Carry on Coolers

[emmak]

I just received my cruise documents and the Passport to Disney Magic brochure states..."Coolers are not permitted except if needed for meds, baby food, or items related to dietary constraints. Coolers containing personal items (e.g. soda or snacks) may NOT be brought onboard.
I have read many posts from people who say they have carried on soft side coolers with soda, snacks, etc. Is this a new rule or do they not enforce the rule? I planned on bringing some soda (for myself) and snacks for the kids (goldfish, fruit snacks, etc.) in my carry on cooler. You know, the ones that have a shoulder strap.
Any info on this? I don't want to pack these items if they are not permitted. Thanks!!!

 

[DVC4US]

emmak
You will probably get many answers to this but I will give you may two cents worth. Disney does not care if you bring on soda or alcohol. The only thing might be the cooler. I think they are mostly talking about the big rolling coolers. The knid of cooler you are talking of taking might be okay. What I have seen most people say that they do is pack the soft side cooler in a suitcase and then put your beverages in a small rolling suitcase and carry that on. We wanted to take on some wine so my husband had a carry on bag that we packed with 5 bottles of wine.

 

[MarkRG]

The prohibition is on the big hard side igloo-style coolers you'd fill with ice and pop and use for a bbq or such. Whatever you carry on has to fit thru and be seen thru by an airport scanner when you enter the port terminal. They don't care if you bring your own beverages/snacks onboard whatsoever. And I'll give you a small piece of advice- don't bring too much, the food is in plentiful supply to the point you won't need it much.

 

[Auntie Bon]

So if my sister and I pack a few "nips" in our luggage they won't freak?

On NCL they actually took the bottle away and gave it back at the end of the cruise

 

[goofysgirl]

Carry on your bottles. We had a 12 pack of soda, a 12 pack of water bottles and a 12 pack of beer in plain sight. The only thing we had to do was put them through the x-ray machine. They had no problem with this. We packed a softside cooler in our luggage and our room steward kept it full with ice for the entire 7 day trip.
This way the kids were happy hubby was happy and we had water bottles to take with us at each port The cooloer came in handy as we filled it with yogurt and fruit for a a light snack at the beach. Saves a ton of money on board and off the ship. Happy sailing I have to wait until November....................

 

[starwood]

So the soft sided rolling cooler is OK? I'm thinking of getting one at Odd Job (they have them for $14.99). It's about the same size as a regular cooler but on wheels with a telescoping handle (like the rolling backpacks).

 

[Padre Disney]

Just off the 3/15 7 day and we took our collapsable cooler on wheels. We put our wine and other glass bottles in another pull behind and carried it on with us. The cooler was full of bottled water. Both went through the machine and nobody said anything.
Plan to do the same for our 3/20/04 cruise.

 

[Hans Solo]

We were planning to put our wine and beer in our collapsible softside wheeled cooler(no ice) and roll on-board. Has anyone done this? I guess we could put the cooler and drinks in a regular carry-on bag if we had to but we really wanted to use the cooler.

 

[emmak]

Thanks for all of your responses. I will go ahead and pack my cooler with some diet coke and bottled water.
35 days and counting!!!!

 

[hilltopfamily]

anyone have a picture to show what you guys have used----- "collapsible softside wheeled cooler w/handle"
as I am having trouble picturing/imagining what it looks like? Is this then the same item many have posted about taking ashore @ port w/items for lunch? thanks for the response.

 

[MarkRG]

starwood, you need to reread my reply up there, as long as it'll fit thru the airport type scanner, it's cool, they are prohibiting any cooler that's too big, soft or hardsided. My belief the intent is to cut down on hand inspections, especially if people actually tried to pack the beverages in ice.

Judgement call is, is it bigger than a standard rollon you'd bring on the plane?

 

[fred ferdlap]

I have taken a small hard sided cooler.(multiple times) About the size to hold a 12 pack of cans plus ice. I stow it in one of my suitcases. I dont' like The soft sided coolers they leak and do not hold ice long.

I needed this to keep the baby's soy milk and dad's beer cold.

I have spoken to people who simply take two cases of beer and tape together and throw on a room tag.

I put beer in a duffle bag taking care not to overload. No glass only cans.

 

[KenP]

easiest thing to do is put stuff in your checked luggage. Have a separate bag for beverages so that if it leaks it won't damage your clothes.

 

[aprilgail2]

I took a soft sided cooler and the only thing they asked me was "there is no ice in there is there" so there was no problem since I didn't have any in there!

 

[thatmom]

Hi,
In our group we had three soft sided coolers on wheels. We just lowered the pull bar down and put it threw the scanner. We had no problem. They just check for ice and off we went. We used them in ur room. Our room steward filled it with ice everyday for us. I empty the melted ice out every morning before we left for breakfast.
thatmom

 

[Hans Solo]

Thanks for the replies aprilgail2 & that mom. We're back to bringing our softside cooler (without ice) with our beer & wine as carry on baggage.

 

[PAGirl]

This may sound silly coming from a woman, but how does everyone manage all this baggage?

I always considered myself a light packer, but with clothes, shoes, other junk and then the beverages...seems like lots to manage.

I'm sure checking the bags at the curb will help, but should I be at all concerned?

 

[goofysgirl]

There are 5 of us so we each pitch in. But seriously pack 1/2 of what you think you will need. I had way too much for our last 7 day.
Don't bring any island clothes. because you will find something great on the islands.

Stap your beverages on a luggage cart and then all you need to do is unstrap them to put them through the x-ray machine.

Have fun!!!!!