overlooks Paradise Bay. To access this area, you'll want to stay on the ground level and follow the curve of the building around the water's edge. This shaded area has benches where you can sit and soak in the waterfront view from a unique perspective, and you'll also be able to enjoy views of the Incredicoaster going by.
The area definitely feels removed from the action of the parks and is an ideal quiet place to take an afternoon break to rest your feet or sit and enjoy a snack. You could easily spend quite a bit of time here recharging and admiring the reflections on the water.
12. Old Motor Boat Dock
Another great quiet place that we really like is the seating area behind Edelweiss Snacks, located across from the Matterhorn in Fantasyland. This used to serve as a boat dock back when the Motor Boat Cruise attraction still existed, but after the ride retired, it has since been repurposed into a seating area with tables and chairs. This area is tucked away, completely shaded, and provides a stunning view over the water and it's a small world.
The beautiful view makes it one of the best locations to sit down and take a break, especially if you have just spent a busy morning riding all of the Fantasyland attractions using our Disneyland morning strategy.
13. Picnic Area Outside Disneyland Entrance
The last quiet spot on our list is ideal if you want to escape the crowds for a little bit. There's a hidden picnic area located just west of the Disneyland Park main entrance that is conveniently adjacent to a set of lockers that you can use to store items or food if you are planning on bringing your own to enjoy. This is a cute, quiet space that has plenty of tables, and it can provide a nice reprieve from the parks if you need to take a little break. This area does feel very tucked away from the main action, but it's also not so far out of the way that it's an inconvenience to get to it from either of the parks.
As you're enjoying your Disneyland vacation, don't forget to make time for a break during the day to recharge and appreciate some of these quiet places that are some of the most relaxing places at the resort!
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Every visit, I seem to find more locations to add to my list of quiet places. Be sure to find your own special peaceful locations the next time you visit Disneyland Resort. Remember to check out our other guides to help make Disneyland your vacation destination!
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- Celebrating a Birthday at Disneyland
Frequently Asked Questions
Although the crowds can feel overwhelming at Disneyland, there are several quiet places where you can spend some time taking a break, relaxing, and recharging. Some of our favorites include the Grand Californian Hotel lobby, Grizzly Peak Pass, Tom Sawyer Island, and the Harbour Galley seating area, though there are several more quiet places at Disneyland which we detail in our guide above.
Disneyland is least crowded earlier in the year from late January through February before Spring Break crowds pick up. Other slowest months of the year include parts of April, August, September, and November. You can read our full guide to the best months to visit Disneyland for more details.
The best way to avoid crowds at Disneyland is to plan your trip during a less crowded time of year and avoid holidays (see our full Disneyland crowd calendar for everything you need to know), but if you are visiting during a crowded time, the best thing that you can do to avoid crowds is to arrive at the parks in time for rope drop. Utilizing our Disneyland morning strategy, you can ride the most popular attractions with a shorter wait time before the lines start to get longer with bigger crowds in the afternoon.
There are several quiet places around the Disneyland Resort ideal for resting like the Grand Californian Hotel lobby, the Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln show at the Main Street Opera House, the Harbour Galley seating area, and more. You can see some of our recommended most relaxing spots at Disneyland in our guide above!
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