How To Survive Rainy Day At Disney World
Disney Travel || Tags: Disney ||When you’ve spent months (or a year +) planning your Disney Vacation the last thing you want to see is rain in the forecast. Fear not! There are plenty of things to do on a rainy day at Disney World.
First of all, the parks don’t close for inclement weather, unless it’s a hurricane. Rain is common in Florida for most of the year, especially in summer and early fall, however it is usually short showers instead of all day rain. On a trip in late May, it rained everyday, but we made the best of it and “just keep swimming” 😉 Just because it’s raining doesn’t mean you can’t have a great time!
Planning For The Weather
Fail To Plan = Plan To Fail! Before you head out on your trip consider buying ponchos at a local store. They will be so much more expensive at the parks. Carry the ponchos in your park bag and throw them on when needed. If you have many cheap ones you can throw them out, or keep a Ziploc bag in your park bag to put wet ponchos in. Umbrellas might seem like a good idea, but they are annoying to carry around and a hazard if the parks are busy.
Wear shoes that dry quickly. I made the mistake on my last trip of only bringing sneakers and Birkenstock sandals. They take fooooorever to dry. Even with the hairdryer!
If you have a stroller, bring something to cover it with so it’s not soaked for the rest of the day.
Check out What To Pack For Disney for more packing tips!
Does Disney Provide Refunds For Weather?
In general, no. Even if they have to close rides for the weather, refunds are not provided. In the case of hurricanes or weather that closes the park, refunds will be provided. If you have a special event like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party booked, some of the entertainment may be cancelled, but Disney will not provide refunds unless they cancel the party.
Do Rides Shut Down In The Rain?
Most rides will stay open in the rain, however some outdoor rides like Slinky Dog Dash, Test Track, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Expedition Everest, Astro Orbiter and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train may close due to rain and/or thunder and lightning. You can check the My Disney Experience app on your phone, which will show you which rides are closed.
Many rides have queues that are inside or covered! Get in line for these rides and wait out the rain:
Animal Kingdom:
- DINOSAUR
- Na’vi River Journey
- Avatar Flight of Passage (part of the queue may be outside)
Hollywood Studios:
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (part of the queue may be outside)
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Toy Story Mania!
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
- Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith (part of the queue may be outside)
Epcot:
- Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
- Frozen Ever After (part of the queue may be outside)
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (part of the queue may be outside, but it’s covered)
- Journey Into Imagination With Figment
- Soarin’
- Living with the Land
- The Seas with Nemo & Friends
- Mission: SPACE
Magic Kingdom:
- Space Mountain (part of the queue may be outside)
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- It’s a small world
- Haunted Mansion (part of the queue may be outside, but it’s covered)
- Pirates of the Caribbean
Check Out The Shows
A rainy day at Disney is the best time to take in longer shows or other entertainment that isn’t necessarily a “ride”! Here are some of your options:
Animal Kingdom:
- Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!
- Festival Of The Lion King
- It’s Tough to be a Bug!
Hollywood Studios:
- Beauty and The Beast Live On Stage
- Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
- For The First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
- Walt Disney Presents
- Disney Junior Play and Dance!
- Muppet*Vision 3D
- Vacation Fun – An Original Animated Short with Mickey & Minnie
Epcot:
- Reflections of China
- The American Adventure
- Voices of Liberty
- Impressions de France
- Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along
- Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360
- Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
- Awesome Planet
- Turtle Talk with Crush
- Visit the Aquarium at The Seas
Magic Kingdom:
- Carousel of Progress
- The Hall of Presidents
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic
- Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor
- Enchanted Tales with Belle
- Country Bear Jamboree (Due to open in Summer 2024 after a refurbishment)
- Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
Will the Parades, Nighttime Shows & Fireworks Go On In The Rain?
For the most part fireworks, nighttime shows and parades continue in the rain. However if there is thunder and lightning shows and/or parades could be cancelled or postponed.
The Festival of Fantasy parade at Magic Kingdom may become the Rainy Day Cavalcade, featuring the performers in rain gear, and yes you’ll still see some characters! It’s something different from the usual, which can be great, unless it’s your first ever visit!
Because Fantasmic features live performers, it may be cancelled during a rainy day.
Disney is Still Magical In The Rain!
You can still have a magical vacation in the rain. I could have been miserable on my last trip but we chose to have a great attitude and enjoy our days. With a little preparation a rainy day at Disney isn’t anything to worry about!
Need more advice on how to plan a Disney vacation?
- All About The Value Resorts
- Should You Get The Memory Maker?
- All About The Disney Dining Plan
- The Best Snacks At Disney World
3 responses to “How To Survive Rainy Day At Disney World”
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I love it when it rains in the Parks. You finally get a break from the crowds if you don’t mind a little rain 🙂
I LOVE these tips. We ALWAYS bring our ponchos!!! You can still have a blast at Disney on a rainy day!
Great tips and photos to match! I will definitely be prepared for the rain!