Disney World rain forecast: soggy Sunday and Monday ahead

Pack the poncho. Forecasters expect heavy rain around Orlando on Sunday and Monday, with more possible midweek. Here’s what it means for your Disney World and Universal days.

If you’re headed to Disney World this weekend, Halloween night might be the easy part. Sunday and Monday look wet.

The National Weather Service office in Melbourne, which covers the Orlando area, flagged “Heavy Rain Sun-Mon” on its forecast page Saturday. “Increasing rain chances are forecast on Sunday and Monday,” the agency said, and heavier rain in a few spots could cause some flooding.

MickeyBlog, citing Orlando’s WESH 2, reported Sunday, Nov. 1, rain chances approaching 95%.

Showers and storms could hang around into Monday, Nov. 2.

What’s the Halloween night forecast at Disney World?

It should be manageable, just breezy and a little damp. The weather service said Halloween evening will bring “isolated to numerous showers, breezy onshore winds, and seasonable temperatures.”

Saturday’s heaviest rain risk sat south of the theme parks. The agency had a marginal risk, level 1 of 5, for excessive rain from Brevard County southward, with the best chance between noon Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday.

Wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph were possible Saturday, the agency said. Heading to the coast? The weather service warned of hazardous to dangerous beach conditions through at least Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Offshore, it called for east winds of 15 to 25 knots and seas of 5 to 9 feet. Keep that in mind if your trip includes a cruise out of Port Canaveral, since rough seas can mean a bumpy first night at sea.

It’s not just Orlando, either. Up to 2 inches of rain could fall over the next several days across the Tampa Bay area, the Tampa Bay Times reported Friday, Oct. 30. So a day trip to Busch Gardens might not dodge it.

Is there another storm coming after this?

WESH 2 chief meteorologist Tony Mainolfi said Florida could see its first El Nino-influenced storm system around Nov. 4 or 5, according to MickeyBlog. The track isn’t locked in, and the system could stay north of Florida.

El Nino tends to make Florida winters wetter. The weather service’s Melbourne office is already calling for an “Increased Potential for Well Above Normal Rainfall and Severe Weather” in the November-to-April dry season.

So if your trip runs into the holidays, rain gear isn’t a bad thing to toss in the suitcase.

Does Disney World close for rain?

No. The parks stay open in the rain. What changes is the outdoor stuff.

Rides that run outside, like many coasters and water rides, can pause when lightning gets close, then reopen when it clears. Parades and fireworks can be canceled or modified for weather, and Disney usually announces that close to showtime in the app.

Indoor rides keep running, and they’re about to be your best friends. Think Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Spaceship Earth, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Avatar Flight of Passage and the big Hollywood Studios shows.

How do you survive a rainy day at Disney World?

A few things that help:

• Bring ponchos from home. Park ponchos work, but they cost more.

• Wear shoes that can get wet, and pack dry socks in a zip bag.

• Use the My Disney Experience app to check ride waits. Rain often thins the crowds, and some lines get shorter.

• Plan indoor dining for the heaviest hours. A sit-down lunch is a nice way to wait out a downpour.

• Keep your phone and tickets in a plastic bag.

Fair warning: when it rains, everyone runs for the same indoor rides. Those waits can climb even when the rest of the park empties out.

What about Universal Orlando in the rain?

Same idea. Universal stays open, and outdoor coasters can close temporarily for lightning. Indoor favorites at Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe become hot spots when storms roll through.

Will the rain cool things down?

Forecasters haven’t said much about a big drop in temperature yet. Saturday’s highs were expected in the 80s, MickeyBlog reported.

Check the forecast again Sunday morning before you leave your hotel, and turn on weather alerts on your phone. Florida weather changes fast, and a 95% chance of rain can still leave you a dry hour or two to grab a churro.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Hat Tips:

• National Weather Service Melbourne (Oct. 31), forecast, rainfall risk and beach hazards

• MickeyBlog (Oct. 31), rain chances and Mainolfi’s El Nino outlook

• WESH 2, forecast via MickeyBlog

• Tampa Bay Times (Oct. 30), Tampa Bay rain totals

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