Cracking down on outside food?

[BelleRose96]

I will bring food into parks, due to my ASD son's food sensitivities. He is very picky and has oral issues with food.

Leslie

 

[RyansMum]

I'm planning my first solo trip (husband and son are tired of theme parks) and will be bringing in food. It's not a budget issue for me but rather dietary restrictions and I am a light eater. It would be great if all the restaurants would let me order a small bowl of soup or just some fries. I'm aware some places do but not all. I bring a small backpack with cheese cubes, baby carrots, cucumber slices, grapes, crackers and cold chicken or plain tuna. I like to graze while I walk or stand in line and it seems to help prevent upset stomach.

 

[dogdangling]

you struggle to get a table now in most places, so I think it would be a huge mistake if they did implement this

 

[Misha72683]

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.

When I was a child, we'd go to Darien Lake for 3 or 4 days, camping onsite and then going to the park. I know people who still do this (or go to the hotels) or people who go to Cedar Point for a few days. If. You don't live close, you have to either combine it as part of your vacation or make it a multi-day trip, same as people who go to Disney, just on a smaller scale.

 

[plove53]

“IF” this is true, Disney has to realize some of us have certain dietary needs. I do buy food in the park (quick meals, sit-down places, and snacks), and I have in my “bagulini” (water, some energy snacks, and my camera). If they would ban those type of items, I would think twice about going back.
Now how about the family of “four” that only have enough money to go to WDW once a year and can't afford to buy in park food??? Disney going to banish them from the kingdom? But then again… do you really need to bring a ginormous cooler? What would be the size limit???
I understand Disney is in business to make money, and some are in business to save money.

 

[vandy]

I would still like to be able to at least bring in our own bottled water. When the grandkids are with us, we would like to bring in little baggies of snacks for them. Snacks like goldfish crackers, cereal and maybe snack bars.

 

[RyansMum]

As I read through this thread again, I've come to realize that it will be impossible for Disney to ban bringing in foods unless they expand their menus. Babies and toddlers need special foods that no restaurant currently serves. Because of guests severe food allergies, restaurants would struggle to create proper menus. No dairy, grain or nuts are at the top of the allergen list and when I think of all the Disney restaurants I've visited, at least one of those items are on the menu.

I just don't think it would work in today's society.

 

[cruisingtwins]

ADA protects peoples rights to bring their food anywhere. My and my kids have celiac so we bring our food everywhere even not outside food allowed places.

 

[Shanti]

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.

Yes, my local water park allows food with no issues, as well.

I'll only believe that WDW will ban food when I see it. Congestion at the gates is already a huge issue at Disney's crowded parks. I can't imagine them adding to it by searching bags specifically for food, with the extra time the related arguments & exceptions would take. Few people bring whole meals in at it is. Disney wants guests in the park so they can start spending. They aren't going to gum up the works to keep people's granola bars out.

 

[Sue M]

I have sometimes taken into parks a snack, bagel with peanut butter. When we go in August it's so hot, I wouldn't risk bringing food that could spoil.

As for water, our first trip we brought in water, and it got hot in minutes. Now I just bring in my resort mug and go to a cart that has ice water or a CS and ask for a cup of ice water. Plus in August just one bottle of water each wil not be enough, so who's going to lug around multiple bottles of water?

Some of those huge hard sided coolers people are wheeling in are ridiculous. I think it would be reasonable to restrict size to a soft sided cooler that will fit in a locker.

 

[ChipnDale79]

I have sometimes taken into parks a snack, bagel with peanut butter. When we go in August it's so hot, I wouldn't risk bringing food that could spoil.

As for water, our first trip we brought in water, and it got hot in minutes. Now I just bring in my resort mug and go to a cart that has ice water or a CS and ask for a cup of ice water. Plus in August just one bottle of water each wil not be enough, so who's going to lug around multiple bottles of water?

Some of those huge hard sided coolers people are wheeling in are ridiculous. I think it would be reasonable to restrict size to a soft sided cooler that will fit in a locker.

Camelbaks are great for water in the parks. We fill ours about 3/4 with ice and the rest with water in the mornings, toss it on our backs and head to the parks. It stays cold all day long. Staying hydrated is one way to stay cool and to keep from getting sick.

Sure its a tad heavy to start out with, but not bad. I've got one that's a back pack as well, toss the bladder in it along with any other essentials and hit the parks.

My wife and I have been going to WDW together for 8 years, we've taken one on every trip we've been on together.

 

[Sue M]

Camelbaks are great for water in the parks. We fill ours about 3/4 with ice and the rest with water in the mornings, toss it on our backs and head to the parks. It stays cold all day long. Staying hydrated is one way to stay cool and to keep from getting sick.

Sure its a tad heavy to start out with, but not bad. I've got one that's a back pack as well, toss the bladder in it along with any other essentials and hit the parks.

My wife and I have been going to WDW together for 8 years, we've taken one on every trip we've been on together.

I have a camelbak, I use it for paddling races, but hate backpacks in Florida in August! I used one our first visit. To hot! Shirt & back too sweaty! Now I just use a small cross body purse. With resort mug attached to strap with caribiener. .

 

[vsofiano]

Doubt this would be implemented in an absolute 'no outside food or drink' rule, too many people would complain/take issue with the policy. would be bad P.R.

 

[eastendlights]

The only thing we bring in is bottled water. We have two cases delivered to our resort and last trip the two of us went through 70 bottles during a 12 day trip. We will bring in two bottles each, every day. We detest Dasani water and the FL tap water is nasty. For our situation, I would be really upset if they banned outside water. For those with young kids, how could they possibly stop families bringing in bags of Cheerios or goldfish or other snacks-when my kids were toddlers, they needed snacks and drinks constantly.

As much as they might like to do this, I think they realize it would cause an insane amount of backlash and bad press. I just don't see it happening.

 

[Chainsaw]

It would impact our family a grate deal!! We always bring our lunch and snacks, but never a hard sided cooler. Just an insulated bag, if anything. Even the belonging inspectors are good sports about it, asking us what's for lunch? Or if they can have a sandwich. It is how we justify spending more on lodging/park hopping/water parks.

 

[Misha72683]

As I read through this thread again, I've come to realize that it will be impossible for Disney to ban bringing in foods unless they expand their menus. Babies and toddlers need special foods that no restaurant currently serves. Because of guests severe food allergies, restaurants would struggle to create proper menus. No dairy, grain or nuts are at the top of the allergen list and when I think of all the Disney restaurants I've visited, at least one of those items are on the menu.

I just don't think it would work in today's society.

Other places with similar policies allow baby/toddler food and I know at our local amusement park people with severe food allergies just talk to guest services and get a sticker allowing them to bring in food.

Most places do allow you to nring in your own wqter and I've never had issues bringing in baggies of goldfish crackers, etc. Honestly the rules are more to stop people from bringing in full meals and to sway them to buy the over-priced food that the park sells, but also to cut down on large, bulky coolers.

If Disney does ban outside food, I assume it'll be more of a cooler ban.

 

[wilkeliza]

I could see this going back to what it use to be. When Disneyland (and possibly WDW) first opened there was a no picnic rules. You had to leave your food in your car or in a locker and then could go and get it and eat it in the picnic area if you wanted to bring a sack lunch.

If this did happen, it would probably be a cooler ban thus if it fits in a backpack or diaper bag fine but once you need a cooler it stays in the locker or car.

I don't think banning outside food would be an ADA issue since there are many amusement parks and other entertainment facilities (movie theaters come to mind) that do just that with no problem. I mean you can't bring outside food to most restaurants and I don't see big ADA lawsuits over that.

 

[Mitzicat]

I keep thinking of Longwood Gardens, while not an amusement park, it is a "park." They do not allow outside food, they have a picnic outside the gates that may be used for picnics. They do allow you to bring water in, but that's it. The rules don't say anything about toddlers or babies. Sounds like the previous poster talked about a picnic area. Maybe that's what Disney needs to go to. But then folks will be upset that they have to leave the park to have lunch.

This is a sticky situation and Disney is going to do what is best for their bottom line. I guess we shall wait and see.

 

[mom2rtk]

Other places with similar policies allow baby/toddler food and I know at our local amusement park people with severe food allergies just talk to guest services and get a sticker allowing them to bring in food.

Most places do allow you to nring in your own wqter and I've never had issues bringing in baggies of goldfish crackers, etc. Honestly the rules are more to stop people from bringing in full meals and to sway them to buy the over-priced food that the park sells, but also to cut down on large, bulky coolers.

If Disney does ban outside food, I assume it'll be more of a cooler ban.

If they want to do that, they probably should start with enforcing the rules they already have on the books (about size of coolers and nothing with wheels). They seem pretty bad at enforcing those already.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Won't bother us, we are on vacation and the last thing I want to do is pack food. We like to eat in the parks and resorts I don't want them to ban the food, because then the restaurants will get more crowded than they already are! LOL!!! I agree that they will probably won't allow coolers at all, lunchbox sized soft sided coolers will be okay I bet.