Best Hollywood Studios quick-service restaurant for introverts
Introversion Insight:
Crowded places can be overstimulating for introverts. Crowded eating establishments add a whole other layer of anxiety. (I still get anxious thinking about the school cafeteria.) Introversion and anxiety tend to be two peas in a pod. Being prepared and knowing how to navigate these situations can help you find your inner peas.
If you’re new around here, a quick-service restaurant at the parks is basically a fast-food or counter-service restaurant. A table-service restaurant is more of a sit-down location with a server. Table service is best for introverts because they seat you, they bring your food to you, and they clean up after you. Easy peasy. But it generally requires a reservation which, depending on the restaurant and time of year, may be hard to secure. No worries, though. You have plenty of quick-service options.
But first, the number one rule for any location—avoid the lunch and dinnertime rush. We want to avoid the masses of hangry guests.
So what makes a quick-service restaurant good for introverts?
Plenty of seating
There’s nothing worse than having your tray of food, carefully balancing everything, and trying to find a place to sit. It feels like all eyes are on you, am I right? We need lots of seating so we don’t have to trek too far or hunt too long.
Different types of seating
Booths, corner tables, and spots along the perimeter are all great for introverts. We want to avoid places with just a bunch of tables close together in the center of a room.
Easy to navigate
Thankfully, most Disney Parks restaurants are organized and set up in a way that’s easy to navigate. Things we pay attention to: where to order, pick up food, and grab utensils, condiments, and napkins. Tip: Always do mobile order if it’s available. (Since the pandemic, that seems to be the company’s preference anyway.) You’ll avoid the ordering line, and the most talking you’ll have to do is telling them your order number at pickup.
Backlot Express, “A Warehouse of Good Eating”
So here it is. The best Hollywood Studios quick-service restaurant for introverts is Backlot Express.
I should first mention that if you don’t understand the theme, you might think Backlot Express is just an old, dark, and cluttered space. I mean, you’re not completely wrong, but you’ll appreciate all the details more if you know the story behind it—and we know introverts love details.
The details
It’s themed like a warehouse you might find on a typical movie studio’s backlot. The restaurant harkens back to the early days of Disney-MGM Studios when actual movie production took place. They want you immersed in the world of moviemaking, including in the behind-the-scenes studio shops like the paint shop, sculpture shop, and model shop.
Who doesn’t want to enjoy their Wookiee Cookie next to splattered paint?!
For those nostalgic D•Introverts, it remains relatively untouched since the park opened.
Spend some time wandering around each shop. You’ll find all kinds of signs, props, and references to movies and TV.
The seating
This restaurant is big—600 seats big. This means you’ll be able to find an empty table quickly and easily. I also want to point out the layout. Because each area is themed as a studio shop, you have multiple tucked-away areas. It’s not just one large dining room. I find myself going to a dark corner table. (It really is fairly dark in there, which may help you decompress.) And if you prefer to dine alfresco, Backlot Express boasts lots of covered patio seating.
The logistics
As soon as you go through the main entrance, you’re greeted with a large open area. You have all the pickup zones in a row. Mobile order is available, and those pickup zones are clearly marked. The drink and condiment stations are prominently themed, so they’re easy to locate as well.
I hope you’ll check out this introvert-friendly restaurant the next time you’re at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Do you think it’s the best quick-service restaurant for introverts at Hollywood Studios? Let me know!
Backlot Express
Type: Quick service
Location: Echo Lake at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
(next to Star Tours – The Adventures Continue)
Price: $15 and under
Hours: 11 a.m. – hour before park close (may vary)
Menu: Lunch and dinner
Great article! I usually go claim an out of the way table while my husband picks up our mobile order. That’s how I avoid the tray walk. I’ll be sure to check out Backlot Express on my next visit!
Hey, Mo, fellow D•Introvert! Thanks for reading. That is super smart. I’m going to have to try that out next time.