Cracking down on outside food?

[MamaLema]

It would have a huge impact for us. We always pack our own lunches and snacks. I don't eat fast food at all. I also find the quality and quantity of Disney counter service to be really lacking. I really hope it's not true.

 

[EricInPA]

Going to need a lot more than "rumors have been circulating that there may be a crackdown" that "has not been confirmed by official sources", before this even registers as a thing I should remotely care about.

 

[HopperFan]

Article leads with RUMOR:

Currently, Disney is pretty lax about guests bringing food in from outside the parks. No matter whether you are packing a full meal that includes sandwiches, chips and water for a mid-day picnic, or just a bag of cereal for a hungry toddler, Walt Disney World has historically been A-OK with guests bringing almost anything food-related into the parks.

However, rumors have been circulating that there may be a crackdown on food in the theme parks coming in the near future. While Disney will likely continue to allow guests with dietary restrictions to bring their own food items, there will be a limit on what specific items may be brought by regular guests into the parks, with Cast Members at bag check being asked to use their discretion when deciding what might or might not be allowed in the parks (we're guessing the cereal would probably still be OK, but the picnic-goers might run into an issue).

Though this rumor has not yet been confirmed by official sources, it would be very interesting to see how Disney might implement such a practice, as plenty of guests (especially those with kids) bring a lot of snacks and drinks into the parks. Being forced to throw away these items would certainly inconvenience these guests and could lead to some backlash if such a policy were ever to truly come to pass.


Impact us, on many days, yes. We bring sandwiches and pringles in our backpack. No cooler.

Why? Most Disney fast food isn't worth half what they charge.

We then spend our money on a table service dinners.

I would be totally happy for them to ban all coolers other than lunchbox size for medical reasons.

If you can't fit it in your backpack then it is probably too much.

I think Disney needs to get to work on enforcing all the rules they currently have that they don't .... rolling backpacks, large pull coolers, wagons, smoking where ever, double and triple riders on ECVs, adults in costumes, large tripods, selfie sticks ................. all of which are a danger to guests.

Last I heard no one was ever injured by a sandwich.

Does Disney really want to go back to the days of folks heading to the parking lots to eat, at that point I won't even be buying my drinks for my lunch from them.


https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/park-rules/

 

[Crystal824]

This would impact us. We always bring water, juice boxes, and soft drinks in a small (think lunch box size) cooler that we keep on our stroller. We usually have a few snacks for the kids in the cooler too- goldfish cheese sticks, etc. We buy our meals in the parks, but these keep the kids happy between attractions. I don't really see this happening though. I'm not going to worry about it until it happens.

 

[MamaLema]

I missed the part where the op asked if people brought food it. The reply now makes more sense. However, I find the attitude of "we're on vacation, duh" to be elitist, yes. Do you (the general you) think that those that bring in food are on business trips? What does that even mean?? Yes, we're on vacation too, but my kids still have food issues on vacation. People with allergies still have their allergies on vacation. Some people prefer to eat healthier, even while on vacation. It is not always about money. But many times it is, and that's fine too. Some people can only afford that vacation by bringing in food. It's no less of a vacation for them just because they need to bring in food.

Thank you for bringing up this point. I eat healthy if I'm on vacation or not. I would never judge people for what they eat on vacation. Yes, I'm on vacation too and have peace of mind when I pack our family's lunches. I don't feel like I'm having any less of a vacation.

 

[BrianL]

I think Disney needs to get to work on enforcing all the rules they currently have that they don't .... rolling backpacks, large pull coolers, wagons, smoking where ever, double and triple riders on ECVs, adults in costumes, large tripods, selfie sticks ................. all of which are a danger to guests.

This is truth! They should absolutely enforce their current ban on large coolers and the like, but banning all food would not be a good move.

 

[brooke789]

This would be huge for us. We bring in a lunch, snacks and drinks for the day. We prefer having our food ready to eat, not waiting in lines and also the kids (in strollers) can be eating/snacking while in transit from one place to another.

Our last trip we had planned a character meal for each day and after the first one decided that just was not for us and cancelled all of the remaining for the trip (except the next day which would have had a penalty). Ended up just packing our lunches and had always planned to pack ready to eat snacks.

 

[mshanson3121]

I think Disney needs to get to work on enforcing all the rules they currently have that they don't .... rolling backpacks, large pull coolers, wagons, smoking where ever, double and triple riders on ECVs, adults in costumes, large tripods, selfie sticks ................. all of which are a danger to guests.

Last I heard no one was ever injured by a sandwich.


https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/park-rules/

Ahhh... but that's the point. None of those issues (the ones with potential injuries to people, or even just inconvenience others) really affect Disney, the way that people bringing in food does - which affects them in their pocket. Which, is their #1 priority.

 

[bumbershoot]

We never bring anything to eat or drink into the parks. We purchase everything in park as needed. We're on vacation.

Oh, you don't do it because you're on vacation. Well since the rest of us are not...oh wait no, we are on vacation too. And many of us bring in some sort of food.

Why not just say you don't do it? That Disney food causes you no issues and you're happy just eating 100% of your in-park day's food there?

Not sure if I find the phrase elitist but it sure does seem...something. Like those of us that bring food are doing it wrong.

We are already restricted in diet before you throw in allergy and sensitivity. And they are diminishing the foods for that dietary restriction. Then most snack foods have things DS and DH can't have. Will it kill them? Probably not, though it messes up their blood sugars which could ultimately cause problems that could ultimately cause health issues. But it sure does make things unpleasant for those around them while they react to the ingredients... Then throw in my new possible allergy and it's fun!

I won't drink Orlando water unless there's zero choice. Since that means dasani as well (it's locally bottled, if there's a plant and Orlando is big enough, filtered municipal water so it's likely the same as you can get at a restaurant onsite) I won't drink it. It makes me sick to my stomach. Spring water is a need for us.

To eat things we cannot eat would mean the end of vacation pretty quick!

Glad you don't have those issues, but bringing food doesn't mean people are any less on vacation. Means you have life privileges others here don't.

I had to remove the link. It is on Theme Park Tourist.

If a link is blocked, you'll find in the community rules that posting the name isn't supposed to be done either. FYI.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

we prefer Pepsi to coke so we usually bring in a couple of cans of diet pepsi to drink with our meal. If they banned outside food/ drink we'd just drink more water which would be better for us anyway.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I personally do not bring outside food and drink into the park other than this upcoming trip I plan on bringing a collapsable water bottle to refill but I have zero problems with other families bringing outside food and drink.

I do think some families take advantage of the lax enough rules by bringing in things that technically are larger than they are supposed to be but as others have pointed out that happens on airlines too (which has led to airlines charging more for carry-ons or if they weren't charging before some have started charging-though thankfully SWA is not one of them). However it's just like strollers, wheelchairs and ecvs..they are there and other guests do have to deal with them. All I ask is that people are aware and considerate of other guests..same goes for if a family brings in a cooler.

My family personally likes to eat different things while out on vacation so aside from granola bars (and maybe not even that) and the collapsable water bottle we won't be bringing any other food..but I also do not have kids at the moment which means I can only speak from my past years and my current adult years, things could be very different when kids come along.

 

[TAK]

Jumping in the waters here -- I'm not the poster who said, "No, we're on vacation" but I could have easily written that, and in a FAR from elitist way. I *don't* eat healthy on vacation, and I'm lazy as heck, so I don't pack food or bring healthy treats along. That's vacation to me -- the rest of the year I adhere to a rigid diet and I'm thrifty as all get-out. When vacation time comes, I'm all about the bad too-expensive foods and the laziness, so this rule wouldn't affect me. But I'm not judging anyone who does take the time & effort to bring food in -- completely the opposite, believe me. And I hope for your sakes it doesn't come to pass.

I can't see how they'd enforce a flat-out no food or drink rule given dietary restrictions that so many guests have. Maybe it's just that they're thinking about being stricter about the already-existing cooler policy.

 

[texasroni75]

While I'm hardly carting in a smorgasbord of food in with me, we do bring in "some" food items. DS(4) has a life-threatening nut allergy and menus in the restaurants change regularly, so I am unable to be 100% sure that they will have something that is safe for him until we are in the park and looking at the current allergy menu. Having small snack items that I know he can eat is necessary for us. That issue alone puts me in the camp of "they better not ban outside food items".

 

[jsmla]

Have to say that I've seen the "No cooking (driving, bed making, etc.) I'm on vacation." thing many, many times on budget type threads. It's pretty much a stock reply. While I'm not sure why they bother since it adds little to nothing to the discussion I do respect their right to post their opinion.

Went to the store yesterday and out of curiosity, I priced out the cost of a brown bag salad that I bring in quite often:

Organic Artisinal salad mix-$.75
Fat free salad dressing-$.20
Grilled chicken-$.50
Organic onion, green pepper, black beans-$.45
Organic cherry tomatoes-$.80

So, $2.70 with organic ingredients in the ratio I prefer. I find that most QS salads are about 90% lettuce. A vastly inferior version is available at Liberty Inn for nine bucks. Now, Liberty Inn does have to pay operating costs but I suspect that I spend a LOT more on my ingredients.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

We'll bring a bottle of water or something into the parks or we'll take a mug if we've gotten one. Also, we bring several snacks like crackers, fruit snacks, etc. So I'm curious to see what happens with this.

 

[monorailrabbit]

If a link is blocked, you'll find in the community rules that posting the name isn't supposed to be done either. FYI.

I'm sorry, I didn't know that. Edited original post.

 

[DVCcurious]

looks like I'll have to start stuffing my undies with Skittles, just like I do at the movies.

 

[MJ6987]

It will be interesting to watch them try. They are already checking all bags pretty closely.

But I don't think they can do it. Too many specific dietary needs and picky kids.

I don't see what would stop them doing it. Like you say, they're already checking the bags so no extra labour involved. Ive been to music events where they don't allow own food or drink in - they just tell you to throw it away (or consume it) otherwise you're not coming in. Simple.

 

[memo10]

We're about 50/50 on bringing food in. We always bring snacks though because our youngest goes from happy to hangry in no time! A lot of times I'll pack a meal for the kids (because they only want PB&J or nuggets anyway) and hubby and I will pick something up.

One time we saw someone RIDING on one of those big rolling coolers!

 

[kamik86]

Honestly I can see this giving disney a lot of issues. For one They are going to lose a lot of people's time to the security line if they have to check for food and deal with guests that are upset about having to throw things out unless they hire a lot more security bag checkers.

I'm sure we have all managed to sneak food into places. Isn't hard at all. so not sure how much it will help except with things disney obviously doesn't sell.

I would assume you would have some issues with medical issues.

It just seems like too much of a can of worms to bother with.