Best snacks for the parks

[writersblock42]

Before we go to Disney (we have a while though), I plan to make some homemade snacks to pack in a small backpack to take with us. I also don't want to pay $3.00 for a drink. What were some of your best snack strategies, snack recipes ect. I was thinking homemade chex mix and maybe some cookies but worried about the durability of cookies in a hot park-time period will be august. I also need some strategies for drinks-do I freeze bottles ahead of time and then restock around lunch time. How did you do it. Does wrapping it in foil help keep them cold longer-a lined lunch box?
Thanks

 

[Kath816]

I love my Special K cereal bars. They are small, healthy, and can still be eaten if they get a little smooshed, they wouldn't crumble like a granola bar. The bits are also good. They're both a good mid-morning or mid-day snack though I like them for breakfast too.

 

[maxtomsmom]

We also bring our own snacks. I don't bake anything as I feel it won't last the duration of the day or the trip. Here's some things we do:

Grab a piece of fruit from breakfast. Save it for later.
Bring boxes of raisins from home.
Buy bags of pretzels and put them in ziplock bags. We do this for cereal as well.
I like the 100 calorie snack packs.
snack bars, fruit snacks (rather than candy and give the kids an extra boost of energy)
baby carrots. We put them in ice in a ziplock bag to keep them cold.

For milk- which I make my kids drink at least 3 glasses of a day - we buy Parmalot and keep in the refrig. We buy the large and small size for breakfast in the room.

We bring our own juice boxes. They drink the all natural and I like to limit the amount of sugar especially because they will get to eat dessert every day at disney.

Water- We bring our own water bottles about 6 in all. We keep filling them up with tap water. It tastes fine and I'm sure it is. We fill up all 6 the night before and place them in the refrig. We also set the refrig higher so everything is a bit cooler. Then bring ice in double bagged zip locks. This has helped and since we have a stroller no one carries a thing.

We do buy water and snacks at the park, but this has helped us save hundres of dollars.

We pack all this in a suitcase of its own. It becomes the souviener case for the way home.

 

[englishteacha]

I bring a granola bar with me. It won't melt and is still OK if it's a little squished. We also drink tap water and water from the water fountains. Most fountain water tastes OK, particularly at Epcot, AK, and MGM. Only one fountain caused me to grimace, and that was in the MK, I think in Tomorrowland.

 

[dmk1021]

We bring fruit snacks usually, they're the only thing we can easily bring that is okay if it gets crushed in a bookbag.

Also, we used to pack a ton of water bottles, but my parents had to unload some at the AP once because their bags were too heavy!

Now, I like to bring a Brita water bottle (it's about $10 at Target or Walmart). I'm from NY and can't stand the taste of the water in Orlando, and the filter does a nice job of getting the taste out, and it doesn't cost me a cent to fill it up with cool water from the drinking fountain.

Adding up drinks at $2 - $2.50 apiece is scary. You can easily spend $20-25 per person on drinks alone (particularly in the summer). No wonder my parents couldn't afford to take us very often as kids. I don't know how you parents do it...it's expensive enough for just me!

 

[daretodream]

We bring insulated water bottles. Fill them with ice and then water. Stays cold through the afternoon, until we take an afternoon break. We also bring powdered gatorade and county time lemonade for a change to plain water. Didn't require many snacks. Everyone is so excited we nearly forget to eat until we're really hungry for a meal. Although I always have granola bars, fruit snacks and trail mix. Happy planning

 

[martyshoney]

We always do the water bottle thing also like everyone else has mentioned. Our favorite snack to bring is Pringles b/c the chips don't get all broked in pieces!! We also make PJ&J sandwhiches to bring with us, get the containers made for sandwhiches so they don't get all mashed. Granola bars are great,too.

 

[aurorasleeping]

I always bring a couple of the water bottle size packets of Crystal Light drink mix to mix with bottled water...I especially like the Raspberry Ice and the Lemonade.
I drink them at home to, because I don't really like the taste of water...but with those things I can usually go through at least 5 bottles a day (Plus...only 5 calories each)
Kool-aid and Lipton Iced Tea also make a similar product, although I havn't tried either yet...
Save me a fortune on Soda while in the parks...plus I know I'm drinking the water I *need*.

 

[ntink]

If you don't mind the taste of the water there, all of the counter service restaurants will give you free ice water, most of the time in the large cups. We utilized this a lot on our most recent trip. In the past we have brought raisins, almonds, peanuts, pretzels.

 

[writersblock42]

Thanks for the great tips.
I particulary like bringing powdered mixes to add to water. That is a good idea. I also like the sandwiches containers idea. I think I will make
-chex mix
-bring powdered gatorade
-freeze water bottles and put them in insulators
-make a few dozen cookies to keep in the fridge at the resorts for late night snacks
-take fruit snacks
-take some fruit. If I bring fruit with me-what is the best to take to parks as not to get squished? Sounds like a dumb question but help me out please-apples I guess would be one.