So you are starting to plan a Disneyland trip for the family but when is the perfect time to visit? What should you expect when visiting Disneyland in February? Wait times, park hours, weather, packing tips and more. Check out our tips from our most recent trip to the happiest place on Earth…in February.
Our February Disneyland trip was one that was made on a whim. Randomly, I realized that the kids had a little mini break just before President’s Day Weekend and after a little more research we decided in early January to book our trip! This was only our second trip to Disneyland and while our October trip in 2016 was simply amazing, I think Disneyland in February might be my favorite!
Visiting Disneyland In February – What To Expect
Average Weather In February:
Typically the weather in February is pretty pleasant and perfect for a great day and night at Disneyland. The average high during the day is in the upper 60s or low 70s. At night, the low is generally in the upper 40s or low 50s. Now, keep in mind that February is the rainiest month on the average.
Just like any city it is important to be prepared for those not so average weather days – colder, hotter, rainy, etc. Disneyland never closes because of rain, but rides with outdoor tracks may close for safety precautions.
Pack That Rain Gear!
This year, 2019, is apparently a year that El Nino is affecting the rain in this area of California. The week we were at the parks we dealt with a few moments of downpours and we have been told that was super unusual for Disneyland but thankfully we were prepared for it. As stated before, Disneyland never closes because of rain, so be prepared so you can enjoy the magic even in the rain!
Make sure you visit my Tips For Visiting Disneyland When It Rains post. Not only will you get some great packing tips but you will see why going in the rain isn’t a bad thing!
Go With Layers
Even for us Colorado natives, those early mornings and late evenings had us needing a few layers. Once the sun goes down you feel chilly. We did see some brave (or stupid) folks in shorts but for the most part I would suggest wearing long pants and layer your tops. For the kids we had them wear long sleeve cold weather tops under their t-shirts and then had sweatshirts on top of those. It worked well for the whole day and no one complained! BONUS!
Feel The Love!
As you walk around the park you will notice a theme – Valentine’s Day!! So many great photo ops that include a little Valentine’s Day Love. It was so fun to see the park all dressed up for Valentine’s Day because when we went in October it looked completely different and ready for Halloween. That is one reason to visit at different times of the year, you will get all new and different photo ops!
To celebrate Valentine’s Day, you might be able to find heart-shaped balloons for sale and Valentine-themed foods to enjoy too!
Less People To Deal With
Look, I am not going to lie here, the worst part about visiting Disneyland is the crowds. I hate feeling like we are shoulder to shoulder with thousands of other people. February is relatively uncrowded at Disneyland and we certainly saw this the first two days we were there – Thursday and Friday. Saturday, which was also the Saturday before President’s Day weekend was SUPER crowded. Keep in mind that holiday weekends are always busier.
For day-by-day crowd predictions, use this crowd forecast calendar. Honestly, this is pretty on point!
Wait Times or No Wait
Due to lower crowds you will find that the wait times are way more manageable and we even found that some rides had only about a 5-10 minute wait! So awesome!! Keep in mind, even on a not so busy day you can use the MaxPass and this will help you and your family enjoy more of the attractions without worrying about the lines.
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.
Some Ride Closures
While you will enjoy less crowds in February it is also a month that a lot of refurbishment is done on rides and attractions – the Disneyland maintenance team is busy busy! Currently, Sleeping Beauty’s castle is being worked on so we did not get to walk through that or take a fun photo in front of it. You can check the ride closure information on the Disneyland App – which I highly suggest you download even as you are planning your trip!
Lunar New Year at California Adventure Park
In honor of the Lunar New Year, California Adventure park puts on a celebration Disney style. You can enjoy Mulan’s Procession (we saw this and it was incredible!) and other Asian-themed performances. We did find some Disney characters in seasonal costumes and saw that we could have participated in free arts and crafts activities. They even had free face painting for the kids! While we didn’t partake there was some amazing looking Asian-themed food with an unmistakable Disney twist. This celebration usually starts toward the end of January. And just like Disneyland being decorated for Valentine’s Day, California Adventure Park was all decorated for the Lunar New Year!
Disneyland Hours In February
Keep in mind that the winter hours are a bit different than the busy summer months. Also we learned that California Adventure hours are often shorter than Disneyland’s. You can check the official February hours up to 6 weeks in advance. As we started planning our stay we did use the app to check the hours. Also, a few days before we visited the parks shut down a few hours early due to heavy rains – again, check the app for the most updated information when visiting.
General February Hours:
Monday through Thursday: Open 10 to 11 hours per day
Friday through Sunday: Open 11 to 16 hours per day
So, as you can see we had a great time and now that I know about this little February break from school this might become a tradition for our family. In general, the hotels were less expensive than during those busier summer months and flights weren’t terrible either! While we did have one day that was completely rainy we have decided that we like visiting in February better than October.
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