Thunder Storms and Park Touring

[drp4video]

Been there many, many times during thunderstorms. As has been said, the outdoor rides will shut down if lightening or severe weather until the storm passes. But if the que is undercover, I have waited and not lost my spot. Most storms are fast and breeze through pretty quickly. If it is a rainy day all day, a lot of people eventually leave and that makes for a great park experience if you don't mind getting wet. (got really soaked once waiting for TOT) If an all day rain, and I have been there for a few of those, we would alternate sometimes with an indoor then outdoor ride. The only park to me that is really bad in the rain is AK as so much is outside and it is so spread out. MK is fine and I don't mind Epcot except for the walk back from the countries in the rain at closing. You will get major wet in the rain, otherwise, I can race from inside to inside attraction in the land, and race between countries. MGM, oops, DHS lol, is not too bad either as many rides are inside, although there are outside attractions as well.

Once in December it was a cold rainy day, raining lightly, then it got heavier, so about 1 p.m. we left as did a lot of others. Went back to the hotel and took naps as we were tired anyhow. The rain let up around 6 p.m. and even though it was still colder and overcast, we went back to the MK, rode the train to avoid a possible parade and we were going to get off at Tomorrowland, but when we stopped near Splash, there was no one in line. We wondered if it had reopened so we got off the train. Boy were we happy, not only was it open, no one was there. We rode it about 6 times in a row and never got out of the log, just kept going round and round.

Amazing how it will be horribly hot in July or August and you can see the storm off in the distance. Usually it may hit for about 30 minutes, which is always a good time to go eat, and then you think oh boy, it is gonna cool off. Nope, it is just steamier, and sometimes even hotter. And it WILL rain pretty much every day in the summer for a short period.

Only time I have ever been in WDW when it closed for weather was Hurricane Charley. Even then, they kept the parks open the day of the hurricane until about 1 pm. As they all closed at the same time, talk about a major traffic mess! And boy was THAT an experience. Disney as usual, handled us guests, expertly. I was so impressed.

 

[LAKid53]

It's Orlando. If you don't like the weather, wait 30 minutes.

True - like any other place in Florida.

 

[LAKid53]

Experiencing those afternoon thunder boomers Florida has, the rain never bothered me (I'm not sugar, I won't melt) but the lightening that accompanies these storms makes me head indoors. One time, lightening struck a few yards in front of my car while I was driving home (the sound was deafening) and I never want to go through that again (and yes, your hair does stand on end, probably from fear). So if it is just the usually 10 minute Florida summer downpour, either put the poncho on or go indoors and wait. But if it is lightening, then stay inside. Florida has more lightening strikes that any place in the U.S.

 

[LAKid53]

Been there during a tornado warning! Last summer was the worst ever for thunderstorms! They were pretty bad, the lightning and thunder crashed. It was dangerous. We had to hang out at Pete's Silly Side Show for what seemed like an hour! We decided to brave the lightning, and got on the bus back to the resort. It rained the rest of the evening!

My daughter asked during our last trip what we would do if a tornado went through Disney. I said, "never - it's the Happiest Place on Earth!" Most of the resorts look pretty sturdy. But yes, can you imagine being on a ride during something like that?

 

[kap91]

Experiencing those afternoon thunder boomers Florida has, the rain never bothered me (I'm not sugar, I won't melt) but the lightening that accompanies these storms makes me head indoors. One time, lightening struck a few yards in front of my car while I was driving home (the sound was deafening) and I never want to go through that again (and yes, your hair does stand on end, probably from fear). So if it is just the usually 10 minute Florida summer downpour, either put the poncho on or go indoors and wait. But if it is lightening, then stay inside. Florida has more lightening strikes that any place in the U.S.

I'm from Orlando so maybe I don't have the natural fear of lightening I should, but I want to point out that while it's probably a good idea not to stand next to any tall trees or metal objects, your odds of actually getting hit by lightening are very low. Sure, best not to tempt fate but it's not like its incredibly dangerous to go outside and just cross the street, walk to your car, etc.

Depends on exactly what kind of storm you're talking about too - obviously if the radar is showing red and purple over your area there's more reason to stay inside. But I see way too many people running for cover the second they see one strike on the horizon.

 

[rangerbob]

One time when we were at the MK we were doing to Sorcerors and were in Fantasyland near the castle. As we were waiting on the portal to clear I saw the lightening hit the castle. Talk about loud, shake the ground and scare everybody. Quickly we maneuvered over to Philharmatic and took in a show there as we waited for it to clear. It sounded like there was a couple of other close strikes. When we came out it was raining, the lightning was done and people were headed out. We went out in the rain and went to another ride.

 

[Hakunamatata]

It's Orlando. If you don't like the weather, wait 30 minutes.

Funny. I hear that everywhere I go. "Its _________________. If you don't like the weather, wait ________and it will change".

 

[kap91]

I know they have. But those are totally different from your afternoon Beast Thunder Storm

Yeah the thunderstorms can be worse.

 

[Jakester]

Being from IL and having been through many a tornado (we're currently rebuilding our house from one), we were down in Disney during a tornado warning, and our first thought was - where do we go for shelter?

The CM told us that if the sirens were to go off, we would be taken to the utilidors. For the first time in my life - I hoped for a tornado warning.

Now what about Epcot, DHS, DAK, and the resorts?

 

[bebert]

I prefer to just get a poncho and grind through the rain, my family however, is not as tough.
What a better time to be at the park.

 

[LAKid53]

Being from IL and having been through many a tornado (we're currently rebuilding our house from one), we were down in Disney during a tornado warning, and our first thought was - where do we go for shelter?

The CM told us that if the sirens were to go off, we would be taken to the utilidors. For the first time in my life - I hoped for a tornado warning.

Sorry to hear about your house - I hope you and your loved ones are doing okay. I want to see the utilidors, but I can think of better ways how to.

 

[The Mom]

I'm from Orlando so maybe I don't have the natural fear of lightening I should, but I want to point out that while it's probably a good idea not to stand next to any tall trees or metal objects, your odds of actually getting hit by lightening are very low. Sure, best not to tempt fate but it's not like its incredibly dangerous to go outside and just cross the street, walk to your car, etc.

Depends on exactly what kind of storm you're talking about too - obviously if the radar is showing red and purple over your area there's more reason to stay inside. But I see way too many people running for cover the second they see one strike on the horizon.

Walking to your car is actually risky - being in an open area, like a parking lot, increases your chances. The fact that you're in FL increases your chances. People have been struck walking to their cars - but most (not all) were also carrying umbrellas. Not a good idea to use an umbrella in a storm unless you have the non-metal ones (available in golf stores.)

The chances might be very low, but I know of two people who have died (one a neighbor sitting in a boat fishing, one someone my husband knew who was at the beach) so I might have more fear of lightning than most. A realtor who was helping us find a house many years ago had her kitchen struck by lightning (came in through an open window!) - blew out her appliances. My next door neighbor has had upstairs phones, etc destroyed by lightning.

We were stuck on the tarmac once because the ground crew would not come out - the lightning was all around us.

A friend works for NOAA, and he starts to go inside as soon as he hears thunder - even if he doesn't see lightning. The lightning can precede the actual storm by miles, which explains the "bolt out of the blue." Which has happened locally. I have a lot of "respect" for lightning storms.

 

[LAKid53]

Walking to your car is actually risky - being in an open area, like a parking lot, increases your chances. The fact that you're in FL increases your chances. People have been struck walking to their cars - but most (not all) were also carrying umbrellas. Not a good idea to use an umbrella in a storm unless you have the non-metal ones (available in golf stores.)

The chances might be very low, but I know of two people who have died (one a neighbor sitting in a boat fishing, one someone my husband knew who was at the beach) so I might have more fear of lightning than most. A realtor who was helping us find a house many years ago had her kitchen struck by lightning (came in through an open window!) - blew out her appliances. My next door neighbor has had upstairs phones, etc destroyed by lightning.

We were stuck on the tarmac once because the ground crew would not come out - the lightning was all around us.

A friend works for NOAA, and he starts to go inside as soon as he hears thunder - even if he doesn't see lightning. The lightning can precede the actual storm by miles, which explains the "bolt out of the blue." Which has happened locally. I have a lot of "respect" for lightning storms.

In total agreement. I've lived in Florida for nearly 50 years and if I hear thunder, I'm going inside. I've witnessed lighting repeatedly strike in the parking lot at my work (I worked a little late that day), hit trees in my neighborhood (saw a strike BLOW the top off my neighbor's 50 foot pine tree) and explode a power line transformer (that was both cool and frightening to see). I give that awesome power of nature all the respect it deserves and stay indoors, off the phone, computer, turn off the TV and don't use the plumbing. And if I'm in a park at WDW during one of those Florida storms, I'm heading inside. I'm fine with a little rain, but lightening, no way. Just ask Pensacola about the Florida thunderstorms - they got nearly 2 feet of rain in one day about two weeks ago.

 

[SyracuseDisneyFan]

I've been to Florida many times and have experienced rain and cooler weather conditions, but I've never experienced severe weather down there on vacation.

 

[LAKid53]

Funny. I hear that everywhere I go. "Its _________________. If you don't like the weather, wait ________and it will change".

It's true in Florida. My father used to say they needed to change the name from the Sunshine State to the Liquid Sunshine State - in no other state have I seen sun showers - the sun is shining and it is raining. In the summer, we get those 2:00, 3:00 in the afternoon storms that last maybe 30-40 minutes. LOTS of rain, lightening (always start saving the files I'm working on on my computer when I see the dark clouds forming) and then it's done and the skies are clear and the air is even more humid.

 

[LAKid53]

I've been to Florida many times and have experienced rain and cooler weather conditions, but I've never experienced severe weather down there on vacation.

Then you've been lucky. Usually we get the severe weather in the summer, once the waters in the Gulf start to warm up. We've had drought conditions for the past couple of years (5-7 inches under normal rainfall, nothing like Texas or CA), and this year the rain decided to catch up in a 2 week period. I'd rather have the afternoon rain storms like we used to get than the 24/7 downpours of the last 2 weeks. We've been fortunate with hurricanes after the 2004/2005 seasons, but our time will come again, soon.

 

[Hakunamatata]

It's true in Florida. My father used to say they needed to change the name from the Sunshine State to the Liquid Sunshine State - in no other state have I seen sun showers - the sun is shining and it is raining. In the summer, we get those 2:00, 3:00 in the afternoon storms that last maybe 30-40 minutes. LOTS of rain, lightening (always start saving the files I'm working on on my computer when I see the dark clouds forming) and then it's done and the skies are clear and the air is even more humid.

I've seen it in Texas, Kansas, California,and Arizona.

 

[LAKid53]

I've seen it in Texas, Kansas, California,and Arizona.

I can understand Kansas - in Tornado Alley. Grew up in Southern CA and don't remember storms like we have in Fla.

 

[Disneydreamer23]

I agree with above the weather is so sporadic I would just wait 30 minutes Animal Kingdom last August it was 90 degrees hot and sunny 10 minutes later it was pouring rain and then half hour after that it's hot and sunny again

 

[JohnD]

We read the thread about rain at the parks, and how a lot of people just use ponchos and keep going, but what if thunder storms are predicted? Do they shut down most of the rides if there is thunder/lightning? How long do the thunder storms usually last? TIA

It's Florida. In summer, they're almost a daily occurrence. Unlike a front that may come through, in the summer they tend to build up in the mid- late-afternoon heat. Just keep an eye on the sky and have a plan to duck into nearby shelter. It will come and go before you know it.