60% Chance of rain during my ENTIRE trip next week...any advice?

[kandb]

We were there 9/15 to 9/22, we usually go in Oct/Nov and this year we had alot of rain. Tuesday, the 18th we had MK planned for the day and it rained almost all day. It stopped for a while but then continued in the afternoon. To be honest, I kept saying to myself, 'I will never go this time of year again". We have never had so much rain, we felt that it took away from our vacation, rain was just torrential at times, we were stranded in attractions, gift shops.

[DisLee]

1. buy a poncho

2. scout out your inside rides/attractions and ride them during rainy times.

3. in Florida, we get a lot of late afternoon showers. Chances might be better that you will see less rain during the early part of the day.

4. have fun anyway.

[Southern Bell]

I have never been to Walt Disney that I didn't have some rainy days. It has never ruined our trip. We just whip out the old ponchos and keep going! LOL! We have been denied a few rides if it starts lightning. Its a good time to see some shows, eat or shop!

[ErinsAuntMimi]

I grew up in Jacksonville, FL. Sometimes it would rain in the back yard and be sunny in the front or vice versa. Welcome to FLORIDA!

On our June, 2009 it rained several days off and on all day. We took $1 ponchos (multiple for each) and pressed forward. We barely had to deal with being wet as many of the attractions were inside. Just plan for the worst and hope for the best. As many have mentioned the crowds DROP when it rains in the parks which made for a much easier time of getting things done.

Enjoy your trip!

[Melissa8905]

Originally Posted by rrali33tt

I usually never check the weather for any trip that I go on...but I am bored at work so I did (plus I can't stop thinking about my trip!). We are leaving on wed 10/3 coming back 10/9.

I have lucked out and it has never rained any time I have been to Disney or Universal in my whole life.

Any advice about what to do in the rain?

Are ponchos the way to go?

Do the rides shut down?

Does AK close?

I dont have park hopper and only have one AK day planned and I love it there.

I am also sad because I purchased photopass plus and was really hoping to get some nice pictures...not rainy pics ...and not no pics if there are no characters out

I'll be there the same time as you, and please, don't worry about it. I've had the same experience at WDW before: rain blows through for a hour (sometimes we completely miss it), and then it's sunny again. I just bring my good ponchos from home and keep enjoying the magic. Keep taking photos, enjoy the lighter crowds and travel with ponchos. I love AK too, and sometimes a little post-rain mist actually adds to the ambiance (think tropical rain forest). Have a wonderful trip!

[k5thbeatle]

Originally Posted by rrali33tt

60% Chance of rain during my ENTIRE trip next week...any advice?

Yes...don't worry about it and go have fun!

[SassyTink213]

WDW is what you make of it and there is no way you should let any rain dampen your spirit or steal the magic. As long as you've got rain gear and stay positive, you'll still have a great time. It is WDW after all, and nothing can ruin that magic!

A few years ago we went in May and a massive storm front stalled over the area for almost 2 weeks. It rained all day everyday we were there. We were prepared with rain gear and crocs and still had a great time-one of the best visits we had actually. We'd get up and go to the parks in ponchos for opening and would stay until around lunchtime. By that time we'd have completed almost all of what we wanted to do in the park because of having virtually no wait times at all-the parks are quite quiet in the rain. Then we'd go back to the hotel for the afternoon to get fresh clothes-my purse always seemed to get wet despite being under the poncho and we'd grab a snack and maybe a nap and rest up until dinner. I usually spent some of our rest time taking a shower, donning dry shorts, hair drying my purse, and watching tv with a snack. Then we'd head back out well rested and relaxed and head to the parks for dinner and an evening show and rides we wanted to go on again.

It was the most relaxed trip we've ever had and we have some of the best memories from that trip. We did so many things that we never would have had time for and got to do a lot of spontaneous things we never would have been able to do if it hadn't rained. We got tons of great photos of us in places we never would have been able to do with the normal crowds and most of them have no people in the background-an even rarer thing! Plus, the people who are left in the parks in the rain and the best! They are the die hards dis fans that really love WDW and can have a great time no matter what-the nicest WDW fans of all!

Just have rain gear and a positive attitude and you'll be sure to have a great time despite the rain!

[TJDisneymama]

I was there in April and *every single* day there was a 60 - 80% chance of rain. I worried myself sick over it. Lugged ponchos and umbrellas around every freaking day......well it may have rained overnight but it only rained badly during the day ONCE and it was for about an hour at about 5:00 p.m. A couple other times it sprinkled (didn't even need a poncho or umbrella) for a few minutes. other than that - warm and sunny the entire time!!!!

[beansmom]

[QUOTE=artemis4;46282544]Bring your ponchos, wear shoes that can handle getting wet, and keep on going.

QUOTE]
yeah, what she said.
i don't melt and i like it when others are huddling under a roof and i can walk about. DO wear shoes that can get wet or bring a pair of flipflops to change into. I have been in the MK when water was swirling up around our ankles...that wasn't real pleasant. But it didn't stop us.

we will be there the same time. Hope you have a great trip.

[dixiegirl]

I don't print off our 10 day until the day before we leave - it changes countless times before that. I just looked up the first few days you are there and the forecast isn't all that bad. Either way, put on a poncho and have a great time!

[artemis4]

Originally Posted by kandb

We were there 9/15 to 9/22, we usually go in Oct/Nov and this year we had alot of rain. Tuesday, the 18th we had MK planned for the day and it rained almost all day. It stopped for a while but then continued in the afternoon. To be honest, I kept saying to myself, 'I will never go this time of year again". We have never had so much rain, we felt that it took away from our vacation, rain was just torrential at times, we were stranded in attractions, gift shops.

We were in MK that same day. Our experience and feelings about it were different. Yes, it rained from a bit before lunch through part of the afternoon. We didn't feel that it took away from our first MK experience, though. We did Buzz, BTMR and Splash twice each. We did Space Mountain three times. We also did Small World, Pooh, Haunted Mansion, the carousel, Peter Pan, Dumbo, Philharmagic, Monsters Inc, Stitch, Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, People Mover, met the princesses and Mickey at Town Square Theatre, caught half of what we think was the Move It street party, saw the song they did instead of Dream Along with Mickey that day, did a variety of photopass picture ops, and met Jasmine, Aladin, Snow White and Aurora. We left at 6 pm with ponchos in the stroller basket that were still wet from the rain, but the hem of my skirt had finished drying.

Our attitude going in to our vacation was that it would probably rain every day, and that it would be okay. Our boys were puddle jumping the next day in the deep water in Tomorrowland during a downpour. OMG, I couldn't believe how deep those puddles were, like 6 inches. I was also way impressed with the way that Disney got rid of all the puddles so quickly once it stopped, and the hidden gutter system under the decorative part of the pavement in Main Street. It was neat to see.

[TandLMommy28]

Originally Posted by artemis4

We were in MK that same day. Our experience and feelings about it were different. Yes, it rained from a bit before lunch through part of the afternoon. We didn't feel that it took away from our first MK experience, though. We did Buzz, BTMR and Splash twice each. We did Space Mountain three times. We also did Small World, Pooh, Haunted Mansion, the carousel, Peter Pan, Dumbo, Philharmagic, Monsters Inc, Stitch, Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, People Mover, met the princesses and Mickey at Town Square Theatre, caught half of what we think was the Move It street party, saw the song they did instead of Dream Along with Mickey that day, did a variety of photopass picture ops, and met Jasmine, Aladin, Snow White and Aurora. We left at 6 pm with ponchos in the stroller basket that were still wet from the rain, but the hem of my skirt had finished drying.

Our attitude going in to our vacation was that it would probably rain every day, and that it would be okay. Our boys were puddle jumping the next day in the deep water in Tomorrowland during a downpour. OMG, I couldn't believe how deep those puddles were, like 6 inches. I was also way impressed with the way that Disney got rid of all the puddles so quickly once it stopped, and the hidden gutter system under the decorative part of the pavement in Main Street. It was neat to see.

Maybe it didn't rain as hard at MK. Over at AK we were pelted with hail. We were pretty miserable. We ended up giving up and leaving. It wasn't really possible to push through at that point. Rain is one thing but when it turned to hail... We quit!

Overall, it did rain a lot all week. But never all day. And other than Tuesday, never enough to ruin our plans. I'd still never go any other time of year.

[artemis4]

Originally Posted by TandLMommy28

Maybe it didn't rain as hard at MK. Over at AK we were pelted with hail. We were pretty miserable. We ended up giving up and leaving. It wasn't really possible to push through at that point. Rain is one thing but when it turned to hail... We quit!

Overall, it did rain a lot all week. But never all day. And other than Tuesday, never enough to ruin our plans. I'd still never go any other time of year.

Hail? Yikes. No, we did not see any of that at all. That is a different ball game altogether. I'd seek shelter for that, like you said, or if there had been an active thunderstorm.

[Shir Kahn]

Like a lot of people in this thread, we actually love it when it rains! Throw on the poncho and enjoy much lower crowd levels! We were down during one of the hurricanes, it rained for a week straight and we had one of our best trips in memory!

[LILJAN59]

Originally Posted by Shir Kahn

Like a lot of people in this thread, we actually love it when it rains! Throw on the poncho and enjoy much lower crowd levels! We were down during one of the hurricanes, it rained for a week straight and we had one of our best trips in memory!

I would definitely put on the Poncho and go!!! Lots of people are scared off by the rain, so take advantage of it, or if it is raining really hard, it's time to go to an indoor attraction or show. After the rain stops, things dry out quickly in sunny Florida!!!