Is there lightning and not just rain? Then start with thunderstorms at Disneyland Paris, since rides close for other reasons when electrical safety is at stake.
Yes, you can enjoy Disneyland Paris in the rain. The park stays open, most attractions are covered, and two arcades let you cross Main Street out of the rain. Rain mainly changes two things: a few outdoor rides may close for safety, and the covered attractions fill up fast. With a little planning and a poncho, you’ll still have a full day. Here’s how to go about it.
What rain changes at Disneyland Paris
The park stays open when it rains. Nearly everything operates as usual, with just a handful of differences.
The mood shifts: fewer people outside, reflections on the Main Street cobblestones, a calmer atmosphere that plenty of guests enjoy. Crowds often thin out, since some people head back to their hotel or duck into the stores. Between showers, outdoor rides can get easier to access.
On the flip side, covered attractions fill up fast. Everyone takes shelter in them at the same time, so their wait times climb. That’s the effect to plan for.
Characters come out less. In the rain, outdoor character meets get scarce, but several meets take place indoors and keep running: a good fallback if your kids have their hearts set on one.
What may stop depends on how hard it rains. Light rain changes almost nothing, apart from parades that are sometimes shortened. In heavy rain or high winds, some outdoor rides close for safety and parades may be canceled. These closures happen without warning: the official Disneyland Paris mobile app is your best real-time guide.
Which rides and shows are affected
The rule is simple: what’s indoors stays open, what’s outdoors is more exposed. Good news: ordinary rain doesn’t shut down the big outdoor rides. Big Thunder Mountain and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril usually only stop for thunderstorms or high winds, not at the first shower. Here’s how each type of attraction handles rain.
| Type | What happens |
|---|---|
| Indoor rides (dark rides): Pirates of the Caribbean, Phantom Manor, Peter Pan’s Flight | Open and dry, line included. Waits rise quickly when everyone piles in. |
| Indoor roller coasters and simulators: Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain, Star Tours: The Adventures Continue | Run under cover, with covered lines. In high demand on rainy days. |
| Attractions at Disney Adventure World (the second park): Ratatouille, Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror | Many are covered: a smart move to wait out a shower in the second park. |
| Exposed outdoor rides: Big Thunder Mountain, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril, RC Racer | Expect to get soaked, yet a regular rain won’t close them. Only strong wind or a downpour shuts them down. |
| Outdoor trails and walkways | A few outdoor paths can be closed when they turn slick. |
| Character meets | Outdoor meets become rare. Several meets take place indoors and keep running. |
| Parades | Light rain: sometimes a shortened version. Heavy rain: changed, delayed, or canceled without warning. |
| Nighttime show | Goes ahead unless the weather is very bad, especially in high winds. |
How rain affects each type of ride or show
How should you plan your visit?
Open the official Disneyland Paris mobile app first thing in the morning. It shows in real time which rides are open, wait times, and actual showtimes, which can change without warning depending on the weather.
Use the showers for covered attractions and save the outdoor ones for when it clears up. As soon as the sky brightens, hurry over to Big Thunder Mountain or Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril before the rain comes back.
Plan ahead for lines. Since everyone takes cover in the indoor attractions, hit the most popular ones like Pirates of the Caribbean or Phantom Manor early in the morning, before wait times skyrocket.
Leave your wet things and a change of clothes in a locker. Paid lockers are near the park entrance (count on a few euros for 24 hours, depending on size). If you’re staying on site, your hotel holds your luggage for free.
Use the covered arcades on Main Street to cross the park out of the rain, and pick out table-service restaurants and theaters ahead of time for a real dry break.
When the rain looks like it’s here to stay, spend your day at Disney Adventure World (the second park), where many attractions are indoors. Staying at a hotel with little ones? A swim in the indoor pool around midday is often a welcome break.
Where can you take shelter, and what can you do instead?
- Long rides with a roof: Pirates of the Caribbean (a boat cruise lasting about 15 minutes, sheltered from start to finish) and it’s a small world (another indoor boat ride) let you stay dry for quite a while.
- 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 riding one after another without stepping out into the rain.
- Free spots to sit down out of the rain: in Discoveryland, the covered Videopolis theater plays cartoons on a giant screen, included with admission, and seats hundreds of people. A great place to rest until the shower is over.
- Indoor character meets: several take place under cover (especially at Disney Adventure World). A good fallback with kids when the rain chases the characters off the outdoor spots. Check the day’s locations and times in the app.
- Indoor shows: the covered theaters, especially at Disney Adventure World (the second park), put on shows out of the rain, ideal for a seated break.
- Table-service restaurants: lingering over lunch or dinner in a themed dining room is a pleasant way to let the rain pass.
- Main Street’s stores and arcades: on either side of the street, Discovery Arcade and Liberty Arcade let you get from one end of the park to the other while staying almost completely dry.
- Disney Village and its covered areas: handy for strolling, eating, or shopping without heading back out into the rain.
To see every attraction that’s under cover, line included, at a glance, use the "Covered" filter on the list of all attractions.
What should you bring?
- A poncho rather than an umbrella: it covers your whole body, leaves your hands free, and stays practical in line and on rides. In the park stores, expect to pay about €13 for an adult and €10 for a child. Buying your own before you leave will cost you less.
- Shoes that are waterproof or dry quickly: there’s a lot of walking, and puddles linger on the cobblestones.
- For kids: rain boots and a light rain jacket. They love jumping in puddles, so they might as well stay dry. A rain cover on the stroller protects your little one and the diaper bag.
- Spare clothes, above all for the kids, stored in a locker or back at your hotel.
- Protection for your phone and documents (a pouch or a bag that closes), very handy between showers.
For everything else in your bag, I cover it all in what to pack in your bag.
Should you visit Disneyland Paris in the rain?
Honestly, yes. You can still get into the park, and it’s calmer than usual. You may not get to everything, and you’ll have to live with a few outdoor ride closures, but most of the park is sheltered. Plenty of visitors enjoy a rainy day for exactly that reason: there are fewer people.
If you get to pick your dates, a word on timing: the Paris region sees more showers and thunderstorms in spring and early summer, while December remains the wettest month. That said, rain is possible year-round, and a passing shower won’t ruin your trip. To settle on your dates, check the best time to go, and to prepare for the climate, see the weather at Disneyland Paris.
Rain alone doesn’t qualify you for a ticket refund. Depending on your ticket type, you may still be able to reschedule or cancel within the set deadlines. I go over the rules in canceling your trip and the undated ticket, which gives you more flexibility if you’re worried about the weather.
The right mindset: have a dry plan ready, don’t chase every ride, and enjoy the slower pace. If the forecast calls for a thunderstorm or high winds, expect more closures and a less certain evening schedule. In that case, read thunderstorms at Disneyland Paris.
Dig deeper
- cold and snow at Disneyland Paris
- thunderstorms at Disneyland Paris
- heat waves at Disneyland Paris
- high winds at Disneyland Paris
- what to pack in your bag
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Frequently asked questions
01 Does the park close when it rains at Disneyland Paris?
No, rain doesn’t shut the park. Most rides have a roof over them, so your day can carry on. A few outdoor rides might pause for safety, mostly when the wind picks up or the rain gets heavy.
02 Which rides close in the rain at Disneyland Paris?
Covered rides stay open. Outdoor rides like Big Thunder Mountain, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril, or RC Racer keep running in ordinary rain: they only close in strong wind or heavy rain. These closures happen without notice, so check the official Disneyland Paris mobile app for real-time status.
03 Which rides can you do in the rain at Disneyland Paris?
Stick to covered 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 keep you dry as well.
04 Where can I take shelter from the rain for free at Disneyland Paris?
In Discoveryland, the covered Videopolis theater runs screenings and shows that your ticket gets you into, and there’s plenty of seating. You can also duck under the Main Street arcades or into the stores and restaurants. For your soaked gear, paid lockers are available close to the park entrance.
05 Do parades and the nighttime show go on in the rain?
In light rain, a shortened version of the parade may be offered. In heavy rain, parades can be changed, delayed, or canceled. The nighttime show is only canceled in very bad weather, mostly in strong wind.
06 Can I get a refund on my ticket because of the weather (rain, cold, or wind)?
No. Bad weather on its own won’t get you your money back: the park doesn’t close, and lots of indoor rides and shows keep going rain or shine. Depending on what kind of ticket you have, you may still be able to change your date or cancel within the allowed time. If the forecast worries you, read canceling your vacation and look at the undated ticket, which gives you more flexibility.
