Camping in Pop-Up in Aug, with no a/c?

[MandM-Mom]

We are thinking of taking our Pop-Up to the World for the first time, the only problem we have is that we can only make the trip in August, any other time we will not have time to make the drive and still have time for vacation. My question is how bad will it be in a pop-up with no air conditioning....usually on our trips we only sleep at the resorts, so I am only really concerned with comforts for sleeping, will be die of heat or is it doable. Any comments on what you did to make it better would be great.

 

[OK GRUMPY]

It can be really hot!! Have you thought about a portable ac? I know they have them but I'm not sure of the cost or if they work really good. I would definatley think of a way to get some cool air in there. I have seen other replies on this subject so I'm sure you will get some good advice.

 

[bord1niowa]

We used a partable AC unit that was 9000 BTU's. It didn't do a bad job in June for us. It took us down to about 75-78 in the heat of the day and much cooler at night. One thing I would definitely do is put the solar blankets on the ends. They only cost a couple of dollars and they reflect the heat greatly! We just clothespinned them to the edge of the end sides. The material under them was very cool, never hot.

 

[The Bad Witch]

Oh my goodness, I haven't camped in Florida in August but I have in Michigan and it was very, very warm at night. Too warm for my taste. I don't know how you "normally" handle heat. For instance, would you be able to sleep in your home without air conditioning in similar weather circumstances as Florida in August?

 

[bennythepug]

Let's just say this...we did it last year and we are not doing it this year We are still going to FW, but are going to try a cabin for the first time. It was honestly pretty brutal last year.....tough sleeping

 

[stacktester]

I wouldn't recommend camping without a/c in the summer. DD and I went in June and August of last year and it was hot in our camper with a/c. If you just have to go at least bring a dang fan lol.

 

[LegoMom3]

Consider, too, that after a long and HOT day out in the parks, when everyone's tired and ready for a good night's sleep, you probably won't get one! If you're going to WDW in the summer months you really NEED to have a/c to come back to at the end of the day. I just can't imagine doing it and our trips have been late Sept. which is "cooler" than summer but still quite hot and humid.

 

[auntie]

Try to get some type of portable A/C. We used to vacation in August every year when the kids were young. Many of the same reasons..school/work. It was really the only time we could go. Great thing is the parks are open late..and so you can really enjoy the campground and pool during the day..and head to parks at 4 or 5:00 when it's less crowded, heat of the day is past..and night time..it's still very warm but you don't have the sun beating on you like you would during the day. Sleeping in it..I think would be oppresive. I wouldn't do it. We stayed in a resort when we went in August.

Funny...because when I saw your question..it reminded me of when my brother and his family came along with us one August. We were on a water launch near MGM..and if looks could kill. Sweat dripping down his head.. In a very l-o-w- tone mumbling under his breath "freakin' Africa". He wanted to kill me. I had told him it wasn't so bad...so he decided to give August a try...needless to say..he never went back at that time of year.

 

[AuburnJen92]

Home Depot has those stand up portable AC units that will fit in a pop up. I know when we had our pop up and went in late June, that AC never was turned off, period. I agree also with the solar blankets, a very wise investment. My mother has two of these units (link below) for hurricane season. She will not be without AC! They are around $400 and worth every penny.


http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDU...ID=ccddaddkjdfeeidcgelceffdfgidgjk.0&MID=9876

 

[bord1niowa]

Check out ebay for the ac units too, I got mine last year NEW in the box for $200 including shipping. I'm not asking any questions about it either, since I found out how much it cost to ship!

 

[Gatordad]

Do yourself a favor and figure something else out.

 

[MandM-Mom]

Do yourself a favor and figure something else out.

Yeah that is my thoughts too! My dd5 is so set on camping at Disney, but she would be happy with a value aswell....our family just really enjoys camping and we thought why not, but then we started thinking August! If we did a value we would just fly because there would be no reason to drive so we could go anytime, only driving to pull our pop-up so we need that extra window of time attached to our regular vacation time that we could get with labor day.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

There was someone on here that used a regular window A/C for their tent.

 

[loriandmatt]

i have done the regular window AC unit in a tent before and it worked fine.

i have never personally done the window AC unit in my pop up, but seriously considered it and have seen others. it can be done with some ingenuity. i have also seen online pics of those who have perminantly rigged (by cutting into the frame of their pop up) a window AC unit into their pop ups.

we very seriously investigated all the above options as well as the portable units before deciding to just take the financial leep and have a roof mounted pop up AC unit installed. it was about $1000 for the unit including installation, but i have to tell you it was worth every penny. saves us precious floor space in that small pop up and keeps it nice and cool. we have used it several times over, and not just when camping at FW in the summer. (although, i would never camp in FW in Aug without some type of AC. just miserable.)

 

[MandM-Mom]

Thanks for all the input everyone, we sat down with DD's and told them we could go to Disney but not camp, they could of cared less, oldest DD said okay when do we go? With Free dining offered I can not see camping instead for the same price anyways, I am a resort girl, love to camp, but in the heat love the AC.

 

[Colson39]

Good choice, August is one of the hottest months in Florida. You would be sweltering at night without A/C, and a lot of places in the Fort don't get much of a breeze.

We won't even go to Disney period in August anymore if we don't have to, we went two years ago and it was just unbearably hot walking around the parks, I think we both got blisters. Make sure you bring lots of water, and those portable mini-fans are a blessing!

 

[SunshineCamper]

Oh yes, after walking around the parks-dealing with the lines, people, the kids, etc. you'll want to go back to an a/c room of any sort to cool down. Otherwise you'll be more tired and cranky.
After Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne came through here in 2004-it was Aug. and Sept. NO electricity for weeks. No place to cool down even in our pools b/c they were nasty due to the storms.
I was one hot, irratated mother after day 1 and I didn't even go into parks to deal with crowds-HA!
I learned that the a/c relaxes you for a good night sleep.

 

[Colson39]

I know what you mean SunshineCamper, we had to deal with that after Wilma came through. No electricity, phones, water, nothing for a couple weeks, all in the wonderful heat of South Florida.

You don't realize how lucky you have it until something like that happens!

 

[mmcguire]

Costco has a small 8500 btu portable AC for $249 (it's on sale for $80 off right now). That's what we are going to get for our tent.

 

[perdidochas]

We are thinking of taking our Pop-Up to the World for the first time, the only problem we have is that we can only make the trip in August, any other time we will not have time to make the drive and still have time for vacation. My question is how bad will it be in a pop-up with no air conditioning....usually on our trips we only sleep at the resorts, so I am only really concerned with comforts for sleeping, will be die of heat or is it doable. Any comments on what you did to make it better would be great.

Unless you are used to 80 degree nights at 95% humidity, forget about it.