Rope dropping, or arriving to the rides and attractions right when they open for the day, is a great way to experience rides and attractions without those ridiculously long waits or the need to purchase a Lightning Lane or Genie+.

Rope drop in Magic Kingdom

We recommend rope dropping rides and attractions to most Disney World visitors if they’re hoping to experience certain attractions without standing in line for hours. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Slinky Dog Dash, and Avatar: Flight of Passage are all rides with somewhat bearable wait times at rope drop — to name a few. We usually say that this isn’t necessary, only recommended, and that you will also experience wait-time drops later in the evening for most popular rides. However, recent events tell us that rope dropping might actually be necessary right now after all. 😳

Getting to the parks early in the day and getting a head start is even more important right now since we’ve officially made it to Unpredictable Afternoon Storm Season in Florida, otherwise known as Hurricane Season. These afternoon storms typically come with heavy rainfall and lightning that result in ride closures. So, arriving to the parks early and getting everything on your high-priority list out of the way before those storms hit is a great way to ensure that your plans don’t get rained out.

Stormy weather in Disney World

Rest assured, Disney World is still fun and magical — even with a little bit of an afternoon storm. Numerous rides and attractions are still open for you to experience. So that you know which ones will close if lightning or heavy rain is in the area, we’ve made a list! Check it out!

The following attractions will close in the event of heavy rainfall or if lightning is seen in the area:

Magic Kingdom

• Astro Orbiter
• The Barnstormer
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Big Thunder Mountain

• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Jungle Cruise
• Liberty Square Riverboat

Riverboat

• The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
• Prince Charming Regal Carrousel

Prince Charming’s Regal Carrousel

• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Tomorrowland Speedway
• Peoplemover

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

• Expedition Everest
• Kali River Rapids

Kali River Rapids

• Kilimanjaro Safaris
• TriceraTop Spin

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• Slinky Dog Dash

Slinky Dog Dash

EPCOT

• Test Track

Test Track

Now, you have all the info you need to stay ahead of these storms and stay dry. We recommend seeing shows, grabbing lunch, or waiting in longer indoor rides while you wait for the rain to clear. Keep in mind that we’re not meteorologists here, but MOST days, the storms are brief and things clear up. We recommend having a weather app on your phone to check the radar — that will help you decide whether you can wait out the rain or if it’s time to make a new plan for the rest of the day!

We’ll continue to keep you updated with Disney park tips and tricks. Make sure to follow along for more!

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Have you ever gotten totally drenched at Disney World? Let us know in the comments!