Umbrella OK for rain or are rain jackets better?

[DizneeCM]

We'll be in Disney during a rainy time of year. What's your opinion of using umbrellas instead of (or in addition to, if it's really rainy) rain jackets? I have a micro folding umbrella for each person. We'll be in the parks during a relatively slow time of year. It will still be hot enough to make jackets uncomfortable.

Will there be enough room to use the umbrellas without bothering anyone? They are pretty small (my DH says they look like rain beanie hats!)

 

[cooldisneymom]

We just got back 3 wks ago and it rained on us several days. I know everyone here loves the ponchos, but they are VERY hot especially in July!!! So we used very small folding umbrellas and hats and they worked wonderfully for DD13 and I. IMHO

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Umbrellas are really only useful if the wind is not blowing, otherwise your body from the shoulders or waist down will get wet anyway.

For the best protection use rain suits. Pants and jacket. Depends, of course, on how dry you want to stay. A rain jacket will allow the rain to sheet off of you right on to whatever clothing is sticking out below the jacket. Rain pants will prevent that.

Lots of folks do use umbrellas in the parks. They are no more dangerous than strollers!

Ponchos are another favorite, but I find them pretty worthless. They flap in the wind and you end up getting wet (along with being hot and sweaty under them) anyway.

Be absolutely certain you have at least one extra pair of comfortable shoes/footwear to change into when you get one pair wet. It is really nasty to slog around in wet footwear that doesn't dry out overnight.

 

[buzzz1]

Just READ MY TAG !!! Poncho's are better !! You will regret bringing an umbrella to have to lug around.....

The rain in Florida is going to happen, but it doesn't last long !!
(Unless of course you are going this weekend !)

 

[carol9999]

Where do you get the rain jackets that squish up really small and have there own little bag.... walmart?, if so, which department do you get them in? where else can i get them? i dont want to have to buy them at disney.........thx

 

[HopperFan]

Walmart sells in sporting goods and sometimes by registers.

We went to dollar store where they sell them 2/$1. Keep a plastic bag in backpack if we have to put them away wet during the day. And if we have to use them, at the end of the day - in the trash. Bring a new ones the next day.

 

[SimbaSue]

We have our folding umbrellas and Helly Hansen jackets with hoods with us at all times..and definitely more than one pair of comfortable shoes! Have fun!Sus

 

[CamColt]

On our recent trip we had 3 days of intermitten rain, going from a mist to a good shower. Since I dont really mind my body being wet, but my hair freaks out in the rain, I found the umbrella was best for me. Besides it seemed every time it started we would put off putting on teh ponchos until we really needed to . By the time we got them all out and on us and the kids, the rain would lighten up and we didnt really need them again.

 

[mickey'sbud]

IMHO, I like ponchos best. The Dollar Tree ones are good for cheap, throw away, and compact. HOWever, in windy rain they fly around and you can get pretty wet anyway. I like best the heavier ponchos that cost a little more. They are larger and the wind doesn't catch them as readily. (you can always return the heavy kind to Wal-mart or wherever if you don't use them)

I'd take both kinds. If you know you will be in rain, the heavy ones are better and I don't think as hot because they don't cling to you. For the "maybe" rain days---you can go with the cheapies.

For a family of 4, the heavier ones will fit in one backpack. The cheapy ones will fit in each persons waist pack or pocket. Oh best sure to get any color other than yellow to help identify your group.

Have fun and stay dry!

 

[krafty]

We've done the poncho thing more than once, but I tend to favor umbrellas. They're less hassle to get out and up, and when it's done raining they fold away as easily as they opened... unlike the ponchos!

 

[4thof52003]

I prefer ponchos overall, but if it's just a light rain I like the convenience of an umbrella. One of the best times I had at WDW was taking off my shoes, rolling up my pants, donning my poncho and playing in the rain.

 

[Aquagirl]

Carol9999

Last year I purchased the small windbreaker type jackets that fold up into their own front pocket at Old Navy. They are about $10-$12. We loved them. They kept us dry, were not that hot and sticky, and you could shake the rain off them when you wanted to put them away instead of folding up a wet poncho.

 

[SeattleMark]

We like the disposable ponchos from Walmart. You can get them in the sporting goods section for 85 cents. They seem just a bit more sturdy than the dollar store ones, but I may be wrong about that.

 

[korlows]

Ponchos rule!

Wow mark... 4 more days hugh? Way cool...Hope its all cleaned up by the time you get there.
Enjoy!

 

[Rhonna]

You didn't say exactly which time of year. There is the rain WITH wind season - as someone already mentioned. In that case probably ponchos. However, we've gone in Oct. and the few rainy days we encountered were not windy.

We love our little compact umbrellas, easy to carry, wipe off and put back in our bags, and we even used them once for the direct sun when we were waiting for a parade. I can't tell you how many people said they wished they had thought of that. Of course, I took them for possible rain but they worked great for intense sun also.

I personally couldn't stand the humidity under the ponchos if it was muggy out - yuck!


Rhonna

 

[always quiet]

When we went in Dec 2002, I was not worried about the rain as, according to everything that I read, it is one of the driest months out of the year. Ahhh................I'd like to dispute that statement!! The week we were there, WDW received 10" of the wet stuff!! I hadn't bothered to pack umbrellas or rain gear so on day 1 in the parks, we stopped at the Settlement Depot to buy disney rain ponchos for all 5 of us. While on Big Thunder, my son accidentally ripped his hood. A CM heard me telling my son that I couldn't believe he managed to rip his poncho! She volunteered some very helpful information.............Disney World will replace their ponchos at any time!! On day 5, our last day in the parks (yes, still raining!), DH ripped his. It was replaced just as quickly and easily! A very good investment! I plan on taking them down again this year (I swear, if I need to use them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! )

 

[disneynay]

Bring everything! We were there during 9/11 and had a hurricane 3 days later. We wore our light-weight jackets, ponchos, hats, and carried umbrellas. Nothing is worse than being cold and wet. Plus if you bring everything, you have the option of carrying an umbrella in your daypack if the rain is light, or a poncho if the rain is heavier. A good tip for wet ponchos is to ask a cast member in any shop for a plastic bag to carry your wet poncho in when you take it off. Hey, it beats trying to fold or roll a sopping wet poncho. Good luck!

 

[bytheblood]

I am all for ponchos. Don't want to be walking around with a "lightning rod" in my hand.

 

[Kaycee]

It depends on your preferences. I have a problem with ponchos and rain jackets. Wearing one is more uncomfortable to me than getting wet! DH and DS's are the same way. For us, umbrellas work much better. They keep us from getting soaked, but we don't have the clammy, suffocating feeling we get from ponchos and rain jackets. Others have mentioned the importance of extra dry shoes, and I agree that this is the most imporant thing you can do to prepare for wet weather. It's totally miserable having to slosh around in wet shoes.

 

[Tinkbell]

In July, I brought a very small Tote umbrella and I used it on days that had a light rain. If the rain was heavier, I put on the poncho instead. I don't like that plastic sticking to skin feeling so I save the poncho for the big rains. On a side note, we saw plenty of umbrellas left behind all over MK (on top of garbage cans, benches, tables). Seems people take a break and forget their umbrellas. So, if you do take one, don't forget about it!