Please help me decide: raingear?

[minniebeth]

Hi there, I'm down to the nitty gritty in packing and I really need advice on whether or not to bring all our rain gear....we are leaving on Sunday for a week and so far the forecast looks like it will be clear. We are not checking luggage (Skybus charges for checking bags and we want to travel light to just go instead of claiming luggage.) Does the weather change quickly?
In Florida, I would never not have it with the way it rains there, but not sure about So. Cal....
What would you do?
Thanks!

 

[MagicalMomAZ]

Well if you just throw some umbrellas in there it should keep any surprise rain at bay! You know how when you're prepared you never need it!

 

[grumpyvet]

Okay, it occassionally rains, but almost never a real rain (like you have in Columbus--I am an OSU grad...worked in Gahanna for 6 years following graduation). We just get a worthless spitty type of drizzle.
And generally we won't see rain until November. So, leave your rain gear at home...you will be glad you did!!! Have fun! Amy

 

[CardinalsFan]

Just in case, I bought 8 rain ponchos on eBay for $1 each, and lucky me, the seller was in the same city as me, so I got to pick 'em up without paying for shipping. They're packaged so each is about the size of a small sandwich, easy to put 4 in a backpack in case it rains. If it does rain, we'll take 'em out, put 'em on, and when the rain is over, throw 'em away. Then, next time we're back in the hotel, we'll put the other 4 in the backpack in case it rains again.

I've heard that Target sometimes has $1 ponchos available in the dollar bins...

 

[flyinshirer]

You could always run to Target if it plans to rain once you are there. Then you wouldn't have to pack them.

3 years ago when we went, it was schedule to pour while we were there. I bought ponchos and umbrellas. We were set. But did it rain? NO! It poured when we got there but we were going to the hotel anyways. We were kinda bummed that we missed the rain though.

Good luck what ever you decide to do.

 

[spokanemom]

At Dollar Tree stores, they sell ponchos for 2 for $1. They are not thick ponchos, but they serve their purpose. We just tossed them when we were done.

 

[pixiewings71]

FYI, it does rain in CA...it pours in CA....just not in Southern CA....LOL But in Northern CA it rains a lot....LOL You should be fine, there's a Target really close if you end up needing something but really, you should be all right.

 

[bumbershoot]

Well we were actually just at DL as they were predicting some HUGE storm. It did rain quite a bit overnight one night, and then on Saturday morning the skies opened up like I hadn't experienced since I lived in the South. I sort of blame myself, as I had just said that we were from Tacoma, WA, when the rain started.


In addition, in September of 2005, it stormed for HOURS one morning. It was rainy and drizzly even down in San Diego, and it followed us up that morning. By 10:30ish that morning, as we finished our first rides (Jungle Cruise and Indy), the rains really started, and happily-for-us, cleared the park until well after noon.

On THAT day, we had to go to one of the places in Adventureland and fork over something like $30 for a poncho and an umbrella.

Both of which we brought back, this time, just in case. And two Dollar Store ponchos. And coats that could "protect" us from rain (which we wore on the morning it morning it stormed this trip, whew!).



So it certainly CAN rain, and rain HARD, in Southern CA, regardless of what is remembered by those who live there.

 

[Leofoenget]

Hi there, I'm down to the nitty gritty in packing and I really need advice on whether or not to bring all our rain gear....we are leaving on Sunday for a week and so far the forecast looks like it will be clear. We are not checking luggage (Skybus charges for checking bags and we want to travel light to just go instead of claiming luggage.) Does the weather change quickly?
In Florida, I would never not have it with the way it rains there, but not sure about So. Cal....
What would you do?
Thanks!

I was just there and while I was there it poured twice. Once at 11:30 at night while waiting for the trams, and once the next afternoon about 1:30. Both lasted about 10mins and then the sun came out(in the case of the afternoon rain) and it was clear. I seriously doubt it will rain, and even if it does you can duck under someplace and wait it out. The real heavy rains don't come until winter. The $1 ponchos sound like a great idea "just in case" and not expensive.

Those rains that we just had (as mentioned in the above post) are very rare, especially for this time of year.

 

[susan1]

At Dollar Tree stores, they sell ponchos for 2 for $1. They are not thick ponchos, but they serve their purpose. We just tossed them when we were done.

exactly what we do!

 

[yipee]

there's a Target really close if you end up needing something but really, you should be all right.

Would you mind telling me exactly where the Target is?

Thanks!

 

[CardinalsFan]

Would you mind telling me exactly where the Target is?

12100 Harbor Blvd, which is the SouthEast corner of Harbor and Chapman. It's a little more than a mile south of Disneyland, on Harbor.

 

[Leofoenget]

Would you mind telling me exactly where the Target is?

Thanks!

Out the front gate and walk to Harbor. Make a Right on Harbor. It's about 2 miles up the road in Garden Grove.

 

[pixiewings71]

Yup, that's where it is. Really close IMO.

And the rains described by Bumbershoot are not normal for So Cal. The rains described by Leofeonget are more like So Cal. They are similar to rain in Hawaii. Usually very warm and over quickly. Of course there is the anomally rain storms but they are not normal. At least not IME.

 

[ter-moo]

I usually pack a poncho for each person and a couple of small umbrellas. They don't take up much space in your suitcase.

I also buy 2 packages of those cheap ponchos (2 for $1) at the dollar store. We use those for the "wet" rides and then throw them out or hand them to someone else in line when we're done.

You probably WON'T get rain, but it's nice to have the ponchos just in case.

 

[tlovesdis]

I seem to have some kind of rain cloud following me around when I go to Disneyland!

June 2007 - no rain
June 2006 - some kind of weird tropical thing with a light rain one day
april 2006 - poured for about 2 days
oct 2005 - rained almost the whole time we were there
dec 2004 - rained every day, went up to 80 degrees the day we left!

So 4 out of my last 5 trips it was raining! I am on my way on the 18th and I hope it doesn't rain!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Thunderstorms do not generally pop up in the afternoon this time of year. If it says clear, it will be clear. We are not bringing ponchos for rain, but for Grizzley River Run. I know we're wimps!

 

[fairycat]

Unlike Florida most of the time So. Cal weather tends to be pretty predictable. Usually sunny this time of year, with more rain in the early spring. I think you probably won't need rain gear but if it makes you feel better get the lil' ponchos (especially if I am wrong disney charges a lot for them!) you can always use them for riding Splash Mountain and Grizzy Rapids late into the night when others are too scared to get wet

 

[minniebeth]

Thanks for the replies!
We have the Disney ponchos but once they are unfolded, they do not fold back up again nicely and are very room consuming, not easy to tote around. Will definately not be bringing them.
I like the idea of going to Target if the weather forecast changes, we'll probably take a run there for drinks and snacks anyway.
The disposable ponchos sound great to me, not necessarily for rain but for the water rides! I forgot all about that...I hate walking around with wet clothes. Even if shorts, etc. dries...you know what still stays wet!

Yes, it does rain here a lot in Ohio, except for this year! It has been so dry, at least in Columbus.

Thanks everyone!

 

[dburg30]

Why not just check one bag? It's $10 total ($5 each way) then you dont have to worry about it. I've used skybus and wasnt going to check a bag, but some things are just such a pain in the behind to take carry on.