Visiting Disneyland in February - What You Need to Know

If you grew up shipping off to Walt Disney World for your vacations and you decide to visit Disneyland in February, here are some things to know that will prepare you for your trip. If you have never been to California in February, you may be in for a few surprises. Maybe you are considering a trip there in February because you want to beat the Spring Break crowd, as a special Valentine's Day treat for your spouse, or just to beat the winter blues. Those are all great reasons to take off to Disneyland, the original happiest place on Earth, during one of the coldest times of the year. Here are ten tips that will help you plan your trip.

1. Don't sweat the airport. The Anaheim airport is one of the easiest in the world to navigate. It's set up as a straight line, with clearly marked gates, entrances, checkpoints and exits. Some people get airport anxiety when they are going to be traveling to one where they've never been before. But mark that travel worry off your list, the John Wayne airport in Anaheim is a piece of cake to navigate.

2. If you're not staying in a Disney hotel and won't be able to take advantage of the free shuttle to and from Disneyland, consider renting a car. Parking at all the hotels in the Anaheim area is free for guests and you'll be well within walking distance of the parks. Last time we were there, we were about five blocks away and the walk was short and pleasant. We didn't rent a car and were forced to pay a taxi fifty dollars to and from the airport each way (plus tip, always tip your driver!) which was actually more expensive than a small rental car in the end and also caused us some anxiety. While the taxis we called were great, we found ourselves worrying about what would happen if the taxi were late, would it make us late for our flight? Save yourself a few extra dollars and some worry, rent a car.

3. Pack the sunscreen! They don't call it "sunny California" for nothing. You're probably traveling in February to beat the winter blues and Anaheim will be able to help you do that no problem. The sun is almost always shining on Disneyland. But when you're having fun at a theme park and when the weather doesn't have a tropical summery feel, it's really easy to forget to wear sunscreen or to be too distracted to reapply. But nothing ruins your fun like a painful sunburn. It's a must, even on a winter break.

4. Don't forget to pack a sweater or a heavy jacket. During our first trip to Disneyland, which was also in February, we touched down from frigid Indiana only to find the sunny weather in the low seventies. It was exactly what we hoped for. In fact, we hoped for it so much that when the sun set our first evening at Disneyland, we were unprepared for the quick drop into frigid nighttime temperatures. Having never been to California, we didn't know that the weather cooled considerably after sunset. Without sweaters or jackets, we had to buy a blanket to share. While it was romantic to watch the evening fireworks sharing a warm blanket with my husband, it was also expensive. Prevent this extra cost by packing for the chilly evening weather.

5. Going to Disneyland in February means less crowd, not no crowd. We researched our trip for a long time and many blogs said that Disneyland would be almost empty in February. The lines were short, but the park definitely wasn't empty. We still had to wait for rides. For example, the Indiana Jones Adventure (which we rode three times in one day) was sometimes a walk-on and other times a ten to twenty minute wait. For us, it was like heaven. But for some people who may have studied up in advance, they may be surprised to see that plenty of people will still be there. Don't have unrealistic expectations about crowds, remember, it's Disneyland! Everyone wants to be there, even off-season. All the usual park tips apply at Disneyland in February. Prioritize to make sure you get your favorite rides in first, use the Fastpass system to save time if you need to, get there when the park opens and stay until it's closed. Using all these tips will help you get the most value out of your ticket. Assuming there will be no crowd, at any time of year, and abandoning them is a good way to sabotage your trip and sink the value of your tickets.

If you're a first-time visitor to California and you want even more specific tips, this second set will help you navigate the park at night.

6. Don't wear open-toed shoes. Again, once the sun sets your toes will feel like little bricks of ice. Cover your feet or you'll be miserable.

7. Add a cup of hot coffee to your evening meal or night-time snack. Not only will it give you a little bit of energy at the end of the day, it will warm up your hands if you want to take it with you as you stroll to your next ride or show.

8. If you don't want to wear a jacket, consider a large pashmina or a warm hat. You can keep warm with accessories if you don't want to wear a bulky coat. (But bulky coats with zippered pockets also mean you can leave your purse in your hotel!)

9. Trade-off at night between indoor attractions and outdoor ones. Even if it gets truly frigid, trading off can help you stay warm. It will also ensure that you get to do a nice mix of rides and attractions. There are loads of indoor rides and shows at Disneyland to do between outdoor coasters and parades. There's The Enchanted Tiki Room, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion, the Indiana Jones Adventure, Space Mountain, and so many more. (But the nighttime views from Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and The Matterhorn are truly breathtaking and worth a little windburn if you ask me.)

10. Avoid Splash Mountain after dark. This may seem like a no-brainer, but some people forget that there's a risk you'll get soaked on this ride. Personally, I've never come off the ride truly soaked. But I've seen people disembark sopping wet. So your best bet is to just avoid it after dark. It would be a long cold walk back to the hotel if you did get soaked, even as the last ride of the night.

February is an amazing time to travel to Disneyland, we had an amazing time on our trip and you will too!