can we bring a picnic

[littlelaura]

we're due to go on our hols soon , and were planning on taking our own food into the wdw parks to save money. i know universal will confiscate any outside food, are disney like this too?

 

[HeatherPage]

From what I've heard if you're discreet - like bringing stuff in smaller soft side coolers or backpacks they'll leave you alone. Bringing in a rolling huge igloo cooler might get it confiscated (again just from what I've heard).

 

[jann1033]

i have heard stories about people doing just about everything short of cooking a 6 course meal in the parks but have never seen it/done it myself. my husband took in light snacks( ie granola bars ) with no problem and i know some who pack a sandwich, drink ect. in their day bag but as far as a large cooler where would you put it when you went on the attractions? the lockers aren't that big. and any bags would be searched so guessing that would include coolers ... they might draw the line there. plus there really aren't places to eat it except maybe a bench since the tables are for the restaurants( no picnic areas)

 

[umaangel00]

Here is what we do. We bring our cooler in our car and leave it there. IT's insulated so the ice will not melt. That way, we go to the parks in the morning and then go to the car for lunch and go back for more fun in the afternoon.

 

[kbkids]

We have taken a cooler in on everyone of our trips with no problem. It's one of those soft-sided coolers, about 12"x8", holds a ton of drinks. We bring in lunch meat and cheese - put the bread in our backpack so it doesn't get soggy, throw in some chips - there's a meal! This will be our first trip where we won't bother with the cooler, only because we've got the free dining plan.

 

[curiouser]

The official policy is no food, but like an above poster said, if you are discreet they won't notice/say anything. But sometimes I think they let things slide: I saw a family with a whole spread at AK: a loaf of bread, various lunch meats/cheeses, mayo jar, mustard, two big bags of chips.. it was crazy. And they took up two tables during the very busy lunch hour to spread it out. It was very frustrating for those who had paid to eat at the CS restaurant (Flame Tree BBQ) and were trying to find a table.

 

[CleveRocks]

I can only tell you my recent experience, as well as anecdotes I've read on another board over the past 6 months.

In May, there were two different days when I brought in to Magic Kingdom and one day into Epcot sandwiches, snacks, fruit, water bottles, etc. for 6 people. We did not "sneak" this stuff in. Security checked each of our bags before we entered. As long as there was no glass, etc., they did not have a problem. We didn't hide the food, and didn't feel like we had to, based on the information I gathered by asking questions exactly like yours on message boards.

I've read that they allow you to take into the parks bags/containers no bigger than what would fit into a locker. I've read that soft-sided coolers are fine. We happened to take our food in in a backpack and a tote bag. Like I said, everything was searched, nothing was hidden, and we ate those lunches in the parks. We didn't get away with anything. WDW allows outside food. There may be people in later posts who may quote some official WDW statement or rules, but IN PRACTICE, outside food is fine. It's not the amount of food you take in, it's whether anything you take in may be deemed unsafe.

-- Eric

 

[Jackie H.]

We've never carried in sandwiches or meals, but when our kids were younger I carried in lots of snack items. WDW "official" policy may say no, but they really do not seem to care one way or the other. They WILL stop you from carrying anything in in glass containers. And I think they will stop you with alcoholic beverages. But otherwise, you would be fine.

We used to carry in frozen box drinks - they would thaw and be perfect by the time we wanted them. And peanut butter and crackers and other such snacks. I've never carried in a cooler. To me it wouldn't be worth the hassle, but I have known others who have done this. If the money is an issue, then do what you must do. No one should look down on you and WDW won't mind as long as you don't bring in glass or alcohol.

We still carry in bottle water since the FL water upsets my daughters stomach (the rest of us are fine). But the bottle is plastic, not glass.

As far as using the picnic tables at out door restuarants: if it isn't crowded, use one. If it is crowded, then those should be used first by the folks buying the food there. This is an easy fix - simply eat at an "off" time...around 11am or after 1pm. Or sit on a bench to eat.

Enjoy, take your food if you need to and don't worry about it.

 

[pixiedust23]

As above stated they usually do permit you to do so. But they have every right to refuse to allow you to enter the parks with outside food, since it is listed as their policy.