Rain Forecasted Every Day!

[suzieqmomof4]

We're leaving tomorrow (Friday July 18) and the Weather Channel 10-day forecast has thunderstorms scheduled for every day of our trip.

Ugh.

I'm going without my husband-just me and my 3 daughters (4, 8, and 11).

I guess the princesses will be wearing rain ponchos.

 

[wdwrich]

Don't fret too much about the forecast. Mostly, the thunderstorms are late-afternoon events that last an hour or so. I can't promise that you won't have days that are exceptions to that, but that is the typical summertime pattern in Orlando. If you have time, go to Walmart or one of the $1 stores and get a supply of the disposable ponchos. That way you can toss them after the rain stops and not be bothered bringing wet ponchos back to your room to dry out for the next day.

 

[Zeebs]

Don't fret too much about the forecast. Mostly, the thunderstorms are late-afternoon events that last an hour or so. I can't promise that you won't have days that are exceptions to that, but that is the typical summertime pattern in Orlando. If you have time, go to Walmart or one of the $1 stores and get a supply of the disposable ponchos. That way you can toss them after the rain stops and not be bothered bringing wet ponchos back to your room to dry out for the next day.

I don't mean to be rude but couldn't you just "be bothered" with drying a reusable poncho and not fill up the landfills with more "disposable" plastic. Really does it take that much time out of your trip to hang it up at the end of the day in the shower?

Kirsten

 

[s35keith]

I wouldn't worry too much about the forecast. We were down there on the week of the 4th and had the same forecast(that's FL this time of year), and yes it did rain every afternoon/evening, but the t-storms did not last much longer than an hour. We lucked out because it seemed that everyday it only rained while we were eating dinner .

 

[shellybaxter]

I don't mean to be rude but couldn't you just "be bothered" with drying a reusable poncho and not fill up the landfills with more "disposable" plastic. Really does it take that much time out of your trip to hang it up at the end of the day in the shower?

Kirsten

Sorry - but this reply does seem pretty rude. There are several reasons to use use the disposable ponchos that aren't about being bothered to "dry" them. For me, I hate that you can't get them to fold back up nice and neat to carry them in your poncho again once they are opened. Also, they only cost a dollar, which means I would have to use at least 12 of them before they would cost the same as a Mickey Poncho.

All that being said, I usually just go ahead and get the Mickey poncho because I like the way they feel better, but I would never judge someone because they want to use the disposable ones. In fact, on our last day we always try to give our ponchos away to another family as they enter the parks so that they will be used again.

 

[Mr.Bubbles]

Yes, it is true that the afternoon thunderstorms are just part of life in Florida. They roll in every afternoon. You need to look at the forecast for days when it is expected to rain all day vs. afternoon thunderstorms. The rain all day can be more of a drag.

We always like the p.m. thunderstorms. I know that sounds weird. Everytime it has happened we have been eating an early dinner. We watch as hoards of people start making their way to the exit. After we are finished eating, the rain has usually let up and we jump on some rides that have virtually no wait! We laugh about it every time.

We pack our rain ponchos each day so we don't have to find a place selling them (although that is not very difficult) and don't have to waste money. I have my same rain ponchos from years ago when Disney was selling yellow ones with the Mickey on the back. They stopped selling them because it was easy to get lost from your group when every person in the park is wearing the same color! Now they are clear. But, we keep them sealed in a zip-loc and squeeze the air out. If we do use them we get a gift bag and stuff them in there so they don't get everything else in our backpack wet. Back at the hotel we hang them up. The next morning, while the kids are getting ready I roll them back into the zip-loc bags.

One of my kids is a safety patrol at school and she keeps hers in her backpack so if it is raining while she is on duty she can throw it on and it helps remind her of Disneyworld!

 

[gourmetgirl]

Don't worry about it too much. Afternoon thunderstorms are almost like clockwork.

It starts between 2:30-3:00 ish and lasts 20 minutes to an hour.

At the store that I worked at, we kept the Mickey ponchos under the counter and had to put them out every afternoon when the rains started. We would often tell people to NOT buy one until they knew it wasn't just a typical afternoon shower. It was rarely anything more.

Maybe you can plan to explore the Main Street shops during that time of the afternoon - you'll probably be wanting to catch the 3:00 parade anyway.

And look on the bright side: If it is a longer rain event, it will keep the temperatures down and the crowds low. Throw on those ponchos and have a great time. You're at Disney

 

[duketennisgal]

I wouldn't worry about the weather forecast too much. A typical weather forecast for a week in the south shows thunderstorm every day in the summer. These storms are typically in the afternoon and don't last very long, they actually provide a nice afternoon break for you most of the time.

To me though the ones you have to be a bit more careful about are the evening thunderstorms in the south, the ones that build up and happen around 9 or so at night are usually much worse then the afternoon ones and contain severe lightning. We've been caught out in several of these and the best the to do is take shelter in a store or something like the American Adventure.

 

[KEVD]

Yes... no need to fret about the forecast. We were there June 21 - 28. Every day the forecast was 60% chance thunderstorms. I think we only actually saw rain 4 days. 2 were those common brief, afternoon thunderstorms that lasted about an hour. Another one started around 5p when were leaving EPCOT. Only one was a bit longer... started around 2:30p and lasted through dinner. I've only been to WDW twice but we've never seen rain in the morning before 1pm in the summer. So you will get to the parks at park opening (right?). Push lunch back to 1pm and save the shows and other indoor type of things for after 1pm. 2 of the 4 days we saw rain, the rain happened when were inside having lunch. Also, if it rains when you are at AK, through on the ponchos and do the Majaraha Jungle trek. There won't be many people and you see some great close ups of the Tigers because animals tend to coem out when it rains.

 

[mc'smommy]

We're leaving tomorrow (Friday July 18) and the Weather Channel 10-day forecast has thunderstorms scheduled for every day of our trip.

Ugh.

I'm going without my husband-just me and my 3 daughters (4, 8, and 11).

I guess the princesses will be wearing rain ponchos.

If it turns out to be just an afternoon shower that lasts an hour or so while in the parks, Take the time to enjoy a snack/treat talking about what oyu have seen or done so far in your day..... A little unscheduled down time never hurts.... Enjoy your holiday with your 3 princesses.......

 

[Dizzy over Disney]

We were there in February and it rained pretty much throughout the week. It did suck, BUT.. it wasn't as bad as I thought it could be (my two year old had a cast to top things off). When it rains.. things go on. You put your ponchos on and you go! The only thing I would totally recommend.. bring two pairs of shoes for everyone! Better yet.. bring Crocs or flip flops. That is the only thing I wish ed we had done.. two pairs of shoes (I was lucky b/c I brought Crocs so I could switch off with the sneakers). The good thing... lines are a lot shorter!

Have a GREAT time@!

 

[skier_pete]

Sorry, Central FL forecast will be rain every day from now until mid-October....it's just the usual afternoon storm.

And I agree with PP that you should not use a new poncho everyday, it's that behavior that is as responsible for high gas prices as any, where do you think plastics come from? However, the reason this planet is in the trouble that it is in (actually the planet is not in trouble at all - but the humans on it are, they just don't know how bad yet) is because people only worry about themselves, not the world around them...it's the same reason so many people throw their garbage on the ground in a theme park where they have trash cans every 30 feet. This is human nature and it won't change.

Back your friendly neighborhood disboards,

SkierPete

 

[Zeebs]

Sorry - but this reply does seem pretty rude. There are several reasons to use use the disposable ponchos that aren't about being bothered to "dry" them. For me, I hate that you can't get them to fold back up nice and neat to carry them in your poncho again once they are opened. Also, they only cost a dollar, which means I would have to use at least 12 of them before they would cost the same as a Mickey Poncho.

All that being said, I usually just go ahead and get the Mickey poncho because I like the way they feel better, but I would never judge someone because they want to use the disposable ones. In fact, on our last day we always try to give our ponchos away to another family as they enter the parks so that they will be used again.

OK so I probably could have rephrased it better so it didn't sound as "rude" but I think it is a valid question. Say the OP family (please don't think I am picking on you it is just an example ) goes for 10 days, and has a rain ever day that requires a poncho, she is only $2.00 off a resuable one that she can bring home with her, use at home and bring back to WDW if she makes another trip. That saves 40 yes 40 gigantic plastic bags going into the rubbish. Thats one family now times that by the amount of people that are doing the same thing.

As for getting it back in the bag, grab all four, shake them off, shove them in a plastic bag (yes I realise the irony in this) and put them in your backpack etc (I know most people carrry them.) Then hang it out back at the room when you get in.

I am certainly not judging people for using the disposable ones, it just seems to me to be a relatively easy way to help the planet.

I didn't mean to offend but it seems if you happen to disagree or put forward a suggestion that differs you are in line for heat however, you word it.

Kirsten

 

[Uncleromulus]

The same forecast for this time of year--every year. You can rely on it as being about 50% accurate, meaning it may rain where you are and it may not. They really don't know.
Just go on your trip, have a poncho handy just in case--and have a good time!!!!

 

[JoanieS]

Be careful of the re-useable Disney ponchos - they contain latex. I am allergic to latex. So far, all the nice, thicker gauge reuseable ones that I have found in camping stores have had latex in them. The disposable ones have not. So, for me and my family, we will use the disposable.

 

[suzieqmomof4]

OP here-
Thanks for the encouragement. We usually don't go to WDW in the summer, except for late August.

So I'll expect some rain each afternoon.

We do have ponchos already, I agree with the notion that a disposable poncho each day would be a bit wasteful.

I pack them each trip, but we've only had to use them once. We got them while were doing the Family Magic Tour. It started to rain, so the tour guide gave us all ponchos. My husband was amazed that Disney was actually giving something away!

 

[wdwrich]

I don't mean to be rude but couldn't you just "be bothered" with drying a reusable poncho and not fill up the landfills with more "disposable" plastic. Really does it take that much time out of your trip to hang it up at the end of the day in the shower?

I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and take you at face value that you weren't trying to be rude, but be advised that there are some good reasons to use the disposable ponchos. First is cost. They run about $1 each and therefore save significant money for a family over the ones sold at WDW. Second is the latex issue already covered by a PP. Third, they are much lighter and smaller to carry- a big deal to my grandkids who like to have their own "stuff" with them in the parks. Fourth, it certainly is a bother to try and hang up 5 ponchos in the one bathroom you get in the typical resort room at WDW (or anywhere else). Fifth, even on 10-day summer visits to WDW, we've never used more than 2 or 3 ponchos per person, so the cost offset over an entire trip doesn't even come close.

Oh and BTW, I'm the one who started the recycling program at my current place of employment, so I really don't need a "save the planet" lecture.

 

[Mayl]

I am certainly not judging people for using the disposable ones, it just seems to me to be a relatively easy way to help the planet.
Kirsten

Actually, you are doing exactly that…….

 

[christa112]

I have decided to never listen to the weather again because honestly they really don't know what they are talking about. I think they just look up into the sky and guess what the weather is going to be.

Don't let the forecast get you down.

 

[ireland_nicole]

if ya'll disagree, fine; but things are getting decidedly uncivil and there's no reason for it.,