It’s no secret that Florida weather can be wild!
Put on those ponchos!
When you’re visiting Disney World, you may have to be prepared to face everything from extreme heat to overwhelming humidity to heavy winds…and that’s just in one trip! It rains quite a bit during hurricane season, and sometimes we find that the rain causes some issues in the parks. That’s exactly what happens frequently in Disney’s Hollywood Studios!
Like we see most days in the summer, we got a mid-afternoon rainstorm in Disney World today. Guests whipped out those ponchos and kept trudging onward, but things seemed to be a little more intense than usual.
Guests getting their ponchos on for the storm.
As the rain picked up, guests began to seek shelter under awnings or inside gift shops. We headed into The Darkroom, and while in there, we noticed that Cast Members had blocked off a section of the floor.
The floor was blocked due to flooding!
One of the entrances to the store was completely flooded with a large puddle of water. Cones and Cast Members formed a barrier around the door while one worker pushed as much water back out into the street as possible with a squeegee.
Okay yeah. This rain is something SERIOUS in Disney’s Hollywood Studios 😳 pic.twitter.com/t7iJneBrOw
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) June 20, 2022
Meanwhile, the streets emptied of guests but started to fill up with water. Hollywood Boulevard in particular can get pretty sloshy when there’s heavy rain, so keep that in mind if you’re visiting during this summer “rainy season.”
It got really bad outside as well!
This park is one of the worst when it comes to flooding during rainstorms — you’ll definitely want your waterproof shoes here! But all of the parks are susceptible to storms, so it’s best to be prepared no matter where you’re going in Disney World.
How to Do Disney During Bad Weather
If you find yourself caught in a rainstorm at Disney World, you don’t have to despair! We’ve got some great tips to prevent the weather from ruining your vacation.
It’s pouring!
The first tip comes into play before you even leave home — make sure you pack for all possibilities. Bring a couple changes of clothes for each day, more socks than you think you’ll need, and a raincoat or poncho. Light, quick-drying clothes are best for the parks, as jeans can be very annoying when they get wet. Other great things to bring include anti-chafing gel and moleskin, to prevent or fix blisters.
Pack a poncho!
Having a few plastic or Ziploc bags in your park bag can be a life-saver. Especially now that phones are a big part of the Disney World experience, you don’t want to worry about water damage during the rainstorms!
Disney plastic bag! Not a zip lock bag, though, so maybe get one that closes!
Although we usually like to keep trekking on when it rains in the parks (it can be a great time to get on popular rides since so many people are hiding in shops and restaurants!), sometimes you’ve got to take a quick break to let the worst of the storm pass. Because of that, we recommend keeping a close eye out for nearby shelters once it starts to rain.
Finding shelter
A counter-service restaurant, bakery, or gift shop is a great place to wait out the storm for a few minutes (and a few minutes is likely all you’ll need — Florida storms tend to hit hard and run out fast). Grab a snack, do a little shopping, and then you’ll be ready to hit the ground running once the storm abates!
Find somewhere to wait out the storm
Remember that Mobile Order can be your friend here. If a restaurant is very busy, check to see if there are Mobile Order pick-up times available. You might be able to skip the line altogether and get your food faster.
Mobile Order sign in EPCOT
Also, keep in mind that many rides will close down if there is lightning in the vicinity, so a rainy day may put a damper on your plans. If the forecast looks like rain later in the day, be sure to visit your favorite attractions in the morning (especially if they’re outdoor attractions). Knocking out your must-dos first will ensure you don’t leave the park disappointed.
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train might close in bad weather
If it’s raining in the morning and several rides are closed, keep checking the My Disney Experience app to see when they open, and head there as soon as they’re running again. Usually, rides will have a short wait time for a bit right after they reopen.
Test Track
For more tips, check out these posts:
- 6 Tips for Planning a Disney World Trip During Hurricane Season
- 8 DFB Reader Tips for Riding Out a Hurricane in Disney World
- How to Prepare for Hurricane Season in Disney World
- 14 Amazon Essentials to Survive Rainy Days in Disney World
- We Wore a Disney World Rain Poncho on a Stormy Day — Here’s What Happened
And keep following DFB so that we can update you with all the latest news from the parks!
8 Things You’ll Regret Not Having With You When it Rains in Disney World — Click Here!
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Hollywood Studios seems to be very prone to this as there was a rough night back in March with the water much higher than this instance. It is unfortunate to put Cast Members in the difficult situation of trying to prevent retail locations from flooding.
AJ:
My wife ordered and paid for one of your Dining books about 18 months ago and never received it. She just mentioned this to me. Could you please check your records and see if it was sent be never received or just what happened to it. We love your blog, recommend it to friends and family and await your new posts on You Tube daily. Keep up the good work, you are appreciated!!
It rains, be prepared.
Hi Frank! Thanks for reaching out to us. All of our books are eBook format so it would have been sent to whichever email address she provided. If you still have not received it, please reach out to our DFB Guide support team. Their email address is [email protected] and they will be able to help figure out what happened. 🙂