Collapsible Cooler Questions

[vossjemi]

First and foremost, can you bring a collapsible cooler into the parks? Specifically, MK? If so, what kind do you normally bring? We have several small ones that have shoulder straps. We could bring one of those and hopefully there would be somewhere on the double stroller we plan to rent to either stuff or hang the cooler...anyone know? Or, Sam's has collapsible coolers on wheels now for $25....really coool. Anyone done this? Is it allowed? We would bring bottled water for ourselves, and juicboxes for the kids, and maybe even some lunchables to avoid park prices if possible. Just curious. Thank you!

 

[cepmom]

we have brought in a small (like 6 pack size) cooler without any problems. We used it to hold water, juice boxes, fruit etc. It was not very big ~ we were able to put it in the basket under our stroller. I don't know if they would give you a hard time if it was a huge cooler though. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't want you to bring in a rolling cooler. Sounds too big to me. I would go with a smaller size cooler that can hang on the back of the stroller.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

The strollers in WDW have huge pockets in the back where you could store a small cooler. I think that a rolling cooler may be a problem. They present a trip hazard as people are not looking down very often. Personally, I would find it to be too much of a burden to drag one around the parks.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I agree that lugging around a cooler would be a huge mistake unless it was something you could carry on a stroller. You could put it into a locker....but then how much is it really going to save you if you have to walk back to the locker to get a drink? Remember, time is money. A cooler small enough to hold a few bottles of water isn't a bad idea, but it might not be necessary either. Six bottles of water will make the stroller harder to push around. Water (any liquid) is heavy. Personally, we like to just bring a few bottles and refill them if needed. You can also get ice for free in the parks. It also depends on what time of year you are going. In the summer , you will need water, but REALLY won't feel like carrying it. In the winter, you'll need less water, but it stays fairly cool for a while. If you freeze the water (or other beverage), and drink it as it melts, you won't need a cooler most of the year.

 

[vossjemi]

It would be a small cooler fitting only 6 or so items. I don't want to carry anything, so there would have to be somewhere on the stroller I could hang it or stuff it....or get a locker ... or use the cooler on wheels since you don't have to carry that.

I have a friend who has a cooler on wheels which she uses when we go to our local theme park...Silver Dollar City. Its also like a backpack so she can put snacks and change of clothes for the kids, etc. She got tired of lugging a stroller and liked the cooler idea better. She prefers that method. That is why I was asking if others had done that and whether it was allowed at MK or not. But, if that is too obvious and likely to be rejected/confiscated, I won't even consider it.

At SDC, we always bring a little cooler to fit in the basket below our double stroller. It carries juice/water and lunchables for the kids. Many times we don't eat at the park at all. But SDC permits that. So, if its a nono at MK, I'll comply. I just hated the idea of having to buy something every time the kids or I got thirsty.

 

[cepmom]

I don't think there will be any problem with you bringng in a cooler for drinks etc. I think the only problem would be if it were a rolling cooler/backpack. I'm pretty sure they don't allow rolling bags as it poses a risk of others tripping over them. Here is a picture of the rental strollers at MK ~ I think you could hang a smallish cooler off the handle bar. That's what I plan to do since we no longer have the stroller we used last time. I can't imagine buying drinks and snacks all day long for the 5 of us ~ way too much $$

http://allearsnet.com/tp/mk/mk_stro1.jpg

 

[crazelion]

A smaller cooler will be fine. The rolling cooler is no no in parks.

 

[polkadotladybug]

We had a 12 can cooler that we filled with waters/ice and snacks. We just put it in the basket under the stroller. It was sorta heavy, so I'm glad we didn't have to carry it!

Thank goodness for the stroller! I don't know what people without little ones would do! I think I'd consider wheeling an umbrella stroller in just to carry my drink bag - LOL - hey.....now that's not a bad idea for you!

 

[DVC California]

We typically do the majority of our touring in July , so having a cooler with drinks is a must. We bring a 12-can collapsible cooler that is pretty easy to carry around. I usually wear the strap across my chest so that the weight is carried like a backpack.

We are DVC members so we have access to a refrigerator for freezing water and juices (Capri Sun). Only freeze half of what you bring. That will act as the “ice” to keep the non-frozen drinks cold. Drink as you go. As the day wears on, the frozen drinks will melt and you can start drinking those. Ideally, you will have an empty bag at the end of the day with the cooler getting lighter and lighter throughout the day.

If you don’t have a freezer, then you can use ice from the hotel's ice machine. Put the ice into gallon size zip-lock bags. This will keep the melted ice from dripping over everything in the cooler (and onto you!). In fact, I found that double bagging the ice to be the best way to avoid a cold wet back.

I have never had any problems with security or with the CM’s. It is not that much more weight than the camera bag I use to carry around. And having ice cold water, at supermarket prices, is fantastic.

HTH, Steve

 

[4fordisney]

Let's say you have the 12 can cooler, what do you do with it while you are on rides? Can you take it with you and would there be rides that would be too cramped to take it?

We want to take one, but we don't want it to keep us from riding all the rides we want.

Had another idea....there are a ton of different kinds of insulated diaper bags...some don't even look like diaper bags...would those work? And what about the backpack style?

We won't mind sharing the load and taking turns carrying, but when we all 5 ride the rides we want to know what to do with it.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

You would be able to take the cooler on most rides with you. A few exceptions would be Rock n Roller Coaster and possibly the Tower of Terror. Almost all other rides have a storage space for backpacks and the like.

 

[ALostBoy]

Hi,
Taking a small cooler into the parks has never been a problem for us. We always take our own stroller and I bought the cooler to fit in the bottom of it. Last july ours broke so we had to rent a double stroller from disney at mk. Here is a picture of the stroller . In the picture you can see the we had to put our cooler by the kids feet and our bag with the ponchos and such on the top of the canopy. This worked fine for us and our 7 year old got to ride also. We also had a hang on fan and water misters(it was july). Good luck

 

[vossjemi]

So, the Disney double stroller doesn't have a basket on the back side? You just have to hang the cooler over the handlebars or put them by the feet like ALostBoy did? We do have an umbrella stroller w/basket, but our trip is a 4 day cruise and only 2 days at WDW. One of those days at WDW will be just relaxing at our hotel, so only 1 day at the parks. We have 2 kids, so we'd need 2 umbrellas or our big double. And, I hate the thought of lugging it/them around for a week just to use 1 day. I'd rather rent.

Here at SDC we leave our cooler in the stroller when we ride rides. No real risk of theft. Of course, all $/cc/things of value go with us, but the cooler and dry clothes/snacks stay behind. Is that ok at MK? Or will we be subject to losing our cooler?

 

[cepmom]

I believe all the rental strollers have a pouch like bag hanging on the back of the stroller to hold things. Not sure if you would be able to put a cooler in there though. I think you could either hang it on the handle bar or put it in the stroller like ALostBoy did. I would not worry about it getting stolen. We routinely left our cooler and backpack in the stroller while we were on the rides and never had a problem. The park passes, camera, money etc stayed with me in a waist pack.

 

[Nicolepa]

I always bring a small cooler with frozen drink boxes & water bottles. I just set the cooler on top of the Disney Stroller and off we go.

 

[DVC California]

You would be able to take the cooler on most rides with you. A few exceptions would be Rock n Roller Coaster and possibly the Tower of Terror. Almost all other rides have a storage space for backpacks and the like.

Actually, I have been able to carry along our cooler on almost every ride in WDW including RnR, TOT, Space Mountain, BTMRR, and Test Track. The only exceptions have been Kali River Rapids and Mission Space. However, wife did not feel like riding either of these and I passed off the cooler to her.

When riding any of the coaster rides, make sure you sit in the front part of the cab. There is slightly more legroom to place the cooler between your feet.

HTH, Steve