When the Sun Won’t Come Out in Tomorrowland. Tips for Touring Disney World in the Rain.

You’ve been waiting for months and your Disney World vacation is almost here. Maybe you’ve already packed your bags and perfected your “I’m going to Disney World!” declaration. You glance at the Orlando forecast, just to make sure you’ve covered everything, and you see this:

Ugh. It rains a lot in Florida. You probably already knew that. Like millions of other travelers you were hoping to avoid it at Disney World.

I’ve read numerous blogs that gloss over this reality. Some of them emphasize the brevity of the rain storms. Others suggest the rainstorms “clear out the parks” so you’ll experience shorter lines. The more optimistic writers claim rainstorms can lead to your most cherished vacation memories. Or, perhaps you’ve heard the popular mantra: “A rainy day at Disney World is better than a regular day at work.”

Most of these comments are true, to various degrees. Afternoon rainstorms are often brief. Depending on the time of year, the parks can become less crowded. That last one, well, I guess it depends on how much you enjoy your day job.

I’m not going to lie to you. Bracing the rain at Disney World isn’t fun. In fact, it can be pretty miserable. It doesn’t mean, however, that you have to give up your dream of a fun vacation. It just means your vacation may look a little different than you imagined.

Now that I’ve depressed you, let’s cheer you back up. Here are some tips for touring Disney World in the rain:

Before leaving home

+ Pack ponchos, rain coats and umbrellas. I know. Buzz kill. When you’re planning a vacation you don’t even want to think about rain. Maybe if you’re fully prepared it won’t happen? Try to pick an umbrella in a cheery color or rain coats you’ll actually enjoy wearing. It makes using these items at Disney World less annoying. Oh, and if you go the poncho route, try to avoid the clear ones. It will make spotting your travel party so much easier among the sea of clear-plastic-Disney-poncho people. (say that three times fast!)

+ Pack multiple pairs of shoes! One rain storm or strategically-placed puddle can soak your feet. It’s a good idea to take at least one back-up pair, especially if you’re touring more than one day. If you have really comfortable water-resistant shoes, that’s even better.

+ Pack plastic bags in an assortment of sizes. You can use them to separate your wet stuff (umbrellas, clothes, etc.) from the stuff you want to keep dry (cell phone, camera, etc.).

+ Consider booking table-service restaurants. If you haven’t made any restaurant reservations, consider adding a few. The quick-service restaurants fill-up quickly when it rains and it’s often difficult to find an open table indoors. You may be grateful to have a dry spot to hang out in for a while, even if you just want to order an appetizer or dessert. Some of the restaurants, like Restaurant Marrakesh at Epcot, are easy to book and offer entertainment too. You can cancel reservations 24 hours beforehand without penalty if you change your mind or the sun decides to shine.

During your vacation

+ Let yourself be upset, then move on. The first time I got stuck in a downpour at Disney World I donned the crazy poncho I was hoping I wouldn’t need and ran for cover. It was a fun new adventure and I was confident it would be short-lived. It wasn’t. The rain continued all week. As the reality sunk in that my vacation plans were a bust, it took me a while to let go.

My advice? Let yourself be upset, at least for a little bit. It’s okay to be annoyed that your plans are being disrupted. I don’t think most people envision their pictures in front of Cinderella castle including an umbrella.

The trick is to not let it overwhelm your entire trip. The sooner you let go of your disappointment (cue Elsa’s theme song…), the better your chance of enjoying your trip. Focus on what you can do in the rain, instead of what you can’t.  It may not be the vacation you imagined, but touring Disney World in the rain can still be great.

+ Review your Fast Pass+ selections. If you’ve picked outdoor attractions  (such as Thunder Mountain or Expedition Everest) for your Fast Pass+ and you don’t want to ride them in the rain, consider making adjustments. You can choose a different time for the same attraction or swap it out for something else indoors using the My Disney Experience app. If you don’t want to mess with it, you may still get lucky. If Disney closes an attraction due to rain during your Fast Pass+ window, you will probably receive another Fast Pass+ selection to make up for it.

+ Run to the nearest indoor attraction! Ha. Just kidding. Well, kind of. Rain storms are a great time to meet characters, catch a show or ride an indoor attraction. The lines for the most popular indoor options will grow unbelievably fast once the rain starts, so it’s best to have one in mind before that time comes.

Magic Kingdom offers the most indoor options, followed in order by Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. (Click here for a complete list.) As much as I love Animal Kingdom, it’s not the best place to be in a heavy rainstorm. It’s the largest park with the least number of indoor attractions. If you have a hopper ticket, you may want to jump somewhere else for the rainiest portion of the day.

+ Go shopping. Rainstorms are a great time to shop, although you’re likely to have plenty of company. The stores along Main Street in Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood Studios are connected inside so you can travel the block without going outside. If you forgot to pack any plastic bags, this is your opportunity to get some.

+ Eat during off-peak times.  Once it starts raining in the park, guests naturally look for cover. Many of them head to quick-service restaurants and occupy tables, even if they have no intention of eating. It can make finding an open table difficult and frustrating.

To improve your odds of scoring somewhere to sit while you eat, head to a quick-service restaurant before 11am or after 2pm. It’s also a good idea to have one member of your party scout for a table while the rest of your group places their orders. If that doesn’t work, consider picking up a portable snack (giant turkey leg anyone?) or grabbing a last minute table-service reservation.

+ Head to Disney Springs. There are many indoor entertainment options at Disney Springs, beyond the numerous restaurants and shops. You can catch a movie at AMC, bowl at Splitsville, sample beverages at the Coca Cola store or stare in wonder at Cirque du Soleil. Raglan Road, Bongos Cuban Café and other restaurants also offer indoor entertainment while dining.

+ Tour resorts. If you’re looking for less expensive indoor options, consider touring other Disney resorts. The “deluxe” resorts offer more indoor space to explore than the moderate or value locations. You can pick up a Dole Whip at the Polynesian or a fabulous cupcake at the Contemporary. The monorail is a fun option for reaching the resorts from Magic Kingdom or Epcot, but please note Disney closes them if the rain gets too heavy or lightning is present.

+ Get wet and sing in the rain! Ha. So if the rain won’t stop and you’re tired of dodging it, go ahead and get wet. Channel your inner child. You won’t melt. Disney keeps operating most of the outdoor rides as long as the rain isn’t too heavy or lightning isn’t present. If you’re already soaked, why not ride Splash Mountain or go swimming at your resort? I can’t say it’s my best Disney memory ever (per the blog reference above), but I’ll never forget riding Thunder Mountain in the rain.

 

And that’s it. Hopefully these tips gave you some ideas (and encouragement?!) on touring Disney World in the rain. I truly hope you don’t need them. But if the sun refuses to shine on your vacation, please know you can still have an awesome trip. It may just look a little different than you imagined.

What do you think? Do you have other tips for touring Disney World in the rain? Let me know in the comments below!

Keep dry, if you want to, and add a little magic to your world!