Yes, unfortunately Disney magic doesn’t work in the elements and it can rain at Disney World. In particular, the summer months can experience quite a bit of rain. So what are you going to do if this happens to you?
First of all, you can see it as a good thing. Rain means other people leave the parks. The advantage of this, of course, is that the queues are getting shorter as people give up and go home. As long as you’re prepared, you can be one of those who stay and enjoy the shorter lines. To stay dry, the best thing you can do is buy a Disney rain poncho. These huge plastic ponchos aren’t the most attractive thing you’ve ever seen, but they will keep you dry. They are not always displayed in stores, and you have to ask for them. Perhaps no one wants to admit that it rains in The Happiest Place on Earth. They are nice and durable though, though you’ll probably never use them if you’re not at a theme park. I don’t think anyone really wants to be seen in a giant plastic rain poncho with Mickey Mouse on the back unless they’re in the sympathetic environment of a theme park! Everyone looks the same in a Disney poncho (unless, like me, you’ve had yours for years and it’s still the color from last season). If you want to be able to recognize your family when they are dressed for the rain, you might want to buy a poncho at another store!
If you have a stroller, always put your poncho on when you park your stroller outside the attraction. That way, you won’t have to explain to your son, who is yelling in protest, that it’s actually okay to sit in a wet seat for the next two hours. Another idea if you have small children in a stroller is to put a small towel in the basket of the stroller, it could be very useful.
Go inside. This may seem like a bit of a no-brainer, but there are plenty of things to do at Disney that are undercover. The showers tend not to last as long, so if you can sit in one of the shows or attractions for a while, then you might be able to get out in the sunshine again.
Take a look at the map. Even dressed in your Mickey poncho, don’t plan on walking halfway through the park in the middle of a downpour.
You might take the opportunity to get out of the park for a while (don’t forget your palm stamp). Exploring one of the Disney resort hotels is a great way to pass the time. If you’re at the Magic Kingdom, you can easily get to The Floridian, The Contemporary, and The Polynesian by monorail or boat.
So see the rain as an opportunity and use it to your advantage.
