Many people assume that introverts dislike going to Disney parks because of the noise, the crowds, and overstimulation but that’s not true at all. Disney fans come in all shapes, sizes, and personalities and we love everything Disney. Yes, Disneyland & Disneyworld can get crowded, loud, and hot but as an introvert, you’ll still see me in the parks, happily walking down Main Street to my favorite attractions.
As an introvert, I need a quiet space and time to myself to refresh & recharge. As a child, I was always the quiet kid, never raising my hand in class, and was my happiest writing or typing out my ideas instead of having to present in front of everyone. Disney was always my outlet to bring me to magical worlds, stories, characters, and a place where no one would judge me. So, when we would go on trips to Disneyland, you bet I was the first one up at the crack of dawn, ready to go to the park from opening to closing fireworks! Here’s a couple of tips for navigating Disney parks as an introvert.
GO TO DISNEY SOLO
Don’t be afraid to visit the parks on your own or get a couple of hours of Disney “me-time” from whoever you’re visiting the parks with. On my last Disneyland trip, I had my husband take my 6-year-old with him on the Disneyland Railroad while I took a couple of hours to myself to ride all the rides I wanted to go on, and took a bunch of photos while soaking all the park smells, sights & sounds at my own pace. (Yes moms, I’m talking to you.)
I absolutely love my family, but as an introvert, it was heavenly to soak in all the park’s sights, sounds and smells at my own pace and they totally understand. It was also a bit fun & spooky to ride a Doom Buggy alone on the Haunted Mansion!
MOBILE ORDER YOUR FOOD/MAKE RESERVATIONS
Utilize the Disney app to mobile order your food so you don’t have to stand in line while making small talk and find a nice quiet spot to eat or have a drink. Find a spot with shade where you can take a retreat from all the hustle & bustle of the parks. Grab a snack, ice cream, adult beverage, or frozen treat and find a bench or table inside an air-conditioned building and just people-watch or just have a quiet moment to yourself. Make restaurant reservations around the times you know you will need a break from the parks.
ENTERTAINMENT
If you’re feeling tired, hot, your feet need a break, or you just need to zone out for a bit, check the Disneyland or Disneyworld app for different shows available to watch throughout your visit. Some shows are indoors in the cool air-conditioning or you can find shade and watch a parade or cavalcade.
At Disneyland, you can listen to the Dapper Dans perform on Main Street, chill out inside the Enchanted Tiki Room in Frontierland, watch The Disneyland Band perform, and catch the fireworks at night. At Disney California Adventure, Avengers Campus has several shows along with performances on Buena Vista Street.
Disneyworld, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom have wonderful shows that will keep you delighted and entertained, some in air-conditioned buildings and some in outdoor auditoriums.
HOTEL BREAK
If you want a longer break in the afternoon, feel free to wander back to your hotel or resort and take a mid-day nap, take a dip or sit by the pool, or lounge in the lobby in a quiet area. Disney resorts are all usually so spacious that you’ll find a spot to just hang out on your own. Some even have hammocks where you can lay down, and relax without anyone bothering you. You can return to the parks refreshed and renewed after a hotel break.
SINGLE-RIDER LINES
If you don’t like standing in long lines all alone, most Disney parks have single rider lines which are usually empty or very short. Just ask the cast member at the attraction entrance and they’ll point you in the right direction. Sometimes you’ll get a whole row to yourself or you’ll get a remaining seat on an attraction, but either way, you end up by-passing most long lines giving you more time to enjoy the rest of your day. I’ve utilized the single rider line many times and it’s GREAT!
GO ON LESS CROWDED DAYS
If you can, plan your trip on days when it’s not as crowded such as weekdays or during months when most kids are at school. This year, the last week of August up to September seems to have low crowds. You can also go to the park early in the morning, take a break in the afternoon, then come back in the evening when it’s cooler. Also, if standing in line with a ton of other people for over an hour isn’t your thing, always check the wait times for attractions on the Disney app, and look for the shortest wait times. After the fireworks end, hang back a bit if you can while you wait for the crowd to dissipate so you’re not overwhelmed.
HAVE A “NON-PARK” DAY
If you’ve planned consecutive days at the parks, try to squeeze a day in between to just have a rest day where you can just relax and enjoy your hotel or resort, sit by the pool, enjoy the restaurants and bars by yourself. You can also visit Downtown Disney at Disneyland or Disney Springs at Disneyworld. You can also go check out different resorts and relax on the Monorail and Gondolas while you watch the scenery go by. The non-parks days can give your feet and mind a much-needed break, especially for us introverts whose energy is drained by too much stuff going on around us.
DO YOUR RESEARCH
It might help to study the park map or to have an “introvert-itinerary” of sorts so that you have a basic idea of what you want to do. After all, if you’re going solo, you don’t have to worry about planning around other people. Sometimes large crowds can overwhelm me, so it’s nice to know alternate paths or walkways to take to avoid the seas of people. You can map out the attractions you want to go to, get to those first, and as your introvert energy starts draining, find spots to rest & relax.
GO ON RELAXING ATTRACTIONS
If you’ve had your fill of thrilling attractions where you’re next to screaming people or you’ve been screaming yourself and you need a place that’s quiet and entertaining, go on some slow, gentle rides. Just be careful, or you’ll fall asleep because some of them are just that relaxing. My family’s favorite is the Disneyland Railroad as you can just sit and listen to the cast member’s soothing voice as you chug along the perimeter of Disneyland.
Other slow gentle rides at Disneyland are: It’s a Small World, Pirates of the Caribbean, Mark Twain Riverboat, and Storybook Canal Boats. Both Disneyland and Disneyworld have Tom Sawyer’s Island which can be a nice quiet place to explore and relax on low-crowd days. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you can enjoy Kilimanjaro Safaris, Wildlife Express Train, and Na’vi River Journey. EPCOT has wonderful slow rides such as Gran Fiesta Tour, Journey Into Imagination, Living with the Land, and Spaceship Earth.
STROLLING DOWN MAIN STREET
Sometimes we want to do EVERYTHING at the Disney parks, especially when we have limited time, but as introverts, we also want to preserve our energy. It can help to slow down, take a stroll, and check out the different shops, art, and just see all the smiling faces of people. Some of my best memories at Disney are just when I stop or sit with a snack or drink in my hand and just look around at the beauty of the parks. And that’s when I feel like I’m HOME…