Remote Workers Are Turning Disney World Into Their Office, And Not Everyone’s Happy About It
In the post-pandemic era of flexible work, the lines between where we live, work, and play have blurred more than ever before. And nowhere is that more apparent—or more unexpected—than at Walt Disney World. For a surprising number of remote workers living in Central Florida, the Most Magical Place on Earth has become more than just a weekend destination. It’s now their office.
That’s right—between the popcorn carts and pixie dust, laptops are opening and spreadsheets are being filled out. These dedicated fans and professionals are turning Disney parks and resorts into hybrid workspaces, taking advantage of shady corners, resort lobbies, and even quiet café tables to clock in.
Zoom Calls and Dole Whip Breaks
From quiet alcoves in EPCOT’s World Showcase to tucked-away tables at Disney’s Riviera Resort, remote workers are crafting daily routines that combine career deadlines with castle views. Many report working through their morning to-do lists before hopping in a Lightning Lane or catching the Festival of Fantasy parade. With reliable Wi-Fi in many public areas and plenty of caffeine options courtesy of Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company, it’s not hard to see why the idea has gained traction.
Some even document their Disney workday journeys on TikTok or Instagram, complete with office tours, productivity tips, and the best Wi-Fi-friendly locations across the property. The trend has become a small but growing subculture, with hashtags like #WorkFromDisney and #DisneyOffice bringing the dream of working from the parks to life.
But of course, not everyone’s enchanted.
Judged or Justified?
While the idea sounds dreamy, it hasn’t come without its critics. A recent viral Reddit post highlighted a tense encounter at Docking Bay 7 in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios. One guest expressed anger over a remote worker occupying a six-person table for solo laptop use, stating, “Shame on you. You took a table that was meant for a family of six and decided to make it your ‘workstation.’”
Others quickly jumped into the thread, defending the remote worker and arguing the real problem lies with Disney’s limited seating. One commenter shared, “I’m a solo visitor and sometimes I have no choice but to take a big table—it’s not always about being selfish.”
Another response laid the blame more directly: “Disney has the means to manage this. They do it with placards at Satu’li Canteen to control seating, but they don’t extend that effort to every quick service location.”
Guests also pointed out that seating has become increasingly limited in public areas like Disney Springs, where shaded benches once abundant are now harder to find. The general consensus? It’s a shared space with shared frustrations—and Disney might need to address the evolving needs of its guest base, remote workers included.
Balancing Magic and Meetings
Whether you find it inspiring or irritating, there’s no denying the “Disney Office” trend taps into a real shift in how people want to work. With so many no longer tied to traditional offices, the allure of working somewhere joyful—even if it’s unconventional—is hard to ignore.
While no one expects Tomorrowland to turn into a tech campus anytime soon, Disney’s growing population of laptop-toting locals might be signaling a broader change in what it means to work remotely. For those lucky enough to live nearby, a workday that ends with fireworks may just be the new dream.
There’s a way for Disney to capitalize on this by creating a remote workers area or two catering to remote workers, probably best around Disney Springs in Orlando / Downtown Disney in Anaheim. Would draw the remote workers to those locations and concentrate on services for those workers like special food runners (a local Disney Door Dash) and a section of merchants for Office Max like offering. A larger coffee shop nearby of course.
I like this idea. A place where there’s plenty of table space and outlets/USB at every table. Shade, lots of shade. And absolutely coffee.
If youre not gonna leave work behind. Why the hell would you even go on vacation in the first place?
for the most part they are locals with annual passes, not on vacation
I am not a remote worker, but I am a student. During my family visits, I have been working on my assignments at the parks. Sometimes, my schedule will line up, and I will not have any assignments due. I have seen many remote workers and students at the parks. Work and school do not end, and people want to spend time with friends and family. I know that there have been times when I skipped a ride just to complete so work.
Disney should just simply ban laptops from the parks.
This practice is common on cruise ships. People can work while enjoying a family vacation that might not happen other wise and home schoolers can complete assignments and enjoy touring on quiet non holiday times
I understand how hard it is to find a table at Disney and especially for a large family. I get frustration because there simply isn’t enough places to sit and eat. However, the person working might have no choice and the only way her kids were going to Disney. Maybe she simply was on call and had a work emergency. No one at Disney truly wants to be working in honesty.
The frustrated family needing a place to eat their meal could have asked the person with laptop if they could use the table too. If it had been me I would have offered the rest of the table to someone else and kept working.
I can see all sides here. I’m retired, but my job when I was working definitely didn’t lend itself to remote work (I was a mail carrier). If I HAD been one who could work remotely, and I were a local, I’d TOTALLY have been down for going to Disneyland to work. I don’t have an issue with it, except for the fact that their wireless isn’t great, even in 2025.
Seating. A BIG issue. There really isn’t enough anywhere. Shame on Disney for removing so much seating, both in dining areas and the public areas. I’m 67 and have arthritis. I need a place to stop and sit. There should be more seating everywhere. Of course, taking a big table for you and your laptop is kinda rude. Don’t be that guy.
So my ruling is that remote workers are very welcome as long as they don’t hog the limited seating needed by vacationers. And more power to them; I can’t think of a more delightful place to work. Although – how the heck do they concentrate?