When planning your Disney World vacation, you probably picture days of wandering through the park in the lovely Florida sun. You’re doing the right thing. But it’s always good to have a backup plan In the off-chance that the weather doesn’t cooperate. Believe it or not, it does rain in Florida, especially in the summer. You needn’t worry, though. There’s a world of fun to be had at Disney even if it rains. Here’s our list of the top 5 ways to make the most of a rainy day at Walt Disney World.
The Magic Kingdom
This is one of the best places in Disney World to spend a rainy afternoon simply because there are so many indoor attractions to choose from. In Tomorrowland you’ll find Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, the Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor, and the Tomorrowland Transit Authority, just to name a few. Try Liberty Square for The Haunted Mansion and The Hall of Presidents (both are indoors) and Fantasyland for Peter Pan’s Flight, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and The Mad Tea Party. Most of the attractions in the Magic Kingdom are close together, so a short dash through the rain won’t get you that wet. Even better? Most of the waiting areas are covered, so you won’t get soaked while you wait for your turn on the next attraction.
Disney Quest Indoor Interactive Theme Park — Downtown Disney
There’s so much going on at Disney Quest Indoor Interactive Theme Park in Downtown Disney that you can easily spend the entire day here. With 5 floors of virtual reality, video games, 3D entertainment, and indoor attractions, the adverse weather outside won’t enter your mind for hours. Attractions here include Pirates of the Caribbean, Buzz Lightyear’s AstroBlasters, and Animation Academy. Kids will love paddling a raft through a virtual river in the Virtual Jungle Cruise and flying through a virtual comic book world in Ride the Comix. Plus, CyberSpace Mountain lets you design your own rollercoaster ride with a computer (Bill Nye the Science guy is there to lend a hand) and then ride your creation in a simulator! As for getting the kids out of Disney Quest when the weather finally clears up? Well. We can’t help you there.
The Land Pavilion – Epcot
The Land Pavilion has tons of fun indoor activities, making it the perfect place to pass some time out of the rain. Start out with the Living with the Land attraction: a 15-minute boat ride through the pavilion’s greenhouses where much of the produce for Epcot’s restaurants is grown. It’s the perfect preview for another wonderful activity, the hour-long Behind the Seeds Tour. You’ll get to walk through the greenhouses and learn the magical secrets of Epcot’s hydroponic crops. Then you can do a little virtual hang gliding over California’s most famous attractions on the Soarin’ ride, or watch the incredible animated Circle of Life film starring the cast of The Lion King. When you’ve seen all of these great attractions, head to Sunshine Seasons restaurant, where they offer everything from Asian noodles, soup and salad, to specialties from the rotisserie grill.
Movies, Live Performances, and Stage Shows – Throughout the Parks
A rainy day provides the perfect opportunity to see one (or two or three) of the many films, animations, and live performances at Disney World. Our favorites happen to be at Hollywood Studios, where attractions like The Great Movie Ride, Playhouse Disney, American Idol Experience, Muppets 3*D, and Toy Story Mania allow you to wait out the weather by exploring the magic of the silver screen. If you find yourself at the Animal Kingdom, the short feature It’s Tough to Be a Bug is delightful, as are Finding Nemo – The Mucial and Festival of the Lion King. At the Magic Kingdom, try the 4-D spectacular Mickey’s PhilharMagic, and the Hall of Presidents stage show starring animatronic versions of the 44 American presidents. If you’re at Epcot, try The American Adventure attraction, featuring Benjamin Franklin and several of the most important figures in American history.
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| The Beauty & the Beast stage show offers covered seating as well. |
Monorail and Resorts – Throughout the World
Exploring just one resort can easily take half a day! They’re enormous and are filled with unique shops, boutiques, and play areas. There are also pools, shows, spas, and great restaurants. If you don’t feel like spending time at your own resort, hop on the Monorail and take a trip through the park – the train stops at Grand Floridian, Polynesian, and The Contemporary. The Grand Floridian will stun you with its opulence (don’t miss teatime!), while the Polynesian will wow you with its indoor waterfalls, coconut palms, and game room. The Contemporary will give you tons of shopping options, as well as lots of fun activities for the kids. You don’t have to be a guest at one of these resorts to enjoy the facilities, so feel free to visit them all.
The great thing about Florida is that rain showers tend to be brief interludes in otherwise perfectly sunny days. Yet, even the shortest of rain storms sends most of the guests fleeing, so you can enjoy shorter lines and a less crowded park. Should the bad weather continue, just by a cheap rain poncho, head for the numerous indoor attractions, and enjoy your Disney day.
This article was written by Todd, who blogs about Disney Sweepstakes at his blog SweepstakesFanatics.com
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