When it rains at Disney World, the parks stay open and most rides keep running. Rain alone shuts down very little. Lightning is what changes things: when a storm gets close, Disney pauses outdoor rides, water park pools, outdoor shows and the Disney Skyliner until it passes. Parades are often canceled in the rain, and fireworks can be delayed or canceled for lightning or high winds. In summer, most storms blow through in an hour or less, and Disney doesn’t give refunds for bad weather.
Here’s what closes, what keeps running, and how to make a rainy park day one of the best days of your trip. For the forecast and live radar, check our Disney World weather page.
| Light rain | Lightning nearby | |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor rides and shows | Open | Open |
| Outdoor rides | Mostly open | Paused until the storm moves away |
| Parades | Often canceled or shortened | Canceled |
| Fireworks and nighttime shows | Usually go on | Delayed or canceled |
| Water parks | Open | Pools and slides cleared |
| Disney Skyliner | Running | Paused (also for high winds) |
| Buses and monorail | Running | Running |
When does it rain at Disney World?
Orlando’s rainy season runs from about June through September. On a typical summer day, the morning is sunny and hot, clouds build after lunch, and a thunderstorm rolls in somewhere between 2 and 5 p.m. It’s often heavy, loud and over within an hour. The evening is usually dry again.
From November through April, rain is less common but behaves differently. A cold front can bring gray skies and steady rain that lasts most of the day, followed by a sudden drop in temperature. Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, with the most activity from August through October.
What closes at Disney World when it rains
Outdoor rides pause for lightning
Disney pauses outdoor rides when lightning is in the area, and a few also close in heavy rain or high winds. Rides you can expect to pause include:
- Magic Kingdom: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, TRON Lightcycle / Run, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Dumbo, Astro Orbiter and the Mad Tea Party
- EPCOT: Test Track’s outdoor loop and the outdoor play areas
- Hollywood Studios: Slinky Dog Dash and Alien Swirling Saucers
- Animal Kingdom: Expedition Everest and Kali River Rapids. Kilimanjaro Safaris runs in the rain but can pause for lightning.
Once the storm moves away, rides reopen one by one, and the lines for the big outdoor coasters often stay short for a while.
Parades, outdoor shows and fireworks
The Festival of Fantasy parade is one of the first things to go when it rains, because the floats and performers can’t run on wet streets. Outdoor stage shows and character meet-and-greets in the open may also be canceled or moved under cover. Fireworks and nighttime spectaculars like Luminous The Symphony of Us usually go on in light rain, but lightning or strong winds can delay or cancel them. Watch the My Disney Experience app for updates.
Water parks
At Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, lifeguards clear the pools and slides when lightning is nearby. In summer that can mean an hour or more under a shelter. On cold or stormy days, a water park may close early or not open at all.
Getting around
Buses and the monorail keep running in storms, though buses fill up fast when everyone leaves the parks at once. The Disney Skyliner pauses for lightning and high winds, and boat service can be paused in severe weather. If you’re staying at a Skyliner resort, have a bus as your backup.
What to do at Disney World on a rainy day
A rainy day is a great time for indoor rides, sit-down meals and air conditioning. Many guests head back to their hotels, so lines for indoor attractions can drop too.
Ride the indoor attractions
- Magic Kingdom: Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, “it’s a small world”, Mickey’s PhilharMagic, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and Space Mountain
- EPCOT: Spaceship Earth, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Soarin’, Living with the Land, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, Frozen Ever After and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- Hollywood Studios: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Toy Story Mania!, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and the theater shows
- Animal Kingdom: Avatar Flight of Passage, Na’vi River Journey and Festival of the Lion King
Best park in the rain: EPCOT has the most indoor space, with big pavilions, shops and restaurants around World Showcase. Hollywood Studios is a close second. Animal Kingdom has the fewest indoor rides, though the animals are often more active after a storm cools things off.
Book a sit-down meal
An afternoon storm is the perfect time for a table-service lunch. You stay dry, cool off and rest your feet while the weather clears. Indoor favorites like the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater at Hollywood Studios even feel like an attraction. Look for open reservations in the app the morning of a stormy forecast, and browse more ideas in our restaurant guide.
Go resort hopping or head to Disney Springs
If the whole day looks wet, leave the parks for a few hours. The big lobbies at the monorail resorts are fun to explore and easy to reach from Magic Kingdom, and Disney Springs has plenty of shops and restaurants to duck into between showers. Then head back to the parks once the rain stops and the crowds have thinned.
Lightning Lane, tickets and refunds
Tickets: Disney doesn’t refund or extend park tickets because of rain. Plan to make the most of the day instead.
Lightning Lane: if a ride you’ve booked goes down for weather, check the My Disney Experience app. Disney usually lets you use that Lightning Lane later in the day, at the same ride once it reopens or at another attraction.
Hurricanes: if the National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane warning for the Orlando area or your home area within 7 days of your arrival, Disney lets guests with a Walt Disney Travel Company package or a room booked directly at a Disney resort reschedule or cancel without Disney’s change fees. Third-party bookings follow their own rules, so check before you buy.
Rainy day tips
- Bring your own poncho. Disney sells them in the parks, but at park prices. See our Disney World packing guide for the rest of the rain gear.
- Wear shoes that dry fast and pack an extra pair of socks.
- Keep your phone in a zip-top bag. You’ll need it for the app, mobile ordering and Lightning Lane changes.
- Do outdoor rides in the morning during the summer, and save indoor rides for the afternoon storm window.
- Don’t leave at the first drop. Many guests head for the exits, and summer storms often pass in under an hour. Waits can be shorter afterward.
- Check the radar on our weather page to see how big a storm is and which way it’s moving.
Rain doesn’t always keep the crowds away, especially during school breaks. Use our Disney World crowd calendar to pick the best park each day.
Disney World rain FAQ
Does Disney World close when it rains?
No. The parks stay open in rain and thunderstorms. Disney has closed the parks only for a handful of hurricanes. During storms, outdoor rides pause for lightning, but indoor rides, shows, shops and restaurants keep running.
Do rides close at Disney World in the rain?
Most rides keep running in light rain. Outdoor rides like roller coasters, spinners and water rides pause when lightning is nearby, and a few also close in heavy rain or high winds. They reopen once the storm moves away.
Do Disney fireworks happen in the rain?
Usually, yes. Fireworks and nighttime shows generally go on in light rain, but lightning or high winds can delay or cancel them. Check the My Disney Experience app for updates on the night.
Does Disney give refunds for rain?
No. Park tickets aren’t refunded for rain. If a hurricane warning is issued for Orlando or your home area within 7 days of arrival, Disney lets guests who booked a package or a Disney resort room directly reschedule or cancel without Disney’s change fees.
What is the best Disney park to visit on a rainy day?
EPCOT is usually the best rainy-day park because it has the most indoor rides, pavilions, shops and restaurants. Hollywood Studios is a good second choice. Animal Kingdom has the fewest indoor attractions.
