Tried and true tips for (cold) rain.

[mskateb]

Ok, so we're going to go in the rain and we're going to love it. I'm looking for your best tips on how to stay as comfy as possible, particularly for my 2 and 6 year olds. What's worked well for you? Thanks so much!

 

[nessz79]

Depending on how wet it is...

Ponchos, a change of socks, and sneakers that don't have the major ventilation (aka holes) that will let in the water if it's going to pour. We found that out a couple summers ago. There was a downpour and although we had our ponchos, our feet were soaked! The rain was coming in through the top ventilation of the sneakers. Those that had shoes on that didn't have the top ventilation had dryer feet.

Also, have a plan for each park where you can ride out the worst of rain. We have found Epcot to be the best park for rain- you can spend quite some time in the Seas pavilion, just looking at the aquariums, for example.

(Edited when I realized you were from Florida- I was going to say to just keep in mind that the Florida weather forecast is bound to change from day to day, even hour to hour. You may think you'll be in cold rain, but it's just as likely that the forecast will change. But you probably already know that!)

 

[jsebsirois]

The one tip I could give you is to make sure you have something to protect your valuables. Best thing would be to have a large Ziploc kind of bag.

We were once in the park and it was pouring rain for more than one hour and we had our passports with us because we were going straight to the airport after our day in the park and they were soaked... We almost couldn't make it back to Canada!!!

 

[jesse8931]

Do you really need tips on how to handle rain in the cold.

I mean come on have you really never been outside in the rain.....

 

[Dreamer & Wisher]

If you are bringing a stroller get a stroller rain cover, there are a few different sizes available at Babies r us. They are clear plastic, and work great to keep your stroller dry, we use ours to keep the stroller covered while we are inside an attraction.

You might want to get rain boats for your kids to wear.

 

[3disAddicts]

Was there this past November when the rain and cold came through. We had both the heavier disney ponchos we bought years ago, and a flimsy dollar store one my husband thought would come in handy since it would easily fit into his pocket. Needless to say, it didn't work well, and went in the trash that night. Also try and avoid deep puddles that can form through the parks. We found this to be especially true at Epcot. Nothing worse than cold, wet feet, especially at night. Bring newspapers to stuff your shoes with overnight, just in case your shoes do get wet. Newspaper is very good at soaking up the moisture. Despite the cold and rain, we still had a blast, and you will too!!!

 

[siskaren]

Do you really need tips on how to handle rain in the cold.

I mean come on have you really never been outside in the rain.....

Most of the time, people are only out in the rain long enough to get from the house to the car, car to store, car to work, etc. Being at a theme park while it rains is probably going to mean spending more time outside, and getting back to your hotel room to dry out may be more trouble than it's worth.

 

[Candleshoe]

Bring a towel in a plastic bag in your backpack.

I prefer a hand towel or microfiber towel b/c they're lighter.

 

[jo-jo]

If you are bringing a stroller get a stroller rain cover, there are a few different sizes available at Babies r us. They are clear plastic, and work great to keep your stroller dry, we use ours to keep the stroller covered while we are inside an attraction.

.

Just to add to this hint. Bring some binder clips. Sometime with the rain, you also get wind. Use the binder clips to hold the rain cover in place.

Also for those with ponchos, use a clip to hold the hood in place so it doesn't blow off your head every two secs.

 

[bumbershoot]

Most of the time, people are only out in the rain long enough to get from the house to the car, car to store, car to work, etc. Being at a theme park while it rains is probably going to mean spending more time outside, and getting back to your hotel room to dry out may be more trouble than it's worth.

Absolutely.

There is such a difference between being at a themepark vs being at home, when it's cold, rainy, etc.


honestly, having had the experiences we have had with weather, I'd bag the day IF it's actually cold rain all day (which is pretty unlikely to have it all day). No matter what western medicine says, being outside in the cold and wet does go hand in hand with many people ending up sick. Keeping your body temperature up is a stressor on the body, breathing in the cold air is a stressor, and it can end up (and generally does for me and often my son) with illness. Ask me if I'm coughing now, after our trip that involved standing around in temperatures under 40 during the 5K, and running the half in just a touch above that, and just being wiped out the whole trip... (answer is yes, it's unpleasant)

Especially with little kids. We live in western WA, but the first time it really rained on a Disneyland trip, DS was DONE done done inside of an hour. He couldn't stay warm even in a stroller with a cover and a coat and not getting his feet wet. He was, hmm, 3? And just didn't like it. Neither did DH. They went back to the hotel.

 

[wearegoingtoDisney]

You will need waterproof boots or shoes for everyone in your group or the person who has wet feet will want to go home!! I was there last January during a cold and raining week. By evening MK was nearly empty. Everything a walk on! Cold and wet adults and kids left the parks in droves. I had on a pair of Lands End Comfort Mocs and that was not enough. Once they were wet they stayed wet for the remaining days because it continued to rain. I used an old trick of putting my feet in plastic bags to keep my socks dry. Base layer, warm jacket, hat, mittens, and a waterproof top layer along with waterproof shoes for everyone and you will be the last ones at the park with time to see everything you want without waiting! This from a lifelong New Englander who I will say it...was wet and freezing in FL! I will never go to Disney in January again without waterproof shoes!

 

[POOHsie]

From Walmart we purchased cheap nylon(?) rain jackets with hoods that you tighten with a string-pull. The rain jackets folded up pretty small for carrying in a backpack. Ponchos work, but they are one-size-fits-all, so rain can come in, and wind can tear them.

We also have very small, collapsible umbrellas that are easy to carry, and we have baseball-type caps that really keep a lot of water off your face. The hat and hood was an effective combo against Florida rain on previous visits.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

I'm not gonna tell you to wear a poncho or rain coat.. I don't think that's what you came here for..

Like others said, protecting your valuables is the most important thing.

I don't know how long your trip is.. is it a one-day trip or a short trip? If so, you may be out of luck when it comes to the outdoor rides. If it's a longer trip, you could afford to save a lot of outdoor rides for another day.

You could still have a blast at the parks with kids. If you must choose a park, go to MK. It has the most indoor attractions. In Tomorrowland, the Laugh Floor, Space Mountain (may be too much for your kids,) and the Carousel of Progress are all indoors. In Adventureland, go to the Tiki Room bird show and Pirates of the Caribbean. Frontierland has the Country Bear Jamboree. Liberty Square has the Haunted Mansion - most of the queue is covered. Fantasyland has the teacups (covered,) Snow White, Peter Pan, Small World, Mickey's Philharmagic - just to name a few.

Also, keep in mind that you could walk through most of Main Street indoors. You could start at town square and walk all the way through the gift shop to Casey's (if it's really pouring.) To get to Tomorrowland, there is an area near the outdoor restaurant that is also covered (Lunching Pad?)

 

[mskateb]

Thanks, you guys. I knew you would have ideas I've never thought of. (Newspaper in shoes? Never heard of that!) We are going to be there for 3 nights, staying at the Swan. The weather folks seem pretty sure that Friday is going to be the all-day rain event, though I know it's early still for weather predictions. My original plan for the day was MK, and I have great FPs (7 DMT, FoF parade, and Electrical parade). I'm thinking of switching our plans and going to MK on Thursday instead, even though I won't have the fast passes, and maybe going to Epcot on the rainy day instead. That way if my toddler isn't having it, maybe me or DH could take him back to the Swan and my older daughter can still go do some stuff. We'll let the day decide when it comes, I guess, and in the meantime, I'm going to get some rain gear and be prepared. Thanks for your great ideas.

 

[mskateb]

I used an old trick of putting my feet in plastic bags to keep my socks dry.

This is genius!

 

[Candleshoe]

You will need waterproof boots or shoes for everyone in your group or the person who has wet feet will want to go home!! I was there last January during a cold and raining week. By evening MK was nearly empty. Everything a walk on! Cold and wet adults and kids left the parks in droves. I had on a pair of Lands End Comfort Mocs and that was not enough. Once they were wet they stayed wet for the remaining days because it continued to rain. I used an old trick of putting my feet in plastic bags to keep my socks dry. Base layer, warm jacket, hat, mittens, and a waterproof top layer along with waterproof shoes for everyone and you will be the last ones at the park with time to see everything you want without waiting! This from a lifelong New Englander who I will say it...was wet and freezing in FL! I will never go to Disney in January again without waterproof shoes!

So was it (inside out) Foot-Socks-Bags-Shoes or Foot-Socks-Shoes-Bags?

I'm assuming the first but wondering if it's unconfortable? Of course wet SOCKS are uncomfortable, too!

 

[Glendamax]

Sorry if I'm repeating ....but what helped me was having towels in the car to sit on, and dry off with. Also, I wore a real raincoat instead of poncho, if it was already raining before we left the room. Also....

- do NOT wear shoes with memory foam in them (learned that the hard way)

- bring extra zip loc bags, so if it stops raining, you can put your wet stuff in them, then place it inside whatever bag you're carrying, without getting everything else wet.

- when you feel like leaving the park, LEAVE! don't force yourself to suck it up. sometimes leaving is the best thing you can do!

 

[wearegoingtoDisney]

This is genius!

Yes, an old New England trick from my 70's-80's childhood. The boots were never really waterproof so if you wanted to stay outside and sled all day you put on socks, then bread bags over your socks and then your boots. A bit slippery feeling inside but definitely better than wet! While at Disney I used a much smaller plastic bag. Sock, Bag, Shoes is the trick and yes my feet stayed dry inside the already wet shoes.

 

[mansionmama]

Ok, so we're going to go in the rain and we're going to love it. I'm looking for your best tips on how to stay as comfy as possible, particularly for my 2 and 6 year olds. What's worked well for you? Thanks so much!

You gave yourself the best tip of all...a positive attitude! Have a great time!