Does anyone take thier own cube fridge?

[Crazy4mandms]

I know that sounds over "budgety", but I thought I saw somewhere on these boards that people have taken their own cube type refridgerators with them to Disney and now I can't find the post to see if it is allowed, offensive or tacky. We are driving down so it would be easy to do (we have one in our camper, just a little like 20inx20inx20in type thing) and we are staying 9 nights at the AS Sports so it would save us about $100 from renting one (which I could buy a new one for that price)!!!! Just wondering what people thought of this...my main reason (over just a cooler) is that we could save tons on water in the parks cuz if we could freeze bottles in the little freezer part in the fridge to keep them cold in the parks. Any thoughts on this? Might look tacky but if it is something common I wouldn't be so apprehensive about taking it!!

 

[Disneefun]

We don't take a fridge per se, but it might as well be one. We found this great Coleman AC/DC cooler at Wal Mart ($77, AC adapter incl.) that we use. It might as well be a fridge, except it doesn't have a freezer compartment like most dorm-type fridges do. It looks like a cooler, not a fridge, but you can turn it up on its end, change how the door attaches and, for all practical purposes, make it a fridge. It just still looks like a cooler turned on its end.

No one has ever said anything to us about it (we've used it about five times now, all for on-property visits). Even when we stay in deluxes and the bellman brings up our luggage (one even helped us move some furniture around so we could get to an out of the way outlet to plug it into!!), nobody has ever said one word about it. It saves us a fortune in rental charges and food costs, plus we can plug it into the car and use it on the way down and back. So if anybody thinks it's "tacky," I just figure so what. It's saving me a ton, I don't know any of these people, so what they think means nada to me.

I don't think you'd run into any trouble with it at all. Esp. staying at AS where you most likely will haul your own luggage to and from the room, nobody will ever see it. I would put your name on it though, just in case housekeeping (for whatever reason) decides that you rented it, or that the people before you rented it, or whatever, and try to take it back. Happy fridging.

JW

 

[Mic]

Several people have posted that they took their own fridge, microwave, etc. If I owned a small fridge I would certainly take it on a trip. And considering the sheer number of guests that stay at the All-Stars each day, one would have to be pretty tacky to stand out!

 

[Poohnatic]

I have the coleman refrigerated cooler, and have used it twice now. We stay at the all stars, and I've had a couple of comments in the "why didn't I think of that?" vein. It sure makes it nice to have my kids favorite brand yogurt in the morning and to have wine, fruit and cheese in the evenings!

Go for it, bring the fridge. The way I look at it is, they offer rentals, so it had to be allowed! I finally bought one after spending that 10 bucks a night on two different stays. It has now paid for itself twice!

Suzanne

 

[strawberryblonde]

Your cube fridge will look just like the ones they rent out to guests for $10 a night. A few years back, we rented one and it looked just like the one we own. I don't think anyone will bat an eye that it is you who carried it into your room and not a CM, I don't think you will stand out. We have used our plug in cooler twice now which really works well. We took our cube fridge for my sister and Mom to share while we used our cooler (we drove from AL, they flew from WA). Not only do you save $$ for breakfast but the convenience is a huge plus too. We kept a few cans of soda cool, some fruit, sandwich slices and mayo, jar of jam, jar of salsa (to dip corn chips in), hummus, soy milk ect. for quick meals in the room. I love sit down meals in the park and saving on some meals in the room allows for more character breakfasts (which we use as brunch) and nice dinners.

 

[colleen costello]

We check in like the Beverly Hillbillies. We stay in DVC rooms that have a small fridge, and because of that I pack LOTS. We have Gameboys and Poptarts and Tide, plus drinks that I refuse to pay $3 for! We have pool toys I am too cheap to rent. I pack so much junk that when we stay at Old Key West I feel relief because you park out front of your room and unload your OWN stuff ! A nice bellman told me once that most folks have tons of junk -- no biggie. I say pack that fridge and spend the money you save on souvenirs!

 

[Crazy4mandms]

Thank you everyone!! I AM going to take that fridge and not worry about it!! The water I drink just has to be cold and I could not see spending all those $$ on bottled water in the parks! And I think that it is correct in thinking that CMs carry fridges to the rooms all the time...so why can't I just carry my own!! This will also help my food budget alot as we will be eating breakfast in the room everyday and can now eat some lunches in the room as well, saving even more $$. Disney here I come!!! This is our first trip ever and I we are doing it on a tight budget and I get nervous about not having enough spending/food $$. We've given each of our 2 DSs $100 to "blow" and I have $110 budgeted for food/"stuff" a day (we only plan on doing an occasional sit down) w/all our hotel and tix paid...does this sound like enough? Thanks to all!!!

 

[patsal]

Sounds like you'll have enough $$. Most days, unless you have a large, expensive dinner planned you won't go over budget. I plan on $100.00 per day for myfamily of four for food and snacks. Usually I don't go over that. I put any leftover $$ in an empty envelope to vcover a day that may be more expensive. I bring all my own snacks and water so I usually do not have to purchase either of them at the parks.

 

[Crazy4mandms]

Thanks for the feedback...I like the daily envelope thingie someone suggested and then whatever we don't spend put in the next day's envelope, just as u suggested. We are just not restaurant, sit still kinda people so I don't see us at many restaurants that would be $$$. We are doing Donald's breakfast and eating at ESPN club and MIGHT do Chef Mickey's (that will be our last night there and I have a ressie but all depends on how much $$ we can save by that last day!), but other than that it will be counter service once a day for dinner and twice a day for lunch and dinner every other day with breakfast in the room every morning. Bringing the fridge is really going to help, especially cuz I drink nothing but Crystal Light so now I can always have cold stuff on hand!! 12 days and counting till our first ever day in the magic!!!

 

[tax58]

We also carry a coleman AC/DC cooler and it has been great. It was worth the $65.00 we paid for it.

 

[tbee407]

I am looking to purchase one of these for our next trip. My queston is in regards to the cooler. Can you leave it plugged in for the entire trip (seven days) without burning up the motor? Walmart is selling them at $67.00 and included is the AC adapter. I would be ahead to buy it versus renting at the resort and still have it for future needs/trips.

Thanks.

 

[Poohnatic]

I've had mine plugged in for over a month non stop and it was fine. We used it in my store during the holidays to keep sodas in, so my employees didn't have to brave the long lines in the food court for drinks!

Suzanne