VERY stressed about the weather

[Mickey0305]

I'm hoping some of you can make me feel better. We originally planned our trip for late April through early May (the weather was absolutely perfect the whole time we would have been there), but we changed it because I found out a family member was going to be in Orlando the weekend of May 15th. We wanted to be there so that that person could join us for a couple days. Anyway, we leave Tuesday and I just looked at the weather forecast. It looks like the rains are now coming! It is supposed to rain more than 1/2 the days we’ll be there! I hate to be wet. I don’t even like water rides. Plus, I can't wear Crocs (my foot slides in them so my toes hit the front and it is not comfortable) so I am stressed about rain and shoes in the parks. Unfortunately, other than the Teva Mush flip flops, I can't wear those either. I haven’t been to Disney World since 1996 and this is my first trip with DH, DS5 and DS3. I am very emotional and keep thinking that we're going to be confined to our room for the week and our vacation will be ruined. My husband thinks I'm crazy and won't even discuss it, so I'm hoping some of you wonderful people can make me feel better.

 

[summermac]

Well it's Florida and it's nearing summer. Rain is always a possibility in FL this time of the year. It will probably be a quick shower and then back to touring. Then you'll have the park all to yourself b/c so many people left!!

 

[Bob P]

Hi,

Don't stress, just bring disposable ponchos! The rain will probably only last about 20-30 minutes if it comes.

 

[Tinker_]

Sweetie.. just try to think positive about it! Your family is very fortunate to get to go to WDW, dont let a little wet weather ruin your trip. Some of the best memories I have of WDW with DS were on rainy days. Get some ponchos or rain jackets before you go, and just make the best of it.. If you want good things to happen, you have to go into it thinking positively, if you go into vacation thinking negatively, bad things will probably happen. Just remember.. there are thousands of families that would give ANYTHING to be able to take their kids to WDW just once... dont let anyone or anything "rain on your parade"

 

[Cynt]

BREATHE...BREATH AGAIN!

Prepare for the rain but don't let it overwhelm you. You will ruin this vacation if you don't change your attitude and go with the flow. It rains in Florida so just prepare for it. Map out a plan for the rainy days - Disney Quest, movies, theme park with indoor rides, nice long dinner - Victoria and Alberts, spa, sleep in and go to a nice breakfast, shopping DTD, etc.

Shoes - If your concerned about having soggy feet/shoes carry a pair of cheap flip flops that you can slide on if there's a down pour. You will only wear them if you get caught in a down pour to get you to a dry place. They're light weight and dry fairly easy so you can just carry them in a backpack.

Rainjacket - also I would come prepared w/ rain jackets - the breathable kind if you think it will rain the majority of the time you will be there. These are much more comfortable than ponchos and if you anticipate continuous rains I think you will be more comfortable with them.

Again - BREATHE don't let the rain make your vacation - prepare for it and you make your vacation be the absolute best that you can.

 

[MickeyMouth]

we leave on tuesday as well i just checked the 10-day forecast on weather.com and it doesn't look bad at all.

Tuesday 5/12 mostly sunny 10% chance precipitation 93 degrees

Wed 5/13 sunny with isolated thunderstorms 30% chance precip.

Th 5/14 mostly sunny 10% chance precip. 91 degrees

Fri 5/15 sunny no chance precip. 91 degrees

Sat. 5/16 sunny w/isolated thunderstorms 30% chance

Sun 5/17 sunny w/isolated thunderstorms 60% chance

Isolated thunderstorms usually only last for a very short time and then it clears up again...

 

[Tampa Mousekeeter]

don't worry...our extended forcast is sun, sun, sun....and a little rain (I hope for my lawn's sake!!)

 

[safetymom]

www.wftv.com is a great local weather station. We really, really need the rain here. I think rain is better than wild fires. You will still have a great time.

 

[WillCAD]

I have to agree with your husband. You're worrying yourself sick over something that is not worrisome.

The vast majority of WDW attractions are indoor. With some raingear, it's possible to do a WDW park in light or sporadic rain and barely get wet at all. Heavy or constant moderate rain will get you wet, but to completely ruin my day, it would have to rain heavily for long periods - and that's not in the 15-day Orlando forecast as of right now.

That forecast looks like typical summertime to me, with sporadic showers caused by heat and humidity. And with high temps in the mid-80s, whatever falls will dry very quickly. The heat is a much more pressing concern in this kind of forecast - do you have water bottles? You will need to drink a LOT to stay hydrated and cool off in the heat and humidity.

Carry rain ponchos with you at all times. When you need them, put them on. When the rain stops and you can take them off, shake as much water off of them as possible, then roll them up tightly and put them in a bag till you need them again. Hang them up in your room overnight to completely dry them and prevent mustiness or mildew from forming.

As to footwear, forget Crocs. I wear sneakers to the parks, and in 20 years - in rain and on heavy water rides - I've never gotten my feet soaked through my shoes. Pay attention to where you're walking - don't walk through puddles, don't run through kiddie play fountains, and don't stand outside in pouring rain for long periods, and your feet will stay dry inside normal shoes. If your feet do get a little soaked, stuff them with newspaper overnight and the moisture will be wicked out of them by morning.

The following is from the Accuweather 15-day forecast for Orlando:
Sunday, May 17
Periods of rain
Low: 69 °F
High: 86 °F

Monday, May 18
Morning rain; mostly cloudy
Low: 70 °F
High: 84 °F

Tuesday, May 19
Periods of rain
Low: 71 °F
High: 85 °F

Wednesday, May 20
Mostly cloudy, afternoon rain
Low: 70 °F
High: 85 °F

Thursday, May 21
Showers around in the p.m.
Low: 72 °F
High: 85 °F

If you EXPECT to have a lousy trip, you'll not only have a lousy trip, you'll also ruin it for your family.

If you EXPECT a few bumps in the road but prepare for them and deal with them calmly and rationally as they come, your family will have a great trip, and so will you.

 

[wdwfanatic80]

You almost want it to rain. First of all it is FL and the summer so it will rain but it will come in and be gone usually just as fast. We were just there and it was unseasonably and unbearably HOT! Rain will help cool it down, which is a good thing. Plus they really need rain down there! Badly!!! It will be fine. When it rains down there it is rarely, in my experience and all day event. We had several days that were supposed to rain and it never did...there weren't even clouds except one day! And we gladly welcomed the clouds as a break fromt he hot FL sun!

 

[tinkgurl]

Honestly, I hate getting wet too. But..on the other hand..most Florida showers this time of the year don't last very long. And if they do, everyone else freaks out and runs for cover. Which means...less of a line for you! Plus, I'd rather be having a rainy day at WDW than being home!

 

[Endeavour105]

I'm hoping some of you can make me feel better. We originally planned our trip for late April through early May (the weather was absolutely perfect the whole time we would have been there), but we changed it because I found out a family member was going to be in Orlando the weekend of May 15th. We wanted to be there so that that person could join us for a couple days. Anyway, we leave Tuesday and I just looked at the weather forecast. It looks like the rains are now coming! It is supposed to rain more than 1/2 the days we’ll be there! I hate to be wet. I don’t even like water rides. Plus, I can't wear Crocs (my foot slides in them so my toes hit the front and it is not comfortable) so I am stressed about rain and shoes in the parks. Unfortunately, other than the Teva Mush flip flops, I can't wear those either. I haven’t been to Disney World since 1996 and this is my first trip with DH, DS5 and DS3. I am very emotional and keep thinking that we're going to be confined to our room for the week and our vacation will be ruined. My husband thinks I'm crazy and won't even discuss it, so I'm hoping some of you wonderful people can make me feel better.

Isn't it absolutely amazing how people stress themselves out over something like the weather they can do absolutely nothing about except prepare accordingly?!?!

Personally, I'd like to see a tropical storm sit over central Florida for several days and dump rain to lower the wild fire risk levels, mitigate our drought conditions and raise the water levels in Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake.

I agree with your husband.

 

[DisneyWisher]

Better to have rain than fires. Showers will not last long if you get them at all. Last Thursday when I checked the forecast down here in Ft Lauderdale it said today would be 60% chance of rain. Check it right now and its 10%. Last year around this time down here we had fires in the everglades the smoke that came into the city was crazy. It kept most people inside. That would be so much worse than a rainstorm.

Don't sweat the small stuff.

 

[ancestry]

See, I love it when it rains. In my previous experiences rain thins out the crowds. Some of my best Disney memories are in the rain. Try to look at the rain as a positive thing.

 

[DisneyWisher]

Personally, I'd like to see a tropical storm sit over central Florida for several days and dump rain to lower the wild fire risk levels, mitigate our drought conditions and raise the water levels in Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake.

I agree with your husband.

I totally agree! But not one as bad as Fay. We don't want flooding.

 

[JennyDrake]

There is nothing you can do about the rain, but you can change your attitude--or even your shoes! Get cheap ponchos before you leave at Walmart and consider trying on some other flip flops or rubber garden clogs. I have crummy knees and am limited in the shoes I can wear, but I will be there the same time as you. I may throw in some flip flops; my knees can hurt for a couple of days! Another options is just to have wet feet in sneakers!

 

[Endeavour105]

I totally agree! But not one as bad as Fay. We don't want flooding.

Ageed - it'd make it difficult to get to Catfish Deweys with flooded roads around Ft. Liquordale.

 

[MissMichelle]

I totally agree! But not one as bad as Fay. We don't want flooding.

Oh Boy..I was in WDW during Fay...I stayed in the parks and refused to let it ruin vacation. But Fay was a long lingering storm and we did curse it constantly! lol

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

Weather happens. Take it from me living in the DC area I get all kinds of weather. Just go with it and have a good time.

 

[Mickey0305]

I knew you would all help me! Thanks so much! Thanks for making me feel better without ripping me apart for worrying (especially about things I know I cannot control). As a kid, we always went on Disney trips in October and it never rained. This is my first time going in the spring. I am a worrier and need to try to let it go. Thanks for the advice. We do have ponchos and the kids also have rain coats. I also have a waterproof jacket which I think will work pretty well – it is pretty light weight. My husband isn’t worried. The only reason he will even have a poncho with him is because I bought one for him and put it with the stuff that goes in his suitcase. I didn’t even think about how the crowds will be lighter if it rains. Plus, most of you said this time of year the rain doesn’t last very long. Those both made me feel better. I know I need to change my attitude immediately.

I am sorry to hear FL is having a drought. I live outside of Chicago and I wish I could ship some of our water to you. We had an extremely rainy April.

MickeyMouth: We will also be at the Polynesian! Same dates and same place!

Thanks again everyone! If there’s any more tips, please keep them coming.