If it’s a thunderstorm with lightning, not just rain, read thunderstorms at Disneyland Paris first: electrical safety leads to different closures.
Yes, you can enjoy Disneyland Paris in the rain. The park doesn’t close, most attractions are covered and two arcades run along Main Street under shelter. Rain mostly changes two things: a few outdoor rides may close for safety, and the covered attractions fill up fast. With a bit of planning and a poncho, you can still have a full day. Here’s how to go about it.
What rain changes at Disneyland Paris
Rain doesn’t close the park. Most things keep running, but a few things change.
The atmosphere is different: fewer people outside, reflections on the Main Street cobbles, a calmer feel that many visitors love. Crowds often drop, as some people head back to their hotel or take refuge in the shops. Between two showers, the outdoor rides can get easier to access.
On the flip side, the covered attractions fill up fast. Everyone shelters in them at the same time, so their queue times climb. That’s the effect to plan for.
The characters come out less. In the rain, outdoor character meets become rarer, but several meets take place indoors and still go ahead: a good fallback if your kids have their heart set on it.
What might stop depends on how hard it’s raining. Light rain changes almost nothing, apart from parades that are sometimes shortened. In heavy rain or strong winds, some outdoor rides close for safety and parades can be cancelled. These closures happen without warning, so the official Disneyland Paris app is your best live guide.
Which rides and shows are affected
It’s simple: whatever is indoors stays open, whatever is outside is more exposed. The good news is that ordinary rain doesn’t shut the big outdoor rides. Big Thunder Mountain and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril usually only stop for thunderstorms or strong winds, not at the first shower. Here’s how each type of attraction is affected by rain.
| Type | What happens |
|---|---|
| Indoor rides (dark rides): Pirates of the Caribbean, Phantom Manor, Peter Pan’s Flight | Open and dry, queue included. Queue times climb fast when everyone shelters there. |
| Indoor rollercoasters and simulators: Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain, Star Tours: The Adventures Continue | Run under cover, with covered queues. Very popular on rainy days. |
| Disney Adventure World rides (the second park): Ratatouille, Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror | Many are covered: a good way to sit out a shower in the dry in the second park. |
| Exposed outdoor rides: Big Thunder Mountain, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril, RC Racer | You’ll get wet, but they stay open in ordinary rain. They only close in strong winds or heavy rain. |
| Outdoor trails and walkways | Some outdoor trails may close if they get slippery. |
| Character meets | Outdoor meets become rarer. Several meets take place indoors and still go ahead. |
| Parades | Light rain: sometimes a shorter version. Heavy rain: changed, delayed or cancelled without warning. |
| Night-time show | Goes ahead except in very bad weather, especially strong winds. |
How rain affects each type of attraction or show
How to plan your visit
Open the official Disneyland Paris app first thing in the morning. It shows in real time which rides are open, the queue times and the actual show times, which can change without warning depending on the weather.
Use the showers to do the covered attractions and save the outdoor ones for the dry spells. As soon as the sky clears, head for Big Thunder Mountain or Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril before the rain comes back.
Get ahead of the queues. As everyone shelters in the indoor rides, go early in the morning for the most popular ones such as Pirates of the Caribbean or Phantom Manor before the queues shoot up.
Leave your wet things and spare clothes in a locker. There are paid lockers near the park entrance (allow a few euros for 24 hours, depending on size). If you’re staying on site, your hotel will keep your luggage for free.
Use the covered arcades on Main Street to cross the park under shelter, and plan ahead which table-service restaurants and theatres you can use for a proper break in the dry.
If the rain really sets in, switch your day to Disney Adventure World (the second park), which has lots of covered attractions. And if you’re staying at a hotel with young kids, a midday break at the indoor pool often does everyone good.
Where to shelter and what to do instead
- Long, covered rides: Pirates of the Caribbean (a boat ride of about 15 minutes, fully under cover) and it’s a small world (by boat, covered) keep you dry for a good while.
- The classic dark rides: Phantom Manor, Peter Pan’s Flight, Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains, Les Voyages de Pinocchio and Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast, perfect for doing one after another without going out in the rain.
- Free places to sit in the dry: the covered Videopolis theatre, in Discoveryland, shows cartoons on a big screen, free to enter with your ticket, with hundreds of seats. Ideal for catching your breath while a shower passes.
- Indoor character meets: several take place under cover (at Disney Adventure World in particular). A good fallback with children when the rain drives the characters away from outdoor spots. Check the day’s locations and times in the app.
- Indoor shows: the covered theatres, especially at Disney Adventure World (the second park), put on shows under cover, ideal for a seated break.
- Table-service restaurants: a long meal in a themed setting is a good way to wait for the shower to pass.
- The shops and arcades of Main Street: Discovery Arcade and Liberty Arcade run along both sides of the street and let you cross the park almost entirely in the dry.
- Disney Village and its covered areas: handy for wandering, eating or shopping without going back out in the rain.
To see all the sheltered attractions at once, queue included, use the "Under cover" filter on the list of all attractions.
What to bring
- A poncho rather than an umbrella: it covers your whole body, leaves your hands free and is practical in queues and on rides. On site, expect to pay around €13 for an adult and €10 for a child in the shops. Your own, bought before you leave, will cost you less.
- Waterproof or quick-drying shoes: you walk a lot and the cobbles hold the water.
- For kids: wellies and a light waterproof jacket. They love jumping in puddles, so they might as well stay dry. A rain cover on the pushchair protects your little one and the changing bag.
- A change of clothes, especially for the kids, to leave in a locker or at the hotel.
- Something to protect your phone and documents (a pouch or a closed bag), very handy between showers.
For the rest of your bag, I go through everything in my packing list.
Is it worth visiting Disneyland Paris in the rain?
Honestly, yes: the park stays open and is quieter than usual. You might not do everything, and you’ll have to accept a few closures among the outdoor rides, but most of the park is under cover. Many visitors enjoy a rainy day precisely because there are fewer people.
A word on timing, if you can choose your dates: the Paris region is more prone to showers and thunderstorms in spring and early summer, with December the wettest month. That said, it can rain all year round and a shower won’t spoil a trip. To pick your dates, see the best time to visit and to plan ahead for the climate, the weather at Disneyland Paris.
As for tickets, rain alone doesn’t entitle you to a refund. Depending on the type of ticket, changing your date or cancelling may still be possible within the set time limits. I explain the rules in my guides to cancelling your trip and the undated ticket, which is more flexible if you’re worried about the weather.
The right mindset: have a plan for staying dry, don’t chase every ride and enjoy the slower pace. If the forecast says thunderstorms or strong winds, expect more closures and an uncertain evening programme. In that case, see my guide to thunderstorms at Disneyland Paris.
Further reading
- cold and snow at Disneyland Paris
- thunderstorms at Disneyland Paris
- heatwaves at Disneyland Paris
- strong winds at Disneyland Paris
- what to pack in your bag
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Frequently asked questions
01 Does Disneyland Paris close when it rains?
No, the park stays open in the rain. As most attractions are covered, you can still enjoy your day. Only some outdoor rides may close temporarily for safety, especially in strong wind or heavy rain.
02 Which rides close when it rains at Disneyland Paris?
Covered rides stay open. Outdoor rides such as Big Thunder Mountain, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril or RC Racer stay open in ordinary rain: they only close in strong wind or heavy rain. These closures happen without warning, so check the official Disneyland Paris app for the live status.
03 Which Disneyland Paris rides can you do in the rain?
Go for the indoor rides: Pirates of the Caribbean, Phantom Manor, Peter Pan’s Flight, it’s a small world, Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain or Star Tours: The Adventures Continue. At Disney Adventure World (the second park), Ratatouille, Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror are also under cover.
04 Where can you shelter for free when it rains at Disneyland Paris?
The covered Videopolis theatre in Discoveryland offers screenings and shows included with your ticket, with plenty of seating. The arcades along Main Street, the shops and the restaurants also provide shelter. To store your wet belongings, paid lockers are available near the park entrance.
05 Do the parades and the night-time show go ahead in the rain?
In light rain, a shortened version of the parade may run. In heavy rain, parades may be changed, delayed or cancelled. The night-time show is only cancelled in very bad weather, especially strong wind.
06 Can you get a refund on your ticket because of the weather (rain, cold or wind)?
No, the weather alone doesn’t entitle you to a refund: the park stays open, and many indoor attractions and shows run whatever the weather. Depending on your type of ticket, changing the date or cancelling may still be possible within the set deadlines. If you’re worried about the weather, look at my guides to cancelling your trip and the undated ticket, which is more flexible.
