Rainy Day Tips from ALL EARS® Readers

[Grumpy]

With Florida's rainy and hurricane seasons upon us, we posed a question to ALL EARS® Readers: What's your best tip for dealing with a rainy day at Walt Disney World?

Many of you simply said, "Grab a poncho and head to the parks! Don't let the rain stop you!" Your enthusiasm for touring the parks in the rain was refreshing. And we have to admit -- we agree with you. (Unless of course, it's a lightning storm or a hurricane!) Many's the time that we have splashed our way around the World, oblivious to our squishy sneakers and the droplets running down our noses.

But we thought you might enjoy more specific tips on what to do when the raindrops are falling on your head. So we asked, and you answered -- with some terrific tips! And, after reading each and every one, we discovered we had so many great ideas that we'd have to run them in a series over the next several months. As we promised when we first asked for your ideas, those whose tips we selected will receive an Allears.net goody bag. (Goody bag recipients have already been notified by email.)

Thanks to everyone for sharing your stories and ideas.

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WHEN IT RAINS...
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First, remember that some rides will close for safety reasons whenever it rains. The most obvious ones are the outdoor thrill rides like Test Track (Epcot), Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Magic Kingdom) and Expedition Everest (Animal Kingdom).

Next, take wild weather warnings seriously. We're not suggesting that you go out during the rains of a hurricane or an electrical storm!

If you are going to be walking around in the rain, dress appropriately -- a lightweight poncho or rain slicker is a must for rainy days. And maybe bring a change of socks, just in case your feet get soaked. Walking around in squelchy, chafing socks is a surefire way to bring on a blister.

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PONCHO POWER
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As we said earlier, the best way to deal with a rainy day is to try to ignore it. Just put on your poncho and go! But what if you are surprised by a sudden shower? Stacks of ponchos will miraculously appear in most every store at the first sign of rain, but if you duck into a store and don't see any, just ask. They're likely to be just a step away from every register. Some readers even offered their primo poncho pointers:

Kelly Hughes: If rain is in the forecast, we bring an extra set of clothes to the park and put them in a locker. We can choose the poncho route, or just get a little wet. When the rain stops we run for a quick change; dry shoes and socks make all the difference. Carrying a towel in a backpack can help, too, to dry off the seats of rides before you sit!

Andrea DeYoung: I discovered that the poncho hood does not stay put on the head very well, so I bought a sun visor that fastens at the back of the head and put it over my hood. This not only kept my head dry, but it kept my glasses and my face dry as well.

Jane Peters: With four children, rain is just another opportunity to splash in puddles! To keep everyone safe and semi-dry, we always buy the matching Disney rain ponchos. I bring along a permanent marker and we let each person decorate their own poncho. This eliminates the "whose is that one?" syndrome you can get with a pile of six ponchos!

ahktlove: We bring extra cheap ponchos from the dollar store to cover backpacks and strollers. They come two in a pack and cost $1.00.

Pamela Warren: I bundle several plastic grocery bags together and carry them in my backpack. They are lightweight, compact, and disposable. They are available to pull out and sit on during a parade or a ride with wet seats, tie over your shoes to keep your feet dry (I do this for Kali River Rapids whether it's raining or not), and place my camera or other items in that should be protected from the rain. Also, if you get caught in a downpour and are changing into something dry, you then have something to put the wet articles in!

Leigh from NJ: Walt Disney World in the rain can spark some of the most magical moments and even create traditions. But the best part of the rainy day is when you have decided that you are so wet that you need a change of clothes and just HAVE to head to one of the stores get yourself some new Walt Disney World gear... the skies clear and you are ready to go.

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EPCOT
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As Doris Merowitz noted, "Having an occasional rainy day while at Disney actually gives us a good excuse to do some of the indoor things that we would probably never get around to doing on a beautiful sunny day." ALL EARS® Readers agreed with her sentiment, and overwhelmingly selected Epcot with its many indoor attractions as the park to spend a rainy day in. (Animal Kingdom and the Magic Kingdom were tied for a distant second, and a very few readers mentioned the Disney-MGM Studios, or had other rainy day ideas -- we'll share those tips in future installments of this series.) Future World pavilions have at least one show or ride of some kind, plus children's hands-on activities, gift shops, and some even have places to stop for a bite to eat. The World Showcase country pavilions also have shops, exhibits, live entertainers, places to dine, and nooks and crannies to explore, which could easily take a couple of hours before you have to venture back out into the wet nastiness.

Mary Ann Morelli: Head to the Land Pavilion in Epcot and take the Behind the Seeds Tour. It lasts about an hour or so. You get to go through the greenhouses and labs and see the techniques Disney uses to grow their plants. When you're done with the tour, see the Circle of Life film. You'll love it! Finally, you can have a bite to eat at Sunshine Seasons. It's a wonderful food court that offers a wide variety of selections. Up above you are beautiful hot-air balloons. It's all inside though, so you won't get wet from the rain outside!

Jennefer Bell: Head to Ellen's Energy Adventure. We have never had to wait and since the show takes about 45 minutes total, the rain is almost always stopped by then.

Pearl W. from North Carolina: A sudden rainstorm took us to the nearest open door, Innovations East. My 3-year-old was delighted -- she learned to use a computer mouse, made friends chasing the light beams on the floor, enjoyed jumping on the energy exhibit, and coloring. We had to drag her out two hours later when the rain finally stopped. My son-in-law loved the technology exhibits. My daughter and I found it a little bit too noisy and frenetic so we went shopping at Mouse Gear next door.

Sarah from Nashville, TN: When it rained for two to three hours at Epcot during our Disney trip last year, we took advantage of the Innovations West area and we sent all of our friends and family FREE email picture postcards. It was a great time to cool off, save money, and when we came home, we had tons of e-mails from friends and family. The best part, though, was that we took pictures in different poses with different digital backgrounds and we sent copies of the emails to ourselves, so we also had some cool memories for the photo album!

Allyson: On rainy days it is a great time to really visit the World Showcase at Epcot. Many of the countries have indoor movies/exhibits that tend to get overlooked. The countries are close together so you won't get very wet hopping from country to country. It is the perfect time to relax and take it slow while at the same time learning and having some Disney fun.

Stacey from Buffalo, NY: We go to Epcot and along the way we stop in Mexico for margaritas, Germany for brats, France for a ham and cheese croissant and the United Kingdom for fish and chips. At the end of our fun, we buy new Disney towels, dry off and go back to our favorite hotel!

Holly Iarrobino: On rainy Epcot afternoons, we love to head over to the Rose & Crown to enjoy a pint (or two) and some wonderful piano tunes with Pam Brody! She loves to interact with her fans, so try and get a table close to her piano. We've chatted with her many times; she has great stories and songs and has been known to play requests. On Pam's days off, a gentleman named Leon Gregory plays, and he's great as well! And if you get hungry, you can order the snack size version of Harry Ramsden's famous fish and chips from one of the bartenders without getting wet standing at the counter service window!

Have we "w(h)et" your appetite for more rainy day tips? Be sure to check back in a few weeks when we have our second installment of "Who'll Stop the Rain?", featuring things to do in the Kingdoms, Magic and Animal, on a wet weather day.

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[Grumpy]

This part looks at the Kingdoms, Animal and Magic, as well as the resorts!

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ANIMAL KINGDOM
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Gareth from Scotland: Catch the various safaris and trails in Animal Kingdom... the rain will drive many people away, but the animals don't seem to mind and you can get some great views (watch those cameras in the rain, though!). And of course, whilst in Animal Kingdom, Kali River Rapids in the rain is a must... However, my favorite thing to do in inclement weather would be to curl up in one of the many cozy fireplace nooks in the Wilderness Lodge with my wife and a good book...

JMcBride: At Animal Kingdom, some of the animals become more active when it showers. This is a great time to put on those ponchos and just observe the animals in The Oasis. There is so much overhead foliage that you don't get the drenching rains like you would out in the open. Rafiki's Planet Watch is a nice place to visit during the rainy season. Stop and talk with the Cast Members. They have lots of great stories about the animals and the operation of the Animal Kingdom. There's also a huge mural painted on the walls of the building and there are lots of hidden Mickeys. See who can find the most.

EschBecky: My husband and two daughters (ages 6 and almost 3) were at Animal Kingdom when it began to rain. We put on our inexpensive ponchos from home and headed for Kilimanjaro Safari. Boy, were we in for a treat! The animals act differently during thunderstorms, and it was quite a sight to see herds of animals standing together, all facing the same direction, not moving. When our safari vehicle was by the area with the lions, we had to stop for another animal that was in the roadway. At that moment, there was a simultaneous thunderclap/lightning-strike that sounded like it hit right by us! It woke up the male lion, who was not too happy. He started pacing and roaring -- it was quite a sight! I would not hesitate to ride this ride in the rain and in sunny weather, just to see how different the animals behave in different weather conditions.

Spin & Jan Spalding: Although it was virtually pouring out, we decided to venture into Animal Kingdom anyway. We were prepared with Mickey ponchos of course, and my husband in a wheelchair to boot! Even with rain gear we were wet but we've never seen so many animals ... they all LOVE the rain! We had the Kilimanjaro Safari ride to ourselves -- who knew there were so many elephants! Even the lion was sitting up and not sleeping as usual. And we did Kali River Rapids about four times in a row -- why not, we were wet anyway! Best rainy day we've ever had in Disney.

Christina Kravatas: It was right before the start of the Mickey's Jammin' in the Jungle Parade. The Cast Members had finally made the decision to go ahead with the parade despite threatening gray clouds. About five minutes into the parade it just started to pour. Not light rain, buckets of rain! The dutiful parade Cast Members continued on singing and dancing all the way through the rain and they were soaked. We immediately pulled out our yellow rain ponchos and kept jammin'. We were the only people standing on the sidelines in Harambe watching the parade. We cheered on the Cast Members as they paraded by, thanking them for continuing the parade in such a downpour. My tip is: make sure you have your rain ponchos at all times (buy the heavier-duty ones at Target) and wear waterproof sandals. Then you won't miss any of the action and perhaps make a few wonderful "singin' in the rain" memories!

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MAGIC KINGDOM
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Jennifer Turner: My Rainy Day Tip involves my favorite ride in all the World -- the Haunted Mansion! During those mid-afternoon showers in Orlando, we always duck into the Columbia Harbour House for lunch or a snack, and then to the Mansion! The rain adds to the eeriness, and the waiting area walkway is covered. It is oh-so-much-cooler to enter the Mansion if there is lightning and thunder outside, and the quick downpours in Orlando are usually over by the time you emerge from the ride. Welcome, rain-soaked mortals!

Robert: The downpour lasted considerably longer than usual so we used the time to visit the characters at Mickey's Toon Town Fair. We just kept queuing up for the next character. We got to see all who were there and stayed dry. Our children were 3 and 4 so it was a great way to keep them entertained and accomplish something that was on our list of things to see.

Diane: We found ourselves in Tomorrowland when the skies opened up. We decided to have a ride on Buzz Lightyear, only to find it raining more than before... what a great excuse to take just a few damp steps into Auntie Gravity's Galactic Goodies for some ice cream. From Auntie Gravity's it's just a short sprint under the superstructure of the Tomorrowland Transit Authority to the escalator that will take you up to this attraction. This is undoubtedly the best place to spend some rainy weather time while in the Magic Kingdom -- just drifting along on this pleasant ride we all love, safe from the raindrops outside. And if it's still raining after you get off (and we've often stayed on for more than one trip around Tomorrowland), it's another easy sprint to the Carousel of Progress. Still raining? Keep to the covered edge along the now-closed Timekeeper, and past the Noodle Station... and then you have the whole of Main Street to shop and eat along, dodging the raindrops by going from shop to shop. We love the sunshine, but it's great to be at the Magic Kingdom when it's raining!!

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RESORTS
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Annette Brooks: We always welcome a rainy day as an opportunity to slow down and explore the Disney hotels. We might do a loop on the monorail and check out the shops and restaurants in the hotels, maybe even do lunch. Plunking yourself in a rocking chair in front of the fireplace in Wilderness Lodge takes the chill out of a dreary day. Disney really does a wonderful job with all of the themed hotel lobbies and if you're there around the holidays, the Christmas decorations and gingerbread displays are bonuses. It's a relaxing way to refresh yourself and gear up for the next day's trek into the parks. And, best of all, it's free!

Leanne Hackett: On one of our trips to Disney the best place during the rain was Community Hall (Boardwalk Villas). Near one of the quiet pools is this recreation room that is totally Disney. It is a place that has tons of activities for the kids including: arts and crafts (for a small fee), movies, a ping pong table, a foosball table and video games. My kids love it so much they spend time here during sunny afternoons, too. The Belle Vue Lounge off of the lobby at the Boardwalk has games for you to play including Yahtzee and checkers. They have great couches inside, and right outside on the deck is a great place to sit and watch lightning.

Gloria Martin: If we have checked the weather and it sounds totally unbearable to go to the parks we plan on sleeping in. Just put on the Do Not Disturb sign and sleep in. When we get up, we order room service and actually sit back and enjoy the morning. After that, we spend the day wandering the other hotels and enjoying seeing what they have to offer.

JJ Marcum: Put the kids down for a nap and enjoy the short-lived rainstorm from your resort room with a good book! We did that each afternoon with our 1-year-old and 5-year-old. The 5-year-old didn't sleep but he did have some down time enjoying our spacious Ft. Wilderness Cabin.

Cheryl Fer: Hop on the monorail and head to the Contemporary Resort! Riding the monorail in the rain is an experience in itself, especially in the front.

Mary Ann Devine: If it is after lunch and it looks like it will be a few hours of rain, the best thing to do is head back to the hotel and take a nap! Or, mom gets to do laundry while everyone else naps -- not so fun, but you get to chat with all the other moms in the laundry room about where they are from, what restaurants they ate at and enjoyed, etc.

Debbie Jeffers: I go resort hopping and go shopping. Each of the gift shops at the different resorts has the standard merchandise; then, as an added bonus, they have merchandise specific to that resort. So far, what I am trying to do is either collect a different beach towel or shirt with the resort's logo on them, or I stop by their snack bars and pick up a soda cup with the logo for about 13 dollars. With the mugs, I even have the ones that say Fall 2000, which I got at Epcot.

Wendy from NY: Discover the beauty of the resort you are staying in, take a closer look at the lobby decorations, walk around and look out the public viewing areas. Or take a tour of a resort. If your resort has no tours, call the Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom Lodge and see if a tour is available.

C. Hesse: Don't forget to check out activities that might be going on at your resort! One rainy afternoon our extended group of nine gathered at tables in the food court area of the Port Orleans Riverside Resort. We had found tables by the windows and out of the way of people eating a late lunch to enjoy some card playing. We noticed that some Disney staff were setting up tables with an activity and had also brought out a dozen or so chef coats. One of the Cast Members approached our group and invited the kids (all four of them) to come don a chef's coat and join in the activity at the table. Each child got a large Mickey shaped sugar cookie and frosting and decorations to create their own MICKEY! It was a fun activity for the kids and a tasty treat as well! In case you were wondering, it was a free activity!

Christine Mercier: We bring "Disney games" with us. There is the Disney version of Guess Who, Disney Trivial Pursuit, Uno, Memory and many other board games. We order in room service, play Disney board games and watch Disney movies/TV. We also eat Disney "snacks." Walmart has Disney microwave popcorn, and local dollar stores and Walgreens have Disney candy and fruit snacks.

Sharon Petrow: Take your Hidden Mickey book and head over to a hotel on an adventure looking for them. We were on one of the floors by a room looking for one when a family came out. They were very surprised when we showed them that a Hidden Mickey was right by them.

Have we "w(h)et" your appetite for more rainy day tips? Be sure to check back in a few weeks when we have our third and final installment of "Who'll Stop the Rain?", featuring things to do in Downtown Disney and miscellaneous suggestions for a wet weather day.

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[Grumpy]

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DOWNTOWN DISNEY
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Shelley Bordo-Bracken: My husband and I like to drive over to Downtown Disney and do a movie marathon at the AMC24 theater. If we are at the BoardWalk Villas as DVC members when it is pouring, we try to grab a rocking chair on the deck outside the main lobby, curl up with a book and we have a great view of the lagoon and BoardWalk.

Danielle Mahoney: Last time we were in Disney on a rainy day we took a bus to Downtown Disney to the shops and bought a scrapbook and supplies. We then went back to the hotel and I started working on it while my husband plotted out the next day's itinerary. I even included a rainy day section with pictures of us stuck in the hotel room. I was able to do most of the scrapbook before we left Disney and I had something fun to show my coworkers when we came home.

Amanda Downs, Whitney Point, NY: A great way to spend a potentially not-so-magical day is to visit Downtown Disney. The shops are fantastic and are each beautifully themed. The Once Upon a Toy Store will keep the younger set busy with its interactive toy displays -- be sure to design your own Mr. Potato Head postcard for a fun and cheap (free!) souvenir. The outdoor LEGO play area is also sure to be a hit. As far as dining goes, there are plenty of options to please all members of your group. Downtown Disney is also home to a huge movie theater and DisneyQuest -- an indoor interactive theme park good for a few hours of fun when the weather isn't wonderful. My family and I could easily spend an entire day wandering around Downtown Disney. Regardless of the weather it's a great place to relax a bit after storming the parks. Enjoy!

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MISCELLANEOUS
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Lisa Bliss: One day it rained the entire day and we were lucky enough to have planned the tea with Alice that day. We took the monorail to the Grand Floridian where my daughter spent a wonderful hour with Alice and the Mad Hatter and my husband and I had a quiet hour together listening to the piano player in the lobby and watching the rain. We took the boat back to the Wilderness Lodge where she spent the rest of the afternoon at the Cub's Den making crafts. After dinner at the hotel where she rode in a hobby horse race, we sat and watched her have her character portrait drawn by the lobby artist. It was a wonderful day and we discovered many wonderful new things to do that we might not have done had it not rained.

Mary Parker: Take advantage of the exercise rooms in most of the Disney hotels, a nice meal and maybe even a nap... the sun will come back soon enough. And, you will be refueled and energized, ready to go.

Steve and Susan Beck: Take a Disney Vacation Club Tour. That's what we did and we are so glad we did. The DVC has been a wonderful purchase for our family. It is an opportunity to explore the DVC and be in out of the rain at the same time!

Judy from Dayton, OH: I would go to one of the PhotoPass stations and take the time to edit and save the pictures we had taken so far on the trip. This would save valuable time at the end of the trip, as you won't need as long to finalize and make the photo CD, a process that can easily take at least an hour even with a minimal amount of pictures. The extra time spent adding embellishments to your pictures will be so worth it when you get back and can't do that to the pictures anymore.

Diane Taylor: 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.

Callie Shreckengost: 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! One trip, we were waiting for dinner 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!

Kathy J. Miller: 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!

Amy Famiglietti, Malden, MA: 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!

Toohill: 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.

Elizabeth Shannon: 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. (EDITOR'S NOTE: The water parks will close if lightning has been detected in the vicinity.)

Olivencia: 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 even have alligators and sting ray areas!

And finally, Kevin shares this thought on Rainy Days at Disney World: 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?