You’ve probably seen the crowds at Disney World — the shoulder-to-shoulder Main Street mornings, the 25-minute wait for Dole Whip, the family in matching shirts who all cut across your path at the exact wrong time. But here’s the thing: I go to Disney World every day for my job, and I know the one secret to finding empty parks.
Magic Kingdom
Ready? Here it is: go when it rains.
Yep, that’s it. Rain. The forecast calls for showers and suddenly half the crowd vanishes. Locals stay home, some tourists cancel their park day, and those who do show up often leave as soon as the first raindrop hits. And that’s when the magic begins.
Why Rainy Days at Disney Can Be the Best Days
Most people think “rain = ruined day.” But in reality, Disney World is built for weather — it’s Florida, after all. The rain usually doesn’t last all day, and while everyone else is huddled in their hotel rooms, you can be walking onto rides that normally have 45-minute waits.
Magic Kingdom is my personal favorite for rainy days. It’s got the most indoor attractions, from Haunted Mansion to Space Mountain to the Carousel of Progress. You can easily fill your day hopping from one covered ride to the next while the park feels practically empty.
Rainy day at Magic Kingdom
And here’s the kicker: outdoor rides don’t close for rain — they only close for lightning. So you can still ride Dumbo in the drizzle if you don’t mind getting a little damp.
My Crowded Day vs. My Rainy Day
Here’s where the difference really hits.
I’ve been in Magic Kingdom on some of the busiest days of the year, and even with the best strategy, the best Lightning Lane, and all the insider knowledge in the world, there have been days when I’ve only managed to ride 5–6 attractions from rope drop to fireworks. That’s the reality of a packed park — long lines, bottlenecks, and lots of time waiting instead of riding.
Tomorrowland in the rain
Now, compare that to one of my favorite rainy days. The park was soaked, the ponchos were out, and a lot of guests bailed early. I stayed. By the end of the night, I had ridden every single ride in Magic Kingdom. No Lightning Lane. No crisscrossing the park at lightning speed. Just steady walk-ons and short waits. It felt like I had the park to myself.
That’s the power of embracing a rainy day—it can flip your whole experience from frustrating to fantastic.
Outdoor Rides That Do Close for Lightning
When lightning is in the area, Disney puts safety first. Outdoor attractions shut down temporarily, but they usually reopen as soon as it’s safe again. Here are the rides you can expect to close during lightning:
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (closed now for refurbishment)
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Astro Orbiter
- Tomorrowland Speedway
- Jungle Cruise
- Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- Outdoor stage shows & cavalcades
Other parks have their lightning-sensitive rides, too (think Test Track, Slinky Dog Dash, Expedition Everest). But if you’re looking for the smoothest rainy day, Magic Kingdom still wins.
What to Pack for a Rainy Disney Day
If you’re prepared, a rainy day in the parks can be way more fun than a “perfect” sunny one. Here’s my go-to rainy day kit:
- A good poncho – Trust me, the $15 plastic bags they sell in the park aren’t it. Bring your own sturdy one that you can reuse.
- Waterproof shoes or sandals – Squelchy sneakers are no fun.
- Extra socks – I’ll pack two changes, because nothing saves a day like fresh socks.
- Waterproof shoe covers – Yes, they look silly. But you’ll be laughing when your feet are dry.
- A small umbrella – Just don’t be that person who whacks people in the crowd with it.
- A Ziploc bag or waterproof pouch – Perfect for your phone, park map, and other essentials.
Pro tip: toss everything in a lightweight backpack. You’ll still be hands-free, and you won’t be that person trying to juggle bags in the rain. We have tested THOUSANDS of dollars worth of gear for the parks, and one thing you DEFINITELY need is the poncho we reviewed here!
So next time you see rain in the forecast, don’t cancel your Disney plans — lean into it. While everyone else stays home, you’ll be zipping through rides, ducking into cozy shows, and maybe even doing the unthinkable: riding everything in Magic Kingdom in one day.
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yep. Get a really good raincoat – they sell Helly Hansen ones in Norway actually and they are great! I bought one many years ago and am glad to have it, as it makes the rain very tolerable. Rain is great for empty parks so long as you aren’t needing the Skyliner and expect that some rides might not run. We had Animal Kingdom to ourselves one evening after pounding rain all day. It was GRAND! I rode several rides over and again!
Yes!! Been there on rainy days and we were absolutely soaked, right through to the backpacks. It took a couple of days to dry my trainers out completely, they were more than squelchy, there was a puddle inside. It didn’t help that I left them outside the villa when it rained again, but I would do it all again.
I agree! It is fun to do the parks in the rain. I bought a 10 pack of the thin ponchos online, so it was easy to use a new one each day. They were perfect and we got to all the rides and attractions with little wait time.