great tips. thanks. we have a lot of meat from Omaha Steaks (we got a ginormous shipment as a gift) so it will be vaccumed sealed, but we also have a Food Saver, so I can seal whatever whenever. Yeah, I plan on having a one night camp out in the backyard before we go. I want to make sure we can get the tent up (It is large, sleeps 10), the air matresses have no holes, and that I can figure out the new propane stove and perculator. (No coffee will kill me, even if it is 100 degrees out).
I agree on the coffee, one of the best things about camping is having your own favorite brew in the morning, puts a smile on my face!
I plan on getting as many goceries as feasable here at home. We have cheaper prices if I remember from my last Florida trip. I thought about the BisQuick pancake mix in the jar. Just oss it when you're doen. No clean up!
To the person who mentioned an air conditioner- do they make special ones or do ppl just throw a small window unit in the tent??? The idea never occurred to me before.
That's what we did last August, and used one of those plastic carry cases like they have for curbside recycling as our stand to keep the AC off the ground. The plastic bin served double duty as a storage bin for some items while driving (extension cords, propane bottles, etc.) Our oldest son (16 yo) and his friend stayed in the tent (when they weren't out prowling around). We just used a small room AC we had at the house. You only need to keep the front portion of those out of the rain.
Is Downtown Disney fun? We will be there for 6 days. 2 in the parks, 1 at Kennedy Space Port, so 3 to wonder around aimlessly. Looking for non admission things to do. I like to camp, but this will be my longest trip ever and I am busy body. I can't stick around relaxing for too long, lol!
Downtown Disney can be fun, but is geared toward taking your money. Think of it as a shopping district on steroids. Mostly restaurants and shops. Fun to look at, and no admission price to walk through, but tempting. I never knew how much I wanted $10 per pound penny candy until I walked into DTD.
Other freebies: Ride the ferry to the Contemporary, then hop on the monorail loop to each of the resorts around the lake. Then catch the monorail to Epcot and back.
You can also enjoy some lengthy scenic rides around the whole complex on the resort buses, and eventually end up at the Boardwalk.
If now is not a good time in your life to spend a lot at Disney, you will get many days of future dreaming for free by touring most of the expensive resort hotels that someday you might be able to vacation at. Wandering around the Wilderness Lodge, the Grand Floridian, the Poly, you name it can be an adventure in theming that would be hard to complete in a day.
There may be some great ideas on the budget boards as well for free or cheap things to add to the vacation in Orlando area.
Hope you enjoy!
Oh, wanted to mention this also - we've been going to WDW for years and now are pretty much limited to going in August due to the school year. We bring sport bottles that have built in charcoal filters that take out a lot of the chlorine taste and any odors in the tap water. I'm normally a soda drinker, but need more water while there in August. We just fill them up at the fountains and sometimes ask for free ice at the counter service restaurants. I've heard of people who bring in individual drink packets (Crystal Light, Kool-Aid, etc) to take the flavor away from the tap water. It's easier to only have to carry one bottle around and refill rather than everyone carrying in a six pack. The filter bottles we use were made by Brita (not in production anymore), but I've seen similar ones at camping supply places on-line like LLBean, Cabelas, etc.
But I'd get the $79 Birthday Fun Card instead of a free day. What is that good for?
It would be free for 1 day (and you would have about $18 left over) and a GREAT birthday present to yourself. It is a blast to "loop" the campgrounds.
