Resort mini fridges

[ClapYourHands]

We haven't tested the "new" models,but this is what the "old"model could do.

Wow - that's impressive!
Let me know if you're there before May to give the new models a test.
If there's a way to adjust the temperature like @DisneyWishes14 says, maybe cranking it up can keep things nice and cold.

 

[AngiTN]

Have you considered a DVC room? So you'll have a freezer, a real freezer.

 

[Miffy]

No freezer in them any more. Provided you are talking about what's in a regular resort room, not a DVC room.

They keep milk cold enough to be safe. I prefer to leave the door slightly ajar. The seem to cool better when they have better circulation.

Yes, definitely this. We were in a renovated room at AKL last trip and with the cabinet door closed, the refrigerator got pretty hot, so we learned to keep the cabinet door ajar.

 

[ClapYourHands]

Have you considered a DVC room? So you'll have a freezer, a real freezer.

That would be nice someday, but not in the budget. We're staying at ASMu.

I'm sure it will be fine. I just asked because I'd rather know what I have to work with than be scrambling to figure out plan B after I get there and my grocery delivery arrives.

I appreciate everyone's suggestions. I will be sure to keep the cabinet door open, check the back for a temperature control, and bring freezer ziplock bags (excellent tip because I've always just used the regular sandwich size and those are flimsier).

 

[Miffy]

How cool do they keep things? One review I read said they were like an electric cooler and unlikely to keep food at a safe temp. I need to keep milk for the week and don’t want to get sick.

Also, do they have the little freezer compartment in them? I would really like to be able to freeze my water bottle the night before a park day.

Regarding the water bottle situation. I don't know what kind of bottle you mean, but I have a refillable Hydro Cell (like the Hydro Flash only cheaper) and if you fill it with water and ice, that sucker stays COLD all day. I brought the refillable bottle with me last trip and refilled it at the soda machine in my resort--it also dispenses water and ice--and then refilled it at the parks, as necessary. Really easy to do and the water stays super cold.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Have you considered a DVC room? So you'll have a freezer, a real freezer.

Most of the studios don't have a refrigerator with a freezer section. A few do, though. And there is no reason to why some do and some don't.

 

[ClapYourHands]

Regarding the water bottle situation. I don't know what kind of bottle you mean, but I have a refillable Hydro Cell (like the Hydro Flash only cheaper) and if you fill it with water and ice, that sucker stays COLD all day. I brought the refillable bottle with me last trip and refilled it at the soda machine in my resort--it also dispenses water and ice--and then refilled it at the parks, as necessary. Really easy to do and the water stays super cold.

I was thinking more along the lines of a regular plastic water bottle. One trick I like is to freeze overnight, and put it in the lunchbox. It functions as an icepack to keep the food cold, while slowly melting, and being drinkable by afternoon. I do this with juice boxes, too. It works really well for summer camp. Food stays cool, drink is provided, and no space is wasted with an icepack or bag of ice that won't be consumed.

I have an insulated Contigo that does a great job of keeping ice water cold. We used it in Hawaii, and it still had ice hours later, even after leaving it in the hot car. But it's too big to fit in a lunch box, and becasue it's insulated, it wouldn't keep the food there cold anyway.

 

[Miffy]

I was thinking more along the lines of a regular plastic water bottle. One trick I like is to freeze overnight, and put it in the lunchbox. It functions as an icepack to keep the food cold, while slowly melting, and being drinkable by afternoon. I do this with juice boxes, too. It works really well for summer camp. Food stays cool, drink is provided, and no space is wasted with an icepack or bag of ice that won't be consumed.

I have an insulated Contigo that does a great job of keeping ice water cold. We used it in Hawaii, and it still had ice hours later, even after leaving it in the hot car. But it's too big to fit in a lunch box, and becasue it's insulated, it wouldn't keep the food there cold anyway.

Well, I don't know if this would do it, but there's an ice bucket, I believe, in every resort room, and you can fill it with ice. Not sure if the kind of bottle you're thinking about would fit in there, though.

 

[ClapYourHands]

Well, I don't know if this would do it, but there's an ice bucket, I believe, in every resort room, and you can fill it with ice. Not sure if the kind of bottle you're thinking about would fit in there, though.

I think I'm not explaining myself very well. No special bottle. Just think of a regular bottle of water - Dasani, Poland Spring, Aquafina, etc. Open it and pour out just a tad to make room for expansion. Close it up tightly and put it in the freezer overnight. Next morning, it's a solid block of ice. You put it in your lunch box, and it functions as an ice pack. It gradually melts, but because the water and ice is in a bottle with a tight cap, it doesn't leak, and by the afternoon it's melted enough to drink.

You can put a bottle of water into an ice bucket, but it just chills the water; it won't freeze it. It will be enjoyably cold to drink, but it won't be cold enough to keep a lunch box chilled.

Now that I know I can't freeze anything, I'll just double bag some ziplocks with ice, and call it a day.

 

[Miffy]

I think I'm not explaining myself very well. No special bottle. Just think of a regular bottle of water - Dasani, Poland Spring, Aquafina, etc. Open it and pour out just a tad to make room for expansion. Close it up tightly and put it in the freezer overnight. Next morning, it's a solid block of ice. You put it in your lunch box, and it functions as an ice pack. It gradually melts, but because the water and ice is in a bottle with a tight cap, it doesn't leak, and by the afternoon it's melted enough to drink.

You can put a bottle of water into an ice bucket, but it just chills the water; it won't freeze it. It will be enjoyably cold to drink, but it won't be cold enough to keep a lunch box chilled.

Now that I know I can't freeze anything, I'll just double bag some ziplocks with ice, and call it a day.

Ah! Now I see. I didn't get it before. No, you can't do this without a freezer.

 

[AngiTN]

I think I'm not explaining myself very well. No special bottle. Just think of a regular bottle of water - Dasani, Poland Spring, Aquafina, etc. Open it and pour out just a tad to make room for expansion. Close it up tightly and put it in the freezer overnight. Next morning, it's a solid block of ice. You put it in your lunch box, and it functions as an ice pack. It gradually melts, but because the water and ice is in a bottle with a tight cap, it doesn't leak, and by the afternoon it's melted enough to drink.

You can put a bottle of water into an ice bucket, but it just chills the water; it won't freeze it. It will be enjoyably cold to drink, but it won't be cold enough to keep a lunch box chilled.

Now that I know I can't freeze anything, I'll just double bag some ziplocks with ice, and call it a day.

Quart size freezer bags are going to be your best friend, LOL

 

[Betty Rohrer]

That would be nice someday, but not in the budget. We're staying at ASMu.

I'm sure it will be fine. I just asked because I'd rather know what I have to work with than be scrambling to figure out plan B after I get there and my grocery delivery arrives.

I appreciate everyone's suggestions. I will be sure to keep the cabinet door open, check the back for a temperature control, and bring freezer ziplock bags (excellent tip because I've always just used the regular sandwich size and those are flimsier).

I always use the freezer ones when on vacation

 

[Searc]

No freezer in them any more. Provided you are talking about what's in a regular resort room, not a DVC room.

They keep milk cold enough to be safe. I prefer to leave the door slightly ajar. The seem to cool better when they have better circulation.

Angi, when you say you leave the door slightly ajar, do you mean to the cabinet the fridge sits in or to the actual fridge?

 

[AngiTN]

Angi, when you say you leave the door slightly ajar, do you mean to the cabinet the fridge sits in or to the actual fridge?

Cabinet

 

[kiford]

Not really about the items melting, more about them staying safely chilled. She really doesn't eat meat (doesn't like it, not purposely vegetarian), so cheese sticks, yogurt, cheese sandwich for lunch, etc. are all go-to items that I know will give her some protein and not just carbs.

I would think a double zip-locked bag of ice will be fine. I have an insulated lunch bag I take to work with me. I put a frozen sandwich into the bag in the morning and it's defrosted by lunch but everything else stays relatively cool. I can't actually eat the sandwich until about noon or it is still partially frozen so I would think a bag of ice should stay cold longer. I should also note that I take a ziploc bag and elastic bandage with me everywhere I travel because of knee problems and I can usually use that ziploc bag multiple times before I might have any issues with leakage (usually happens at the bottom corners if it's old or very well used). Also takes a lot less space in the suitcase. My suggestion is to put the ice into one leaving some space at the top, zip it, fold the top over, wrap a couple of elastics around it and put it into a second one, then zip it. My physiotherapy clinic pretty much exclusively uses ziploc bags as icepacks as you don't need to wait to refreeze a bag.

 

[deidre74]

We haven't tested the "new" models,but this is what the "old"model could do.

Do all the resorts have the new model? Will be at POFQ in August and was wondering which one I may expect to see.

 

[AngiTN]

Do all the resorts have the new model? Will be at POFQ in August and was wondering which one I may expect to see.

To best of my knowledge ALL fridges have been swapped out and none with freezers are left in the resort rooms. They were recalled or something, it's been so long I can't recall.

That is the above photo is not solid frozen ice. It's just a super cold spot in the fridge that partially freezes. That type of ice will melt VERY fast. You can even make out the centers are still liquid"ish"

 

[bluezy]

you will need ziploc bags to keep ice in unless you are in the cabins at Fort Wilderness which have full size frig. security will not let loose ice thru

The refurbished ASMu Suites also have a full size fridge with freezer.

 

[starry_solo]

Isn’t there a hack that you can freeze water in a bottle? Something to do with salt?

 

[AngiTN]

Salt lowers the freezing temperature of water and adding it to ice can make it colder.
Not sure how that translate to freezing a bottle of water in a fridge.