The summer season is one of the best times to visit Disneyland, especially if you love hot weather. It’s also the perfect time to go on water rides, as you don’t have to worry about getting cold when you get wet.
But of course, the heat of the scorching sun is something you have to worry about when visiting the park during the summer. On average, temperatures in California can range from 71 degrees to 86 degrees from May to September. This means you have to protect yourself and your family from the harmful UV rays.
One way to achieve this is by wearing the appropriate clothing. So, what should you wear to Disneyland in the summer? Let’s find out.
The rule of thumb is to wear clothes that are both comfortable and breathable. Avoid wearing clothes that can only add to your discomfort. Instead, go for light clothing made of breathable fabric, such as short sleeve shirts.
As for the bottoms, don’t wear heavy denim such as jeans, especially if you go on water rides. They only make you hot and uncomfortable; you don’t want any of that during your adventure.
Also, always bring sun protection such as sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat/cap.
You’d want you and your family to remain comfortable throughout your stay at Disneyland. As such, you need to prepare clothing that can provide you with the level of comfort you need.
Things To Wear To Disneyland During Summer
If you plan to visit Disneyland with your family, you will have several considerations to remember. This is especially true if you have kids. However, what’s important is that you should never forget that it can get extremely hot in California during the summer.
It can get even hotter while walking on the concrete and getting inside crowded places. Therefore, your choice of clothing should be comfortable and allow maximum airflow. Let’s have a look at your options.
Short Sleeve Shirts
As always, you have to dress for the weather when visiting Disneyland. This means that the summer season will call for light and breathable clothing such as short sleeve shirts. However, one important thing to remember is that you should keep your shoulders protected from the sun’s heat.
Getting sunburn on that area can be painful, so while tank tops are comfortable, we’d recommend wearing short sleeve shirts instead. Not only will they keep you comfortable, but they can also protect your shoulders, back, and lower neck from the sun.
If you’re not a fan of short sleeve shirts, you can opt for cap sleeve shirts instead. Or, if you want to keep the Disneyland spirit, you can also buy Disney-themed shirts for you and your family.
Long Sleeve Shirts
Sometimes, short sleeve shirts won’t be able to provide the coverage and protection that you need. In this case, it’s also worth bringing some long sleeve shirts with you. Always remember that the more coverage you get, the less you’ll have to worry about getting sunburned.
We’d highly recommend putting them on as an extra layer if you plan to walk around the park the entire day.
Shorts, Skirts, and Leggings
You want to wear bottoms that are both comfortable, lightweight, and breathable. Don’t wear jeans and heavy denim, especially if you plan to enjoy the water rides in the park, such as Grizzly River Run and Splash Mountain. They can only slow you down when they get wet and will be uncomfortable if you get sweaty.
Aside from that, jeans will take a long time to dry and may even cause uncomfortable chafing. So instead, you want to wear bottoms that are lightweight and can dry quickly if they get wet. Shorts, skirts, and leggings are prime examples of this.
We recommend wearing bottoms with zippered pockets to act as storage for some of your essentials.
Walking Shoes
Just like any other Disney park, Disneyland involves a LOT of walking. You don’t want to make your and your family’s adventure miserable by wearing uncomfortable shoes. Instead, you have to wear comfortable shoes that offer a lot of support.
Flip-flops might sound like a good idea, but if you spend most of your day walking around the park, you’ll only end up hurting your feet and your ankles, knees, and toes. This is why it’s best to wear a pair of walking shoes. Some would recommend wearing tennis shoes, and it’s not a bad idea either.
If you don’t want to wear shoes, your best alternative would be a pair of supportive full-foot sandals with an enclosed design to protect your heels. Make sure to wear breathable socks as well.
NOTE: If you decide to wear a pair of walking shoes, make sure you don’t buy a new one a few days before your Disneyland adventure. You should ensure you’ve already broken them in so you won’t suffer from blisters and will remain comfortable all day.
Hats, Caps, and Sunglasses
Protecting your head and face is very important when you visit Disneyland during the summer season. You don’t want to suffer from painful sunburns on areas like your lips, forehead, nose, ears, and neck just because you forgot to cover them up. This is why it’s also essential that you wear sunglasses and hats or caps.
Apart from that, sunglasses can protect your eyes from the annoying glare of the sun, reducing the need to squint them. If you want to maximize the effect, we’d recommend opting for glasses with polarized lenses.
For hats, your best option is those with a wide brim. If you prefer caps instead, you can go for baseball caps. However, we still recommend wide-brimmed hats, considering they cover not just your head but your neck, ears, face, and back.
Sunscreen and Chapstick
Lastly, make sure not to forget sunscreen to protect you and your family from harmful UV radiation, especially if you stay under the sun for long periods. Even if the sun is not shining brightly, it’s still a good idea to put on sunscreen to prevent sun damage.
Make sure to use a specific sunscreen for your face, and pack one designed for kids as well.
Aside from sunscreen, it’s also best to bring chapstick with you. Chapped lips are typical during summer, and you want to prevent that by constantly moisturizing your lips. So always bring these two with you before heading to the park for an adventure.
A Few Important Tips To Consider
Now that we’ve covered the important stuff you should wear when visiting Disneyland during summer, let’s talk about some essential tips you must consider. They’re as follows:
1. Arrive Early if You Want To Avoid Huge Crowds
Ideally, you want to plan your daily schedule to take advantage of the cooler morning hours in Disneyland. This is where the concept of rope dropping comes in. It means you must arrive early and fall in line before the park opens. This allows you to enjoy the various attractions in the park while there are still few people around.
2. Enjoy Some Cold Treats
You can come across a handful of small stores and kiosks throughout Disneyland. It would be worthwhile to drop by any of them to enjoy a cold treat or two, especially if the weather is scorching. In addition, you can find many excellent options throughout the park.
3. Keep Yourself Hydrated
It’s easy to forget hydration when enjoying your adventure in the park. However, you should always drink water whenever you get thirsty. This applies to your family members as well.
We highly recommend bringing a refillable water bottle with you at all times. There are various water refilling stations throughout the park, so you can always refill your bottle on the go.
4. Take Breaks
If it’s your first time visiting Disneyland, then it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the many attractions it has to offer. However, if things are getting hot and tiring, take some breaks. You can take a midday break, or if you want, you can head straight back to your hotel and nap instead.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this guide can help you decide which clothes you should wear during your visit to Disneyland. There are just two things you have to remember while packing. One is that comfort is critical, so you have to make sure you and your family remain comfortable throughout your adventure. The other is always to bring sunscreen.
We hope you have a great time during your visit!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Should I Not Wear in Disneyland?
Disney has a guideline on what you can and can’t wear in Disneyland. For example, any clothing that drags on the ground is not allowed. The same applies to those with inappropriate prints. For a complete list of Disney’s attire policies, please check out their park rules and regulations page.
Can I Bring a Backpack With Me?
Yes, you can. We highly recommend that you always bring a backpack with you so you can store your essentials inside. Just make sure it’s lightweight and not bigger than a moderate-sized backpack.
However, remember that Disney won’t allow you to wear a backpack on rides. Instead, you will have to deposit it inside one of their lockers.
Is Disneyland Worth Visiting During the Summer?
Disneyland is worth visiting any time of the year. But if you want the perfect weather, you should visit it during the summer. However, you’ll have to deal with larger crowds and longer wait times.
