A Little Rain Must Fall

"Welcome to the magic kingdom of Disneyland. 

We're sorry that the weather is not more pleasant but you can still find much to see and do here." 

- Disneyland Rainy Day Announcement, featuring Jack Wagner 

Clearly, Eric is just as inspired by the rain as I am!

 'm pretty sure I wore my little red Bambi Read-Along cassette tape raw because of how many times I rewound the song "Little April Showers".  Sure, I loved Bambi and that trademark Disney chorale sound, but when I pushed play on a rainy day, I would sit at home behind the sliding glass doors (opened to just the screen) in an indian-style position, with my beloved Fisher Price tape player in my lap,  just to entertain the bursting rain drops bouncing off the backyard patio cement and daydream about how it was probably raining in Disneyland, too.   

  Never being caught in a Disneyland rainstorm before then, I'm willing to guess that my curiosity blossomed while tilting my head back and being lulled by the swinging rain boot-clad feet of the glamorously carefree Teddi Barra as she took the spotlight during 'Singin' in The Rain' during the Country Bear Vacation Hoedown. In fact, just thinking about her makes me pretty cheerful, myself! Or, perhaps, I was charmed from the several lucky viewings I had already enjoyed of the Water Birds episode from the Walt Disney's True Life Adventures series. Either way, I knew Mr. Disney's park transformed into a different world during the rainfall and I longed to be there just as much as I would on a sunny day.  Some things never change...

Here, Eric takes a page from Goofy's book
and demonstrates what happens when
you do NOT properly prepare for the
rain on a visit to Disneyland. We've
learned since 2005, of course.

  As I've become old enough to enjoy the spoils of adulthood (and being a Disneyland Annual Passholder),  taking off on my own adventure to enjoy a rainy day at Disneyland has become a rare and highly anticipated treat, and believe you, me, I've been keeping a close watch on the weather for a token from this notoriously rainy season!  With hot chocolate in hand, I could travel on the Disneyland Railroad all day just watching the Mickey Mouse rain ponchos and umbrellas whir by while listening to the water beat upon the train roof, or take shelter underneath the cover of The Hungry Bear Restaurant deck and follow the paths of the rain droplets as they become the Rivers of America.  I assure you, there is no better time than this to take a tour of The Haunted Mansion, nor to venture on a bobsled escape from an Abominable Snowman through and around the Matterhorn, nor a boat tour scouring the untamed wilds of The Jungle Cruise.  And how lovely it is to see a just-rained on Disneyland freckled with only a handful of water-brave Guests determined to get their moneys worth - some of whom just might enjoy a wet Disneyland in the same way I do.  I fully recommend you pull on your galoshes, prepare wisely, and find out for yourself.  

  Something about the rain falling onto Disneyland accentuates the life it has taken on all by itself, despite being created by human hands some 57 years ago.  It gives it life, depth and peace.  It is one of few instances where the marriage of our every day reality and the escapism that Disneyland so graciously lends to us is not only comforting, but simply beautiful.  What a glorious feelin'.

                  *Special thanks to our mouskefriend, TokyoMagic, for the Rainy Day Announcement sound clip!*