In the
Magic Kingdom
1) The Hall of Presidents: 23 minutes
Clocking in at almost half an hour per show, the HOP is the longest running Nap-ttraction in the Magic Kingdom. It's air conditioned, and the theater has pretty cushy seats. The volume level stays at a pretty constant murmur, with the added bonus of Morgan Freeman's voice being the last thing you hear as you drift into a Patriotic sleep. It also remains dim in the theater for most of the show, as opposed to some other Nap-ttractions which feature bright lights or outdoor moments. This was a favorite for us while on our Disney College Program!
2) Carousel of Progress: 21 minutes
The Carousel of Progress is one of the oldest running attractions in Walt Disney World. Originally featured at the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair, the Carousel of Progress has been through multiple names, a couple reworks, and several different states before coming to rest in Tomorrowland. Now, you can rest in Tomorrowland too! The Carousel of Progress has a decent run time and stays pretty dark. However, it loses out to the Hall of Presidents when it comes to nap-ability. Although it's overall a refreshing experience, the rousing chorus of "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" might be enough to rouse you from your sleep. Plus, sometimes I felt bad napping on an attraction that the original boss-man oversaw. After all, not all parts of Disney World had the touch of Walt Disney. A couple of times, I rode it once out of respect and then again for naps.
3) The People Mover: 10 minutes
The Tomorrowland Transit Authority is one of my mom's FAVORITE places to nap in all of Walt Disney World. I was surprised to learn that it only runs 10 minutes, because it was always enough to get us through the afternoon. The attraction is a smooth tour of Tomorrowland from above, with a soothing narrative and lots of intermittent air conditioning. Something about the slight breeze in your hair just makes falling asleep that much easier. I didn't ride this nap-ttraction much while on my program, but that was mostly because it had a longer line than my other nap-related options.
In
EPCOT
1) Ellen's Energy Adventure: 45 minutes
Far and away, the mother of all nap-ttractions has got to be Ellen's Energy Adventure. It begins with an 8 minute pre-show, sort of a nap staging area, if you will. You aren't supposed to sit on the floor, but stranger things have happened. After this little intro video, you are loaded into a ride vehicle (slow moving tram style) for a 30 minute adventure with Ellen DeGeneres and Bill Nye. The overall experience is 45 minutes long, offering the most complete nap of any attraction in The Walt Disney World Resort. Especially in a spread out park like EPCOT (the World Showcase alone is a mile and a half), the Universe of Energy deserves major appreciation.
2) The American Adventure: 29 minutes
Running just shy of 30 minutes, The American Adventure is a pretty solid chunk of quiet time. I highly recommend taking refuge in the lobby early, as the songs of The Voices of Liberty, performed before every show, make beautiful lullabies. Following that performance, you are ushered into one of the most stunning theaters on property, where Mark Twain and Benjamin Franklin narrate your nap and statues of the American ideals watch over you as you sleep. After walking half of the World Showcase to get here, it should be no great feat for you to pass out.
In
Hollywood Studios
The thing with Hollywood Studios is that there aren't many attractions in which you can nap without disrespecting the performance of a Castmember. The Great Movie Ride is similar in design and length to Ellen's Energy Adventure, but your guide through the movies is truly putting on a show, and it is one worth watching. For that reason, I have a hard time sleeping through this ride. The same sort of reasoning is true when you look at the indoor shows like Voyage of the Little Mermaid. It's certainly dark and air conditioned, but there is a live stage show happening, and that should be respected. A truly taxed mother can sleep through Muppetvision 3D, but there are a whole heck of a lot of kids making noise in there.
That said, there is really only one attraction I can think of that has that combination of automation, air conditioning, and dim lighting.
1) One Man's Dream: 15 minutes
This show is a 15 minute look into the life and journey of the main man: Walt Disney. It's a movie, not a "show", so you won't be dissing anyone if you conk out. That said, it's worth a watch if you've got the energy.
In
Animal Kingdom
Don't get your hopes up here. This is not a place for naps. Seriously. I can't think of one truly good place to pass out.
Well, that's the end of my list. There are a lot of places in every park that offer a nice place to put your feet up for a while (Country Bears, Philharmagic, Enchanted Tiki Room, etc.), but when it comes to actually sleeping I think these are the best places to go.
What's your favorite place to catch a few Zzzz's?
Safe Snoozing Everyone!
