Coolers/Snacks for WDW

[katybugsmom]

Hi Guys! New member as of tonight! Hope you can help me out! I have been planning a trip for 71 church members for the end of May and I want to be able to tell them what they can and can't take into each park. I have read small coolers are acceptable as long as you don't carry anything glass in them. I also read you can't take a cooler into Animal Kingdom at all. Has anyone been lately, and what did you take? Thanks for your help and I look forward to hearing from you!
Katybugsmom

 

[Miniefan]

I personally have never seen anyone with a cooler in wdw, but that doesn't necessarily mean you can't bring one, yet if it were me I would bring small snacks like granola bars, maybe chips, fruit and just put it in a backpack or something like that.

 

[skiwee1]

I just got back and never saw so many coolers. There were plenty of people carrying hard sided coolers into the parks. At the checkpoints you could see that they were stuffed with sandwiches and drinks. All the coolers I saw had handles on them so they were not huge. They could probably have held a 12 pack of sodas or smaller. Nothing larger.

 

[KristiKelly]

I have never taken a cooler in, but I have taken snacks & water. I would try to remember, that whatever you carry in - you have to carry around (this can become a problem when it's crowded, I try to avoid bulk in any way). You can rent lockers, but I don't know if they would be large enough to hold a cooler. We have taken snacks such as apples & bananas, breakfast bars, Little Debbie type snacks, the small individual chips bags, trail mix, etc. If you will have access to a refrigerator, we take juice boxes & water bottles and freeze them the night before and they usually stay cool through around noon, the Flo. sun heats things up pretty fast though. I hope this helps.

Oh and WELCOME TO THE DIS!!! (it's addictive)

 

[pjlla]

Keep in mind you cannot bring in anything that rolls behind you, including wagons. I would advise that each person bring in a small shoulderbag or insulated back pack with a lunch, drink, and snack if you are trying to keep the budget under control. I don't see how you would lug around a cooler large enough to hold lunch for 71 people!! There are lockers available in each park if someone does want to bring in a small cooler........P

 

[Forever42]

I see quite a few people with rolling suitcases, even though they're not allowed. I wouldn't advise it, though.

I keep a backpack packed for Disney as we go every weekend. One of the pockets includes bottled water, trail mix, energy bars, granola bars, dried fruit, and any extra non perishable food that I can think of. I also keep any extra condiment packets I have from counter service places (instead of throwing them out) just in case I can't, for example, find malt vinegar somewhere.

Edit: the security guards NEVER say anything about our food or anyone else's food. Some even say, "oooh, look at all the goodies" or some such thing. We even overheard one guard say, "We have M&Ms here! M&Ms!" and another reply, "Skittles over here!" all joking around.

Another thing you can do is freeze water bottles or juice boxes overnight, and use those as ice packs for sandwiches needing refrigeration. I wouldn't do that with sandwiches with mayo on them, though. You can also pack PB&J.

Good luck!

 

[canwegosoon]

No Chocolate items that late in the season, it just melts. I like to bring small ziplock bags of ceral, pb/j, granola bars, rasins/other dried fruit or apples/grapes, but must have a water bottle( I like the Brita). You need to keep hydrated, esp. as the temp. gets higher. Be aware at AK if you order soda, they will come without tops on them, so I really think a small bottle of water that can be refilled is necessary.

 

[katybugsmom]

Thanks everyone for the heads up with the coolers!

 

[disneyfan551]

We have ours in the bottom of our stroller and they never even look! We just take a few drinks in and juice for the 2yo! Well worth it!