You’ve saved your money, booked your trip and headed to the most magical place on earth.  You get up in the morning and get ready for a full day of adventure when you see the weather forecast – RAIN!  Oh no!  What are you going to do?

It’s Florida, it happens!  It is very typical especially in the summer months to get those afternoon Florida showers.  No matter what time of year you visit the Disney parks, you can be sure you’re going to experience some rain on some (or all) of your park days.

Here’s 5 things you can do when it rains on your Walt Disney World vacation in the theme parks

1.  Grab a poncho and keep going

If you thought of it in advance and packed rain jackets and ponchos, you’re ahead of the game.  Many people pick up a bunch from their local dollar store or on Amazon before travel to take with them. If you haven’t thought to bring one from home, it’s okay – Disney sells them everywhere!

As soon as the rain comes in, all of the gift shops will be selling the ponchos and umbrellas.  A Disney branded umbrella is a great souvenir to bring home by the way.  A rain poncho is great for covering everything (in a pinch they have been known to work as stroller covers!).  Hold on to your receipt in case it gets ripped or damaged, they are not THAT rugged.

If you happen to be near Main Street and it’s a little light drizzle, you might even get to see the rainy day cavalcade!  This is a very short little parade with a few of your favourite Disney characters.

A little rain never hurt anyone, and most times it’s so hot that I’m happy for a little shower to cool off.  Just an FYI though, the ponchos are plastic and can be a bit hot, it’s just something to keep in mind.​

2.  Visit indoor attractions

During the rain (and especially if there is lightening) they will close the outdoor attractions for safety reasons, but there are many indoor attractions that still operate during rain.  At the Magic Kingdom alone you could consider Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Carousel of Progress, Hall of Presidents or It’s A Small World.  No matter what park you’re at, there are a ton of indoor shows and attractions to choose from.  Use the app to check the wait times and determine which attractions are open.  Take shelter inside and enjoy them!

Mickey’s Philharmagic is a great spot to get inside from the rain!

This is my preferred thing to do if there is really heavy rain or it’s blowing a lot.  During hurricane season when a storm comes through there no amount of rain gear that is going to keep you dry if you’re outside.

Depending on the season, sometimes you can head in to an attraction with it pouring outside and when you come back out it’s nice and sunny.

3. Check the My Disney Experience app

Use the app to mobile order food or to check for dining reservations at a table service restaurant.  When there is inclement weather it’s a great time to take a break for a bite to eat, sit down and rest your feet.

If you have lightning lanes booked, you will want to see if those have been altered due to the ride closures as well.

4.  Visit a nearby Disney resort or gift shop

If you’re at the Magic Kingdom it’s a great time to jump on the Monorail and head over to the Contemporary Resort, Grand Floridian or Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort to check things out.  Some of the resorts have the best gift shops and quick service locations. If you’re at Epcot or Hollywood Studios – the Boardwalk is still fun in the rain.  While at Animal Kingdom park you can take a very quick bus ride to Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

If you want to stay in the park but feel like shopping, you know you’re never far from a gift shop at Walt Disney World!  Although there are many who will have the same idea of getting in the store for rain cover so it’s always a good idea to find one of the ‘bigger’ shops to hang out in.

5.  Sit tight and wait it out

Grab a drink, find a place to sit and wait it out.  Florida rain showers are often quite short, even when they appear to be intense – they can pass over in minutes.  While watching all of the people scramble to leave the park, you can think about all you’re going to enjoy without the crowds when the showers are over.  Sometimes I just sit on a bench in the rain with my poncho covering me and people watch.

Of course you want to be careful and know the difference between a rain shower and dangerous weather.  I use the Accuweather App to stay up to date on the weather while I’m there.

Disney is very good at providing updates in your room TV during a hurricane.

If there’s a hurricane coming – take cover and don’t mess around.  Follow the instructions of the cast members and remain calm, Walt Disney World Resort is well equipped to deal with bad weather.

Have you had some fun adventures in the rain at Walt Disney World?