Hi Lindsay! Welcome to planDisney!
Central Florida is such a beautiful little area of the world. I love visiting Walt Disney World Resort for the magic of the Theme Parks, seeing my favorite characters and dining on out-of-this-world delicious snacks like the Tropical Serenade (Pineapple-Orange-Guava Juice, Coconut Soft-serve, and an Upside-down Pineapple Cake Pop) at Aloha Isle in Magic Kingdom. YUM! I also love visiting just for the warm days, palm trees and breathtaking sunsets. That's not to say I've never been drenched by a passing thunderstorm though! We tend to make the most of those passing showers and find that they have become some of our funniest memories to look back on.
While the weather can be unpredictable, the best way to handle it is to be prepared! Definitely pack rain ponchos, umbrellas and a pair of dry socks! In all my travels, even during hurricane season, I've found that many showers and thunderstorms are quick and isolated. In fact, it may be raining in half of the Park and sunny in the other! You'll find that most Guests will continue having fun even through the storms, and most rides and attractions will keep running as long as there is no lightning and it is safe to do so. Walt Disney World Resort does not usually refund tickets due to inclement weather.
You will find that if you're looking to stay inside during a passing shower there is still plenty to do! If you're in Magic Kingdom, many attractions are very close together, making it easy to quickly hop from "it's a small world" to Peter Pan's Flight without getting too wet. If you're traveling World Showcase during a thunderstorm, you may find that you pop into a section of a pavilion that you've never seen before! My best friend and I have the best memories of shopping our way through the Mitsukoshi Department Store in the Japan Pavilion, snacking on all kinds of new Japanese candies!
Walt Disney World Resort does have Hurricane Policy in place if you tend to be traveling during that season and severe weather is on its way. You can read more about this policy on the Walt Disney World website.
Hopefully, you'll be treated to a vacation filled with sunny skies, but even if you're hit with a passing shower, be like Pepa Madrigal from Encanto and dance in the rain!
Ashley M
