ponchos - recommendations

[Johnson1220]

ahh the Disney Ponchos - how many have we all had to buy over the years as we make the mad dash into the gift shop (soaking wet) and fork over ridiculous amounts of $ for some plastic sheets.

My question to you is - have any of you found quality ponchos that are waterproof that you can buy outside of the parks. Not the really thin inexpensive ones but something akin to the Disney ones?

Getting prepped for September !

 

[kimnvbva]

I just saw some yesterday at the Dollar Tree. They were 2 for $1. Then I saw them again at Walmart. They were by the purses and access. They are 5.96 but they were reusable. I think that might be better. At least you can reuse them!

 

[squirrlygirl]

I bought some at the Totes/Isotoner store at our area outlet mall for $4 a piece. They're heavier weight than the disposable ones and have the snaps down the sides. They came with a mesh bag to store them in. I haven't had a chance to test drive them yet, though.

 

[DisMomme]

I've seen them at the totes stores. Reusable & heavy vinyl. If you're really looking for low cost but better than the $1 store type, why not buy a few shower curtain liners and put head holes through them?

 

[Johnson1220]

I bought some at the Totes/Isotoner store at our area outlet mall for $4 a piece. They're heavier weight than the disposable ones and have the snaps down the sides. They came with a mesh bag to store them in. I haven't had a chance to test drive them yet, though.

We live pretty close to an outlet mall so I will check the Totes store - great idea!

 

[JoliBug]

If you want a really good one you can look at an army surplus store. Military ponchos are awesome.

 

[tam626]

I used my walmart one last October & it held up well.

 

[TheInfrequentVisitor]

Another benefit of buying non-disney ponchos is the fact that you won't blend into the crowd as much, which can be helpful when trying to look for someone.

 

[Justsyd2]

We just so happen to have bought ponchos at Target for our recent trip. They were very well made. We saw tons of people in those cheap $1.00 ponchos while we were there who were getting soaked! We also saw many people in the Disney ponchos who were nice and dry.

I don't think the Disney ponchos are that expensive, and add to the fact that they keep you and your stuff dry, that's a good price. Walmart and Target both sell nice ponchos if you prefer not to purchase the ones at WDW, but I would be leery of the $1.00 variety.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

DW and I are still using the yellow disney ponchos from a trip about ten years ago!

If you have the time, since you are not going till september, you might get a bargan from several of the on-line camping places. (campmor, Sierra trading post, cabelas)

we always go in september and use them at least once or twice during the trip. and used them a LOT the year we went through a hurricane there!

 

[Britgirlus]

We got ours from Walmart, in the bags/accessories section. They were yellow, and had kids sized ones too - I THINK they cost $3.97 each, I could be wrong. They were definitely worth the money - we used them 5 out of the 7 days we were there, some days for several hours (we were there in Mid May). They held up very well - ds5's did rip a bit by the last day around the neck, from him pulling it off and on, but other than that, they were worth every penny, and more !!

 

[beccasmom]

DW and I are still using the yellow disney ponchos from a trip about ten years ago!

If you have the time, since you are not going till september, you might get a bargan from several of the on-line camping places. (campmor, Sierra trading post, cabelas)

we always go in september and use them at least once or twice during the trip. and used them a LOT the year we went through a hurricane there!

We are still using our ponchos from several trips ago too. We make sure to dry them thoroughly before packing to return home and pack them carefully to avoid tears. In fact we recently wore them to a Phillies game - it has been raining here for weeks! So we end up getting a good deal of value out of our WDW ponchos.

 

[talulabelle]

I prefer the 2 for a $1.00 ones at dollar tree. We are going in the summer and expect it to rain every day in the afternoon, then dry up again. I will take enough for each of us to have a new one each day. They are tiny and easy to carry, I don't have to hang them up to dry at night. They won't be all balled up and wet and icky in the bottom of our stroller for the rest of the day. When it stops raining we will peel them off and throw them out.

 

[DisGal520]

We got ours from Walmart, in the bags/accessories section. They were yellow, and had kids sized ones too - I THINK they cost $3.97 each, I could be wrong. They were definitely worth the money - we used them 5 out of the 7 days we were there, some days for several hours (we were there in Mid May). They held up very well - ds5's did rip a bit by the last day around the neck, from him pulling it off and on, but other than that, they were worth every penny, and more !!

Cute picture. Here is a tip for folks who buy the walmart type poncho (not the kind that are like dry cleaner plastic bags).

We had a tear under the arm of the poncho from rushing to put it on in one of those instant squalls last month. At the time I'd say the rip was a good 12-14 inches. Just let it dry before packing to go home. At home I pulled out my "Singer Cantastic can opener / bag sealer". I've used it so many times to reseal potato chips bags, etc. I just lined up the torn sections of the poncho and sealed it in about 9 seconds. I moved the sealed poncho slightly and gave it a second seal for strength.

Good as new!

 

[Mommytwotwins]

I just saw some yesterday at the Dollar Tree. They were 2 for $1. Then I saw them again at Walmart. They were by the purses and access. They are 5.96 but they were reusable. I think that might be better. At least you can reuse them!

We used the Walmart ones a few weeks ago and they worked out great for us. They lasted all week and we did use then several times.

 

[MineMail]

At the time I'd say the rip was a good 12-14 inches. Just let it dry before packing to go home. At home I pulled out my "Singer Cantastic can opener / bag sealer". I've used it so many times to reseal potato chips bags, etc. I just lined up the torn sections of the poncho and sealed it in about 9 seconds. I moved the sealed poncho slightly and gave it a second seal for strength.

Good as new!

Brilliant solution! I would have (and have) duct taped it closed. Your solution is elegant, lol.

I bought our ponchos at CVS and we've had them for years. We "do" an amusement/theme park at least once a year, so I just keep them in my "Park Bag" with the autograph books, lanyards, and other supplies.

We also own some heavy-duty raincoats that are lined with Thinsulate. I'd never use them for the parks (too heavy and warm.) We bought them for a cold, rainy World Series and have had them for over 20 years. They were wonderful and we still use them when the weather's bad. One of them has a tear near the pocket. I wonder if the sealer would help more than the matching blue duct tape I've been using? Have to take it to my sister's one day and find out.

 

[r1lissa]

I got mine from the camping section @ WalMart. They had pink and blue in youth and adult sizes. They were about $5 each.
Hopefully we won't need them. First trip is in 9 days!

 

[ntsammy5]

As a rule I hate ponchos - try goretex rainjackets - they work great in rainy season

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I do have, as does DW, a complete rainsuit that "breathes" but they are too bulky and hot to take to WDW.

The advantage of the Disney poncho is that once we bought them, they are easy to fold and take with us. since I wear cargo shorts, I have found that once we are done with them (the rain squall of the day) I can fold them up enough that they fit in a cargo pocket. It gets a little damp, but being at WDW, we are already hot and sweaty, plus it dries REALLY fast.

Once we go back to the room, I unfold them and let them dry while we go out to dinner at night.

a pretty good return on, I think about a 3 dollar investment each, all those years ago. I did get a small tear in mine, where I caught it on something sharp, but I just put a small Disney sticker on it and its good as new!

 

[dancin Disney style]

I have the old WDW yellow ones that have lasted through 7 or 8 trips. We have used them on each trip. They are worth the money and we will be hauling them along for another trip this August.