Winter camping tips

[angelmom27]

I really want to stay at Disney for the Christmas holidays. I know it is the busiest time of the year but hubby is only off for that time. He cannot request time off any time of the yr. The shop he works for closes right before christams and opens after the new year. Well when he saw the cost for the hotels at disney he freaked and said absolutely no way. So I checked the cost for the camping and he said that he would do that. I have camped before in the mountains and loved it. So I want to do camping with my kids But with 3 of them having a disability it is hard to do. But disney camping would be do able. Now I am planning a trip in march for spring break with the kids. But living in FL the winters here are cold to me. So what are some tips you would have for camping in the cold. Has anyone ever used one of those heater fans to help keep the tent warm? I am really excited about it cause now I can decorate my camping site. What are some decorations you have used to decorate with? and if you have any pics would you please share.

 

[retired and happy]

I can't help you with tenting, but the furnace in our MH hasn't worked in 4-5 years and we always come for Christmas/New Years. We have two ceramic heaters and use them on the low heat setting...one in the galley to warm the kids on the sofabed, and one in the bathroom to warm the bath and rear bedroom. The rest we do with blankets. As you probably know central Fl winters may be 30 degrees and may be 80 degrees. If you don't know us, all of our children also have disabilities. Enjoy.

 

[DisneyWithMyBoyz]

Here's a big tip for you. If you are sleeping on air matresses, be sure to put something underneath and on top of the matress that will absorb cold. We set up our air matress directly on the floor of the tent and then put regular sheets and bedding on it. It got down to the upper 40's the 2nd night and dh and I were FREEZING! No matter how many layers we put on (at one point I had my pajamas, my jeans, a sweatshirt and a jacket on and was underneath the sheets and 2 blankets) and I was crying I was so cold and miserable. I started worrying about my kids. The older 3 were in sleeping bags on a blanket on the floor (no air mattress) and the baby was in his pack n play in fleece jammies with a blanket. I thought if we were cold that the baby MUST be cold so I put him in bed with us and he started whimpering. Finally I gave up and went and put him in his carseat in the car and sat in the car the rest of the night with the heater on.

Later we discovered (not being avid campers) that the air matress was holding cold air. So it was like we were sleeping on a slab of ice!

The older 3 were warm and cozy in their sleeping bags and the baby was warm in his pack n play. I felt guilty for putting him in bed with us!

 

[angelmom27]

thank you for the tip. i was planning on using air mattresses for everyone actually. Cause the 2 boys with disabilities doesnt have accidents sometimes so I am doing the air mattress for easier cleanup. i have seen pics from other post of people where they put an area rug on the floor of the tent. so i was thinking of doing that so that should help i hope. and i will be sure to have blankets over the mattress to keep them warm. my grandma bought one of those heater fans for my room yrs ago so i hope i can use that.

any more tips will be great.

 

[john1928]

Are you regular campers with the normal camping gear?

Sleeping bags are rated for the temperature they are good down to. Sheets and blankets will feel much colder than a sleeping bag which completely surrounds you (or you and your SO if you zip 2 together) . A "normal" sleeping bag will be fine down into the upper 50's but check yours. Colder than that and you'll probably want one rated for colder temps, or plan on layering extra blankets on top of the sleeping bag.

An air mattress will usually make you feel warmer than sleeping on the ground. From a thermal dynamics perspective "trapping" cold is not possible, and as far as conducting heat is concerned, confined air is a pretty good insulator. But if you just have a sheet between you and an air mattress and it's chilly it's true you will be cold.

Other tips:
Keep your heads covered at night. The low-temp mummy sleeping bags will have a tight hood for your head, but you can gain most of that benefit by having a stocking cap available to wear to sleep if it's particularly cold.

Stay dry. If you are too bundled up and get sweaty that will cool and eventually freeze (well, maybe not in FL) once you become less active. Layers are a good thing

Easy on/off shoes that are warmer than sandals. If you're getting up at 3AM to walk to the bathroom, you may want something with more coverage than a sandal but quicker to put on than tennis shoes.

Leave the windows open a bit. While it seems counter-intuitive, if you close up your tent tight people breathing will drive up the humidity to near 100% and you'll have condensation forming making everyone damp. If your tent has permanent ventilation areas you may not need to do this.

Electric heater? Not sure if they have policies against using them, but a small electric heater should keep the tent several degrees warmer, which in the mild Florida winters should be enough. Make sure to have adequate space around it, and choose a model with the more current saftey interlocks (tip, over-temp, etc.)

I've camped over ~150 days when it was below freezing, and probably 20 days below 0. Its a different experience, but in a Disney campground where you don't need to pack in your gear, have hot showers available, and the average daily temp should be in the 70's it shouldn't be much of a hardship.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Easy to keep warm while tent camping.
2) Tent
. . . buy a small ceramic electric heater
. . . this should keep the tent atmosphere above 50ºF
. . . also, allows for a slight window/flap opening to vent humidity
3) Sleeping bags *
. . . use bag rated for 32ºF
. . . do not use a sheet inside the sleeping bag
. . . wear pajamas and light cotton socks
. . . wear a sleeping (stocking) cap, as skull loses massive heat
. . . is still cold, use a light blanket INSIDE the sleeping blanket
4) Bedding, if sleeping "on the ground"
. . . place a tarp or other water-proof liner
. . . place a blanket/pad on top of liner
. . . place an air mattress on top of pad

* Double sleeping bags are also quite handy. Besides allowing two
people to build body heat, they are great for cuddling.

 

[blu]

I was wondering if laying the airmattress on one of the reflective emergency blankets would help trap heat and keep the cold out? also wondered if one or more of those hanging on the walls of the screenroom and or tent would help trap the heat? what I have found is the areas of pressure points (like where my fat you know what) gets closer to the ground I feel the cold thru the bag.

 

[mkoerner]

Not sure if you have already made a reservation for Christmas week yet, but when I called for a campground site for that week this year, I was told they were full and you need to call at least a year ahead to get a reservation. Have fun!

 

[Disney Bunny]

I just checked the dates 23 December to 1 January for the campground and those dates were not available.

 

[angelmom27]

When you looked for those dates did you do it for next year? This trip will not take place til next yr. We arent getting our annual passes til after the new yr. And every time I have checked there is space available. We are even doing a preferred site since we took away a day. If we were staying at the hotel we would have checked in Friday night but since we are camping we will be checking in on Saturday. I do know that for the popular times of the yr you need to book in advance by at least a yr if not more. But thank you for the tip.

I wasnt going to use sleeping bags cause I have older children with disabilities and some of them are not fully potty trained at night. And I feel it would be easier to wash a sheet and blanket instead of a sleeping bag. I just thought about the fleece sheets that they sell and those would probably be warmer then a regular sheet. And the heater I was thinking about is like a little fan that blows out warm air. Thank you for the tip about the ventilation that is definitely something I will need to do dont want to wake up wet. And good point about the shoes I didnt think about that part. I was thinking about using area rugs would that work just as well to help keep the cold out? Thanks for all the tips please keep them coming. I have lots of time to plan and get everything.

 

[Disney Bunny]

When you looked for those dates did you do it for next year? This trip will not take place til next yr. We arent getting our annual passes til after the new yr. And every time I have checked there is space available. We are even doing a preferred site since we took away a day. If we were staying at the hotel we would have checked in Friday night but since we are camping we will be checking in on Saturday. I do know that for the popular times of the yr you need to book in advance by at least a yr if not more. But thank you for the tip.

I wasnt going to use sleeping bags cause I have older children with disabilities and some of them are not fully potty trained at night. And I feel it would be easier to wash a sheet and blanket instead of a sleeping bag. I just thought about the fleece sheets that they sell and those would probably be warmer then a regular sheet. And the heater I was thinking about is like a little fan that blows out warm air. Thank you for the tip about the ventilation that is definitely something I will need to do dont want to wake up wet. And good point about the shoes I didnt think about that part. I was thinking about using area rugs would that work just as well to help keep the cold out? Thanks for all the tips please keep them coming. I have lots of time to plan and get everything.

Sorry....I was looking at dates this year. Didn't realize it was for next year. Not sure if you might be doing this already and not sure if it would work, but for your older children that need the help, maybe use adult diapers at night for the trip? It is not cheap to do laundry at the Fort and it might be more cost effective to use those and a lot less stress and worry for you.

Just some tips to help with your tent.....don't forget to go to Lowe's and buy painter's plastic to put on the ground first and then lay your tarp over the top of that. The shells on the tent pads can be very hard to clean off of a tarp or the bottom of the tent. That way, when you pack up to go home, you can just dispose of the plastic. See if you can find somewhere that sells thin foam rubber in bulk and line the bottom of your tent with it and then cover it with a tarp and rugs to help insulate it from the cold ground. And as stated earlier, if you decide to use an electric space heater, make sure you keep an area clear around it and have one that will cut off if it is tipped over.

 

[Running_Bell]

Yes... air mattresses can get VERY cold as they take on the ground temps and our body heat is not enough to warm them. We camp a lot in the State parks in the mountains of NC... late Oct and it can get very cold. We also camped in at FW in November last year and it was cold at night. Here are things we do in cold weather camping:

- we not only use a foot print under the tent, we use tent flooring inside the tent. We've tried many brands but what we have stuck with and like the most are the interlocking foam gym floor pads. You can pick them up a Wal-Mart... it sounds like a lot of trouble but it really doesn't take that long to lock and lay them. You'll be happy as they are thick and cushioning, keep out cold ground temps, walking on them bare foot is nice (no worries about small rocks under the tent) and it is easy to sweep them.

- we put a quilt on top of the mattress, then a fitted mattress pad on top of that. Then sheets.... etc. We found out the hard way that the foam (egg crate looking) mattress pads hold in humidity and make the bedding moist. We don't use those any more.

- in really cold weather, we put a heating pad on top of the sheets with blankets on top of that for about 30 minutes before turning in (or longer if needed).. it helps heat up any air in air mattress....

- we use a elec. heater (if elec is provided) or a small propane heater (if no elec. provided).


here are some photos from last November... I think there are a few that show the flooring....

http://s1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee504/running_bell/FW%20Nov%202010/

I think the coldest we've been in was 30 degrees.... I was amazed at how much of the heat from the heater stayed in the tent. Have fun!!!

 

[angelmom27]

sorry i should have said it wasnt til next yr. we do use the good nights for the boys but sometimes they dont work that great. especially if he holds it in and doesnt go before bed but on this trip i will be sure to have him and all of them use the potty before we go to bed. thanks for the tip about the tarps.

thanks for the pics and the tip about the matting. i think i will start to buy some of those a little at a time. i will see about getting some heater blankets after the holidays while they are on clearance. that is one good thing about starting now i can get stuff at really good deals on clearance and just put them away.

 

[angelmom27]

Sorry....I was looking at dates this year. Didn't realize it was for next year. Not sure if you might be doing this already and not sure if it would work, but for your older children that need the help, maybe use adult diapers at night for the trip? It is not cheap to do laundry at the Fort and it might be more cost effective to use those and a lot less stress and worry for you.

Just some tips to help with your tent.....don't forget to go to Lowe's and buy painter's plastic to put on the ground first and then lay your tarp over the top of that. The shells on the tent pads can be very hard to clean off of a tarp or the bottom of the tent. That way, when you pack up to go home, you can just dispose of the plastic. See if you can find somewhere that sells thin foam rubber in bulk and line the bottom of your tent with it and then cover it with a tarp and rugs to help insulate it from the cold ground. And as stated earlier, if you decide to use an electric space heater, make sure you keep an area clear around it and have one that will cut off if it is tipped over.

you know you just gave me a great tip. my aunt use to work for a company that sell foam in bulk and they can cut it to shape. so i could have the guys cut pieces to fit into the 3 rooms of the tent. and know the guys i will get it for free which will be a cost saver.

 

[mash]

We camped at Disney over the winter break in 2001 and it got into the 20's one night while we were there in our pop up camper. I am too afraid to run the ceramic heater at night. We bundled up with our regular pajamas and then sweat pants and sweat shirts over them with socks. I piled a couple of extra blankets on top of our sleeping bags. We did just fine (although no one wanted to be the first out of the sleeping bag in the morning to turn on the heater!).

I like the idea of the sleeping caps. I will try that next time. We will be camping in North Georgia over the Thanksgiving holiday and it might get a little chilly while we are there. Although we have a furnace in our new-to-us pop up camper, I doubt we'll use it at night. We'll be doing the bundling up thing again!

Also, I should note that my sister used the electric mattress covers in her pop up and they loved them. My parents use an electric blanket in their pop up camper.

 

[Keepin It Classy]

sorry i really don't mean to sound like a brat (insert adult word) but i live in florida as well. but i mean you live in florida, as do i, so wouldn't you already have an idea of the temperatures and what you would need to keep warm and cozy? sorry i just found this odd seeing as you are staying within the same state you live.

 

[blu]

I live in Fla too but since I am in the far northern corner it doesnt mean that I know what is like midstate. We can have a 10-15 degree difference from the coastline to just 30 miles in, so I would assume there may be differences midstate also. Also doesnt mean that she knows what it is like to camp in those temps.

 

[angelmom27]

thank you blu. Yes I live 2 hrs south of orlando and the temps are a bit different. And I was asking the question for tips on camping during the winter. I know what it is like outside but I have never camped in the cold and was looking for tips from other campers who have camped in the cold. Which lots of other campers have been giving me tips and ideas. Also camping with the kids is new to me the last time I camped was in HS and I went with a youth group to TN. It was lots of fun and is something I want to do with my children. But due to their special needs going out of state is not a good idea right now. And we wouldnt have the time so this is as close as I can get. And if that is it then I will make the best out of it. I am super excited about this trip and cant wait to have our first family vacation. And I want it to be the best and since I have seen lots of helpful people on here that is why I came here for advice.

 

[angelmom27]

sorry i really don't mean to sound like a brat (insert adult word) but i live in florida as well. but i mean you live in florida, as do i, so wouldn't you already have an idea of the temperatures and what you would need to keep warm and cozy? sorry i just found this odd seeing as you are staying within the same state you live.

well since you live in FL and know what the temps are like can you tell me any advice for sleeping outside in a tent during the winter.

 

[mash]

sorry i really don't mean to sound like a brat (insert adult word) but i live in florida as well. but i mean you live in florida, as do i, so wouldn't you already have an idea of the temperatures and what you would need to keep warm and cozy? sorry i just found this odd seeing as you are staying within the same state you live.

Here is my opinion...even though I live within an hour of Disney I find it quite different to know how to handle cold temperatures while cozied up in my home with four walls, a heater and a comfy bed as opposed to sleeping in a sleeping bag in a tent.

I find that Angelmom27 is being a very responsible parent by trying make sure that she is well prepared and that her family will have everything they need to not only be comfortable but safe.

Angelmom27 you have come to the right place to ask questions. Please feel free to ask away so that your family has a fun and safe trip!