What is your rain strategy for the parks?

[buteraa]

Get wet....who cares, it's Disney!

 

[circus4u]

Get wet....who cares, it's Disney!

Our philosophy also. We live in AZ with an average annual rainfall of less than four inches. Rain at WDW is just frosting on the cake and more pixie dust!

 

[momofboyz3]

We went late May and just experienced one day of maybe an hour rain... Sooo I took out my disposable ponchos handed 'em out to my 3 boys.... 13, 13 & 9 & this is what happened: ds13 "umm I rather get wet than wear this" ds13 rips it before he even gets it on! Ds9 Maaa this is so uncomfortable. So next year I will invest in better quality ones

 

[Disney_Princess83]

We use nothing. Honestly, if it's raining really hard, we find some cover, grab a snack and wait it out. If it's a lighter drizzle, we just walk in it.

 

[Princess Katherine]

I chose other. Rain does not affect me. I like it because it cools me down.

Katie

 

[elphie101]

My preferred strategy is grab a couple extra merchandise bags and run to Hall of Presidents/Great Movie Ride/Universe of Energy/similar length attraction to wait it out If it's still raining after that well, the park typically becomes less crowded!

In all seriousness though, you wouldn't believe how many children I've seen in the parks who's parents just ripped some holes in a merch bag and tossed on a baseball cap - good to go!

 

[luvsTink]

SO...those of you that don't use any protection rotfl2

Are there disadvantages to this...I mean, if it is 90 degrees and raining, the only things I can think that would be negative is uncomfortable chafing...yes? no? thoughts?

Anne

 

[Sheilby]

Well you could look at it that way or you could look at it this way.
When I am home I probably take out the garbage at least once every 2 days, some times once a day. I'll be gone for 8 days, so at minimum that is 4 less garbage bags from my home that will end up in a landfill. I have a family of 5, we use 1 disposable poncho each for the week, at the end of the week we throw them out. Kind of evens out in the end

You are still using just as much garbage, (and probably more from all the snacks/qs meals) it is just that Disney is taking out the trash. You are joking right?

 

[MattRyan]

For me, it's not the worry of getting my clothes wet, by the worry of getting my shoes wet and having to walk around the rest of the day with dirty socks (I don't wear flip flops or sandals). So, when it rains, I stay put and don't move.

 

[Sheilby]

I can not tolerate being in a plastic bag when it is hot, I'd probably just get a little wet. it didn't rain much when I was down there last time, just a sprinkle here and there. If it was really raining hard and it was cool I'd throw on a poncho.

 

[PoohsFan1]

I buy disposable ponchos (I voted for regular ponchos before I saw disposable ponchos....sorry) cheap at Walmart to use throughout our stay and then get rid of them at the end of our trip. We keep them in our backpack for whenever it starts to rain hard (I buy the ones that fold into a small carrying case), if it is lightly raining we don't worry about them and instead we will do some shopping or catch a show.

 

[larryz]

1) Don poncho
2) Add rainwater
3) Walk vigorously in near-empty park

 

[biondagirl]

We were there last week and we had three occassions of rain. None of them lasted more than a few hours. But, after being caught off guard the first time when we got soaked, I started to pack the ponchos and flip flops everyday. I also had a small umbrella for light rain. There isn't much worse than wet sneakers. Summer clothes dry pretty fast, but sneakers take forever.

When it would first start to rain, we'd try to hide out a bit. But once we realized it was going to last more than a few minutes, we broke out the ponchos and trekked on.

Enjoy your trip. I'm already ready to return.

 

[mattsdragon]

run

 

[minnie mum]

run

Unfortunately I can't run, so we break out the reusable ponchos. We had to retire the venerable yellow Disney ones last year and get new ones. We prefer them over the disposable ones. Nothing to do with waste- I just hate the way they cling. It's like wearing a dry cleaner's bag.

I also have a small telescoping umbrella. It helps keep more of the rain off my wheelchair than just what's covered by me and the poncho. And it really helps when we stop in a smoking area. Ever try to light a cigarette in the pouring rain??

Unless it's a gale force storm, we kind of like touring in the rain.

 

[POOHsie]

We originally used the cheapest disposable ponchos from Walmart. But they tore easily, especially if there's rain and wind. Now we're using $4 ponchos from Walmart's Camping Dept. and they are much better. They're not clear -- they're green or blue or red. A few years ago I started to wear a Ball Cap in the parks for the sun. And it works super with a hooded poncho to keep rain off your face and hair.

One time I wore Easy Spirit comfort sandals, a well-known brand. A "monsoon" hit Epcot and the sidewalks flooded like a runaway river. These shoes came completely apart and I had to throw them away. I ran into MouseGear barefoot and bought some Mickey flip-flops. So the right shoe for the rain is important, especially if your choice isn't flip flops.

 

[kevdo]

Where's the option "Drinks at the bar at the resort"? That's my strategy.

 

[quirty30]

I'm with the folks who voted "other." We own some of the heavier Disney ponchos, and we have umbrellas, but honestly, when we are at the parks, we try to "travel lightly." If it doesn't fit in my cross body bag, it doesn't come with me. My kids are a sturdy 12 and 15. We have a knack for finding shelter when heavy rain is looming (an enclosed ride or attraction, a shop, or a restaurant are all good options.) And on some particularly hot days, a light rain can actually be kind of fun and cooling (when alternately a plastic poncho will make me so hot and sweaty, that I would rather just go without.) We generally visit in the summer when the rain is brief rather than an all day thing. So this method of avoidance usually works pretty well for us.

That being said, one of my fondest memories at WDW was from an early trip. We actually carried our ponchos back then, and we were at Epcot one evening waiting for Illuminations to start. So we were over in WS, which is not the greatest place to be in WDW when an absolutely torrential downpour appears suddenly. There are a lot of wide open spaces and limited options for shelter. Anyway, we were down near Mexico when the skies just opened up. We put on our ponchos and ran, but there were so many people that we couldn't find anywhere to take cover. Besides, the rain was just so heavy that our ponchos really didn't help. But on a bright note, it was pretty easy to find a place right up in front by the lake to watch Illuminations. And the show went on - we watched as we got absolutely drenched. When it ended, we made a mad dash for the monorail. It was still raining and in some spots there were several inches of water on the ground. You couldn't really call them puddles, as much as small ponds of water. If we were dry at all under the ponchos, by the time we made it to the front of FW, we were soaked to the skin. By the time we got on the monorail, we breathed a collective sigh of relief. Then we realized our monorail car was leaking. And then we just laughed it off. I mean, what else could you do? I was so glad we were staying in a 2BR villa at BLT. Clothes went in the washer as soon as we got back.

Anyway, I think my point is, that if the rain is bad enough, no poncho or umbrella is going to keep you truly dry. Unless you have really little ones, I think carrying stuff around in case of rain is just more trouble than it's worth.

 

[cmjensen]

Doesn't Disney replace the ponchos you buy from them for free if they rip or tear?

 

[mfd25wife]

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).

I don't think carrying am umbrella is foolish or rude. I'm just too lazy to deal with them. At least I can roll up a poncho pretty small and stick it in someone's bag.