The Biggest Clothes-Packing Mistake Travelers Make On A Trip To Disney World

When we think of Walt Disney World, we think of sunlight glistening off the spires of Cinderella's Castle, saying hi to Mickey Mouse, and eating Dole Whip in the sizzling Florida sun. While all those things can happen, not every day in Orlando is sunny. In fact, you can expect rain at least once a day for most of the month when traveling to Disney World between June and September. This also happens to be mosquito season in Florida. You can thank Disney for placing the Most Magical Place on Earth in a subtropical climate.

Contrary to the conspiracy theories, Disney World can't control the weather like a superhero villain. How the weather will affect your trip depends on several factors, including what time of year you visit. That's why the biggest packing mistake visitors can make is not planning for different forecasts. Even Mickey himself cannot activate some rain dome over Magic Kingdom or turn down the heat in the brutal parts of the summer. So before you head to the world of all things animated, plan out a practical clothing pack.

If you plan a week-long trip to Disney World, even during the driest month of December with its average of seven rainy days, there is at least a 23% chance that it will rain during your visit. With that in mind, pack your clothes based on the assumption that it will rain at least once to avoid buying an overpriced poncho or shuffling around in wet socks. 

As travel agent Kyle Werly shared on Yahoo, one of his clients' biggest regrets is not having the right clothes for Orlando's sometimes bonkers weather. "Having a mix of clothing that's suitable for different conditions is a must," Werly writes. "Lightweight, breathable attire is good for sunny days and a light jacket or poncho works for sudden rain showers." From personal experience, the sudden rain showers Werly mentions can last anywhere from a minute to an hour — sometimes, the weather has no rhyme or reason. When buying new portable rain gear, these are the best rain ponchos.

The sky above Disney World could open up in a downpour for five minutes and return to its usual sunny self immediately afterward. Knowing that it could rain even on a sunny day will save you a lot of headaches (and money) during your Disney adventures. Check out these space-saving packing hacks if you're worried about making room in your luggage.

You can often tell who came unprepared for the unexpected weather at Disney World based on how they react to a sudden rainstorm. As we've observed firsthand, you'll see the parks clear out when it starts to rain. Throngs of visitors high-tail it to the exits only to arrive back at their resorts to clear, blue sky. When you pack a variety of clothes, you don't have to be among the crowds of folks missing out on valuable park time. Instead, you can take out your poncho and keep trucking.

These sudden rain storms can drastically reduce wait times for certain rides — particularly those inside. We have never seen Na'vi River Journey more crowded since the months after it first opened than in an Animal Kindom rain storm. Even if you forgot your poncho back at All-Star Movies Resort, you could always duck inside one of the stores to wait out the storm.

For planning purposes, it's worth noting that most of these sudden showers happen mid-afternoon. If in doubt, try to squeeze as many activities into your day before midday and maybe save your potential rain shower hours for shopping. Sure, the Emporium on Main Street, U.S.A. will be full of rain dodgers, but at least you'll stay dry!