Tent Camping in March

[mamaloya]

OK Carol, since I hear you are bored, I have a couple of questions.

Is the weather in March as unpredictable as Dec and Jan? We tented in May and it was heaven. The CM at CRO told me that Mar is a dry time. He also said it should be warm enough to swim. In intend to bring jackets, even coats just in case. I know that March has seen unexpected freezes in the past.

We will also bring a heater and fan. Problem is that both of our tents will have the screen ceiling under the rain fly. Kind of hard to keep heat in, which is great in the late spring and summer to early fall. The windows do zip closed, but the ceiling won't. I can always throw a blanket in between the tent and fly if there is no rain and it is really cold. LOL We will bring our wool blankets and sleeping bags. I almost changed my mind on the tent I am going to get until I read that the other one had windows on the side that did not zip closed!!!!!

Also, what was your tip on sleeping on air mattresses in the cold? Was it to put a blanket UNDER the air mattress between floor and mattress or on top of it between the mattress and your body? We all have long johns to sleep in from previous trips. The last time we were there in March we were in a popup and it was not that cold. We did use the heater, but did not need heavy blankets on the bunk ends.

I want to be prepared for anything, but need all the facts and tips to be able to do so.

Thanks.

 

[clkelley]

OK, I have no idea about March, never been to the fort then.

I have similar tents where most of the roof is screening.

As far as the air mattress. I do a couple of things. First off I cut a sheet of plastic to fit the inside of the tent. It's mainly as and extra water barrier, so that if the floor seeps a little bit you have a little extra protection for your stuff. I guess it may provide a cold barrier.

What I also do is use an electric mattress pad and and electric blanket on the air mattress. Even in the really cold December trip, I would turn it on fairly high while I went to the shower, then turned it down way low once I went to bed and stayed really warm.

I am too scared of an electric heater to use one in a tent.

Then during the day while out, opened all the screens and ran the fan to help keep air moving and get rid of any moisture.

 

[maxiesmom]

I have camped in some pretty cold weather, and an electric blanket is a great thing! I have used an electric heater too, but you do need to be careful. Make sure you have something stable to set it on, like a tv tray or a little stand. Do not place the heater right next to anything that it could overheat, like your air mattress or the tent itself. And do not plug up your ventilation netting! Always leave that open, you want that fresh air coming in.

I don't use a heater unless it is absolutely necessary. A good sleeping bag is usually enought to stay warm, except for very very cold nights.

 

[mamaloya]

Thanks guys, I will look into a couple of electric blankets. dd12 will be in her own tent (if dh ok's it) so she will definitely need it as I will NOT put a heater in there. I have used an electric heater in a tent before and in a popup, so know how to be safe, thanks for the tips though.

Would it be OK for me to cover SOME of the ventilation if it gets too cold? I won't use the heater unless there is a freeze warning, which will also mean that dd12 will be in our tent with us.

We will be on a queen air mattress. dd12 will be in her tent on an army self inflating sleep mat. I am trying to decide between one queen mattress for the 3 younger ones to share or a double for the girls and a twin for our son. (We are only bringing the 4 youngest this trip.) I am thinking that if it is cold it would be better for the 3 littles to be together. I am also thinking about getting one of those twin/king beds for dh and I. The kind that can be a double high twin or lay out and connect for a king. That way dh and I don't bounce each other around, can inflate each to their own liking, but still get to cuddle w/o falling between the mattresses. We sleep on a king at home and a queen in our camper. I think that a king and a queen should fit in a 16x10 tent. If dd12 has to join us due to cold, her tent will become our gear tent and she will take the place of our gear.

Am I totally insane for leaving the camper behind? With the cost of gas I just can't justify bringing it even though we are making the payments on it. We will save $700 between gas and site fees by tenting instead. We looked at an offsite condo, which would be cheaper, but the kids said they would rather be in a tent than not at FW. Crazy disney spoiled kids!! Wonder where they get it from. Only my kids would choose a tent at FW over a 2 bedroom condo with a tv in each bedroom and big flat screen in the living room. I have to admit that the washer/dryer in the kitchen did tempt me a little.

We were there in March 2006 in a popup and it was great. I am sure it will be fine. Just getting a little nervous about weather.

I will start looking for the electric blankets. I am assuming these are things you don't want to buy secondhand right?

Thanks again Carol and Maxiesmom.

 

[bradisgoofy]

We have been going to WDW for the last ten years straight at Spring Break ( mid March to mid April ) but not always to FW. I can't remember it EVER being "cold", maybe the low 50s at night but nothing more then sweat shirt weather. Never too much rain either and it can get down right hot during the day. Have fun.

 

[bennythepug]

we are also leaving the camper behind and tenting- for our trip (April '09) so, no- I don't think your crazy. we know that with the price of gas we are better off leaving it and tenting. (my kids had the same choice, off-site or FW and they chose FW-) we did something right !!!!
I had the same questions for April weather. I think we'll be ok, and not having to worry about a heater- but, not so sure about a/c ???

 

[ntsammy5]

March can be really nice - those tents with the mesh tops are ubiquitous now. The only way you can get anything else is if you buy a three or four season tent which can be overkill in Florida.