Best Tips for Carrying Lunch into parks

[puffkin]

We just got back a few weeks ago. We packed lunches almost everyday for the kids and a few days for the adults as well. I had a soft sided cooler and we would take a few frozen water bottles and a few unfrozen water bottles. I did the sandwich thins with either PB&J or turkey and cheese sandwiches. The kids got the applesauce pouches (treat for them since I won't buy them at home). I also got a big box of the individual wrapped cookies and chips at the store and threw them in the bag as well as some cheese sticks and granola bars for snacks. It was super easy and saved us a TON of money. The kids didn't care and actually loved the chips/cookies/pouches because its all stuff they don't normally get at home.

We still have a stroller so it was easy to just throw it under there. I would suggest a backpack or two if you need to carry it. It was kind of heavy in the cooler bag. Security barely even glanced in the bags. They could care less about food....really they only check to make sure no alcohol or glass.

 

[wgeo]

Personally I would plan to use a locker and then adjust your day accordingly so that you position yourself near the lockers near lunch time. At the MK you can just plan to take a ride on train a your "pre lunch" entertainment and relaxation.

A backpack or shoulder bag that is loaded with food and water will get VERY HEAVY very quickly while walking and walking and walking around a Disney park....not to mention it will add to your fatigue and you will constantly need to find a way to hold it while on rides!

Plus you can use your locker for a change of clothes or shoes (in case you get wet) or for a sweatshirt for a chilly evening....................P

The weight is a good consideration. We thought about the locker but were going to try the first day just carrying. We will do rope drop (always do!) and it seems like by 11:00 the kids are already wanting lunch, so we usually end up eating early. So the backpack will only be heavy for 2 hours or so. We plan on heading back to the condo early afternoon and eating dinner there. We'll see if it works-only 11 days to go!

 

[wgeo]

We just got back a few weeks ago. We packed lunches almost everyday for the kids and a few days for the adults as well. I had a soft sided cooler and we would take a few frozen water bottles and a few unfrozen water bottles. I did the sandwich thins with either PB&J or turkey and cheese sandwiches. The kids got the applesauce pouches (treat for them since I won't buy them at home). I also got a big box of the individual wrapped cookies and chips at the store and threw them in the bag as well as some cheese sticks and granola bars for snacks. It was super easy and saved us a TON of money. The kids didn't care and actually loved the chips/cookies/pouches because its all stuff they don't normally get at home.

We still have a stroller so it was easy to just throw it under there. I would suggest a backpack or two if you need to carry it. It was kind of heavy in the cooler bag. Security barely even glanced in the bags. They could care less about food....really they only check to make sure no alcohol or glass.

I'm glad to hear it worked well. That's a good idea to buy some of the prepackaged stuff the kids normally don't get to have.

 

[rebeccalb10]

Just back from Disney. We packed lunch a couple of days and lots of snacks. Didn't have any problems & 1 security guard asked if he could have some snacks w us they looked so good.

For drinks I brought a water bottle and just refilled from counter service w ice water.

 

[SDSorority]

Hi everyone! It's been awhile since I've been to the budget board, but we are very lucky to plan a last minute trip to Disney!

Since this wasn't really in our vacation budget for the year, I would like to cut some corners, and since we are absolutely not "foodies", this is where I would like to try. We are staying in a condo and have access to a full kitchen.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make it easier to carry lunch in with you? Have you done it successfully? Did you rent a locker for a cooler or just carry it until lunch time? We are rope drop people and always carry a water bottle, and usually have a small back pack.

Thanks!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEwzOedc3CM

That's a video of what snacks I recently took on a trip.

We ALWAYS bring our own lunch to the parks in a cooler with bags of ice. Generally they consist of:

Salad in a tupperware, consisting of lettuce, cucumber, carrots, cherry tomatoes, cooked chicken or cut up lunch meat, sunflower seeds (de-shelled) or almonds, and cheese. I'll also put a little ziplock of dressing (yep... classy) in the tupperware to drizzle over the top. We have also done PB sandwiches on gluten-free bread, but we're not eating much bread anymore, so I'm not sure if that will be included in our next trip or not.

We'll also bring pre-washed and cut up fruit, generally things like blueberries, strawberries, or grapes. Larabars or other types of raw food or green bars pack and travel well, as do beef jerky (we like the Trader Joe's kind).

Oh, and bottles of water... can't do without those!!

 

[Mom_Rides]

I got a backpack cooler in the early spring to use for spring break hiking. Got it walmart, $8. Not the best quality but sturdy enough to handle a nice lunch! Have a great time!

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

I just used a regular back pack and packed a small soft sided cooler inside of it. Wraps are great as mentioned above b/c they dont get squashed. When I take sandwiches, I pack them inside sandwich boxes to prevent that. Also, the pencil boxes the kids use at school work well. THey hold 4 sandwiches and are $1 at walmart. We also brought apples or cups of applesauce. The Delmonte pears packed like applesauce (in the little cups) are good. Lance crackers. Granola bars. Water bottle with Crustal Light or little Kool Aid packets. When my daughter was smaller, the stroller would carry all of this for us. On our last trip, she was a little old for the stroller but I brought it just in case. We ended up parking it in the kid zone with our backpack init early that morning and not going back to it until lunch. So we didnt need a locker...

 

[mickeyfun15]

I know that this post is older but wanted to mention one of my favorite tips, when you freeze your water bottle tip it to the side a bit, and only a little over half full the water in the bottle. Then in the morning fill it the rest of the way up with cold water that way you have cold water to drink while the rest of it is melting. I do this for my daughter when she goes to zoo camp and her water stays cold so much longer.