Haven't tent camped for over 15 years...

[icon123]

Hey all. Even though we have stayed at FWC many times from a pop-up to a motor home and (4) travel trailers in between, we decided to tent camp this time around. We have (2) kids 9 and 11 and are really looking forward to tenting it. I have a couple of questions and since we are leaving in a week a few more might popup. TIA for any help.

We will have (2) tents and a popup canopy and/or a screen house. Is it ok to store the ice cooler and plugin cooler in one of the tents or under the canopy/screen house? That's it for now. Thanks.

 

[tiggerdad]

You can technically do either one. If I had to choose, I would say under the canopy or screen house. The only reason I say that is as you get things out of the ice cooler you may drip water everywhere, and I would not want that in my sleeping quarters. I've seen several people use their screened in canopies as "kitchens". putting any and all food related items in there, which is what we did before we bought a camper. Helps to keep the bugs out of things too.

I am not aware of any rules that dictate one way or the other, if I am wrong on that one someone will correct me shortly and make me look like a re-re.

 

[icon123]

Thanks for the reply. The other tent is for stuff not bodies. But good point either way. I really ask because, not having my camper, I feel so out of place. Like what to do with food, coolers, etc.

How stringent do I have to be with food an wild life? I wouldn't have food in my tent. Can I leave out say a pack of buns or does that need to go in a container or in the car?

 

[Texas2Disney]

From my experience...I wouldn't leave food "out" anywhere I camp. Whether it's Disney, a State Park, or the Walmart parking lot.....squirrels will take what they can get.

 

[tiggerdad]

These little guys look innocent enough, but that's where they get you.
They work in packs, often one distracts you, like the one pictured below.
While I was taking this picture, another one had climbed up on the table behind me and gone into the loaf of bread, securing a whole piece for himself.

 

[bama_ed]

I'll second what tiggerdad says about the local squirrel mafia there at the Fort.

Our picnic table at the Fort had this innocent sign.



Much like the wild wolf packs you see on National Geographic Channel that work together to take down an adult elk in the snow, these guys will hustle you blind if there's a orange pack of peanut butter and crackers from the Meadow Trading Post in play. Best just to pay them off and have them go to the site next door to hustle your neighbors.



We named this one Guido. He was the ring leader.

Bama ED

 

[Bearikens]

Concerning critters at the Fort, while I haven't seen any of these in the last few years, you should be aware that I have seen and photographed a racoon in loop 200. In fact this fellow paid a visit to our tent one night and raided our cooler. He's a little hard to see in the shadows.

 

[icon123]

Yeah. This one right here jumped in the back of my Yukon and stole a full size package of M&M's the kids got from golf cart parade last year. Sneaky little things. Up here we have to worry mostly about the 'coons.

So what all do you recommend I do with my food? I will have a ice cooler for drinks, a plug in cooler for perishable food and a plastic bin for non-perishable foods.

 

[Jedana]

While we haven't camped at Disney, we do camp with the scouts, quite often.

To store non-perishable food, I bought a big plastic tub, with "locking" handles. Then I took a bungie cord and wrapped it around the short side (all the way around the tub) and secured it to itself. Took a 2nd bungie cord and did it the long way, and secured it to itself.

Then I put the tub in the car at night. That was more due to the 10 year old boys wanting more Hershey's bars than worry over raccoons.

I also secured the coolers the same way, but left them out. They weren't disturbed at all.


One of my best purchases was a collapsible trash can. I got ours at the scout shop, but you can find them on Amazon, I think. At night, we take the trash out, then collapse the trash can and store it away. Those critters know what a trash bag and can will have in them, and they will come check 'em out, even if they are empty!

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Then if the cute and fuzzy fails to work on you, they call in these guyz,

they may look small, but they know how to get beneath it all, to the bottom of things,,,the clean up crew.
Just when you think your in the clear, your beer is gone.

 

[tiggerdad]

In all seriousness probably the best thing to do is use some form of strap to secure the lid of your coolers.


You could also place something heavy on top of the cooler, such as a case of drinks


You could put more than one case of drinks just to be sure


But seriously, placing the stuff inside a screened in canopy should be enough. I mean, it's not like they can cut through it

 

[lodge]

Buggers sneak under our screened enclosure too often!!!

 

[bama_ed]

So what all do you recommend I do with my food? I will have a ice cooler for drinks, a plug in cooler for perishable food and a plastic bin for non-perishable foods.

icon,

We're having some fun with our animal stories but you should do fine leaving things outside as long as you take simple precautions.

Typically we keep a drink cooler outside (plain ol' rectangular igloo). Its lid is pretty snug and requires a slight tug to get it open. Our plug-in cooler is about the same size and the lid is the same. When in doubt I find something heavy to set on the lid (a case of bottled water, etc). As others say, a bungee around the food bins or some other step (a rock on top, snap lids, etc) may be required because at least the perishable food may have more smells and odors to attract critters.

It's simple camping logic squared at the Fort. We campers know not to leave food out for critters but with all the traffic and campers that the Fort gets, the squirrels and raccoons have had lots of opportunities to hone their skills. So don't take that previously opened bag of potato chips to the picnic table outside and turn your back on it for ten minutes.

Personally any smelly stuff (fresh vegetables, sweets) gets loaded in the back of my car each night like poster Jedana said above. Not so much for critters but because of ants.

Bama Ed

 

[icon123]

Since this has turned into a critters thread. Here are a couple more from the Fort last year Halloween...

Didn't know they could read...

In all seriousness, thanks for the replies. I got a good idea how to store our food now. Happy Halloween!

 

[tiggerdad]

Holy cow Icon!

You see the evil in that thing's eyes?

 

[dogsleder]

Those cute little critters chewed through our pop-up 6 months after we had the canvas replaced after squirrels chewed through it up north. Not cute

Jayne