If you’re traveling with someone with special needs or sensory sensitivities, you’ll want to be prepared with places you can go for a sensory break! Animal Kingdom is a large park with a lot of trails and other areas that are off the beaten path. It also does not have any parades or nighttime shows right now, so it is easier than the other parks to find a quiet spot to take a break. Before we dive into top spots for sensory breaks at Animal Kingdom, check out my other articles in this series, linked below!
Top Spots for Sensory Breaks at Magic Kingdom
Top Spots for Sensory Breaks at Epcot
Top Spots for Sensory Breaks at Hollywood Studios
Refer to the map below to find locations referenced in the article!
Oasis
Oasis is the area of Animal Kingdom between the park entrance and Discovery Island. Although Oasis is the main thoroughfare in and out of the park, there are a couple alcoves (1) to the side of the walkway, and in the middle, where you can take a quick sensory break. The alcove in the middle is my favorite – it’s shady, cool, and has a couple of benches. This area of the park can get crowded, especially just prior to rope drop, so be prepared for high crowds in the morning.
Discovery Island
Discovery Island is the “hub” of the park, and includes the areas surrounding the Tree of Life. This area can also be exceptionally busy as it is one of the routes between lands. There are a couple spots here to take sensory breaks.
First, there are a couple trails around the Tree of Life (2). While there aren’t many benches in this area, the foliage can make it shady at certain points during the day, and it’s generally pretty quiet.
Next, the exit area for “it’s tough to be a bug” on the backside of Discovery Island (3) is nice and quiet also. It’s right along the river, and it’s quite peaceful!
Between Adventurers Outpost (Mickey & Minnie meet & greet) and Flame Tree Barbecue, there’s a seating area right along the river (4). Head down as close as you can to the river, and you’ll be treated to not just a lovely view, but a quiet area to take a break. It’s shady, offers plenty of seating, and is quiet most of the time – it may get a little loud if a character flotilla floats by on the river, but the flotillas keep moving along, they don’t linger in the water.
First Aid and the Baby Care Center (5) are also located here, near Starbucks on the way into Africa. If you need a sensory break, these are great spots to get out of the crowds, sun, and sounds.
Pandora
Pandora is a busy land, but there are a couple of pockets to take a break. First, Satu’li Canteen (6) has both indoor and outdoor seating areas. During off-peak times, it quiets down a bit, and you can find a spot in the shade or in air conditioning to take a sensory break.
There is also a walking path (7) from Africa to Pandora, right along the river down below. It’s not usually too busy, and there aren’t any rides or attractions on this walkway. While there aren’t many benches, it’s shady and quiet. There are also bathrooms at the Africa end of this path.
Africa
Africa is home to Festival of the Lion King, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, and Rafiki’s Planet Watch.
The area outside Festival of the Lion King (8) is a decent spot to take a break. If the show is just letting out there will be a lot of people in this area, so watch your times and plan accordingly! Shade and seating are limited, but since it is on the outskirts of Africa it is not too loud over here.
Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail (9) is also a nice spot, especially early on during the day before the park gets crowded. Not only can you see animals, there are a few shady spots to sit and take a break. The most crowded part of this trail is where you can get up close with the gorillas, but you can quickly move past this to another area.
If you take the Wildlife Express Train (10) over to Rafiki’s Planet Watch, you’ll find a petting zoo and Conservation Station. Inside Conservation Station, you’ll be treated to low crowds and air conditioning, a great spot to take a break! At the petting zoo, there are a couple seating areas outside in the shade. Additionally, inside the Conservation Station, you’ll find the Animation Experience. This is an instructor-led class where you learn to draw a Disney character. If you need a place to zone out and draw, this is the place for you!
Asia
Between Africa and Asia, along the waterway, there are a couple pockets (11) where you’ll find some quiet. There may be a character meet & greet, or other guests taking pictures, but there are a few of these “off the beaten path” pockets where you can take a quick break en route between the two lands.
The Maharajah Jungle Trek (12) here is similar to Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, with quiet spots along the trail to stop and take a break. The end of the trail features a lot of exotic birds, but there’s an option to skip this portion of the trail and head back to Asia.
Behind Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes is a small seating area (13) next to the lockers and restrooms. It’s not too shady, but there is seating here and during off-peak dining hours it gets pretty empty.
There is also a very large amphitheater (14) around the river. Currently, there’s no show going on here, so it’s a great spot to grab a seat and escape the theme park crowds. It can get very hot here depending on time of day, and Cast Members may close off this seating area, but it’s a great option if it’s available!
Lastly, there are restrooms between Dinoland USA & the Theater in the Wild (15) (home to the Finding Nemo show). The area in front of these restrooms is nice and quiet unless the Finding Nemo show is letting out, so keep an eye on the time!
Dinoland USA
Just outside Dinoland USA is a seating area near some snack carts (16). It’s not very loud over here, and it’s shady, making this a good spot for a sensory break. Seating may or may not be available – Disney tends to remove benches occasionally.
The area between Restaurantosaurus and Dinosaur! (17) also makes a great spot for a sensory break. This is where the park dead-ends into backstage area, so it’s quiet and there aren’t too many people back here. There is a restroom right nearby, but limited seating.
Outside of Dinosaur! (18) both leading up to the attraction and exiting, there are pockets of seating areas that are quiet and shady. Unless the park is exceptionally crowded, there are several nice spots here to relax.
Finally, next to the restrooms (19) in Dinoland USA, just past the gift shop, you’ll find another area where the park dead-ends. It’s a good spot to take a break, too, although there isn’t any seating back here.