Disney Rain Ponchos?

[jenhelgren]

Are the Disney rain ponchos a higher quality than the ones sold at Walmart/Target? We will be visiting during September and I want to bring some with us this year. I know it will be much cheaper to purchase the Disney ponchos before our trip than in the parks when it starts to rain

Just wondering if they last and are fairly tear proof or if we are better off just grabbing some at Walmart/Target.

 

[juliebug1997]

I think they're a slightly higher quality than Target/Walmart (IMO). There were three of us on the trip last week and we got them for $8-ish a piece. When my friend's started ripping, the manager at Mouse Gears offered her a fresh one. It was tearing at the neckline and not protecting her clothes. There was a small hole in the back on mine and my other friend had a small tear near one of the snaps, but they were still in fairly decent condition otherwise. I would just get them at Disney, but that's just me.

 

[allysetraskos]

Yes in the camping section thy also have child/youth sized ones.. We made the mistake of going to a dollar store for them which tore so easy and were all one size..

 

[ZoZo]

I bought a Frogg Toggs brand poncho at Walmart for my trip in February. I loved this poncho! It's lightweight but sturdy (tear-resistent), and breathable (which is a real plus!). It compresses down fairly small into a storage pouch. It was a little more expensive than the WDW ponchos, but I know I'll use it for years to come. It cost about $12.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Frogg-Toggs-Adult-Ultra-Lite2-Poncho/23554911

 

[MOREMICKEYFORME]

I second Juliebug. We bought ours about 6 years ago and if there is ever a rip, tear, hole, etc they will give you a new one for free. Mine has never torn, but hubby's did and no questions asked-he was handed a new one.

 

[Sandi]

Are the Disney rain ponchos a higher quality than the ones sold at Walmart/Target? We will be visiting during September and I want to bring some with us this year. I know it will be much cheaper to purchase the Disney ponchos before our trip than in the parks when it starts to rain

Just wondering if they last and are fairly tear proof or if we are better off just grabbing some at Walmart/Target.

I like the Disney ponchos. I've purchased several and usually remember to bring them back. When extended family come, I will remember and make them all carry one for the inevitable afternoon rain shower. My dad is always surprised that they are in such good shape.

 

[trekker93]

We have used ours for the last 4 years and will use them again this year. We bought them in the MK when there was a horrific downpour one day and the cheaper ones we had from bldg19 ripped apart.

 

[jenhelgren]

They sell the Disney ponchos at Disneystore.com and they are listed as "parks authentic". I wonder if we purchased them online if they are identical and would still be replaced free of charge if they failed on us during the trip

 

[katt789]

Yes, they are definitely higher quality.

Dollar store/target ones I find would rip after one or two uses, where as the disney bought ones last all week (and probably longer if we didn't leave) we always buy them, ask for a small bag, fold them up into it after the rain is done and are sure to air them out once we get back to the hotel.

 

[BensWife]

We thought the quality was pretty good. However, one of ours ripped, but what was nice is they are guaranteed, so we took it to the nearest shop and had it replaced! It was nice! (Plus, our kids liked the Disney ones because of the picture of Mickey on them!

 

[Tricia732]

My last trip was 15 years ago and we all had the Disney ponchos. The problem was, at that time all the ponchos were yellow, so when there was a shower and everyone donned ponchos, it was difficult to keep tabs on your family as everyone looked alike. Are they still yelllow? I'm leaving for WDW on Sun., and I'm bringing mine along. It would be great if they were a different color now.

 

[ptlohmysoul]

Wow! We didn't know they were guaranteed. We bought one for each of us, then replaced one that ripped by buying another one this last trip. Hopefully, I saved it and we can replace it on our next trip. Thanks!

 

[dreamit]

I have been planning on bringing a supply of ponchos from the camping section at Target, with the plan to just toss after use, but now I'm rethinking this plan.

 

[nkereina]

First trip, we bought Dollar Tree ponchos. We were soaked to the bone. Second trip, we bought Coleman ones from the camping section at Dick's. Great quality, a hassle to lug with us when they were calling for rain. Now and going forward, we will buy Disney ponchos when and where we need it - IF we need it. We got caught with no ponchos in rain storm so we coughed up the $8 (I think?) per person and bought the Disney ones and were very happy with them. Good quality, everyone had them on, relatively cheap considering the cost of good quality ones at home. Plus they'll replace them if they rip, and they are easy to find in the stores when it's raining. We'll now rely on being them there if we need them.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Yes they are higher quality. But that comes with a considerable offset- they are much bulkier.

We have several sets of WDW ponchos from years' past. From what I understand the price has gone up quite a bit since we last bought ours. I never pack them because the inexpensive ones are much more compact. I can carry the Target kind in my pocket.

Part of the thing with ponchos is that once you unfold them, it's nearly impossible to get them to ever be compact again.

We've tried reusing the inexpensive kind. If they are at all damp when folded, they will smell very musty the next day. If we use them, we may refold them for same-day use- but usually toss them at the end of the day. (unless we don't have more)

What I try to do, is to avoid using them in the first place. WDW rain is often a 15minute outburst. The best option is simply to wait it out.

If one is truly faced with rain drenched vacation, then spending a week inside the heavy ponchos is more preferable.

Summer can be a hot beast. After a heavy downburst, you'll see some unfortunate folks wearing plastic ponchos in 90 degree sun! I am always tempted to say something. I resist, but I can't imagine that it is very pleasant to be sweating inside a giant plastic bag in the hot sun! or that it smells very good!

 

[ktlm]

We had always just bought Disney ones if we needed them, but a couple of years ago we brought Target ones ourselves. They weren't the trash bag dollar types, there were the supposedly better ones. Supposedly they were longer than Disney ponchos, so they would keep us dryer. When it started raining, we put them on. Mine the water started coming in around my neck and around the hood unless I pulled it so low I couldn't see. DH had water coming in around his hood. DD had a childs and basically either her hood was covering her face, or her head was totally wet. After about 5 minutes, we wound up buying Disney ponchos and pitching the Target ones in a trash can. We won't ever bring our own again (except for maybe the dollar ones for one ride on Splash or Kali if it is cool outside). We will stick with the Disney ones if it is raining. I also bought some expensive sports ones to wear to football games one year- we usually wear our Disney ones, but thought it would be fun to have our team logo ones. One wear of that, and I was back to the Disney ones at football games. Again, neck and hood water issues. I think the Disney ponchos are great! We've got ones at home we have been using for years. We never seem to bring them back to WDW though, so we are always buying new.

 

[LeeLee'sMom]

My last trip was 15 years ago and we all had the Disney ponchos. The problem was, at that time all the ponchos were yellow, so when there was a shower and everyone donned ponchos, it was difficult to keep tabs on your family as everyone looked alike. Are they still yelllow? I'm leaving for WDW on Sun., and I'm bringing mine along. It would be great if they were a different color now.

The ones we purchased last were white (kind of semi-see through)
We always use the Disney ponchos..plus the guarantee is worth it.

 

[skywaywaver]

When we were on our last trip to Florida, we got caught in an extended downpour at Sea World. We had the cheapie dollar store ponchos. Never again. I will buy some to drape over the stroller but that is it.

I did just buy 2 blue adult Coleman ponchos with a mesh pouch from Target last night for $7 each. The children ones were more expensive for some reason so we just decided that if we need ponchos for the kids, we'll buy Disney ones, especially now that I know about the guarantee. My kids would like them better to have something Disney on them anyway.

I carry a backpack anyway so it's just another thing in there.

 

[Sandy Fisher]

We've had our original yellow ones for more years than I can recall. We would fold the wet side to the "inside" when we went into an attraction or on a ride and then when we got back outside if we needed the poncho, we'd put the dry side on and good to go.
Some years ago when they changed to the clear ones we bought two more. Still have them. Still took them when it looked like a chance of rain. We lived down there 5+ years and a chance of rain in FL is a pretty sure thing.
I'd never buy cheaper ones even if you planned to just pitch them after your trip (if they lasted that long).
They are great souvenirs and we used them often. Now they're handy if someone is going camping, etc.
They're heavier than newer materials, but that kept them from blowing around too. Someone mentioned everyone wearing yellow ponchos........I have a picture from when the sky ride was still operating and we were in line on a rainy day. So many yellow ponchos in that picture.

 

[Minniedap]

We were there last week and it rained a lot. We had a large group. Some brought dollar ponchos, some bought the Wal-Mart ones, and I had the original yellow Disney ponchos we have been using for years. The dollar store ones were useless in the heavy rains. The Wal-mart ones split down the middle. The old Disney ponchos still held up. By the end of the trip the others in the group purchased the Disney ponchos. When I get home, I wash the ponchos in the machine on gentle and hang them out to dry.