Give me your best rainy weather advice/supplies!

[glohoffman]

We are going to Disney Labor Day week (our first September trip), and I have heard all the heat/ rain stories. So, I would love all the advice from the experts! We will be staying at the Poly so monorail will be an option to go back to the hotel and rest.

-What are the best shoes to wear with all the rain? I wore Toms in May, and they seemed to work fine, but was wondering if some type of water shoe would be better?

-What is the best type of poncho? We wore the cheapo dollar store ones in May, and they were nice because they were light weight, but they did stick to us a bit.

-What do you wrap your stuff up in? We will have autograph books, and snacks etc. Plus any souvenirs we buy in the parks.

I would love any other tips you can give me!! Want to prepare the best I can for the rain so it doesn't get us down on our trip!

 

[LSUfan4444]

What are the best shoes to wear with all the rain? I wore Toms in May, and they seemed to work fine, but was wondering if some type of water shoe would be better?

The best shoe is a dry shoe. There is no one single "best" type of shoe for everyone. Factors like weight, stride, foot arches, activity level, gait, etc. all can play a factor in the correct shoe choice. The most important factor is getting right right shoe for your foot, that fits correctly.

Avoid cotton socks at all costs. Don't even bother with anything that is comprised of more than 2% cotton. Instead, opt for something that wicks away moisture and that can help with sweat and wetness if it rains.

Bring multiple pairs of tennis shoes in case you do get caught in the rain and bring newspaper to stuff your shoes with if they do get wet.

What is the best type of poncho? We wore the cheapo dollar store ones in May, and they were nice because they were light weight, but they did stick to us a bit.

In the winter or cooler months I bring my rain jacket, but in the warmer months I pack number disposable ponchos and just throw them away when we're done with with them.

What do you wrap your stuff up in? We will have autograph books, and snacks etc. Plus any souvenirs we buy in the parks.

All of our stuff goes into our backpack, but we don't hang out in e driving rain storm or anything. Our food is inside of a plastic bag and then inside of either our backpack or small cooler and any souvenirs we buy we either leave at the front of the park or have delivered to our resort.

 

[SmithSmith]

My DH and I wore Vibram five fingers made from Drilex(?). They'd be considered a water shoe and they were AWESOME! It was the rainiest September on record and while our shoes were completely saturated most of the time, they felt dry to the touch. They also dried very quickly. Now if you're not used to wearing minimalist shoes than I wouldnt suggest them, but I brought it up because I think basic water shoes are a grand idea.

For a poncho I prefer the extra weight of the Disney Ponchos. They worked well for us. I also heard (but not sure) that if they rip Disney will replace them free of charge. Seems more economical than buying disposable ponchos.

We wrapped our stuff in ziploc bags, as well as Disney shopping bags.

One thing I'd definitely consider bringing is a compact umbrella. So many times there was just a light mist of rain while the sun was beating down but had to wear a poncho (even though it was overkill) because it's all I had and ended up sweating to death underneath it.

 

[SmithSmith]

I also carried around a small towel (actually it was a POR wash cloth) so that I could use to dry off my hands or any other body part that was exposed to the elements.

 

[Maggie Lizer]

The last time I went in September, I wore my Teva sandals and that worked well in the rain - no squishy sneakers and soggy socks to worry about.

I brought Dollar Store ponchos and wore them once and tossed - I think I only needed them on 2 or 3 days, but I'd brought 6 of them.

I kept my camera and phone in a ziplock bag in my messenger bag for water rides or rain and that was fine. I usually had merchandise sent back to the resort rather than carry bags around.

 

[KimK2006]

We went for one day the week of Thanksgiving. It rained HARD all morning and much of the afternoon. We were prepared for it as it was forecasted. We opted for raincoats over ponchos. They seemed to work better in those heavy ran conditions. Our shoes were soaked. DHS was our AM park. There was no way to avoid the water. It was standing water EVERYWHERE! Once your feet were wet, we just had to go with it. It was fine. We forgot about wet feet and the monsoon. Still had a great time!

Extra clothes/shoes are essential. We went back to room (POFQ) and dried off before heading off to park #2. Luckily it was scattered showers in the afternoon.

We use ziplock bags for phones. You could use the same for autograph books. If you purchase anything at the park, have it sent to your resort.

If there is only a chance of rain, go with the disposable ponchos. In all of the trips we have had to Disney, this is the first day we have had like we had with the torrential rains. Most likely, if it rains, it will be a short shower and be done. The key is to use a weather app and decide what you need to do/take when you get up in the morning. Staying at Poly, you can easily come back to your room if needed.

 

[hidmickey:myantidrug]

I hate having wet shoes so much that I carry around cheap flip flops and change out of my sneakers whenever it's raining or I go on a water ride. I also carry a spare pair of socks in a baggie that I can change into in case my original socks get wet. It's not the world's most convenient plan, but it's well worth it for me to not have wet shoes.

As for the poncho, I'm not a huge poncho fan at all, but I prefer the thicker ones--think yellow disney ones--to the dollar store ones just because they don't stick to the skin like the cheap ones do. However, the dollar store ones are a lot easier to carry around and can just be thrown out so you don't have to deal with hauling around a wet poncho for the rest of the day. I guess it will come down to how much the skin stick will bother you.

Like a lot of the other posters, I just throw important things in baggies and into the backpack if water will be an issue.

 

[Mikie]

I have foot issues and have to wear good, supportive athletic shoes for Disney - just be sure to bring extra so they have time to dry out - overnight one night is not likely enough for a saturated shoe.

I like quart ziplock for camera and/or phone and autograph books inside a backpack or purse. A ziploc with spare socks and small towel is a great idea if you're expecting full day rains.

I brought dollar store ponchos for a surprise downpour, so they'd be very small & light. I figured I'd buy a the betterDisney ones if it was early in the day or if we expected many days of rain. You really don't know until yo're 2-3 days away, or even next day, so you can't completely plan ahead! We lucked out and only got pouring rain one evening, used the cheapos and then tossed them. We just dealt with drizzle the next day and had sun after that.

If you have little ones, a trash bag to cover a parked stroller is very helpful! Even if you dashed inside to stay dry, your stroller got drenched outside and kiddo has to sit in a puddle.

 

[LSUfan4444]

If you have little ones, a trash bag to cover a parked stroller is very helpful! Even if you dashed inside to stay dry, your stroller got drenched outside and kiddo has to sit in a puddle.

Yeah, stroller overs are a necessity. We opt for $1 shower curtain liners that we secure using binder clips and like the ponchos, we ditch them when we're done with them.

 

[Laz]

I love my Teva sandals! Rain, water rides, whatever, they are wonderful. In the summer, it gets so humid that I get just as wet underneath any rain wear due to sweat. I get so hot, that the rain feels good. For those reasons, I do not use any rain wear. I carry a large, Ziploc-type bag for my phone, wallet, etc. Perfect for water rides or rain.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

First, it's WAY too early to worry about rain! Second, I really wouldn't worry about rain at all. It happens. Getting wet isn't the end of the world. But a few planning tips can help:

Crocs are pretty good in rain. Teva's and the like are also a pretty good option. I also like Ecco three strap sandals (not cheap, and not super great for heavy rain, but able to tolerate a little wet, and very good support). Sometimes cheap flip flops are okay for short usage. They are also compact/light. Crocs come in many styles, but may don't offer all day foot support.

If you can, do invest in relatively new sneakers. (break them in) Old sneakers smell very bad when wet. I've never had to do it, but I read, if they do get wet- stuff full of newspapers to dry them. (WDW has USA Today) One year ours did get wet, and because it was pretty damp every day, they did not dry for several days (before I read that tip).

Also, something called moleskin can be very useful for blisters and the like, though you need a way to cut it up, because it comes in sheets at pharmacies.

Plastic ponchos get debated here. I think one-use cheapos are the way to go. Years ago, we bought WDW ones, but they have gotten rather pricey since then. We still have them somewhere, but they are bulky to pack/carry. Cheapo ones fit in a pocket.

We also have lightweight windbreakers form LLBean. Technically they aren't rain jackets, but they work in light rain. They weren't much $ and fold into one pocket. Other companies make similar ones. (We also started a tradition of buying WDW charms to go on the zipper tab.). I dunno, I don't fret getting wet in the parks all that much. It is hot, you are wet, so what? Go swimming? The only time it bites is if you have a nice dinner ADR.

Heat is probably the bigger factor. It pays to take an afternoon break, until thunderstorm o'clock passes. That is also the downside of having ADR's in Epcot's WS with the new no-show fee. I DO suggest making plans to eat at your home resort. Escape the worst of the heat! The afternoon storm usually only lasts an hour or less, so simply taking an afternoon break is an easy way to avoid it. Then again, one August it was so cool, we wore long pants at night! Too early to fret about weather. Get up early.

Then again, we didn't find the Poly the best resort for that time of year. At Poly, going on the monorail means you HAVE to brave the elements on uncovered walkways. That's why we liked CR much better. From CR, you can get to ANY dining on the monorail loop without exposure (except Narcoosee's), and arrive to dinner looking civilized.

Then again, we swapped Sept trips for August trips. August = lots of late night hours. After the storm passes, FL is nice.

We usually like to walk at WDW- say Epcot to HS - because it is faster. In hot, it helps to take the boat/train that loops MK. If you have to make a transfer that would be complicated (Via WDW transportation options), suck it up and either get a rental car- or take a taxi. It is money well spent.

Also toss in a few opportunities to escape the heat. We don't plan it, or do it every day- but sometimes non-MK, you can get walk up lunches in TS places with AC. You might also throw in a few indoor shows....but....I WILL NOT wait 45minutes standing on blacktop to see the Nemo Show at AK. See the China movie in Epcot- that kind of show.

Wrapping stuff? Again, I don't worry too much about rain. We DO carry water, and wrap the water in 2gallon Ziploc-style bags.

Otherwise, in summer, it REALLY pays to carry the minimum. Carrying a backpack is miserable in the heat. (sweat factor). If you know you are taking an afternoon break- - just bring enough water to get through to 1pm-ish, and rain ponchos. instead of autograph books- consider just a few sheets of paper that you later glue into the book. I don't carry what I buy- I have it delivered. I don't buy much, but WDW will deliver items to your WDW resort for free. If you prefer- or are offsite- they will hold it for you at the front of the park. You just have to remember to get it. Mostly we just do hotel delivery - or - we only buy stuff late in the day - on our way out of the park.

We don't bring a lot of snacks, but if we do it is things like oranges and granola bars wrapped in waterproof wrapping. You could use the 2-gallon ziplock.

Last summer, I found a backpack cooler. It isn't very big, and did keep water cold. It was also fairly waterproof. The only problem was - like I said- it was backpack. We didn't carry it every day, or all day. (It was more useful for our spring hiking) the brand is embark and I bought it at Target for about $20. It also has has very nice padded straps. Those little drawstring bags get uncomfortable all day.

Avoid mister fans. They make us feel sticky, not refreshed.When not raining, it pays to actually try to stay on the dry side. Wicking materials.

Do bring plenty of sunscreen. (apply it as you are leaving your hotel room) And water. Drink LOTS of water! Request extra ice water with every meal, and refill your plastic bottle (at least at QS dining.) Label your plastic bottle with a Sharpie. I have a midget Sharpie.

I also carry a tiny tube of hand sanitizer.

The stuff we carry- I replenish at night if I need to. - like refilling the hand sanitizer tube. I just carry a tiny tube of sunscreen. (in case we forget to apply in the am; I have just enough to coat everyone.)

Funny though, last year- DH forgot one day. We found someone applying sunscreen, and offered them $2 for a squirt. We made a quick friend in the process.

If you are staying Poly...well...you might just want to look at staying Club level! Read about it, and see if it is right for you. "Thunderstorm o'clock" just happens to coincide pretty well with appetizer hour. The Poly lounge has a giant picture window facing MK. It won't cover all your food by any means, but it will cover breakfast, much of your beverages, adult beverages (beer/wine/cordials), afternoon sweets, evening appetizers, and late night desserts (8-10pm). (Pairs well with non-buffets) You still will probably want a light lunch, light dinner.

 

[JimmyV]

If heavy rain is in the forecast for a day, plan to spend that day in Epcot. The pavilions there have lots of things to do and look at, and most storms in FL don't last all day. You can ride out a 2 hour storm in the Living Seas alone and not feel as if you missed a beat. Innoventions is also a great place to spend 90 minutes to an hour and not feel as if you are wasting time. At all of the other parks, you tend to bounce from attraction to attraction and constantly find yourself in the rain. But if you want to escape a driving typhoon, Future World (and to a lesser extent, World Showcase) is the place to do it.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Yeah, stroller overs are a necessity. We opt for $1 shower curtain liners that we secure using binder clips and like the ponchos, we ditch them when we're done with them.

Yes, unless you have the kind of mesh stroller that is instant dry. Having the shade tent feature is also helpful, as is the cup holder, and carry basket.

I once saw someone with a clear Ziploc style bag for the back of the stroller that looked great for non-valuables.

We also found it helpful to tie a bright ribbon to our stroller, or put stickers on it- that make it stand out from the crowd, as many folks do with luggage. curling ribbon and stickers are hard to remove quickly.

 

[glohoffman]

First, it's WAY too early to worry about rain! Second, I really wouldn't worry about rain at all. It happens. Getting wet isn't the end of the world. But a few planning tips can help:

Crocs are pretty good in rain. Teva's and the like are also a pretty good option. I also like Ecco three strap sandals (not cheap, and not super great for heavy rain, but able to tolerate a little wet, and very good support). Sometimes cheap flip flops are okay for short usage. They are also compact/light. Crocs come in many styles, but may don't offer all day foot support.

If you can, do invest in relatively new sneakers. (break them in) Old sneakers smell very bad when wet. I've never had to do it, but I read, if they do get wet- stuff full of newspapers to dry them. (WDW has USA Today) One year ours did get wet, and because it was pretty damp every day, they did not dry for several days (before I read that tip).

Also, something called moleskin can be very useful for blisters and the like, though you need a way to cut it up, because it comes in sheets at pharmacies.

Plastic ponchos get debated here. I think one-use cheapos are the way to go. Years ago, we bought WDW ones, but they have gotten rather pricey since then. We still have them somewhere, but they are bulky to pack/carry. Cheapo ones fit in a pocket.

We also have lightweight windbreakers form LLBean. Technically they aren't rain jackets, but they work in light rain. They weren't much $ and fold into one pocket. Other companies make similar ones. (We also started a tradition of buying WDW charms to go on the zipper tab.). I dunno, I don't fret getting wet in the parks all that much. It is hot, you are wet, so what? Go swimming? The only time it bites is if you have a nice dinner ADR.

Heat is probably the bigger factor. It pays to take an afternoon break, until thunderstorm o'clock passes. That is also the downside of having ADR's in Epcot's WS with the new no-show fee. I DO suggest making plans to eat at your home resort. Escape the worst of the heat! The afternoon storm usually only lasts an hour or less, so simply taking an afternoon break is an easy way to avoid it. Then again, one August it was so cool, we wore long pants at night! Too early to fret about weather. Get up early.

Then again, we didn't find the Poly the best resort for that time of year. At Poly, going on the monorail means you HAVE to brave the elements on uncovered walkways. That's why we liked CR much better. From CR, you can get to ANY dining on the monorail loop without exposure (except Narcoosee's), and arrive to dinner looking civilized.

Then again, we swapped Sept trips for August trips. August = lots of late night hours. After the storm passes, FL is nice.

We usually like to walk at WDW- say Epcot to HS - because it is faster. In hot, it helps to take the boat/train that loops MK. If you have to make a transfer that would be complicated (Via WDW transportation options), suck it up and either get a rental car- or take a taxi. It is money well spent.

Also toss in a few opportunities to escape the heat. We don't plan it, or do it every day- but sometimes non-MK, you can get walk up lunches in TS places with AC. You might also throw in a few indoor shows....but....I WILL NOT wait 45minutes standing on blacktop to see the Nemo Show at AK. See the China movie in Epcot- that kind of show.

Wrapping stuff? Again, I don't worry too much about rain. We DO carry water, and wrap the water in 2gallon Ziploc-style bags.

Otherwise, in summer, it REALLY pays to carry the minimum. Carrying a backpack is miserable in the heat. (sweat factor). If you know you are taking an afternoon break- - just bring enough water to get through to 1pm-ish, and rain ponchos. instead of autograph books- consider just a few sheets of paper that you later glue into the book. I don't carry what I buy- I have it delivered. I don't buy much, but WDW will deliver items to your WDW resort for free. If you prefer- or are offsite- they will hold it for you at the front of the park. You just have to remember to get it. Mostly we just do hotel delivery - or - we only buy stuff late in the day - on our way out of the park.

We don't bring a lot of snacks, but if we do it is things like oranges and granola bars wrapped in waterproof wrapping. You could use the 2-gallon ziplock.

Last summer, I found a backpack cooler. It isn't very big, and did keep water cold. It was also fairly waterproof. The only problem was - like I said- it was backpack. We didn't carry it every day, or all day. (It was more useful for our spring hiking) the brand is embark and I bought it at Target for about $20. It also has has very nice padded straps. Those little drawstring bags get uncomfortable all day.

Avoid mister fans. They make us feel sticky, not refreshed.When not raining, it pays to actually try to stay on the dry side. Wicking materials.

Do bring plenty of sunscreen. (apply it as you are leaving your hotel room) And water. Drink LOTS of water! Request extra ice water with every meal, and refill your plastic bottle (at least at QS dining.) Label your plastic bottle with a Sharpie. I have a midget Sharpie.

I also carry a tiny tube of hand sanitizer.

The stuff we carry- I replenish at night if I need to. - like refilling the hand sanitizer tube. I just carry a tiny tube of sunscreen. (in case we forget to apply in the am; I have just enough to coat everyone.)

Funny though, last year- DH forgot one day. We found someone applying sunscreen, and offered them $2 for a squirt. We made a quick friend in the process.

If you are staying Poly...well...you might just want to look at staying Club level! Read about it, and see if it is right for you. "Thunderstorm o'clock" just happens to coincide pretty well with appetizer hour. The Poly lounge has a giant picture window facing MK. It won't cover all your food by any means, but it will cover breakfast, much of your beverages, adult beverages (beer/wine/cordials), afternoon sweets, evening appetizers, and late night desserts (8-10pm). (Pairs well with non-buffets) You still will probably want a light lunch, light dinner.

I am not worried, I just like to slowly get all the things we need throughout planning months so I am not buying it all at once right before the trip. Thank you for all the tips

 

[glohoffman]

Thanks for all of the tips so far! I will be looking up the shoes everyone has recommended! I have flat feet, so I tend to do better in shoes such as Toms, or sandals, etc. One day I wore some expensive Nikes and my feet hurt worse than when I wore my Toms..

Would you guys suggest park hoppers? We didn't do them last time, but I wonder if they would be better to hop to Epcot like suggested if its pouring? I find it kind of overwhelming to plan ADRs and FP+ with the thought of jumping around though

 

[JimmyV]

Thanks for all of the tips so far! I will be looking up the shoes everyone has recommended! I have flat feet, so I tend to do better in shoes such as Toms, or sandals, etc. One day I wore some expensive Nikes and my feet hurt worse than when I wore my Toms..

Would you guys suggest park hoppers? We didn't do them last time, but I wonder if they would be better to hop to Epcot like suggested if its pouring? I find it kind of overwhelming to plan ADRs and FP+ with the thought of jumping around though

Hopping is only a good strategy if the rain is scheduled to persist all day. But if that were the case, then I would start out at Epcot to begin the day, so hopping wouldn't be necessary. Most rain storms are limited in time, so by the time you leave one park and hop to another, the rain may have come and gone. In other words, if you are in the MK and it starts to rain at 2:00 and the satellite images show that it will end at 4:00, hopping won't really be advantageous unless perhaps you are going from DHS to Epcot which takes about 30 minutes. As far as FP+ is concerned, if you are there in September and it starts to pour, the lower crowds coupled with the fact that the rain will drive many people away all add up to shorter lines and increased FP+ availability.

 

[ZoZo]

Would you guys suggest park hoppers? We didn't do them last time, but I wonder if they would be better to hop to Epcot like suggested if its pouring? I find it kind of overwhelming to plan ADRs and FP+ with the thought of jumping around though

You can always add the hopper option after arrival, if needed. I'd recommend NOT adding it to your base tickets ahead of time, if the only reason you might hop is if it rains. That way, you don't have to spend the money until/if you decide you want to hop.

 

[glohoffman]

Hopping is only a good strategy if the rain is scheduled to persist all day. But if that were the case, then I would start out at Epcot to begin the day, so hopping wouldn't be necessary. Most rain storms are limited in time, so by the time you leave one park and hop to another, the rain may have come and gone. In other words, if you are in the MK and it starts to rain at 2:00 and the satellite images show that it will end at 4:00, hopping won't really be advantageous unless perhaps you are going from DHS to Epcot which takes about 30 minutes. As far as FP+ is concerned, if you are there in September and it starts to pour, the lower crowds coupled with the fact that the rain will drive many people away all add up to shorter lines and increased FP+ availability.

So would hopping still be beneficial for ADRs? We plan on doing some character meals, so I always feel less able to "wing it" on the park because of those.

 

[glohoffman]

You can always add the hopper option after arrival, if needed. I'd recommend NOT adding it to your base tickets ahead of time, if the only reason you might hop is if it rains. That way, you don't have to spend the money until/if you decide you want to hop.

I love the idea of hopping, and I feel like it gives a little more freedom...just not sure I will use it enough or feel it is worth it. But again...I have never used it lol