If you’re visiting Disney World in the summer or during hurricane season (which is…basically half of the year!), you can expect frequent if not DAILY rainfall to come your way. Some of these storms can be a quick sprinkle while others are torrential downpours! 

When these storms roll through the parks, a lot of guests may be inclined to throw social distancing out the window in favor of quickly seeking shelter. Ever seen gaggles of guests huddled under awnings or in gift shop doorways during a storm? It’s not so simple to avoid the storms in a reopened Disney World nowadays!

Now many of you don’t mind a little rain, and take advantage of the (slightly) cooler weather to ride even more rides! But for those of you who want to avoid get too drenched in Disney World, here’s what YOU can do to maintain social distancing during a downpour.

Be prepared BEFORE it starts raining.

There are a few important steps you can take well before the first raindrop hits the ground that will set you and your travel party up to remain as dry as possible.

First, you’ll want to have a reliable weather app (we like AccuWeather) and check the radar throughout the day. It’s tricky to time exactly when it will rain during the day, but AccuWeather gives you the ability to see to the minute when the rain is expected to start.

Having an “eye on the sky” so to speak will give you a general sense of where the rain is in proximity to where you are. Trust us, we’ve had many a day where we checked the weather before heading out to see ZERO percent chance of rain only to get a little ding on our phone that rain is expected at our location. Sure enough, minutes later a tiny little raincloud often pops up!

Next, familiarize yourself with the layout of the park and know where you can find ample coverage! Make sure you grab a park map and perhaps ask a Cast Member in the morning what are good spots to duck into when it rains. For instance, in Magic Kingdom, three areas with lots of covered space include Tomorrowland Terrace (which just so happens to also be a mask-free Relaxation Station!), Tortuga Tavern, and the area surrounding Casey’s Corner on Main Street, U.S.A..

Knowing what indoor attractions are nearby can also buy your party some time when the rain starts to fall. Keep a list of the longer indoor rides or shows, like Hall of Presidents, Country Bear Jamboree, Mickey’s PhilharMagic, or The Haunted Mansion. That way, not only are you avoiding the rain, but you’re also checking some attractions off of your “to-do” list!

The Land Pavilion as well as the Living Seas Pavilion are both great places to seek shelter at EPCOT. If you’re caught in World Showcase, catch a show like the American Adventure, Impressions de France, or Canada Far and Wide.

In Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney Presents and Muppet Vision 3D will take up a decent amount of time while you wait for a brief rainstorm to pass. Finally, in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, It’s Tough to Be a Bug is a good place to hide, and, when the shows return, both Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo the Musical are located in indoor theaters.

Learn more about how this year’s hurricane season may be one of the most active ones yet!

Have rain gear packed with you ahead of time!

We always recommend you stock up on several of those WAY cheaper ponchos BEFORE you leave home! Please don’t waste your money on Disney’s ponchos if you don’t have to! Unless you’re itching to have a souvenir Disney Parks poncho, $11+ is lot of money to shell out per person for a big sheet of plastic.

This poncho tip is even more valuable now! Guests will more than likely dash to the closest shop to a) stay dry, and b) buy some ponchos because they didn’t come prepared! You can avoid the possible crowds in the shops by packing your rain gear with you. You can get a multi-pack on Amazon for less than the cost of ONE poncho in Disney World.

One set of ponchos will be more than enough to keep yourself covered throughout your Disney World vacation. This 5-pack on Amazon retails for $9.98.

Shop for the 5-pack of adult ponchos here!

Don’t forget about your stroller! We’ve been there TOO many times where we’ve bid farewell to our stroller to head onto a ride or into a restaurant with blue skies and sun shining — only to return to a sopping wet mess because a surprise rainstorm decided to make an appearance while we were away!

Make sure you have a rain cover for your stroller and have it ready to go…even when you don’t think you need it! Believe me, you don’t want a wet, grumpy toddler for the rest of the day.

This rain cover that we found on Amazon has nearly 2,000 reviews, will fit most single stroller sizes, and retails for $19.88! Your kiddo will thank you when they’re older.

Shop for this stroller rain cover by clicking here!

Don’t dash to the first dry place you see.

So, you’ve familiarized yourself with the park layout, you stocked up on rain gear, and you’re keeping an eye on your weather app. Next thing you know, the sky opens up and it starts to rain!

Don’t panic, and don’t run! It’s JUST water, guys. It won’t burn holes in your skin if it touches you like you may be led to believe by the look of some guests peeling out to seek shelter at the first drip of moisture. It’s just water, so keep calm.

Panicking about the rain may cause your party to dash to the first dry place you see, which could be a smaller gift shop or entranceway that is suddenly overrun with guests. You’ll be smart enough to NOT be one of these people!

Be willing to walk through the storm for a minute or two to find a safe space to wait the storm out. If you’re prepared with solid rain gear, this will be a much less burdensome process that will keep your party relatively dry.

Are you close to one of those larger, longer indoor attractions? Now may be a good time to hop inside! Walk around your immediate area to see what your options are. Or, if you want to truly embrace the “don’t let a cloud rain on my parade” spirit do like we do — toss that poncho on and keep on enjoying your day! It will be cooler out, there will be FAR fewer people around, and you get a fun, unique experience viewing the parks in the rain.

How does Disney World stay prepared in the event of an emergency? Find out here!

Consider a midday break in your resort room.

Ok, so stomping around in rain puddles may not be for everyone. Another option is a trickier one to time perfectly but you might be able to avoid the rain in the park entirely if you head back to your resort room in the afternoon for an hour or two. Your room is probably the easiest place to socially distance yourself from others in general!

Storms tend to hit Orlando mid to late afternoon, so plan to arrive closer to the start of the day. That way, by the time the afternoon rolls around, you’ll be ready for a short break (and possibly avoid those afternoon showers!). 

Taking a break in the afternoon also gives you a chance to rest and remove your masks for an extended period of time.

When is the best time to arrive at the theme parks these days? It might not be rope drop!

But here’s the bright side of an extended downpour!

Most days between the months of June and September have daily rain showers, some of which can be pretty heavy. These storms, however, are usually quick to pass through without any major disruptions to your day. Some days, however, can be complete washouts. No matter what time of year you visit, be prepared for these rainy days, as they can happen at any time!

On the days that DO become total washouts, the parks will be even more empty than they already are these days. The downpours can work in your favor as they’ll lower the crowd levels in the parks overall.

If you want to be troopers and take advantage of these rainy days, make sure you pack extra face masks in your park bag. You’ll want to swap them out for new, dry masks if the one you’re wearing becomes wet! Fortune favors the bold here so if you’re down with heading out in the rain, it can often feel like you have the parks all to yourself!

Click here for more tips on visiting Disney World during hurricane season!

It’s hard to avoid any rain in Disney World, especially in the summer months. But taking some time ahead of your visit to plan what to do in the event of a rainstorm can help you avoid coming into close contact with others! There’s no reason to toss social distancing out the window when it rains!

What are your go-to tips for surviving the rain in Disney World? Share with us in the comments!