One of my fondest of memories from Disney is one that includes tropical amounts of rain. We were at Epcot and were just beginning the world showcase around 730 that evening. There was some threat of rain and we noticed it starting to come down slowly. With the park closing at 9, the rain coming down sent the masses out the gates.

We found that every street, merchandise kiosk, everywhere was completely clear of people. The only place there were personnel was inside the stores for the respective countries. It was almost as though the entire park was closed down for everyone but us. Like we had our own celebrity treatment.

Also, here's a tip when it storms at a waterpark (in disney) during the summer. If the park has to shut down because of a nearby storm and you know the storm will pass soon (checking the weather forecast before leaving the house or hotel room helps), you have nothing else to do, and it's no where near closing time, DO NOT LEAVE. Instead, get a drink or go to your locker to retrieve your sports mug (so you can fill it up) and take a breather. Once the storm passes and the all clear is given, the park won't be as crowded so you'll be able to get more ride time in.

Lighting Rods do not attract lighting. This is why places who have them such as Disney have so many. They intercept lighting and carry it to the ground. The idea is if the lighting hit's them the energy from it transfers through the rod and is carried by wire or metal cable to the ground.

As of now lighting is is not known to have a consciousness and as magical as Disney is lighting rods have not been sprinkle with fairy dust to attract it. Thankfully though their are allot more taller objects around that can be in the way of the path of a lighting bolt before it hits you their!

So I still treat lighting with a little bit of respect even when at Disney.

The first point is not totally accurate. KSR almost never closes. The one time we shut down early when I was there was NOT for lightning or weather. We ran with lightning so close that it had the zip sound instead of thunder. On the Kilimanjaro Safari trucks you will be safe. Most outdoor attractions go 101 for weather, but not Safari.

In response about having to get off the buses at the parks even when it's raining, that is true; however your chances of rebounding that same bus are fairly high. Also, it is a FANTASTIC time to be heading toward the parks. Rain in Florida rarely lasts long and does a great job clearing things out a bit for those who stay.

I have also had times where I was driving a bus or piloting a monorail when people would come out of a park drenched with not a cloud visible. Storms here can be so small that they are only over a single land inside the Magic Kingdom.

I may be in the minority, but as long as it's not lightning, I love to be out in the rain in the summertime. If it's threatening rain, we just dress in light clothing that will dry fast and wear water shoes or flip flops. It's so humid in Florida that sometimes wearing a plastic poncho is more miserable than just getting soaked.

If it's starts raining, while you are on the bus to a park, you have to get off. They won't let you just stay on the bus and go back to the resort.

another thing is if there is lightning with in a certain radius of WDW the boats will go to the closest pier and tie up until they are told it has cleared.
Found this out the hard way on a boat from Hollywood Studios to Boardwalk. The boat returned to Hollywood Studios. When I asked how long we would be there they said "until we get an all clear call".

definitely buy your rain poncho's at your local kmart/target/walmart - you might pay .99 cents instead of $12 per poncho

Thanks for the article. This will come in handy when we go to WDW in April.