This is part 2 of our series on “What to Wear to Disneyland”. You can find part 1 on base layers here and our advice on shoes here. General advice on how to stay warm is here. Please consider subscribing so that you will not miss any future installments!
Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California has mild weather most days of the year. Still, you will want to be prepared for cold or wet weather at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. A visit to Disneyland is special, and you do not want your day cut short by cold ears or wet clothes. We have compiled a list of great wet and cold weather clothing and accessories that are both cozy and easily packable. Keep reading for our list of travel essentials and what to wear to Disneyland when it is cold or wet.
This post contains links to Amazon product pages. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We receive a small commission from Amazon for referring you with the product links below, and we hope the links will help you find what you need to make your Disneyland visit the best ever!
Strategies for Staying Warm and Dry at Disneyland Resort
We recommend thinking about layers for any visit to Disneyland Resort, and this is especially true during the winter or on wet days. Layers are great for two reasons: (1) the temperature can change dramatically over the course of a single day, especially if you stay until after dark, and (2) you will likely be experiencing indoor AND outdoor attractions, queues and restaurants. You will want to be ready to adjust what you are wearing at multiple points throughout the day. We have worn items from ALL of the below categories over the course of a single January day at Disneyland! Check the weather forecast before you go and be prepared!
Carry a Small Daypack Backpack to Disneyland
To make adding and shedding layers as simple as possible, we regularly carry lightweight backpacks. We specifically use this one and this one. These are not cheap backpacks, but we use them everyday (at home or away) as a diaper bag, commuter backpack, hiking daypack, air travel personal item and more. For all of their usefulness and resilience, we have found them to be worth what we paid.
We suggest bringing any backpack you find comfortable and convenient to use. You know what works for you from your own use at home. If you do not have one and do not know where to start, try visiting a local outdoors or sports store and trying some different models. We find backpacks with capacities between 20L and 30L (like the ones above) are good for carrying items for one adult or one adult and a few kids.
You will notice that the Osprey backpack above can accommodate a hydration reservoir (like this one). If you like to use one, go for it! We do not bring hydration reservoirs to Disneyland but opt for reusable water bottles instead. We use the hydration reservoirs in other situations. However, with all of the bottle filling stations at Disneyland, we would rather bring a small and easy to fill water bottle than a hydration reservoir that can be cumbersome to refill and clean. You do what works for you!
Alternatively, Use a Stroller or Rent a Locker
If you really do not like carrying a backpack, of course you can choose a different kind of bag, or you can rent a locker instead. Banks of rental lockers are located on the Esplanade and near the entrances to both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park.
If you are bringing a stroller to Disneyland anyway (see our guide to strollers here), you may have all the space you need to carry your layers. Just make sure your stroller has ample cargo space: we find that not all rental strollers come with storage space. Additionally, we still like to carry at least one backpack even when we have a stroller, and you may find you want to do this too. We occasionally split up, and the group without a stroller still wants some kind of cargo carrier. We also want to remind you that you will not be able to bring your stroller in attraction queues—unless Disney Guest Services has tagged it as “Stroller as a Wheelchair”—so plan accordingly.
Packable Insulated Jackets for a Cold Day in Disneyland
Our favorite type of jacket to bring to Disneyland in the winter is a packable down (synthetic or natural feather) jacket. We are huge fans of the Columbia brand jackets with reflective linings. In our experience these provide a surprising amount of warmth while taking up little space in our suitcase. All of the links you find below are for Columbia jackets, because we just love them that much. They are what our family wears, so they are what we are recommending.
For natural down choices there is this down jacket with reflective lining here and another here. This down jacket with reflective lining and this one are both made with synthetic down. Columbia also makes a down jacket with reflective lining for kids.
Alternative: Packable Insulated Vests
If you are looking for something smaller but still very effective for beating the cold in Disneyland, you may want to consider a down vest like this one or this one. (Columbia again. We wear their vests constantly!)
If you are going to bring a vest, we recommend pairing it with a light jacket…
Light Jackets for Rain and Wind in Disneyland
For rainy days at Disneyland or days that are cool but not quite cold, we might just bring a waterproof jacket like this one or this one. We choose jackets that are good for cutting the wind and protecting us from precipitation (or water rides). Here is one for kids. These are also good choices for wearing with one of the insulated vests we recommend above.
If rain is in the forecast or we are anticipating lots of time on Grizzly River Run or Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, we might opt for a folds-into-pocket-sized poncho like this one. Do keep in mind that you will be asked to remove your poncho before riding many attractions, so consider how you will carry or store it (like in a zip-top bag).
We generally skip umbrellas at the Disney parks, because they can make it tricky to maneuver through crowds. Plus, you cannot use them to stay dry on a water ride.
Add Some Rain Pants
If you are anticipating being at Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park for some very rainy days, you could always bring rain pants like these or these. Here are some for kids. If you are going to going to bring waterproof pants, we recommend ones that are essentially thin rain shells that can easily fit into a small place in your backpack. You may also want to bring a gallon size zip top bag so you can store them without getting the other items in your bag soggy. Alternatively, you could clip them to the outside of your bag (notice the bungees on the North Face backpack we linked above).
Knit Hat: A Tiny but Mighty Hero for a Cold Day in Disneyland!
One of the best ways to stay warm on a cold day is a good hat! This small item can make a huge difference for your comfort. You could bring one like this one or this one, and grab some for your kids like this and this.
If you can manage it, we recommend bright colors for these hats! Dynamic color choices add to the festivity of a Disneyland visit, but they also make group members easier to find!
Light Gloves
We do not usually need gloves at Disneyland, but if you think you might, we recommend light ones that are usually labeled as “liner,” “running,” or “driving gloves” like these.
Wool Base Layers to Beat the Cold in Disneyland
Finally, if you are anticipating some freezing temperatures at Disneyland, you may want to consider some wool base layers for warmth and moisture wicking. Examples would be wool tights or socks.
Thanks for reading our suggestions on what to wear to stay cozy during cold days in Disneyland.
We hope you find these suggestions helpful. These are things that work for our family, but of course, what works for you may be very different! We recommend using these categories and suggestions as a starting point in advance of your visit and leaving yourself time to find what works for you. We have extra advice on how to stay warm in Disneyland here.
For other advice on what to wear to Disneyland, we have part 1 of this series here and our post on shoes is here. We also have an article on five things we always bring to Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park and another article on Weathering the Weather Whenever at Disneyland Resort. Finally, we want to offer you our free step-by-step guide to planning a Disneyland visit. We will email it to you when you sign-up for our newsletter below, so please consider joining the newsletter. Thanks again for reading!