Tent Camping in August - Am I crazy?

[AnOtHeRdIsNeYfReAk]

I want to try to plan the most inexpensive Disney trip I can. Of course tent camping at only $42/day is the best rate I could hope to find, as I will not be renting a car and staying onsite is practically a must. Am I crazy to even think of going to Florida in August without A/C? How hot and humid does it get at night? Any advice from summer tent campers would be welcome. Thanks.

 

[disney4dan]

If you check some of the campsite photo threads on this board, you'll see that you are not alone for tent camping in August. There have been a lot of creative setups including small fans in the tents, even air conditioners placed on camp chairs and aimed in under the rain fly!

Most people who tent camp regularly tend to put tarps over the tenting area to keep out most of the torrential downpours.

Good luck!

 

[aeroheadsmith]

We tent camp in the summer, we went to dollar store and bought a 15 or so inch fan and it works great for us, yes even in Florida

 

[MickeyRPI]

We will be tent camping at the Fort for the third straight August this year. A box fan blowing all night keeps it cool enough for us in the tent. Also, a large tarp hung high over the entire site can help to keep the sun from heating up the tent too much in the morning. Also, if you have AAA, you can get the price down to $37.80 per night, including tax, starting August 3rd. We will be down there from the 4th through the 14th.

 

[Minnie mom of 6]

We go all the time in July and August. . I agree check out the tent camping photos. We are buying an air conditioner this year But we bought a big fan a few years back and it worked great.

 

[JC Butterfly]

Ok, so I'm not really a camper but my husband loves the idea of tent camping at WDW so I've been reading these threads trying to understand . . . .

How could you have a fan or an air conditioner in a tent?

Like is there some sort of regular outlet outside that you just plug it into? Or is this only possible if you have a camper?

Sorry . . . such a novice, be kind

 

[kimluvswdw]

We just spent last week at the fort in a tent and we had 2 air conditioners running. I couldn't stand tenting in August.

 

[medic9016]

Ok, so I'm not really a camper but my husband loves the idea of tent camping at WDW so I've been reading these threads trying to understand . . . .

How could you have a fan or an air conditioner in a tent?

Like is there some sort of regular outlet outside that you just plug it into? Or is this only possible if you have a camper?

Sorry . . . such a novice, be kind

Yes all the sites have electric. Just run an extension cord from the electric panel to your tent.

 

[tytydane]

Me and my mom are going to with our friends but we live in florida so we are used to the heat

 

[djblu883]

i used to LOVE to tent all the time...in August now...the only tent I have is in bed with the AC on high and a good book lol....but yeah it can be done! I'm too spoiled to wanna do it in my old age but yeah it can be done!
and why(Goofy109) would you come into a camping thread just to insult the fun of others?????

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Somebody should have went to see their Mom yesterday and got a hug.

 

[Anne's Family]

Oops, got rid of the offending post but not the quote referring to it!

 

[MommyMouse]

Yes, it can be hotter than Hades in August (I live here )and yes the rain can be a nuisance BUT you get to come to WDW! Life doesn't get better than that We went tent camping this "winter" and I froze my bahoogan off.....I would have done anything for heat

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Tent camping in August? Yes, it can be done, and it is done by lots of people!

We typically stay away from the Fort in the summer. Even though we have AC in our camper, we spend almost all of our time outside, and the heat and humidity are just not pleasant in the summer.

But, last summer, we did take a quick weekend trip to the Fort in August. It was hot and unpleasant. But, the tent loops were full! So, people do tent camp at the Fort in the summer. I would say that you just have to have a good strategy to deal with the heat. The comfort stations are all air conditioned, so that is nice. I would plan on getting up early, and getting on your way. Maybe stay in the parks until evening, and then come back for a swim. There are lots of air conditioned attractions at the parks to give you breaks from the heat, and the buses are air conditioned too. The parks stay open late in the summer, and there are even Extra Magic Hours at Typhoon Lagoon.

You know, people lived in Florida before there was air conditioning. And, somehow, they were able to survive the summers. So, it can be done! Good luck!

And- if you are interested- here is a trip report from our trip last August (2007): http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1542111

TCD

 

[des1954]

You know, people lived in Florida before there was air conditioning. And, somehow, they were able to survive the summers. So, it can be done! Good luck!TCD

My DH will agree to disagree with ya on that one!! He grew up in Fla, and in the 50's, 60's and early 70's, A/C in homes was a luxury that mostly the rich enjoyed. Since his family was NOT rich, he had no enjoyment (poor baby)! Since our electricity is going out of sight, he may find himself in the same predicament once again!! (Only this time he'll be living with a woman in menopause that is her own personal furnace!!!! Oh,,,, the pain,,,, the pain!)

Another thing that helps with the heat if you are tent camping without A/C, go for a 30 minute swim before retiring. It brings your body heat down low enough that just a fan circulating the air will keep you comfortable.