It’s my job to go to EPCOT. Yes, REALLY!

For my job as a Disney World Reporter, I spend quite a bit of time in the theme parks, especially in EPCOT (I am the mayor of the tiny train town, after all). And let’s be real, that park can get pretty swampy and scorchy during the summertime. So today, I’m sharing the list of places where I hide in EPCOT when it’s just too dang hot. Come sweat with me!

House of the Whispering Willows

We’re starting this list off in the place that inspired this article — the House of the Whispering Willows. This is currently home to the Shanghai Disneyland exhibit in the China Pavilion, and it’s the holy grail of air-conditioned areas. It’s quiet, it’s not too crowded, and there’s seating available.

In here, I often sit in one of the chairs or on the benches and take a little water break in the summertime. If you’re in the mood to stand up, you can walk around and read the exhibits. And if the seats are taken in the gallery, you can also sit on the benches in the waiting area for Reflections of China.

American Adventure Rotunda

Want a little entertainment with your chill moment? If so, head to the American Adventure rotunda. This space inside the American Adventure Pavilion is where the Voices of Liberty a cappella group performs throughout the day, and listening to them is a treat for your ears.

There are benches stationed around the room, and in addition to the Voices of Liberty, you can check out the Portraits of Courage exhibit or the American Heritage Gallery in here. A great place to relax with some AC.

Advanced Training Lab

Heading over to World Discovery, one of the best places to camp out when it’s toasty season is inside the Advanced Training Lab. This is the kids’ play area at the end of Mission: SPACE, and people often sit in here to wait for their family members when they don’t want to do the ride. Because of that, there’s plenty of bench seating.

This is definitely not one of the quieter options on the list, considering it’s home to a playground, but it’s super interesting with interactive games and exhibits. Plus, it’s connected to a gift shop!

The SeaBase

The SeaBase aquarium inside The Seas Pavilion is a great place to hang out during the daytime, because the air conditioning in here is ELITE. There are plenty of marine life exhibits to check out, including the beloved manatees.

The downside to visiting this spot is that there isn’t much seating available. However, the bathrooms in this building are typically not very busy. Pros and cons.

Sunshine Seasons

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a plethora of indoor seating, you’ll want to visit Sunshine Seasons in The Land Pavilion. Outside of major meal times, this place is fairly chill, and there are lots of tables available. I don’t recommend taking a table here if it’s busy (you want to save those for customers with food), but if it’s quiet, find a nice corner in which to relax.

Also, I often stop by this location to refill my water bottle with bone-chillingly cold ice water at their soda fountain. Gotta stay hydrated during those hot days, folks!

Soarin’ Exit

Near the exit of Soarin’, there’s a seating area often used by the family and friends of people riding the attraction. It’s a great place to wait with small children, but there’s also plenty of seating if you just need to pop a squat and take a break.

The seats are designed to look like a gate area at an airport, so they’re not the comfiest in the world, but they’ll do in a pinch. The good news is that there are plenty of outlets available over here!

ImageWorks

And finally, I have to mention ImageWorks, the lab and gift shop area at the exit of Journey Into Imagination with Figment! This space is usually pretty busy, but I can often find an unoccupied bench in the air conditioning, and that’s a hot commodity on a summer day.

This is also one of my go-to spots for swapping my FuelRod, and I love watching Figment walk past me to head to his meet-and-greet. A great space for people watching if you’re into that!

Stay tuned to DFB for more tips from Disney World! And if you’re going to EPCOT soon, check out our video with a list of must-dos.

Keep following along for more Disney World news, updates, and information for your next vacation.

Check Out the Complete Guide to EPCOT Here!

Which of these places do you prefer for relaxing on a hot day? Tell us in the comments!