Let’s face it, no one likes to be caught out in the rain, even if you are at Walt Disney World. However, the odds of encountering a rainstorm in Orlando are pretty darn high, especially during the late Summer and Fall. We here at Disney Addicts believe that each of the Disney World theme parks are enjoyable rain or shine but it does pay to have a bit of an action plan. Don’t be one of those families soaked to the bone or huddling in doorways waiting for the rain to pass. With a little bit of a game plan, your days can still be pretty seamless despite what mother nature throws your way. Providing you with a Plan B in the event of a rain shower, here’s our list of 4 attractions at each park to head to when it rains.
Magic Kingdom:
1. Country Bear Jamboree – What I love about this Frontierland attraction is that its easy to get to from either Frontierland or Adventureland, the shows run regularly throughout the day and there is rarely a line. What makes it even better is that this classic Disney attraction has still retained much of its charm and is a great way to rest your feet during the middle of your park day. So next time the rain starts to fall head on over for the “Wildest Show in the Wilderness.”
2. Mickey’s Philharmagic – This is my go-to option when it starts to rain starts to rain at Magic Kingdom. Located in Fantasyland this fantastic 4-D concert is fun, lively and will definitely have guests singing along. Most of the queue for this attraction (when there is one) snakes its way through the nicely air-conditioned lobby and the large theater means that Disney is able to accommodate most guests looking to stay dry.
3. Pirates of the Caribbean – Located in Adventureland, Pirates of the Caribbean doesn’t get lines nearly as long as some of its Fantasyland counterparts and the fact that the entire ride queue is inside means its the perfect line to jump into to stay dry. There’s also a spacious gift shop at the end of the attraction with no shortage of fantastic things to look at should the rain still be falling after your boat ride is over.
4. Peter Pans Flight – If you have to wait in line for this attraction, do it when it starts to rain. Lines for this classic Disney ride can be long but it has one of the best interactive queues at the Magic Kingdom making it a great and family-friendly way to wait out a rainstorm.
Epcot:
1. Living With the Land – At the first sign of rain at Disney, I usually make a beeline for The Land Pavilion as there’s enough to see do, explore and eat here that you can easily wait out a storm. However, if the idea of waiting in line to ride Soarin’ doesn’t appeal then Living With the Land provides the perfect alternative. This gentle boat ride takes guests through the amazing greenhouses at Epcot where you’ll be mighty impressed at the wide array of plants on display as well the state-of-the-art growing techniques. And if all these beautiful veggies make you hungry make your next stop Sunshine Seasons also in the pavilion where many of the vegetables from the greenhouses are among the ingredients!
2. The Mexican Pavilion – Not so much an attraction as a destination, the Mexico Pavilion is the ideal spot to beat those rainstorms in Epcot’s World Showcase. The marketplace is colorful and eclectic with a myriad of different items to look at. San Angel Inn offers Mexican Cuisine at the foot of a giant indoor pyramid and the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros is a gentle Mexican themed ride in the same style as it’s a small world. You can easily pass an hour (and then some) exploring everything that Mexico has to offer.
3. The Seas with Nemo and Friends – The Seas pavilion is another great place to head in the event of a rainstorm, especially if you have little ones in tow. Though the ride itself is short, it lets guests off at a massive aquarium where you can spend a fair bit of time checking out all the fish that call the pavilion home (Be sure to visit the manatees on the second floor). There’s also some fun “fins-on” activities that teach kids about marine biology as well as Turtle Talk with Crush.
4. The American Adventure – This audio-animatronic show taking guests through some key moments in American history and comes in at an impressive 30 minutes making it the perfect pit-stop on a rainy day. The theater is large and can accommodate many guests and the show will definitely leave you feeling more than just a bit patriotic. The piece is narrated by incredibly detailed animatronic Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain with shows running regularly throughout the day.
Animal Kingdom:
1. Festival of the Lion King – This Broadway-style stage show meets circus is Disney live entertainment at its best. Guests join Simba and friends for a 20-minute retelling of the Lion King complete with heartwarming musical numbers. The line to enter the theater as well as the theater itself are under a roof making it the perfect way to stay rain-free for the better part of an hour. Though be prepared, standby lines can get a bit long depending on time of day.
2. DINOSAUR – Because of its slightly out of the way location, DINOSAUR doesn’t get the same influx of guests looking to beat the rain as some of the more central shops, restaurants and attractions. The ride and (the majority) of the line is indoors keeping visitors nice and dry. The attraction is a fun-filled romp through time as you come face to face with some very life-like prehistoric creatures.
3. Its Tough to Be a Bug – This 3-D show takes place in a theater that is actually housed in the base of the iconic Tree of Life. I can’t think of a more cozy place to get out of the rain. Can you? The beauty of this show as well is that it appeals to kids of all ages (though it may be a bit scary if you have a squeamish little one), the shows are frequent and the lines are usually minimal.
4. Finding Nemo the Musical – Enter the big, blue world of Nemo and friends with this delightful retelling of the much-loved Pixar film set to music with a wonderful array of original songs. Finding Nemo also uses the art of puppetry to convey key scenes from film which will leave audiences in awe. It may be wet outside but visitors will stay nice and dry while watching one of Disney World best live-stage shows.
Hollywood Studios:
1. MuppetVision 3D – This is another Disney attraction that tends to be off the beaten path which means that lines and crowds won’t be as big come the rain. The waiting area is entirely indoors and the large theater means that standy-by lines are usually minimal. I often consider this to be one of Hollywood Studios most overlooked attractions, and though its a bit dated, there are worse things you could do during a rainstorm than spend 30 minutes with Kermit, Miss Piggy and friends. Performances run throughout the day.
2. Toy Story Mania! – This has to be one of my favorite ride queues at Disney World, giving guests the feeling that they’ve been shrunken down to the size of one of the toys in Andy’s rooms. There are so many fun things to look at that conjure up childhood memories that you almost don’t miss the lengthy wait times that often occur. The ride itself is a fun arcade-style attraction allowing you to challenge your friends or family members to see who can get the highest score. If it’s still raining by the ride’s end, be sure to nip across the street to meet Woody and Buzz Lightyear as their meet and greet location which is also indoors.
3. For the First Time in Forever – A Frozen Sing-along – Perfect for the little princesses in your group, this Hollywood Studios live stage show meets karaoke version of the much-loved film Frozen is starting to mellow out as far as wait times are concerned. This means that you can usually get into a performance without too much hassle. Though lines can snake out into the rain during a storm, once your inside you won’t give your wet sneakers a second thought as you sing your way through some of the movie’s greatest hits. Anna, Elsa and Kristoff also make an appearance and Elsa even uses her magical ice powers to make it snow in the theater!
4. Star Wars Launch Bay – This is the perfect rainy day haven for Star Wars fans. At Star Wars Launch Bay you can really take in things at your own pace. There are amazing memorabilia on display from the films, meets and greets with some of your favorite characters as well as some hands-on exhibitions. All of these elements combine, making it the perfect place to wait out a storm.
So next time you’re at a Walt Disney World theme park and start to feel those first initial drops of rain, don’t wait to be caught out. Give one of the attractions on our rainy day list a try.
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