The weather at the “Happiest Place on Earth” is pretty wonderful most of the time, but even the Imagineers cannot guarantee you a 72-degree day with no precipitation. We like to be prepared. Depending on when we go, we will pack for heat, cold or rain, and often more than one. Here are our five tips for weathering the weather whenever you visit Disneyland Resort.
Dress in layers.
We are starting with the common sense advice that applies to most any vacation location. Dress in layers to be ready for a variety of temperatures. We do think it is worth highlighting here because many people have some mistaken assumption about Anaheim weather. Even if predicted temperatures are warmer than your weather at home, you will probably still want a jacket for a winter visit to Southern California. Furthermore, temperatures in Orange County, California can shift dramatically in the evening. A hot summer day in Southern California can turn surprisingly cool at night. So, be prepared to adapt with layers! We like to bring a small backpack for when we are ready to shed our layers, but you can also rent a locker.
We like to wear breathable quick-dry base-layers no matter the temperature. (Here is our article about that) In the winter we will add rain gear and a packable puffy vest (or warm jacket instead). In the fall and late spring, we might bring an emergency poncho and light sweater instead. A seasonally appropriate hat can also go a long way toward keeping you comfortable whatever the weather might be at Disneyland Resort during your visit. That is why we always bring a baseball cap or a warm beanie.
Be prepared with rain gear at Disneyland.
In late fall, winter and early spring, we usually pack lightweight rain gear like a poncho or raincoat. We can use these for a surprise storm OR on Grizzly River Run. We think umbrellas are tricky to handle in crowds, and you cannot use them on those water rides, so we think something wearable is best. In the summer, we take our chances by heading to the parks without rain gear. However, if we want to bring something just in case, we will pack some ponchos that fold into pocket-size.
As you are considering what rain gear to pack, remember that winter is the rainiest time in Anaheim. Cold and wet is a miserable combination (even if it is not THAT cold), so consider your layers carefully. We have suggestions to what to wear on rainy days here: Disneyland in the Rain: Strategies for Your Rainy Disney Day. If you are considering packing rain gear just for Disneyland’s water rides, we have an article on that too: What to Wear for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Disneyland.
Or… enjoy some of Disneyland’s water attractions.
On cool days, you may appreciate the protection from that rain gear, but for hot ones, water attractions can be a great way to cool down. You will almost certainly get wet on Grizzly River Run in Disney California Adventure Park. In Disneyland Park, there is Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (formerly Splash Mountain) plus opportunities to splash around in Mickey’s Toontown at Donald’s Duck Pond and the CenTOONial Park fountain.
We have further advice on ways to cool off in: Hot Tips for Staying Cool in Disneyland
Take indoor meal breaks.
If you need a break from the weather, indoor or covered restaurants can offer a welcome (and delicious) respite. Not all of the eateries at Disneyland Resort offer protected seating, so use the Disneyland app and website to preview your choices or make dining reservations.
Indoor restaurants that do not require reservations or joining a walk-up list include Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo, The Golden Horseshoe, Plaza Inn (lunch and dinner only) and Red Rose Taverne in Disneyland Park. Disney California Adventure Park has Flo’s V8 Cafe, Smokejumpers Grill and Fiddler, Fife and Practical Cafe.
Seating at those quick service restaurants is limited and on a first-come first-serve basis. If you know you want an indoor meal with guaranteed seating, consider making an advance reservation at somewhere like Lamplight Lounge or the Carthay Circle Restaurant at Disney California Adventure Park. Disneyland Park also has the popular Blue Bayou Restaurant, Cafe Orleans, and Carnation Cafe. Note that the Plaza Inn takes reservations at breakfast only for their character dining meal; lunch and dinner is quick service.
Enjoy a long indoor attraction during tough weather at Disneyland.
We love lengthy attractions mostly for the opportunity to really immerse ourselves in the world the Imagineers are sharing. As a bonus, long indoor attractions are also a great way to take a break from uncomfortable weather conditions at Disneyland Resort.
Some good choices for this are “it’s a small world,” The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln (and s, Main Street Cinema and Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room in Disneyland Park. In Disney California Adventure Park, anything in the Animation Building provides a nice reprieve from tough weather, and there is also Mickey’s PhilharMagic and any shows at the Hyperion Theater.
For a more significant break from the weather, head back to your hotel for a midday break in the pool or hot tub. As long as you arrive at the parks early, and stick around late, you should still be able to accomplish quite a lot, despite a break during the crowded time midday.
BONUS TIP: Combine tips number 4 (indoor meal breaks) and 5 (long indoor attractions) by enjoying a DOLE Whip in the Enchanted Tiki Room on a hot day!
We hope you find these tips helpful and that you have a great time at Disneyland Resort, whatever the weather might be.
For articles on specific weather challenges, we have: Hot Tips for Staying Cool in Disneyland, Disneyland in the Rain: Strategies for Your Rainy Disney Day and What to Wear to Disneyland: Part 2, Cold or Wet Weather. And for broader advice on what to pack, please see Disneyland Travel Essentials: What You Need to Pack. That last post is part of our free and complete Step-by-Step Disneyland Prep. Finally, please consider subscribing to our newsletter below and get the latest articles right in your inbox. Thanks again for reading!
