What kind of poncho do you use?

[OFF2NVRLAND]

Our trip is in two weeks and I'm picking up last minute items. After the soaking we got on our last trip while in HS, I will never go without a poncho again. Hopefully that was the first and last time I have to ring out my clothes in a bathroom .
I can't decide between disposable ponchos from the dollar store or the reusable heavier duty for a few more dollars. I like the idea of being able to throw away the cheaper ones if we do have to use them.
Any tips or suggestions? What do you use?

 

[coozieman]

ALWAYS have used Disney ponchos for the past 10 years with no complaints. Plus - they'll exchange them for free if they rip, tear or lose those little snaps!

 

[MrsHull]

I tried taking dollar ponchos along and they wound up ripping with one use. I tried taking nicer rain jackets and they didn't cover enough of my legs in the Disney downpours. So, we bought Disney ponchos and take them along with us now.

 

[PSUGuy]

ALWAYS have used Disney ponchos for the past 10 years with no complaints. Plus - they'll exchange them for free if they rip, tear or lose those little snaps!

Ditto. Right now we have yellow ones with Mickey on the back. A few years back we had a pair from AK. On a rainy afternoon in WS mine was ripped so I stopped in a Morocco outlet fully expecting to buy a new one, got it for free.

Bill From PA

 

[verleniahall]

Disney ones all the way - they are super heavy duty and I have used mine here at home as well

 

[DisneyHardin]

We brought dollar store ones our first year and found they do not hold up in torrential rain. We trashed those and bought Disney ones. They have held up for 6 trips since.

 

[coozieman]

Sunscreen, Disney ponchos, Disney umbrellas and flip flops is all that you'll ever find in my Disney day bag!

 

[Gillyrose779]

I actually invested in rain jackets- best investment yet. They don't take up much more space compared to ponchos and keep us so much dryer than ponchos ever did-

 

[mocame]

We just got back from our trip. We got stuck in Epcot for 1 1/2 hours when a thunderstorm came through during one night of our trip. I had brought the cheap disposable ponchos and they were terrible. The people that had the Disney ponchos were drier than the people us with the disposable.

A few days later the weather called for a whole day of rain. I went to my resort store and bought us all the Disney ponchos. Yes, they were more money but after spending the whole day in the rain, we were very happy we had the Disney ones. Also, one of the snaps on my poncho came off and I took it back to the store and they replaced it for free. They do take up a little bit more room than the disposable ones but I didn't care. Also, the lady at the resort store gave me a Disney Parks bag to place the ponchos in when they got wet so we wouldn't have to carry around dripping ponchos.

 

[ciera321]

ALWAYS have used Disney ponchos for the past 10 years with no complaints. Plus - they'll exchange them for free if they rip, tear or lose those little snaps!

Ditto!

 

[tobikaye]

I can't decide between disposable ponchos from the dollar store or the reusable heavier duty for a few more dollars. I like the idea of being able to throw away the cheaper ones if we do have to use them.
Any tips or suggestions? What do you use?

I would do both as there are days and situations where the dollar ones would work fine, but others where you need the better quality ones. I just bought some $5 ones at Walmart the other day and they worked great for being out in the rain for hours at a sporting event.

If you have both types with you and the weather just calls for short sporadic rain, the dollar ones are great. I used to use these in Florida in the summer for the daily afternoon rain. If the weather calls for rain most of the day, then the one that is stronger would be of better use. Take either a plastic bag or ziploc to put them in afterwards if the rain stops and you are not done at the park. Then just hang them in the bathroom to dry afterwards.

 

[Catvondita]

I have the yellow old school Disney Ponchos with the Mickey on the back

 

[Disneymom1126]

I didn't realize Disney would replace them if they ripped, etc...that's good to know!

For those who use Disney Ponchos...what are your tips for rolling those things up and putting them back in a backpack after the rain stops? We had them during one trip (I tossed them because they got ripped...if only I knew!)...and they were really cumbersome to put away once they were used and the sun came back out!

 

[ChloesDaddy]

We have both Disney ponchos and Coleman disposable ponchos and will use them situationally. We're staying at YC, so unless there is a high chance of extended rain we'll take the smaller Coleman ponchos with us to Epcot and DHS just in case. If we're going to AK or MK or if there is a high chance of extended rain, we'll take the Disney ponchos.

 

[Dreamin192]

Thanks for this reminder! Our trip last year was end of April and we lucked out with no rain at all. We honeymooned at Disney in June and it poured every afternoon so I'm sure it will on this trip as well. When it was just us we didn't care about the rain, we got wet, whatever, but now with three kids we are going to need a plan. Sounds like Disney ponchos are the way to go.

 

[gatorlisa]

I use the cheap emergency ponchos. I've always found them to work fine, but I'm also pretty short, so that may help. I have a Disney one and a nicer one from a local store, but for me they take up too much room in my bag compared to the emergency ones. If the forecast looks like significant rain throughout the day, then I just wear a rain jacket.

 

[nolanboys]

We are emergency poncho wearers. We buy 2 for each person. They work great, are cheap, and take up no room. That is especially important when you have to lug 6 around!

 

[jaiminee krikit]

We have also been using Disney ponchos for many years. I always have them in my bag being that we travel in the summer months and you just never know when a storm will come through. I brought them on our cruise a couple years ago and luckily kept them in my bag because our CC day it stormed like crazy and I needed something to cover my backpack so my camera and stuff didn't get wet. We got back to our stateroom and I hung the ponchos over the clothesline. At WDW I'll shake off the excess water and throw them in their own compartment of my backpack. Then when we get back to our resort I will open them and hang them over the clothesline until the next morning.

 

[CAS239]

Ponchos are way too hot. I go with a windbreaker with a hood on it instead of a poncho

 

[Pkltm]

I didn't realize Disney would replace them if they ripped, etc...that's good to know!

For those who use Disney Ponchos...what are your tips for rolling those things up and putting them back in a backpack after the rain stops? We had them during one trip (I tossed them because they got ripped...if only I knew!)...and they were really cumbersome to put away once they were used and the sun came back out!

We get the small bag from the gift shops and fold them up very tightly and put it is there, and then in our back pack, my husband can get them very compact, he has more patience than me.