do's/don'ts to taking food/drinks into parks

[kailuagirl]

What are the guidelines and restrictions for taking food/drinks into the parks?

I understand you can take drinks like bottle water, juice, etc. in the park and snack foods. Is there a limit on how many drinks you can take? We are going to get a cooler to fit under our stroller. Do they have a limit on it's size or type? And as for food, what don't they allow you to bring in?

Also, do you have any "must have" snacks you bring with you? (esp. for little ones)

Thanks!!

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

I think the only rule might be no glass bottles. We have never been questioned on taking food in before.

soda's
bottled water
sandwiches
various snacks

 

[mechurchlady]

Technically it is no bringing in lunches and dinners except for religious groups like Orthodox Jews and special diets like celiac. They do allow drinks and snacks like a piece of cake though. It is a rule that is almost never enforced in parks.

They normally do not stop people for bringing in meals though. It is too much bother to spend all day searching bags for Cobb salads and buckets of chicken, lol. when they search they never thoroughly check bags anyhow. I once brought a whole chinese dinner into the park and ate it during a parade.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I think I have heard that some people have trouble bringing coolers in. I have never tried, but you might consider some sort of soft sided one to try rather than a hard one just in case. Maybe others know more about that, but I wanted to mention it.

 

[ballarinamom]

I agree with the soft sided. I remember reading on several occasions that they do not allow hard coolers. We have taken in drinks and a variety of snacks when DD was younger and pickier. I've also seen folks nibbling on PB&Js in line for rides.

 

[mechurchlady]

Items with wheels, such as wagons, skateboards, scooters, inline skates, shoes with built-in wheels, two-wheeled or three-wheeled conveyances, strollers larger than 36" x 52", suitcases, coolers, or backpacks with or without wheels larger than 24" long x 15" wide x 18" high (coolers required for medication may be stored in a locker or at Guest Relations), and any trailer-like object that is pushed or towed by an ECV wheelchair or stroller

From Disney rules and they are similar at WDW.

 

[MAH4546]

I believe Disneyland, like Walt Disney World, ended their "no outside food" policy last year. Not like it was ever enforced in the first place.

 

[Kayla's Mom]

Is there a limit on how many drinks you can take?
Also, do you have any "must have" snacks you bring with you? (esp. for little ones)

We always bring at least 8 water bottles with us (there are 4 of us). In the past we have had them in a backpack or laying at the bottom of the stroller.

Our must have snacks are goldfish, fruit snacks and sometimes pretzels or cheezits.

 

[nannyz]

The last time I was at DL, the guy in front of me had a cooler on wheels. They told him he absolutely could not bring it in. I think the problem was it being on wheels. You can't be wheeling something behind you like that -- people would stumble over it. I think you could probably get by with a small soft cooler that you could stow in a stroller or carry like a purse.
You might look into the coolers that are backpacks.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I would go with a soft sided cooler. I bring Lunchables or sandwiches for the kids. We brought in sodas, waters, capri suns without trouble. I agree No Glass, and wouldn't push my luck with cans either. I'd go with plastic bottles.

 

[MickeyNikiNaka]

There are backpacks that are actually coolers you can get now, they're really awesome and keep your water nice and cold! On the flip side if you're not willing to do that if you have a freezer freeze you water and then if you have snacks that need to be kept cold you have the frozen water! It keeps your food and your snacks cold!

I always take granola bars with me! Also I LOVE trail mix!

 

[Chickysmom]

no glass containers.....