Do the pools always close when it rains?

[AllieV]

I knew we were taking a chance on rain when I booked April/May, though I did push it back into April as it is historically less rainy than May. But it looks like it's been fairly dry there so far and will rain tons when we're there. Prediction is afternoons. If we hit the parks early then head to the pool around noon and it rains, will they make us leave? I don't mind rain since the pool is wet. Do they only close if it's thunder or always when it rains? And when would they reopen?

Thanks

 

[Cinderumbrella]

They close for lightning. I think they re-open 30 minutes after the last flash.

 

[TDC Nala]

They only close if there is lightning in the area.

 

[Beth521]

From what I understand, they close the pool when there's weather reports of lightning within a certain distance away i.e. a few miles.

 

[Mousemommy1]

The pool only closes for lightning. We have continued swimming in the rain (with no lightning) on a few occassions.

 

[DebbieB]

I've gone in the first half of May and very little rain.

 

[Sandi]

DD and I have some of our best summer afternoons at waterparks when it is raining. For whatever reason, tons of people leave when it rains leaving all the slides, etc. for those of us who don't mind getting wet.

But, as others have pointed out, they will close things up if there is lightning in the area.

 

[bumbershoot]

From what I understand, they close the pool when there's weather reports of lightning within a certain distance away i.e. a few miles.

I believe the Luna Park lifeguards told me they close if lightning is within 5 miles, but I could be remembering wrong or they might have changed it. Either way, you don't necessarily have to be aware of the lightning to have the pool closed; they are in contact with people monitoring weather, though, and know when to close.

 

[Kimberle]

They don't close for rain. We were there during a 4 day tropical storm, and the pools were open. They close for lighting and when the rain is so hard the guards can't see the pool bottom.

 

[mmmears]

They close for lightning. I think they re-open 30 minutes after the last flash.

April is generally a great time to go, weather-wise. We have experienced thunderstorms in April, though, but not nearly as many as later in the year.

 

[Polydweller]

They close for lightning. I think they re-open 30 minutes after the last flash.

True they close for lightening but both closing and opening are based on the distance of the storm, not time. I'm not sure the exact range Disney uses but it might be five miles. However, from my meteorology courses, it is known that lightening can strike up to 10 miles from the thunderhead.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

True they close for lightening but both closing and opening are based on the distance of the storm, not time. I'm not sure the exact range Disney uses but it might be five miles. However, from my meteorology courses, it is known that lightening can strike up to 10 miles from the thunderhead.

I asked at SAB last summer as we were being evacuated. They told me 30 minutes after the last flash. I am sure you're probably right about it being distance related, but that was how they were explaining it to guests.

 

[MissionMouse]

From our discussion with a set of life guards during our stay at BC & YC. Disney appears to have a defined zone where if lightening strikes in it the pools across WDW are closed. They then wait 30 minues from the last lightening strike from inside their defined perimeter to reopen.

 

[ParrotBill]

Agree.. they have someone monitoring weather and lightning who decides when to close pools. I have seen many a time that the pool is being closed while the sun is shining and no storm is in sight. Guests all complain but they insist. Thirty minutes later, the skies darken and the lighting becomes visible!

 

[AllieV]

This answers several other questions I had, so thanks very much