Should I Take a Fridge?

[neatokimmo]

Walmart has little fridges for $50ish right now. We are driving to Disney and staying 14 days.

Would you get it? It will take up a space about the size of a carseat. Luckily there are just three of us in the car so we have a spot for it.

I know it would be handy for drinks, but what else would I use it for? What am I not thinking of?

Help! - Thanks!

 

[uk_wildcat]

We bought something called a Koolatron before our last road trip to Virginia. It was the best purchase we could have made. It was just under $100 from Sam's Club. It looks like a cooler, but is a refrigerator. It comes with an adapter to plug it into the car and into a wall socket. We were able to pack snacks, drinks and even meals in it for the car trip and also used it in the hotels we stayed in. It kept everything really cold and held quite a bit.
They do make smaller versions too, but I was happy with the one we got.

 

[Justsyd2]

I would buy it for drinks if you're planning on stocking up on bottled waters, but I wouldn't use it for perishable food. Those mini-fridges are great, but most don't keep the food at a temperature required for safe levels. But for drinks, yes! We stayed in a moderate in June. I ordered a case of water from Costco that we kept in the fridge, plus we kept our second drinks from breakfast in there (you get two breakfast drinks if you're on the DP). It saved us atleast $10.00 a day in drinks.

 

[S. C.]

We have a collapsable rolling cooler that works great when we don't have a fridge. Just fill it with ice (free from resorts) and it keeps milk, pop, water etc cold all day.
I don't think I would want to travel with something that heavy not seatbelted in my car. If you got in an accident it could fly around and hurt/kill one of you. We even seatbelt our cooler in the car when we travel to florida since we use it the whole trip for cold drinks on the way.

 

[ceecee]

You can rent a fridg for $10 at the values and moderates already have one. I wouldn't pay $50 for one use and carrying it to the room is may be a pain.

 

[Justsyd2]

You can rent a fridg for $10 at the values and moderates already have one. I wouldn't pay $50 for one use and carrying it to the room is may be a pain.

She's staying for 14 days -- that's $140 vs $50. They aren't that heavy. I would invest in the fridge!

 

[Tweevil]

Love my cube fridge. I put it in the truck (mini van). When we get there put it on one of those little luggage rollie thing with wheels with a bungy cord. Easy Peasy to get it to the room. I figure the fee per night and I ended up saving $.

Can you put it in the trunk? For the drive we put stuff in it to conserve space - kitchen stuff (coffee, snacks, etc.) kept it packed until arrival and then just wheeled it in.

I would bring it if you can pack it in the car in a place that isn't a pain.

HTH

 

[akcire]

I am not against buying the fridge, but why not just buy it at Walmart in Orlando. Their pricing is pretty constant and it seems like a hassle to lug it from your home, it's not like you can use it to cool beverages in the car.

Also you will want to keep the box. They are much easier to move, store, resell with the box---many college aged kids in the family right now---we have hauled a bunch of these.

 

[S. C.]

I am not against buying the fridge, but why not just buy it at Walmart in Orlando. Their pricing is pretty constant and it seems like a hassle to lug it from your home, it's not like you can use it to cool beverages in the car.

Also you will want to keep the box. They are much easier to move, store, resell with the box---many college aged kids in the family right now---we have hauled a bunch of these.

I thought about that too. The OPs trip is in 29 days she might be afraid it won't be on sell then. I have no idea what full price is.

 

[loydandmel]

We bought a cooler that plugs in to the car. It is a black and decker and we found it at Marshalls for $40 and they had the home plug adapter for $15. It's not real big but held about 8 drinks and some ham and jelly. Worked great for the rode trip and we could use it in our room. Just a thourght because you would me more likly to use it in the future.

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-Thermo-Electric-Cooler-Freezer/dp/B000Z4NY90

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I am not against buying the fridge, but why not just buy it at Walmart in Orlando. Their pricing is pretty constant and it seems like a hassle to lug it from your home, it's not like you can use it to cool beverages in the car.

Also you will want to keep the box. They are much easier to move, store, resell with the box---many college aged kids in the family right now---we have hauled a bunch of these.

By purchasing it and bringing it down as opposed to purchasing it there, the OP knows how much room she does need in the car for it. What if she were to purchase it there & she really didn't have to room to take it home I think it is a wise move to get it ahead of time, there are other reasons too.. like what if they don't have them in stock, what if they are more money etc...

 

[cindycastle30]

We did this!! We bought a little fridge at Sam's Club before our last trip, we bought a nicer one for $125, brought it down with us, had it loaded up with our bottled water and sodas. It was great. We used it to store our leftovers in and also bought some milk for breakfast. Plus now we have a fridge for on our porch. Beat paying Disney $100 for a fridge. This year we are staying in the cabins otherwise it would be coming with again. I say buy it before you go that way you will know how much room you will have. Also you can plug it in before you leave and test the temp to see if it will be cold enough for food. Great way to save a little money and you can always resell it on craigslist if you don't have a use for it.

 

[mickeyluvr004]

Walmart has little fridges for $50ish right now. We are driving to Disney and staying 14 days.

Would you get it? It will take up a space about the size of a carseat. Luckily there are just three of us in the car so we have a spot for it.

I know it would be handy for drinks, but what else would I use it for? What am I not thinking of?

Help! - Thanks!

I see you have little ones what about getting some string cheese, grapes small fruit for snacks?? We stay in the cabins and we are leaving in 42 days and I will be stopping at Walmart and buying fruit for breakfast as my 2 are not big breakfast eaters but love fruit like watermelon, string cheese. Have a great trip

 

[neatokimmo]

See? This is why I love DIS, you can get some many opinions so quickly!

I hadn't thought about reselling it. DUH! I am the queen of yard sales, I should of thought of that first thing

And I didn't know we got two drinks on the dining plan. Are there particular ones you can choose from?

I thought about renting one, but $10 seems steep when you multiply it by 14.

Thanks everyone, I think I am going to get one. Now watch, they'll be sold out

 

[christa112]

When are you going? There are quite a few fridge swaps running at All Star Resorts and the POP. Have you checked them out? That way you won't have to rent or buy. They are FREE!!!!!

 

[eyor44]

We did this! I have one in my garage right now, in its box that we use when we go to Disney and stay in a Value. Very easy to take and lot less hassle then having to fill a cooler with ice each day.

We will be taking it with us when we go back in November.

Or you could join a fridge swap if you don't want to put out the $$.

Of course we occasionally have a use for ours at home also. Large party that we want cold drinks easily accesible on the back porch.

 

[stitchlovestink]

You can rent a fridg for $10 at the values and moderates already have one. I wouldn't pay $50 for one use and carrying it to the room is may be a pain.

I, personally, would 'deal' w/ the pain of lugging it into the room for a savings of $90.

She's staying for 14 days -- that's $140 vs $50. They aren't that heavy. I would invest in the fridge!

Exactly, even if she leaves it there or gives it to someone else, or whatever, she'll still have saved $90. That's alot of $$ for other stuff at WDW.

I am not against buying the fridge, but why not just buy it at Walmart in Orlando. Their pricing is pretty constant and it seems like a hassle to lug it from your home, it's not like you can use it to cool beverages in the car.

Also you will want to keep the box. They are much easier to move, store, resell with the box---many college aged kids in the family right now---we have hauled a bunch of these.

Yeah, but what if the Walmart there is out of stock on them and if they don't have a need to go to Walmart for anything else, IMO it's a waste of precious time that could be better spent doing something more worthwhile on Vacation. JMHO though....

If you have someplace to store it at home, I would keep it. You might be surprised when it would be useful. But if storage will be an issue, then I say put it on Craigslist, you'll get more $$ there than selling it at a yard sale. well, at least around here, you would.
Have a great trip. Lucky you...14 days at WDW.

BTW, I have to comment on your DD. boy is she growing up, I remember when you had baby pics of her in your Siggy. She's a cutie, too.

 

[neatokimmo]

BTW, I have to comment on your DD. boy is she growing up, I remember when you had baby pics of her in your Siggy. She's a cutie, too.

Thank you She is 2.5 today and was very excited to celebrate her "half" birthday lol

 

[keywestbride]

I've been debating this same thing for a while now. On one hand, it would be nice to have a fridge for milk and 1/2 and 1/2 for my coffee, but that's probably all we really need it for. Last time, I bought a ton of breakfast and snack stuff, and we never ate most of it, so I can't see doing that again.

Today I realized that I could just buy those little shelf stable Horizon brand organic milk boxes, and you can also buy little shelf stable coffee creamers (like the ones you'd get at a drive through). I could just throw the milk on ice in an ice bucket the night before, and it'd be cold by morning.

I'm still debating though.

 

[Justsyd2]

See? This is why I love DIS, you can get some many opinions so quickly!

I hadn't thought about reselling it. DUH! I am the queen of yard sales, I should of thought of that first thing

And I didn't know we got two drinks on the dining plan. Are there particular ones you can choose from?

I thought about renting one, but $10 seems steep when you multiply it by 14.

Thanks everyone, I think I am going to get one. Now watch, they'll be sold out

You only get two drinks for breakfast because you don't get dessert. You can choose from several items. I always got a water and an apple juice, plus I had a refillable mug, so I drank the apple juice for brekkie, took a coke with me back to the room in the mug, and took the bottled water to the park.