Disneyland in the Rain!

For those of us who aren't lucky enough to live in or near Anaheim, we have to plan our Disneyland trips well in advance. We reserve our hotels, buy our flights, spend months debating whether or not we will splurge for the MaxPass, and in all this careful planning we sometimes forget that dear Mother Nature might have her own plans. For the most part California enjoys beautiful weather boasting an average of 280 sunny days per year. With only about 35 days of rain per year the odds are that your trip will be gorgeous! Anaheim's rainy season is typically January-March. So if you're planning on going during this time, (or anytime really because well...duh) CHECK THE WEATHER! You just might rained on!

Our last trip to Disneyland was the rainiest trip we've ever taken! So here are a few tips on how to enjoy your trip to Disneyland in the rain!

BE PREPARED!

So it's going to rain and you are packing for your trip. Here's a few things that you MUST bring with you.

-Ponchos, though they may not make a big fashion statement, they will definitely be a life saver! Not only can they keep you dry, they can help to keep all your possessions dry also. Now we made the mistake of buying $1 ponchos from Walmart and though cheap, they weren't the best quality. We definitely suggest spending a bit more and get ones that are more sturdy. Bring an umbrella! Some people say that you don't need it if you have a poncho but if you're caught in a downpour like we were, trust us, that poncho will not be enough!

In fact, did you know that they even make full body ponchos?! As you can see from our video we were soaked to the bone even with our ponchos and umbrellas. So if you see that it is going to rain A LOT during your trip you might even consider one of these full body suits.

-Pack extra socks and shoes! Of course we would suggest not wearing the same pair of shoes everyday of your trip anyways, it's even more imperative when it is raining. NOTHING is more uncomfortable than walking miles in soaked socks and shoes. We changed socks and shoes halfway through the day and it was really helpful.

-Pack hand towels in your backpack for the day! Trust me, you will be really happy to have them help wipe things down!

-Now here is probably one of the best tips we have...bring garbage/grocery bags with you! Line the inside of your backpack with these bags and all your things will remain dry!

-Remember that when it's been raining all day and your are pretty wet, you will most likely by COLD! We brought hats and gloves and were SO glad that we did, because especially by evening, it was freakin' cold!

GET OUT OF THE RAIN!

So say you have twenty minutes before your next fast pass and it's pouring down and all you want is to be somewhere warm and dry...well you're in luck, there are lots of places to go to get out of the rain!

-At Disneyland when we were getting tired of feeling like drowned rats, we decided to visit Mint Julep Mar and get deliciously warm "man-catching beignets" and hopped aboard the Disneyland Railroad. We rode it around the entire park enjoying our yummy treat so that by the time we got off we were ready to get back into the fray!

-At California Adventure, we went to one of the best hidden gems of the park...The Animation Academy! This is such a fun magical spot! You walk into this giant room full of huge screens playing your favorite songs. You can meet Anna and Elsa here, or you can explore The Beasts Library and find out which princess or villain you are!

-For lunch one of the days we got the AMAZING corn chowder soup bowl from The French Market. Now unfortunately they only have open air seating outside The French Market which is not so great in a downpour. Find a cast member and ask where the nearest place to eat out of the rain would be. Trust me, they are super nice and will of course help you. Near the French Market the closest would be the covered eating area next to the Bengal Barbecue.

IT'S ALL ABOUT YOUR ATTITUDE!

Now we had all sorts of plans to get super cute pictures and videos and things and the weather completely ruined any chance of that happening! In the humidity Niki's hair goes crazy full and frizzy, where Sarah looses all hope of any sort of volume so because of this it was pigtails and just hoping for the best. We may not have gotten many Instagram worthy shots but it really is all about your attitude!

-So when you're soaked, your make-up and hair are ruined and you feel just like a run-way model walking around in your plastic poncho...if might be easy to get a bad attitude. Now we were lucky on this trip in that we didn't have kids with us. We know that if we had brought kids, this might have been a different story. But since it was just us, we just embraced the rain and since we were always soaked...we rode Splash Mountain! It was great because there certainly wasn't anyone else in line to ride it!

- Remember that rain = less crowds! A lot of the locals who can go pretty much anytime will often opt not to go on a rainy day since they can go on any other of the 280 sunny days a year. In a lot of ways this was the best trip that we ever had because the rain turned out to be a blessing in disguise. We were practically walking onto every ride because the parks were so empty!

A FEW FINAL THOUGHTS

-Getting the MaxPass on a rainy day is also something you should consider. The least amount of time you spend walking around in the rain, the better! The MaxPass will greatly reduce the time you're out walking in the rain getting soaked.

-Now the rain will mean some ride closures. Be aware that at Disneyland, Alice in Wonderland and the Made Tea Party will almost always close in the rain. Also remember that any of the other other outdoor rides like Matterhorn or Thunder Mountain, might also close down temporarily. In California Adventure the rides most likely to close during a rain storm is Radiator Springs Racers and The Incredicoaster. Keep an eye on the Disneyland App to watch for these ride closures.

And that's it! Disneyland in the rain can be just as magical as any other day if your idea of magic is less crowds, more rides, and maybe being a little wet and uncomfortable. If you're prepared and plan on making the most of it, we promise that you're trip will still be great!