Despite the (very) old song about it never raining in Southern California, there are days during the winter where you might experience a little liquid sunshine during your Disneyland Resort vacation. Unlike Walt Disney World, which has many of its queues covered due to the central Florida afternoon thunderstorms, most of Disneyland’s queues are out in the open.
So, how can you salvage your day at Disneyland when the skies open up? Here are some tips:
Ponchos
Most of the visitors to the Disneyland Resort are local residents. If the weather is unpleasant, they will likely stay home, or at the very least cut their visit short. This is great news for the out-of-towners. Grab your ponchos and enjoy a nearly empty park. If the weather looks questionable in the days before your trip, grab those ponchos at a discount or dollar store before you leave to avoid paying premium prices in the parks.
Shop
If it looks like the weather might just be a brief cloud burst, take this opportunity to hit some of the shops on Main Street, USA or Buena Vista Street. Both parks feature several connected shops with a variety of merchandise that should keep you busy until the storm passes.
Main Street Opera House
If you haven’t yet checked out the latest exhibit at The Disney Gallery inside the Main Street Opera House, now would be the time. Currently, the lobby is featuring an exhibit that continues Disneyland’s 70th celebration, with items from Walt Disney Imagineering, the Walt Disney Archives, and the Walt Disney Family Museum. There is a lot to see here. Top off your visit to the Opera House by seeing Walt Disney – A Magical Life, which chronicles his story using historical recordings and the first-ever Audio-Animatronic of Walt Disney.
Disney Animation Building
Over at Disney California Adventure, duck out of the rain into the Animation building. Start in the lobby, which is covered in video screens which cycle through pictures and sketches from some of your favorite Disney animated classics, while familiar songs fill the room.
Next, check out the Animation Academy where you can learn to draw some of your favorite characters. Check the sandwich board outside to see what characters are scheduled for the day. Shows typically take place every 30 minutes.
On the other side of the lobby, visit Turtle Talk with Crush. During this interactive show, the tubular turtle from Finding Nemo chats with the crowd, especially younger guests. This show is also scheduled every 30 minutes.
You might also find other things happening in the Animation building, like meet & greets with Anna and Elsa from Frozen or the newly reopened Sorcerer’s Workshop. Check with a cast member to see what else is available during your visit. Still, the Animation building is a great way to stay dry for a while.
Covered Queues
While most attractions have outdoor queues, you’ll find a few that will keep you dry. The best example of this is Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, but might also be able to keep dry visiting Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Star Tours-The Adventures Continue, or even Mickey’s Philharmagic. Of course, if the crowds have stayed away due to the weather, you may be able to skip the outdoor portion of the queues for several more attractions.
However you choose to spend a drizzly day in The Happiest Place on Earth, just know that a rainy day in Disneyland is better than a regular day most anywhere else.
