Cracking down on outside food?

[HopperFan]

Why do people use "other places do it" as some sort of argument for why we should be okay with it? Other places do lots of things I don't like...

AGREE.

AND many places you can bring in your own food.
- Atlanta Braves have always allowed small coolers (new stadium maybe not) and many other MLB stadiums as well allow.
- Atlanta Motor Speedway (Nascar plus) you can not only bring it in you can bring your own BEER!
- Chastain Amphitheater and many outdoor music venues others allow you to bring your own food, and last time I went alcohol.

Disney is not hurting from folks bringing in some food. I don't believe it's that much. I do believe those of us who bring some, in turn spend that money on snacks, nicer TS dinners and other goodies.

Disney could find themselves hurting if they ban it. We would work around it and that doesn't mean spending our money in the parks. Midday breaks are good thing, for lots of reasons.

 

[tcherjen]

I don't bring anything into the park with us. I don't even carry a bag anymore. I don't want to stand in that line.

 

[opus_00]

I am not saying it doesn't happen, but I have never noticed people eating a picnic lunch at a table meant for a counter service restaurant. If we eat outside food we brought in, we usually eat "on the run," or we find a bench to sit on. We never have trouble finding a place to sit and eat.

 

[Tink415]

I would almost swear that when we started going to WDW in the early 1990s outside food was not allowed, and at some point I was surprised to learn it had changed and outside food was allowed. Maybe I'm confusing WDW with someplace else but I don't think so. Anyone else recall?

 

[HopperFan]

I would almost swear that when we started going to WDW in the early 1990s outside food was not allowed, and at some point I was surprised to learn it had changed and outside food was allowed. Maybe I'm confusing WDW with someplace else but I don't think so. Anyone else recall?

Not sure at what point it changed but food was not allowed in the MK when it opened. There were picnic tables at the TTC for those who wanted to eat picnic meals.

 

[IndyRnRfan]

We only bring in water. I'll wait to see what really happens but Disney is getting very greedy so it doesn't surprise me. I can see them saying no food, it is their park and their rules regardless of allergies, special diet needs, etc...

My wife just told me that Disney is thinking about adding a resort fee onto their cruises. As long as people are still spending they will keep hiking up the prices on anything they can to make a buck.

 

[mshanson3121]

I must be the only one who has searched in vain for a table and noticed at many of the outdoor spots for QS restaurants parties eating their outside food at tables meant for those who paid for the food being served by the venue. Reality is that WDW parks aren't set up for people to have a break and eat their picnic lunch - there are no tables to sit around that aren't attached to restaurants and there aren't very many benches or other places to sit and eat at either. I like the idea of having a place set aside w/ tables for picnic types to eat either outside or inside the park.
In thinking about my travels, other than backpacking and camping, I don't bring food with me to eat while I am on vacation. When I go to Europe I assume I'll eat what I find there (and perhaps pay too much for it as well as navigate unfamiliar cuisine.) When I go to the Bahamas or the Caribbean I'm on a cruise, so I assume I'll eat the food on the ship or at a port of call. In the US (including Hawaii and Alaska) I assume I'll eat whatever I find in the restaurants there and look forward to the regional touches. It just never occurred to me to try to have a picnic or brought in meal in WDW.

Well good for you. There are many families that can't afford the luxury of being able to able to eat out 3 meals a day on vacation. For many people, the only way they can afford a vacation, is to make their own food while on it.

 

[JWigs]

Just chiming in ... we are here and at MK last night.

A lady somehow had a full on roll bag carryon suitcase (with no small kids) and I wondered how she got that bag in while we got searched at each park for having diaper bags.

On top of all that, she was trying to hoard space on top of me for the parade and while I was sitting with my baby and waiting for the show; her unattended suitcase fell over .... right onto me and my poor shoulder took a metal handle and all the rocks she had inside weighing it down.

She apologized (kinda) but she definitely got an earful from me as that's partially why you're not supposed to bring in everything but the sink. There's no room for it to be taking up space when ppl are already crowded in.

 

[Hezzy04]

Silly question but....do they sell snacks like Goldfish crackers at any shops in the parks?

I always pack plenty of snacks for my girls because of their peanut allergy. It is just easiest for us.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

In the early days of Disneyland(in California which is where I grew up) you couldn't bring food in and we survived - picky eaters and all. There are numerous expensive venues that do the same today. It banning food is a no go for you and your family you can take your business somewhere else...and from my understanding there is no one that does it better then Disney when it comes to food allergies.

Yep.

What is funny is that if you go to the disabilities board here, everyone will tell you how wonderful Disney is with allergies. It doesn't matter what you need, you will find it.

But here, oh, no, someone can't dream of eating food from Disney because they have a food allergy. (And before someone tells me that I don't understand, I was diagnosed with Celiac and was eating gluten free, before it was cool to do so.

I remember going to Disney during the no outside food time. We survived. And if we wanted to eat what we packed, we hiked it back out to the car to eat it.

In fact, that is how it has worked at every other park I have ever been to. You pack your lunch in your cooler and you leave that cooler in the car (Or some other place designated by the park) and when you want to eat, you hike yourself out to your cooler and you eat.

 

[Misha72683]

I realize that movie theaters, sporting events, concerts, etc. also ban outside food, but I don't believe that is a fair comparison. We do not spend all day, perhaps from 8 am - 10 pm, for multiple days, at those venues. I suppose a "picnic" area outside the parks as some other theme parks have could work, but Disney parks are so huge that the time required to leave and return to the park would make this very difficult.

But most amusement parks also have that policy and that's certainly comparable. I checked two different Six flaggs adn they don't allow outside food, neither does the amusement park near where I live. This is their official policy: "No outside food, beverages or coolers are allowed to be brought into Canada’s Wonderland. However, baby food and formula are permitted as is plastic bottled water. Guests with baskets, coolers and personal picnic items are welcome to use the public picnic pavilion located just outside our front gates. Those with medical dietary needs will be considered."

Baby food is subjective but last summer I brought in a ziploc bag of goodish crackers for my 3 year old without any issues.

I think it's a standard amusement park policy, because they make money off food and also because people bringing in outside food take up valuable table space, plus large coolers can be a nuisance.

 

[sndral]

Well good for you. There are many families that can't afford the luxury of being able to able to eat out 3 meals a day on vacation. For many people, the only way they can afford a vacation, is to make their own food while on it.

Sorry if my post offended you, that was not my intent. But there's no need to assume I'm unaware that people vacation differently for lots of reasons, budget being one - particularly when I specifically said in my earlier post

I like the idea of having a place set aside w/ tables for picnic types to eat either outside or inside the park.

The original question posed was

Take this with a grain of salt, as always, but according to an article I read this morning (Edited to add: per mod request, link and name removed) there is speculation that Disney will be cracking down on food and drink brought into the parks. Thoughts on this? Do you bring a lot of food in? We usually only bring in bottled water, but we don't have kiddos. Will this have a major impact on your family's vacation?

I was answering that question in my response and observing that that was my normal vacation style no matter where I vacationed.

 

[smiths02]

But most amusement parks also have that policy and that's certainly comparable. I checked two different Six flaggs adn they don't allow outside food, neither does the amusement park near where I live. This is their official policy: "No outside food, beverages or coolers are allowed to be brought into Canada’s Wonderland. However, baby food and formula are permitted as is plastic bottled water. Guests with baskets, coolers and personal picnic items are welcome to use the public picnic pavilion located just outside our front gates. Those with medical dietary needs will be considered."

Baby food is subjective but last summer I brought in a ziploc bag of goodish crackers for my 3 year old without any issues.

I think it's a standard amusement park policy, because they make money off food and also because people bringing in outside food take up valuable table space, plus large coolers can be a nuisance.

I don't think most amusement parks are comparable because you are generally not going to most amusement parks for a week at a time.

 

[bookgirl]

Silly question but....do they sell snacks like Goldfish crackers at any shops in the parks?

I always pack plenty of snacks for my girls because of their peanut allergy. It is just easiest for us.

They sell a "goldfish" type cracker that are little hidden mickey shaped ones. I had them once a while back and while not quite the same were still pretty good.



They also have pretzels (okay) cracker type snack mix (excellent), vanilla and chocolate cookies, similar to animal crackers (really good) and gummies (my favorite)

 

[Eoghann]

I don't think most amusement parks are comparable because you are generally not going to most amusement parks for a week at a time.

I don't think it matters what anyone else is doing frankly. If the standard in other theme parks was to spit on guests as they arrived, would we argue that... hey everyone else is doing it so it's about time Disney caught up!

The comparison should be with Disney's previously customer friendly policy. Clearly it's not an improvement for the customers to take this option away.

 

[Hezzy04]

They sell a "goldfish" type cracker that are little hidden mickey shaped ones. I had them once a while back and while not quite the same were still pretty good.

View attachment 155933

They also have pretzels (okay) cracker type snack mix (excellent), vanilla and chocolate cookies, similar to animal crackers (really good) and gummies (my favorite)

I wonder if they are produced in a peanut free facility!? Last year I noticed a lot of snacks had cross contamination warnings.

If they are safe for my girls, they could be an awesome option for us! My girls would love those Mickey crackers!!!

 

[bookgirl]

I wonder if they are produced in a peanut free facility!? Last year I noticed a lot of snacks had cross contamination warnings.

If they are safe for my girls, they could be an awesome option for us! My girls would love those Mickey crackers!!!

They do carry a line of Enjoy Life snacks (bit pricy but good). Candy bars, cookies, and tortilla chips, I think. First link shows the back of a cookie package, second link shows more of the snacks.

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2015/09/09/sneak-peek-new-disney-branded-allergy-friendly-snacks/

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2015/...ms-now-available-in-disney-parks/#more-137677

Personally I love that I can get the Erin McKenna baked treats at the resort food courts (or there is a store in Disney Springs) which are wheat free and vegan. I don't know about their facility or whether they use nut flours but you might check on them as well.

 

[bookgirl]

I wonder if they are produced in a peanut free facility!? Last year I noticed a lot of snacks had cross contamination warnings.

If they are safe for my girls, they could be an awesome option for us! My girls would love those Mickey crackers!!!

You know I think the snack mix has peanuts so yeah the crackers my be in the same facility.

 

[Kona65]

Considering how packed their restaurants generally are, I can't imagine they could actually handle it if every single person purchased food there instead of bringing it in. We don't even go peak season and there are still times when it's hard to find a table to eat at QS locations and no tables are left in TS locations.

That said we take our food everywhere for our kids because of their food allergies so this wouldn't effect them. But I'd be upset if I was forced to buy our bottled water in the park instead of bringing our own. I was okay with the ticket price hikes and I get that every year it gets a little more costly but bringing food/drink is also one of the ways we help offset those extra costs as needed. But eventually too many of these changes are going to mean less time spent at the parks and that would be a huge bummer.

But people who bring food into the park take up seating in all of the restaurants. Maybe Disney should have picnic areas in all of the parks for people who choose not to purchase their food in the park.

 

[akadada]

Most of the food at the parks are garbage, so this would impact our opinions on future visits. We don't bring in full blown coolers, but we bring a lot snacks and water.