To poncho or not???

[bytheblood]

My personal suggestion is not to waste your money. We bought ponchos and used them to cover our camera backpack, but not our bodies. Florida humidity is bad enough, but covering it with a poncho is awful. You won't melt in the rain and after being in the humidity, the rain feels good. Just have it ready to cover your valuables.

 

[TXTink]

They used to be bright yellow everywhere except at the AK and those were tan. But several months after 9-11 they started selling clear ones.

 

[bytheblood]

On a related note, how does everyone keep their cameras (video, digital, 35mm, or one-time-use) DRY when it rains or even on a wet ride like Splash Mountain or KRR in AK? Ideas anyone?

Black Hefty bag. Unfold it, use it, then toss it.

 

[safetymom]

Yes Disney ponchos are clear now. Not everyone looks the same anymore.

 

[eeyoreforever]

We just returned from our trip. We took ponchos, but after wearing them a couple of times and trying to stuff them in and out of my bag I carry, we tossed them. They were just too much of a nuisance for us. We saw quite a few people carrying umbrellas, so decided to go that route. Figured the umbrella would be a good souvenier too. When we weren't using them, we just hooked them to our bags (fanny packs for the kids) by the loop on them. For us, this worked out so much better than the ponchos. A lot quicker to get "on and off" and much easier to "store". I don't recall on our previous trips so many people using umbrellas as what we saw this time. Enjoy your trip and try to stay dry!

 

[disneyholic family]

i had to laugh when i read "rain shower".
You must never have been in Orlando in July.
Think deluge. Think the sky opening and a wall of water coming down on you.
Not only will you need ponchos, there will be times you'll think you need an ark.

 

[snowy76]

On a related note, how does everyone keep their cameras (video, digital, 35mm, or one-time-use) DRY when it rains or even on a wet ride like Splash Mountain or KRR in AK? Ideas anyone?

That's our other use for the poncho! If I'm wearing one, I pull my arms in and hold the valuables like that in my lap.

They're also good for taking pictures in the rain... The hood/neck area of my $1 cheapies are so big that I can hold the camera up to my face to take a picture and the hood hangs over like an awning on my head! I look weird but I never worry about water in my camera!

 

[disneyholic family]

On a related note, how does everyone keep their cameras (video, digital, 35mm, or one-time-use) DRY when it rains or even on a wet ride like Splash Mountain or KRR in AK? Ideas anyone?

in the rain, the camera is in my backpack which is on my back under the poncho..

on wet rides, it's in a plastic bag, inside my backpack, which is stored wherever the storage on that ride is (like on kali river rapids, in the center storage thingie....which gets wet....so everything has to be protected in plastic that's put in there if you don't want it to get wet)......

 

[dawgsgirl]

I wear a fanny pack to the parks. After the rain, I tuck my cheapie poncho through the belt on the fanny pack. Easy way to carry it and I can throw it away after the parks. I put my camera and cell phone in a zip-lock baggie in my fanny pack for wet rides and rain.

 

[alien]

Another word that comes to mind is "monsoon"! On our first July trip to Disney a few years ago, we had dinner reservations our first night at Chef Mickey's. We were staying in Figi at the Polynesian and had to go outside the length of one longhouse to get to the monorail. The rain started before we left and was blowing sideways. "Oh, let's just run for it." By the time we got to the monorail, we all were soaked. (An umbrella would have blown away in the wind.) Chef Mickey's was so cold that we didn't enjoy the meal at all. We had to ask for extra cloth napkins just to try and keep DD6 from shivering the whole time.
We've learned to bring light sweatshirts just for the air conditioning.
Bring the ponchos - it will then be a choice if you want to use it or not. I think you'll be glad you did!

 

[scoutsmom99]

On a related note, how does everyone keep their cameras (video, digital, 35mm, or one-time-use) DRY when it rains or even on a wet ride like Splash Mountain or KRR in AK? Ideas anyone?

I put my camera in it's bag and then place that bag inside my purse/backpack while it rains or I go on a water ride.

 

[lbgraves]

We used our ponchos in MK last week when it rained. It was great to have them to sit on after the rain stopped on the rides so our pants didn't get soaking wet. We also put them on the ground when we sat to watch Spectro & wait for Wishes since it was still wet.

 

[Ted and Holly]

I don't do ponchos. I'll be going in July too and I think that the rain does feel good. Plus it's so hot that everything dries up pretty quick.

To me a poncho would be one more thing to lug around. I don't like to carry anything in the parks. DH usually has cargo pockets for the camera and wallet and I don't carry anything!

You don't dry out in 90% humidity. When I lived in the Northeast, a summer rain would provide relief from the humidity. here, the humidity does not leave after the rain.

If you can go to a gym, get into the shower with your park clothes on, then dry off in the steam room, you'll be fine. Otherwise, carry a poncho.

Believe me, people think they'll look silly wearing this large piece of plastic. Nope, the silly people are the drenched and shivering ones.

Ted

 

[bytheblood]

If you can go to a gym, get into the shower with your park clothes on, then dry off in the steam room, you'll be fine. Otherwise, carry a poncho.


Ted

I have to disagree. My family of 5 was there for 8 days and my in-laws wore ponchos while my husband, daughter and I did not. We walked in the rain and the humidity was 85% - 100% every single day. The only day I had a problem was on Friday 6/3, when it rained all day long. I did not freeze or take long to dry off at all...neither did my husband or daughter.

My in-laws complained about feeling hot and sticky while wearing ponchos and we walked around feeling cooled off.

 

[Ted and Holly]

I have to disagree. My family of 5 was there for 8 days and my in-laws wore ponchos while my husband, daughter and I did not. We walked in the rain and the humidity was 85% - 100% every single day. The only day I had a problem was on Friday 6/3, when it rained all day long. I did not freeze or take long to dry off at all...neither did my husband or daughter.

My in-laws complained about feeling hot and sticky while wearing ponchos and we walked around feeling cooled off.

That is good news for your family! Did you walk out in the open in the real summer downpour?

I see it all the time. Wet, sticky people drenched from head to toe. It takes a long time to dry down to your underwear.

Like I said, carry a poncho. They are small, light, and many people are doing it, so you won't stand out. Or wear a swim suit. For men, that is easy. They even have pockets.

Ted

 

[wtpntigger2]

We were there 5/29-6/4 and it rained almost the whole time we were there. We were very glad to have ponchos with us, however, they were the cheap $1 which did get annoying sticking to you and also ripped easily. When we got home, I bought thicker ones like the ones sold at Disney for $3 at WalMart. They had blue, red and green. IIRC, the Disney ones were just over $7 with tax.

Oh, we also stuffed the ponchos in a large merchandise bag when we weren't wearing them, but we also had a stroller to hang it on. If you are going with a stroller of your own and it has a canopy, I highly recommend buying a stroller cover from Babies R Us/Toys R Us for $8. I had many people offer to buy ours from us. I only wish I had thought to buy more and sell them. I could've paid for our trip this way

 

[lbgraves]

The worst thing for me was that I had wet socks & sneakers on all day. They never dried out. The ponchos kept the rest of us dry & comfy though.

 

[kikipug]

The only day I had a problem was on Friday 6/3, when it rained all day long.

We were in MK that day... swimming laps around Cinderella's Castle.

I agree with spending the $ and getting a real poncho, as opposed to the $1 hooded garbage bag.

We have AP's, so we keep ponchos in the truck all the time. We bought Coleman ponchos in the camping dept at Target- they come in their own mesh bag... $4 each- more breathable than the Disney ones, and less expensive. Definitely worth their weight in gold last Friday!!!! Plus, they are blue, as opposed to everyone's clear or yellow ones...

 

[Sherrilatte]

I'm ready with my mini-brella , so duck! I don't like to be covered in plastic in hot and humid weather. Plus, it will put boundaries around my personal space.

 

[imagineerhopefull]

ponchos are deffinitly worth it, especially the disney ones. Yes, they are $7 each or so, but are deffinitly worth it. They are large enough where you can wear a backpack underneath and long enough as to where they keep your shorts relatively dry. Cargo shorts are also good for carrying them around as when folded they are not that big. They do not make you hot and sticky either. One other thing they do is that they make nice souveniers, even if they are a bit pricey, but hey your on vacation and money should be the least of your torubles!