I was Caught in a Storm in the WORST Possible Place in Disney World.

Picture this. You’re walking down Main Street, U.S.A. in Disney World. The weather is a little overcast, but the forecast isn’t calling for any rain. No sun AND a low chance of precipitation? We’ll take it! That sounds like a good day to be outside.

Wrong. So wrong. Here’s the thing about Florida weather: you can’t trust it. If you see a dark cloud, it’s time to prepare for rain. Even if the forecast doesn’t call for rain, you’d be amazed how a sneaky storm can come out of nowhere. I’ve been there. It’s not fun. If you’re caught in a storm in the WRONG place…let’s just say it’s bad news.

Let me tell you a little story about my recent experience in a rainstorm at Disney World. I had a Lightning Lane reservation to ride Slinky Dog Dash around 2PM at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Right around that same time, the sky looked dark, but my weather app wasn’t calling for thunderstorms or rain.

I thought to myself, “I have two options.” One, I can wait for the rain to arrive and hope that it passes so I can return to ride Slinky Dog Dash later. (If you have a Lightning Lane reservation, when a ride closes, it changes to an anytime pass.) Two, I can try to beat the potential rain and jump in line before anything happens.

Well, I wasn’t gonna miss that reservation — it’s not easy to skip the line for that popular coaster. So, even though the sky was a little cloudy, I headed straight for the Lightning Lane and scanned my MagicBand. Success! I made it on the ride. No rain — now let’s ride.

At this point in the story, I can share good news and bad news. The good news is that I made it on Slinky Dog Dash before it started raining. The bad news is that I was on Slinky Dog Dash when it started raining. If you’ve never experienced the feeling of riding a rollercoaster in the rain, the best way I can describe it is “painful.” At that speed, the raindrops felt pointy and sharp, so it was like being trapped on a wet, painful carnival ride. I laughed the entire time.

Here’s the problem with being stuck on a ride in a downpour: there’s nowhere to hide. When the rain starts to come down, most people scatter! They seek shelter! Not me. I had no cover. I just had to endure it. My makeup? Ruined. My hair? Soaked. My clothing? Drenched.

Luckily, I packed a change of clothing for this exact scenario. I’m no Disney novice! Oh, and if you were wondering, Slinky Dog Dash closed immediately after I got off the ride.

If you ever happen to be on the following rides when the clouds are suspiciously dark, be prepared for a rough ride:

• Expedition Everest — Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Slinky Dog Dash
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Barnstormer

Don’t say I didn’t warn you, OK? Your chances of making it on a ride before it rains AND before an outdoor attraction closes due to weather are low, but not impossible.

If you take anything away from this story, my biggest suggestion is to pack a change of clothing. Is it annoying to carry? Yes. But will you thank yourself when you have a fresh set of shorts to wear after a downpour? YES!

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Has this ever happened to you? Let us know in the comments!

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