We went to Disneyland in 2016 with my parents and Jeremy’s parents.  It was such a great family vacation that created some amazing memories.  We knew we would want to visit Disneyland again one day but honestly had no idea we would be doing that magical trip in 2019.  After Christmas I was filling in my new 2019 planner and got to February.  As I was filling in all of the days off from school I was surprised to notice that the kids had a little mini break around President’s Day weekend.  I got that travel bug itch and started researching the best places to visit for family getaways in February and Disneyland was pretty much top choice.  

Magical Family Vacation To Disneyland

We kept our upcoming Disneyland trip a secret from the kids and didn’t tell them until we we were less than two weeks from leaving.  Such a fun surprise!!  As the days went on, I started noticing the weather.  Apparently, El Nino was hitting SoCal this year and was bringing rain…lots of rain!!  NOOO!!!  The anxiety picked up with every day, wondering how our magical trip was going to be magical in the rain.  Such a bummer.  We packed and decided that as a family we would Let Go and enjoy, no matter what the weather brought.  Guess what??  The day we dealt with the most rain was our best day at Disneyland!!  

Our first day at Disneyland was a rainy one.  It poured, people from SoCal said that this kind of rain rarely happens.  Our second day we did deal with some evening rain as well.  Like I said, our first day was filled with rain showers and while we were a bit wet some of the day we found ourselves really enjoying our time.  

Tips For Visiting Disneyland When It Rains

Before you jump into your magical vacation I highly recommend you downloading the Disneyland App on your smartphone.  This app will allow you to see all of the wait times for the attractions, upcoming events, character locations, meal reservations, photo pass and max pass information and mobile orders.  We found the Disneyland App to be so helpful, especially on our rainy day.  

Rain Gear Ready 

When I started seeing the weather showing rain I decided we had to be prepared with some rain gear.  I bought these adorable Mickey Mouse Ponchos from Amazon for the kids.  In the end I really wished I had bought them for us too.  They were super high quality and they lasted all 3 days.  For us, I bought the 6 pack of disposable ponchos that kept tearing, so we ended up buying some higher quality ponchos at the store in our hotel.  Over all, rain gear was a necessity and the ponchos were the perfect way to feel comfortable all day long.  

Extra Shoes

When packing I decided it would be best to have two pairs of shoes for each of us just in case puddles could not be avoided.  This allowed us to have dry shoes every morning, even after walking in the rain for 12 hours!  

Plan Your Day 

While I am not one that likes to have a vacation all planned out, on our rain day we decided that we really wanted to have a plan.  We knew that some of the rides would be closed if it rained heavily – Alice In Wonderland and Mad Tea Party – so we hit those as soon as they opened.  As discussed before, the Disneyland App really helps with this because you can check to see what rides are temporary closed. 

Use A Forecast App

Recently, we were told about the Dark Sky weather app and it was perfect.  Not only was it very accurate but it also gave us hourly layouts as to when the light or heavy rain would be happening.  This helped us plan our day at the park.  Helped us know if we would need our rain jacket for the day!

Layers 

The ponchos really helped us stay dry.  But, our pants and sweatshirt sleeves really did get wet.  I bought the kids Under Armour Cold Gear shirts to wear under their Disney shirts.  This was the best investment.  Even when their sweatshirt sleeves were wet they were warm.  No cold complaints all day long!  I did pack extra dry socks in our backpack just in case but they were not needed.  

Lockers Are Available

While we did not use the lockers they are available and if you are visiting Disneyland on a cold rainy day it would probably be a good idea to bring a heavier coat for when the sun goes down.  Keeping that coat or extra clothing in a locker would be nice so you do not have to lug it around all day.  

Bring A Small Towel

One item that I will be adding to our must pack list from now on is a small towel or washcloth.  When it rains, everything is wet and there is nothing worse than sitting in a puddle while trying to enjoy lunch or taking a break.  There were moments of heavy rain which meant every seat was wet. I recommend packing a small towel for those after rain wet seats.  It would have been nice to enjoy our Churros with out having to sit on a wet bench.  

Take Advantage Of A Character Experience

We love doing the Character Dining.  Not only does this experience allow the kids to get up close and personal with some of the characters but it also has some yummy food options.  Hello Mickey Waffles!  YUM!!  On a rainy day, book a character dining experience to get out of the rain for a bit but to still experience the magic of Disney!  

Make Meal Reservations

On a rainy day at Disney, the crowds will be less which is a huge benefit but the space for indoor dining will be limited still.  Make meal reservations so you are guaranteed some time out of the rain.  Use the Disneyland App to book your meals.  

Take Some Amazing Pictures

If you are lucky enough to enjoy Disneyland on a rainy day you better keep that camera or phone out because the photo ops while different than normal will be fantastic.  Some of my favorite pictures from our trip are in the rain walking down Main Street or after dark with the park lights bouncing off the wet ground.  

MaxPass

Have you seen the information about the MaxPass?  I am so happy we opted to do the MaxPass every day we visited.  Yes, it is an additional cost but it allowed us to enjoy so many more attractions without waiting in line.  This was a blessing on our rainy day as well.  We basically went from ride to ride which allowed us to get out of the downpour!  Disney MaxPass is an optional, paid program. It allows guests to book Disney FASTPASS reservations through the Disneyland Resort Mobile App and allows unlimited Disney PhotoPass downloads for the day. The price for Disney MaxPass is $15 per person, per ticket, per day.

Back Pack Protection

Jeremy and I both carried a backpack.  After we decided that it was going to be a very rainy day we decided to use one of the disposable ponchos for our backpacks.  This kept our extra clothes, snacks and electronics nice and dry all day long!  We also saw people using trash bags from the hotels.  Hey, whatever works!!  

Let Go and Enjoy The Magic

Our biggest tip for visiting Disneyland in the rain is to LET GO and ENJOY THE MAGIC.  Even in a downpour memories were made and we were able to experience some things that we wouldn’t have experienced on a dry hot day at Disneyland.  

Well there you have it, our tips for visiting Disneyland in the Rain.  Honestly, we would do it again, even in the rain.  Our rainiest day at Disneyland was our best day.  We literally got on every attraction possible in one day!!  AMAZING!!  It is true, rain equals less crowds and if you can tough it out you will have a great day!  

 

What Rainy Day at Disneyland Tips Would You Add To This List?

 

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