Bringing snacks to DL

[MickeyMoush]

I was wondering what you all do about bringing snacks with you to DL, if you do. I will be taking my 6 year old soon (maybe Saturday but probably going to make another post about that) and I plan to pack light with it being just us, so won't need many snacks. However I plan to go back with my toddlers 25 and 21 months very soon too (for those of you that helped me before- I did get my 3 day pass at Albertson's the other day). Anyway, when I take them, I need to bring FOOD and lots of it. They eat all day non-stop. I read that it says that you aren't allowed to bring outside food into the park except formula and other special dietary need type food. I have a friend who goes and takes her little soft cooler filled with snacks for her kids and she said that doesn't have a problem bringing it in. They check the bags before entering, so are they okay with snack stuff or not? I don't mind to buy a meal or two while there- that is all part of the experience, but I don't have too much of a budget for meals there, and also, the little ones just won't eat a lot of what is there- a whole meal. They snack all day. What are your thoughts? Thanks!

Andi

 

[duckwife]

We always take in snacks like granola bars, fruit, beef jerky and drinks and we have never had a problem. I have even packed sandwiches and leftover pizza and have never once been questioned. I think as long as you are not taking in a huge amount they are okay with it.
I have heard of some folds renting a locker just outside the gates and leaving a cooler with food in it there for the day as well. That may be a good option for you so you don't have to pack around as much with 2 toddlers!

 

[mrswh]

We bring in snacks all the time. The only thing they have confiscated are glass bottles. We don't hide them or anything. I have never heard of a policy that you can't bring in outside food - in fact, at the GCH concierge lounge they tell you to grab extras to bring into the parks. There may be rules about cooler size and material, though.

 

[MickeyMoush]

Thanks for the replies!

For Duckwife- I did read about the lockers, but the thing is, I need the snacks handy with me, cause when they are hungry, they want food right then- not the time it would take me to trek across the park to the locker. Yeah, I'd love to pack light, but with two toddlers, comes a lot of gear- just diapers and change of clothing is a lot already- add snacks to that and it gets to be a lot. Fortunately I have storage space in my double stroller, so should be doable. Snacks like you mentioned was just what I was thinking, and possibly some sandwiches so good to know you've done that.

For mrswh- I certainly don't want to hide anything and remember them checking my bags last time (almost 3 years ago). I just don't want to break rules... I did actually read it somewhere on the site for planning the visit about not brining in outside food. So it is there, but I guess they are maybe understanding about brining snacks for kids- probably don't want you walking in with McDonald's bags or anything.

I'll pack up my food and just be prepared to toss any of it if they say so or rent a locker, but hopefully they'll let me bring in it.

Thanks,
Andi

 

[specialks]

We always take lunch and snacks into the parks. You can't bring glass and you can't bring the separate items to make the food. So, a sandwich is ok but you can't bring bread, lunchmeat, and condiments. Make sense?

 

[MickeyMoush]

Thanks Specialks. That's interesting about not bringing the fixings for the sandwich, but a complete one okay. Seems sort of silly, but okay- I'll go with that. I will be happy being able to bring raisin boxes, cereal snacks, granola bars and such and maybe couple sandwiches. Rather not have to keep stuff cool, but I'm used to taking snacks with me EVERYwhere. We live out in the country, so anytime we get in the car, it's at least 35 minutes in the car. Bad trip if I leave w/o snacks!

 

[cyclenut]

The PPs are all correct. Just a couple of notes to add. Those lockers on the outside of the park are a good choice if you want to prepare and eat a meal instead of purchasing one inside the park. There is a small picnic area near the lockers. The point is that Disney doesn't want a bunch of park guests setting up to have a full picnic lunch inside the park.

That said, I have done this a few times. Premade sandwiches, bags of chips, snacks, fruit, water bottles. I've carried a pack full of food and water into the park without ANY question from security.

You will hear a message on board the tram telling you not to bring food into the park and to use the lockers and picnic area. Those lockers and picnic area are to the far left of the gates by the way, and I mean FAR left.

I've seen people picnic in that area, near the cars and several other places near (but outside) the parks. Most of the stuff that goes on inside the parks amounts to quick, on the go, type eating.

 

[DisSarahK]

Oh you'll be fine as long as you're not hauling in a feast from an outside vendor or bringing in a big ol' cooler or glass bottles. We always bring in snacks for our children and ourselves as well as full water bottles and we don't hide anything. Sandwiches and fruit are fine too.

 

[MickeyMoush]

Thanks cyclenut and DisSarahK!

I think I'll be fine with the food after all you have said. I guess I'll keep in mind the lockers though, if I want to bring more things, cause midday my little ones will need to take a nap- they can do so in stroller and so it might be a good thing to go out for some "quiet" time. The time I take just my 6 year old, we'll be on the go though and just take some snacks and water, and then eat Disney food.

 

[DahliaRW]

Just to echo everyone else, we brought in a small soft sided cooler with fruit, sandwiches, leftover pizza, and even baggies of ice to keep it all cool. No issues at all (and we did this on multiple days).

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

We always bring snacks & lunch with us. We have a soft sided mini cooler - we bring granola bars, trail mix, fruit (normally apple slices or grapes), carrot sticks, chips, pb&j sandwiches, juice boxes for the kids, water bottles, pudding, etc.

 

[californiamomof4grls]

I have 5 girls and the last time we went I had 4. We always bring lunch and snacks in for the girls and us. We freeze a few of our water bottles and and put then in a small soft cooler with our Pepsi and Juice boxes. I buy all sort of prepackaged snacks and fresh fruits. I also bring salami, string cheese and Ritz crackers. I buy the hot/cold silver bags from the grocery store and put that at the bottom of my stroller with all of the food and two or three frozen water bottles. Just so that if it's a warm day the chocolate chips in the trail mix don't melt ect.
They never had any issues with that at all. We find an out of the way spot and sit and eat with the girls at lunch time. No biggy! No one ever said a word to us. Kept all of the kiddos very happy! My girls are all grazers! SO happily fed kids keep the whole family happy! LOL!! Have a great time!

 

[alyssa810]

We brought in a box of a dozen krispy kreme donuts one time! It was in 2001 before we had Krispy Kremes near us, and a good chunk of the family was meeting at DL for the day. We had no trouble bringing it in. The CM at the gate did joke about us sharing some with him though

Since then I tend to bring stuff like fruit snacks, granola bars, lots of bottled water and cans of soda for my DH. We've seen people bring in sandwiches, fruit, pretty much anything.

On a side note, at DLP on our honeymoon we saw a family whip out a huge loaf of french bread, a sausage stick, and a hunk of cheese and made sandwiches for everyone. It was pretty funny to watch- I wish I took a picture!

 

[Dizneydaz]

We too bring snacks and drinks into the parks all the time without issue. As previous posted, no glass (or alcohol, of course) but that's pretty much it.

If you have a stroller with you it is really easy to pack items in a small soft sided cooler. I love it when we bring our 2.5 y/o nepwhew with his stroller so I can put my Diet Cokes in the cooler and not in my purse. Many times I will bring in a styrofoam cup with my DC in it and then use my cans I bring in to refill it with ice from one of the restaurants/counter service.

FYI, the even sell sliced bread in DCA at Pacifid Wharf Cafe on Paradise Pier. They will slice it for you and give you butter. A delicious snack option. Under $5

 

[azmommyto3]

We have these little backpacks that are a cooler on the bottom, and storage on the top. My husband, my daughter, my mother in law, and I each wear one. We fill the bottoms with drinks, and the tops with snacks and they've never said anything to us when they check the bags

We like to bring granola bars, jerkey, goldfish crackers, fruit roll ups, and trail mix. We also pack the bottom with water and sodas

Enjoy your trip

 

[kailuagirl]

Yep, we've never had a problem either. We've brought muffin's, lunchables, string cheese, gogurts, chips, pretzels, water bottles, juice, you name it.

Like other's said, just don't bring glass or the stuff to make your sandwich and you're good.

Have fun!!!