These Places That Need More Shade at Walt Disney World
Most theme parks face the same problem, and Walt Disney World’s no exception.
When tourists visit these places, they treasure the open-air setting and bask in the sun’s embrace…for a time.
Photo: orlandoattractions.com
After a while, we get hot and sweaty and desperate for relief. That’s when we need protection from the sun.
Alas, all four of Disney’s parks prove lacking in some themed lands. Here are seven places that desperately need more shade.
Photo: DisTripQueen
Africa and Asia at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Honestly, I could have picked virtually any part of Animal Kingdom. Unfortunately, this park struggles with shade despite management’s best efforts.
You’ll find trees in ample numbers here. After all, the underlying theme of this park is conservation.
Photo: DVC
Despite this fact, no amount of trees can seemingly block the sun from overwhelming park guests.
I can prove this by discussing the Africa and Asia themed lands at Animal Kingdom.
When you look at pictures of both areas, you can’t help but see the high volume of trees.
Photo: Disneytouristblog.com
However, when you think about your visits to this park, you remember being hot and sweaty, right?
The very nature of this park dictates that you’ll spend too much time in the sun.
Photo: Travel Noir
Frustratingly, as we’ll discuss in several of these examples, Disney has a good reason for not adding more shade.
If management added anything other than trees here, it’d ruin the park’s natural beauty.
Conversely, much of Animal Kingdom has reached a point of diminishing returns with trees. So adding more wouldn’t help much.
The Cinderella Castle Hub
During the pandemic, Insider posted a fascinating collection of Cinderella Castle images.
Photo:Charles Bennett/AP
Something you’ll notice about the 1972 picture is how many trees there were. At the time, park officials did that to hide the barebones nature of the park.
Disney wouldn’t fill in the blanks in and around Main Street, U.S.A. for another several years. So, the trees hid the gaps.
Photo: Disney Parks
Still, when you look at the pictures from a decade ago, trees are plentiful. But, unfortunately, that’s not really the case today.
Sure, some trees remain, but the number has dwindled. Those trees don’t stand as tall, either.
Photo: Disney Parks
Disney prioritizes line-of-sight over shade. I understand that aesthetic choice.
Alas, I also remember a time when you could sit at the Cinderella Castle hub without fear of sunburn. I miss those days.
Frontierland
Magic Kingdom fans know the spot by heart. At Frontierland, there’s this wonderful place where the lines for Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad sit side-by-side.
Oddly, no trees grow here. Sure, you’ll spot several on your walk toward this part of Frontierland, including some right by the restaurant next to Splash Mountain.
Once you reach the entrance areas for each ride, you’ll appreciate the problem. You’re on the side of a hill facing straight at the sun.
You’ve got no cover here, but you desperately need some. The Splash Mountain line queue is a bit better due to some trees.
Credit: Disney
Still, both spots need more shade, especially Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Have you ever studied the overhead images for the so-called Star Wars Land?
(Kent Phillips, photographer)
When Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened, Disney’s marketing team happily published any number of overhead photos of this new area.
What nobody stopped to consider was the lack of roofing. Don’t get me wrong. The buildings have roofs, but the rest of the place doesn’t.
(Matt Stroshane, photographer)
This open area covers 14 acres, most of which are entirely exposed to the elements.
You’ll especially notice the issue when standing in the Millennium Falcon’s open courtyard. It’s like God’s flashlight is shining down on you here.
Photo Credit Disney via Barrons.com
Toy Story Land
Here is perhaps the most famous example of a tragic miscalculation on Disney’s part.
When Imagineers planned Toy Story Land, they included ample cover as part of the design.
Photo: Disney
Sadly, park expenditures at this place and the soon-to-come Star Wars Land forced Disney to lower the budget.
Toy Story Land didn’t utilize all its space. In fact, we’re only now witnessing the start of the long overdue expansion at this themed land.
Even worse, Disney lowered the construction budget in a way that caused some tough choices.
When Toy Story Land opened, park guests quickly recognized one area where it was lacking. You couldn’t find much shade here.
(Steven Diaz, photographer)
For whatever reason, the location of this place makes it even more susceptible to the glaring sun than other parts of Hollywood Studios.
So, the lack of shade is more noticeable. Disney recognized this fact too late and has since added some scattershot overhead cover to improve the problem.
Photo: Matt Stroshane
Still, we’re talking about a half-measure rather than a full one. Toy Story Land still needs plenty more shade. It should be one of the park’s biggest priorities.
The World Showcase
I mean, you knew that this one would be here. We all have stories to tell about physical exhaustion setting in at the World Showcase.
Part of the explanation for these struggles is the lack of shade here. You can walk 1.3 miles around the area and find yourself dripping with sweat.
Now, that rarely happens because most people duck into one of the pavilions to cool off and thereby avoid such a fate.
Photo: Disney
The Mexico pavilion is probably the best one since it’s dark and air-conditioned. Plus, most of its amenities are indoors.
Conversely, the Morocco pavilion lacks air-conditioning as a feature, not a bug. It’s a country that prefers fans instead.
I’ve learned these lessons over the years because I’ve trained myself to get out of the sun and thereby avoid heatstroke.
Like many of you, I’ve visited the World Showcase on a 100+ degree day. Those afternoons are decidedly un-magical unless you have a plan.
Disney could help by adding more shaded areas in this area. But unfortunately, that probably won’t happen.
By doing so, Disney would block the views of the World Showcase Lagoon, something park officials are unwilling to do. It’s a catch-22.
Photo: Flickr user IceNineJon
Disney Springs
I’ve added this one last because it’s not technically a part of the parks. Still, you’re certain to visit Disney Springs during your Disney vacation.
When you do, you’ll quickly recognize that you need a parasol to survive the heat. I’m not even kidding.
Photo: Disney Springs
We have a running joke in our family that involves my mother-in-law. During the 50th anniversary celebration of their wedding, they joined us in Orlando.
At the time, my mother-in-law wasn’t in the best shape, which is understandable for someone who has raised all her daughters as dancers.
Photo: Boathouse
Foot discomfort prevented her from working out much, a fact that never bothered her…until she got to Disney Springs.
We were running late for a reservation at The BOATHOUSE, causing us to sprint to the restaurant.
After about five minutes in the Florida sun, she was ready to sit down. After another five minutes, she decided right then and there that she needed to go on a diet.
We now refer to it as the Hundred Pounds Disney Diet because that’s precisely what she did.
Photo:Instagram/ Disney Springs
Still, that shouldn’t have happened. Disney Springs needs substantially more shade to protect customers from the heat.
Are there any places at Walt Disney World where you wish there were more shade? Let us know in the comments!
