Homemade raingear anyone?

[gib4]

Hi All! We are about three weeks out from our WDW trip! I want to be reasonably prepared for all types of weather. I read one time that you can spray scotch guard on clothes to aid in water resistance. Has anyone ever tried it? Most of us have rain coats but our legs would still get wet in the case of rain. I thought I could pick up some cheap sweats and spray them but want to make sure it works! Thanks!

 

[fakereadhed]

Is this for real?

How about just bring the sweats along and change into them if your pants get wet?

 

[Emme]

Scotchguard??

Gee, I have never heard of this ? Maybe you could just buy a rain poncho at the Dollar Store. Probably a bit cheaper and they tend to be pretty large and hang down to almost my mid calf.

 

[Mousemom]

I just went to the dollar store today and picked up a few packages of ponchos. We like the fact we can toss them when we are done (no wet things to deal with) and they are cheap.

 

[duffy]

I did the same thing today. Pack of 2 ponchos for $1. I bought a pack for each of us, so that meant 4 packs. I thought about getting just 2 packs so we'd only each have one, but I thought what the heck and decided to splurge.

 

[rsquare]

DW and I have never worried about the rain at Disney. Getting wet is just part of the fun! I think we've had even more fun getting caught in the rain at the parks than on the dry days. It's all part of the Disney experience.

You can look back at your vacation pics and say "remember when we rode Big Thunder Mountain six times in a row in the rain cause no one else wanted to get wet? Boy did we look like drowned rats after that! I can't wait to do it again!" (True Story!)

 

[praline3001]

I just went to the dollar store today and picked up a few packages of ponchos. We like the fact we can toss them when we are done (no wet things to deal with) and they are cheap.

I did the same thing!!! I hate trying to refold those things.
I had some large rubber bands at the house so I wrapped 5 packs up in 2 rubber bands before putting them in the suitcase. That way they all stay together and I just have to yank out one of my rubber band sets for our family.

 

[duffy]

DW and I have never worried about the rain at Disney. Getting wet is just part of the fun! I think we've had even more fun getting caught in the rain at the parks than on the dry days. It's all part of the Disney experience.

You can look back at your vacation pics and say "remember when we rode Big Thunder Mountain six times in a row in the rain cause no one else wanted to get wet? Boy did we look like drowned rats after that! I can't wait to do it again!" (True Story!)

I did the same thing when we went in September, but we're going in the first week of February. (leaving home 2 weeks from today!!) If the temperature is only in the 50's, I don't relish the idea of being soaked for hours.

 

[gib4]

I agree! I don't relish the idea of being wet in February (unless I am in Hawaii )!! I think I WILL spray my backpack that we are taking into the parks with Scotch guard. Are rain ponchos going to be so big on my kids (ages 6 & 9) that they will be tripping over them? My 2 year old will be in a stroller so we would just put one over her and everything else!

 

[praline3001]

I do have to admit the ones who play in the rain get the best places in line!!!
We did this one day when there was a complete downpour the entire day.. it was summer so cold wasn't an issue. By evening I swear there might have been 5 families in the whole park
We were able to ride everything several times ... walking to the rides took longer than standing in the line!!!

The trick to doing Disney in the rain is to have a great sense of humor with it.
If you go with the mindset that the rain can be FUN and aren't worried about looking like a drowned rat you will have a blast.

My kids are looking forward to it raining while we are there as its the only time I let them play in the rain

 

[Mrs. Bee]

Personally, I enjoy going to Disney parks in the rain. The crowds are usually smaller (at least that was always the case at Disneyland.)

Light rain doesn't bother me at all...as long as I wear a hat with a bill to keep the rain off my glasses. It rained a little on our recent trip to WDW but it wasn't too bad. We saw tons of people in full raingear for a light drizzle.

If it happens to be a heavy downpour, I'm all about raingear. We were at Disneyland last November and it poured all day long. The poncho was useless. The worst part were my soaked feet/shoes/socks. It was miserable. So before our WDW trip, we bought rainsuits (pants and a jacket) from Bass Pro Shop. They were only $15 each and not too ugly looking. They didn't take up too much space in our luggage. Thankfully I only needed to wear the jacket for an hour or so. Most of the time it was in a locker.

I'd rather be safe than sorry. Being completely soaked in no fun at all. I figured for $15...why not? I'll be bringing that rainsuit on every trip from now on.

 

[triton45]

Are rain ponchos going to be so big on my kids (ages 6 & 9) that they will be tripping over them?

We took children sized ponchos (dollar store) and they fit my 48in child.

Andy

 

[Beehn]

When I was a kid at Disney the park ran out of rain ponchos (I don't think that happens anymore)...My parents dresses us three kids in garbage bags. I was the oldest and so embarrassed...but now when we look at the pictures they are pretty funny!

 

[MichelleinMaine]

It makes a nylon windbreaker water repellant (somewhat) but not water-proof, like an actual raincoat.

I don't think it would work at all with your typical cotton sweat pants. I imagine the material would just soak it up (vs forming a layer on the outside?)

If you truly don't want to wear/carry around rain gear, your best bet would be to wear non-cotton clothes. You would still be wet, but something like nylon or polyester exercise pants and a fleece or poly/nylon jacket will dry faster than their cotton counterparts (say denim or sweat suits...)

 

[Mousemom]

Being from the Pacific Northwest our family is used to rain but do not want to walk around WDW with wet cloths. One year, before we took rain gear, we got caught in a down poor and my son was wearing shorts that rubbed his leg raw. It was a bummer. We do have a picture of him from a couple years ago standing in the rain at EPCOT soaked to the bone because the rain gear is "too stupid to wear." Even though it was warm outside going into air conditioned buildings he froze. I don't mind the rain and love going to the parks when it is pouring because it seems many people leave and us die hards are left to enjoy the day.