Bringing Food and Beverages into Parks

[Gracie09]

DisneyLAND has a restriction. DisneyWorld does not except for the above mentioned ones.

 

[IrishNYC]

I've heard of some people renting a locker for their coolers that fit.

My grandmother does this when we go to a zoo, aquarium, etc. She's done it when she's gone to WDW with my family (I've never been with her). It drives me insane because she's older and we don't want to let her pull/push the thing but she insists we have something "good" to eat. So we end up pulling/pushing it or leaving it in the car and going back to the car to get it when it's time to eat. We always tell her we will buy food and it's ok but nope. Now that I'm older and have my own kids, she gets mad because my kids want to eat QS wherever we are so they don't even eat what she brings.

When we go to WDW I don't pack any food. I think I'm traumatized from my childhood. lol

I'm traumatized, too! We absolutely "live it up" when we go to amusement parks, whether it's Disney, Hershey, or Six Flags, and buy food. We do "cheap out" when we go to the zoo or aquarium and bring lunch most of the time, just because it's too expensive to eat there when we're getting in for "free" with a membership in the first place.

 

[momma2ethan]

Right. No straws, even those attached to juice boxes, etc. They'll take them off the package. We don't haul around food from home but I wonder how they are with plastic baggies like a sandwich bag?

AK does not prohibit Ziploc bags. I always carry multiple in our park bag. A few empty ones, both sandwich/quart size and gallon size, and our autograph book/sharpies are in a Ziploc as well as one for each poncho. They don't even bat an eye. While I understand the reason for possibly restricting them at AK due to the animal's health and safety, I would be quite upset if they did end up banning them because they keep my stuff safe from the common torrential downpours

 

[disnut8]

Not only have they not altered the policy on food, they seem to have no issues with rolling coolers. I was under the impression these were not allowed but based on the huge volume of these we see each trip, clearly they are allowed with no issues.
They don't bother me in any way, I'm not saying that at all. To me they are no different than someone pushing a stroller. But every time I see one I do think, I can't image dragging that in the park all day. It has to be a chore pulling that along

The reason the rolling coolers and "frowned upon" is when someone is walking and looking ahead with a cooler behind them, they have no idea who or what is behind them and will sometimes forget they have a cooler in their hands. So, if the cooler person stops in the middle of a walkway, the cooler stops behind them and anyone walking behind the cooler has to be sharp to stop as well or the results would be painful. So, if you do take a rolling cooler, please remember you can look forward all you want but please be respective of people behind you.

 

[AngiTN]

I'm traumatized, too! We absolutely "live it up" when we go to amusement parks, whether it's Disney, Hershey, or Six Flags, and buy food. We do "cheap out" when we go to the zoo or aquarium and bring lunch most of the time, just because it's too expensive to eat there when we're getting in for "free" with a membership in the first place.

LOL.. same here. It's no vacation to have to prepare food the entire trip. That's a chore I do at home. Vacation means a break from chores. At least to my family.

 

[Klayfish]

I get what you're saying, definitely. But it's really not all that big of a deal. With DW and I following the nutrition plan that we do, I have no doubt that we'd get physically ill if we tried to "eat out" for days on end, so packing is the only way to go for us (besides the fact that we're cheap). The day we arrive at the condo (or the next morning), we may spend a bit of time "cooking", but it's not like we're slaving over a hot stove. Throw some chicken breasts in the oven and let them cook. Very, very simple stuff. We involve the kids, to have them help pack their own lunch. It's almost become a Pavlovian dog response...when they hear us say "OK, let's pack lunch", that means it's almost time to head to the parks, so they get all excited. I'd say we spend maybe 15 minutes prepping/packing food per day, probably less. But I do get the concept of not wanting to do anything that seems like a "chore". Just not something that we could do. I have to say that I applaud WDW for offering as many healthy choices as they do, but it still would be very, very difficult to get what we need/want in the parks.

 

[Tomh]

I've heard of some people renting a locker for their coolers that fit.

Yup, exactly what we do. Last year before our trip, I looked up the size of the large lockers, then went to Wal Mart with a tape measure, and found the biggest soft sided cooler I could that would fit. We pack it full of ice packs, sandwiches, and bottled water, then stash it in a locker. That is our lunch, we have breakfast at the house before going to the park, and then have supper in the park. Works well for us.

 

[North of Mouse]

I definitely understand the alcohol thing, but why is it flaunting rules to bring a huge cooler in? Ours is comparatively mega sized. Don't know the exact dimensions, but don't know I've seen anyone else have one bigger than ours. It's soft sided, so it's not a hard Igloo cooler, but it's still huge. Never had a single comment, complaint or anything from a CM or security.

The key word was 'huge'!! If it's not larger than 24" long and not rolling, you are good to go.

Security (at times) seem to let lots of things in not allowed. I've seen huge coolers, roller shoes, rolling bags, etc. but if people keep pushing this because they've gotten by with it, eventually everyone 'may' pay.

I 'hate' rules that are not enforced! Would rather there not be rules. Have always been (mostly) a rule follower (will admit to a heavy foot on gas pedal at times, but mostly not)

 

[china mom]

I definitely understand the alcohol thing, but why is it flaunting rules to bring a huge cooler in? Ours is comparatively mega sized. Don't know the exact dimensions, but don't know I've seen anyone else have one bigger than ours. It's soft sided, so it's not a hard Igloo cooler, but it's still huge. Never had a single comment, complaint or anything from a CM or security.

A few years ago, Disney banned wagons and roll behind coolers due to the tripping hazard they caused Since then, there has been spotty enforcement of this rule.

 

[china mom]

I don't mind the little bit it takes to pack our lunch. We have the philosophy that if we go cheap, we can go often. And, we are in Disney for the rides and entertainment, not the food. Four counter service meals at $15+ per person = $60+ per meal. I can go to a sit down restaurant at home for just a little bit more than that and have a better meal.

 

[AngiTN]

A few years ago, Disney banned wagons and roll behind coolers due to the tripping hazard they caused Since then, there has been spotty enforcement of this rule.

So spotty I'll venture to guess it's not enforced at all. I don't see 1 or 2 here or there. I see dozens every day. I believe if they hold to the size limits they say nothing about roll behind. All a person as to do is say "I push it instead of pull it" and that makes it no difference than a stroller.

I have seen folks get wagons in, rare but have seen it. And I've seen CM stop them. Makes me wonder just how security allowed it in

But the coolers, I don't think they are stopping them often at all.

 

[china mom]

I stand corrected. Wheeled coolers are not prohibited

From the Disney site:

You may not bring the following types of items into the theme parks:

• Wagons
• Skateboards
• Scooters
• Drones
• Remote control toys
• Inline skates
• Shoes with built-in wheels
• Strollers larger than 36" x 52" (92 x 132 cm)
• Suitcases, coolers or backpacks with or without wheels larger than 24" (61 cm) long x 15" (38 cm) wide x 18" (46 cm) high. Coolers required for medication may be stored in a locker or at Guest Relations.
• Any trailer-like object that is pushed or towed by an ECV, wheelchair or stroller
• Wheeled mobility devices with less than 3 wheels and devices that cannot maintain stability and balance when stopped, unpowered or unoccupied. Training wheels or similar modifications are not permitted.
• Alcoholic beverages
• Weapons of any kind or object that appear to be weapons (toy guns, toy blasters, squirt guns, etc.)
• Folding chairs
• Glass containers (excluding baby food jars and perfume bottles)
• Pets (unless they are service animals, defined as any dog or miniature horse trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability)
• Balloons and straws are not permitted in Disney's Animal Kingdom Park for the safety of our animals
• Tripod stands or monopod stands that cannot fit inside a standard backpack
• Wrapped gifts (all gifts must be able to be unwrapped for inspection)
• Selfie sticks (hand-held extension poles for cameras and mobile devices)

Additional items may also not be permitted inside the theme parks. Please use your best judgment and do not bring anything that may be potentially harmful or disruptive.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

The key word was 'huge'!! If it's not larger than 24" long and not rolling, you are good to go.

Security (at times) seem to let lots of things in not allowed. I've seen huge coolers, roller shoes, rolling bags, etc. but if people keep pushing this because they've gotten by with it, eventually everyone 'may' pay.

I 'hate' rules that are not enforced! Would rather there not be rules. Have always been (mostly) a rule follower (will admit to a heavy foot on gas pedal at times, but mostly not)

Last time we were at HS, there were two guys pulling suitcases that you could stuff a coupe of bodies into. Yes, they were that big. And they were pulling them all around the park. No one said a word.

At first I thought that maybe they worked there. But they were "parking" the suitcases to go on rides.

 

[Klayfish]

I really do think it's a spotty enforcement thing. Like I said, we got away with the wheeled cooler for a few days before we got "stopped" by CMs on two consecutive days in two different parks. I hated the wheeled cooler anyway, so never will do it again. I also see why it, and wagons, would be hazards and agree they shouldn't be in the parks. I love our current set up of monster size soft sided cooler bag (I think it's less than 24", but may be right at that limit", sitting in an umbrella stroller. It works awesome.