by We have a list of tips and what to do at Disneyland and Disney California on a rainy day!
The Disneyland Resort takes residence in Anaheim, California—a former orange grove that only gets about 14 inches of rain per year. This means that it rarely rains at Disneyland (the national average for rain is 38 inches annually).
However, if you’re visiting on a rainy day, you’ll quickly notice how uncommon it must be. The streets and walkways become extra wet and form puddles just about everywhere. There’s also very little cover from the rain—unless you know where to look!
Our Disneyland rainy day tips:
- Be Prepared – Check the forecast before you go. Even if there’s a slight chance of rain, you’ll want to pack accordingly. Disney allows guests to bring umbrellas, ponchos, and changes of clothing in case you get soaked. We recommend this Compact Travel Umbrella and these Pack of Waterproof Ponchos.
- Pre-Book Your Restaurants – Restaurant reservations go fast when it rains at the Disneyland Resort. If possible, make your reservation around the time that weather apps indicate the rain to start. At Disneyland, book at the Blue Bayou as its the only completely indoor reservable dining space. We also recommend Carthay Circle or the Lamplight Lounge at Disney California Adventure to stay dry. Otherwise, most restaurants in Downtown Disney and the Disneyland Resort Hotels are indoors.
- See a Show – There’s no better way to stay dry than to see a long, indoor show! At Disneyland, The Golden Horseshoe is a quick-service dinner with a show. However, you’ll need to head there before it rains to avoid the crowds. At Disney California Adventure, Frozen — Live at the Hyperion is completely indoors, but most of the line is not. Luckily, the show is one hour in length, which is plenty of time to wait out most Southern California rain spells.
- Head to an Indoor Attraction – Many of the rides at Disneyland have outdoor queues, which don’t shield from the rain. However, rides with longer wait times and/or durations are the most ideal! Star Tours, Indiana Jones Adventure, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run are long rides with mostly indoor queues. You can also hop between rides like Snow White’s Scary Adventures and Pinocchio in Fantasyland or see an indoor attraction like the Enchanted Tiki Room or Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.
- Stay Inside at DCA – If you’re at Disney California Adventure, the Animation Building is a great place to stay out of the rain. Within this building, you can learn to draw animated characters at the Animation Academy, see Disney magic come to life in the Sorcerer’s Workshop, and meet Crush from Finding Nemo in Turtle Talk.
- Go Shopping – Main Street, U.S.A., and Buena Vista Street have several indoor shops next to each other. Hop from place to place and keep dry why you check out all of the cool items that Disney has to offer.
- Grab a Drink – Sometimes, the best remedy for the rain is a good cocktail. The Carthay Circle Lounge (DCA), Oga’s Cantina (Disneyland), or Trader Sam’s (Disneyland Hotel) all have a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to try. While Oga’s is so popular that it usually needs a reservation, the other two indoor spots take visitors on the spot. All of these spots have great Disney themes, but if you want something a little relaxed, go to the hotels and visit their bars. Most bars are all ages, but Trader Sam’s stops entry for those under 21 after 8pm.
- Enter the Void – The VOID is Downtown Disney’s premier VR experience—and it’s indoors! Enter the worlds of Star Wars, Marvel, and more as you fight bad guys in this hyper-realistic virtual adventure! There are often last-minute reservations with tickets ranging from $30-$40 a person. It’s a bit pricey, but the experience is like nothing you’ve ever done before! We recommend the VOID for those who are 10 or older and love video games. Get tickets here!
We hope our tips have been helpful! If you have any that you’d like to share (or any that you found useful), leave them in the comment section below.
Links
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