Are you looking for the best California Adventure in the rain tips? In this guide we will round up when you can expect to experience rain at California Adventure along with the best things to do on a rainy day in California Adventure as well as including the best rides to go on in the rain, the ones that are likely to close and what happens to shows and parades.
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California Adventure in the Rain Tips
California isn’t known for the rainiest state however what should you do if you check your weather app and suddenly discover that you are visiting California Adventure in the rain?
Well you needn’t worry as with this guide we will make sure you can still enjoy Disney’s California Adventure on a rainy day.
And why not check out more of our California Adventure Posts while you are here:
Is California Adventure open during rain?
The good news is that California Adventure is open during rain showers. The park is open 365 days a year and rain does not affect this.
So now you know that the park will be open even on rainy days, we will turn our attention on how it may affect your trip and whether it is a good idea to visit the park in the rain.
Is it worth visiting California Adventure in the rain?
One of the best things about visiting California Adventure in the rain is the fact that you may be rewarded with lower crowds.
Although, this isn’t as much of a benefit now that you have to book your tickets so far in advance, it does still have an impact with local guests and those holding annual passes.
You will find that a rainy day at California Adventure will keep the more local guests away so you may be have slightly lower queues on a rainy day. I have seen many people in online groups professing that they in fact love the parks more on a rainy day than a sunny day for this reason.
Therefore we still think it is worth visiting California Adventure in the rain. So when are you most likely to experience rain in Anaheim?
When is it likely to rain at California Adventure?
Unlike other parks around the world and by comparison to Walt Disney World, California Adventure is not all that rainy.
The months of the year you are most likely to experience rain at California Adventure are:
- January
- February
- March
- December
With January and February usually competing for the title of rainiest month in Anaheim.
So it you are there during one of the rainy months at California Adventure how should you prepare for it?
For other Disney rain guides check out the below guides:
- Disneyland in the rain
- Disneyland Paris in the rain tips
What to Wear to California Adventure in the rain
For me one of the keys to enjoying Disney in the rain is making sure you are prepared for the weather. The best way to prepare for the rain is obviously dressing appropriately.
Therefore we recommend you add the following to your what to wear to California Adventure in the rain packing list:
Ponchos
Although you might get rain in California Adventure, it doesn’t mean that you will be experiencing cold weather along with it.
Although you could wear a rain jacket and waterproof trousers a poncho may be more appropriate if the weather isn’t going to be too cold. It also means that you can pack them away easily when you don’t need them and saves you carrying around extra waterproof wear when you don’t need it.
We also recommend buying these ponchos in advance and picking some ponchos that are slightly better quality so they don’t get damaged as quickly if you take them off and on a lot.
If you do need to purchase a poncho when you are there you can expect to spend around 10USD per poncho in the park.
Crocs and waterproof shoes
There is nothing worse than walking around a theme park with feet so we recommend packing either some waterproof shoes with you or a pair of shoes that you can change into.
We like to use Crocs at Disneyland as they are good on the wet rides and during downpours. To shop Disney Crocs click here.
However it is worth pointing out that it can get fairly slippery at the parks during a rain so you will want something that has at least some grip for walking around the parks.
Extra Layer / Spare Clothes
We also recommend having an extra layer or a spare set of clothes with you in case your poncho fails and you get soaked. It is horrible walking around the park wet and even if you try and escape the weather by retreating indoors you still might get cold as they usually do not turn off or turn down the air conditioning on rainy days.
We also recommend packing:
Stroller Cover
If you are traveling to California Adventure with toddlers or a baby then we strongly recommend taking a stroller. You can not take strollers into ride queues and therefore you have to leave the stroller at designated stroller parks – most of which are completely outdoors.
There is nothing worse that leaving your stroller in the parking as you go into a ride and come back to a stroller that is completely soaked through thanks to an unexpected downpour.
Therefore if there is any chance of rain and you are taking a stroller it is essential that you pack a stroller cover with you.
What rides close in the rain at California Adventure?
Although the parks always do their best to keep as many of the rides open as they can, rain does force some ride closures at California Adventure.
The rides that are more likely to close at California Adventure during the rain are:
- Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters
- Pixar Pal-A-Round – this attraction is likely to close in winds more than rain. Therefore if your rainy day is also windy or you are likely to experience thunderstorms too then this attraction may shut.
- Goofy’s Sky School
- The Golden Zephyr
- Silly Symphony Swings
If you want really want to ride any of the above rides, be sure to plan your day around these and the rain storms i.e. if you are going to get rain in the afternoon and are desperate to do Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters be sure to add this to the morning of your California Adventure itinerary.
Does World of Color still play in the Rain?
Best Things to Do at California Adventure with kids
One of the other main attractions, after the rides at California Adventure is the World of Color water and light show. It is truly spectacular and must be on your California Adventure bucket list. And the good news is that the World of Coloraturas does still play in the rain.
The only difference with watching the world of color during the rain may be a reduction in the crispness of some of the images.
Also if there is a lot of wind with the rain you will get quite wet in the splash zone – but let”s face it you are getting wet anyway so why not go to the front and get the best view you can.
Best things to do at California Adventure on a Rainy Day
So now you know how to prepare for California Adventure on a rainy day what are the best things to do at California Adventure on a rainy day?
Animation Studio
I love the animation studio and being completely indoors this is the perfect thing to do at California Adventure during a rain storm.
At the Animation Studio you will spend around 20 -25 minutes learning how to draw one of your favourite characters.
Sessions are every 30 minutes, and will keep guests young and old entertained.
Turtle Talk with Crush
Inside the Aquatorium which is part of the same building as the animation studio is the Turtle Talk with crush attraction.
You can sit down and watch or head to the front and have an actual conversation with Crush. And because this conversation is guest led the interaction is completely different whenever you go.
My toddler loves this attraction.
Socerer’s Workshop
The last attraction in this area that is great for rainy days. In this attraction you can discover some animation tricks but also find one of the Beast’s magical books where you can find out which Disney character your personality most resembles.
Mickey’s Philharmagic
Mickey’s Philharmagic is a great attraction to do during a rain storm as both the queue and the attraction itself are completely indoors.
For this attraction you wait in an large theatre like foyer before being ushered into this immersive 3d experience where things go wrong as Donald puts on Mickey’s sorcerers hat.
Note: we did take our toddler into this experience but if you are traveling with someone who won’t keep the 3d glasses on this attraction will not be the best.
Disney Junior Dance Party
California Adventure in the Rain Tips
As I travel with toddlers and young children, I have big Disney Junior fans with me. If your party is like mine they will love joining the Disney junior dance party where there will get to dance with some of the channels biggest starts such as:
- Vampirina
- Doc McStuffins
- Mickey and Minnie in their racing costumes
Grab some Food
Eating at Disneyland with toddlers
Many restaurants, table service ones I mean, require reservations in advance. If you don’t have reservations anywhere though don’t panic as there are plenty of quick service places. Our favorite quick service restaurants at California Adventure to escape the rain are:
- Flo’s V8 Diner – a cars themed eatery in the Cars land
- Smokejumper’s Grill
- Ffiddler, Fifer and Practical Café
Do the Indoor Rides
Best Disney’s California Adventure Rides with no height restrictions
While we have said some rides will close during the rain, the below rides are either entirely indoors or at least the ride and part of the queue will be indoors so will keep you relatively dry.
They are:
- Soarin Over California – one of the most popular rides at California Adventure
- Guardians of the Galaxy Mission Breakout – the ride itself it completely indoors and only part of the queue is exterior.
- The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure – almost entirely interior queue and ride
- Monsters, Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue! – the ride is interior and some of the queue is interior
- Toy Story Midway Mania – the ride is completely indoors and the queue is largely indoors.
- Webslingers – A Spiderman Adventure – another indoors ride with a largely indoor queue.
Ride Grizzly Gulch
Best Rides at California Adventure on a rainy day – grizzly gulch
If you are visiting California Adventure on a rainy day, you might swell embrace the wet and head to Grizzly Gulch, the river rapid ride, which is likely to have a much shorter queue during a rain shower.
Other FAQs about spending a rainy day at California Adventure?
Can you bring an umbrella to California Adventure?
Yes you can bring an umbrella to California Adventure. Umbrellas are not on the Disneyland banned item list. However we recommend taking a compact umbrella as opposed to a large golf one for ease of walking around the park.
We also recommend wearing a poncho over an umbrella as it can be crowded in the park and hard to travel around with an umbrella.
Have you visited California Adventure in the rain? What are your tips for enjoying a rainy day in the parks – let us know in the comment?!