What backup plan does everyone have on rainy days at Disney World?

[Disneykim]

I'm going to Disney with DH and 4 DS's that are basically relying on me for the whole itinerary on what to do and where to eat. Was thinking of getting some ideas on what to do when it rains? If its a light rain, I could take our $ ponchos and still hit the parks, but if its a down pour type day........what to do? Thanks!!

 

[stacy6552]

Do the same thing. Rain Schmain I always say.

 

[wdwlvr629]

Ponchos it is!!!

 

[beattyfamily]

Ponchos and then carry on with the day as planned!

Oh and waterproof sandals too! Some areas of MK can have a couple inches of water!

 

[helens042266]

I would go ahead and go! Our last trip it rained everyday....downpour, all day type rain and we had a blast! Low crowds, quick lines, all the rides were open...it was great.

 

[cdpa4d]

Best way to go into the parks in my opinion. The rain keeps the crowds away and the lines are shorter. Last October we went into the MK after hurrican Wilma blew in. At 1:30 the sun was out. The MK opened at 1:00PM that day and stayed open until midnight. It was as close as I've ever felt to having the whole park to ourselves. Amazing!

 

[DeterminedOne]

What backup plan? The parks are still fun in the rain. Like the others said, ponchos it is. We buy the clear ones at Walmart for $1 and get a few extras 'cause once they get wet they get musty. But if you simply can't handle the rain there's always Downtown Disney ... AMC, Disney Quest and awesome indoor shopping!

 

[Terk-1]

I still hit the parks. Most of the attractions are indoors, so no big deal. Another thing I like to do is going swimming. You're already wet anyway. I usually keep my poncho in my backpack anyway, just in case.

 

[jann1033]

rain snow sleet or hail shall not deter a disney fanatic ....so many of the waiting areas are under cover i'd say go. maybe it will cut the crowds.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

There are different kinds of WDW rain. I have seen it rain so hard that nobody can even walk, people just run inside every shop and wait it out. The good news is with that type of hard rain is that it usually only lasts a few minutes. With lighter rain you can pretty much just keep on doing whatever you're doing. We always bring extra ponchos and towels for the kids in case they start to get too wet. Only one time at WDW has the weather been so bad we left the park. It was about two years ago and the rain was just coming down really hard with thunder too... so we went to DTD and saw a movie. It was actually really fun.

 

[kors]

I also second just sticking with it. We got some White Sox ponchos before we left so we could tell who was in our group, and just had a blast! It is usually a warm rain, so wear light clothing...mesh shorts, etc. and have fun!! We love when it rains!

 

[HunnyPots]

On our last trip, we'd gone back to CBR in the afternoon after AK to rest a little. We woke from our naps to dark clouds and rain. We decided to give EPCOT a try anyway and were we glad we did! We were the only ones on the bus and when we got to the park, the crowds were making a mass exodus, so it seemed. We got in and walked right on Mission Space and then headed to World Showcase, which looked like a ghost town. We ate our way around the world and enjoyed all the countries and their performers with no crowds and COOL temps! In fact, I was wishing like heck I'd brought jeans instead of just shorts. The rain ended about 30 minutes before Illuminations so that went on as scheduled. It was one of the best evenings of our trip!

 

[Karnak]

Just sitting here trying to think of which attractions in each park would be closed, or that you might not want to experience in case of rain. (Rain! Not a light temporary shower.)

Epcot: Test Track (ride).

Animal Kingdom: Pocahontas and Her Forest Friends (show); Kilimanjaro Safaris, perhaps suspended during a hard rain (ride); Flights of Wonder (show); Primeval Whirl (ride); Tricera Top Spin (ride); Expedition Everest (ride).

Disney-MGM Studios: Lights Motors Action (show): Backlot Tour (ride); Beauty and the Beast (show); Fantasmic (show).

Magic Kingdom: Walt Disney World Railroad (ride); Swiss Family Treehouse (walk through); Magic Carpets of Aladdin (ride); Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (ride); Dumbo (ride); Barnstormer (ride); Indy Speedway (ride); Astro Orbiter (ride); Transit Authority (ride).

So, I guess, if you can switch parks to avoid the loss of a touring day because of forcasted day-long hard rain during your stay at WDW you're best bet would be to tour Epcot on the rain-soaked day.

It seems to me that one's second best bet if it's to be a rainy day would be to tour the Magic Kingdom.

In no case would I sit at my resort loosing a day of my vacation. Too expensive, both money and time wise.

Enjoy.

 

[pepe of ohio]

I still hit the parks. Most of the attractions are indoors, so no big deal. Another thing I like to do is going swimming. You're already wet anyway. I usually keep my poncho in my backpack anyway, just in case.

Go to the parks, use ponchos. We usually go to a water parks in the rain, less people and another favorite on a rain day is the movies in DTD, we never go to the movies at home, and going here is a treat. We do our shopping, send everything back to the resort and have lunch at Capt. Jacks. Never let rain destroy your vacation, its only water.

 

[missypie]

Last year, it rained 6 of the 10 days we were at WDW-on two of those days it rained all day. Here is what I learned:

1. Even if it is summer, wear something warmer than shorts and a tank top. If your skin is wet, you will freeze when you go into an air conditioned store or retaurant.

2. Those $1 ponchos are miserable; in fact, all ponchos are miserable with kids, because they take them off inside out and the when they put them on the wet side is in, etc. Take light weight rain coats and ball caps.

3. MK is great in the rain. There are so many rides and attractions so close together. One rainly morning we were the first ones to ride Dumbo (of course, our feet were in several inches of water). We ran around and rode all of the Fantasyland rides that we usually don't have time for, because everything was walk-on.

4. AK is miserable in the rain; almost everything is outside.

5. I wasn't fond of Epcot WS in the rain because most of the entertainment is outdoors and that was cancelled.

6. MGM is okay in the rain.

7. If you wear dark ponchos, take them off for character photos.

Have fun!

 

[Disneykim]

Thanks for the response! Definitely heading to walmart/dollar store and getting a few $ ponchos.

 

[carone0318]

My back-up plan for rain is to always being with us our flip-flops or waterproof sandals with us, so if it starts to rain we can change our shoes on a dime and still have dry sneakers for when it stops.

As someone else suggested, by-pass the $ poncho. You can pick up a real poncho for kids for about $5 at Target and under $10 for adults. You will appreciate the fact that you are wearing a stronger plastic than a shopping bag when it is actually raining.

 

[NotUrsula]

Swimming in a light rain is possible, but the pools and waterparks will close if there is even the slightest flash of lightning visible in the distance. They don't reopen until no sign of lightning has been seen for at least 30 minutes.

If lightning persists for an hour or so (not sure of the exact cut-off), waterparks will close, and everyone will be instructed to leave, so think hard before deciding to go to a water park on a day when it is already rainy in the morning; you may burn the admission for only an hour or so.

 

[maddhatir]

My back-up plan for rain is to always being with us our flip-flops or waterproof sandals with us, so if it starts to rain we can change our shoes on a dime and still have dry sneakers for when it stops.

As someone else suggested, by-pass the $ poncho. You can pick up a real poncho for kids for about $5 at Target and under $10 for adults. You will appreciate the fact that you are wearing a stronger plastic than a shopping bag when it is actually raining.

most definately go for the better ponchos- we were there in dec w/ our niece and we bought her one of the cheap ones (actually from the resort gift shop!) it was like a trash bag- she ripped it and i had to keep tying it together in different spots!

spend the money on a good poncho!

 

[IwannaseeMickey]

It rained every day of our Oct. trip, and we got great use out of our ponchos. Now, if it had been downpour rain, we'd have probably have stuck it out for a while and then I don't know what. It was only bad for us one day, at MGM, and it finally stopped. But, get some good ponchos!