What is your rain strategy for the parks?

[d1gitman]

We will be heading to WDW in 9 days and working on our list of items to pack. We anticipate the typical 10-20 minute monsoon each day as part of what we need to plan for.

The debate is what is the preferred method of rain mitigation? disposable ponchos, regular ponchos, lightweight raincoat or mini umbrellas?

we are weighing the pros & cons of how much room they take in our little backpack vs. weight vs. convenience vs. what works best in rain.

Our party will be 2 adults, 3 children (12,12,7). when the rain hits it would be nice to take advantage of the dispersed crowds and navigate thru the park, possible scoring some attractions.

what is your preferred method/product/strategy and why?

my vote is disposable poncho due to being lightweight, takes up little space, can toss it after the rain and not deal with drying off a wet poncho to put in backpack. then when it rains again we can just pull more out.

 

[figment_jii]

It depends on what kind of rain storm is occurring. If it's a light drizzle or even heavier, but with no wind, I'd use an umbrella. If it's raining really heavily or there is a lot of wind, then I'd forgo being outside and try to find a nice store or restaurant to wait out the rain.

I tend to find it easiest to navigate MK in the rain and hardest to navigate AK. Epcot is harder to decide because there are large pavilions to stay dry in, but there is a lot of open space between the pavilions!

For me, the biggest strategy is to wear shoes that dry quickly and no socks. Clothes (for the most part) dry quickly and aren't really a problem, but shoes! I was wearing a pair of sneakers and they got soaked. My feet were so miserable that we ended up going back to the hotel to get dry shoes.

 

[luvmy3]

Have (disposable) poncho and flip flops, will travel

 

[sonofanarchy]

Getting ready to be flamed, but I would never use an umbrella. I think it's rude and foolish for people to use them in a theme park. You could easily poke someone in the eye.

Generally, a poncho will do. This past July, for the first time, we actually left the parks. It was downpouring for hours at a time, for about 6 straight days. We just got so sick of it. We all had raincoats or ponchos, and they weren't enough. We all got soaked and were doing laundry constantly just to keep the clothes from smelling.

Unfortunately, footwear is a huge issue (at least for me). I can't find any sandals that don't give me blisters or hurt the bottom of my feet.

 

[figment_jii]

Getting ready to be flamed, but I would never use an umbrella. I think it's rude and foolish for people to use them in a theme park. You could easily poke someone in the eye.

Like anything, it's a judgement call. If you're wandering around a pretty empty park, it's no different than walking down the street at home with an umbrella. I've used them several times (and they now sell practically disposable ones in the parks) and never hit anyone with them. I wouldn't do it in when it's really crowded, but when it's no different than walking down the street at home, I see no harm.

 

[GrumpyBelle]

If it truly rains hard for a long period of time we will do ponchos. Otherwise we will wait it out or travel the shops for shorter/lighter periods of rain.

 

[ghtx]

Getting ready to be flamed, but I would never use an umbrella. I think it's rude and foolish for people to use them in a theme park. You could easily poke someone in the eye.

Haven't you ever seen pictures of crowded NYC streets on a rainy day when everyone is shoulder-to-shoulder and carrying an umbrella? No different on a rainy crowded day in WDW.

As an umbrella-holder, you have a responsibility to not poke someone in the eye, but that doesn't mean you need to fold up your umbrella anytime someone passes within a few feet of you.

 

[sonofanarchy]

Like anything, it's a judgement call. If you're wandering around a pretty empty park, it's no different than walking down the street at home with an umbrella. I've used them several times (and they now sell practically disposable ones in the parks) and never hit anyone with them. I wouldn't do it in when it's really crowded, but when it's no different than walking down the street at home, I see no harm.

We must live in very different areas. I rarely seeing 40,000 people walking around my neighborhood.

If the park was empty, sure. But in over 30 trips to WDW, the only time I saw it even close to not being at least very crowded, was during one of the hurricanes in 2004.

 

[sonofanarchy]

Haven't you ever seen pictures of crowded NYC streets on a rainy day when everyone is shoulder-to-shoulder and carrying an umbrella? No different on a rainy crowded day in WDW.

As an umbrella-holder, you have a responsibility to not poke someone in the eye, but that doesn't mean you need to fold up your umbrella anytime someone passes within a few feet of you.

It's not just about poking someone with them. During the fireworks people use them and you can't see over them. Just a pet peeve of mine.

 

[wdwjeffc37]

We have some lightweight rain coats that we use if it is really pouring. We like them a lot better than ponchos. Raincoats give us much better freedom of movement. They roll up pretty small and will fit in a pocket. We dry them out at the resort at night. If it is just a drizzle we just soldier on. We don't mind being a little damp. I sometime wish for a rain shower to run some people out of the parks. Rain is part of the Disney experience. It will probably never make us leave the park.

 

[luvmy3]

Getting ready to be flamed, but I would never use an umbrella. I think it's rude and foolish for people to use them in a theme park. You could easily poke someone in the eye.

No flames, but I just dont get this argument. I don't think using an umbrella in the rain is foolish or rude, I mean that IS what they are made for. When it rains, I expect umbrellas to be used by some people
That is like saying using an ECV or a stroller in a crowded park is foolish and rude. Sure there are some people who will plow into you, or run over your feet, just like there may be people who run around with their umbrellas poking people in the eye. I guess I would see that person as rude, not the act of using whatever it is they are using (that isnt against any rules BTW).

 

[wiigirl]

Have (disposable) poncho and flip flops, will travel

Exactly!

 

[sonofanarchy]

No flames, but I just dont get this argument. I don't think using an umbrella in the rain is foolish or rude, I mean that IS what they are made for. When it rains, I expect umbrellas to be used by some people
That is like saying using an ECV or a stroller in a crowded park is foolish and rude. Sure there are some people who will plow into you, or run over your feet, just like there may be people who run around with their umbrellas poking people in the eye. I guess I would see that person as rude, not the act of using whatever it is they are using (that isnt against any rules BTW).

Like I said above, it's also about people using them during parades or fireworks. They get in the way. But yeah, people are just very careless.

 

[Nancy F]

We buy the ponchos and cut them down the front so they are easy to take off when we want to go on a ride. I also carry a small umbrella that I hang off of my handbag. If we know that it's definitely going to rain I bring one for the hubby too. I have small, light umbrellas so it's no problem to carry them if not needed.
Nancy

 

[Susiec]

Poncho

 

[sonofanarchy]

BTW, sort of related - Did anyone else notice that Disney CM's are now asking you to take your ponchos off before getting on a ride? I've never had that happen to me before.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

BTW, sort of related - Did anyone else notice that Disney CM's are now asking you to take your ponchos off before getting on a ride? I've never had that happen to me before.

They were doing that in 2011, too. We had two straight days of rain and were asked on a number of occasions to take our ponchos off.

To answer the poll question, we use disposable ponchos from the dollar store. They're flimsy, sure, but work well enough. We do use the WDW ponchos for days where it rains all day because they hold up a little better for taking on and off.

 

[Gamegrl1]

my vote is disposable poncho due to being lightweight, takes up little space, can toss it after the rain and not deal with drying off a wet poncho to put in backpack. then when it rains again we can just pull more out.

Ooo...sorry...I have to shoot this one down. It just seems so horrendously wasteful to use something like that once and throw it out. Might not seem like a big deal but they end up in a landfill. Now think of how many "disposable" ponchos you use on one trip and multiply it by the # of people in your group and the # of days you do that. And picture your part in adding to all the trash and all the energy and resources that are being used and wasted. And there are other people who do that too...just using and wasting.

I get that it's inconvenient but how about just getting one for each person and when you're done using it, fold/roll/squish it up and stick it in a plastic bag in your backpack so it doesn't get everything else wet? That's what I do. One would take up less space than several (come on, just squash it down!), cost less and be much easier on the environment.

On a separate note, using an umbrella is not rude. You've got to be kidding me. Just watch that you're not poking someone. I don't know what to tell you about watching fireworks in the rain, but people want to stay dry. Get over it.

 

[d1gitman]

Ooo...sorry...I have to shoot this one down. It just seems so horrendously wasteful to use something like that once and throw it out. Might not seem like a big deal but they end up in a landfill. Now think of how many "disposable" ponchos you use on one trip and multiply it by the # of people in your group and the # of days you do that. And picture your part in adding to all the trash and all the energy and resources that are being used and wasted. And there are other people who do that too...just using and wasting.

I get that it's inconvenient but how about just getting one for each person and when you're done using it, fold/roll/squish it up and stick it in a plastic bag in your backpack so it doesn't get everything else wet? That's what I do. One would take up less space than several (come on, just squash it down!), cost less and be much easier on the environment.

On a separate note, using an umbrella is not rude. You've got to be kidding me. Just watch that you're not poking someone. I don't know what to tell you about watching fireworks in the rain, but people want to stay dry. Get over it.

Disney recycles

 

[Linleedo]

We use the lightweight disposable raincoats or ponchos. We re-use them. If the sun comes out, they are thrown into a ziplock bag. When we get back to the resort, we hang them up, dry them out & re-pack them into the Disney bag for the park. We have carried the heavier Disney ponchos. But, switched to a lighter weight due to the humidity & heat in Florida and to lighten the load in the bag.:umbrella