You Can’t Control the Weather

I’ve had two ‘bad’ trips to Disney World. One in September a few years ago when the temperature was consistently in the 90’s with 90 % humidity. The other was this past January when the temperature struggled to get into the 40’s most days. Although I say these were ‘bad’ trips, I don’t mean to infer that we didn’t still have a great time. However, bad weather does create its own challenges.

Too much heat and humidity is not normal September weather for Lake Buena Vista. It’s usually in the 80’s with some humidity and a daily rain shower that time of year. We usually carry ponchos with us to get through the afternoon showers. On this trip I looked forward to the rain and let myself get soaked just to cool off. I was probably dry again within 15 minutes of the rain stopping. This time it was just a period of record highs that everyone who lived there commented on as totally unusual. We spent a lot of time going into buildings just to cool off, which worked for about 5 seconds and then the stifling, sweaty heat overcame the inefficient air conditioning and there really wasn’t much relief. You will notice that all of the doors to all of the shops in Disney parks remain open, thus the inefficiency of the air conditioning. Thankfully the rides are air conditioned and did offer some relief but it was a struggle each day to remain hydrated and to not let the discomfort ruin your good time.

This past January we had the complete opposite problem. The totally bizarre experience of wearing a winter coat and gloves at Disney World hit me over and over again during our stay there. I have a cute picture of my granddaughter with Tinker Bell marred only by the fact that she is wearing her winter coat in the picture, to forever remind me of that strange trip. I still clearly recall standing outside of the Magic Kingdom waiting for it to open with my fingers going numb even though I was wearing gloves. I kept telling myself that it was below zero in Minnesota and that I should be happy to be in 30 degree weather. The difference is that in Minnesota, I’m in and out of a car and in and out of buildings, not standing around for 15 minutes to wait for something to open and then spending the whole day outside. Also, the Florida cold is a very penetrating icy cold. I was amused to hear on the local news that cars were not starting because of the overnight 20 degree weather.

Riding on Soarin with a coat on because there really wasn’t any place to put it while on the ride was uncomfortable but didn’t diminish the ever amazing feeling that you are really Soarin over mountain and stream. Seeing carts selling hot chocolate in souvenir mugs rather than ice cream treats seemed other worldly to me. It was a world gone mad! Cast members waited on you in the stores with their coats on because as I mentioned before, the doors stand open so any heat flowing into the buildings was mingled with the cold air coming in the doors.

Friends of mine who spent 7 days there at the same time we were there were so disappointed. They planned this trip for a year and to have it take place under such dire conditions could be nothing but a disappointment, but who do you complain to? Even Disney cannot control the weather.

So be prepared for the weather on you next trip to DW. Extreme heat, extreme cold, Hurricanes etc. it can all happen in the magic world of Disney.