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While Florida is known as “The Sunshine State,” it still sees its more than its fair share of rain events throughout the year. The rainy season in Florida is long, lasting from mid-May to mid-October, and covers the hottest months of the year as well. The June – September time frame in particular sees an average of 7 inches of rain per month, much of which falls during brief, heavy downpours and thunderstorms. Getting caught in a Disney Downpour is a rite of passage, but being prepared and knowing what attractions and activities will be accessible can make all the difference in your day.
Magic Kingdom
There are many outdoor attractions that will close during storms when lightning is in the area, but there are still plenty of attractions to keep the fun going at Magic Kingdom. Indoor attractions like Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, and many of the Fantasyland rides will stay open during downpours and lightning. This is also a great time to take in a show like Mickey’s PhilharMagic or Enchanted Tales with Belle, or meet characters who have indoor meet and greets, like Cinderella, Tiana, and Friends at Princess Fairytale Hall, as well as Disney Pals as Circus Stars at Pete’s Silly Sideshow. Always check the app to see which attractions are open and which close when lightning is nearby. I was surprised to learn that the canopy covering the outdoor section of Tron: Light/Cycle Run offers enough protection to allow the coaster to continue to run with lightning in the area.
Leaving the park during a downpour can be a bit of a nightmare. If you are not hopping on a Disney bus, you will be waiting for the Monorail which pauses during storms when lightning is in the area. The Magic Kingdom Ferry will continue to run, but you’ll be drenched if you get stuck on the outside deck. The Magic Kingdom Launch Boats to Grand Floridian, Polynesian, and Wilderness Lodge will stop during severe weather as well (they’ll complete their last run, of course) so if you are staying at these resorts, plan to wait out the rain at the park.
EPCOT
EPCOT is, in my opinion, the best park to be in on a rainy day or during a downpour. Every ride attraction is fully indoors, and almost all of the queues are fully indoors as well. Even better, two rides are housed within The Land pavilion which also has character dining at Garden Grill and an often-overlooked quick service location at Sunshine Seasons. If you’re trapped for a longer rain delay, you can also check out Awesome Planet – a 10-minute long movie film of various ecosystems from across the globe, and how humans are impacting climate. One of the only attractions that will close, ironically, is Moana – Journey of Water. While the main cause of this is the potential for lightning in the area, it does close as if it were an outdoor ride.
If you find yourself in the World Showcase during a downpour, this is a great time to explore the exhibits and shops within each country pavilion. In Japan, you can pass time in Mitsukoshi, a replica of the famous department store that has everything from samurai swords to unique snacks to a pearl selection experience. Over in Mexico, you can watch glass blowing at La Princesa de Cristal, sample some tequila or mezcal at La Cava de Tequila, and say “Hola” to Donald and friends on Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros – all housed completely within the pavilion. A few other fun options are grabbing a beer in Canada and catching Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360 (though it could use an update!), finding your family crest in the UK if your ancestors are from those countries, or listening to the Voices of Liberty perform inside the America Pavilion.
It’s important to note that in severe weather, Disney’s Skyliner will close – I certainly wouldn’t want to be stuck in a flying metal bucket in a lightning storm, would you? If you are staying at any of the Skyliner Resorts (Art of Animation, POP Century, Caribbean Beach, or Riviera) check the app before heading out of the park. Disney will run bus lines to these resorts if the Skyliner closes for a prolonged period.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
The majority of the ride attractions at Hollywood Studios are indoors, making this a great park to be on a rainy day. While there are only 9 ride attractions at this park, only Slinky Dog Dash typically closes during heavy rain and lightning. However, outdoor shows will also typically close during rain and lightning, which will close the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular theater and the Beauty and the Beast theater. On a busy day, these two shows hold nearly 3,500 guests so you can see a ripple effect throughout the park — be prepared to wait a bit longer even for “filler” attractions like Star Tours – The Adventure Continues. You can avoid some of these longer lines by using MultiPass Lightning Lane, or you can use this opportunity to check out the indoor shows like the new villains show Unfairly Ever After, the recently returned Voyage of the Little Mermaid, or stretch out your vocal chords at For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Out of the four Walt Disney World Theme Parks, Disney’s Animal Kingdom can have the biggest risk versus reward scenario on a rainy day. If there is no lightning in the area, some outdoor attractions will remain open, and the animals are more active in the cool rain than they are in the middle of a hot sunny day. Kilimanjaro Safaris is a fantastic attraction to hit during or immediately after a rain shower – if you’re lucky, you could catch the parade of elephants playing in their watering hole, lions stretching from their midday nap, or hippos walking around in the water. Both the Gorilla Falls Trail and Maharajah Jungle Trek will remain open during brief showers, but will close during heavy rain, with or without lightning. Because of the nuanced closures and the fact that a couple of these attractions are specifically “walking paths,” it’s important to pack your patience and have a good poncho handy while exploring Animal Kingdom in the rain – but the animal activity that you get to experience is absolutely worth getting a little wet. Be sure to check the My Disney Experience app for real-time attraction closure updates.
Prior Preparation Prevents Pour Performance
As Scar warns us in The Lion King, you have to Be Prepared in Walt Disney World. From packing your suitcase and prepping your park bag, to making sure you have the right weather forecast technology, it’s key to be equipped for whatever Mother Nature sends your way.
Packing
High-Quality Poncho
I prefer a slightly thicker poncho that doesn’t feel like I am wearing cling wrap, with a zipper or snap close in the front, and pockets. This makes it easier to put on quickly, and makes it easier to take off after you’ve slogged through a thunderstorm in 90-degree heat and 110% humidity. The thicker material actually feels a bit cooler because it doesn’t stick to your skin in the same way the cheap see-through ponchos do. Choose a poncho that you can easily reuse, and want to reuse. While the cheap ponchos are good for a one-time use, you’ll need to bring several with you on your trip during the rainy season, and might need to use more than one in a single day. Here is my choice for a durable poncho with a storage bag to bring to the parks: https://amzn.to/3Gbx1aL
Water Shoes
This one is a little odd but hear me out! Sometimes you head into the theme parks knowing full-well there will be a downpour while you are there. In the summertime, this is almost a guarantee. Rather than choosing between your “good” park shoes or your “back-up” park shoes, or doing mental math to figure out if your shoes will be dry enough for rope drop the next morning, consider bringing water shoes with you to the park. You’ll need to have a backpack or wet-dry bag large enough to put your shoes in, but a quick change as dark clouds are rolling in can keep you moving while others scatter for dry ground. It’s important to note that it is against park rules to walk around barefoot – make sure you are throwing on the new flippers quickly and not taking time to air out your toes. And, refrain from the urge to take off your shoes and splash around in puddles. (Or, you’ll be having a friendly conversation with a Cast Member before you can say Thunderbolts.) These are my preferred water shoes, with good grippy bottoms and a fun color scheme: https://amzn.to/4kke8Ar
Wet-Dry Bag
If you are following my tip above and are bringing water shoes to the park, a wet-dry bag will be clutch for post-storm fun. Downpours in Disney are typically brief, and guests can carry on with their park day shortly thereafter. But – if your sneakers are now soaked, it’s going to be an uncomfortable couple of hours of walking, and you might form some sort of ugly blister or chafing due to your wet shoes and hot weather. (Gross.) Wet-dry bags are lightweight, can fold up, and won’t take up much room in your park bag if they aren’t needed. It might seem a little “extra” but for me it is worth it to keep my dry shoes dry during the rain, and to contain my wet shoes after the storm clears and I’m back in my good shoes. Even if you aren’t using water shoes, it’s a good idea to throw flip flops in your bag. This is also great to have if you’re bringing an extra t-shirt with you. These wet-dry bags are available all over, but here is a link to a product on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4khVI3f
Second Pair of Park Shoes
You should always bring more than one pair of shoes with you to Disney World. You’ll need good comfortable footwear for walking long distances, pool sandals, maybe evening wear, or something casual when hanging out at the resort. But, if you get caught in the rain and aren’t prepared with a change of shoes for your next park day, your feet will be miserable in semi-soggy sneakers. I like to kill two birds with one stone and bring a pair of comfortable sandals that can be worn at the pool or for longer walking. Besides my trusty walking sneakers, I also pack these Sketchers brand sandals for pool time and evenings because they are good for a full park day as well if needed: https://amzn.to/3Tc18Sl
Weather Apps
While there is a myriad of weather-related apps you can download to any smartphone, I happened to chat with a Disney Cast Member about this in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, during an unexpected rain shower on a sunny day. I was headed to Kilimanjaro Safaris (obviously!) and she mentioned that they didn’t hear about this shower during their morning briefing. I said something to the effect of, “Wow, that’s some cool logistics to prep early in the day for delays. I didn’t see this on AccuWeather either.” And she responded something to the effect of, “AccuWeather ShmAccuWeather… WeatherBug is where it’s at. That’s what Disney uses!”
Considering there is a weather beacon in EPCOT where every app is getting their information from for the area, it’s interesting to hear that one app is favored over others for forecasting. But, since ride closures are linked to lightning in the area (even when it is not raining) it is helpful to have this app on your phone, so you can have a little insight into when/why attractions are closed, based off the data Disney is using in real time.
Staying Home – Resort Activities at Walt Disney World
A rainy day is a great time to hang out at your resort and take advantage of the amenities and activities offered. If you are staying at the Magic Kingdom Resorts, you can embark on a culinary adventure at the many top-tier restaurants and lounges available – Grand Floridian alone has more than 7 dining locations, including a character buffet at 1900 Park Fare, a Beauty and the Beast-themed lounge at Enchanted Rose, and Victoria & Albert’s, a Michelin-star restaurant. While the Monorail does close temporarily during severe weather, you will usually find that it runs during light-to-moderate rain (without lightning) and this can be a fun time to fit a Monorail Bar Crawl (or Snack Crawl!) into your trip. The Polynesian Resort and Village is home to Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, a must-do immersive bar experience, as well as Tamu Lounge – a great place to grab a bite while you wait for your “Table is Ready” text for the Grotto.
The Walt Disney World Resorts also offer recreational activities, many of which will continue during the rain. At Animal Kingdom Lodge, guests can create a String of Memories and collect beads at locations throughout the resort, learning about African culture along the way. Over at Port Orleans French Quarter, guests can partake in the Hidden Character Hunt and find photo props of Louis from Princess and the Frog throughout the resort. Most resorts offer pin trading, and all resorts have an arcade (typically located near the pool) to pass time on a rainy day. You can find these activities listed on your resort’s website in through the My Disney Experience app.
During hurricane closures, Disney Cast Members go above and beyond to ensure guests continue to have a fun time while hunkering down at their resort. Characters will often pop over and hang out in the lobby for impromptu and unscheduled greetings, and there are usually recreational activities held indoors.
Head to Disney Springs for a Shopping Day
If you’re looking to venture out from your resort but aren’t up for tackling the parks in the rain, Disney Springs offers over 90 stores and 60 dining locations to satisfy any shopaholic who sees a rainy day as a prime opportunity for a little retail therapy while on vacation. Disney Springs has everything from Disney and LEGO merchandise to high-end clothing, accessories, and art, and you can find souvenirs as well as essentials you may have forgotten to pack. I once went sneaker shopping at Disney Springs with a friend who had a rough day with her park sandals, and needed new footwear before we tackled Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure the next day. We got an errand done and then went out for drinks at Raglan Road! Win-win!
Disney recently announced that they will be opening at Level99 location at Disney Springs, and I am so excited! This social gaming experience for adults with mental and physical challenges, art installations, and craft beer and snacks will elevate the experiences offered at Disney Springs. Level99 will be located in the building that previously housed the NBA Experience, and Disney Quest (which I still miss!) and will offer the perfect rainy-day hang-out. (The opening date for this location has not yet been announced. Check out the official Disney Parks website for updates: LEVEL99 — Social Gaming Experience | Disney Springs)
You can plan a pretty picnic, but you can’t predict the weather…
The key to having fun in Disney World on a rainy day is to just keep going! There is always something fun to do when the rain rolls in, and if you use the weather to your advantage, you’ll be able to see shows you may have cruised past before or try a sit-down restaurant you didn’t have time for on prior trips. Rainy days can force you to slow down and appreciate the comforts of your Disney resort, or they can show you just how much of a Diehard Disney Fan you really are, ready to tackle the parks no matter what Mother Nature has in store.
Ponchos? Check! Back-up Shoes? Check! WeatherBug alerts on? Check! Let’s plan your rainy season Magical Quest today!
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