While the song states that “It Never Rains in Southern California”, visitors to the region have experienced the opposite. There’s been quite a bit of rainy weather in the area of the Happiest Place on Earth recently, and this can change your experience at the theme parks. If you are visiting Disneyland in the rain, you can still have lots of fun.
I’ve visited the Disneyland Resort twice in the last few weeks, and have had rainy days on both of my visits. In this post, we’ll offer some advice and tips for still having a great Disneyland experience (and maybe even a better one).
This post contains affiliate links and a purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no cost to you. We’ve received discounted/complimentary tickets in the past but paid for these last two visits.
Save money on your Disneyland tickets and your Southern California vacation by booking through Get Away Today. You can also save $10 on your Southern California vacation of 2 days or more with the code FTM10. We booked our most recent three trips to Disneyland through Get Away Today.
Guide to Visiting Disneyland in the Rain: Tips and Tricks
About a week or so before your vacation, you’ll want to start tracking the weather forecast. Keep in mind that things can always change as you get closer to your vacation date, but at least you’ll have a general idea.
If you see rain in the forecast, don’t despair. Sometimes the rain will only be for part of the day, and sometimes it’s late at night or early in the morning. In addition, there’s still so much fun to be had at Disneyland in the rain – sometimes even more than on sunny days.
Wondering which apps to use? I personally find that the native weather app in the Apple iPhone operating system is easy to use and accurate. As you get closer to the date of your trip, you’ll want to look at the hourly versus the daily forecast.
Pack Appropriately for A Day at Disneyland in the Rain
Once you see that there will be some rain in the forecast, you’ll want to make sure that you pack appropriately for a rainy day. Here are some things you’ll want to include:
Raingear
While rain ponchos can always be purchased in the parks, it’s best to bring something from home if you can. You can save money and have a better quality product.
You may be wondering whether to bring a poncho or a raincoat. There are pros and cons to both.
A poncho can be thrown out when you are done, and will cover more of your body during the rainy day than a rain jacket will. You can even put a poncho over a bag, camera, and/or backpack. However, guests are often asked by cast members to remove ponchos before riding certain attractions, and they aren’t as durable or reliable as a raincoats. They are great to tuck into your bag if you aren’t sure of the forecast.
During our rainy days in the parks, we brought raincoats. While they didn’t cover our whole body, we found that they were very effective. They did take up extra space in our suitcases, so that is also a consideration.
Regardless of what you bring, you’ll want to make sure it has a hood.
Consider packing at least one extra pair of socks and some extra dry clothes. That way, you can change later in the day if you get stuck in heavy rain.
Waterproof Bag
If you aren’t going to put your theme park bag under a poncho, you’ll want to have something that is rainproof or rain-resistant. Otherwise, you may end up with a soaking wet bag (along with wet belongings).
I’d also recommend bringing wet bags and/or ziplock bags. These can keep things dry in your bag, and make it easier to pack your wet clothes to go home.
Towels
You may want to tuck a small towel into your bag for the day. It can be used to dry things off (like tables and seats) if the rain has stopped. You can also use it to wipe down any of your belongings. We tucked small towels into our shoes at night to get them to dry quicker.
Good Footwear
I struggled with this because while I do own rainboots, I didn’t want to wear them at the Disney theme parks. My rain boots aren’t very comfortable (and are tough to pack), and I prefer sneakers.
I ended up wearing my OnClouds, and they worked well. The larger sole meant that I wasn’t walking directly in the shallow puddles (and I avoided the deeper puddles).
Because Disneyland doesn’t typically get too much rain, you’ll find that there is less drainage and more slippery pavement. So you’ll want to bring shoes that aren’t slippery. I did see some guests with waterproof shoe covers.
Waterproof socks are also a good idea. No one wants to be walking around with wet feet – it’s extremely uncomfortable.
If you know there is rain in the forecast, you should be sure to pack an extra pair of shoes. If yours get wet, they may not dry in time for the next day at the parks.
Phone Cover/Waterproof Case
I didn’t bring a phone cover, opting to just keep mine in the pocket of my raincoat. However, at Disneyland, you’ll be on your phone frequently as you plan your day, make Genie+ reservations, etc. If you plan in advance, it’s a good idea to bring a waterproof case for your phone.
Umbrella
You may be wondering if umbrellas are allowed at Disneyland. They are, but you will need to close them at times, and they aren’t always practical in crowds. We did pack umbrellas for our trip to Disneyland but only used them at the end of the day when walking back to the hotel.
Locker rentals are always an option if you find that you don’t need your rain gear for the entire day. There are lockers inside and outside of both theme parks.
Stroller Covers
Whether you are bringing along your stroller or renting one, you’ll want to have a stroller cover for the rain. This is a good idea to bring even if you aren’t sure there is rain in the forecast.
Make a Plan For Rides During the Rain
Disneyland offers two beautiful theme parks with many outdoor attractions, spaces, and queues. And in most cases, the weather is gorgeous in Southern California making for a pleasant experience. But when it rains, some of these rides and outdoor spaces aren’t necessarily practical.
If it’s raining during your Disneyland vacation, you’ll want to keep an eye on wait times and ride closures. The best way to do that is through the Disneyland app.
During our very rainy day, some outdoor rides like Radiator Springs Racers, the Mad Tea Party, Goofy’s Sky School, Storybook Land Canal Boats, and Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters were closed. In addition, the Incredicoaster went down several times, including once while we were on it (we were evacuated and had to walk down).
Prioritize rides and attractions with lots of indoor space. You may also consider seeing indoor shows, like Mickey’s PhilharMagic as well as indoor attractions, like the Animation Academy, the Enchanted Tiki Room, Turtle Talk With Crush, and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.
While Southern California is less prone to heavy downpours than Central Florida, you may find yourself wanting to dodge one. In that case, a long ride, like it’s a small world or Pirates of the Caribbean can be a great option. While these do have outdoor queues, they spend a lot of time indoors.
Look at Dining Options
There are also lots of outdoor dining options at Disneyland which can be tricky to navigate when it rains. If you notice rain in the forecast, you may want to try to make lunch reservations at an indoor venue or one with indoor seating. Or, try to eat around the peak times so that you can try to get indoor space to sit down at the quick-service restaurants.
Consider Your Hotel
While you’ll likely have your hotel booked well in advance of knowing the forecast, you will want to factor your hotel choice into how you plan your day. If you were planning to walk to the parks from your hotel (and there are many great options within easy walking distance), you’ll want to consider bringing umbrellas to use during your walk back.
Wondering what the best hotel is for a rainy Disneyland visit? The Grand Californian is the closest hotel and has private entrances to both Downtown Disney and Disney’s California Adventure Park and is a short walk to Disneyland Park. However, I don’t think it’s worth changing your hotel reservation just because there is rain in the forecast.
Check Operating Hours and Other Closures
- This year (2024), the parks have already had some early closures related to the rainfall. It’s a good idea to pay attention to the app to see what time the parks are closing and to confirm that things haven’t changed.
- In addition, some special events and entertainment may be canceled. While World of Color does run during the rain, heavy winds may cause a closure. Parades and other events, however, are more prone to cancellations.
At both Pixar Place Hotel and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, the hotels held special indoor activities in the hotel since the pools were closed. Be sure to check with your hotel to see if there’s anything available if you find yourself with free time.
Benefits of Visiting Disneyland in the Rain
While no one wants to be soaking wet on their vacation, there are some benefits to visiting on a less-than-perfect day. Crowds are likely to be lower, especially as locals may choose to plan their theme park day at another time.
I also found that the rainy day was a great time to get some photos of Disneyland with fewer people. When else can you get a photo of the Mad Tea Party with no people in it?
Have you ever been to Disneyland in the rain? What were your must-haves?
