Can I get some poncho advice?

[higdonk]

We are going to WDW in a little over three weeks. I know I need ponchos, but I don't know which ones to get. There are 5 of us, 2 adults and 3 kids (14, 11, and 6). The two older ones are tall and would likely use adult size ponchos. I am torn between spending a bit more on more durable ones and not wanting to lug them around and have to fold up wet ponchos once it stops raining etc or buying a lot of the cheap ones and not worrying about folding them up just throwing them away, but those are likely useless in a rain all day situation. Advice? Links to the most awesome ponchos ever? Help?

Thx.

 

[JerseyJanice]

If I were you, I would bring Ziplock bags and buy the ponchos at Disney. The Ziplocks are to store them wet as I've never been able to get them back inside the pouch they are sold with.

The quality of the Disney ponchos is excellent, and you reuse them for years. I have some still perfectly usable from 2010. Those puppies went through Matthew last year and are still with us.

 

[jsbowl16]

We leave in a week and we always buy enough to use two per day per person of the disposable kind. One for the morning and one for the evening as we take an afternoon break each day. We never use all of them but they never go bad. It is much easier to dispose of them then it is to carry around five wet ponchos all day. I would be worried that using the same one over and over and it would start to smell or even grow mold after awhile. We usually just buy packs of ten from Amazon.

 

[gap2368]

I buy the cheep ones that are $1 some times you can get 2 for $1 they are small enough they do not take up a lot of room and I will have 2 or 3 in my back pack they also do not have the buckles ( snaps ) on the side where rain can get in and sock what ever is in you pockets ( AKA your cell phone )

 

[JerseyJanice]

We leave in a week and we always buy enough to use two per day per person of the disposable kind. One for the morning and one for the evening as we take an afternoon break each day. We never use all of them but they never go bad. It is much easier to dispose of them then it is to carry around five wet ponchos all day. I would be worried that using the same one over and over and it would start to smell or even grow mold after awhile. We usually just buy packs of ten from Amazon.

If you don't store the Disney ponchos wet, they stay fine. I put mine in a Ziplock while we're indoors so they're not making a mess or picking up dirt. But then I hang them to dry back at the room in the bathroom or outside.

I wouldn't use them if they smelled or had mold on them. Some plastics are good at repelling microbial growth. It's why plastic containers are used to package so many products like food and personal care stuff like shampoo and laundry detergent.

 

[blueelephant]

I've always gotten the cheap ones, they have always worked out fine. I just find it easier to throw them away instead of carrying wet ponchos all day.

 

[Shanti]

We are going to WDW in a little over three weeks. I know I need ponchos, but I don't know which ones to get. There are 5 of us, 2 adults and 3 kids (14, 11, and 6). The two older ones are tall and would likely use adult size ponchos. I am torn between spending a bit more on more durable ones and not wanting to lug them around and have to fold up wet ponchos once it stops raining etc or buying a lot of the cheap ones and not worrying about folding them up just throwing them away, but those are likely useless in a rain all day situation. Advice? Links to the most awesome ponchos ever? Help?

Thx.

It likely won't rain all day at WDW, but rather just for a few hours at a time. I carry lightweight ponchos (not the heavy kind they sell at WDW shops) purchased at a sporting goods store. They are easy to carry and have stood up to use on repeated trips. I carry one plastic grocery bag in my shoulder bag to stuff them into & tie closed after using them during the day. No need for elaborate folding or wet belongings. I let them dry out on our resort balcony each night. Works just fine for us.

I personally don't like the heavy ones- not pleasant to wear and I make a point not to carry heavy items in my bag while touring the parks.

 

[terri33inne]

We use the Disney ones, and they are awesome. Also, they will exchange them for a new one if one rips. We keep them in ziploc bags... if folded properly you can get them quite small. I also always pack flip flops if rain is predicted so we don't have wet shoes for the rest of the day. This past trip my daughter was 9 (about to be 10), and she carried her own small bag to the parks with her poncho & flip flops in it. Then I had a small cross body with mine in it. Once back at the room we hang them to dry, and have never had a mold/mildew issue. I've used them for multiple trips now.

 

[geekbri]

We use the Disney ones, and they are awesome. Also, they will exchange them for a new one if one rips. We keep them in ziploc bags... if folded properly you can get them quite small. I also always pack flip flops if rain is predicted so we don't have wet shoes for the rest of the day. This past trip my daughter was 9 (about to be 10), and she carried her own small bag to the parks with her poncho & flip flops in it. Then I had a small cross body with mine in it. Once back at the room we hang them to dry, and have never had a mold/mildew issue. I've used them for multiple trips now.

Packing flip flops is so much more vital than the quality of the poncho in my experience. I usually buy the $1 ones at target and just pack a bunch as I usually don't re-use them.

 

[bryanb]

I purchased $1 or $2 clear disposable ponchos from Target a few years ago. For most rain, they probably would've worked just fine.

I was caught in a heavy, fast-moving storm and the lightweight plastic would not stay put in the wind, causing me to be completely soaked. Since then, I have preferred slightly sturdier material. It seems that even a slightly better material would've made a big difference in that kind of weather.

But for the most part, the $1 and $2 ponchos are probably fine.

If you decide to go with a sturdier material, the Disney ones are great. Or you can also buy a similar version made by Coleman at Target or other retailers.

 

[Micca]

Another fan of buy 'em cheap & throw 'em away here.

 

[han22735]

We also only buy the dollar ones and toss after. Nothing worse than lugging around wet ponchos.

 

[vinotinto]

We bring Disney ponchos and reuse them. I'm too thrifty to spend $1 every time it rains. Plus, we usually travel September-October and it's not just a quick rain in the afternoon; we've experienced all day rain.

 

[Coral Reef Diver]

It's good to hear talk about people staying in the parks and getting rain ponchos. I love being in the theme park during a Florida microburst. Half the park leaves, the sun comes out after a half hour, and there are no lines anywhere. It's like EMH touring, but at midday.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I take both to WDW and check the weather in the AM.

1) the small emergency ponchos are extremely lightweight. Two are the size of a pack of cards but aren't much thicker than plastic sandwich bags. You can find them in the fishing section of most big box stores for under $1. They are with us at all times and are one time use. My DD uses them for splash and Kali.

2) If rain is in the forecast we bring our Disney ponchos. They can handle a heavy downpour. They are much thicker but 4 of them can be squished into 1 gallon ziplock bag and are kept in a small string packpack. I recommend wearing them with a baseball cap to keep it off your face for better vision. They do need to be dried out before repackaging. So stringing wet, dripping ponchos over your room is tiresome.

 

[fly girl]

We used the cheap dollar store ponchos for years. Then, one year I forgot to pack them and of course, it rained. Had to shell out the cash for Disney ponchos.

Wow! What a difference. Yes, lugging them wet isn't ideal, but like PP's said dry it out on your hotel balcony once you return to your room. And, you're not fighting with the darn thing to keep you dry -- those cheap ones fly or stick to your leg so easily. One of our Disney ponchos yellowed (idk how) but we exchanged it with no problem on our last visit. BTW, we have owned them for at least 4 years.

 

[maxiesmom]

I tried to use the dollar store ponchos one trip. They are all but useless in anything other than a very light rain. The Disney ones are so worth spending extra on, it isn't even close, imho.

 

[jsbowl16]

If you don't store the Disney ponchos wet, they stay fine. I put mine in a Ziplock while we're indoors so they're not making a mess or picking up dirt. But then I hang them to dry back at the room in the bathroom or outside.

I wouldn't use them if they smelled or had mold on them. Some plastics are good at repelling microbial growth. It's why plastic containers are used to package so many products like food and personal care stuff like shampoo and laundry detergent.

It might be the magic plastic that Disney uses that prevents microbial growth.

 

[22Tink]

I'm the only one who uses a poncho in my family and I just buy the cheap ones and toss after I use them. I don't do many wet rides so one or two per trip is good for me. I can't be bothered to pack around a wet poncho. The cheap ones may not cover 100% but they're good enough for me!

ETA We've never had a rainy trip I've never used the ponchos in the rain, only on rides

 

[Nick6300]

Another cheap poncho user. We have baseball caps to put on over hood, keep hood from blowing off. It would be nice to use the sturdier ones, but we carry so much stuff as is. At least we've learned not to take umbrellas. I know someone here found a lightweight Columbia raincoat that could be folded up to fit in a little container. She'd take a rag to wipe it dry first.

This aug trip, expecting rain every day. We just ordered keen waterproof sandals for Ea of us, not taking shoes.