What to do in the rain?

[kugelette]

They are predicting 40% chance of rain our entire visit to WDW next week. Natch, I want to take advantage of it! What's the best strategy for hitting up rides and M&Gs and other things if a downpour starts?

 

[chartle]

They are predicting 40% chance of rain our entire visit to WDW next week. Natch, I want to take advantage of it! What's the best strategy for hitting up rides and M&Gs and other things if a downpour starts?

Put on poncho and continue with your touring plan.

If you are lucky you will see people afraid of getting wet exiting the park.

 

[Grumpy92]

I agree. Bring a couple of pairs of sneakers and a poncho. The only real danger is lightening. Other options, resort hop, a movie at AMC or Disneyquest.
I once went to EC in a hurricane. No lines and it was barely a catagory 1.

 

[mom2aandp]

We are also going to be in WDW next week. This will be our 4th time in July and the weather ALWAYS says rain every day. Anything more than 50% I worry about a bit but most of the time that is only accounting for that PM storm. We duck into somewhere if its super downpouring, but otherwise we keep on keeping on!! Now the kids are 6 and 8 and love being in the rain. Have fun!!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

What to do in the rain?

Just-singing-and-dancing in the rain ???

 

[jco_direwolf]

They are predicting 40% chance of rain our entire visit to WDW next week. Natch, I want to take advantage of it! What's the best strategy for hitting up rides and M&Gs and other things if a downpour starts?

First it's FLORIDA, it rains ALL the time. When rain is predicted, and in the summer it's not so much predicted as scheduled, it means some part of the forecast area will get rain during the day, Typically. A up north continuous downpour for days does not happen, but it's relatively rare.

Attractions that are fully inside keep operating, Attractions with outside parts only really shutdown in highwinds and lightning. Meet and greets are mostly inside now. But all the outside ones have alternate indoor locations (I use to have a list, I'll post it if I can find it.)

But honestly having lived in central Florida for 10 years, and going to school at UF (and high school at the UF lab school PKY). It's just water...

 

[Alesia]

Put on poncho and continue with your touring plan.

If you are lucky you will see people afraid of getting wet exiting the park.

Yep. Except I would rather just get wet than wear a poncho.

 

[chartle]

Yep. Except I would rather just get wet than wear a poncho.

I don't wear the hood of the poncho. I wear wide brimmed hat. Not wearing the hood helps the green house effect and the hat keeps most of the rain off my glasses and my body.

 

[chartle]

Other options, resort hop, a movie at AMC or Disneyquest.

OP just be aware that others afraid of getting wet will also have the same idea.

 

[disnut1149]

We were there during tropical storm Faye and it poured everyday. The winds were so strong that it ripped our dollar store ponchos right off of us, so we bought the Disney ones. But we had so much fun. There was hardly anyone at the MK and we were the only ones on POTC, and it was kind of erie in there with no one else. Every ride was walk on. Have fun and don't let the rain stop you!!

 

[chartle]

We were there during tropical storm Faye and it poured everyday. The winds were so strong that it ripped our dollar store ponchos right off of us, so we bought the Disney ones. But we had so much fun. There was hardly anyone at the MK and we were the only ones on POTC, and it was kind of erie in there with no one else. Every ride was walk on. Have fun and don't let the rain stop you!!

I was there at the exact same time. We saw Wishes with maybe only 2 or 3 hundred around the hub.

The only issue was sometimes find a dry place to eat. The tables at the Rosie area (Sunset Blvd?) are covered but it didn't help much.

 

[abbie13_15]

We like to bring flip flops to wear when it downpours. That way you don't have to worry about wet soggy shoes.

 

[katt789]

Throw on a poncho and keep on truckin!

If the rain is bad enough, I usually wait it out a little bit inside stores/restaurants/an indoor attraction, and then throw on my poncho when it's more "raining" than "monsooning" bahaha. A lot of people will leave the park if it lasts a while, and you'll be free to roam!

Be aware that most outdoor rides, and all meet and greets outdoors will either be moved inside, or shut down/cancelled if there is thunder & lightning as a safety thing. Heavy rain will cancel parades, and medium rain will send out the raindy day cavalcade instead.

Bring an extra pair of socks, or maybe a little hand towel to try and dry off feet/sandals depending on footwear, as that's the biggest pain in rain​

 

[SoonerSean]

I haven't checked the forecast... but 40% every day could just mean it rains for a couple of hours (or even less) and could mean it rains early in the morning before the parks open or late at night after they're closed.

When we go this time of year we usually experience a good shower once a day but it never seems to last very long.

 

[LubbersLine]

First it's FLORIDA, it rains ALL the time. When rain is predicted, and in the summer it's not so much predicted as scheduled, it means some part of the forecast area will get rain during the day, Typically. A up north continuous downpour for days does not happen, but it's relatively rare.

Attractions that are fully inside keep operating, Attractions with outside parts only really shutdown in highwinds and lightning. Meet and greets are mostly inside now. But all the outside ones have alternate indoor locations (I use to have a list, I'll post it if I can find it.)

But honestly having lived in central Florida for 10 years, and going to school at UF (and high school at the UF lab school PKY). It's just water...

+1

a 40% chance of rain in Florida could mean it rains in the afternoon for 30 minutes each and everyday. no big deal.

 

[MississippiMom]

We are driving toward home now. For us, it rained part of the afternoon every single park day, but one. Thank goodness for weather apps on our smart phones. The first day, it looked like a pretty serious storm heading our way, we had already been in the park for 8 hours, and just headed back to our condo to clean up and head out for dinner. All other park days, we put on our Disney Park ponchos and wandered around. Sadly, we missed some attractions that we had planned on, but there was still plenty to do.

If it rains on you and you still have any of your first original Fastpasses, switch them around to indoor attractions, so you can get in out of the rain. Our young teens wound up at some attractions they had not planned on, but it kept us dry for awhile.

 

[BRC6C]

Rain yesterday meant we walked up to the railing at 8:59 and had great spots for illuminations!!

 

[MegMac]

Make sure to pack a pair of rain-friendly shoes...I always wear Tevas so they dry quickly but also do not slip on the concrete. We also buy ponchos at the Dollar Store before we go...wear them and throw them away. Cheaper, easier and better than trying to dry them to fold. Typically the rain lasts a short time, and the parks get a little "lighter"...so enjoy the chance to ride some rides without lines!!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

1. Do carry plastic ponchos.

2. if it is just sprinkling, generally carry on as if nothing is happening. Thank Tinkerbell for sprinkling a little pixie dust on to cool things down. Laugh!

3. In a downpour, if possible, wait it out. Unless you are late for an ADR or FP, try and seek cover for about ten minutes. Very often, that's enough. Then you have saved yourself a poncho and the effort. We like to call late afternoon, thunderstorm o'clock! That's usually when they happen. Before, the humidity and temps build...after the air usually cools quite a bit. If you understand that, you can use it to your touring advantage.

4. Do look at the weather report each day. Or rather the radar. 48 hours out it too far, but each morning, you can often get a sense of rain that's going to be short downbursts, or heavy rain that will last half the day or more. Having a good weather app on your phone helps.

5. In addition to ponchos, sometimes a rain jacket is better. We used ponchos if the rain 5 is 40% or less. Jackets if it is higher.

6. Do NOT wear sneakers on wet days! Water tolerant shoes are your friend. Something like Tevas, or even the dreaded Crocs can be a great investment at WDW! What's nice about Crocs is that your foot doesn't slide around. Sometimes flip flops can be dangerously slippery. Some are not, but many are. Quality footwear is essential, IMO. Two pairs. Old sneakers that get wet smell horrible, take days to dry. I mean everyone within 20 feet can smell your feet!

7. If all else fails, there's a great outlet mall just off I-4.

8. Light crowds can be an advantage. Other times, rain can be a pain. EVC's are not supposed to be out in rain, for one.

9. Remember that half of AK closes during thunder. I try to plan so AK days can be swapped. (If we have an ADR on our AK day, it is at a resort).

10. It is probably good to remember to take the poncho off when the rain stops. I always see folks baking in the sun under their plastic coating hours after the 10minute rain ended. I just can't imagine it's enjoyable when it's 90 degrees!

 

[SA mom]

We'll be there next week, too, and are hoping for lots of rain. It sure does keep the crowds down. When we went in June one year, we tried to hit all the outdoor attractions in the morning then hit the indoor attractions during the afternoon rainstorm when the other rides closed and people left the park.

Have fun!