Camping mid-August w/ no air conditioner?

[pakhowe]

DH , myself and 2 kids considering camping in a pop-up in mid August. I think we're crazy!! DH has looked into air & would be about $500-600. For that $ I think we should get a room. We live in Maine & will probably never use the a/c again. DH & Dkids think it would be a once in a lifetime experience to camp at WDW. What do you think?

 

[becky1960]

I think it is going to very hot and after a long day in the parks you will be coming back to hot. We have done that before with a popup and fans, but now I think I would get a portable A/C with fans so you can get a good nights rest. We have two A/C's in our RV and use them both in the summer.

 

[medic9016]

We did mid Sept with out AC. We had two fans running at night to sleep which was not bad. It was to hot during the day to go inside though. I would not do it again. I would consider a portable AC also.

 

[bama_ed]

For the same amount of money you can get a room for one trip;

Or you can get A/C for the rest of the life of your camper! Come south sometime and you'll use it again.

Seems like an easy choice for me (A/C)

Bama Ed

PS-my Jayco popup has A/C in Alabama

 

[clkelley]

I would say get a window shaker unit for less than $100 and figure a way to mount it in a window. Set it up on some milk crates or something similar and zip the window around it and use duct tape.

 

[des1954]

I agree with Carol on this.

I live year round in Florida, and believe me, it is very, very hot & humid in August. It can rain a lot during this month, so you will most definitely want air conditioning.

As far as hotel vs. FtW.... I have to say I'd take FtW every time. However, Port Orleans - Riverside, has a lot of the ambience of FtW. It will run about $225.00/night for 2 adults & 2 children at Riverside vs. about $50.00/night at FtW. You would need to add tickets, food, etc to the cost.

Riverside has a very nice food court!

 

[stacktester]

I'd say you're crazy to camp without a/c in August.

They sell a portable a/c unit at HD for around $400 that would work great and be good for other uses. Not sure if these can be rented to lower the price.

 

[the5coops]

We were there last August and didn't go to the parks until the evening. It was still hot and sticky. We are from North Texas and have heat but not Florida heat. I think you may be surprised on how many times you will want to return to the Fort in the future. It may be a wise investment for your trip.

Shelley

 

[Flametamr]

I agree with getting an inexpensive window unit from Walmart. They are under a hundred bucks. Then just rig a way for it to aim into an opening in the camper. The back must be outside to exhaust hot air and condensation. You can not imagine how hot a small camper will get in Florida in August. It will be unbearable during the day unless you have a lot of shade and big fans. It will also be difficult to cool off enough to sleep at night too. It can be done but it may make your trip miserable.

For the record I live in So Alabama and own a large Pop-Up with A/C. We have the same humid heat here as Florida dooes. I have tent camped for years and managed with just a fan. But I will never go back now that I made the jump to a camper. The airconditioner is a godsend in the summer.

 

[AuburnJen92]

Believe me, 29 days in September with no a/c because of hurricanes makes you go and get one quick. Don't make yourself miserable. You will catch the bug like we all have an know that you will be going back, because you can't help yourself. You will be doing yourself a huge favor in getting a portable a/c.

 

[YellowXterra]

AC is a must! Window unit should work ok for you

 

[terri01p]

I'd say you're crazy to camp without a/c in August.

They sell a portable a/c unit at HD for around $400 that would work great and be good for other uses. Not sure if these can be rented to lower the price.

I have to go with Donnie on this one, I have been to WDW twice in September and it was hotter than July. You need a little something to off set the heat.

 

[LONE-STAR]

Buy a a/c stay in your camper you will love it.

 

[Mr Man]

I would tent camp in FL without AC if my only alternative was a sharp stick in the eye.

It is just too hot. Yes, it is survivable........but this does not mean it will be fun.....

We have similar heat in Houston & I do my fair share of camping with the Cub Scouts........but only in the Spring and the Fall......

Good luck

 

[kimluvswdw]

August with no AC, .

 

[pakhowe]

Thank you all for your input. We now have a reservation at one of the All Stars. When we upgrade our pop-up for a larger unit we will make sure it has a/c. I agree it will be the camping trip of a lifetime but it will have to wait another year or two.

Kim

 

[ntsammy5]

We sometimes stay at the All Stars too. It'll be crowded, but the resorts are a lot of fun. Have fun.

 

[momtimesone]

When I was growing up we used to go camping all the time and When my parents bought there very first pop up my mom could not take the heat anymore. My dad had a person come in and cut a special door in the side of the pop up that would swing open and was held up by chains( like drawbridge). He would unlock the door from the outside and swing down the door then he would take his window air conditioner and stick it into the cut out area and the folding type door would hold the AC unit up. When we where done with the trip he would pull the AC out and close up the door. We did this for many many yrs until my parents bought a travel trailer with real air.

 

[Gatordad]

if you truly live in Maine, you'll find NY unbearable without A/c in the summer. It looks like going to the all-stars is a great choice.

 

[LarryJ]

I would say get a window shaker unit for less than $100 and figure a way to mount it in a window. Set it up on some milk crates or something similar and zip the window around it and use duct tape.

That's also what I would do and just make it work. However, with a pop up and canvas you might still not get where you want temp and comfort wise. When the boys were in school we did many Jun, Jul, Aug trips and it's hot and very humid during those times even at night. Last thing you need after fighting the crowds, heat and humidity is come back and do the same thing less the crowds in your camper.

Larry