RAIN! :( Looking for advice

[jenniferrose]

Checking the weather next week and there is rain expected. Being from California I know how quickly this can change but I want to be prepared for it. Especially with an anxious child with special needs.

My main question is... what can I expect to be closed if it rains?

Any other tips would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[SMD]

Most of the time rain in So Cal means a drizzle or mist. However, there are areas of the park where puddles gather, so I'd advise having a change of shoes in the room.

Any ride with an outdoor component will close eventually if it rains hard enough. So if, for example, Storybookland is a must do, if it starts to drizzle, head there first to get ahead of a possible closure. Golden Zephyr will usually close due to winds, that is one of the first to close due to weather. The parade will also be canceled and replaced with Mickey's Rainy Day Cavalcade, which is basically a few characters driving by in covered cars. Not really worth waiting for. Everything else is sort of on a case by case basis.

 

[GatorChris]

Ah crap! I just saw that listed on the 10 day. I know that it's still a long way off, so I'm hoping there's some change to that. Especially since we almost went this week and it's dry as a bone. Dangit.

Hopefully everything will stay open and it's just light rain, but I know my luck better than that. I suppose it's time to get the ponchos out. I don't cus, but I'm getting real close

 

[kylie71]

It rained on us, one morning last Thanksgiving weekend... we bought poncho's and continued on... RSR, was closed the entire day.
We rode mostly indoor rides, like POTC, and IASW, then it cleared up...
Aladdin is a good thing to take I during the rain.
Good Luck, as much as Cali needs the rain, I hope for a dry Thanksgiving week, when I am there!!

--Lori

 

[figment_jii]

As others have said, if it rains hard enough or long enough, most of the rides with outdoor components will close. I've been there when RSR, Alice, Tea Cups, and Dumbo were closed.

I'm almost certain that Storybook Canal, Casey Jr., Astro Orbiter, Gadget's Go Coaster, Tom Sawyers' Island, Mater's Junkyard Jamboree, and other all outdoor rides will also be closed, if it rains hard enough or long enough for standing water puddles to form.

 

[nicolispicoli]

I actually enjoy a little rain when we go. Obviously not downpours, which happened to us a couple years back during our November trip, but some rain. People treat it like acid and flee the parks, so I take the time to enjoy very short lines. Like everyone else said though, most of the outdoor rides will close if it gets bad enough.

 

[Escape2Disney]

In February (on the Diva trip), we had torrential rains most of the time. Ponchos, rain jackets, extra socks and shoes were a MUST. Thankfully the rain kept most people away, and the lines short.

A rainy day at Disneyland is better than any day anywhere else

 

[figment_jii]

It's also worth noting that many of the TS locations will have reduced seating or may be closed if it's raining. Big Thunder BBQ closes when it rains. Cafe Orleans, Carnations Cafe, and Wine Country Trattoria all have very limited indoor seating, so they may not take walk-ups if it's raining.

 

[kailuagirl]

We have only experience a rain day once, it was a learning experience for sure. I think it was last year Oct.

We bought the Disney parks rain poncho's and the plastic smell was so bad, I could barely wear it. So I sucked it up, and used mine to cover our stroller. That was the most important thing to keep dry anyhow. They were expensive, I think it was something like $28 for 2 adults and 1 child.

So if you can, bring your own rain gear. Try to get one that your backpack or whatever can also fit under.

Our sneakers got drenched and the took forever to dry. That was the worst part. So bring alternative shoes if you can.

It was neat though, to see all the people in their Disney parks yellow rain coats. It was actually a cool sight, I'll have to go find some pictures and post. But, I always heard, the park gets pretty empty when it rains. But it never did, it was crowded. I don't think we went over to DCA, just stayed at DL, and honestly I can't remember a ride being closed down, but I could be wrong and not remembering correctly.

Have fun, just try not to let the rain damper your spirits and take it all in stride. Be prepared as best as you can, and roll with it. Even with rain, I'd rather be in Disneyland then home anyday haha

 

[GatorChris]

A rainy day at Disneyland is better than any day anywhere else

Yeah, but I don't shell out $150 for a hotel room and hundreds more for tickets to stay in the rain anywhere else. That's the tough part to swallow.

 

[CassieF]

Seriously, bring a good poncho and some waterproof footwear and a flexible attitude and you'll be fine. It y not be the trip you planned for but you can still have a really good time in the rain. It is unlikely that it will rain non stop for your entire trip so you should still have a chance to enjoy all the attractions.

 

[SMD]

Yeah, but I don't shell out $150 for a hotel room and hundreds more for tickets to stay in the rain anywhere else. That's the tough part to swallow.

Obviously not a football fan, I see.

 

[figment_jii]

Another thought, I recommend downloading a weather app that has access to live radar. You can use it to see when rain is likely to hit your location and to help you time travels. My family used that to help us decide when to find somewhere dry to wait out a downpour and when to get into an outdoor line. It's not foolproof, but it can be helpful.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

We are ready to change out fireworks from Monday the last day were there, to Thursday the first day we are there if we need too. I wish the rain wasn't a 50-60% chance that to me tells me it could be more than a drizzle.

 

[SPOERLX3]

Not sure what days you are looking at and/or what weather website you are using but Accuweather.com is only showing a 20% chance next Tuesday and Wednesday.
We will be there starting November 20th and I have been tracking the weather for our days for about 2 weeks and the weather has changed every day so hopefully everything will be clear as your dates get closer

 

[todzwife]

We're going to be there next week too and I've been obsessively checking the weather. It changed as of this morning. I don't mind a little rain, but if it's pouring, it's rough with kids. Thankfully our stroller has a cover and we'll bring ponchos, rain jackets, extra socks and shoes. If it's not super cold, I may bring the flip flops over from the hotel too (we have everyone use them on hotel carpets blech!!!)

Thankfully it's VERY rare that it rains ALL day...usually it's just a short period of wet and then it clears up. We'll see though...60% isn't too promising!

 

[Minnie Loves Mickey]

Please be careful wearing flip flops to the park when it's raining, they can be very slippery and I would not want to see anyone fall and get hurt.

 

[butterflymouse]

Night shows may be canceled, outdoor rides will most likely be closed, but there will be less people if it does rains. We had rainy weather when we went in February and we still enjoyed ourselves. It was wet and cold, but shorter lines and less crowd congestion balances that out.

 

[jenniferrose]

The forecast is already changing since I looked at it this morning so I am going to wait to make my plan of attack. The good news is that we are there for 5 days so I am sure it wont rain the whole time and our pool is covered so... if we have to go back to the hotel the kids will be happy to swim and we can have dinner there.

 

[GatorChris]

The forecast is already changing since I looked at it this morning so I am going to wait to make my plan of attack.

Wow. Now it says Monday and Wednesday rain, our days at DL. Of all times for nature to end the drought....

No amount of planning can combat the weather. Hope the kids like pneumonia.