How to handle the rain

[LoveDisneyDad]

We are 10 days away from our first trip to WDW. We will be in the parks from July9-July 14. I just checked the 14 day forecast and it is calling for major thunderstorms with a 90-100% chance of rain. One of the days is calling for 50+mm of rain!! I am really hoping that the rain does not ruin a big chunk of our trip so I am hoping that I can get a lot of feedback on how people have handled large amounts of rain before? Are there any tips or things I should plan for because of so much rain? I will be there with my DW, DS5, and DS1. We are from Vancouver so we are well versed in rain but here its usually cold out when it rains and we stay indoors a lot.

Thanks in advance

 

[disney world dreamer]

you should have avoided the rainy season if you are that worried about it.

just buy ponchos and carry on with your day.

the storms usually roll in in the afternoon and don't stay long.

of course you can't rule out the possibility of an all day on and off rain but its not gonna "ruin" a trip unless you let it.

most attractions are inside so its just a matter of walking from one to the other.

 

[hiroMYhero]

If it is a thunderstorm, take cover. There are lightning rods everywhere but, for your own safety, find shelter in a building.

If it's raining and there isn't lightning, you can throw on ponchos and a stroller cover and keep going. During downpours, we usually find shelter and wait out the 20-30 minutes of rain. Hopefully, rain won't affect your plans too much during your trip.

 

[WillAustin]

We do ponchos, Keens, and carry on as best we can with our normal plans.

And remember, forecasts aren't usually correct.

 

[Alesia]

We just get wet. It's okay - we aren't made of sugar!

 

[ArwenMarie]

It's not the rain that will hurt you, it's the lightning.

The daily storms are pass quickly, but there is one almost every day in the summer months. That is probably why you are seeing the forecast you are seeing. It's pretty much a safe bet to just put thunderstorms on each day lol.

We like Dark Sky, it's an iPhone app, for predicting the weather. There is a small fee to buy it, but we've found it to be the best for dealing with the daily storms in Orlando.

Just carry a poncho and make the best of it! And as mentioned above, take cover if there is lightning in the area. Also, if you or people in your party are wearing sneakers on the trip, make sure you pack a spare pair so a wet pair can dry out in between.

 

[ImDMous]

We wore sandals and ponchos last time we were there. It was August and it poured all week. We watched the fireworks from under the PeopleMover tracks in the lightning. It was a crazy amount of rain, but we just carried on.

 

[flatlandcycle]

Bring dry socks in zip-lock bags. Wear comfortable sandals that you don't mind getting wet. It can be raining in one park but not another. Wear clothing designed more for a water park. It's July in Orlando; you will be wet either from your own perspiration or nature provided precipitation. We try to stay dry from the knees up.

Find a good weather radar app. Today's radar showed that it was going to keep coming for the first half of the day. Much of the time, we will have pop-up storms that occur late afternoon, early evening. As wet as it has been, we are likely to have pop-up storms nearly every day. From year-to-year it's hard to predict; we could vary well be in a drought same time next year.

 

[crostorfer]

You put on a poncho and a hat, and wear waterproof shoes.

BOOM! Problem solved.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

I buy $1 ponchos from walmart or target and power through! Pitch them when I'm done. A little water never hurt anybody

 

[glassslippergirl]

If you take an afternoon break, there's a possibility (albeit a small one) that the rain will not even affect you. The storms usually roll in in the late afternoon and don't last long. Always carry ponchos just in case-- and not the dollar store ones-- too short. If you are in the parks, find an indoor attraction that takes some time:

MK: Hall of Presidents, Country Bears, Monsters inc Laugh Floor, Philharmagic

Epcot: Spaceship Earth, Living with the Land, Innoventions, any of the movies in WS

DHS: Little Mermaid, Muppets

AK: Tough to Be a Bug, Finding Nemo musical

There's plenty more. I would also recommend that if you plan to go to a water park, go in the morning and finish by 1 or 2. Water parks will be most affected by lightening.

We've been in July when there was rain at the fireworks shows three nights in a row. Disney Quest is great at these times. We would just go play with the classic arcade games all evening, but there's other things to do there. I wouldn't pay for it, but if it's already included, this is a good use. Best wishes.

 

[itchin2go]

I always see the comments about , oh, it's Florida, they're short storms, they will pass.

And up until our last trip, I would have agreed. However, we had a day on our last trip where it rained non-stop from 8:00 am when they let us into MK until after midnight when they finally shot off the fireworks (after hours of delays).

If it's one of those days, I don't know what to tell you. We spent a good chunk of the day under Astro Orbiter, riding the stuff in Tomorrowland where the lines were manageable. We ate lunch, shopped and gave up until Wishes Dessert Party time, where we had lackluster desserts and never saw the fireworks. It was a bummer of a day.

Strategies? Ponchos for sure - the Disney variety are my favorite. Resign yourself to getting wet, especially your feet. If it keeps raining, take a break. Seek out the indoor activities for sure.

To make you mentally feel better, Florida forecasts are very unpredictable. You may have amazing weather!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I spent one 5 day trip in September feeling like a duck from all the rain. I used my poncho and umbrella and wore waterproof sandals.

I also brought a pair of socks and flip flops with me in my backpack so when I went into TS for lunch, I could put those on and give my feet a break from the wet sandals. Plus it helped to keep me warmer along with the small shawl I carried in my bag. If I hadn't had those things the air conditioning in the restaurants would have made for a cold uncomfortable meal. I would change back into my damp sandals before going back out into the park so I would have the dry flip flops if I needed them again later for a CS meal.

Also - bring something to cover your stroller with and use it even when the sun is out - there are so many pop up showers that you could go into an attraction thinking it's fine and won't rain and come out to a soaking wet stroller. Finally bring a towel or 2 from your resort room to wipe off benches for sitting on and I even bring kitchen garbage bags with me to use to sit on if I need to sit and it's raining.

I hope you have a great trip - rain or no rain!

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

In July, it pretty much rains every day. Not long or all that hard, but it does rain. We just keep on going. I don't wear tennis shoes or anything with socks, sandals that will dry is the only thing I wear in July. I don't care for ponchos and will just keep on going without anything unless it is really coming down hard. Then I would take a break inside somewhere. Wet doesn't hurt, especially in July.

 

[sleepymouse]

We are close to you OP (just outside Seattle). I think being in the rain when it is hot out is preferable to being in the rain when it is cold. We are going in August, and I am sorta looking forward to the storms. I am a native Californian and summer thunderstorms are still such a novelty. Embrace them and laugh it off if you get soaked. Just dress accordingly

 

[ariane37]

I second the Dark Sky app We used it for our Aug. trip last year and it worked great; gives you a down to the minute report of when and if rain is coming along with how long it'll last. Ponchos are a must and the extra shoes; even if you don't want to carry extra pairs for everyone around with you, make sure you at least have them back in your room!! We've never had a trip with rain every day but have had trips where one or two days were downpours and sneakers need more than a day to dry out lol. Lightening aside, you can still enjoy the parks in the rain. We had a great day at AK in the pouring rain a few years ago. Since a Disney vacation is rather expensive to reschedule you kind of have to roll with the weather and make the most of it 14 days is still kind of far out for Orlando forecasts, they change so much right down to the minute! And even if it rains every day, it doesn't mean it'll rain all or even most of every day. Regardless of the weather I hope you all enjoy your first trip!

 

[Lee & Kerry]

Put on a poncho and keep walking, the rain feels like warm bath water, feet get wet but they will dry eventually. Love it when it rains in WDW

 

[canyoncam]

Yes it can be a bit of a bummer when if it rains all day but it is still a day at the park. Unless it is lightening most rides are still going. If you can power through you may be rewarded with shorter lines. Yes you get wet but being Flirida it is still nice and warm (HOT). Ponchos, dry socks, a break on an indoor attraction or restaurant and a positive attitude (this most importantly) will get you through. Think: Its not winter in Vancouver and I am not stuck at work

 

[patrickpiteo]

10 days away and the weather forecast will change 20x hang in there

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

I can remember one day in the 20 years or so I have gone regularly that it rained all day or even half. Last July just about every day it rained for a short time