How to Survive Rain at Disney World Based On Our Own Experience

Don’t let rain put a damper on your time at Walt Disney World. On many vacations, when it ends up raining, your plans get ruined and you’re left to stay in your hotel room for the day. Luckily that’s not the case at Disney World!

Due to its Orlando location, rain is very common at Disney World. Even when it’s not in the forecast, it’s not uncommon for a rain storm to roll in and take you by surprise. All of the amazing Cast Members at Disney World are used to this and are prepared to keep providing you with magical experiences during these wetter days.

When I first started going to Disney World, I wasn’t prepared for the rain. It didn’t take me long to learn though! As someone who now frequently visits Disney World, I make sure that I’m always ready for the possibility of rain. I’m here to make sure that you’re also ready! In this article, I’m going to go through everything that you need to know to be prepared for rain at Disney World as well as tips to ensure that you still have an amazing time!

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Pro Tip: Bring Rain Gear

While this may seem like an obvious suggestion, it’s not always something that’s thought about. When you think of Orlando, generally what comes to mind is bright sun, blue skies, and warmth. Normally, when packing, the first things that go into the suitcase are shorts, sandals, sunblock, and swimsuits. Rain isn’t generally on everyone’s mind.

If you do find yourself in Disney World on a rainy day and you don’t have any rain gear with you, don’t fret! There will be rain gear available for you to purchase throughout the different merchandise stores. You can find both ponchos and umbrellas. Unfortunately, it does come along with a Disney price tag. Ponchos will cost you around $12 for an adult size and around $10 for the smaller child size. Umbrellas usually cost around $17. Keep in mind that these prices are for the standard “emergency” ponchos and umbrellas. Sometimes a fun line of themed rain gear is released at the parks and those items will cost more.

While these prices may not seem outlandish, they can add up quickly if you have a group of people that you’re trying to keep dry. Especially when you can come prepared at a much lower price! Before my own trips, I purchase a family pack of ponchos off of Amazon. The packs that I get consist of both adult and child sizes and generally have 8-12 ponchos in a pack. I can usually get these packs for around $12-$15.

Rain Gear Suggestions

As we just discussed, some rain gear that you could bring with you to Walt Disney World are ponchos and umbrellas. These are also the most common items that you’ll see being used. This is most likely due to their compactability. Both of these items can be easily folded up and packed away without taking up too much space in your bag when they’re not in use.

Rather than ponchos, some Guests prefer to simply wear raincoats. This may be more common for the locals visiting the parks. Again, going back to convenience, while a raincoat is more durable than a poncho, it’s not as easy to pack up. A raincoat is much thicker than a poncho and takes up more space when folded down. This will be especially true if you’re needing to pack away coats for multiple people.

One item that may not come to mind is rain gear for equipment. If you have a stroller or a wheelchair with you, a waterproof cover can be a great thing to have with you! This will not only keep the seat dry, but also any items that you’re storing in the compartments.

Rain Gear to Bring

• Ponchos
  • Remember to get different sizes for Adults and Children
• Umbrellas
• Raincoats
• Waterproof Covers
  • Strollers
  • Wheelchairs

What Closes At Disney World When It Rains?

While there are a lot of indoor activities that you can take part in no matter the weather, there are some things outdoors that can close down if the weather gets bad. Most of these things won’t close simply due to a light rain. However, if Disney World gets hit with a heavy downpour or the rain turns into a thunder or electrical storm, that’s the time that you’ll want to keep an eye out for closures. Outdoor closures can take place within transportation, rides, attractions, entertainment, food carts, merchandise carts, and certain destinations.

Transportation

Inclement weather can often affect different methods of transportation around Walt Disney World. The most reliable source of transportation in regards to weather is the Disney bus system. I’ve only personally witnessed the buses close down one time due to weather. This was in 2022 when Hurricane Ian struck the Orlando area. When the Walt Disney World Resort went into lockdown mode, the buses did stop running. This was not an abrupt closure though. Guests were given a certain timeframe to get to their desired destination and were informed when the buses would be closing down for the day.

Again, more often than not, you’ll be able to rely on a bus ride. Heavy rain and storms won’t shut the buses down, but it will shut down other methods of transportation. Water transportation, the Skyliner, and the monorail will all close down due to weather. While a simple rain won’t cause these closures, if bad storms and lightning are in the area, the transportation will cease until the weather has passed. In the event of these closures, you will be advised to to use the Disney buses to get to your desired destination.

Transportation Closures Due to Storms and Lightning

• Skyliner
• Monorail
• Water Transportation

Transportation Closures Due to Extreme Weather Conditions

• Buses

Rides and Attractions

While there are a lot of indoor rides and attractions at Walt Disney World, there are quite a few that are located outdoors and exposed to the weather. Similarly to the transportation, these generally won’t close down for a simple rain or drizzle. However, if rain picks up, storms roll in, or there’s lightning in the area, for the safety of Guests and Cast Members, these rides will temporarily close until it is deemed safe to reopen them.

Not every park has the same amount of outdoor rides. Magic Kingdom quite easily has the most while EPCOT only has one! If the rain during your trip is predicted, rather than a surprise, it may be beneficial to plan your rainy day at one of the parks with fewer outdoor rides. That way you won’t have to worry about many rides and attractions closing down due to the weather.

Rides and Attractions That May Close Due to Weather

• Magic Kingdom
  • Astro Orbiter
  • Barnstormer
  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • Dumbo the Flying Elephant
  • Jungle Cruise
  • Liberty Square Riverboat
  • Mad Tea Party
  • Magic Carpets of Aladdin
  • Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
  • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
  • Swiss Family Tree House
  • Tiana's Bayou Adventure (Opening Summer 2024)
  • Tom Sawyer Island
  • Tomorrowland Speedway
  • Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
  • Walt Disney World Railroad
• EPCOT
  • Test Track
• Hollywood Studios
  • Alien Swirling Saucers
  • Slinky Dog Dash
• Animal Kingdom
  • Expedition Everest
  • Kali River Rapids
  • Kilimanjaro Safaris
  • TriceraTop Spin
  • Wildlife Express Train

Outside Entertainment

Disney World is not just known for its rides and attractions, but also the fantastic entertainment that it provides. Many of these shows and live performances take place outdoors and can be affected when the weather turns bad.

Parades

Both parades and cavalcades will be canceled if the weather is not safe enough for the performers to be out in it. While it may surprise you, this also tends to follow the same rules as the rides and transportation! Rain in itself may not necessarily cause a cancellation. It will depend on which parade it is, what characters are participating, if there’s horses involved, etc. Sometimes a parade will continue, but certain elements will be missing. For example, the rain may cause the Headless Horseman not to ride in the parade that takes place during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party, but the parade itself may not be canceled.

Disney World is also known to swap out a regularly scheduled parade for a special Rainy Day Parade. This is a way to still provide Guests with entertainment, but in the safest way possible.

Stage Shows

Another form of entertainment that’s offered at Disney World is stage shows! With live performers and the outdoor environment, rain can cause these shows to be canceled. These cancellations can come more easily than others. Of course, storms and lightning will cause a cancellation. However, even a light rain may cause these shows to be canceled as well. The safety of the performers is at risk when the stage becomes wet. To avoid slips, falls, and injuries, these shows may be canceled with even a little rain.

Stage Shows That May Be Canceled Due to Weather

• Magic Kingdom
  • Let the Magic Begin
  • Mickey's Magical Friendship Faire
• Hollywood Studios
  • Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage
  • Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!

While EPCOT doesn’t have permanent outdoor stage shows that may be affected by rain, it does have other performances that can be affected! Throughout EPCOT, there are many live performers, especially in World Showcase! Many of the pavilions have live performers that provide entertainment that’s native to that particular country. EPCOT also has a stage that hosts events throughout the different festivals. Concerts take place in this area during Festival of the Arts and Food & Wine Festival. During Festival of the Holidays, a Candlelight Processional takes place here. These are all performances that have the possibility of being affected by bad weather.

Nighttime Shows

There’s no better way to end your Disney Day than by enjoying beautiful lights, fireworks, music, and performances. All of the nighttime spectaculars at Walt Disney World leave Guests with their hearts full of magic. Unfortunately, the viewing of these nighttime spectaculars is also very much dependent on weather. As long as they are deemed safe, they will take place. Sometimes, rather than fully canceling, they may be delayed if the weather is expected to move out soon.

Similarly to the parades, sometimes shows may still take place, but certain elements will be missing. For example, the Happily Ever After fireworks show may still be taking place, but Tinkerbell may not take flight during that particular performance. The safety of the performers is always top priority!

Nighttime Spectaculars That May Be Canceled Due To Weather

• Magic Kingdom
  • Happily Ever After
• EPCOT
  • Luminous The Symphony of Us
• Hollywood Studios
  • Fantasmic!
  • Disney Movie Magic
  • Wonderful World of Animation

Due to the animals that live there, Animal Kingdom does not have any nighttime spectaculars that include lights, fireworks, music, and pyro.

Carts

Various outdoor carts that are located outside, will close up when heavy rain starts or storms roll in. More often than not, simple snacks or merchandise are sold at these locations. You’ll have to wait until the weather passes to grab that Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar or Churro!

Destinations

There are a couple other Disney World destinations that can be affected by the weather. These include the water parks and golf courses. At Disney World, you’ll find two water parks: Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. In regard to golf, you’ll be able to take part in a full range at one of Disney's golf courses or go for the simpler task of conquering one of the miniature golf courses!

The water parks generally don’t fully close due to weather. Like the theme parks, they usually remain open, but Guests will have to wait to go into the water and take part in the attractions if the conditions are deemed unsafe.

The golf courses, however, will close. If you weren’t able to finish your course, or are not able to start and have already paid, you will be given a rain check to continue your golf game at a different time.

What Can You Do at Disney World When it Rains?

Now that we’ve gotten through the closures, let’s talk about everything that you CAN do at Disney World on rainy days! The great part about Disney World is that there are lots of indoor locations and activities. Even if the rain prevents you from being outside, you can still have an amazing day at Walt Disney World.

Places to Stay Dry

Firstly, let’s talk about places that you can dive into rather quickly if you get caught in the rain and need to stay dry. When a rain or storm catches you off guard, that’s a perfect time to go browse the merchandise locations! You can simply window shop while staying dry or actually shop! After all, what's the point a rainy day fund if  you don't use it to shop at Disney World?

Another place you could go to keep dry is a restaurant! If the rain is making it difficult to get from one location to another, maybe this is a perfect time to grab a bite to eat! Plenty of quick-service restaurants are located indoors. The rain also tends to make it easier to get into table service restaurants even if you don’t have a reservation! A lot of times, Guests will leave when it rains which leaves the parks pretty empty. Use this as an opportunity to join a wait-list to a table service restaurant! Due to the lower crowds, you’ll have a great chance of getting in, staying dry, and enjoying a great meal.

Indoor Rides, Attractions, and Entertainment

All four of the theme parks have indoor activities, including rides, attractions, and entertainment. Even though it may be raining outside, you can have a great time indoors with all of these options!

Magic Kingdom

• Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
• Country Bears Jamboree (Closed for Refurbishment)
• Enchanted Tales with Belle
• The Hall of Presidents
• Haunted Mansion
• “it's a small world”
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Meet Ariel at Her Grotto (Based off of the animated movie)
• Meet Cinderella and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall
• Meet Daring Disney Pals as Circus Stars at Pete's Silly Sideshow (Donald and Goofy)
• Meet Dashing Disney Pals as Circus Stars at Pete's Silly Sideshow (Daisy and Minnie)
• Meet Mickey at Town Square Theater
• Meet Princess Tiana and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall
• Mickey's PhilharMagic
• Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
• Peter Pan's Flight
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Space Mountain
• TRON Lightcycle / Run
• Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid
• Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress
• Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room

EPCOT

• Advanced Training Lab
• The American Adventure
• Awesome Planet
• Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along
• Bruce's Shark World
• Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360
• Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
• Frozen Ever After
• Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• ImageWorks – The “What If” Labs
• Journey Into Imagination With Figment
• Living with the Land
• Meet a Friend From the Hundred Acre Wood in the United Kingdom (Pooh Bear)
• Meet Anna and Elsa at Royal Summerhaus
• Meet Beloved Disney Pals at Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival (Mickey and Minnie)
• Meet Figment Inside ImageWorks
• Meet Joy Inside ImageWorks
• Mission: SPACE
• Project Tomorrow: Inventing the Wonders of the Future
• Reflections of China
• Remy's Ratatouille Adventure
• SeaBase
• The Seas with Nemo & Friends
• Soarin' Around the World
• Spaceship Earth
• Turtle Talk With Crush

Hollywood Studios

• Disney Junior Play and Dance!
• For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
• Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy
• Meet Ariel at Walt Disney Presents (Based off of the live action movie)
• Meet BB-8 at Star Wars Launch Bay
• Meet Chewbacca at Star Wars Launch Bay
• Meet Darth Vader at Star Wars Launch Bay
• Meet Disney Stars at Red Carpet Dreams (Minnie and Mickey)
• Meet Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight
• Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• Muppet*Vision 3D
• Rock ‘n' Roller Coaster (Closed for Refurbishment)
• Star Tours – The Adventure Continues
• Star Wars Launch Bay
• Star Wars Launch Bay Theater (Temporarily Unavailable)
• Star Wars Rise of the Resistance
• Toy Story Mania!
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror!
• Vacation Fun – An Original Animated Short with Mickey & Minnie
• Walt Disney Presents

Animal Kingdom

• The Animation Experience at Conservation Station
• Avatar Flight of Passage
• Conservation Station
• DINOSAUR
• Festival of the Lion King
• Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!
• It's Tough to be a Bug!
• Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost
• Na'vi River Journey

Enchanting Extras

If your trip has rain in the forecast, consider booking an Enchanting Extra! Many of these activities take place indoors and can help pass the time while you wait for the weather to pass. If the rain is a surprise, you could still try this method! However, availability may be limited and there may be no reservations available.

Indoor Enchanting Extras

• Magic Kingdom
  • Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
    • While this is an indoor activity, you may want to consider if there will be more rain throughout the rest of the day and/or if you have proper rain gear with you. We wouldn't want your little prince or princess to have their new look ruined!
  • Harmony Barber Shop
  • TRON Identity Program at Tomorrowland Launch Depot
• EPCOT
  • Behind the Seeds
  • EPCOT Seas Adventures – DiveQuest
  • EPCOT Seas Adventures – Dolphins in Depth
  • La Cava Experience
• Hollywood Studios
  • WDW Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Custom Astromech Units
    • Build your own droid at Droid Depot
  • WDW Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Savi's Workshop – Handbuilt Lightsabers
• Animal Kingdom
  • ACE Avatar Maker
• Resorts
  • Celebration at the Top: Sip, Savor, Sparkle
    • Disney's Contemporary Resort
  • Colors of Coronado Painting Experience
    • Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
  • Mandara Spa
    • Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
  • Sangria University
    • Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
  • Spanish Mosaic Art
    • Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
• Disney Springs
  • Amorette's Patisserie Cake Decorating Experience
  • Drawn to Life Presented by Cirque du Soleil & Disney
  • Splitsville Luxury Lanes

Other Activities You Can Do

Disney Springs is a great location for a rainy day! You can spend the day shopping, dining, and being entertained! As you can see in the list I just made, there are multiple activities at Disney Springs that you could do while it’s raining. A game of bowling at Splitsville Luxury Lanes is a perfect way to have fun while passing the time! At Splitsville, you can also enjoy tasty food!

Multiple Disney Springs locations also have smaller play areas for kids. While these areas may close if there’s lightning nearby, they should remain open for rain! One location that provides this opportunity is The LEGO Store. Here, kids can build whatever their imagination comes up with! With a mass amount of LEGO bricks, race tracks, and more, little ones can put their building skills to the test. Just a short walk from The LEGO Store is T-REX Cafe. At this dining location, before or after enjoying a meal, little ones can dig up some fun at the dig site! They can grab a brush or a shovel and find dinosaur fossils!

While the outdoor stage at Disney Springs will most likely close when bad weather comes through, live entertainment can be found at many of the restaurants at Disney Springs. Grab a drink, some food, and enjoy the music!

Live entertainment can be found at:

• House of Blues
• Paradiso 37
• Planet Hollywood
• Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant

Plan Your Disney Vacation (Rain or Shine!)

Now you should be prepared for your Walt Disney World vacation no matter what the weather has in store! I guarantee that even if it is a bit wet, or even stormy, you can still have a fun and magical day! Don’t forget, when you’re ready to start planning your vacation to Disney World, look no further than Get Away Today! They not only can provide you with tickets at the lowest price possible, but they can also assist with your Disney vacation planning! Get your free quote today!

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if it rains at Disney World?