Ponchos - best ones to get?

[amitrat]

Are the cheap ones hard to reuse (fold up and store/rip etc)? I picked up a few at Harmon. Also, would "Junior" size fit a 5 year old or are they made for bigger kids. I have seen some sized ones for sale.

I've also seen more expensive nylon ones - anyone had experience with these?

 

[nytimez]

I use dollar store ponchos -- and throw 'em away when the rain stops. It's better than carrying around a wet jacket/poncho.

 

[tzolkin]

We bought some nicer ones at Target for our last trip. (They were $8-10 and came in mesh bags.)

The cheap ones would be fine for the regular afternoon showers, but we were there for 12 days during last year's crazy "May Monsoons". The more expensive ponchos we bought have snaps around the neck and arms, long "sleeves", and a drawstring around the face. For constant rain they were definitely worth the money. We hung them up in the shower each night and they are still like new.


MIL used the cheap ones the few days she was there with us. She got really soaked every time we went outside and we had to throw hers away instead of reuse them.

 

[amitrat]

Thanks - I will check out Target today - not sure what quality the ones I got are, but I like the idea of the snaps.

 

[wmharley]

I use dollar store ponchos -- and throw 'em away when the rain stops. It's better than carrying around a wet jacket/poncho.

The bad thing about these are they are basically a trash bag over your body. No accounting for varying sizes of folks. the openign for the head is too large. I bought one for my DD and she had to hold the front because it was so large and open in the head area.

I tried it on, and while i'm not big, it was a hassle. i'd rather spend some extra and get something better.

i got her a pink rain coat ($5-6 at Walmart, which is the same material as a normal ponch).

I got a regular poncho, as many of ours ahve ripped.

 

[bumbershoot]

The bad thing about these are they are basically a trash bag over your body.

Good description!

For DLR, I've used the trash bag type (dollar store types) and HATED them. Plus, throwing them away just makes me feel ill.

I've bought the Disney ponchos, a nicer thicker plastic. No form-fitting clinginess.

But for WDW (and future DLR) I think we're buying ponchos from the Rick Steves website. he's the European travel guy, and we went to his store and I had DH try on the poncho. DH is a bigger guy, and it worked for him, so DH and I will buy them for us. Not sure what to do about DS, maybe a cute rain jacket (he's never really had one of those and I gotta do it before he ages out of them!), but we definitely won't be getting the cheapies again!

 

[kirby428]

Are the cheap ones hard to reuse (fold up and store/rip etc)? I picked up a few at Harmon. Also, would "Junior" size fit a 5 year old or are they made for bigger kids. I have seen some sized ones for sale.

I've also seen more expensive nylon ones - anyone had experience with these?

You can make a larger size poncho smaller. Just snip off the bottom edge. At local stores, the price is low enough to risk mistakes and do-overs. Keep in mind that the biggest plus for the "trash bag" poncho is about staying warm inside air-conditioned places as much as staying dry. If you wear a plastic bag over your body in the rainy heat, you will sweat and get just as wet as having no plastic, but if you enter air conditioned attractions or transportation, you will freeze without something to keep down evaporation rates. Just try riding a Disney bus with soaking wet clothes to see what I mean.

 

[kirby428]

"Plus, throwing them away just makes me feel ill. "

Why throw them away? You will likely spot some misfortunate family that did not buy one or bring one along. Just donate it. Else, roll it up tightly, stuff it in your backpack and use it as a painter's drop cloth for home projects for as a ground cloth for your next camping trip. Use them to weed-proof your garden or cold-protect sensitive plants. Rain proof your next garage sale sign. Innovate...adapt.

 

[bookgirl]

I had walmart ones they were fine as far as quality. Plus they are cheap enough that you could use one a day for a week, and still not spend the money you would on a WDW ponch.


I have never had a ponch fold up to the handy pocket size ever again, so I bring a ziplock type bag either quart or gallon I can't remember now and just fold it up into that to save getting my bag wet.

Either way they are much easier to carry around then a heavy rain jacket/poncho that you may or may not need, for short bursts of rain. Honestly if it were raining so bad that I could not be outside for 5 or 10 minutes in between rides then any jacket would be pointless I'd find something better to do inside.

 

[Eljay]

I have never had a ponch fold up to the handy pocket size ever again, so I bring a ziplock type bag either quart or gallon I can't remember now and just fold it up into that to save getting my bag wet.

Exactly. I generally get the 2/$1 "trash bag" ponchos from Dollar Tree. I open the pack and put each one in their own sandwich-size ziplock bag.

After I use it, if I go into a ride or a restaurant, I make sure I'm not near people to give the poncho a good shake, then I fold it length-wise a few times, then roll it tightly and pop it back into the ziplock. As the PP mentions, the ziplock bag will keep the wet poncho from soaking the inside of your bag.

The larger, heavier ponchos do work better, but I sacrifice that for smaller and lighter.

 

[Deemarch]

That being said, we decided to spring for the ripstop nylon ponchos from Magellans...They are fantastic! They fold up into their own pouch, snaps at the sleeps, a drawsting adjustable hood, zip at the neck and have pockets. We have been using them for about 5 or 6 years! If you are "lifers", go for it!!

 

[Eljay]

That being said, we decided to spring for the ripstop nylon ponchos from Magellans...They are fantastic! They fold up into their own pouch, snaps at the sleeps, a drawsting adjustable hood, zip at the neck and have pockets. We have been using them for about 5 or 6 years! If you are "lifers", go for it!!

Here they are. http://www.magellans.com/store/Shop_by_Brand___Magellan_s___RainwearRG747?Args=

They seem costly, but maybe they are worth it?

 

[Deemarch]

And have been using them for 5 or 6 years! And no plastic in the landfill!

 

[whitneyNC]

Waterproof, BREATHABLE rain jackets are the way to go. I don't know how people wear the saran wrap ponchos. Especially in the heat. The visiblility for the wearer is horrible too, and so many kids trip and fall on them...

 

[pooch]

we always take the cheapos and, no, they are not the best at keeping you dry. But I don't want to carry a wet poncho around, even in a zip-lock bag. I agree with a PP, if its raining so hard that the cheapos are useless, its time to get inside!!!

 

[disneynutsss]

i was caught up in the may monsoons last year as well. we didnt bring ponchos with us and eventually broke down and bought the disney ones. they worked good for the first day, but after that they ripped at the neck down the chest and at the side snaps. i had read on here that if that happened they would replace them. when i asked, i was laughed at! i will bring little cheapies, one for each day if i have to and still not spend what i did for disney ones!!

 

[ZoZo]

We bought some nicer ones at Target for our last trip. (They were $8-10 and came in mesh bags.)

The cheap ones would be fine for the regular afternoon showers, but we were there for 12 days during last year's crazy "May Monsoons". The more expensive ponchos we bought have snaps around the neck and arms, long "sleeves", and a drawstring around the face. For constant rain they were definitely worth the money. We hung them up in the shower each night and they are still like new.


MIL used the cheap ones the few days she was there with us. She got really soaked every time we went outside and we had to throw hers away instead of reuse them.

I've come to the same conclusion. After trying the "throwaway" ponchos and the official WDW ponchos, I bring a nicer poncho purchased at Target. It is meant to be re-used, and is much sturdier than even the WDW ponchos. (I think the WDW ponchos have become pretty flimsy --- they cling to your body when wet, and I hate having to peel it off my legs with every step!).

I say, spring for the $10 ponchos at Target - you won't be sorry!

 

[LMO429]

I find the ponchos you can purchase at the theme parks to be pretty good. Typically I can bring them back home after the trip, use them while home while walking the dog in the rain and get some serious usage out of them. imo well worth the money.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

We go in June and it rains every afternoon so we found ourselves needed the ponchos quite a bit.

We start with the cheapo ones from Walmart/Target and usually end the trip with the Disney ones because we hated the cheapo ones and threw them out after the first use.

 

[amitrat]

I bought the target ones today, although I still need to find a 6/7 size for my daughter. They seem good enough. We are not "lifers" (yet), since this is the first trip since I was in HS and I am now 33 - we shall see and if we need park ones, we will get park ones. I do like the more expensive travel ones on Steves and Magellans, but I can't justify that cost right now. I need 2 $40 umbrella rain covers. Thanks everyone!