I'm sure everyone has them...those spots that, on a hot or crowded day, when you want to take a break, have a seat, rest a while, you find your way to certain locations that are out of the traffic. Maybe it is tucked away in an area few people know about. Maybe it's just a great people-watching spot. Maybe your a smoker and it's one of the smoking spots you like. Or maybe it is just pretty or well shaded. But it's one of the spots you always seem to find yourself taking a break at! For me, my favorite Epcot chill spots are: 1. Near Living Seas/Nemo, just past the Finding Nemo coral garden photo spot, is a nice circular area under the Monorail tracks with benches and low planters where you can sit - it's out of the traffic flow, but you can still watch people in all directions. It has been designated a smoking spot (AFTER I was already using it!), so now it is more discovered than before - but still rarely more than 1 other couple there. This was taken from that spot: 2. United Kingdom - the little park in the back is great - lots of shade, and when no music events are going on, basically empty. Benches along the back wall are under tree cover, cool and quiet. And you get to see the characters going in and out of the rear building for photo opportunities - they all wave to you, because your bench is right by them! Pooh, Tigger, Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, and others go in and out of that spot. The only time you can't use it is when the Beatles play. This was taken from that spot: Look at all the people off on the path...but not back here! 3. France - for a real getaway spot, out of the way of everything and everyone, go to the far right of the French pavilion back behind the Guerlain store. Sitting on the river to the Epcot resorts, under lots of trees and shade, and completely away from all traffic flow, there is a beautiful spot to take a break and relax. I catch people napping back there every once in a while - that's how removed it is! Very pretty spot...best when you don't want to people watch, but just get away for a bit. This was taken from that spot: 4. Italy - during the day, as long as no lake activities are going on, head to the lakefront by Italy. Over the Venetian bridges to the pavilion area on the lake, there is a small fountain - you can sit on the backside of the fountain, facing the lake, a great view, and basically nobody would know you are there. Few people walk over there, and those that do just stop for a photo. It's out of the bustle and a great rest spot. This was taken from that spot: 5. China - Another smoking spot that happens to be sitting in a great location...to the far right, behind the reflecting pool and behind the big temple, there is a little path that goes through the gardens...two benches are positioned back there, on the reflecting pool, and under tree cover - shady, cool, quiet, and scenic. If you are allergic to smoke, you might need to avoid it every once in a while when there are alot of smokers present - but many times, there's noone there at all. This was taken from that spot: An alternate nice spot in China is on the lakefront - behind the big rock formations just before the bridge to the Outpost...there are benches on the backside of the rocks, tucked off the main path and with a nice view of the whole World Showcase. Anyone else have a favorite rest-stop point!?
Rlongenbach, do you mean the one where the Odyssey restaruant used to be, between Mexico and Test Track? Tim, I haven't gotten to my Magic Kingdom spots yet - wasn't sure if it was OK to put them here in the Epcot forum. But since you brought up a nice one (anywhere where there's a rocking chair is a good spot!)...here are some of my favorite Magic Kingdom spots: 1. Between the bridge to Adventureland and the bridge to Frontierland/Liberty Square, behind the Liberty Square restaurant, is a path over bridges, and there sits a large square treed area with benches and sittable ledges - great shade, out of most traffic, and a wonderful spot to rest. Here are a few people relaxing...too much maybe, at that spot: 2. In Adventureland...just past the bridge entering the place, before Junglecruise, and across from Swiss Family Treehouse, is the back of the food sitting area. Little cafe tables and chairs right on the main path, but hidden behind trees and flowers, and under a roof. Most people eat at the tables closer to the main seating area - this narrow 'overflow' area is often empty! This was taken from my chair with my feet up on the rail, watching the people go by, and enjoying the Caribbean decor: 3. Tom Sawyer Island - It's always nice to sit on the porch at Aunt Polly's long after lunchtime has past - few people there, great people watching of all of Frontierland and the Liberty Belle, relax, feed some ducks. Here's Aunt Pollys: 4. Just at the end of Main Street heading towards the castle, when you make the right-hand turn past the ice-cream joint headed towards the Tomorrowland Terrace/Noodle Station, you pass that cute little seating area down on the pond...for some reason, it is often empty, with everyone grabbing the chairs up by the ice cream shop. So often this is a great little retreat. The Tomorrowland Terrace is also a good spot, when not open for food, it is such a vast space with views of the castle, peoplewatching, and shade.
Ah..THAT one! Millenium Village...I enjoyed that one myself. Met some neat people from other countries - including the gorgeous woman representing Eritrea, Africa - she was doing coffee-bean grinding and tasting demonstrations. Despite being 100 degrees out on Memorial Day weekend, I think I drank 10 cups of hot coffee that afternoon! My mother bought an Egyptian ankh necklace with her name written in heiroglyphics at the Egypt booth, which she still wears regularly. Ironically, she's been to Egypt 3 times, but it was cheaper and nicer at Epcot - and she always fields questions about it. Rather than try to explain the one-time exhibit in Epcot which noone would be able to see anymore, she just tells them she got it on her last trip to Egypt.
Does the counter at the Rose & Crown count ? While it's not exactly secluded, the Half and Half's make up for the crowd ... and the air conditioner is usually a welcome break.
For me I guess I'd say the Matsunoma Lounge. It's "secret" enough, to me anyway, I never even knew it was there until last year. For anyone else that doesn't know where it is, it's located above the Mitsukoshi department store, on the same level as Tempura Kiku and also Teppanyaki, but it faces the lagoon while the others are all inside rooms with no windows. The way I see it, what better way to relax and cool off than to sit down in a tranquil Japanese lounge and have something cool to drink, and also something cool to eat? The truth is I've had some better sushi elsewhere, except for their eel. The funny thing is I'd never had eel until there. I had taken the "Behind the seeds greenhouse tour" at The Land, and one of the things you get to see are their eels. It was mentioned that people eat eel, and someone else who was taking the tour turned out to be a big fan of them and encouraged the rest of us to try some. So I went on to Matsunoma and ordered up a round of eel sushi, along with my usual spicy tuna. I discovered that that guy had been telling the truth.. now this is probably due to some extent to the sauce that they use on eel, but it tastes sweet, absolutely nothing like I had guessed it would taste like. I've had eel sushi elsewhere since then, but I haven't found anywhere else where it tastes as good. The sashimi on the other hand was a big disappointment, I don't know if it was a freak occurance or a regular low point but I never tried it again to find out. If you get a window seat it can be a great place for people watching. And for the non sushi eaters out there, you can order from the menu of Tempura Kiku as well.
Rose & Crown certainly counts as a chill out spot...though not a secret one! That's just about the most 'found' location in Epcot. Off-season, it's crowded...on-season, good luck finding a chair or a spot at the bar in less than an hour! Dan, That is a nice lounge area, and is often less crowded than the main restaurants. And you're right...nice view on the lagoon. I even like using the deck outside the lounge to watch illuminations sometimes. Unfortunately, I am not a sushi fan - so I have to rely on the tempure selections (which fortunately are very good!). The Yakitori house deserves a mention too, as a relaxing spot. I have been surprised to find that even during crowded times (Memorial Day weekend), this place is often overlooked by many. Because from the courtyard it is up a hill, and the other entrance is through the water garden or behind the pagoda, many people don't notice it up there unless they've already been there. So as a place to grab a drink or a snack...it's a nice garden getaway.
