Where to take breaks when you can't leave the parks! (Part 1 of 4-Magic Kingdom)

By Shannon Stuemke

My Stroller Nappers

Inside of a Baby Care Center

Liberty Square Hall of Presidents

Tom Sawyer's Island

The proximity to the parks is one of the biggest and best reasons you should stay at a resort that is located on Walt Disney World Property. The time you save in traveling from your resort to the parks in also a money saver. You get to take advantage of Extra Magic Hours and have the ease of coming back and forth from your resort to the parks throughout the day. The last part I mentioned, is the biggest reason that families who are traveling with small children choose to stay on property. They want to be able to get back and forth easily to take breaks throughout the day. Little ones tend to need down time in order to keep the vacation moving smoothly. Many families will head back to their resorts in the early afternoon and give their kiddos a nap. They then return in the evenings when it is cooler, and enjoy more attractions and fireworks. 

In most cases, leaving the park for an afternoon break when traveling with little kids is highly recommended. Nothing can ruin a vacation like a crabby toddler! There are times when it may not be practical to leave the park, or times that are so busy that if you do leave, you will never get back in! You heard me correctly! There are certain holidays when the parks reach capacity, and when that happens, you are not allowed to reenter. This seems to mostly occur at Magic Kingdom because almost everyone wants to be there on the major holidays. Generally, it is also the park that just seems to be the most congested. For the purpose of this blog post, I will be giving you four ideas of how to take a break in the middle of the day without ever leaving the Magic Kingdom. There will be updates added to this post that cover the best resting spots for the other Walt Disney World Parks.

​​1. If your child is a stroller napper, but has to be on the move in order to stay asleep, I recommend heading over to Tom Sawyer's Island. This is mostly a quiet and out of the way area that has a lot of shade. There are plenty of paths on this little island and normally, not a lot of people to get in your way of staying on the move. Many park benches line the paths as well and can be a great place to just relax and regain some energy. 

2.Want to beat the heat with your little ones? Head to the Baby Care Center. These are specifically designed to be a place where families can go and rest. They have private rooms for breastfeeding, a common area for relaxing and watching TV, a small kitchen, a unisex family restroom, changing areas, and more. We checked one of these out during a visit with my children, and while they are a good option, they can get a little noisy as well. There tend to me a lot of cranky kiddos inside and sometimes that makes for a lot of noise. The Baby Care Center at Magic Kingdom is located on the side of the Crystal Palace. 

3. Another place that is cool and relaxing is the Hall of Presidents which is located in Liberty Square. I truly love this show, but if you have seen it before, this is the place to go and catch a quick nap. The show is about 25 minutes, but here is a tip if your little ones need a longer break. On our last visit to Magic Kingdom, I asked a Disney Cast Member if we could sit in the back and sit in for a few shows. They were fine with it. Please note that we went at the beginning of September and this was a very low crowd time. It may be a different story if you go during a time when crowds are high and they need the space for seating people. My rule of thumb at Disney is to always ask (kindly) for what you need. They usually find some way to help you out. 

4. There is what I find to be a quiet, little nook that is directly off of Main Street USA. In between Uptown Jewelers and Crystal Arts there is a dead end street (off to the right if you are looking at Cinderella's Castle). At the end of the street there are a few tables and benches. It is a shaded area that feels rather peaceful even though it just a short distance off of Main Street. Two years ago, we sat in this location for almost 2 hours while my daughters slept in their stroller. My husband and I took turns walking through the shops on Main Street. It felt like we were accomplishing something rather than just sitting around and wasting time. 

There you have it, folks! If you find yourself or your little people needing a break during the day, but do not want to leave the park, head to one of the four spots I mentioned above. They will provide you with a refreshing break in the middle of very magical, but busy day. Stay tuned for the next addition of this article...Epcot Resting Places. 

I would love to hear from you! Click on "comments' below to let me know what you think. 
What are some of your favorite resting spots at the Magic Kingdom? Have you tried any of the spots I mentioned? 

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