Must-Haves for a Rainy Day at Disney World

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Disney may be the most magical place on Earth, but even magical places have rainy days!  We have endured many a rainy day at Disney World, from the quick summer shower to a hurricane!  Disney does not give rain checks for rainy days and rarely closes, even for hurricanes, unless it is unsafe. 

There are perks to these rainy days, such as fewer crowds.  If you are prepared, these rainy days can be wonderful and just as magical as a sunny day!  Here are my must-haves for rainy weather at Disney World.

Footwear

Let’s start with the basics because if your feet hurt, you will have a very tough time navigating the miles you will be walking at Disney World. 

Athletic Sneakers

I highly recommend athletic sneakers for a rainy day at Disney.  They are supportive, less slippery than many other shoes, and most importantly, dry quickly!  Bonus if you have running socks, or something other than cotton that can take a long time to dry. Wet socks and sneakers can quickly lead to blisters. 

My blister-proof, quick-dry, winning combination is Feetures socks and Brooks sneakers. Click below to shop.

Flip Flops/Sandals

Flip flops and sandals will get wet and slippery over time.  Also, you will encounter unavoidable puddles at some point in your day, yuck!  Wet feet sliding around in sandals and flip flops can easily cause blisters, and band-aids will be tricky to stick on wet feet.

Fashion Sneakers

Fashion sneakers may be cute, but I do not recommend them at Disney even on a nice day.  You will likely be walking thousands of steps in a day, and possibly running to catch transportation (missing a bus can cost you upwards of 30 minutes depending on the time of day).  Most fashion sneakers do not offer the same support that athletic sneakers do. They could also be ruined by the rain. 

Athleisure Sneakers

I would look closely at your athleisure sneakers before wearing them on a rainy day.  Also, in my rainy day at Disney experience, my Adidas athleisure sneakers took 2 days to dry, while my athletic sneakers dried overnight.  

Kids’ Footwear

My kids insisted on wearing their sneakers to the parks. Spoiler alert, they were soaked quite quickly! But, given we rent a stroller and they are often not walking far, we brought extra socks and rain boots for them to wear.  The rain boots saved the day once their sneakers, socks, and feet were soaked through.  

Rain Coats

Bring actual raincoats!  They fold very small and are worth any space in your suitcase.  Ponchos in a windy rainstorm are not very helpful.  When we visited during Hurricane Nicole, my husband’s poncho was flying up around his head as the rain pelted him from the sides, soaking him through.  The kids and I had our real raincoats and were dry on top.  

I highly recommend this North Face Antora raincoat. I have had it for years and it still looks brand new. I’ve worn it in rain and hurricanes at Disney, with temps in the 90s and the 50s and it has kept me comfortable.

Ponchos

I would also recommend bringing a cheap disposable poncho for everyone to put over their raincoat. OR to wear alone on a hot rainy day when it’s too warm for raincoats. Ponchos tend to be longer than traditional rain coats covering the upper legs and bottom, especially for kids. They will also go over and cover your backpack.  This will help to keep things dry inside the backpack, like extra clothes.  We have had great luck with this family pack of ponchos for adults and kids on Amazon.

Clothes

A rainy day at Disney is not the best time to wear jeans. As you know, they take forever to dry! I stick with running/workout leggings (love these Colorful Koala leggings from Amazon with side pockets for my phone) or shorts (my favorites are the Lululemon hotty hot 4-inch shorts). They are made to dry quickly and are comfortable. On rainy days, I recommend black as sitting on wet rides may give you a wet bum that will show more with colored or white pants than black.

If you are wearing a raincoat, feel free to rock your cotton Disney tees. If it’s too hot or you’re in a poncho that may or may not keep you completely dry, you may want to consider a quick-drying fabric for your top too. I usually risk it for the Disney tees personally!!

Stroller Cover

Disney has many areas in which strollers are not allowed, such as ride lines and inside many restaurants. You will need to park your stroller in designated stroller parking areas and leave it. Imagine coming back to a soaking wet stroller that you now need to put your child in? Disaster! You should always bring a stroller rain cover to Disney. A cheap poncho-type rain cover will likely blow away so I would advise one that can be fixed to the stroller.

If you are in a ride line or restaurant, you may not notice the rain until it is too late. You also may not be able to get back to the stroller in time to keep it dry.  If there is even a chance for rain in the forecast, we cover the stroller each time we leave it.

Rain covers also allow the kids to stay dry as you are walking through the parks in the rain, even if it’s pouring. A properly fitted stroller rain cover will stay on in the wind as well. We have photos of the kids happily eating popcorn, warm and dry in their covered stroller, as we rab through Epcot on a windy, pouring rain day!

*Never leave your child unattended in a covered stroller and always keep an eye on them near plastic covers.

If you rent from our favorite stroller rental company, Kingdom Strollers, they give you a free rain cover with your stroller. These covers are thick plastic and do work to protect your stroller from the rain. They also aren’t easily blown off the stroller. 

Hats

I did not think of this for our first couple of rainy days at Disney, but the Florida rain can be pelting and even sideways. A baseball hat works wonders to protect your eyes and face. This is one area where I do not advise quick-drying fabric as my running hats soak through quicker than an ordinary baseball cap does. Hats can take a bit of time to dry, so keep that in mind when packing. Luckily they are small, and it’s easy enough to pack two for your trip. 

Extra Clothes/Socks/Shoes

I highly recommend throwing extra clothes, socks, and shoes/rain boots in your bag for the kids.  Rides can have puddles in the seats, legs tend to get wet when walking around, and of course, those puddles are too tempting for some!  This saved us once the kids inevitably got wet during the day. We did not bring any extra clothes for us, as the adults, and were fine.

Laminated Maps

Call me crazy, but I do not like using the in-app maps for the parks. I need a paper map, and in a rainstorm, that is not ideal. I laminated maps for all 4 parks at home before our trip, and it was a lifesaver for me! Plus the kids loved using them to help us navigate the parks.  Oh and yes, I have and love this Amazon laminator I’ve been using for years.

I laminated the map on one side, and our plans for the day on the other. The result is a two-sided weatherproof page for each park. Plans can include any lightning lanes you may have, dining reservations, must-do rides at each park, etc.  You can also use dry-erase markers on laminated maps to add your lightning lanes throughout the day. 

Positive Attitude

This may be the most important of all. A rainy day at Disney World is not on most people’s dream itinerary or Pinterest board, but weather happens. Please don’t let it ruin your day!  We have experienced more rainy days than sunny at Disney, and honestly, a rainy day can be more comfortable than a 100-degree and humid day with crazy crowds, if you are prepared. 

Tips and Tricks for a Rainy Day at Disney World

Dining Reservations

Be sure to check for dining reservations on a rainy day, especially if there is a hurricane with park closures.  People will cancel reservations and spots will open up at dining experiences known to be hard to get. 

Indoor Rides and Attractions 

Despite being prepared, sometimes you want a break from the rain, I get it!  Here are some indoor attractions at Disney World, by park, that can give you a minute to dry off and regroup before venturing back into the rain.  Here are some of our favorite rides for a rainy day:

Indoor Rides and Attractions by Disney Park

Animal Kingdom

• Festival of the Lion King
• Rafiki train and stations
• Kilimanjaro Safari offers a covered line and the trams themselves are covered
• Expedition Everest does have a covered line, but the ride goes outdoors, so seats may be wet

Magic Kingdom

• Dumbo- yes, I know the ride is outside, but the line is inside. There is a wonderful inside play space for little kids.
• Winnie the Pooh
• It’s a Small World
• Haunted Mansion
• Space Mountain
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train has a covered line, but the ride goes outdoors, so seats may be wet
• Use the Walt Disney World Railroad to stay dry as navigate Magic Kingdom. Stations are located near Main Street, Frontierland, and Fantasyland.
• Not indoors, but if the parades are canceled, check out the Rainy Day Cavalcade. It is a mini parade with characters that travels down Main Street, U.S.A.  

Hollywood Studies

• Rise of the Resistance
• Star Tours
• Slinky Dog has a covered line, but the ride goes outdoors, so seats may be wet

Epcot

• Guardians of the Galaxy
• Soaring
• The Land
• Frozen
• Spaceship Earth

Adventuring through a Rainy Day at Disney World

I hope this list of must-haves, tips, and tricks helps you and your family on your Disney World vacation. You can absolutely have a magical day at Disney World in the rain or even a hurricane!  

If there is an impending hurricane during your trip, check out my post Hurricanes at Disney World: Navigating the Storm. It offers more tips and tricks specific to visiting Disney during a hurricane. The post includes information about park closures and Disney hurricane policies.