Poncho exchange??

[Flair]

I was told or i think i read some where that mickey ponchos were good "for life" as in if you have an old one you can exchange it for a new one in case of rips and tears.
Is this true or wishful thinking??
(just found our ponchos looking less than fresh and was hoping not to have to use walmart ones)
Thanks Jenn
1 day till Disney <but im just now packing>

 

[MrToad]

I don't know if they are good for life or not, but man are they ever thin. We bought 4 in 2002 and by the time we left the park that day 3 of them had ripped. Disney took them back with no hassles and gave us new ones which also ripped. We were being extremely careful too.

Maybe they improved the newer ones, but after that experience I couldn't believe how poorly made they were at the time. We were not rough on them at all. They just seemed to be very thin and easy to tear during the normal use of getting in and out of rides, putting them on, etc.

 

[Simba's Mom]

It sounds like they've really gotten chintzier over the years. We have 3 from the mid-90's. Not only we brought them on every trip to WDW, we've worn them at more than a few Texas football games too. They're still going strong!

 

[MrToad]

It sounds like they've really gotten chintzier over the years. We have 3 from the mid-90's. Not only we brought them on every trip to WDW, we've worn them at more than a few Texas football games too. They're still going strong!

Wow that's awesome! I think you are right. It's probably one of their "cost-cutting" decisions. They need to get rid of the corporate people that make these kinds of decisions. I wouldn't expect them to last forever, but maybe at a minimum for the duration of our vacation. We threw ours away at the end of the same trip because they had all ripped again to the point where we were tying them in knots just to keep them together.

 

[Jrabbit910]

Flair I read the same thing and they said Ponchos are exchangable if others are needed. Pack them and if they dont chuck them in the garbage and buy new. Have a great time!

 

[Harmony]

Our latest ponchos have lasted 2trips. And we weren't being careful with them AT ALL! I have a teen, pre-teen and a toddler so asking them to be careful with them would've been futile! lol

 

[sunny04]

I think this is true. On one of our June trips, mine ripped as soon as I put it on. But we were waiting for the bus, so we just let it go. Throughout the day, the rip starting getting larger, and I was getting wet. So I took it to a cart in Epcot and asked if I could trade. They didn't hesitate to give me a brand new one. They didn't ask for any receipt or how it ripped, or any kind of information. (I mean, they can tell it's from WDW after all). I would say it won't hurt to try.

 

[MrToad]

Yep that was exactly our experience too. Ripped within 30 minutes and no problems with exchange.

Maybe they have improved the quality? Sounds like some people have had better luck with theirs than we did. We bought ours in MK as I said back in 2002 and not only did they smell awful (that horrible overwhelming new plasticy smell), they didn't last us past a couple rides.

If anyone has purchased them recently we would be interested in the date and how they have held up. We are trying to decide whether to buy some at Target before we leave or not for our trip in July.

Thanks,

 

[diannaneglia]

I just bought the ponchos they sell at Walmart and they seem to me that they are pretty darn sturdy...it isn't a Disney one but from what I read on here I am glad I didn't wait and get one of those. Walmarts are about 3.97. We'll see in a few days if they are worth it!

 

[WillCAD]

I've been buying Mickey ponchos for 15 years, although my current poncho is about 2 years old. I haven't seen any difference in the thickness over the years, and I have only had one rip in all those years.

 

[2giddy4wdw]

We just bought our first ponchos in November, and mine ripped as soon as I put it on. I wish I would have known that they take them back. DH took his lighter and melted it together. Well we ended up having to do this for all of ours. It's too bad that they don't tell you these things when you buy them. We ended up having to used it a few times. Now I won't feel so bad buying them this fall if we need them. They do seem to be very thin. But as long as you can return them, I don't see a problem with them.

 

[princess22]

I know they have gotten new ones recently. I think if you have the yellow one, you might have a problem exchanging it. If it is clear, they probably will! I don't think they are "good for life" but if you take a current clear one, they won't hesitate to change it.