MyYearWithTheMouse
Disneyland Fan
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2011
We just returned from our 4 days at TDR and I don't know if I can do a full TR but I want to say--don't fear the rain!!!
It rained all 4 days we were there, everything from periodic clear skies to light rain to downpour. Let me just tell you, the rain absolutely kept the crowds away! We were there July 6th (Monday) through the 9th (Thursday) and we literally walked on almost every single ride. I was prepared for crowds and heat but that's not what we got at all. What a great way to experience TDR!
We're Southern Californians living up the street from Disneyland so rain was like "what is this stuff falling from the sky???"
but it all turned out great. The one drawback was that we couldn't enjoy the atmosphere as much because it was difficult to look around in a downpour, and we didn't get as many pictures as we wanted because we didn't want to subject our expensive DSLR to the rain. Oh and also, we didn't get much popcorn because there wasn't much time to eat it--you couldn't eat it in the rain and we waited in so few lines we couldn't polish it off then either 
.
A few rain tips:
We have 4 people in our family, 2 adults and a 6yo and a then-3yo. The 3yo was in a stroller and as we were caught unprepared, half of the first day was spent trying to arrange an umbrella over her lap. However, we found that at stroller rental you can buy a clear plastic stroller cover, high quality with zippers for getting in and out, for 3,000 yen. Worth every penny.
As far as rain gear, we had one person in a windbreaker from home with an umbrella, one in a light raincoat, and two in Disney-purchased ponchos. Each had its advantages and disadvantages. Whatever rain covering you choose, be prepared to take it on and off A LOT. No wet rain gear on indoor rides. It's worth the money to buy the more substantial poncho with the front snaps because of this. The advantage of ponchos was the rear-end coverage which the windbreaker and raincoat didn't offer. Outdoor rides tended to have wet seats. On the other hand, ponchos are large and can be unwieldy and don't offer much neck coverage for rides like Aquatopia when you get squirted directly in the face. Umbrellas were very common and kept people dry except their lower halves. It's really up to you but I liked the poncho.
Some shows get canceled, like the light parade, which bummed me out. But others go on as planned when the rain is reasonably light. Happiness is Here is really a great parade and while the fur characters are just out there getting wet, the princesses wear clear ponchos. We watched the castle show, fireworks, and Fantasmic! in the rain, not to mention Minnie's Summer Splash which just made us wetter (the ponchos were of very little help there, and no umbrellas allowed).
Overall the crowd reduction was a huge plus for us. The rain did get tiresome at times and it's not a bad idea to pack a dry outfit and stash it in a locker. But TDR functions well in the rain, so don't be bummed if it's in the forecast for your trip!
It rained all 4 days we were there, everything from periodic clear skies to light rain to downpour. Let me just tell you, the rain absolutely kept the crowds away! We were there July 6th (Monday) through the 9th (Thursday) and we literally walked on almost every single ride. I was prepared for crowds and heat but that's not what we got at all. What a great way to experience TDR!
We're Southern Californians living up the street from Disneyland so rain was like "what is this stuff falling from the sky???"
but it all turned out great. The one drawback was that we couldn't enjoy the atmosphere as much because it was difficult to look around in a downpour, and we didn't get as many pictures as we wanted because we didn't want to subject our expensive DSLR to the rain. Oh and also, we didn't get much popcorn because there wasn't much time to eat it--you couldn't eat it in the rain and we waited in so few lines we couldn't polish it off then either .A few rain tips:
We have 4 people in our family, 2 adults and a 6yo and a then-3yo. The 3yo was in a stroller and as we were caught unprepared, half of the first day was spent trying to arrange an umbrella over her lap. However, we found that at stroller rental you can buy a clear plastic stroller cover, high quality with zippers for getting in and out, for 3,000 yen. Worth every penny.
As far as rain gear, we had one person in a windbreaker from home with an umbrella, one in a light raincoat, and two in Disney-purchased ponchos. Each had its advantages and disadvantages. Whatever rain covering you choose, be prepared to take it on and off A LOT. No wet rain gear on indoor rides. It's worth the money to buy the more substantial poncho with the front snaps because of this. The advantage of ponchos was the rear-end coverage which the windbreaker and raincoat didn't offer. Outdoor rides tended to have wet seats. On the other hand, ponchos are large and can be unwieldy and don't offer much neck coverage for rides like Aquatopia when you get squirted directly in the face. Umbrellas were very common and kept people dry except their lower halves. It's really up to you but I liked the poncho.
Some shows get canceled, like the light parade, which bummed me out. But others go on as planned when the rain is reasonably light. Happiness is Here is really a great parade and while the fur characters are just out there getting wet, the princesses wear clear ponchos. We watched the castle show, fireworks, and Fantasmic! in the rain, not to mention Minnie's Summer Splash which just made us wetter (the ponchos were of very little help there, and no umbrellas allowed).
Overall the crowd reduction was a huge plus for us. The rain did get tiresome at times and it's not a bad idea to pack a dry outfit and stash it in a locker. But TDR functions well in the rain, so don't be bummed if it's in the forecast for your trip!
lol
