Starting for Freak out a little!

[karsen11]

So we are heading to WDW on the 19th and I just looked at the extended forecast and it is looking like everything is saying lots of thunderstorms with tons of rain...just overall not looking good!!! I know that it's Florida and there always is a chance of a pop-up quick afternoon storm, but the Forecast has almost .40inches of rain predicted everyday and I'm just getting scared!!! Is it too early to worry? Can the forecast be trusted this far out? is .40 of water a long rain or not really?
thanks for your help!

 

[wdw4rfam]

Dont sweat it. We go every September, and every year its almost 70-100% chance for every day of our trip. Last time, it rained one day, for most of the day, there were at least 5 days with not even a drop, and others it rained 10 minutes.we have NEVER had and entire trip washed out and we go in one of the rainiest months of the year. I always say, dont look, even while you're there, just take ponchos and go. You will worry your trip away if you look and most of the time, its not as bad as they say.

 

[minnie mum]

You can barely trust the forecasts 2 days from now let alone more than a week in advance. Although its a fair bet that this time of year you will probably have a chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon that could bring wind and a good downpour with it.

Wait till a day or 2 before you leave and then get a GOOD forecast (like the ones provided by the national weather service), which can give you the probability of rain and more detail than just "sunny" or "chance of showers". Telling me there is a 20% chance of isolated late afternoon thundershowers is more informative, KWIM? And pack your ponchos anyway.

 

[mm1971]

So we are heading to WDW on the 19th and I just looked at the extended forecast and it is looking like everything is saying lots of thunderstorms with tons of rain...just overall not looking good!!! I know that it's Florida and there always is a chance of a pop-up quick afternoon storm, but the Forecast has almost .40inches of rain predicted everyday and I'm just getting scared!!! Is it too early to worry? Can the forecast be trusted this far out? is .40 of water a long rain or not really?
thanks for your help!

I would say the forecast even a week out is very unpredictable in Orlando. Probably too far out to be too worried.

.4 inches isn't a lot of rain considering how fast it comes down when they have a thunderstorm. It is most likely just the normal afternoon thunder storms that occur in the summer. We usually go in August and it rains pretty hard for an hour tops normally. Judging by the rain and the build up on the ground, it is easily that much.

Here's to hoping the rain stays away during your vacation.

 

[dixiegirl]

Waaaayyyy to far out to look at weather - 24-48 hours is the max for predicted weather with some degree of accuracy.

You can easily get an inch or more of rain in an hour long afternoon Florida shower.

Pack the ponchos and no worries - just keep an eye on the forecast as you get closer in case anything significant pops up.

Have a great trip!

 

[Momof2Singers]

I would not worry about this. Unless a hurricane is coming thru, it rarely happens. I know the week before we left on one trip, it said it was a total wash out. Turned out to be a great time, it was cloudy a lot of the time, but rained only a couple of times that did not last.

You may do it a little differently, we have resolved ourselves to the fact it may rain in July, and plan to enjoy anyway. You may spend a little more money in gift shops (that's what happened to us in Animal Kingdom one trip)

 

[JerseyGuy24]

I am leaving for WDW this sunday and have been checking the extended forecast multiple times a day. 2 days ago, there was a 10% chance for t-storms next week in Orlando on Thursday(the 19th), yesterday it said there was a 90% chance of storms for that day. Today, it says 70% chance. Don't worry about what the forecast says but it is the rainy season so be prepared for some passing storms throughout the day

 

[Disfan1968]

.4 inches isn't a lot of rain considering how fast it comes down when they have a thunderstorm.

^ This. In summer, in Florida you can get an INCH of rain in one 30 minute downpour.

 

[Calamara]

So we are heading to WDW on the 19th and I just looked at the extended forecast and it is looking like everything is saying lots of thunderstorms with tons of rain...just overall not looking good!!! I know that it's Florida and there always is a chance of a pop-up quick afternoon storm, but the Forecast has almost .40inches of rain predicted everyday and I'm just getting scared!!! Is it too early to worry? Can the forecast be trusted this far out? is .40 of water a long rain or not really?
thanks for your help!

I was there same week last year and it rained almost every afternoon, but dont freak out, always have your ponchos with you and you'll be ok, parks less crowded with the rain is no so bad.

 

[karsen11]

thanks!!! I am starting to calm down a bit! I seriously felt my heart drop! I will just have to hope for the best!

 

[Aaeolien]

thanks!!! I am starting to calm down a bit! I seriously felt my heart drop! I will just have to hope for the best!

I wouldn't worry about it. We went 4th of July week last year and it poured everyday. I was a blast. Kids loved jumping in puddles all day because we were already wet. Didn't matter at all. We just went about our days and didn't think anything of it. Have a great trip.

 

[matt&jakesmom]

Have ponchos and you are good to go. A tip for wet tennis shoes that I learned at WDW is to put newspapers in shoes. It soaks up the wetness. Alternate dry paper every hour or so and leave paper in overnight. By morning dry shoes. I have brought down a newspaper with me or just ask at the front desk for one.

Best of all, have fun!!!!

 

[Aaeolien]

Great tip about the newspaper. we just went with crocs or sandals that dried fast.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Summer in Florida. It is what it is. Make sure you bring some rain gear and be proactive seeking shelter if there's lightning...

I was there from Saturday-Monday and there was a 30-50% chance of isolated thunderstorms and there was some rain Saturday night and a thunderstorm Sunday evening. Didn't stop anything, Some stuff I had signed up for got moved indoors.

 

[katt789]

I honestly wouldn't worry.

We usually go in Sept and for it being "hurricane season" and such, we usually get bad rain one out of 10 days.

Either bring multiple poncho's with you or buy when you get to the parks & it starts to rain. You can get them at any qs/merch location (i believe) and I think they're betwen $8 -$12, pricey, but they last the whole week, they're durable.

Wait the worst of the storm out, and then go puddle jump & have fun out in the now empty park! Rain isn't that bad, and chances are it won't last long

 

[SillySallySews]

My parents live in FL and storms are in their forecast almost every day for most of the summer. Most days it's a 50% chance or better, yet they rarely get anything. My Mom actually complains about it a lot because she loves a good storm. The clouds roll in and then...nothing lol! But when they do get summer storms it's usually a quick heavy downpour. At least the parks usually clear out some when this happens.

 

[itsthatdisneygirl]

I can honestly say this yesterday evening it was raining at our house in Celebration which is maybe 20 mins at the most away from Epcot and the weather radar was showing storms all evening. By the time we had gotten to International Gateway it was sunny and no rain and we never opened our umbrella again. We have developed a theory though...if we don't want it to rain we bring our umbrella because we have barely used it ANY time we had it and every time we considered bringing it but didn't because the weather looked like it would hold out we have gotten stuck in a down pour. Long story short don't trust forecasts only trust what you can see is going on and even then know it can change is a few mins

 

[Minnie824]

We leave on the 20th so I've been watching that extended forecast too. What I've been checking also is the national hurricane website. I would be more concerned if there was a hurricane than the rain chances. Last year we went in July and it was the most rain we've hit in awhile. We're used to the afternoon showers but last year it was full evenings of rain. And we still were able to do everything we planned. I think one night we opted for dessert at the hotel and a movie instead of heading back out, but we really didn't miss out on anything.