Bringing our own fridge?

[kteesmumma]

Has anyone done this? We have a ressie at Pop the end of May. We will be driving down from Boston. We have room for a mini fridge in the van. I am trying to budget as much as possible. I was considering borrowing a fridge from someone and bringing it with us instead of having to rent one. I wasn't sure if the weight of the fridge would cause us to use more gas on our drive down? Any thoughts??

 

[torinsmom]

A mini fridge weighs maybe 40-50 lbs. so I don't think it would add much to your gas cost. Since Disney seems to be okay with fridge swaps, I don't see why they would mind you bringing a small fridge. Now, a toaster over or something like that would probably not be allowed, because of the risk of fire.

 

[kteesmumma]

Thank you so much. Yah I wasn't planning on bringing a toaster oven. Just the fridge. We are staying for 6 nights so that would be a savings of almost 70.00 after taxes and stuff. That amount alone can get us some good souveniors

 

[mrodgers]

We took a large cooler. We froze 2 cases of water, put them in the cooler and it kept anything we wanted cold for the ride down. The bottles of water stayed frozen the entire week in the cooler in the room and we would each take a bottle to the parks with us.

I think on the 4th or 5th day, I made a run to the ice machine and filled the cooler full of ice.

Cooler full of frozen water bottles is better than a mini fridge because they are about the same size physically on the outside, but are twice as big in capacity on the inside.

9 days total and even with leaving the cooler overnight in the car in Georgia (where it was still probably 100 when we arrived at 7 pm) on the first day and the leftover bottles of water were still partially frozen.

 

[kelcoppens]

Do you know about the fridge swapping at Pop on this board? Why dont you just do that?

 

[kteesmumma]

I do know about the Swap..but our dates aren't available. But thank you

 

[wmah]

I have not brought my own fridge in to a room, yet. Knowing me it could happen. I have brought over sized coolers in to hotel rooms. I have filled them with the ice machines.

If you go the cooler route get one on wheels or make a 4 wheel dolly to roll it to the machine and then use that empty fridge pack your soda may have came in, open it on both ends to act as a shoot for the ice.

I have also brought in my own microwave into hotel rooms. Never had an issue. I also have my propane camping skillet I will use outside on the tailgate to make up what ever. I figure you don't have to be at a campground to eat camping style.

 

[Marionnette]

Has anyone done this? We have a ressie at Pop the end of May. We will be driving down from Boston. We have room for a mini fridge in the van. I am trying to budget as much as possible. I was considering borrowing a fridge from someone and bringing it with us instead of having to rent one. I wasn't sure if the weight of the fridge would cause us to use more gas on our drive down? Any thoughts??

You will reduce your fuel efficiency by 1-2% for every 100 lbs. of extra weight. Heavier vehicles will be closer to the 1% mark. There is a AAA gas calculator that you can use to figure out how much it should cost you to drive that fridge down and back. Just increase the cost by 1% to see if it is worth the added weight.
http://www.fuelcostcalculator.aaa.com/

 

[pearlieq]

You're driving and you're got the room, why not?

Seems like a perfectly sensible way to save a few bucks.

 

[terri01p]

 

[okeydokey]

I think it's a great idea. Who wants to deal with ice and wet food if you don't have to.

 

[kteesmumma]

Thank you everyone. I haven't run this by hubby yet, but I am sure he wont mind

 

[disneymarie]

Has anyone done this? We have a ressie at Pop the end of May. We will be driving down from Boston. We have room for a mini fridge in the van. I am trying to budget as much as possible. I was considering borrowing a fridge from someone and bringing it with us instead of having to rent one. I wasn't sure if the weight of the fridge would cause us to use more gas on our drive down? Any thoughts??

I have done a swap, used a cooler and both at the same time. If I am driving again, well auto train, I am taking our larger cooler on wheels. Wish the thermo cooler was working but if car is shut off, it will not run? Something with the lighter and aux outlets?

But, I far needed the cooler for the trip then I did the fridge. If I had to make a choice I would go with my cooler. The most we had was some cream cheese, butter, mayo, lunch meat, cheese snacks, wraps, and tons of water, soda 12 packs to refill.

The cooler was on wheels and just let it drain. I loved the swap, but, getting it, packing, cleaning returning, I am just not sure I would bother again. The son and dil had the swap fridge and I had the cooler....especially for the drive it was needed. It took up the same space as a small fridge, but had more room inside.

the only problem is the Ice...We had a car and twice bought a bag.

 

[starann]

We brought a large cooler on wheels...every day or every other day we emptied the 'water' out and refilled the ice. It was nice to use on the ride down and it actually kept everything colder than the fridge my dad rented (he rented, we went cheap with the cooler)!


If you are really trying to budget, I'd go that route, then you can pack snacks and cold stuff for hte ride down and back!

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

Has anyone done this? We have a ressie at Pop the end of May. We will be driving down from Boston. We have room for a mini fridge in the van. I am trying to budget as much as possible. I was considering borrowing a fridge from someone and bringing it with us instead of having to rent one. I wasn't sure if the weight of the fridge would cause us to use more gas on our drive down? Any thoughts??

if I ever had the option to drive you bet I would bring a fridge!!! It would sure be useful and would sure beat the fridge swap. I've done the fridge swap a lot and it's great but it sure takes up time not to mention, the last time I did it, the next person was told the fridge wasn't there . Good thing I had a signed receipt for turning it back in so they could trace it. But it all took time......

 

[mantaz]

We bought a dorm fridge just for taking to WDW. Everytime we go, it is the first thing loaded in the car! If you have one you can borrow, I say go for it! I enjoy getting up and grabbing a drink from the fridge. Also you want one when you get back to the room, but who wants to walk to the front one more time?!