August...Rain...*Yuk*!

[Bob Saget]

Was watching the Weather Channel and noticed the state of Florida on the radar is covered dark green (for showers) every day next week. This got me to thinking...does it ever just rain all friggin' day long at WDW? August has got to be possibly the absolute worst month to visit WDW. First off, you have the threat of hurricanes, as Aug is the peak season for those to form. Secondly, the heat.

So for those of you who have visited WDW during the month of Aug, does it ever wash out all day long? Someone once told me that when they call for showers/t-storms in the state of Fla, that usually means a 10-min downpour every so often, and lots 'o sun in between. I don't mind the occaisonal afternoon downpour, but we certainly would not want to be there during a open-close shower. What is it usually like?

 

[afar28]

I go every year in August (I check in tomorrow ) and the person who told you their are 10 minute rainstorms is correct. It then goes on to be sunny for about 3 to 4 hours then another 10 minutes or so of rain. I don't mind it much. The longest it has ever rained when their was no tropical storm or hurricane was only for about an hour in my experiences.

 

[ishmael0316]

I just got back from the world and now I just moved here. It has been ungodly hot (110+ heat index). The storms go over very quickly. They usually happen between the hours of 3-6 pm. Usually a good time to take a nap and head back to the world for evening festivities anyway.

 

[pumpkin7]

yep! when we went on our honeymoon in 2010, we went to animal kingdom and it started raining from the second we stepped foot through the gates, to the time we got back on the bus to go back to our hotel.

however, i have also experienced the 10 minute storm. all of a sudden, the sky darkens, you get a full blown thunderstorm where everyone huddles under awnings and in stores / toilets, and then before you know it, the suns back out and it doesn't even look like it's been raining!

the best part i find is when you get a thunderstorm at night. i remember during my first ever trip when i was 8, i'd never seen anything qutie like the night time thunderstorms. they are amazingly beautiful, but also quite scary and so so loud. we didn't get one during our honeymoon but those storms sure do stick in my head as an awesome memory from my first trips. actually, we were staying in a high rise hotel on i-drive, and you could see the storm coming and getting closer out the window. it was pretty cool to watch, then the next thing you know, it's all around you, and it's pitch black.

nothing quite like a florida thunderstorm to clear the air.

 

[Spikerdink]

Sadly, a few years ago I brought a friend for his first trip to the Magic Kingdom. We had two great days and then a tropical storm came in, and it must have loved being on Disney property because for the next 4 days all it did was rain, rain, and then when it let up it rained some more. It got to be so moist that our phones would not work IN OUR ROOM. It was also when Pleasure Island was in its final days and one night I wanted to go check it out. But my friend looked at me and said, "I don't have one piece of dry clothing left. I think I want to just stay in the room and dry out."

We still had a great time - we can laugh about it now, but boy was it wet.

 

[Parrain]

In Florida they call that "liquid sunshine".... Just bring a light poncho, it won't last long. Unless there is a tropical depression, or hurricane.... Then just plan on being wet!

 

[Nemo14]

Yes, afternoon showers are common and predictable, and also they tend to clear the parks out, which is nice. It does get increibly humid though.
Tropical storms are not as much fun...

Have a good trip!

 

[Tuvalu]

Just returned from a 9 day stay; it rained every day but one, and on several days it rained for 2+hours at a time (not a monsoon, but steady rain...in the late afternoon/early evening.) The worst day the rain began about 6 p.m. and lasted well into the night, canceling the MSEP, the Electrical Water Pageant and Wishes! (We've never had Wishes canceled due to rain before.)

And yes, we have experienced all-day rain in August before. But even a rainy day at Disney is better than a sunny day at home!

 

[bethymouse]

2 years ago staying at CBR, we had 1 day to enjoy the pools out of 5. Each evening when we got back from the parks (August), it stormed and the pools were closed. We also had to seek shelter under the fast pass area of BTMRR, and we still got wet. Fun though.

 

[littleroo]

The last week in August is our favorite time to be there. With the kids back in school the lines are very short so we fly right thru everything. Then if it is hot, during the hottest time in the afternoon, we nap or chill by the pool!

 

[goodanu]

Just returned tonight after six days in WDW. It rained every day! But like the others stated it never rained longer then 20 minutes and the sun is right back out. On Tuesday night after it rained the humidity disappeared and the temp dropped to 75 degrees. It was a perfect night. It is humid and very hot, just pop inside a store or ride to cool off and it is not bad at all. Also breaks during the day at the pool are a must.

 

[luv]

I live here and kind of crack up when people say,"It only rains for 20 minutes," especially when they say it during rain that's been going on for hours.

It can rain for a brief period...but it can rain for an hour...or two...or more. On rare occasions, it rains all day. During tropical storms, too, It rains all day...for days on end.

Orlando has a mixed sub-tropical/tropical climate...that means there is a rainy season. And during rainy season, it tends to...you got it. Rain in August. We have it. We have it in spades.

Generally, the rain doesn't start until sometime between 3:00 and 7:00 p.m. But rain can also come in the morning. It rained this morning.

I'd say you should make the most of the mornings and have a plan for what you'll do in the event of rain.

Many people will tell you to soldier on because the lines are short. If it is just rain, that's all good and well. Not my thing, but it's a valid choice. If it is a thunderstorm, though, stay inside. Disney does have a ton of lightening rods, but Florida has a ton of cloud-to-ground lightning. Don't get hit. If you're in a pool, get out. If you're on a golf course, get the hell off. Don't use trees for cover. Lightening likes trees...it is attracted to them. Don't stand next to anything that lightening wants to hit! Indoors, inside a hard-top car - that is where you want to be.

Also, don't count on rain cooling anything off. It happens on infrequent (but glorious) occasions. Usually, though, when the rain is over it is still as hot, just wetter.

Disney is magical, but it isn't magical enough to only have short periods of rain during rainy season.