Camping light?

[sweet maxine]

We'd like to camp at the Fort, but don't want to bring a lot of things we'd end up not needing. We'll be tent camping and eating meals out for the most part, except for a sandwich/drinks from our cooler and something for breakfast.

Any ideas for a basic tent set-up? Is it okay to hang a clothesline for towels?

 

[2goofycampers]

Here is a packing list, http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1115732 see what you can't live without.

 

[cruising spud]

I, too, like to pack light. We don't bring many clothes with us. Every few days, while we are waiting and waiting and waiting for my daughter to return from the shower, so we can head on out, I throw a load of wash into the washer at the laundry room. I do this early in the morning, so there is never a wait for a washer.

Depending on how long you are staying, we also hit a local Walmart before actually heading into the fort. We stock up on fruit, paper towels, water, etc, so that we don't have to have all of that stuff in the rv while driving to Disney.

 

[sweet maxine]

I guess I should have been more specific. Thank you for this list. I am trying to see what is necessary to make the trip enjoyable without going overboard. For example, I won't be bringing a tv, fridge, or air conditioner unit. I will bring a fan, and will need some lighting for the campsite, but not sure how much is enough, and how much is overkill.

A few chairs, a cooler, some bikes, a clothesline for towels (I'm guessing that's ok?), those kinds of things are what I'm thinking of to bring. I have bought a door mat from Dollar Tree and will probably bring one more, but will I need more? Should I invest in a remnant of outdoor carpet, or will a thick tarp do for something outside the tent? Do I need to bring a water hose? Sorry to sound dense, but what would that be needed for if I can get what I need from a spigot? I want to cut down on weight/amt. of things I'm bringing, so that's why I'm wondering about the necessity of some things. Hope I'm clear what I'm asking. Truly not trying to be snarky, but just want to know what would be considered the absolute necessities to get by for a camping trip there, yet still have an enjoyable trip.

 

[jimjeanandmac]

Even for the lightest of camping, to keep your perishables fresh - you either will need to make unending trips to the ice machine (pay as you go) in the Hot Humid FL weather - or - I really like the investment (under a $100 bucks) for a Coleman Electric Cooler. Its not really a fridge, its a lightweight dielectric device which transfers heat via a board and uses a pair of low volt fans to distribute the cool air. It runs on 12v too - so it can be used in the car to and fro.

By the time you add up all the ice you'll by - you may come out even.

 

[sweet maxine]

Even for the lightest of camping, to keep your perishables fresh - you either will need to make unending trips to the ice machine (pay as you go) in the Hot Humid FL weather - or - I really like the investment (under a $100 bucks) for a Coleman Electric Cooler. Its not really a fridge, its a lightweight dielectric device which transfers heat via a board and uses a pair of low volt fans to distribute the cool air. It runs on 12v too - so it can be used in the car to and fro.

By the time you add up all the ice you'll by - you may come out even.

Thank you for the suggestion. I hadn't thought of an electric cooler, but will look into that. We will probably only have things like juice, milk, cheese and lunch meats to keep cool, but we will need ice frequently for that. Something electric may come out better in the long run. I'm off to check this out.

 

[jimjeanandmac]

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-P...ermoelectric-Cooler-with-Power-Supply/4810828

From Wally World - NOTE - this is the one **WITH** the power supply - that's the one you want. You'll find some with a lower price, but they don't come with the 120v --> 12v converter - avoid those.

 

[Disney Bunny]

We'd like to camp at the Fort, but don't want to bring a lot of things we'd end up not needing. We'll be tent camping and eating meals out for the most part, except for a sandwich/drinks from our cooler and something for breakfast.

Any ideas for a basic tent set-up? Is it okay to hang a clothesline for towels?

How many people and what time of year?

 

[seals]

We did pretty minimal, mainly because with 2 adults, 3 kids and clothes for a week (I refuse to wash clothes at WDW) driving 10 hours in a minivan, and that included roof rack, we didn't have room for a lot else. The electric cooler got jettisoned at the last minute when I realized we didn't have room for one DS . We didn't bring chairs and sat at the picnic table when we needed to sit at the campsite, which was only a few minutes a day, and usually we were eating anyway. Otherwise our campsite time was spent stretched out on our air mattresses asleep after a long day at the parks or waterparks. We did have 3 tents, though, because we don't like to be that close to each other . Big for DH and I, medium for my 10 yr old twins, small for my 12 year old who needed his own space. We didn't bring bikes because we were planning to spend all our time at the parks or waterparks and we like (ie we don't hate) the buses. We had a battery operated fan in each tent (mid-April). We had a tarp we put up over the table from which we hung a battery operated lantern for light in the evening when needed. We brought a frying pan, a kettle and a two burner electric stovetop thingy. We stopped at a grocery store on the way in for minimal non-perishable food supplies. That took care of breakfast and the occasional dinner before heading off to the movie. We also bought a styrofoam cooler and added ice from the machine, but that didn't do much in the heat. I'd do better with that one next time. If we'd have been camping elsewhere, we'd probably have needed more stuff because we would have spent more time at the campsite. Your mileage, of course, may vary.
And we did hang a clothesline and no one told us not to.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . don't want to bring a lot of things we'd end up not needing . . .

1) A person after my own heart.
2) We stay 3-4 weekends per year at The Fort.
3) We pack only what fits into three 33"x22"x14" plastic tubs (one for clothes)
4) That is what just fits into a small-ish pop-up.
5) Other than that, we only take
. . . lawn chairs
. . . a tarp for stretching out on the ground
. . . my banjo
. . . beer bought just before getting to FW (it is too expensive at WDW)

 

[FLDisneyFan]

I went tent camping at the fort in June, and took way too much with me. The ice is $2.00 for a 7 lb bag. I loaded all the stuff that I didn't use back into my car. What I was glad that I brought was the tent with a tarp to put under it, my sleeping bag, a pillow, a camping mat, a few pairs of shorts and t-shirts, a clothesline, folding chair, cooler, coffee maker, flash light and some other small odds and ends. I camped for 5 nights, and enjoyed it tremendously. I was on the Quick Service Dining Plan, so preparing a lot of meals wasn't an issue for me. IMHO, less is definitely best!

 

[sweet maxine]

Thank you all for your help. I am getting a better picture in my mind of what to pack now.

I have an old Regal Poly hot pot that I can use to boil water for instant mashed potatoes, instant coffee, and other dehydrated things. I have actually grown fond of the instant Taster's Choice Colombian and hazelnut flavored coffees. They're not too bad. With the hot pot I can do so many more things than a coffee maker, as it really does boil water.

 

[mouse2mouse]

So we made the mistake of not enough lighting. We had two lanterns so when we came back from the parks we couldn't see very well. Remedy...rope lighting on a timer. This way site is well lighted for the return from a long day at the parks.

 

[Running_Bell]

Of course a lot has to do with the length of time... if we only go for a few nights we pack very light. Usually though we are in FW for about 10 nights.... so we ALWAYS overkill. But, we have found that we are always glad we did. One thing... we don't camp anywhere like we camp at FW..... But, do what's comfortable for you and have a great time!!

.... some things we discovered during our times there:

1. We always drink more water than we think we will. We bought a drinking hose (not the norm hose, but specified drinking one) and we use a filter. We re-use our own water BPA free bottles. Saves on packing lots of bottled water and $$.

2. We always eat more snacks than we thought we would and buying them at FW is very expensive.

3. We will never do without our bikes again. I will do whatever to make room.

4. We don't do laundry like we thought we would.... now we pack extra cloths.

5. Make some room to pack xtra blankets....of course this lesson was learned in November

6. We didn't have enough camping lights. One thing we now do is take a few solar lights. Just very small ones that stake in the ground. We put them in the sun at the end of the site..... they are lit when we are coming back in the dark from the parks.

7. We will never camp at FW without our ground tarps, flashlights, lanterns and chairs.... and coffee maker

 

[sweet maxine]

Usually though we are in FW for about 10 nights.... so we ALWAYS overkill. But, we have found that we are always glad we did. One thing... we don't camp anywhere like we camp at FW..... But, do what's comfortable for you and have a great time!!

.... some things we discovered during our times there:

3. We will never do without our bikes again. I will do whatever to make room.

As of right now, I'm planning on 10 nights. The thing is, when I think of packing up, driving there, then setting it all up------well, I really start thinking of just staying 2 weeks! Makes sense, right?

The thing about taking the bikes is that a bike rack seems to be about $100 to $200 or so. I've been trying to figure out how to take them and not break the bank on the price of a rack.

Loved all the other ideas you shared. I will make a mental note (and probably written one too) to pack more lighting. And more snacks....and more towels....and more clothes....and a couple of blankets. Hmmm, this is starting to sound not-so-light after all...........

 

[kneemeister]

Well Im flying down so my entire campsite must fit in one duffle bag a carry on and a backpack.

In the duffle.....Tent, air mattress, painters cloth for ground cover, sleeping bag, powercord/outlet strip and light, towels, and collapsible cooler.

Clothes in the carry on. Camera, Laptop and Galaxy TAB in the backpack. Oh and I get my BiPap as an extra free carry on too.

I will rent a car, so a stop at Wally World after I get off 417 for a Fan and anything I might have forgotten.

I tried this with Magical express ONE time, Its one thing if your bags show up late to your room.....But in my case my ROOM showed up late, nothing like sitting at an empty campsite hoping your bags show up, and the afternoon thunderstorms are brewing Also it rained all week, so I had no place to escape being stuck inside the tent, when not at the parks, but amazingly I stayed dry. But It was pouring when I broke camp, so the tent was left in a dumpster, and I stayed in the laundry room of the comfort station waiting on the van from the outpost to pick me up.

 

[sweet maxine]

Now that's camping light!

I'm sorry to say that since I've seen pictures on the Dis of tent set-ups with the nice carpet and rugs, I don't think I'll be happy without the same. Maybe I should change the title of this thread to "Camping semi-light".

 

[kneemeister]

Now that's camping light!

I'm sorry to say that since I've seen pictures on the Dis of tent set-ups with the nice carpet and rugs, I don't think I'll be happy without the same. Maybe I should change the title of this thread to "Camping semi-light".

Oh I may get a rug at my Wally World stop