keeping drinks cold in room ideas

[lucygrace603]

We'll be staying at BC (not villa)where I understand they have refrigerators. I'm guessing their the size of the dorm room variety. I ordered a bunch of snacks, drinks, etc through Grocers. I'm guessing only my esssentials will fit in the fridge.(yogurt, cream cheese, ham, cheese). So I'm not sure how to keep the drinks cold. I really don't want to bring a huge cooler with me (we already have 5 pieces of luggage). Any good ideas to keep a large amt. of drinks cold? I was thinking of maybe bringing a garbage bag, filling it with ice and putting it in the tub. Of course that won't work when we're showering Does that sound feasible and does anyone have any good tips for me?

 

[michele2042]

Instead of bringing a large cooler with you why not stop and get one of the cheaper styrafoam ones that can be purchased about anywhere. Then you can leave it when you depart or give it to another guest you see checking in as you check out.

 

[sassyredhead]

Have you considered a collapsible cooler? This might work if you are renting a car: http://www.amazon.com/CALIFORNIA-IN...dable-Insulated/dp/B000FJVKXM/ref=pd_sim_ol_3.

 

[Gretchen]

Get a soft sided collapsible cooler, fold it up and stuff it in one of the suitcases. You can use it as a carry on for souvenirs for the trip home.

 

[Gretchen]

or, can the grocer deliver a styro one with the food?

 

[gmomof15]

We'll be staying at BC (not villa)where I understand they have refrigerators. I'm guessing their the size of the dorm room variety. I ordered a bunch of snacks, drinks, etc through Grocers. I'm guessing only my esssentials will fit in the fridge.(yogurt, cream cheese, ham, cheese). So I'm not sure how to keep the drinks cold. I really don't want to bring a huge cooler with me (we already have 5 pieces of luggage). Any good ideas to keep a large amt. of drinks cold? I was thinking of maybe bringing a garbage bag, filling it with ice and putting it in the tub. Of course that won't work when we're showering Does that sound feasible and does anyone have any good tips for me?

Get a softsided cooler and put in the bottom of your suitcase as suggested but also bring numerous zip lock baggies (gallon size, hefty works best IMO).
In the morning fill 2 baggies with ice from the hotel ice machine, put 1 in the bottom and 1 one on the top of the cooler. Refill them again at night time.
We used to do this before they had the free fridges and it work great.
The bags keep everything cold without the mess of melted water all over.
It helps to keep a towel on the floor under the cooler because it will sweat.

 

[EastonCat]

Perishables go in the fridge along with a few drinks for convenience. Everything else can be cooled to order by ice and in the sink or any container or cooler. Hotels have neverending ice supplies and BC vanities have two sinks. 15 minutes in a bed of ice will cool anything.

My advice - don't overthink or overpack.

 

[tigger51276]

I've actually found that the fridges are a decent size at the hotels. Granted I typically stay DVC, but I would think that Disney uses the same mini fridges at all the nicer properties. There is more than enough room for your perishable items and some of your drinks. You won't be able to drink all your drinks in the same day so only refridgerate what you will need for the next day and then when you take them out in the morning to go to the park replace them with warm ones and you'll always have cold drinks.

 

[GoingtoDisney]

We were just at BC. We had room for 4-5 water bottles at a time. Took them out when we needed them and replenished with others and then those were cool when we needed them. Or you could cool extra drinks in the sink with ice.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

call down to housekeeping and ask for a second fridge.

There have been times at WDW where our first fridge didn't get cold so they brought a new fridge to the room - they obviously have some extra.

 

[Tyme4wdw]

Get a soft sided collapsible cooler, fold it up and stuff it in one of the suitcases. You can use it as a carry on for souvenirs for the trip home.

Good idea! I never thought to use it as something to carry souvenirs home in!

 

[sjs314]

Instead of bringing a large cooler with you why not stop and get one of the cheaper styrafoam ones that can be purchased about anywhere. Then you can leave it when you depart or give it to another guest you see checking in as you check out.

I have seen pics of the BC MarketPlace and they sell a styrofoam cooler there you can purchase to use.

 

[dpmfloyd]

i've filled the recycle bucket in the room with ice from the ice machine, and put drinks in a plastic bag inside of it. works VERY well especially if you're just checking in and want ice cold drinks when you return to the room. just put a towel under the bucket to soak up the condensation. sure its a little extreme but it works.

i did this on our last stay. my fiance laughed and mousekeeping didnt empty it.

 

[jking6]

We do just what was stated before. Bring a colapsable cooler in your suit case. It works well. There are plenty of ice machines close by. just refresh ice in the morning and at night and its all good.

 

[kaligal]

You could buy a styrofoam cooler at a grocery or drug store and just toss it when you leave. They're cheap and they work well.

Can't imagine why you'd rather have a garbage bag than a cooler. It wouldn't work as well and would be a mess and a pain in the butt.

 

[dpmfloyd]

Can't imagine why you'd rather have a garbage bag than a cooler. It wouldn't work as well and would be a mess and a pain in the butt.

put water bottles in the bag, put the bag in the empty recycle bucket and walk to the ice machine and fill it up (the bin, not the bag). The bag creates a barrier from the ice once it melts. if you use common sense its mess-free and it chills the bottles quicker than putting them in the fridge. after reading a prior suggestions, filling up large freezer bags and putting them in the recycle bin would also work very well.

it works just fine. another jab by kaligirl, i <3 the disboards

 

[LisaTC]

If you don't have a collapsible cooler, GardenGrocer does sell the foam ones that hold 2 gal milk or a 12 pack of beverage

 

[Day-Day]

I prefer the 9-qt Coleman Excursion (hard-sided) cooler. It doesn't take up much actual space in a suitcase since it can be filled with clothes. I've used soft-sided coolers and prefer the hard-sided.

We always have a car. It is nice to carry the cooler from the room and leave in the car so we have cold drinks ready when we leave the parks.

If using the recycle bin from the room, maybe there is a way to wrap a towel around the outside for extra insulation and cover the top. This may help conserve some ice. The towel would probably get wet from condensation after a while though.

The ice machines can get empty.

 

[lucygrace603]

Well, we won't have a car, so I can't buy anything there. I already placed my order, I'll have to check if I can add anything w/out a charge. If the Marketplace sells coolers that would be great. Guess I'll use the sink and the ice bin to cool a few drinks at a time. That makes the most sense and saves room in my luggage!
Thanks for all your suggestions!

 

[disnut8]

Take zipper bags (can't use the brand name or my daughter-in-law, the journalist will get after me but they start with Zip and end with loc). You can easily put a bunch of those into any compartment in your checked or carry on bags. Then fill those up with ice in your resort room and use whatever container you have. Yes, a fold up cooler works nicely but I've found those leak so that's the reason for the zipper bags. And think about the drinks you will need. Maybe two a person and as soon as you take one out, you replace with another? That's what my husband I do and we almost always have drinkable drinks.