Bringing snacks into the parks

[nalajms]

How well do the liquid items do when flying? Do you have a specific way you pack them? Thanks!

For short trips, I'll pack bottle water. I double bag using gallon zip bags.

Just a warning ... the Publix bakery is like crack, totally addictive. Soooo yummy. Red velvet cake .... dangit now I'm drooling.

Agree! Carrot cake .... yummm.

 

[SeptBabyMom]

I packed lunches for our family on one of our last trips to a park for the first time ever, and it was so perfect!

The day before, we were all hungry and cranky and spent too long trying to decide on a place to eat lunch. I am newly diabetic and need to watch my carb intake, the kids only like certain things.... my husband too.... eeek.

So the next day I packed egg sandwiches, popped popcorn, granola bars, almonds, water, etc... I think I will do the same thing on our upcoming trip, but at the very least will bring along snacks. It saves alot of money and is just too easy.

 

[LovesTimone]

I'm trying to save money on the food we purchase inside the parks by making a stop at walmart and buying things like water bottles and granola bars. Has anyone ever done this? We're staying at POP, so anything that needs to be cooked is out of the question. Any suggestions?

We do this every trip.

There is a Publix store very close to DTD, just go past DTD through the DTD hotels, I think its called Hotel Blvd. At the entrance turn right, go under the highway, next light turn left, follow the road past the outlet mall, Publix will be right past there. You can check out there sales ad for the time you are going to be there, and don't forget your coupons. This store has a great deli and bakery dept. and great wine selection.

Here is a few things that have worked for us.
Breakfast items -, cereal, milk, muffins, cereal bars, orange juice, donuts, bagels & cream cheese, pop tarts.

Drinks -- We bring a case of water, Gatorade, soda, juice / juice boxes & adult beverages, also the flavoring packets to add to water great for the parks.

Snacks - - granola bars, breakfast type bars ( watch the ones that have a lot of chocolate, can get messy quick)- Apples - will hold up the best during the day. I have a couple of plastic containers that we put chips, pretzels, anything that we don't want crushed, I picked them up at the dollar store, and we refill them for each day.

Pool Snacks - Here is where we really have saved money, Adult beverage at the pool bar are costly, so we bring are own to the pool, A soft sided cooler works great for this, I have a plastic container that has a freezer stick thingy that attaches to the lid and keeps the wine cold. , NO Glass around the pool., throw in juice boxes or soda for the kids, We take deli meat and cheese rolled up, cheese and crackers, grapes, chips, carrot sticks w/ ranch ( for this buy the individual serving size of dressing)

In room - Sandwiches - deli meat and cheese - PB & J - for some reason our DD's would get back to the room and be like hungry wolves. This was always a way to fill them up with something familiar, and filling. Even when they were older, it began a tradition to make a PB & J sandwich once back at the room. Great times and memories.

 

[livndisney]

We do this every trip.

There is a Publix store very close to DTD, just go past DTD through the DTD hotels, I think its called Hotel Blvd. At the entrance turn right, go under the highway, next light turn left, follow the road past the outlet mall, Publix will be right past there. You can check out there sales ad for the time you are going to be there, and don't forget your coupons. This store has a great deli and bakery dept. and great wine selection.

Here is a few things that have worked for us.
Breakfast items -, cereal, milk, muffins, cereal bars, orange juice, donuts, bagels & cream cheese, pop tarts.

Drinks -- We bring a case of water, Gatorade, soda, juice / juice boxes & adult beverages, also the flavoring packets to add to water great for the parks.

Snacks - - granola bars, breakfast type bars ( watch the ones that have a lot of chocolate, can get messy quick)- Apples - will hold up the best during the day. I have a couple of plastic containers that we put chips, pretzels, anything that we don't want crushed, I picked them up at the dollar store, and we refill them for each day.

Pool Snacks - Here is where we really have saved money, Adult beverage at the pool bar are costly, so we bring are own to the pool, A soft sided cooler works great for this, I have a plastic container that has a freezer stick thingy that attaches to the lid and keeps the wine cold. , NO Glass around the pool., throw in juice boxes or soda for the kids, We take deli meat and cheese rolled up, cheese and crackers, grapes, chips, carrot sticks w/ ranch ( for this buy the individual serving size of dressing)

In room - Sandwiches - deli meat and cheese - PB & J - for some reason our DD's would get back to the room and be like hungry wolves. This was always a way to fill them up with something familiar, and filling. Even when they were older, it began a tradition to make a PB & J sandwich once back at the room. Great times and memories.

PSA (Local here) that Publix charges more per item than other stores in the area due to location and taxes.

 

[worm761]

If you are looking for deli items at Publix and don't want to spend precious vacation time standing at the deli, Publix now has online ordering for the deli. It makes getting my deli meat and cheeses so much easier. Plus you can order the subs too! They will be waiting in a cooler at the front of the deli (at least that is where it is at my local store) with your name on each item. We just walked in, grabbed our items, and went about our shopping. No hanging out at the deli waiting for a number to be called.

 

[DawnM]

We bring snacks and lunch most days.

Water
sandwiches
pringles
trail mix
cheese
pre-packaged cookies
fresh fruit
dried fruit

 

[Crystal824]

We rarely pack a full out lunch, but we always bring soft drinks, water and a few snacks into the parks. It saves a ton just on drinks alone.

 

[crisi]

There are also two grocery delivery services - we go shop and garden grocer, if someone is flying and doesn't want to rent a car. Some people order bottled water and snacks from Costco and have them shipped direct to the resort.

 

[pinoke]

Just wondering- do all of you have strollers? Rent a ( pricey) locker? We pack a few simple snacks and three water bottles for the three of us, but just that alone is heavy to carry around. Plus- the lockers are not conveniently located, imo. You have to walk all the way back to the gate to get your food, right? How do you do it?

 

[crisi]

Just wondering- do all of you have strollers? Rent a ( pricey) locker? We pack a few simple snacks and three water bottles for the three of us, but just that alone is heavy to carry around. Plus- the lockers are not conveniently located, imo. You have to walk all the way back to the gate to get your food, right? How do you do it?

We do the same thing you do, we bring in water and a few snacks - the kids are old enough to carry their own, so no one is carrying more than a bottle of water and a few granola bars - however, we get groceries to have breakfast in the room, snacks when we get back to the room, etc.

But its more about convenience for us than price. We'd carry the water around anyway - and frankly its often a hassle to find a snack that isn't completely sugar loaded.

 

[Simba07]

Just wondering- do all of you have strollers? Rent a ( pricey) locker? We pack a few simple snacks and three water bottles for the three of us, but just that alone is heavy to carry around. Plus- the lockers are not conveniently located, imo. You have to walk all the way back to the gate to get your food, right? How do you do it?

We carry a backpack and trade off who carries it. Really it isn't much heavier than just carrying the water. Everything else is light by comparison.

 

[TravelMommy]

and put in a back pack and take turns carrying, it gets lighter as the day goes on. We are big water drinkers and saved a BUNDLE!!! bringing in our own drinks.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

We bring flavor packets and pick up free ice water at any counter service place. Works well.

 

[worm761]

Just wondering- do all of you have strollers? Rent a ( pricey) locker? We pack a few simple snacks and three water bottles for the three of us, but just that alone is heavy to carry around. Plus- the lockers are not conveniently located, imo. You have to walk all the way back to the gate to get your food, right? How do you do it?

We hike a lot and have no stroller (even if we did, it would go on the trails). We have a backpack cooler we got at Target. Though I don't care for it and am looking at getting this one instead: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000O8CWNG...lid=1UY3NUACF5TK0&coliid=I1H89RFLNEUI1U&psc=1

Also, you have to redefine lunch. You don't have to just stick to sandwiches. Lots of things travel well.

My list of things we like to take with us:
crackers, cheese, pepperoni/lunch meat
fruit (grapes, berries, banana, pineapple, strawberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges,)
apple sauce
yogurt
veggie wraps
veggies and dip (ranch, caesar, hummus)
grape tomatoes, cucumber, baby carrots, celery, broccoli, bell pepper, snap peas,
pizza wrap: cheese, pepperoni w/ sauce to dip
pasta salad
egg salad
tuna salad
mini subs
chicken salad
macaroni salad (ranch and bacon!)
broccoli salad
apples and peanut butter
olives
cheese
nuts (almonds, peanuts)
cheesesticks
frozen juice boxes/bags
raisins and craisins
mini bagels
chips
pretzels
salsa and Scoops
goldfish fishy crackers
grilled chicken and sauce
couscous salad
animal cookies
graham crackers
cottage cheese
Silver dollar pancakes (or use Mickey cutter to make Mickey ones!)
homemade gummy bears/ fruit roll ups
roasted pumpkin seeds
sunflower seeds
jello/pudding
Pepperoni lunchable w/ sandwich round, pepperoni, cheese, sauce
marinated mushrooms
hard boiled eggs

I got a little bored and stuck in rut so I made that list to give options. I also made a board on Pinterest for lunch on the go: http://www.pinterest.com/disneybug/lunch-on-the-go/

 

[dawnball]

Just wondering- do all of you have strollers? Rent a ( pricey) locker? We pack a few simple snacks and three water bottles for the three of us, but just that alone is heavy to carry around. Plus- the lockers are not conveniently located, imo. You have to walk all the way back to the gate to get your food, right? How do you do it?

My 9 year old daughter carries an 8oz bottle of water, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and some misc snacks in fanny pack (usually cheese puffs or similar). Then she supplements from the parks (milk, ice cream, fruit or veg, fries, etc)

I go the other way. I carry a large water bottle clipped to my belt and a few dense/stable snacks in cargo pockets (trail mix, mostly).

 

[Threxix]

We always bring snacks and drinks to the park. Stock up. We rent a small locker for 7 bucks (large is 9 I believe)and store everything in there. They hold quite a bit!

Also, if you are flying with liquids and are concerned you can always but cheap diapers and wrap your drinks in them. Pads them and if they happen to break it absorbs the liquid. I have an obsession with trying beer from around the country and often use this technique. Zero issues at all.

 

[jmmess]

We stop at the Super Walmart on Turkey Lake. It is HUGE - even has a big Disney section (souvenirs, t-shirts, etc.). We pick up fruit - grapes, bananas, blueberries, even a watermelon, which we cut up and bring to the park - helps keep the kids hydrated (along with water, of course) and is way cheaper than buying fruit in the park!

 

[seenellie81]

We have groceries delivered from garden grocer. Usually a case of water, breakfast food, snacks. I freeze water each night and take them to the parks so I have cold water each day. We also try and do breakfast in the room as much as we can. The snacks are for the room, we rest during the day so we usually have some snacks stuff while back at the room. We are not much of a 3 meals a day kinda family. We eat breakfast, have a snack, earlyish dinner like 4-5 pm and if needed a small snack around 8. We find that we are not as hungry at Disney and really don't want lunch most days. When the kids were younger we would take frozen uncrustables with us and they would be thawed and ready for the little ones when they needed it later in the day. You can do the same with gogurts.

 

[LovesTimone]

Just wondering- do all of you have strollers? Rent a ( pricey) locker? We pack a few simple snacks and three water bottles for the three of us, but just that alone is heavy to carry around. Plus- the lockers are not conveniently located, imo. You have to walk all the way back to the gate to get your food, right? How do you do it?

With little one's yes a stroller is a must. We used a soft sided cooler when DD's were little, with the gel pack freezer packs, these are lighter than the hard plastic ones. For us this worked great. Also we would take a break mid -day and head back to the room, for a swim, lunch or pool snacks, nap time.. whatever.. Then we stock up the cooler again and head back out.

When the DD's got older, everyone carried a small back pack. Which worked out great for us. With a water bottle, and some snacks that they picked out.

Now its just DH and I we still have snacks in the room and to take to the pool. But for the parks, we each carry a bottle of water, and maybe a small snack for in line. We always take a break each day and grab a new bottle of water for the evening.

 

[mikehn]

I load up on bags of jack links jerky and big mama pickled sausages. They go right in the cinch bag and keep everyone happy all day long.