The GROOVIER New Pop Century FAQ Thread Chapter 3! ~ Posts #1 & #2 are MUST sees!

[susieQzee]

Hi Everybody--going to be at Pop in mid August...thinking about renting a fridge.

Have you tried getting into a Fridge Swap? Your trip is close, but there may be some cancelations. It's worth looking into, especially since they're FREE to participate in.

We "swapped" a fridge for 2 weeks (June 12-26). It was sooooooo nice to come home to ice, cold drinks after long, hot visits to the parks. We also bought 1/2 gallons of milk from the Food Court, and with the bagged cereal we brought from home, ate breakfast in our room each morning -- well, except for the morning we went to Ohana breakfast with Lilo and Stitch at the Poly! The money we saved by doing a fridge swap and eating breakfast in our room was mind blowing!

You can find info in the Budget Board thread, or here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1454053

Scroll down to the POP section, and see what's available. Good luck!

 

[Buckeye Gal]

As of June the milk was still $2.99

Just back (June 12-26), and a 1/2 gallon of milk was $2.99.

Thank you for the update!!

 

[MARCIAKAZ]

Have you tried getting into a Fridge Swap? Your trip is close, but there may be some cancelations. It's worth looking into, especially since they're FREE to participate in.

We "swapped" a fridge for 2 weeks (June 12-26). It was sooooooo nice to come home to ice, cold drinks after long, hot visits to the parks. We also bought 1/2 gallons of milk from the Food Court, and with the bagged cereal we brought from home, ate breakfast in our room each morning -- well, except for the morning we went to Ohana breakfast with Lilo and Stitch at the Poly! The money we saved by doing a fridge swap and eating breakfast in our room was mind blowing!

You can find info in the Budget Board thread, or here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1454053

Scroll down to the POP section, and see what's available. Good luck!

Thanks for that thought--I have been trying to get into a swap for weeks. Unfortunately, they're all booked, but I am on stand-by for three different swaps. The fridge has now gone missing on one of those three, though...so my chances of getting one are diminishing...so that's why I am now contemplating a rental. I haev in mind to do exactly what you did for breakfasts, but is the fridge worth the cost...? I'm leaning toward yes

 

[momsavealot]

Thanks for that thought--I have been trying to get into a swap for weeks. Unfortunately, they're all booked, but I am on stand-by for three different swaps. The fridge has now gone missing on one of those three, though...so my chances of getting one are diminishing...so that's why I am now contemplating a rental. I haev in mind to do exactly what you did for breakfasts, but is the fridge worth the cost...? I'm leaning toward yes

I too have been trying to get into a fridge swap for August for months now. Instead of renting a frig for 10 days, we bought a 60qt. cooler on wheels that we are going to check in with the airline. It's just as big as the frig we would rent and we'll just have to keep filling it with ice. It has a plug on the bottom to let out any water in the tub. I just REFUSE to spend $100 to rent a frig. Good luck with the swaps!

 

[KELLY]

I too have been trying to get into a fridge swap for August for months now. Instead of renting a frig for 10 days, we bought a 60qt. cooler on wheels that we are going to check in with the airline. It's just as big as the frig we would rent and we'll just have to keep filling it with ice. It has a plug on the bottom to let out any water in the tub. I just REFUSE to spend $100 to rent a frig. Good luck with the swaps!

That is a good idea! I was thinking the same thing myself. LOL It would cost me 15.00 to check it in. But I think it will still be 1/2 the price of a fridge would be.

 

[serene56]

That is a good idea! I was thinking the same thing myself. LOL It would cost me 15.00 to check it in. But I think it will still be 1/2 the price of a fridge would be.

it could be cheaper if you used that instead of a suitcase for your clothes. We did that for one cruise.

 

[NonScents]

That is a good idea! I was thinking the same thing myself. LOL It would cost me 15.00 to check it in. But I think it will still be 1/2 the price of a fridge would be.

I purchased an electric cooler a few years ago for around $59 which has an adapter to plug into a regular outlet and into a car outlet. It's great because I can use it for Disney, other travel, and for emergency power outages (by bringing it out to the car). It was a smart investment.

No having to stock with ice and emptying out melted water. The longest I personally used it was 5 days but no reason why it wouldn't last longer, and great for milk, water and leftovers.

 

[danaw11]

I too have been trying to get into a fridge swap for August for months now. Instead of renting a frig for 10 days, we bought a 60qt. cooler on wheels that we are going to check in with the airline. It's just as big as the frig we would rent and we'll just have to keep filling it with ice. It has a plug on the bottom to let out any water in the tub. I just REFUSE to spend $100 to rent a frig. Good luck with the swaps!

I have also not had any luck getting on a fridge swap for our dates and was planning to pack a soft sided cooler in our checked suitcase so we can fill it with ice at POP. I was hoping to keep 1/2 gallon of milk cold for breakfast and my little guys as well as keeping my DS's medicine cold.

I never thought of getting a bigger cooler and checking it. How does that work? Does every airline allow this? We are flying southwest.

This is why I love DIS - great ideas and fast responses!!!!!

 

[lov2b@disney]

I have also not had any luck getting on a fridge swap for our dates and was planning to pack a soft sided cooler in our checked suitcase so we can fill it with ice at POP. I was hoping to keep 1/2 gallon of milk cold for breakfast and my little guys as well as keeping my DS's medicine cold.

I never thought of getting a bigger cooler and checking it. How does that work? Does every airline allow this? We are flying southwest.

This is why I love DIS - great ideas and fast responses!!!!!

I think if you have medicine to keep cold they will not charge you for a refrigerator.

 

[Buckeye Lurker]

I have also not had any luck getting on a fridge swap for our dates and was planning to pack a soft sided cooler in our checked suitcase so we can fill it with ice at POP. I was hoping to keep 1/2 gallon of milk cold for breakfast and my little guys as well as keeping my DS's medicine cold.

I never thought of getting a bigger cooler and checking it. How does that work? Does every airline allow this? We are flying southwest.

This is why I love DIS - great ideas and fast responses!!!!!

We used the local grocery delivery service when we went down. I highly recommend it, it was the second time in two years we used it. You get all food items at normal grocery prices, for a delivery fee of about $20. one of the things they deliver is a large sytrofoam cooler for a purchase price of around $5. We did this because we couldn't get into a fridge swap. When we checked out we left it by the ice machine and literally before 5 minutes passed another family had claimed it to use.

Just another option to think about.

 

[englishrose47]

South West allows 2 checked bags for FREE I believe !!

 

[DisneyFirefly]

Yes, they do Their fares are usually reasonable, too, depending on your route.

 

[danaw11]

We used the local grocery delivery service when we went down. I highly recommend it, it was the second time in two years we used it. You get all food items at normal grocery prices, for a delivery fee of about $20. one of the things they deliver is a large sytrofoam cooler for a purchase price of around $5. We did this because we couldn't get into a fridge swap. When we checked out we left it by the ice machine and literally before 5 minutes passed another family had claimed it to use.

Just another option to think about.

I have been thinking about this option but noticed Garden Grocer had a minimum order of $40 and a delivery fee I wasn't sure if it made sense. I really only need milk. But I guess I could think about getting breakfast supplies and diaper supplies from them instead of bringing it with us. Thanks!

Yes, Southwest rocks! I just wasn't sure if you have to have the cooler "prepared" in any way or if you could just walk up with an empty cooler and check it. Can it be a hard- or soft-sided cooler? Any advice from anyone who has checked a cooler before????

 

[englishrose47]

I have been thinking about this option but noticed Garden Grocer had a minimum order of $40 and a delivery fee I wasn't sure if it made sense. I really only need milk. But I guess I could think about getting breakfast supplies and diaper supplies from them instead of bringing it with us. Thanks!

Yes, Southwest rocks! I just wasn't sure if you have to have the cooler "prepared" in any way or if you could just walk up with an empty cooler and check it. Can it be a hard- or soft-sided cooler? Any advice from anyone who has checked a cooler before????

I have ordered thru Garden Grocer before !! Very happy with it !!Water is $2.50 abottle at WDW and GG has a case for 6.99!!Also bananas are 45c each and 99c at Pop food court !! When I go in October with a group of DEV. Disabled we plan on ordering all our breakfast supplies and water! I figured it out and for $90mI acna get breakfast form 5 days for 10 people and 3 cases of water PLUS no Foodcourt lines to deal with !!!

 

[GCM]

I think if you have medicine to keep cold they will not charge you for a refrigerator.

That is my understanding too. I would call and tell them that your son has medicine that has to be kept cold and ask what their policy is on getting a refrigerator. You may have to get a statement from your son's doctor stating this is true, not sure, but it would be well worth the trouble to get a refrigerator for free!

 

[Tinker_Tam]

My son is on several meds that need refridgeration. I told the CM on the phone when I was originally booking our package and told her I would need to rent a fridge. She told me that because it was a medical need it was free. I asked her what I needed to bring from the dr and she said the worst that would happen is I would need to show check in the cold bottles..and that it wasn't just Tylenol that was chilled. I guess they were having some issues with people abusing the medical fridge privilege. I would just call and get it added to your reservations.

 

[HeatherSue]

I have also not had any luck getting on a fridge swap for our dates and was planning to pack a soft sided cooler in our checked suitcase so we can fill it with ice at POP. I was hoping to keep 1/2 gallon of milk cold for breakfast and my little guys as well as keeping my DS's medicine cold.

I never thought of getting a bigger cooler and checking it. How does that work? Does every airline allow this? We are flying southwest.

This is why I love DIS - great ideas and fast responses!!!!!

When I was at POP last December, I needed a fridge for my medication. They never asked to see the medication, didn't ask for a doctor's note, and never even mentioned it. There was just a fridge in my room when I checked in. So, unless they have changed things this year, they seem to believe you if you say you need it for meds.

 

[MelanieC]

One week till I'm back home at POP. I'm getting so excited. I've pre-checked in for the first reservation and on Monday I can check in for the last 9 nights. 'm going to send my fax in on Monday - Woo hoo - it's coming quick!!

 

[trekker93]

One week till I'm back home at POP. I'm getting so excited. I've pre-checked in for the first reservation and on Monday I can check in for the last 9 nights. 'm going to send my fax in on Monday - Woo hoo - it's coming quick!!

We can't wait till we go in September!

 

[momsavealot]

I don't see why you wouldn't be able to check in the hard cooler. We are flying JetBlue and are entitled to six bags free (we have 4 kids) so we won't be charged. The only restriction is that the length, height and depth together must total less than 60 inches, which was tough in the beginning. I did have to return the 1st cooler my dh bought because the wheels made it too big. The one I ended up buying is an Igloo "Ice Cube" and it has wheels and a handle just like luggage. If the airline wants to open it, they sure can. I was just going to throw in some boxes of cereal, pop tarts and Pep Farm goldfish for the room. I know it may get beat up a bit during travel but the cooler cost me $27 at Sam's Club and I can use it in the future for the beach, etc. Yes, it will be a pain to dump and refill ice, but I will put my dh in charge of that! Just to make sure, I'm going to call the airline today and make sure coolers are okay. I'll post back if they're not.