Tips about Rain and Resorts
ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE - We arrived early at the Animal Kingdom Lodge for our dinner at Boma. As usual, we went straight through the lobby to the savannah to check out the animals. The guide there informed us that from 8-10 p.m., you could see the animals through complimentary use of night vision goggles at the animal overlook by the swimming pool. We checked it out after dinner -- it was fantastic! The guides have two night vision goggles for visitors to use, and wipe them down with antibacterial wipes whenever there's a change in families. It was fascinating and unique to look for the animals using the goggles! - hardroff
Just because it is raining at your hotel doesn't mean it is raining at the parks. On my recent trip I had spent all morning at Magic Kingdom. On my way back to the hotel for the afternoon I met some people who had not left the hotel because of a downpour most of the morning. We barely felt a drop at Magic Kingdom. Disney World is so big that the storms don't always encompass all the parks. - Linda Sisson
Fort Wilderness - This year I took my family to dinner at the Trail's End Restaurant at Fort Wilderness Campground. We made a night of it: we started at the Wilderness Lodge, then took the boat ride to Fort Wilderness to our priority seating at Trail's End, which is a very reasonably priced buffet. Then we watched the Wishes fireworks on the beach and the Electric Water Pageant from the boat dock. The kids loved the boat ride and the ducks on the beach. It makes for a lovely and relaxing evening! You could put together a similar evening at any of the Magic Kingdom resorts, although the Trail's End doesn't tend to book up early and it's inexpensive. - Dawn Goodwin
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Old Key West - As a follow up to Tanya's tip (last issue) about walking around Boardwalk in the morning -- when we stay at Old Key West we always walk all through the resort area and take the paved trail over to Saratoga Springs. We sit by the pool there and have coffee, breakfast or even fruit that we buy in their restaurant before heading back. Golfers would enjoy watching foursomes teeing off as you pass several tee boxes. It is a wonderful trail. When staying at Saratoga we reverse the trip and sit at Turtle Krawl before heading back. It is very relaxing. - Margaret
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Epcot Resorts - If you are staying at the Epcot resorts go for an early morning walk -- it's worth it. I know you do tons of walking while at WDW, but there is something magical about walking around the BoardWalk and Yacht and Beach Club first thing in the morning. We stayed at the Dolphin over New Year's and I was still preparing for the half-marathon the following week, so I got up early each morning to go for a walk around the walkways to Epcot, the BoardWalk and the Studios. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this time -- it was such a pleasure to walk and enjoy the beauty of all the buildings, the waterway and just the calm at that hour, and it was a wonderful way to start each day. - Tanya
Go play in the rain and tell everybody you just got off Splash Mountain and found your happy place. Remember you are on vacation and you are not the only one caught by the rain. If you look around at the other people, find someone and ask them to go play in the rain with you. If Cast Members can put on a show and have fun why can't we? I have done this and after about two or three minutes we had about 20 or 30 people dancing and singing in the rain. It was one of the best times I have ever had and would do it again. The best part is the person I got to go with me in the rain thanked me. He said that he was down because of the rain -- it was his last day in the World and the rain was going to slow him down. But after the singing in the rain rendition he was ready to go. So I give you this to think about -- if Disney brings out the kid in you, then why not let it show? - Kevin
Rainy days are usually an adventure for kids and if you are in Disney, this equals a DOUBLE adventure.
-- Go to the Florida Mall. There is a huge Playmobil Store where kids could have fun playing with toys, and there are places to eat. When you get back you will have quiet hotel time while they are playing with their new toy.
-- Check the weather in Tampa. If it looks good, hop to your car and go to Busch Gardens. If you have been postponing it since you always get trapped at the Disney parks, now you have the perfect excuse.
-- Go to the Millennia Mall, which has lots of stores and places to eat, but WARNING -- it can be an expensive alternative.
-- Check the weather and go to the Kennedy Space Center. The kids will love it, and you will take a break from the parks. Also this is more educational and the photos will be convenient for that next science project.
-- Make a reservation for lunch at the Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel. It's not Disney but it is fun. They have alligators, and have storytelling time and tours at a specified hours. - Olivencia
Head to a water park. Most often it rains on the way and we are still allowed in. By the time the rain stops we are well in the park and on our way to the more popular slides, when a good portion of people are leaving or have left. Even if we are there for only two hours, it winds up being the best time. - Elizabeth Shannon
EDITOR'S NOTE: The water parks will close if lightning has been detected in the vicinity.
On a rainy day I brought out a balloon animal kit I got at Target (I was thinking of any rainy day when I bought it). Besides distracting my kids (4 and 6), I wanted to use the handy instructions from the kit to make something other than a dog. My first several attempts failed, but I started getting the hang of it. At lunch we headed to the Contemporary's food court. The animals drew attention. We had instant friends for the kids, thankful parents for distracting their kids, and my skills multiplied. I was even offered game prize tickets for a balloon giraffe. Think of something you like to do on a rainy day and bring it with you to Disney. Your ideas could work their own Disney Magic. - Toohill
A thing that I found to really help pass the time during the storms was trying to make it to a 3D show in the parks. These usually last about 30 minutes and are indoors. Most of the time when you come outside the rain has stopped and the sun is out! - Amy Famiglietti, Malden, MA
What do I do when it's raining on my Disney vacation? I call the airlines and see how much it will be to extend my stay, of course! Actually, I pack the rain poncho and water shoes and head to the parks. There is no better time to get pictures of the World without all of the crowds of people in them. All you need is a break in the clouds to let the sun in for a minute or two and you can get the best pics! - Kathy J. Miller
One of our favorite things to do anytime, but especially if it is raining, is to find a bench or table out of the rain and simply people-watch! On our trip last September, we were waiting for dinner at the Concourse Steakhouse at the Contemporary Resort as the outer bands of Hurricane Rita showered off and on. We sat out in the lobby facing the lake. We also had a great view of the escalators and saw an entire wedding party come in from a soggy ceremony, decked out in their drenched formalwear, but they still were bubbling and overjoyed by their magical Disney wedding, even in the rain! That was priceless! - Callie Shreckengost
My daughter and I wore our Crocs, the comfortable-foam like shoes. It didn't matter whether our feet got wet or not. Carrying a small jacket for those days can help young children to stay warm under their ponchos during the colder months. We also brought homemade ponchos made of hunter orange fabric and could easily find each other in the crowd. - Diane Taylor
For those busy moms who need to keep track of strollers and children during a rainy park day I suggest a great invention.....the umbrella hat! You can find them at various novelty stores on line and they simply are worn as a hat but are actually small umbrellas. They will not keep your entire body dry but they keep the rain out of your face so you can see and you have both hands free to use on the strollers and kids. I have actually worn them and they are pretty comfortable and yet snug enough that they won't blow off unless there is a huge gust of wind.
