Disney World Weather Tips and Why August is a Great Time to Visit Orlando
3 – Have a Plan B
The key here is to know that the weather may (at some point most likely will) affect your ability to get on an attraction. Have an idea about which rides are indoors – so you can easily escape the weather without a big debate about where to go. A little research before your trip can really help you when a sudden downpour hits.
Get a guidebook like The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World and spend some time getting to know the parks before you get there. Make a short list, on paper or on your phone, of some of the indoor attractions you’d like to check out when it just gets too hot or rainy.
You can also learn all about the Disney World parks by listening to my free audio tours on the Go Informed Podcast.
4 – Take refuge in a Disney hotel
If it starts pouring and you just need to get out of the park for awhile, head to a nearby hotel for refuge. We find this especially easy to do at Magic Kingdom. During one rainstorm, we escaped to the Contemporary Resort. You can take a break right in the lobby or find a restaurant or lounge to settle in and dry off.
At the resorts you’ll find all kinds of amenities to help you get back on track. During the downpour, the Contemporary put hand towels out near the doorways so guests could be more comfortable and dry off a bit.
No, you don’t need to be staying in that hotel to enjoy the lobby and restaurants. And yes, kids are welcome in the lounges at Disney World.
Want to know more about Disney World’s hotels? Here’s my complete guide, including details about which hotels are closest to the parks.
5 – Monitor the weather forecast
A big key to being prepared for the weather at Disney World is to know before you go. Pick your favorite weather app and monitor it frequently. No matter what time of year you’re traveling, watch the forecast so you can bring the right clothing and supplies for the weather.
Once you’re at the parks, keep an eye on the hourly forecast and the radar. Showers come up fast in Orlando but I find that the forecast can be pretty accurate. If it looks like you’re in for a storm around 2:00pm, think about going to an indoor show around that time. Or use that part of the day to hop to another park.
The radar on the app can show you if the showers overhead are part of a small band of clouds or a big storm. (Zoom out to get a bigger picture view). Although summer rain at Disney World can be intense, it often doesn’t last very long. Your weather app can help you decide when to wait out the storm and when to throw in the towel (or reach for one!)
For more info about how to cope with Disney World’s summer weather, be sure to check out this June trip report.
6 – Bring ponchos and a few other supplies
Don’t be fooled by the occasional first few drops of rain, in Orlando once the rain starts it rapidly becomes torrential. I live in the rainy Northwest where raincoats are standard attire, but the Florida rain requires a more extreme form of protection: the poncho.
Not only will a poncho give you full coverage from the rain, but you can also use it on wet rides like Splash Mountain. Ponchos fold up small enough to fit in a backpack, and you should always have one handy.
You will be most prepared, and save money, if you buy your ponchos before you go. Amazon sells ponchos in bulk for much less than you’d pay in the park. We like the Totes ponchos because they’re durable and they come in a nice mesh bag.
Get a carabiner to attach your poncho bag to the outside of your purse or backpack. This way you won’t have to put a wet poncho back in your dry bag.
Another trick is to buy two ponchos for every guest in your group. Instead of taking a still-wet poncho back to the park, you can leave that one hanging to dry and carry a fresh one for the day.
We also carry a small towel, which really comes in handy when you need to go inside and don’t want to drip all over the place. And you can use it to wipe off a wet ride seat or as a seat cushion.
For more tips about what to bring, be sure to check out my Orlando summer gear guide on episode 24 of the Go Informed Podcast.
More Orlando weather tips
Since I often visit Orlando in the summer, I’ve put together a LOT of information for dealing with the weather. You’ll find it all here on the blog, and also on the Go Informed Podcast:
- Don’t miss Go Informed podcast episode 32, which is my report about visiting Disney World in June. Spoiler: it’s just as hot and rainy as August but more crowded. It will give you another perspective about what to expect when you visit the theme parks in the summer.
- For tips that will help you in extreme weather conditions, including what to do if your shoes are completely soaked, hop over to this post: Theme Park Rainy Day Tips: Xtreme Edition
- Episode 28 of the Go Informed Podcast is my Top 5 Orlando Summer Weather Tips. Click here to listen now.
- Get out on, or get in, the water to cool down. Here are 6 unique water experiences at Disney World.
Not being prepared for the weather is just one of my top ten theme park touring mistakes. Click here to find out what else NOT to do.
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