Review of Dollar Store Ponchos

[englishteacha]

I decided to try my 2/$1 poncho yesterday while rescuing clothes from the clothesline in a sudden downpour. It did keep me dry, but the hood was a bit big and kept blowing off my head. I think I'll bring a small clip with me to clip the hood under my chin a bit more securely. I also noticed that the bottom tended to blow around a lot because it's so light. It was a good length on me (I'm 5'4"), hitting at my knees, but a taller person wouldn't be as well covered.

The ponchos are very thin, and probably won't survive more than one wearing. I was able to let mine dry and refold it, but I only wore it about 10 minutes. It folded down almost as small as it originally came, which was a pleasant surprise.

We have hand-me-down WDW ponchos that we'll bring with us, but the disposable ones are much easier to carry around all day and I think will work just fine.

 

[DisneyClay]

I bought two of those myself. I hope I don't have to use them.

 

[shades]

Yep, all of the things you describe happen to us while wearing Dollar Tree ponchos at WDW But, the portability of them outweighs the disadvantages so we still use them. We have Mickey ponchos we bought at WDW and they are too heavy to haul around "just incase" so we never take them with us. Our "2 for $1" ponchos have held up pretty well considering how flimsy they are. Once they are used & wet, we put them in ziplock bags until we get back to our hotel and then we hang them up on the shower rack to dry. Otherwise (and I've done this before), leaving them in the bag in a backpack on a hot & sunny day will make them smell musty and stinky. I always take 2 ponchos for each of us in my luggage and then carry one for each of us to the park on rainy days.

 

[patsal]

I love the $ tree ones since I don't feel the need to dry them and refold them--just toss it out once the rain stops--They are so thin that I can carry several with no problems. Use a paperclip to secure the hood a bit more tightly--paperclips can also be used to weight them down int he wind--I get the pastic coated colorer ones form the $ tree and coordinated them with the color of the poncho. They easily pull off and can be placed into your bag for the next time or just toss them out as well.

 

[englishteacha]

Paper clips are a GREAT idea! I didn't think of that! I thought of clothespins, but I don't want to look quite that geeky... I have a package of colored paper clips right here in my desk...I just added them to my "don't forget to pack this" bag!

 

[jbdreamer]

I love the $ tree ones since I don't feel the need to dry them and refold them--just toss it out once the rain stops--They are so thin that I can carry several with no problems. Use a paperclip to secure the hood a bit more tightly--paperclips can also be used to weight them down int he wind--I get the pastic coated colorer ones form the $ tree and coordinated them with the color of the poncho. They easily pull off and can be placed into your bag for the next time or just toss them out as well.

Wow, that paper clip trick is such a creative idea. I agree, after it stops raining, I just toss my 50 cent poncho into the garbage. It's just not as effective after it has been used - I'd rather use a new one. I keep a few in my bag at a time.

If I know it's going to be a rainy day, then I bring an actual rain coat.

 

[mousiemom]

I hit the $ tree the other day and picked mine up for our Jan. trip. I bought 3 packs cause I plan on tossing mine after we use them. Last yr., I tried to fold mine back up and stuff it in my backpack and it made it huge. This is the best way to go. But I'm glad yall shared abouth the clothes pin.

 

[shades]

We use quart size ziplock bags. We also put the ponchos in the bags when we enter a ride building. I do know some people wear their wet ponchos on rides - but, it can be chilly inside rides with a/c running and a wet poncho on. Plus, I don't want to leave a puddle of water in the seats of the rides for the next riders

 

[ncbyrne]

We always use the cheapy disposables for Kali River Rapids. They work perfectly even when you're in the WET seat! We take them off as soon as we exit the ride and leave them for someone else....they are always taken!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

We always use the cheapy disposables for Kali River Rapids. They work perfectly even when you're in the WET seat! We take them off as soon as we exit the ride and leave them for someone else....they are always taken!

That must have been us! I wouldn't usually bother going on Kali unless I wanted to get wet (i.e. it's hot out). This past spring we took newbies to WDW, and I wanted to take them on every ride. The problem was, I had previously shredded the back of my ankle, and I was down to my last moleskin bandage (until a trip back to the room). My ankle wasn't gross, and was mostly healed by then, but it wouldn't have survived walking all day without the moleskin protection. Someone was kind enough to leave their cheapies (or maybe they were just plastic bags) and I wrapped one around my ankle and leg. It worked!

 

[KJMAX1]

Thanks for the review. I got some last time at Target but just bought the two ponchos at Dollar store this weekend.

 

[TENIA66]

ladies, just a word of advice, the clear ponchos are the ones to go with, in a pouring rain, with wall to wall yellow mickey ponchos around you, you can recognize your folks in the rain and crowd. i've used the dollar store ones since 98 and i am a big fan, they cover strollers well too......i use not the paper clips but the chip bag clips to latch them wherever, including the stroller. buy enough to have some for each day, trying to reuse kind of hassle for 50 cents

 

[brumley5]

Hey Englishteacha!

We too are coming to WDW on the 19th and will be staying until the 26th! (at the Boardwalk) We are getting so excited but are also wondering about the weather!
Have fun!!! (I'll be the one loking for any World Cup soccer games to watch - probably at ESPN at the Boardwalk!)

Great tips on the ziplock bags, paper clips and the need for extra rain ponchos - I'll be out to get more!

 

[BroadwayGirl]

For securing the hood, I like to use a small hair scrunchie/elastic. I prefer these to paper clips because most rainstorms are accompanied by lightening and thunder so I'd rather not be adding mini lightening attractors to my poncho.

 

[Pinkprincessmom]

My mom and dd wore their $ Store ponchos this past April on Kali River Rapids. My mom's hood fell off and she got wet down her back. DD was dry. I chose not to wear one b/c I was hot and wanted to get wet. I was in the "lucky" seat that dipped into all of the falls and got drenched. I think next time I'll bring the paper clips and wear the poncho!!

DD is only 6, so before the trip, we tried the poncho on her and trimmed it up some. I did manage to refold it and put it in a small ziploc. After the ride, we trashed them, as we had extras.

I found a kids size one, one for $1 at Target in their dollar section. I got one for dd to put in her back pack for school. I think I'll go get more.

 

[FINFAN]

People people! The PROPER DIS paperclip for the Dollar Tree poncho is the laminated lime green Mickey paint chip from Home Depot! Simply laminate, punch a hole ( we have found that using an ear is best and let it hang sideways ) add paper clip and walaah! We even personalize them if we think of it ahead of laminating. O.K. Official geek status has been met in our household..but y'know...this is the place to share that kind of info! We have been known to run a ribbon around the hood area for the kids, tape the excess plastic back and then use the ribbon as a hood string because the ponchos are REALLY big for kids. This idea was hatched while waiting out a huge downpour at MGM....we had a balloon that just was not going to be floating very well anymore in the rains....so we cut the string as short as we could w/out losing the balloon, asked a CM for a little tape and off we went. She said we were the first she has seen "adjust" a poncho that way...but DS could at least see!


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