Am I crazy for tent camping in aug.

[brerrabbit]

Buy a cheap window unit A/C and at night turn it on and put it at the door to ypu tent. Makes sleeping very nice. If you want to camp, go for it. If it is the cheapest way for you to stay on site then do it. I have never camped there but understand that the shower areas are nice and air conditioned so if like us you will be spending most of your time at the parks and wondering around WDW then there is no problem. You will sleep with a/c and shower with a/c which is what you do in a hotel room. The rest of the time you are in and out of a/c all day at the parks.

So go for it! I camped on the Texas Gulf Coast my entire life growing up and we did that without a/c, and I lived to tell about it.

 

[cheermom1]

Buy a cheap window unit A/C and at night turn it on and put it at the door to ypu tent. Makes sleeping very nice. If you want to camp, go for it. If it is the cheapest way for you to stay on site then do it. I have never camped there but understand that the shower areas are nice and air conditioned so if like us you will be spending most of your time at the parks and wondering around WDW then there is no problem. You will sleep with a/c and shower with a/c which is what you do in a hotel room. The rest of the time you are in and out of a/c all day at the parks.

So go for it! I camped on the Texas Gulf Coast my entire life growing up and we did that without a/c, and I lived to tell about it.

I hadn't thought of it that way..we will be in the parks for most of the day while it is hot and it cools some what at night anyway.. so in the hottest part of the day we will be at the parks so it doesn;t really matter...thanks

I will be getting an ac for the tent (we already have one) dh is looking into the boot thingy to see if that is something he wants to do....

 

[luvdzny]

I am not sure what the weather is like in your area but if it is similar to Orlando weather you could do a "trial night" at home. Just pick a hot day and set up the tent and try sleeping in it for the night. At least you would get some idea of how it will be. Whatever you decide, have a great vacation!

 

[cheermom1]

I am not sure what the weather is like in your area but if it is similar to Orlando weather you could do a "trial night" at home. Just pick a hot day and set up the tent and try sleeping in it for the night. At least you would get some idea of how it will be. Whatever you decide, have a great vacation!

We are camping this weekend with all 5 kids. I don;t know how hot it will be but we thought we would do it a few times before we go... have already went twice this year, this is our third time...but we usually just take fans...thanks

 

[Darcy03231]

I've tent camped and been to WDW in August. Personally, there is no way you could get me to tent camp at WDW in August. Its extremely hot and humid and there are thunderstorms every afternoon (at least there were for the two weeks we were there).

We stayed off-site at a vacation home. Its truly the way to go if you're on a budget. I rented a 5 bedroom/3 bath private pool home for $700/wk, including all taxes and fees. It was 15 min from WDW and quite honestly I found we got there faster driving ourselves than waiting for WDW transportation (we've stayed on-site before). We cooked most of our meals in the home and saved lots of money that way (I would have had to go grocery shopping at home). The kids loved having the private pool and the game room and we all had plenty of room to spread out. We found what worked best for us was to get up early, have a big breakfast and hit the parks. We stayed until about 1 pm and went back to the house for a swim/rest and something to eat. We had an early dinner and went back to the parks at night (around 5 pm) and stayed until close. Being there after dark was much better than the middle of the day.

If you ask my kids, who have stayed both onsite and off, which they prefer, it would be the off-site house. They had a blast. In fact, they've said they never want to go to Florida and stay in a hotel again.

 

[luvdzny]

The fans are a good idea, we used to do this when we tent camped. They also cover up any of the outside noises so sleeping is easier. We have a camper now, but when DD's boyfriend comes with us he still has to have a fan blowing on him because he is always hot. It will be interesting when they get married because she sleeps with at least 9 blankets!!!!

 

[cheermom1]

The fans are a good idea, we used to do this when we tent camped. They also cover up any of the outside noises so sleeping is easier. We have a camper now, but when DD's boyfriend comes with us he still has to have a fan blowing on him because he is always hot. It will be interesting when they get married because she sleeps with at least 9 blankets!!!!

LOL that's me and my dh!! Yep he has the fan pointing on him and the air on. i get several blankets just so i can sleep without shivering...LOL

I can sleep if it a little hot myself but I was worried about dh and all the kids weather they could and when I came across the blurb about how hot it is in aug. it got me to thinking that maybe it would be hotter then we realized ...but with an ac I think they will be fine and with me having a ton of blankets...LOL

 

[C.Ann]

Wow! There is an awful lot of drama in a thread that shouldn't have any. If this thread gets you that hot under the collar, I can't imagine what it will be like in a tent when it is 98 degrees and 100% humidity plus a good chance of torrential rains and lightning. Sounds like a fun trip.

My family has gone to DW almost every August for years. It is always guaranteed to be scorching hot, and to have lightening storms nearly everyday (if not every single day). Staying in tents during the heat and storms does not sound like much of a fun or relaxing experience, even at Fort Wilderness.
.

I'm sorry you didn't get the responses you wanted. Some of us are nicer than others, but what we do all normally do is respond to what we read. Yes, I was more blunt than normal, but what I read had no consideration of your husband. That bothered me.
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Yes. But that's just IMO. Camping in August around here would be like camping in an oven. If you put a gun to my head, I'd still have to think long and hard about doing it.

I think this pretty much sums up where my - and other posters "assumptions" came from.. Sorry if you didn't like my choice of words - "ruin" as opposed to your DH being "miserable" in that kind of heat..

Good luck with your tenting..

 

[cheermom1]

I think this pretty much sums up where my - and other posters "assumptions" came from.. Sorry if you didn't like my choice of words - "ruin" as opposed to your DH being "miserable" in that kind of heat..

Good luck with your tenting..

you were the only one that accessed me of trying to ruin our vacation and you also said I wanted to ruin it just for dh and his boys. you never mention me and my kids or did you assume that we would be fine?

I would never try to make anyone miserable on purpose nor would i not consider anyone else when i am planning something like this. but you don't know me to know that but you just assumed instead of at least asking...

I didn't get upset at anyone else giving me their opinion as I know some just don;t like camping to begin with.. but the accusing and assuming things without really knowing is what bothered me...you can get bothered by the fact that you thought i was trying to ruin the vacation so why can't I be bothered by you accusing me of something I would never do?

I wouldn't have posted a concern if I wanted to ruin the vacation...

 

[C.Ann]

If this thread gets you that hot under the collar, I can't imagine what it will be like in a tent when it is 98 degrees and 100% humidity plus a good chance of torrential rains and lightning. Sounds like a fun trip.

This says it all..

so why can't I be bothered by you accusing me of something I would never do?

You can be bothered by anything you want.. Including the fact that I'm not going to argue with you about this...

Again - good luck with your tenting.. It will be interesting, for sure..

 

[DebIreland]

OP,
I think you'll have a blast.

We camped in Italy and it was HOT but the electric fans allowed us to get a great night's sleep. I know it'll be hotter/more humid in Florida but you'll have a ball. You already have lots of camping experience so that'll stand to you. Personally I think there's a buzz you get while camping (eating outdoors, being so close to nature etc.) that can't be had on any other type of holiday/vacation and it teaches kids some great skills too.

Enjoy your planning. I'm hoping we'll get back to WDW in Aug 2010 too but we'll see.

 

[PatsMom]

I've tent camped and I've been to WDW in August. There is not enough money in the world to pay me to combine the two! I cannot imagine going from the hot parks to a hot tent. It was so nice to get back to our air conditioned room for breaks and bedtimes!

Tent camping can be tons of fun. But if it is hot and humid, it is miserable. And camping in the rain is a whole different story as well. I have a hard time imagining a family getting back to a tent when they are wet from the parks. One it gets wet inside the tent, it is almost impossible to dry out. I guess you could take wet clothing to the comfort station and dry it but I would think that in a torrential downpour like we've seen at WDW in August that the whole tent would be soggy. A rain fly can only do so much.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

disney is not court ordered I meant with his visitation schedule that is the only time we can go...

Then clearly--you have a choice. You do not have to tent camp at Disney. And everyone is strongly advising you against it.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

first I am NOT trying to RUIN anything!!!!! my hubby and I both are looking into this together!! we both have decided we want to tent camp to save money we have 5 kids! I am doing the research and I give it to him and we decide. I just happen to come across someone saying that they thought it was crazy to tent camp in aug. and I wanted to get some opinions....so please don't assume I am trying to ruin anything when you don't really know....that will go further when talking to someone about your opinion...

You are wanting to spend family time in "hell"--literally--that is what camping in august will be. "hell".

You will only ruin things if you insist on doing the trip in those conditions in a tent when you know that your husband doesn't enjoy the heat.

It seemed that come hell or high water--you wanted to do it.

We're just advising you that indeed, that is what you will get in a tent.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

but you see that is MY point. Try to give the op the benefit of the doubt before you give a blunt answer...and ask questions when in doubt...that is really all I want to convey because it does hurt people when you assume something that is not necessarily true from just one post...if everyone would try to give the benefit of the doubt them most of the time threads wouldn't get so full of drama and nastiness....

You asked in your thread title if you were crazy for trying this. Most folks think so and you are upset by this. I don't understand.

You then said "you had no choice"--when clearly you do.

Noone got nasty. They simply answered your points directly.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I read your thread on the Camping forum.

First off--I find it rude when folks go from board to board commenting on how mean people are in other places. As if that isn't mean. Many folks her have camped and love to do so--advising you against August in a tent doesn't mean that we love it any less and that maybe we might actually know what we are talking about.

Second--the A/C that was shown to you is $155 not including tax or delivery. Walmart in store pick up is notoriously slow. You would have to have it shipped to you. That--and one tent won't get a/c'd unless you are buying more than one. I seriously think you could do a very cool trip if you researched a little bit more.

Orlando is not NW Arkansas.


Third--you will need a contingency plan in the event you must evacuate Fort Wilderness due to a coming hurricane. The fort gets closed and they move everyone out. I'm not sure if they "comp" you a hotel room or not. But you could get kicked out.

I honestly think you are forcing a trip to make things perfect and it isn't going to be.

My husband HATES to sweat. IF it is "too hot", his sweat lets him know. It's rather annoying actually. Your husband isn't going to enjoy himself IMHO if a tent in Florida in August is involved if he is anything like my husband and his displeasure with warmth.


Enjoy whatever plans you make.

Do not buy the "cooler a/c". We did buy one of those and it doesn't work. It blows air over ice and onto you, but it isn't high power and it just cannot compete with the heat. We did utilize one on a May camping trip that I did report about on the Camping forum back in 2004.

 

[princess momma]

We camp a couple times a year. I enjoy it a lot. Usually we go in early summer or late fall. There's no way I'd camp in August, especially in the Florida. While I do enjoy camping, it's a lot of work. If you've camped before you all ready know that. Walking the parks in the summer is exhausting and I just can't imagine having the energy to do it if I also had to camp.

We've stayed in the cabins in the Fort. I understand it's not in your budget to stay there, but I'm just pointing out I'm familiar with the Fort. It's nice but really the smaller kids enjoyed it more than the older kids. We used Disney transportation and it's 2 bus rides or 1 bus and 1 boat ride to get anywhere. Getting around was a huge pain in the butt. The campgrounds were evacuated the time we stayed there, it was October and hurricane season. I can't recall what the procedure is for that.

I prefer a hotel room, even if it is offsite. Staying at the Fort does not feel like staying onsite to me anyway. We're thinking of renting a house for our next trip. I know that's not what you want to do but there are some great deals out there on some really nice houses. I think it will be so nice to have a full kitchen and a pool to enjoy when we're not at the parks.

You asked for opinion and that's mine. Hope you have a great time.

 

[BostonRob]

I just don't think you're seeing the big picture. If you've never been to Orlando in August, you really can't imagine what the constant heat and humidity are like (not to mention the daily rain). I have no idea what it will cost you to get air conditioners for two tents (or how efficient they'll be in the orlando heat), but I think even that 'solution' is missing the point. Tents are for sleeping. You don't 'hang out' in a tent. So if you're eating breakfast, lunch, or dinner at your site, you'll be sweating and miserable. Immediately after you shower in the morning, while you're waiting for the rest of the family to get ready, you'll be sweating and miserable. I could go on and on but I think I've made my point.
I'm not sure why you've decided that you must stay onsite and that you must stay at fort wilderness, but I suggest you spend some time re-evaluating that decision. You asked if you were crazy to tent camp in August and you've got six pages of responses that are almost unanimous in telling you it is a bad idea. Consider what you've been told - the positives of Fort Wilderness do not outweigh the negagtives of tent camping in August. There are many other places where you can stay and have a wonderful vacation; do yourself a favor and consider them.

 

[mjkacmom]

I haven't tented in FL in August, but I've tented during heat waves, and there is nothing as truly miserable as tenting when it's hot (I actually prefer cold and rainy). It's SO hard to sleep! I also don't like being hot, so I'd have a horrible time if I were your DH.

 

[diznygirl]

I hadn't thought of it that way..we will be in the parks for most of the day while it is hot and it cools some what at night anyway.. so in the hottest part of the day we will be at the parks so it doesn;t really matter...thanks

I will be getting an ac for the tent (we already have one) dh is looking into the boot thingy to see if that is something he wants to do....

For others reading this thread - FYI, it does not cool off in Orlando at night. It is still hot and humid, but you do get the added bonus of mosquitoes.

Carry on.