creative ways to stay cool...

[Thinktinknpixiedust]

We are planning our first tent camping trip to FW for a family of 6 next August... We KNOW how hot it gets in August in Florida. Has anyone else "braved" the heat and humidity? How did you do it? I guess our biggest concern is sleeping at night...

can't wait to hear what you all have to say!

 

[bicyclemark]

Bribg aloong a portable fan. All ofd the sites have elextricity. I suppose if you really want to lug one, you could bring a window air conditioner.

ps - I like your ticker.

 

[clkelley]

I have never tent camped in DisneyWorld in the summer, but I did camp at Boy Scout National Jamboree this summer, and as everyone has probably read it was as hot or hotter there and we survived!! (100 actual temperature most days and 115 heat index most days, and about 85% humidity). (Please no comments about the accidents)

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!!! That's the first thing.

Make sure you have one of the newer tents where you can open all the windows and let air circulate, but the rain fly still keeps things dry inside.

Keep a fan blowing in the tent 24/7 to keep air moving and moisture down.

Make sure your tent is well waterproofed, cause even if it's hot, wet bedding never makes for a good night sleep.

Have some type of rain shelter that you can sit under in your chairs. You don't want to be stuck in your tent if it rains. This also keeps your tent drier as you can shuck the rain gear and the shoes under the shelter and walk into your tent in the dry.

Don't use sleeping bags. An air mattress, sheets, and a couple of blankets works better, so you can remove or add layers as necessary.

Take a nice cool shower, right before bed and go to bed with your head wet.

If all else fails, the comfort stations have blasting cold air conditioning, bring a chair into the comfort station and read a book till you cool off!!!!

Have fun!!

Carol

 

[Thinktinknpixiedust]

Jeepers ... I thought I was being original! great minds think alike!!

Bribg aloong a portable fan. All ofd the sites have elextricity. I suppose if you really want to lug one, you could bring a window air conditioner.

ps - I like your ticker.

 

[Thinktinknpixiedust]

Great tips! I especially liked the one about the separate rain shelter... definate must do! Wouldnt you worry about having a fan going in the tent all day if someone is not there?

With the adventure you had in the heat, you most certainly have all the best advice! hydrate hydrate... you are soooo right!

I have never tent camped in DisneyWorld in the summer, but I did camp at Boy Scout National Jamboree this summer, and as everyone has probably read it was as hot or hotter there and we survived!! (100 actual temperature most days and 115 heat index most days, and about 85% humidity). (Please no comments about the accidents)

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!!! That's the first thing.

Make sure you have one of the newer tents where you can open all the windows and let air circulate, but the rain fly still keeps things dry inside.

Keep a fan blowing in the tent 24/7 to keep air moving and moisture down.

Make sure your tent is well waterproofed, cause even if it's hot, wet bedding never makes for a good night sleep.

Have some type of rain shelter that you can sit under in your chairs. You don't want to be stuck in your tent if it rains. This also keeps your tent drier as you can shuck the rain gear and the shoes under the shelter and walk into your tent in the dry.

Don't use sleeping bags. An air mattress, sheets, and a couple of blankets works better, so you can remove or add layers as necessary.

Take a nice cool shower, right before bed and go to bed with your head wet.

If all else fails, the comfort stations have blasting cold air conditioning, bring a chair into the comfort station and read a book till you cool off!!!!

Have fun!!

Carol

 

[clkelley]

Great tips! I especially liked the one about the separate rain shelter... definate must do! Wouldnt you worry about having a fan going in the tent all day if someone is not there?

With the adventure you had in the heat, you most certainly have all the best advice! hydrate hydrate... you are soooo right!

I have run my fan 24/7 in my tent at Ft. Wilderness every December that I go (even in the winter you have to keep things ventilated and dry. Cold and wet don't mix) and I ran it 24/7 at Jamboree with no problems.

Just make sure your cords are good, use outdoor extension cords and make sure the connections stay dry. You'll be fine.

Carol

 

[babytrees]

bumping in hopes of more good tips.....we are tenting it next July

 

[donac]

Congrats clkelley for making it throught the Jambo. My husband and 2 sons went and my husband ended up being treated the first day Pres Bush was arriving.


You made some great points.

We have always camped at FW in Aug. We were there this past Aug. We all have a portable battery operated fan. We blow it at our faces at night and we have had no problem.

We have always put up a tarp above the tents so we could keep the rain fly off the tent unless we know it is going to rain. Our tarp is big enough to keep two tents and some space for some chairs.


Hydrate is really important. We all carry camelbacks filled with ice and water.

Come back to the tent for a dip in the pool. This also helps late at night too.

Enjoy the fort. It is my favorite place to stay.

 

[clkelley]

I also have those little magnetic Colemen Tent Fans. I mostly use those when I have no electricity, cause they do drain D size batteries, but having the smaller fan right near your face should help also.

Carol

 

[LMC]

For your outside seating area you can get some of the small misting hoses from Walmart. We use these every summer outside and they work great, so long as your water hose has the rubber gaskets and they don't leak at the connections.
Just get a few faucet "splitters" and you can run several water hoses off of it. Then attach the small mister to your chairs or tie to a nearby tree etc. Only use them when you are there and they really don't use that much water as it is reduced to a small amount by output to get the mist.