Quality of poncho?

[blemon]

Are the ponchos you buy at WDW the same cheap plastic like the freebies at Niagara Falls or are they more solid like one you'd by at Walgreen's?

I read a tip to buy them at Walgreen's but they were $7.99 when I checked this morning. Since they're only $9.39 at Disney, I'd rather buy one there if I need it and have a souvenir than haul one around that I might not need.

I don't want to pay $9 for a garbage bag but I don't mind paying a little extra if it's something I'll actually re-use.

 

[Dis703]

The ones at Disney are much better quality than the cheap dollar store trash bag quality ones. They are very thick and I find they offer much better protection from the rain. Worth the extra money IMO.

 

[KT0191]

Love the Disney ponchos. They're high quality and hold up very well. Worth the money, for sure.

 

[KEVD]

These are of decent quality (better than the cheapo, flimsy ones) and are only $4...

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-Lightweight-Rain-Poncho/35735203

 

[blemon]

Thanks! This is all very helpful.

 

[texasroni75]

Currently, Disney ponchos are much better than the throwaway emergency ones you find at dollar store. And they are longer (dollar store ones barely hit top of thigh and are barely like a 3/4 length sleeve). Honestly, though, the Disney ones are not quite as nice or thick as they used to be. I compared ones we bought this December in the parks, to Disney ones from a previous trip, and they are definitely thinner. But, if they tear, you can get a free replacement from any of the shops in the parks.

Currently we use a mixture of ones we bought in the parks, and the ones Walmart sells (not the clear ones, but these: ) http://www.walmart.com/ip/Generic-127WA/19480462
They come in white, black and blue and are about $5 and are by the umbrellas, not the camping gear section. They've held up very well.

 

[SarahWeasley]

The downside to the nicer ones is that after the rain stops, you're left with a big wet sheet of plastic to carry around with you.

 

[LSUfan4444]

At $12.99 this is a much better value...even if you don't use the pants. Spend another $3 if you would like and get it monogrammed somewhere with something Disney.

http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/tim...ce-rainsuit-201537087--1?repChildCatid=981165

 

[Dizjunkieee]

The downside to the nicer ones is that after the rain stops, you're left with a big wet sheet of plastic to carry around with you.

True - that is why I pack my dry poncho into a gallon sized ziplock bag an toss into my park bag. That way, after it rains and it's all wet, I can just stow it in the ziplock until we are back at our resort, where I take it out and hang to dry

 

[DWillowBay]

Call me crazy....but I LOVE the really cheap dollar store ones. The rains never last very long and then I just throw it away (always have a spare in my pack). If I have a good quality item, and it's wet...now what? Carry it around until it dries? No, thanks. $1.00 is a perfect price for me.

 

[redsbe]

We also use the $1 cheap ones, in fact bring a few for each of us. Nothing worse then spending the rest of the day carrying about a bag (or wearing) a heavy wet poncho. We simply use the cheap one and toss it out.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Dollar Tree Shower Curtains were our stroller cover for years. After it rained, we just threw them away.

 

[zaccaglin]

We've had some of our Disney branded ones for almost ten years now. We have bought more over time for we always forget ours when we actually need them, and the quality hasn't changed.

 

[disney world dreamer]

WDW ponchos are absolutely nothing like the ponchos you get at maid of the mist.

WDW ponchos are very thick and sturdy and nice and long.
i would highly reccomend that you purchase a WDW poncho.
plus if it rips you can get a new one free of charge.
although ripping isn't a big issue unless you get it caught on something.
my current one has been on 7 disney trips soon to be 8.

when it stops raining we just take the ponchos off inside out and fold them small and put them back in the ziploc bag we had them in.
then when we get back tot eh room we take them out and let them dry overnight.

 

[Oswin]

The WDW ponchos are surprisingly really great, especially for the price. My parents bought us some when I was like eight and I still have and use the kids poncho 11 years later. My parents always joke that it's the best Disney investment they've ever made.

 

[maxiesmom]

I tried using the dollar store ones one trip. My 6'2 brother in law looked ridiculous in his, as it barely covered much of him. They are all but useless in more than a mist. I ended up going into a store and buying Disney ponchos. I now have quite the collection!

I couldn't buy and toss ponchos, it feels wasteful to me.

 

[KT0191]

I couldn't buy and toss ponchos, it feels wasteful to me.

Exactly how I feel. Super wasteful.

 

[meliss8599]

As PPs have said, make sure you dry them out at night as they REALLY stink if you don't. We learned the hard way years ago on our very first trip and never made that mistake again!

 

[ebradley23]

I can't speak about the WDW ponchos, but I have learned my lesson about dollar store ones. They are miserable if you wind up in them for more than 5 minutes. Last year we invested a little more $$ in these:
http://m.dickssportinggoods.com/pro...24036123-DSG:HUNTING-CLOTHING_MENS_SOLID-RAIN

The breathable material made all the difference in the world. Instead of feeling like we were in a sauna like the year prior, we were very comfortable in the frog toggs.

 

[agec]

Does anyone know if the ponchos online at Disneystore.com are the same as the ones that can be bought at the parks? Do they include the same guarantee if they rip? Thanks!