What to do at Walt Disney World During a Rainstorm

Nobody likes to get caught in the rain during their vacation…especially at Walt Disney World. Did you know that you can still have plenty of fun at the parks even during a rainstorm? That’s right- you don’t have to make a mad dash for the exit when you feel the first drop of rain. Here are some things you can do next time it rains when you’re at one of the parks.


Magic Kingdom

Rainy-Day Cavalcade

There are so many fun things to do at Magic Kingdom in the rain. One of the most fun and unique things to experience here in the rain, is the Rainy-Day Cavalcade. See some of your favorite characters parade down Main Street USA in their rain gear and dance to one of the most beloved songs of all time, “Singin’ in the Rain”. Grab a rain poncho and stay for one of the cutest parades that Disney has to offer.

Little to No Wait Times

Another big advantage to being at Magic Kingdom during a rainstorm is that a lot of people end up leaving the parks to escape the bad weather. As you probably can already imagine, when huge crowds of people leave the park, it makes all the wait times for the rides drop drastically. Unfortunately, many of the outdoor attractions such as Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Astro Orbiters and others close during bad weather, so you won’t be able to ride those. However, Magic Kingdom has many fun indoor attractions that will have little or no wait. Quite a few times I have been at Magic Kingdom during a rainstorm, and I walked onto almost all the rides (including Peter Pan’s Flight and Space Mountain) with no wait!

Fun on Main Street USA

If you decide to stay at the parks but don’t want to venture out into the rain to go on any rides, there are plenty of places to stay inside and dry! Main Street USA is lined with plenty of shops and stops for all your souvenir needs. You can stop at the Emporium, the largest gift and souvenir shop in Magic Kingdom. You can get everything here like mugs, Minnie ears, pins, clothing and candy. Done souvenir shopping? I bet you’ve worked up an appetite for something sweet. Follow your nose to the Main Street Confectionary and there you can find everything from candy apples to Mickey krispie treats. Did you know you can also get your haircut on Main Street USA? While you are killing time and waiting for the rain to pass, stop at the Harmony Barber Shop to get a quick trim. **As of right now, the Harmony Barber Shop is still closed but they will be reopening at a later date. **


EPCOT

Indoor Rides

Not only is Spaceship Earth one of the best rides at Epcot to do in the rain, but did you know it is the perfect place to stand under to stay dry? The unique design of the enormous sphere reroutes water through 1-inch gutters and funnels it directly into World Showcase Lagoon! Since Florida rainstorms often don’t last more than 15 minutes, this ride (clocking in at 15 minutes long) is the perfect ride to escape a passing shower. Unfortunately, Test Track will be closed but you’ll be able to ride other fan favorites such as Soarin’ and Frozen Ever After with low wait times. This is also a great time to ride Living with The Land. Not only is it a fun ride, it’s also very educational. Did you know that the produce that is grown at The Land is served at many of the restaurants on Walt Disney World property?

The SeaBase

The SeaBase is one of the most fun and popular things to do at Epcot during a rainy day. Not only is it completely indoors, but you almost forget that you’re at Epcot. You feel as if you are in an enormous aquarium.  The SeaBase is a 5.7-million-gallon Caribbean Coral Reef Aquarium that is home to sea turtles, rays, dolphins, sharks and many more fish friends. There is so much to do here! You can go watch the fish get fed at 10am and 3:30pm, go on The Seas with Nemo & Friends, snorkel and even scuba dive (if you are a certified scuba diver). Want to keep your little ones occupied with a fun adventure? Finding Dory’s Friends- A Fin-Tastic Scavenger Hunt is a self-guided scavenger hunt around the entire pavilion. Pick up the free booklet at the kiosk on the first floor to get started. It’s a lot of fun!

Around the World

There are a lot of fun shops and restaurants at Epcot’s World Showcase to get you out of the rain. Every country has a gift shop with items unique to each country and a place to eat. Some countries even have an indoor ride or attraction. The most popular of the World Showcase rides is Frozen Ever After in Norway and The Grand Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros in Mexico. Whether you start at Mexico or Canada (I always start in Mexico because who doesn’t want to start their journey around the world with nachos and churros!), you are guaranteed to have a run time-rain or shine! 


Hollywood Studios

Shopping

Much like Main Street USA at Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Boulevard at Hollywood Studios has a lot of great places to shop on those dreaded rainy days. For home décor, Minnie Ears, pins, Magic Bands and more- be sure to stop at the Celebrity 5 & 10. For collectables, Mickey Mouse souvenirs, and other assorted merchandise- be sure to visit Mickey’s of Hollywood. All of the stores are very close together and it makes it very easy to travel from store to store without getting too wet!

Indoor Rides

A lot of rides (especially the thrill rides) are indoors and still operate during the rain. The Rock n’ Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Rise of the Resistance and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway (and more) are all open and operate normally during rainstorms. Plus, as I mentioned before, the wait times will be much shorter since a lot of people leave the parks at the first sign of rain. I would recommend putting on a poncho and getting as many rides done as you can!

Dining

Hollywood Studios has a lot of great places to eat indoors. One of my favorite places to eat is 50’s Prime Time Café. Not only is the food delicious here, but you feel like you traveled back in time to the 50’s! It is very immersive, and the servers are hilarious. The Hollywood Brown Derby is another great place to eat. The famous Cobb Salad is amazing- along with just about everything else on the menu. For a fun and unique dining experience, try the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant. You and your party will sit in a ‘50s style car and watch sci-fi movie clips from the 1950’s at the drive-in. These dining experiences are all great choices to escape the rain and enjoy some great food.


Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Go on a Safari! (And other rides)

I know what you’re thinking…safaris are outdoors and they are closed during the rain. Nope! In fact, the safaris still operate (if there isn’t any lightning) and the animals come out to play! It’s a very fun thing to do during a rainy day! Other fan favorite rides such as Avatar Flight of Passage, Na’vi River Journey and DINOSAUR are also open to enjoy! Unfortunately, the Gorilla Falls Trial, Expedition Everest, TriceraTop Spin and Kali River Rapids close during the rain.

See a Show

One of the best stage shows in all of Walt Disney World can be found at Animal Kingdom. The Festival of The Lion King is a 40-minute-long Broadway style production that features singing and dancing to your favorite songs from The Lion King. It is completely indoors and will be one of the best things you do at Animal Kingdom whether it is raining or not. I highly recommend this show. If you aren’t into Broadway styled shows, I recommend taking the train from Africa to Rafiki’s Planet Watch. If you go inside of the Conservation Station Building, there is a show called The Animation Experience. Here, you will learn how to draw a Disney character in a class taught by one of Disney’s very talented Cast Members.

Dining

Animal Kingdom has its share of great dining locations as well. There are many that are indoors and have amazing food. If you want a character dining experience with delicious food, go to the Tusker House in Africa. Mickey, Goofy, Daisy and Donald will dance around while you eat breakfast, lunch or dinner. For great food that doesn’t have a hint of Disney in the restaurant, go to Yak & Yeti. It is one of two restaurants at Animal Kingdom not owned by Disney (the other is the Rainforest Café). Pandora is a great place to go if you want to eat delicious and unique food that is out of this world (literally!). Satu’li Canteen in Pandora is the place to be for great food and as an added bonus, it is indoors so you can escape the rain!


Stay and Play!

The next time you are in Walt Disney World and you see a big rain cloud coming your way, remember what you read here and don’t leave the parks! As you can see, there are plenty of fun things to do, see and eat! Not only can you still ride your favorite rides, but you can ride them with shorter wait times! Don’t let a little rain ruin your day, put on your poncho and stay!

Posted by The Orlando Real on
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