just got back.. fun time..

[smom1976]

So with all the excitement leading up to camping at disney.. we had to leave.. it was an amazing time.. learned a lot about camping in august..

things we used a ton..

microwave, crockpot, air conditioner.. (more to come on how to use that one) the decorative string lights.. (perfect for finding the camp site in the dark) we used little plug in lamps, tons of towels, refrigerator, we bought some clothes pins to go with our clothes line.. we used them everywhere,

things we brought and didnt use.. we brought too many lanterns battery operated. we used the lamps on timers.. camp chairs, we brought one for each person and only opened two.. we used the table that came with it mostly. I brought a ton of smores stuff... we just didnt have the time and only used them once..

we may have brought too much food items.. we could cut back a little, we ended up buying one meal in the parks.. usually lunch so we didnt eat as much..

things we would like to bring next time .. something to put together to store the canned goods.. like a wire organizer, a tub to take the dirty dishes to the sink in the comfort station.. some extra hoses..

I will think about it more and try my hand at a trip report..

 

[smom1976]

the tent airconditioner..

well it worked great but we had to make some changes to the tent..

we got a portable and hooked it up.. well our tent is designed for ventilation.. not so good when you want to keep the cold air in..

so we used a tarp and placed it between the rain fly and the tent to close up the mesh ventilation.

then we hooked up a garden hose to the water collection hose.. that let the water go away from the tents in between the two camp sites..

but over all it was much cooler.. and almost cold at night..

 

[2goofycampers]

Great start.

 

[bama_ed]

"almost cold at night".....

must have been wonderful here in August.

Denise is far too polite.

Me, I want PICTURES and a full blown day-by-day trip report.

But hey, that's just me.

So now you got all the experience under your belt, have you made another ressie yet?

Bama ED

 

[FLDisneyFan]

a tub to take the dirty dishes to the sink in the comfort station..

So that's what the big sink in the laundry room is for! I thought it was just a laundry sink!

I didn't need to wash many dishes during my stay there, but the ones I did I just used the hose. I'll know better next time!!!

Glad you had a great time. There were a lot of things that I brought as well but never used, and things I will take next time that I didn't the first time.

 

[smom1976]

well the first day.. we decided to head in a day early.. to set up camp, we were going to set up camp and then do a water park.. so a day early we went.. we set up our tent and got the food tent somewhat set up. Our tent site 1506 was the smallest in the 1500 loop.. confirmed by another camper that had it first then switched to another and when they were switching the front desk was like "yup that is the smallest in the 1500 loop" would have switched but all were full we were the last one.. OH WELL lets make it work.. so by the time we started putting up the tent,, yes it was the thunder boomers.. we were like quick get it set up hurry.. but then they didn't fit like we had hoped.. GREAT another marriage trial.. I could feel it coming on.. we moved the tents around that site trying to fit them in for 30 min with it poring on us and the tents (that didn't have rain flys) finally we found a way to get them to kinda fit.. our back side off the pad and the kids front door off the pad.. no biggy. By the time we were set up enough to sleep with the rain fly on.. it was night and we looked around a little I think we hit the pool and then off to bed. we had an early morning I had to go pick up my children from their dad in ocala.. so onto the toll road we went. my mother was flying in as well she was getting the magical express and it worked out wonderful we were able to pick her up at the outpost as we got back.. we set up all the food found a way to store it. we turned the empty totes on the side of somewhat full totes almost like a shelf to store the food and snacks.. it was nice but would like to think of something else for the future..

oh yea and here are the neighbors.. yes they are sooo much more organized than we were.. almost too organized..

That night it was hot.. our tent was vented really well.. and well with the ac running it was just going out the vents ... so we had to think for the next night cause that was just not going to work.. so hubby thought of putting a tarp between the rain fly and the tent.. worked better and one the great things we got.. clothes line clips.. oh yes we used them everywhere not just to keep the towels on the line..

 

[rapriebe]

It takes alot of trips to finally get all of your camping gear organized and figuring out all of the things you need and don't need. That's part of the fun of camping and just when you get it all figured out, then you will upgrade to a popup or travel trailer. It never stops.

 

[MICKEYLOVINMOMOF5]

YEA! A tent camping report, in August no doubt! I did my first trip last year and it took me a few days to work out the "kinks" Once you get comfy though, it's awesome! I'm to chicken to do summer in a tent, I don't have the air conditioner thing figured out, we are doing Halloween this year and last year at that time, we could have used air conditioning but lived comfortably with fans, please share more, these types of reports are few and far between!

 

[smom1976]

So the first day came and we woke up a little warm (we hadn't figured out the tarp thing till later this day) all in all it was a great night.. I slept much better than I thought I would sharing a queen size air mat with the hubby.. I figured he would get on it and I would fly off.. I guess we got it blown up enough.. It was 6am and we were off to go pick up the kids.. down the turn pike we went.. we got back and perfect timing my mom had just gotten off the Disney magical express at the OUT post station.. she was going to wait for the yellow bus but I think she missed where it would pick up she had waited for 30 min and she was like.. there are no buses.. It all worked out cause we picked her up and went right to the camp site.. we started organizing .. it really doesn't look like it in the pics but we really are. LOL we organized all the food and started the first nights dinner in the crock pot.. we ended up eating at the take out restaurant at the trading post.. we were too tired to cook.. so note to self.. plan and budget to eat out day of arrival and day of departure.. we were going to hit the water park this day.. but by the time we organized got everyone situated and bought our park tickets.. it was 3pm. and the thunder boomers were forming.. so we went to the pool.. and it closed due to lightning anyway.. so glad we didn't go. we ended up going to downtown disney that night and had fun walking around seeing all the shops and such.. we also went to the premium outlet mall.. it was Florida's tax free day.. OMG it was packed we couldn't find any clothes worth getting for the kids and I figured the amount of money I would save was not worth it.. we headed back to the camp.. I had made a taco based meat with beans and cheese and tomato's all thrown into the crock pot and we bought tortillas.. Forgot to mention we had made a quick stop at the Walmart to pick up fresh stuff like the tortillas and shredded cheese and some other things.. on our way back to Disney prior to picking up my mom.. BTW this recipe lasted for 2 days.. we snacked on it for a while.. and just a hint.. eggs at the trading posts are NOT over priced.. they were 2$ a dozen.. do a little scrambled egg with the Mexican meat mixture on a tortilla.. perfect breakfast burrito.. so our first day of Disney was changed a little.. no big deal at this point. We did not make it to the chip and dale sing along tonight we were at Downtown Disney.. we actually wont be making it for a few more days.... all in all .. at this point in our vacation I was grateful to have our tents rather than all being stuffed into a tiny hotel room.. I loved having my microwave and the mini fridge.. coffee in the morning was great...

 

[MICKEYLOVINMOMOF5]

I agree with you 100%, I'd much rather camp than stay in a hotel. I have 5 kids and it's nearly impossible to find a hotel that we dont feel cramped up in. Need more!

 

[MadFF]

Great report!

I agree with you 100%, I'd much rather camp than stay in a hotel. I have 5 kids and it's nearly impossible to find a hotel that we dont feel cramped up in. Need more!

Heck, at this point with just two teenagers I've told the wife that we need TWO rooms if we are going to stay at a hotel. When figured that way, camping really becomes comparatively cheap!

 

[smom1976]

so our second day all together we did magic kingdom .. we got there around 11 knowing we would stay the EMH folks .. 2am.. we did a break in the middle for dinner/lunch the daughter had an apt at 6pm for BBB in the castle.. we did it last year at downtown disney.. so in the castle was going to be cool. so we started picking up fast passes for the rides off to thunder mt rr.. the little one (4 years old) was tall enough.. it was his first roller coaster.. he hung on with both hands but loved it.. that was one of his favorites.. had some more rides really had a hard time finding photopass people.. kinda a bummer on this trip but it is what it is.. after getting back to the park from our dinner and doing the BBB we all walked around and got as many rides as we could. 4 of us gave up on the 2 am thing around 1 and the boys all stayed (minus the little guy) till park closing.. they said they went down splash mountain 2 times in a row without even getting off the ride.. how fun.. the things they will remember.. we took the boat back to fort wilderness. Amazing how it still is light enough even in the dark boat. it was still lit for the most part.. caught the bus to the 1500 loop by this time all buses were condensed into one and you just had to tell them the loops.. we got off and it was again light enough to see.. I thought we would totally need a Flash light.. but we really didnt.. kinda neat.. but our outdoor lights .. the string lanterns.. can I just say WOW .. awesome purchase .. they looked so neat at night just lighting up the site enough to not trip over anything and dark enough to leave on all night. glad we got them..

 

[MICKEYLOVINMOMOF5]

awesome update! More please