exactly how much rain?

[harperwi]

This is a question for anyone who lives in Central Florida, or anyone who's been to the parks in the last two weeks or so.

I have never been to WDW in August before, and I keep hearing that we should expect afternoon showers (sometimes downpours) but that they only last a short time. Lately I've been following Orlando weather on weatherchannel.com, and I've read a lot of trip reports saying there have been problems with water parks closing or shows like Fantasmic! being canceled due to longer and later storms.

Exactly what are you experiencing in Orlando, weather and rain-wise? When does the rain typically move in, how long does it last, and have their been afternoons where the water parks are closed due to lightning or the shows are canned?

In my current touring plan I have the water parks for Thursday and Friday afternoons, and Fantasmic on either Thursday or Friday evening. We depart again the next morning on Saturday. Am I risking not being able to do either of these things by putting them late in the week?

Thanks for any help you can provide!

Jon

 

[yoopermom]

We just got back, and went early last Aug, so we had our share of all you mentioned. The CMs joke that at 3 pm in Aug. it'll rain somewhere on the property, but, after 10 days, I decided that it first gets very black and cloudy, which is about 1/2-1 hour warning before the thunder starts (we had some TREMENDOUS thunder this year and close lightening strikes), then the downpour starts. Last year, it would only rain about 1/2 hour before stopping, but we did have 3/8 nights this year where the rain continued for at least 2 hours (or more). After, it was "cold" (relatively speaking, high 70s) and clammy. So, we stayed at the park of the day until we saw the clouds start to bank up, dashed back to the resort, rested up while the worst of the storm passed, then went to either a late park or late supper. I LOVE Fantasmic, and would personally not risk missing it, which would be easy to do in August. The busdrivers told me that the waterparks had been so crowded that if you weren't there at or before opening, it wasn't worth going (2 1/2 hour wait for one 8 second flume ride in the midafternoon!), so I'd plan on a 8-3 day at a waterpark, personally. Good luck!
Terri

 

[yoko]

Water parks close when there is thunder/lightening in the vicinity. While we were there (Aug 2-9), it thundered every afternoon.

On Aug 2, we went to BB at around 3:00 pm, thinking that the crowd would be smaller by then. Well, as soon as we got there and staked out a few lounge chairs, we heard a thunder in a distance, and a few minutes later, they made everyone get out of the pools/slides. We lingered around for an ahour and half hoping that the thunder would go away, but at around 5 pm, they finally announced through the loudspeaker that BBwas closing for the day due to weather.

After that, we went to BB on Thuesday and TL on Friday both first thing in the morning. Both days, we were able to do all the slides, had lots of fun, and left well before the weather moved in.

As for Fantasmic, we were lucky that the night we planned it the rain stopped at about 7:30 pm. We were not so lucky regarding Spectro, though. They canceled it the night we were there.

I suggest that you keep in tounch with the weather forecast during your stay. If there is any thunderstorm predicted, go to the water park in the morning.

As for the night time shows/parades, I would try to plan them earlier during your trip, so that if they get canceled you can try again later in the week.

Have a great trip!