Where'd all the benches go?

DisneyGlennB

DisneyGlennB

Member
Original Poster
While we were at Epcot on our last trip (last month), my wife said she would meet me near the entrance to World Showcase where we used to always sit. No there are no benches there. So I started to look at all the parks for benches during the trip. In my opinion, Epcot has the least benches followed by MK, DHS, and then AK. Animal Kingdom is like bench heaven. Guess they don't want us to sit? I was sitting on the fence which seems less safe. I'm not complaining but just wondered if anyone else noticed this.
 
BoarderPhreak

BoarderPhreak

Well-Known Member
us2briggs said:
While we were at Epcot on our last trip (last month), my wife said she would meet me near the entrance to World Showcase where we used to always sit. No there are no benches there. So I started to look at all the parks for benches during the trip. In my opinion, Epcot has the least benches followed by MK, DHS, and then AK. Animal Kingdom is like bench heaven. Guess they don't want us to sit? I was sitting on the fence which seems less safe. I'm not complaining but just wondered if anyone else noticed this.
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An interesting observation. I don't think that the benches have declined, necessarily... But there clearly aren't as many as there should be, either. In Epcot, they're mostly down near the water. Within the countries however, it varies. Canada has a couple, but Norway and Germany have none - unless you go by the water. I think they'd rather people buy food and then they'll be given a seat. ;)

In MK, in the new Tangled restroom area - there's a bunch more seating. A one-off? I do recall reading that Disney wants to increase the seating but in a more discreet way (e.g. ledges, rather than benches). For example by Adventureland across from Aloha Isle (smoker's area). More ledge than bench. But this area has been this way for quite some time.
 
RonAnnArbor

RonAnnArbor

Well-Known Member
A lot of the benches at Epcot that used to pretty much ring World Showcase have been removed to make room for the food booths for Wine and Food Festival, as well as the Garden Festival which now also has food stands...I don't think its a deliberate attempt to make life harder for you -- its a deliberate attempt to make life easier for them so they don't have to keep installing and uninstalling them....
 
StarWarsGirl

StarWarsGirl

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
Okay, back to being serious for a second (it won't last long)

I had a really bad problem with blisters last trip (and I learned my lesson about what happens when you don't drink enough...your feet swell up and you get horrible blisters!) and never had one problem with not finding a bench when my feet hurt too badly to walk anymore (and believe me, I was sitting a lot). This was January-early February. I was thinking they could use a few more down by the water in World Showcase, but enough people sit on the walls automatically that I think they don't feel the need to add more.
 
Animaniac93-98

Animaniac93-98

Well-Known Member
BoarderPhreak said:
In MK, in the new Tangled restroom area - there's a bunch more seating. A one-off? I do recall reading that Disney wants to increase the seating but in a more discreet way (e.g. ledges, rather than benches). For example by Adventureland across from Aloha Isle (smoker's area). More ledge than bench. But this area has been this way for quite some time.
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This is true, as well as in Storybook Cirucs, but some spots of MK (like Town Square) have had benches removed.
 
JIMINYCR

JIMINYCR

Well-Known Member
Another few reasons.... 1. Disney has figured out that the number of guests using scooters has increased enough to the point that theres less need for benches. 2. Disney's new policy to curb obesity. Everyone needs to get moving more. Sitting promotes laziness. 3. The less sitting, the more likely you are to move to another section of the park, therefore solving the crowd situation. 4. The more benches, the more stuff park personnel need to keep painted.
 
RonAnnArbor

RonAnnArbor

Well-Known Member
ALthough I think the benches in MK have been removed for safety reasons -- they used to be all around the parade routes and all of those have been removed due to sheer crowd safety and management reasons...
 
I_heart_Tigger

I_heart_Tigger

Well-Known Member
I find most of the benches are outside washrooms which is not necessarily where I want to sit and enjoy the view or my Mickey Premium bar. I take a notebook with me on my trips to log photos (yes I'm one of those that has a little list of some shots I want and I check them off...don't hate, it sucks to get home to find out that for some reason you have no photos of your favourite attractions).

I have looked for benches as well and found them few and far between. I guess I'll just lurk around the washrooms - don't mind me, just hanging out writing in a notebook while you pee.
 
S

Senora

New Member
We will be visiting Disney World in December and I am very concerned about there not being enough benches to rest on now that the new "handicapped" policy DAS is just for people in wheel chairs. I am a "senior citizen" and broke my ankle a year ago, and it is difficult to stand or walk for hours, but I don't need a wheelchair. So, if there are not enough benches to rest on while my family stands in line, I will have problems with pain and swelling. Their new DAS instructions say return to a Kiosk with your ID to get another reserved time. Well, just the thought of all of that extra walking back and forth pains me! Can't they do something with those new wrist bracelets for Fastpass? Otherwise I will have to buy one of those metal canes with the fold-down chair to sit on.
Is there a map that shows where benches are located?
 

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