Rain is zero fun any time you have plans to be outside, but this is especially true when your outdoor plans include Disney World.
You can spend months planning your Disney World vacation, but unfortunately, you still can’t control the weather.
But if you find yourself with some bad weather, all is not lost!
Today we’re doing to talk about seven things you can do if it rains during your Disney World Vacation (and what to do if a hurricane hits).
Wait it out
This is most applicable to pop up showers, which can happen a lot in central Florida.
These showers can literally pop up without a moment’s notice, but the good news is they can pass just as quickly. However, sometimes the downpours can be quite intense, so pushing on isn’t always a good option.
In these cases, you may want to find an overhang for your group to huddle under or duck into a covered quick service location and get some food while the storm passes.
These storms often happen too frequently and last so briefly that it’s not worth rearranging your trip or skipping a day in the parks because of it.
Ponchos/rain gear
Another option you have is to soldier on. Instead of skipping a park day, put on some ponchos and rain gear, and go about your trip as planned.
This can be good for a pop-up shower or a day of rain.
While there are some attractions that can’t operate in the rain or if lightning is in the area, Disney World as a whole is built to function unless it’s genuinely unsafe. This includes during some bad weather.
And while there may be some changes to your plan, and you may miss out on some attractions, there are some advantages.
For example, you may find that a lot of people opt to stay out of the parks or wait undercover, leaving you with reduced wait times for the open attractions.
However, if you’re taking this option, I strongly suggest bringing extra socks or waring quick-drying supportive sandals. Walking around with wet socks is super uncomfortable!
Check out some restaurants
If you’d rather save your park day for the sun, you can still make the most of your day outside the parks. Instead, take a chill down day and maybe visit some restaurants you wouldn’t normally check out.
This may mean a visit to Disney Springs or one or several resort restaurants.
There are plenty of great restaurants that are too out of the way to get to when you spend your days in the parks, so this is a great opportunity to check them out.
Take a resort day
Additionally, it can also be a great chance to check out some other resorts on property.
All Disney World Resorts have their own personality and theming that is worth checking out. And you can visit a resort (and participate in activities) even if you’re not staying there.
And most resorts have some kind of indoor activity for visitors to participate in. This may be a behind the scenes restaurant tour at Animal Kingdom Lodge or drawing classes are Art of Animation.
Again, you can participate in these activities even if you’re not staying at the resort, so be sure check in with different resorts and ask Cast Members about your options.
Consider heading to Hollywood Studios
If it’s set to rain all day, and you can’t afford to take a down day, you may want to consider spending your rain day at Hollywood Studios.
I consider this to be the most rain friendly park. Not only are there plenty of indoor rides, but also because there’s a large number of sit-down shows available to you.
These shows give you the option to get inside for long stretches and still get some good Disney entertainment.
After Hollywood Studios, I would consider Magic Kingdom to be the second most rain friendly park, followed by Epcot, then Animal Kingdom.
Check out the NBA Experience and Disney Springs
If you’re an NBA fan, the NBA Experience just opened in Disney Springs.
Now, I haven’t been there myself, but from what I can tell, it’s an immersive indoor experience and a great way to spend a day if you or members of your group are NBA fans.
You can learn more about the NBA Experience on Disney’s website.
And since it’s located in Disney Springs, non-NBA fans can also get some shopping in and check out some awesome restaurants.
Take a spa day
All of Disney’s Deluxe resorts have spas on the property that you can book an appointment at.
So if spas are your thing, this may be a great way to spend a rainy day in Walt Disney World.
You can check out your spa options on Disney’s Website.
Bonus tip: What to do if a hurricane hits
Hurricanes do hit central Florida and Walt Disney World from time to time. In these cases, the parks may close early, open late, or close entirely for a day or so while the hurricane moves through.
At Disney guest safety is always a priority. Disney resorts are built to withstand a hurricane so you can rest assured that you will be safe and have everything you need if you’re staying on property.
If you’re staying at a Disney hotel during hurricane season and would like more specifics on what to expect in the event of a hurricane, your best bet is to contact the resort directly. Each hotel has a different structure and layout, so its hurricane procedure will vary.
Do can find a list of all of Disney’s resort’s here. To locate a resort phone number, click on the resort, then navigate to the “overview” tab. The phone number should be on the right sidebar.
For more Disney World tips and tricks, check out the other Disney World Posts!
Sound off: Have you been caught in the rain in Disney World? What did you do? Or, what do you think you would do? Tell us about it in the comments!