​It is after 3pm in Central Florida, you are in a theme park, storms have bubbled up and let loose a torrential downpour and everyone is grumpy!  Having packed your patience, you've got this!

For most of the summer months, there is typically an afternoon storm.  I say storm, because the word rain invokes images of skipping through the pitter-patter of soft raindrops wearing a yellow rain slicker, hat and boots and recreating the Gene Kelly scene from Singing in Rain. Oh no, no no - we are talking, mean, dark, angry clouds that appear on the horizon seemingly out of nowhere with loud kaboom lighting and a strong, torrential downpour! 

Don't despair and embrace the adventure! Instead of giving in to your inner flight response by running to the park exit as quickly as you can, take a breath, relax and don't throw in the towel, so to speak!

Here are a few nuggets to help you manage  your visit when the inevitable happens – the afternoon deluge!
 
Be prepared!  Do not gauge your need for rain gear based on the beautiful, blue sky you woke up to because it will be a different story later on in the day.  Not always, but most likely.  Along with the copious amount of sunscreen, lip protection and hydration supplies you have in your backpack, make sure you have rain protection gear, preferably not an umbrella.  Why you ask? It is extremely hard to navigate through a crowded theme park with an umbrella over your head, without poking your fellow guest.  Be Kind, wear a poncho!

At the first sight of that awesome storm brewing, your first instinct might be to run back to the car and leave the park. In the rain, those flip-flops you are wearing are an accident ready to happen. If you try to make a run for it, you will be slipping and sliding all the way to the exit. Resist the urge, my friend!  Rain is an excellent crowd thinner, so be the one that stays and enjoy all that newly found space!
 
One thing to understand about afternoon Florida rainstorms – they usually do not last long.  But, if it is raining when you wake up, then, most likely, it will be raining most of the day.  This is not based on any science, but from a lifetime of Florida living!

Summertime in Florida is all about the beautiful blue skies, warm days, wait, who am I kidding, hot days, rainy afternoons and making awesome memories! Grab that poncho and embrace the rain but not the lightning!  Lightning is not our friend and requires a healthy dose of respect.  When lightning is in the area, do not stay out in the open but head for shelter, preferably inside a secure building. If you are at the beach, in a pool or at a waterpark, take direction from lifeguards and team members seriously!

Now grab your family and your patience and go make some awesome Florida summer fun memories!

Let's be honest here.  Who among us doesn't like a frightfully, good scare? Ummm, me! I'm more of a Mickey's Not So Scary than a Halloween Horror or Howl-O-Scream kind of a gal so I sent Bill (hubs) and Emily (daughter) to check these ghoulish events out for me!

At first glance, you might think that both events are the same but Howl-O-Scream and Halloween Horror Nights offer vastly different experiences! 

Busch Gardens Insomnia House was a favorite!  Emily says, "there is a room inside this house that the walls move and the characters within the house interact with the guests!" A totally different experience than what you might expect.

At Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Night there were a couple of stand-out houses!  The Trick 'r Treat house was a favorite because it felt most like Halloween, if that makes sense. I think you need to experience it to fully understand!  The Horrors of Blumhouse was interesting because it combines two hit films, Happy Death Days and The First Purge, which makes a nice contrast. It's like you get two houses in one!

Both Halloween Horror Nights and Howl-O-Scream have Scare Zones, but they are slightly different in how they operate.  Halloween Horror Nights has specific areas throughout the park as Scare Zones.  The borders of these Scare Zones are defined.  You walk in and out of them.  At Howl-O-Scream, the entire park is a Scare Zone! There are roaming hordes, character interactions and engagement and characters "stalking" you in queue lines and on the rides.  Don't be scared when you see your coaster riding buddy is a ghoulish monster!