It's that time of year again California where this bomb cyclone is ensuring us that we'll see a handful of rainy days. And as soon as the rain starts to fall, you can bet your neighbor will holler from across the street, "I guess the drought is over!" As you try to force out a halfhearted laugh, you might be wondering what rides are closed at Disneyland when it rains. After all, SoCal averages 283 sunny days a year, so Disneyland is designed with that in mind.
Unlike Walt Disney World, where most ride queues and restaurants are covered or indoors, Disneyland has a lot of attractions that are exposed to the elements. That means park operations can be affected by the rain. On rainy days, you might find the following rides closed until the rain stops:
Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes
Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island
Depending on the rain, Mark Twain Riverboat and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh may also shut down. And we've even seen Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Astro Orbitor close due to inclement weather. Of course, parades, outdoor character meet and greets, fireworks, and uncovered stage shows (like Fantasmic) will also be canceled on rainy days.
If it's threatening to rain during your trip, be sure to check in with a Cast Member over at City Hall on Main Street U.S.A. for an updated list of rides that might not be running that day.
Over at Disney California Adventure, you might see these rides shut down until dryer weather moves in:
The Golden Zephyr also has a tendency to close due to wind, so keep that in mind. As with Disneyland, make sure you get a full list of impacted rides and attractions over at Chamber of Commerce on Buena Vista Street.
But the upside to all this rain is that you'll probably have shorter wait times at a lot of the rides at Disneyland Resort. Not all of them, but most. On a recent rainy day, we saw Matterhorn Bobsleds posting a 5 to 25 minute wait, while the day before (with perfect weather) it was 20 to 40 minutes. And if you arrive early (when the park opens) or stay late (until park closing), you'll probably have even shorter wait times since crowds will be at their lowest.
It turns out that not many people want to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad when it's raining, so you might see shorter wait times there too. Just make sure you're prepared with a raincoat or poncho, and you'll be good to go. In general, rides that take place completely outdoors, or have significant outdoor sections, tend to have shorter wait times in the rain. So if you don't mind a little water, you might just have a chance to enjoy some of your favorite attractions without spending hours in line.
Image: Mingo Hagen/Flickr
