Ponchos

[kbmartin]

My DH and I are going to WDW mid-August for about nine days. Most days, we will park hop once after taking an afternoon break.

I looked up poncho threads on here, and the results are mixed, so I'm posting my own question.

I don't like to carry things into the parks. Bringing a backpack would not be fun for me. I also realize it will certainly rain during my trip. It sounds like it rains at least once a day in August - correct?

Should I buy disposable ponchos from the Dollar Tree or Wal-Mart? If so, how many would I need to get? (I would happily throw the ponchos out after a use.) Are these really SO awful as some Dis'ers say?

Or am I better off buying durable ponchos from The Mouse? People seem to love them... but I don't really want to carry them into the parks every day.

Please advise!

 

[rustyfla]

My DH and I are going to WDW mid-August for about nine days. Most days, we will park hop once after taking an afternoon break.

I looked up poncho threads on here, and the results are mixed, so I'm posting my own question.

I don't like to carry things into the parks. Bringing a backpack would not be fun for me. I also realize it will certainly rain during my trip. It sounds like it rains at least once a day in August - correct?

Should I buy disposable ponchos from the Dollar Tree or Wal-Mart? If so, how many would I need to get? (I would happily throw the ponchos out after a use.) Are these really SO awful as some Dis'ers say?

Or am I better off buying durable ponchos from The Mouse? People seem to love them... but I don't really want to carry them into the parks every day.

Please advise!

You'll pay 3 times the amount for each poncho at disney and they are the super cheap throwaway ones.

Get them at walmart and if you dont want to carry a backpack, then wear one of those leather phone cases and put some cheap ones in that.

 

[WDWFan06]

Every time we go we forget to bring any of the 20 ponchos that we have purchased at Disney. I somehow always end up buying more there every single time. Though being an AP holder you get a discount which is nice. Save the money and purchase cheaper ones if you are not concerned about throwing them away. Some of them can fold up pretty small.

 

[photo_chick]

Compromise. Get the $5 ponchos from the camping store. Made better than the ones from the Mouse and a little bit cheaper. Carry them every day. Because the one day you don't will be when it pours on you.

 

[ZoZo]

The small "throwaway" ponchos they sell at Walmart and Target are small enough to tuck into a pocket. They are the Coleman brand ponchos, and cost around $1 each. If you truly don't want to carry a bag, that might be the best solution. They are pretty flimsy and aren't very long (they go down to about mid-thigh) but they're okay in a pinch. I'd buy enough for one poncho per day, plus a couple of extras.

In a truly driving rainstorm, though, the bigger, longer, more durable ponchos are better. I got a Frogg Toggs one at Walmart for my February trip this year, and was very glad to have it the one day it rained. The rain was going sideways! And this poncho was long enough to keep me covered. But I don't mind carrying a bag; this poncho folded into its own carrying case and fit into my Baggallini Cross-Body Messenger Bagg.

 

[GaBelle]

My advice...go to the dollar store and buy a poncho. Take it home and try it on. If it works fine for you, you're golden and go with those.

But if you're like me you'll find them terribly flimsy and ineffective. Think cheap garbage can liner.

I respectfully disagree with the PP that said the ones sold in the parks are of no better quality. I found them to be much sturdier than dollar store ones and reusable.

 

[jco_direwolf]

it's worth saying that Disney will replace their ponchos if they rip or tear or really anything. So it kinda come with a built-in insurance.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

My advice... (and I am in the minority here I know).... is to skip the ponchos. Especially in the August heat, they are going to make you sweat something awful. I would rather be drenched in clean rainwater rather than sweat, but to each their own.

I despise sitting next to someone in a drenched poncho - or being the one to sit down on the monorail right after them. To me they are just more of a pain. Invest in quick dry clothes - rip stop, dri fit, etc.... and just keep going!

 

[x5x5x5x5x5]

Second the idea to skip the ponchos. I hate carrying stuff around and the times I have used a poncho I end up feeling like I'm in a terrarium. Quick dry clothes are a good idea. Or just light weight stuff.

 

[disney-akj]

I agree if you don't want to carry anything into the parks that the $1 ponchos from any discount store would work for you. They should fit in your pocket easily. I don't know that you could get it back into your pocket easily after wearing it though? I can't imagine getting it to fold up that small again, especially when it is wet. I put ours in a zip lock bag and put it in our back pack for the rest of the day. Not sure if you could get a small zip lock to fit in your pocket or not. We use one poncho a day per person and trash them at the end of the day. We do use them more than once a day sometimes depending on the weather. Sometimes on extra rainy days, the parks clear out and we get a lot of use out of our ponchos.