Rain on Thursday for magic kingdom...last minute tips?

[michael85]

In regards to packing, footwear, general expectations. Any tips? Gracias!

 

[LSUfan4444]

Non cotton socks if you plan on wearing sneakers, newspaper in them to dry at the end of the day, don't expect it to last all day.

 

[michael85]

Non cotton socks if you plan on wearing sneakers, newspaper in them to dry at the end of the day, don't expect it to last all day.

Don't expect the rain to last all day?

 

[LSUfan4444]

Don't expect the rain to last all day?

Correct.

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

When it says rain in Florida, it might mean for only 10 minutes, but it can also mean for a couple hours. Most of the time, the rain is just spotty and lasts over several minutes. I usually don't leave the parks when it rains for that reason. Keep an eye on the forecast, and also, the forecast will probably change between now and Thursday and also hourly on Thursday.

I usually buy a Disney poncho if it begins to rain. It's always good to buy one, because then I know I have one for several trips until mine breaks. I just got back on Friday, and even though it rained several times, I never needed to buy a poncho, because I was barely in the rain at all.

 

[Shanti]

In regards to packing, footwear, general expectations. Any tips? Gracias!

1. Have everyone in your party wear comfortable waterproof sandals (not flip flops, which too easily fall off) or crocs. Soggy shoes ruin the fun. Forget sneakers- they're miserable when wet, & no one wants to get back into them the next day if they're still damp. This is the most importand tip, imo.

2. Don't wear denim, which tightens when wet & takes forever to dry.

3. Carry ponchos, so you can stay mostly dry & keep going when the rain starts. It's easy to say you'll just buy them once it rains, but by then you'll be wet, & it might start raining when you're nowhere near a shop (headed to a bus stop, etc.) Also, the Disney ponchos are pretty bulky. I prefer the lightweight ones you can get from sporting goods stores. Easier to dry out & carry, as you'll likely want them handy for subsequent days, & not have to keep buying a new set each time it rains.

 

[Accident]

The most important advice is keeping your feet dry or more specifically to get them dry after they get wet.. even 20 minute rains can drop what other areas of the country get over a 1-2 day rain storm so mini rivers and things you have to get your feet wet to walk anywhere is going to happen. Wet socks will chew up your feet faster than you can get out of the park and make the rest of the trip miserable. So my advice is ziplock bags and extra socks with you, even if you just put them in a locker and head towards them if needed.

 

[Juliet0778]

My plan is to have our ponchos in my bag (we already own good ones for all of us) as well as some plastic bags to put them in after rain. I also plan to carry flip-flops to change into for me as I usually wear my Birks and don't want them getting soaked.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

I always wear sneakers to the park rain or shine unless I happen to wear a dress.
Buy a poncho and carry on.

 

[tlmadden73]

When i went in Aug. 2015 we just had ponchos on hand (just cheap ones you could get at Walmart. They were thin and folded up nicely .. and so cheap we didn't mind disposing of them if they got really messy (but we ended up keeping them and re-using for the week). The ponchos were amazingly effective and easy to get on and off. And they don't take up much space like an umbrella or real rain jacket would.

Shoes .. I found some Columbia walking shoes that had drains in the bottom to let water not just soak up inside the shoe. If feet get wet .. take off socks (if wearing any). My wife wore nice rubber sandals (Tevas) that kept her feet dry after torrential rains.

And first and foremost .. find shelter .. find something to do while it is raining .. a show, eat, shop, etc. Get to shelter before it starts raining. Sometimes you cant. Luckily when I was there the rains corresponded with meals and we just took a little longer than normal eating to wait it out. After the rain was over .. everything was fine. Had dry towels in our bag to dry off and have the child sit on in the stroller (that got wet despite cover).

Other than that . .just don't let the rain spoil the fun. For us it was part of the adventure. We will fondly remember the mad dash we made to Muppets before a big thunderstorm .. or waiting near Gaston's Tavern for our Be Our Guest reservation time . .and then making the mad dash there. The thunder while eating there added to the ambiance!

 

[Accident]

Pack extra laundry soap

in 2014 we had a trip where it didn't rain all day but for 9 of the 10 days we were there it rained at 11am, 3pm and 8pm every single day for up to an hour or so.. I was doing laundry almost every other day because we would get stuck getting soaked at some point during the day we just wanted to get to the resort, get a shower and get dry clothes on. We packed with the idea of doing laundry once in the middle of the trip but when everything is wet, that changes things...

 

[The Hunchback]

Take time now to look at attractions and shows that give you 15-20 minutes under cover. We use an ECV, so ducking under to stay dry is something we are good at.

In MK, Country Bears or Laugh Floor are my favorites. EPCOT has Living Sea and China to hid in. Great Movie Ride has a huge waiting area under cover that is often open during rain storms even if they don't need the line space at Hollywood Studios. Animal Kingdom is the hardest to stay dry in.

You will have a lot of company under cover and everybody smells like wet tourists, so just make friends. Be safe and carry on.

 

[GBBTomorrow]

We were in WDW during Tropical Storm Debbie ("Debbie Downer!"), and had an amazingly wonderful time. Rain does NOT stop the fun in WDW, if you don't let it. Lines will be shorter, which is great. One of the days we went to Animal Kingdom and walked on every ride all day, including an eventful ride on Kali, in which a wall of bamboo came down across the ride's path and we got to sit there and wait until people with chainsaws came and cut it. That may not SOUND great, but we had a blast! We played games with the water we collected in our ponchos, and just had the most memorable time.

For those who are saying the rain will pass, I don't think so this time. I'm in Tampa now and it has been spitting rain all day long, with total cloud cover. It's not the usual Florida summer pattern of a 3 PM thunderstorm. It's solid rain. (Sorry!)

My tips:

• Definitely sandals! If all you have are flip flops, those are fine, but an athletic sandal like a Teva or a Chaco would be best. Socks: NO!
  
• We buy the cheap dollar store ponchos, which we don't feel bad to throw away once we use them. There's a trick, though. These suckers won't stay on your head unless you clutch them, so bring a baseball hat. Poncho topped with a baseball hat over the hood is the way to go. The poncho hood stays up, and the bill of the hat keeps the rain out of your eyes and off your glasses. Cheap and easy!
• Lightning is NO JOKE. DO NOT screw around with lightning in Florida. Pixie Dust will not protect you. We were once walking into Hollywood Studios and a bolt of lightning struck one of the tall palm trees a few feet from us, and we felt it in our bodies and it was quite terrifying. If you see Cast Members sheltering from the lightning, you should do the same!
• Just relax and have fun. Rainy days have been some of our best days in WDW.

Have a good time! It's no big deal if you don't let it be a big deal.

 

[capegirl]

Pack extra laundry soap

in 2014 we had a trip where it didn't rain all day but for 9 of the 10 days we were there it rained at 11am, 3pm and 8pm every single day for up to an hour or so.. I was doing laundry almost every other day because we would get stuck getting soaked at some point during the day we just wanted to get to the resort, get a shower and get dry clothes on. We packed with the idea of doing laundry once in the middle of the trip but when everything is wet, that changes things...

I can relate to this. There is no escape from laundry even on vacation. I always pack a bag of Tide pods. UGH.

 

[mousehockey37]

In regards to packing, footwear, general expectations. Any tips? Gracias!

Take a poncho and go. If you're carrying a bag/backpack, I'd throw a pair of flip flops in as well, that way you're not stuck with soaked socks and shoes. When you see the storms roll in, change footwear quick and keep on going. A lot of people tend to head for shelter, which you probably should do, but hey, it's Disney, I'd just keep on with what you were doing (obviously keeping your safety in mind).

 

[SgtTibbs]

I also bring "Hiking Goo"

The funny thing about wet feet is that most of the problems come from your feet being dehydrated. Yes. dehydrated. In the rain. Ya gotta love physics. Anyway products like hiking goo restore the oils that water washes away and helps keep your feet pain free in the rain. Vaseline does the same thing but pretty much permanently mucks up your socks.

So I bring the Goo, wear my normal light weight running shoes knowing my feet will get wet in prolonged rain but it won't slow me down.

 

[michael85]

I also bring "Hiking Goo"

The funny thing about wet feet is that most of the problems come from your feet being dehydrated. Yes. dehydrated. In the rain. Ya gotta love physics. Anyway products like hiking goo restore the oils that water washes away and helps keep your feet pain free in the rain. Vaseline does the same thing but pretty much permanently mucks up your socks.

So I bring the Goo, wear my normal light weight running shoes knowing my feet will get wet in prolonged rain but it won't slow me down.

Hyperlinks?

 

[SgtTibbs]

Hyperlinks?

There are links in my post. You can get the goo on Amazon.

 

[LindyN]

Crocs or other waterproof sandals, and a poncho. Have fun!

 

[DisAWin]

We were also there during Debbie and- dare I say it- I preferred the weather that week over other trips. You were wet, but not hot. You walked on so many rides. Crowds were low. Everyone was extra kind. Look at the mid-day rain as a blessing in disguise.