What Rides Are Closed at Disneyland When It Rains?

It’s that time of year again in southern California where it rains a handful of times. When rain does fall, your neighbor sees you and hollers from across the street “I guess the drought is over!” As you grit your teeth and give the most halfhearted laugh of your life you wonder, “What rides are closed at Disneyland when it rains?”

It’s a good question to have. SoCal averages 283 sunny days a year, so Disneyland is designed around these types of weather conditions. Unlike Walt Disney World where most ride queues and restaurants are covered or indoors, Disneyland has many attractions that are exposed to the elements. That means park operations are affected by the rain.

Which rides are closed?

Disneyland

• Alice in Wonderland
• Casey Jr. Circus Train
• Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes
• Gadget’s Go Coaster
• The Mad Tea Party
• Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island
• Storybook Land Canal Boats

Depending on the amount of rain, Mark Twain Riverboat and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh may also shut down. We’ve also occasionally seen Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Astro Orbitor close due to inclement weather. Parades, outdoor character meet and greets, fireworks, and uncovered stage shows (such as Fantasmic) will also be canceled.

Disney California Adventure

• Golden Zephyr (Also frequently closes due to wind)
• Goofy’s Sky School
• Jumpin’ Jellyfish
• Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters
• Redwood Creek Challenge Trail

What’s the upside to going to Disneyland when it rains?

The upside is you’ll wait less time in line for many rides in Disneyland Resort. Not all, but most of them. On a recent rainy day, we observed Matterhorn Bobsleds posting a 5 to 25-minute wait, while the day before (perfect weather) it was posting a 20 to 40-minute wait. You’ll wait even less if you arrive early (at park opening) or stay late (until park closing), and do rides when crowds are at their lowest numbers.

Rides that take place completely outdoors, or with significant outdoor sections, often see very low wait times when it’s raining. It turns out that not many people want to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad when it’s raining, but if you’re adequately prepared with a raincoat or poncho you’ll be just fine.

What’s the downside to going to Disneyland when it rains?

Obviously, some rides being closed during your visit to Disneyland is a major downside to going to the park when it’s raining. But that’s only the case if you care about any of the affected attractions. What you will probably care about is not being able to find a dry place to sit and eat a meal. The majority of Disneyland’s restaurants (both quick service and table service) only have seating for diners who are outside and exposed to the elements.

Which restaurants have indoor seating? For quick service, Alien Pizza Planet in Tomorrowland, Bengal Barbecue in Adventureland, Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, The Golden Horseshoe in Frontierland, Plaza Inn on Main Street, U.S.A., and Red Rose Taverne in Fantasyland all have some indoor seating. “Some” being the keyword here. The majority of seating at these restaurants will still be outside, and the tables that are indoors will be slammed with people trying to stay dry. Eat early or late meals to have a better chance at finding a covered table. The same is true for table service restaurants. Cafe Orleans, Carnation Cafe, and River Belle Terrace all have a small amount of tables indoors. Blue Bayou Restaurant is the only restaurant in Disneyland that is entirely made up of indoor seating.

Most restaurants will remain open in the rain but some outdoor vending carts (for churros, popcorn, pretzels, etc.) will remain closed for the day if the crowds are low.

I’ve had a ton of fantastic visits to Disneyland on rainy days over the years. Plus the park looks beautiful in any kind of weather. You’ll have a great time if you’re adequately prepared for the rain, so don’t let a little moisture stop you from visiting the Happiest Place on Earth.

Rain or shine, TouringPlans can help you plan the perfect day at Disneyland. Be sure to check out our Disneyland Crowd Calendar, which rates every day of the year on a scale of 1 to 10 so you can see how busy Disneyland and DCA will be during your visit. Also check out our Disneyland Touring Plans. These itineraries can show you how to beat the crowds and spend less time in line at your favorite rides. Our Touring Plans can also be personalized! All of our tools are used by hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and are constantly being updated by our in-park team of researchers and data scientists. We can even book your vacation for you.

Are you a fan of Disneyland in the rain? Do you have any tips for dealing with the weather? Let us know in the comments.

Originally published December 16, 2021. Last updated February 3, 2024.