Weather

Rain is your friend, not your enemy.

If you are prepared for an afternoon shower (which most of the time is a brief 45-60 minutes of actual rainfall) and you can stay in the parks rather than going back to your hotel, you will find that the lines greatly diminish when it rains at Disney. 

If you follow my packing list, the rainy day section has everything you need, but make sure that you check the forecast so you know when it's worth it to carry that rainy day bundle.

If you get caught on a rainy day and are worried about your electronic items or other miscellaneous belongings getting wet, you can ask a cast member in any retail store for a bag and they'll give you a free plastic bag to help keep your belongings dry.  

Rainy Day Items:

1. A poncho for each person (plus one extra in case one rips AND one for your stroller if you are bringing one)
2. Flip-flops for avoiding splashes in the shocking number of puddles that quickly appear OR (my favorite) Crocs! Crocs are safe and comfy for walking all day (especially with socks) but dry quickly and easily if it begins to rain.  If you can't bring yourself to carry all of those flip flops, at least throw dry socks into your bag!
3. One beach towel (for wiping strollers, arms and legs, etc. dry)
4. 2 Ziploc bags - a small one for a phone and a large one for your camera.

Where should you head in each park? Here are some suggestions:

• EPCOT is the best park to be at on a rainy day.  Almost all of their lines are covered or indoors, and they don't have outdoor rides that are forced to close because of rain.  In addition to this, the majority of the attractions on the Future World side of EPCOT are close together and easy to travel between even if it's raining.  The best places to duck indoors if it's raining are: The Land Pavilion, the Living Seas Pavilion, and the Innoventions East & West buildings.

• Animal Kingdom is not a bad choice for a rainy day either (as long as you're willing to get wet).  The animals showcased at the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction love to come out in the rain (especially if it's been hot) and show off on a wet day.  The downside to Animal Kingdom on a wet day is that the attractions are far apart from each other.

• Hollywood Studios is okay on a rainy day, but some of the shows will be called off until the rain subsides and again the attractions tend to be farther apart.  The best area to head to in the rain is Mickey Avenue and the Streets of America where Star Tours, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Playhouse Disney, and the Muppet 3D show are not too far apart and each allow you to spend time indoors.

• Magic Kingdom is a difficult place to tough out the rain, but if you can do it, the shorter lines will make it worthwhile.  Fantasyland and Tomorrowland have attractions that are very close together and are good places to head when it starts to rain.

Insider tip: Don't forget to wear sunscreen even on a rainy day.  When the sky is overcast, UVA and UVB rays can still get through, so although you might not get sunburn, you can still get dangerous skin spots!