Ponchos vs umbrella

[BraveLittleToaster2]

What should we bring for rain protection from the daily storms? I know it rains during dinner times and we have ressies we need to make it to, rain or not. Any suggestions?

 

[Nancyg56]

I was sorry I did not have a small travel umbrella last August. We used ponchos when we got caught in the rain, but a travel umbrella would have been nice. YOu could not use it if it was crowded, but things tend to clear out in a downpour,.

 

[BraveLittleToaster2]

Is there usually lightening? I worry I wouldn't be able to use an umbrella because of that.

 

[Denise W]

Is there usually lightening? I worry I wouldn't be able to use an umbrella because of that.

I believe Florida is the lightning capital of the country or world. So yes, there is lightning.

Denise

 

[Nancyg56]

I believe Florida is the lightning capital of the country or world. So yes, there is lightning.

Denise

Boy is there lightening!!!

 

[Jedimike]

I travel with both. There are plenty of rain showers w/o concurrent lightning.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Poncho for us and then when it starts its time to look in the stores till it stops!

 

[mrzrich]

I loathe how hot and sticky I feel when wearing a poncho

 

[lovethattink]

Ponchos are hot, umbrellas don't always work with the wind.

I carry an umbrella in the summer. It's what I prefer. In the colder months, I'll use a poncho.

Ponchos work better at keeping you dry. The wind often brings the rain in at an angle.

As for lightning, it's very dangerous in FL. As mentioned above, we're the lightning capital of the world. My husband has been struck while fishing when the storm wasn't even there yet.

 

[cavepig]

Poncho or rain jacket. Umbrellas can be annoying to other guests if you aren't careful, as I've been hit with them by unknowing other guests.

 

[OKW Lover]

Ponchos are the best choice.

Umbrellas don't play well in crowds because their pointy ends are at other people's eye level. Also, the daily afternoon thunderstorms are typically accompanied by winds which will probably turn the umbrella inside out.

 

[Klayfish]

WDW isn't a great place for umbrellas. Too many people.

 

[GaryDis]

Is there usually lightening? I worry I wouldn't be able to use an umbrella because of that.

The voltage of a lightning bolt is so high that my guess is that the additional conductivity or height of an umbrella won't make a huge difference, especially when surrounded by buildings with lightning rods. If lightning is close, the best thing to do is to get inside.

While lightning is common in FL, it's not ubiquitous. There are plenty of rain storms with no lightning.

 

[loislane]

Neither option is really ideal for the issues already mentioned, but for best coverage plus convenience/easy of carrying, we go with ponchos. We like to travel light in the park just using the pockets of our cargo shorts and ponchos easily fold up and fit into a pocket. I usually carry some quart size ziploc bags in case we have to fold and pack them wet.

I have also found that the ponchos do a better job of keeping our clothes dry during the rain. The hair is going to get wet, at least partly, no matter what it seems, but that will dry fast. No one wants to sit in an air conditioned restaurant, theater, gift shop, etc. in wet clothes. At least I don't.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

When it's lightening and the rain is going sideways, a poncho is the best. Plus I don't have to worry about my clumsy self clobbering some poor soul with an umbrella.

 

[rmm7e]

Personally I like a regular raincoat and a tiny umbrella. Ponchos are too sticky. The umbrella is also extremely useful for shade. Out in Disneyland especially. I was shocked at how many queues were in full sun.

 

[Bullseye]

Ponchos are hot, umbrellas don't always work with the wind.

I carry an umbrella in the summer. It's what I prefer. In the colder months, I'll use a poncho.

Ponchos work better at keeping you dry. The wind often brings the rain in at an angle.

As for lightning, it's very dangerous in FL. As mentioned above, we're the lightning capital of the world. My husband has been struck while fishing when the storm wasn't even there yet.

This exactly! Both have advantages and disadvantages. Ponchos do keep you dryer especially if rain is blowing. But ponchos are kind of stifling. Umbrellas are fine to use in WDW as long as your cognizant of the people around you. Personally if its just raining I prefer a mini umbrella.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I'd go with a poncho. its much easier...it keeps you dry. As others have stated, an umbrella sucks when its windy, and the bottom half of you will still get wet. If you can carry both, its not a bad idea to do so.

As for feeling too hot in a poncho....dollar store ponchos are great because theyre light weight. you don't feel hot in them. Disney ponchos are gross though...its like a sauna underneathe!

 

[DekrRini]

I never use an umbrella because they don't keep my clothes dry so I always use ponchos both at home and WDW. Ponchos are definitely hot and sticky, but I prefer that to wet clothes. And since I wear a baseball cap, even my hair stays dry.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Ponchos are easier to carry when it isn't raining. The cheap ones fit easily into a pocket. Umbrellas take up more space, and basically = carrying a bag.

That said, a little prep goes a long ways. Each morning we check the weather report, and sometimes again mid-day.

We only use ponchos when the rain risk is low/rain is to be short-lived ("pop-up" showers).

If it looks like more than 50% chance of rain/long rain storms, we bring jackets. The rain jackets we own are very compact (fold down into a pocket), but usually if we bring them, it is raining and we end up wearing them.