August Tent Camping~Wish Us Luck :)

[motherof4]

Thanks for the great tips!

 

[indimom]

We'll be tent camping July 20-24. We're only planning on bringing fans. But, we plan to shade/rain cover the entire tent with a large tarp and some extendable tent poles. We're hoping that will allow us to keep the screens open and air flow circulating without the risk of leakage during the frequent rain showers. Crosses fingers.

I'm only a little nervous about the heat and humidity.


If I come up with any tips or information during our trip that I think will help you, I'll be sure to post it here where you can find it!

 

[MackenzieFL]

Hello, FL resident & Disney tent camper here! You're going to be fine!

The plastic drawers/tote boxes are way better than bags & luggage.

Put a bucket of cheap charcoal in each tent to draw out some of the humidity at night. When it gets sloshy, change it. That + a fan help.

We use these little tent "ceiling fans" and everyone gets one of those water bottle fans to keep next to the bed in case they need a little help at night. I've never used the tent ACs but yeah, you definitely want something to cool the tents down.

We honestly don't spend a lot of time at the camp site... mornings are beautiful but then it's off to the parks, or off to the pool. We eat out a lot or instead of BBQing we just go to Trail's End for a family fried chicken take-out dinner and eat it by the pool or at our camp.

The big thing is the weather-- as mentioned it is hurricane season. So that could mean nothing comes through or that could mean a big huge storm.

At the very least-- have extra tent stakes, ropes/bungees, and tarps. Lightweight tarps for extra tent protection when you go to the parks (it rains like EVERY afternoon around 4 or 5) and also good for throwing it on top of the sandy areas of the camp site to make a "path" to walk, makes for much less grit & dirt when you don't have to trek back and forth across wet sand.

You also want to batten down the hatches pretty good as it can get pretty windy-- you don't want to come home and see your tent half blown over itself.

Ask for loop 1500, it's right across from the big pool. Saves a lot of back & forth time.

If a serious storm is coming they say they bring everyone into somewhere, I forget where, but you can bring in your sleeping bags/air mattresses and stuff but the truth is we've never had that actually happen to us. But it's not like they'll leave you out there to fend for yourself if a tropical storm suddenly appears.

 

[North of Mouse]

We were there during Tropical Storm Fay a few years ago. Whether tenters were advised to leave, I do not know, but almost all of them did - as did pop ups. The partial sites were almost completely empty.

We would have left, but would have been in the path of the storm, so felt it was better to stay. We also were in a MH, and every day they left us an 'advisory' keeping us abreast of developments. They said if the 'sustained' winds got over 35mph they would put us in one of the hotels and we could take our MH there.

There was water everywhere in the campground - actually lakes! There was downed branches and twigs - that would be the greatest fear with canvas! Anyway, we were fine, as the winds 'gusted' to 35mph & more, but were not sustained.

 

[MattFromPA]

We tent camped at FW last November, and had a great time! Now we didn't have much heat, humidity or rain to contend with.

One thing another poster said isn't right, or at least it wasn't for me - I found that I really did need to have a tarp under the tent. The sites are mostly crushed shells and sand - but when tearing down I found that the tarps under our tent were wet from the previous day's rain. I wound up throwing away those tarps as loads of sand, etc had stuck to them. But, they saved the actual tent bottom from getting wet. It was a little damp, but not so much that I had to set the thing back up when we got home. I think I toweled off the bottom before stuffing the tent into its bag.

We bought a 'camp kitchen' table with a built-in shallow sink. Great investment. It was really handy to have a working sink for washing and cooking. Wouldn't tent camp without it again.

 

[motherof4]

Great tips guys! The one item we have is a plastic 4 drawer tower that we use in our kitchen tent. In the top drawer we put a platic cutlery holder and that's for our cutlery. Next drawer is our plates and bowls. Then the next is for cups and mugs and then the last one is for mixing bowls and bigger items. We have had it for over 5 years so has held up great and it really makes my kitchen tent feel like a kitchen. I have seen the sink and table set up and thought I would love that, it is almosr $200 dollars here in Ontario! The other item I have seen that I would love is the Coleman oven, the smell of hot out of the oven chocolate chip cookies lingering down the campsites, yummy!

 

[MattFromPA]

Here is the table we have: http://www.kotulas.com/deals/sports...le-camp-fish-cleaning-table-with-faucet-small

Look for a 'fish cleaning' table rather than camp kitchen, etc.

 

[MushLRC]

Hello, FL resident & Disney tent camper here! You're going to be fine!

The plastic drawers/tote boxes are way better than bags & luggage.

Put a bucket of cheap charcoal in each tent to draw out some of the humidity at night. When it gets sloshy, change it. That + a fan help.

We use these little tent "ceiling fans" and everyone gets one of those water bottle fans to keep next to the bed in case they need a little help at night. I've never used the tent ACs but yeah, you definitely want something to cool the tents down.

We honestly don't spend a lot of time at the camp site... mornings are beautiful but then it's off to the parks, or off to the pool. We eat out a lot or instead of BBQing we just go to Trail's End for a family fried chicken take-out dinner and eat it by the pool or at our camp.

The big thing is the weather-- as mentioned it is hurricane season. So that could mean nothing comes through or that could mean a big huge storm.

At the very least-- have extra tent stakes, ropes/bungees, and tarps. Lightweight tarps for extra tent protection when you go to the parks (it rains like EVERY afternoon around 4 or 5) and also good for throwing it on top of the sandy areas of the camp site to make a "path" to walk, makes for much less grit & dirt when you don't have to trek back and forth across wet sand.

You also want to batten down the hatches pretty good as it can get pretty windy-- you don't want to come home and see your tent half blown over itself.

Ask for loop 1500, it's right across from the big pool. Saves a lot of back & forth time.

If a serious storm is coming they say they bring everyone into somewhere, I forget where, but you can bring in your sleeping bags/air mattresses and stuff but the truth is we've never had that actually happen to us. But it's not like they'll leave you out there to fend for yourself if a tropical storm suddenly appears.

Thank you for the local reassurance that we will be fine

I am a researcher and a planner so even though there will be things to overcome I am sure we can make it all work as long as we are prepared.

As far as the trailer we plan to take I don't know for sure yet. We were going to rent a uhaul trailer but are seriously looking to buy a gently used one. I see this being a great asset for future trips as well. Thinking a roughly 4x8 enclosed trailer but we are open for what ever the good lord puts in our path. Keeping our eyes open now to get it before the trip.

 

[MushLRC]

Here is the table we have: http://www.kotulas.com/deals/sports...le-camp-fish-cleaning-table-with-faucet-small

Look for a 'fish cleaning' table rather than camp kitchen, etc.

That looks totally cool!!

 

[MushLRC]

We'll be tent camping July 20-24. We're only planning on bringing fans. But, we plan to shade/rain cover the entire tent with a large tarp and some extendable tent poles. We're hoping that will allow us to keep the screens open and air flow circulating without the risk of leakage during the frequent rain showers. Crosses fingers.

I'm only a little nervous about the heat and humidity.


If I come up with any tips or information during our trip that I think will help you, I'll be sure to post it here where you can find it!

Okay so you will be there before me If you can please come back to this thread and let us know how it all goes for you. Pictures of your camp set up is a plus as well

 

[MattFromPA]

That looks totally cool!!

Here is the table we have: http://www.kotulas.com/deals/sports...le-camp-fish-cleaning-table-with-faucet-small

Yes it is! The sink is shallow enough so the table folds flat for transport. Then you need to assemble the faucet. You also need something to catch the waste water. I used a 5 gallon collapsible water container which I had to walk to the comfort station and flush. Made tenting a whole lot more civilized!

 

[indimom]

Okay so you will be there before me If you can please come back to this thread and let us know how it all goes for you. Pictures of your camp set up is a plus as well

Our camp set-up won't be as impressive as some on here. We're a little limited on how much we can bring since we're driving down in an impala. But, I'll be sure to post how it goes and add a few pictures.

Yes it is! The sink is shallow enough so the table folds flat for transport. Then you need to assemble the faucet. You also need something to catch the waste water. I used a 5 gallon collapsible water container which I had to walk to the comfort station and flush. Made tenting a whole lot more civilized!

That table is awesome. Wish I had a truck to carry everything, I would definitely invest in that.

 

[MushLRC]

Our camp set-up won't be as impressive as some on here. We're a little limited on how much we can bring since we're driving down in an impala. But, I'll be sure to post how it goes and add a few pictures.



That table is awesome. Wish I had a truck to carry everything, I would definitely invest in that.

That's cool. We won't be all fancy either. I just want a semi/comfortable place to sleep. We won't be spending much time at the actual campsite anyway

 

[WDWAtLast]

I am not sure how it will work in a tent, but we use a dehumidifier in our pop up and it makes a world of difference in our Texas summers! no more waking up to sticky sheets and pillowcases!! Have fun! We were at the World in August several years ago (but not camping) and had a wonderful trip - even in the heat!

 

[Southern Bell]

If a hurricane ever happens while I am at Disney it won't matter to me if I am in a tent, pop-up, travel trailer,or a cabin! I will be gone! LOL! I'm scared to death of storms, especially wind.

 

[MushLRC]

If a hurricane ever happens while I am at Disney it won't matter to me if I am in a tent, pop-up, travel trailer,or a cabin! I will be gone! LOL! I'm scared to death of storms, especially wind.

AMEN to that LOL!!

 

[JanL]

Love bug season usually starts in September.

I always put a tarp under the tent and a smaller one inside the tent. I pull each corner together to form a tray and secure with a clothes pin. That way if water gets in, it goes under the "tray floor" and our stuff stays dry. We use cots, with the stackable plastic drawers for clothing and our shower stuff is in buckets or kitty litter pails and goes under the cot. I have been known to put a tarp, a shower liner, or plastic tablecloth over the beds in case of leaks.

I second the screened dining tent. I have a folding table with a folding luggage rack under it as a "pantry." This keeps the table uncluttered. In the pantry, i use see-through plastic bins with tight-locking lids to keep out bugs, critters and rain. One holds long handled utensils, another holds paper plates, napkins, zip lock bags, etc. and one has spices, cooking spray, and so forth. While I am cooking, I may slip the lids under the bins so I can just grab whatever whenever it is needed, then when finished cooking, I make sure to snap all the lids back on. Some of my bins are smaller and most of them stack on same-size bins.

I also have a utensil rack that clamps to the picnic table and has a small shelf for salt & pepper, a garbage bag holder, a paper towel holder, a hook on top for a lantern, and several "arms" that branch out to hold a pancake turner and long handled spoons and forks.

I have a picnic set for the table holds eating utensils, catsup, mustard, salt & pepper, and paper plates. I have a small table-top plastic stackable 2-drawer thingy that I keep such things as corkscrews, candles and lighter, toothpicks, steak knives, playing cards, etc. in (things you might need at the table sooner or later). All the kitchen stuff stacks on a large shelving unit in the garage and can just be loaded into the RAV4 when time to camp and unloaded onto the shelves when I get home again.

 

[Candikayne]

I like the tip regarding the tarp and the folding luggage rack. I having been camping for the past four years in a tent and I love it.

 

[anniemck]

When my girls and I used to go camping, one thing we always did as soon as we arrived at camp was to put out the rain gauge, the last thing in the vehicle when we left was the rain gauge. The only time it rained while camping, my ex-husband took the rain gauge out of the van and left it at home... even with my now husband we keep up with the rain gauge.
Superstition... maybe, but it has always worked for us.

 

[motherof4]

What's a rain gauge? I need to get me one of them!