Playing it Safe in the Parks: Lightning Safety at Disney World

What joy spring brings!  Flowers bloom, empty forests refill with abundant green foliage, forest animals make friends with random princesses…wait a minute…okay so maybe that last one was a stretch (unless you are 100% princess like me.  Accept it.  Embrace it.)  Any rate, with all of these spring things comes the inevitable thunderstorm.

Now, I know that there are loads of articles all over the internet on what to do at Disney in the event of rain; I even wrote one, appropriately titled It’s Raining…Not Pouring! Making the Most of the Parks in the Rain!  In this article I’ll give suggestions for making the most of the parks when it rains.  Among my suggestions, head for indoor attractions, be prepared with ponchos, and last but not least brave it.  Brave it?  That is a bold statement, one that should be followed up by some caution, granted, most of us have a generous portion of common sense! Now, I will give my self credit on this article because I did say that if you hear thunder, you should head for safe cover.  But recently I watched a news show with a segment on lightning safety and I have to say that I am so glad I watched!

I’ve never been one to play around with lightning!  When I was  little, my mother would make us shut everything off, we weren’t allowed to stand near windows, we couldn’t use the telephone, we couldn’t go anywhere near water (like even the toilet).  Now that I’m grown, I’ve relaxed a lot; pretty much the only of those rules I keep is to get indoors to safety.  I thought that all my Mom’s precautions were preposterous.  But friends, thanks to some time watching the tube whilst laying on my belly waiting for an allergy panel to react, I got some eye opening information!  I was shocked to learn just how dangerous lightning is!  So, what does this have to do with Disney?  A lot!

Here are some tips for playing it safe in the parks:  lightning safety at Disney World.

1. Thunder Means Lightning and that Means Danger!

That seems like commonsense to me.  That’s why it doesn’t make sense when I see people who flee at the sight of a lightning bolt, but complain when the pool is cleared over the rumble of thunder.  To put it in VERY simple science terms, thunder is the sound that results from the lightning strike.  Thunder means that lightning is close enough to strike you and that means that you need to take cover!  I always tell my kindergarten kiddos, when thunder roars head indoors!

At Disney World…

• Look for the safety of a fully enclosed building.  That means that tents, awnings, trees, and covered walk ways are NOT safe!  At Disney World, it might be hard to find a fully enclosed building.  Head for the nearest shop, bathroom, or guest services.
• Stay indoors for at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder.

2.  Play it safe!

So now we all know that hearing thunder is the same thing as seeing lightning and that means that you need to take cover.  We just talked about some safe shelter options, but in this point we are going to take a closer look at playing it safe when there is a thunderstorm.  Lightning is electricity and it can travel. That means that being safe means more than simply just going indoors!

At Disney World…

• Stay away from water!  Get out of the pool and away from water sources (this means stay away from water in the house too-don’t take a shower/bath, wash your hands, or wash dishes when lightning is present).  That means that water is a HUGE no no!  Disney does a great job of keeping water park/hotel pool guests safe when a thunderstorm rolls up.
• Stay away from windows and doors.
• Stay off of corded phones 
• Stay away from electrical devices 

3. Plan ahead!

Planning ahead is really the trick to a smooth(er) trip to Disney World.  We all know about making your ADR’s ASAP, planning for special events, shows, and parades.  Unfortunately, even with the best laid plans, we can still run into snags.  If you are planning on visiting Disney World in the spring and summer months then you can pretty much bank on afternoon thunderstorms.  But, what can you do?  Looking at the forecast before you hit the parks is a great idea.  Knowing storm forecasts can help you make safe plans.

At Disney World…

• If you travel with little ones or if you know that afternoon storms are on the horizon, plan to take a mid day break at your hotel.  
• Keep up with the weather!  Smartphones are amazing tools for storm safety.  
• Know your surroundings.  If you’re not familiar with the park, take a moment upon entering to find some safe spots to take shelter (refer to #1 for the safest shelters).
• If you find yourself outside when thunder and lightning start, don’t try to lay down flat or hide under a tree or tent!  The safest thing to do is keep moving for SAFE shelter! 

I hope you’ll realize just how serious lightning can be.  The National Weather Service has loads of great tips and information on their website!  Lightning is a serious danger.  In 2012 there were 28 lightning fatalities in our country.  The state with the most fatalities was Florida.  Even if you aren’t killed by lightning, the results of being struck are seizure-like activity, pain, depression, memory loss, dizziness, and more.  Lightning is nothing to play around with!

Everyone wants to be safe and have a fun time when they are visiting the Disney parks.  I hope that you’ll find these tips to be enlightening and I hope you’ll carry these tips with you on your next Disney trip.  My hope is that at least one person will read this article and rethink their own lightning safety theories.  Play it safe when you’re playing in the parks!

 

Thanks for reading and commenting!  Be safe out there!

See ya’ real soon!

Ashley

 

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