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A Vacation DIS-aster: It Rained (a LOT) On My Parade!

 

Mishaps and misfortunes can strike at any time while on vacation, but at Walt Disney World, these events do not have to turn into DIS-asters with the help of outstanding Cast Members, intelligent infrastructure and a little bit of pixie dust.  This week on the WDW Radio Blog, read about four such instances from members of our Blog Team.


June, 2016.  My oldest daughter had just graduated high school and the next day we were headed off to celebrate in Walt Disney World.  It was just my 2 daughters and me, off for an adventure.  What could possibly go wrong?

Tropical Storm Colin.  That’s what could go wrong.  Fourteen hours before our flight, I received a notice from the airline that my flight may be canceled.  In addition, severe thunderstorms were forecasted for our entire 6-day stay.  After a few panicked phone calls to my travel agent and a minor emotional meltdown with my husband, I went to bed.  The next morning, we got up and trekked to the airport – fortunately, our flight was still on!  Despite the terrible forecast, we headed to Orlando ready for fun.

Morning one – we were due at Disney’s Animal Kingdom for a tour first thing.  The skies opened up, and we practically swam from the bus stop to the park entrance, where we waited under cover.  Our tour guide issued everyone a Disney Parks poncho, and during a break in the downpour we headed into the park for the tour.

As it turns out, the rain didn’t dampen our spirits!  We enjoyed the tour and the rest of the park.  The crowds were light, the lines were short and water rides were a no-brainer because, hey!  We are already wet!  One great thing about Walt Disney World is that none of the restaurants mind if you show up looking a bit soggy!

Morning two – it’s off to Magic Kingdom!  We utilized my favorite pro strategy and took off to the left through Adventureland at park opening.  In less than an hour, we’d experienced Jungle Cruise, Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Haunted Mansion.  We looked like we’d been swimming, but at least it was just water and not rivers of people!  We were feeling like total rock stars, having had half the park essentially to ourselves.

The next few days were a bit better, weather wise.  We were able to see a lot of the parks in the usual Orlando steamy sunshine.  We had a great time and saw a lot, but there was definitely a noticeable increase in crowd levels after the rain moved past.  My advice to readers who are facing weather concerns would be this:  GO ANYWAY.  Don’t let a forecast scare you, since they often change as time goes on.  If the weather presents an actual safety threat, Walt Disney World has shown that they will close the park and take steps to ensure guests are protected.  If the parks are open, go into them!  Throw on weather gear and have fun – chances are you will get to see more attractions with less waiting, because many people won’t be so brave.

The last night of our trip, the girls and I visited Disney Springs.  While there, we shopped and ate and got our last Walt Disney World experiences.  We were also fortunate enough to run into Lou Mongello himself, and get a photo op!

I want to take a moment to talk about a different sort of disaster.  That same evening, long after my girls and I were safe in our Pop Century Resort beds, the Pulse nightclub shooting occurred.  A community was devastated, and press following the incident indicated that Disney Springs may have been a potential target for the attack.  The following week, a small child lost his life in Walt Disney World waters.  Disney takes the security of their guests very seriously.  Every measure is taken to ensure that you can let go of the real world and enjoy your vacation.  Still, it is important to stay vigilant and take your best care to follow the guidelines set for you and ensure you’re aware of your environment. It has never left me how close my girls and I came to these two tragedies.  While it does not by any means affect our enjoyment of our vacation, it does make me appreciate each day that my loved ones and I stay safe.

 

(Photos from the author’s personal collection.)

 

To learn more about Alyson and read her recent posts for WDW Radio, visit her author page by clicking the link on her name at the top of this post.

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About Lou Mongello

Lou Mongello is a former attorney who left the practice to pursue his passion, and is now a recognized Disney expert, author, speaker, and host of WDW Radio. Learn more…

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