Rainy Days at Walt Disney World

You’re all geared up and ready for a great day at the Orlando theme parks, until you turn on the news and get the weather report. Unfortunately, the forecast calls for rain and your plans seem to be washing away with it. Don’t fret; even rainy days at Walt Disney Worldcan be great days for touring through Walt Disney World.

Here are some tips for surviving those showery days:

Rain means smaller crowds

On rainy days most guests decide to forgo visiting the theme parks entirely. This means that the attractions have much shorter wait. In fact, sometimes you practically feel you have the park to yourself.

Avoid Disney Springs

Because many guests stay away from Orlando attractions on rainy days, Disney Springs tends to attract big crowds.Disney Springsis an outdoor shopping complex, so this will not help you avoid the rain. Also parking is limited here, so the extra crowds can make finding a parking spot impossible. All together it is not recommendable to visit Disney Springs on rainy days, instead visit Epcot on your shopping day.

The theme parks are designed for rain

Disney Imagineers certainly had the frequent showers of Florida in mind when they built the Orlando theme parks at Disney World. Most of the lines for the rides are covered and the majority of the rides are indoors. Nearly all of the restaurants are sheltered or indoors as well.

Only these few attractions are CLOSED during rain or lightning:

Magic Kingdom Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Jungle Cruise, Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Tomorrowland Indy Speedway, Liberty Belle Riverboat, Astro Orbiter and Swiss Family Treehouse.

Disney Hollywood Studios Lights! Motors! Action! and Fantasmic are cancelled during rain. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Disney’s Animal Kingdom is not recommended for rainy day traveling due to most of the animal habitats being outdoors. Epcot Only Test Track closes due to rain.

Bring ponchos

It’s always a good idea to bring ponchos or rain gear just in case of a sudden shower. Even if it doesn’t rain it’s helpful to have for the wet theme park rides like Kali River Rapids atDisney’s Animal Kingdomand Splash Mountain at the Magic Kingdom.

Have a nice long meal

Rainy days are great days for enjoying a leisurely meal at the full service restaurants at the theme parks or Orlando hotels. For an entertaining dining experience, visit Rainforest Café at Disney’s Animal Kingdom or Disney Springs, Sci-Fi Dine Inn Theater and 50’s Primetime Café at Disney-MGM Studios, or any of the character meals at the Disney hotels.

Have a rain plan

Florida showers can strike at a moment, so it’s always good to have an idea of an indoor ride nearby that you can get to quickly if a downpour occurs.

Attractions you can ride multiple times while waiting for the sky to clear up:

• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Mickey’s Philharmagic
• Haunted Mansion (must walk outside to re-enter)
• The Land Pavilion (Soarin’, Circle of Life and Living with the Land)
• The Seas with Nemo and Friends
• Gran Fiesta Tour featuring the Three Caballeros
• Art of Disney Animation (multiple exhibits)

Find the characters indoors

Disney characters don’t like getting wet anymore than you do. If you’re looking for your favorite Disney friends, you might have to seek them out indoors. You can always find Mickey in his house and various characters inside the Toontown County Bounty at the Magic Kingdom. You’ll also find characters at Character Connection between Club Cool and Innoventions at Epcot.

Wait 30-45 minutes

Florida is a tropical environment, so it's common to get sudden showers during the summer. These showers usually last about 30-45 minutes but can be rather impressive. Quite often, guests in the theme parks panic and quickly leave the theme parks instead of simply waiting out the short shower. If you find yourself caught in the middle of an afternoon downpour, give it at least a half hour before abandoning the theme park.

Don’t let a little rain spoil your fun. Enjoy the theme parks when they are less crowded. You might find it to be one of the most fun days of your vacation!

Plan Your Walt Disney World Adventure and Experience the Magic

Walt Disney World is a one-of-a-kind destination, brimming with thrilling attractions, immersive themed lands, and unforgettable character experiences for guests of all ages. With four incredible parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, it’s a place where dreams come true, and memories are made to last a lifetime. 

Planning your visit is simple with our Walt Disney World Resort page, where you’ll find essential tools and tips to craft the perfect itinerary. Save on your trip with our selection of discounted Disney tickets and value-packed Disney vacation packages, which bundle tickets and accommodations for a seamless experience. Speaking of accommodations, we offer a variety of lodging options to suit your family’s needs, including top-rated hotels near Disney with convenient access to the parks and spacious vacation homes near Disney, complete with private pools and fully equipped kitchens for added comfort. 

Whether you’re soaring through the galaxy on thrilling coasters, exploring world cultures at Epcot, or diving into wild adventures at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World offers magic and wonder for everyone. Start planning your trip today with our discounted tickets, vacation packages, and lodging options, and get ready to create magical memories that will last a lifetime!

Check Out Other Fun Things to Do In Orlando Besides the Theme Parks