Note: As of this writing Disneyland has been closed for 9 months due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.We do not know when it will be allowed to reopen . Our hearts go out to all those who have lost their jobs at Disneyland and in the Orange County area because of this ongoing crisis. We hope this information will be useful when Disneyland reopens.
Disneyland is in Sunny California! But, what do you do when it turns out Sunny California is not all that sunny? We have done a whole post and podcast episode on what to do when the weather messes with your travel plans. But we thought it would be useful to zero in on Disneyland specifically.
For many people Disneyland might be a once in a lifetime trip. To have the rain come in and ruin everything for your most important family vacation ever can really be disheartening. We think there are things you can do (and attitudes you can adopt) that will make your trip a wonderful and memorable experience.
Our Trip in the Rain
Through out this post I will reference our rainy trip to Disneyland. We went to Disneyland for Thanksgiving in 2019. We were there on Thanksgiving Day and it rained, virtually without stopping, the entire day and part of the night. Lucy had just turned two years old and had been anticipating this trip for months.
This is Your Disneyland
Disneyland is timeless, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t change. It changes all the time. Your experience in Disneyland is not going to be the same that it was 10 years ago, or even a year ago. It’s not going to be the same as your favorite blogger or your friends.
Rides, restaurants, and shows open close. Sometimes for an hour, sometimes for a day, sometimes for months of refurbishment, and sometimes permanently. The characters who appear from day to day change. Food and merchandise rotate out regularly. Some of these things you can predict and plan for, but many of them you just can’t. Everyday is a different Disneyland, and the day your are there it is your Disneyland.
So, the first thing to do is to accept that you are at Disneyland and it is raining. Realize that this is your Disneyland for the day and adjust your expectations to it. Talk about what you were hoping to do, and what you won’t be able to do. Talk about how it is disappointing but you can still have an amazing time. You are here now and this is your Disneyland.
Use the App
The best way to know what is open or closed at Disneyland on any day regardless of weather is to use the app. This will give you a good idea of which attractions are open and which are closed. So look at the app with your family when it is raining and explain which things are open and which are closed. Then adjust your plans accordingly. It does not always rain all day like it did when we were there, so things can open or close at any time.
Storybook Canal Boats is one of our all time favorite rides at Disneyland. While it was raining it was closed all day long. Then in the evening there was a brief time that it opened up. We were checking the app and were able to go right over and ride it. Evening is the best time to ride that ride, so it worked out perfect for us!
Fun and Wet are Not Mutually Exclusive
This should be obvious given the fact that people love swimming pools and water parks, but you do not have to be dry to have a good time. Given the fact that there are water rides like Splash Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Grizzly River Run you were probably never expecting to stay completely dry at Disneyland. You just weren’t probably expecting to be soaking wet all day either.
Trying to stay dry while it is raining is impossible without just going back to your hotel for the day. So if it looks like it is going to rain for a long time I would recommend just having a good time in the rain. Of course it is wise to make use of ponchos and umbrellas while it is raining, but don’t hole try to stand under an awning for hours at a time. This will just result in you being wet and not doing anything fun, whereas you could be wet and having fun instead.
Kids are better at this than adults. We were amazed at how positive Lucy stayed the whole day at Disneyland despite being cold and wet the whole time. So, try not to get in the way of your kids fun, even if you are a grump.
Lots of people do not understand that they can be wet and have fun at the same time, and consequently you will get ride way more rides (that are open) while it is raining than any other time at Disneyland. At least you will if you are willing too. One of the first rides we went on was Dumbo which it turns out is a great way to get your feet soaked (especially if you are on the outside). We could have been sad about that, but instead Lucy and I went straight onto the Astro Orbiter, which is essentially the same ride. Why not, my shoes were already as wet as they could get.
Come Prepared
Life and Disneyland are both better when you are prepared for a variety of circumstances. You probably won’t regret having a poncho in your backpack or stroller, but you might regret not having one. Look at the weather before you head in to the park for the day and prepare for reasonable eventualities.
Meet the Characters
Some people are more into the character scene at Disneyland than others. We didn’t really care about it until we went with a toddler obsessed with princesses. Fantasyland has a whole indoor area next to the castle dedicated to meeting princesses and so this was a perfect way to get out of the rain for a little bit and do something that Lucy was really going to enjoy.
Even though this was indoors because it was raining very few people were at the park and we were able to meet all the princesses without waiting in line!
Toontown also has a lot of characters you can meet in their own houses. Mickey’s house has a very long indoor queue (with a theater space near the end), so it is perfect for a rainy day. Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, and Chip and Dale also have indoor areas to meet people.
Take a Break
While being wet and having fun are not mutually exclusive, getting too cold or too tired can make it harder to have a good time. If you are staying close to Disneyland like we were (or better yet in a Disney hotel) it is a great idea to take a break.
We stopped in the late afternoon and went back to our hotel. Which was about a 10 minute walk from the park entrance. We dried off and got warm and Lucy and Meagan took a nap. Then we went back to the park for the evening. Of course there weren’t any fireworks at night, but seeing main street and the castle lit up are well worth going back for. The evening also ended up being the least rainy part of the day.
Food is Your Friend
Hangry people are not fun to travel with under any circumstances. Wet, cold, hangry people are really not fun to travel with. So bring snacks and don’t be afraid to buy warm food. Yes I know Disneyland food is very expensive, but it is also very good.
Eating will also give you a chance to sit inside or at least under an umbrella. Then you can be out of the rain for a minute. Since we were there on Thanksgiving I got the Thanksmas Sandwich at the Jolly Holliday. It was one of the best Thanksgiving dinners I ever had!
Sum Up
We know it can be disappointing to be at Disneyland in the rain. There are positives to every situation though, so try your best to still have an awesome time. Remember one of the very best things is how low the crowds are!
As of this writing you cannot buy Disneyland tickets due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, but we anticipate ticket purchases will open up again in the next couple months. We highly recommend using our affiliate, Get Away Today, for the best prices on tickets. You can use this link and code YellowVan to save $10!
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