Eating in the parks

[dor1]

Going to Florida in October for the first time and am wondering if you are allowed to bring snacks into the theme parks.Ive been told food is expensive in the parks and i was planning on having a good breakfast,then a meal at night,but the kids will want something in the day!Thanks in advance for any suggestions

 

[Goofyish]

We tended to skip breakfast (apart from a drink and a cereal bar in the room), to get the the parts earlier. Then we ate at the counter service places in the parks around 11-11:30 (they were just opening and not very busy at that time).

4 burgers/chicken strip with fries and drinks cost us around $33.

 

[KayleeUK]

I take those little cereal bar's to keep me going during the day

 

[wendy_uk]

When we went for our first trip Feb 2002, we took crisps, rolls and water into the parks, as the food is quite expensive. The CMs never told us we could not do that when they searched through our bags, when we were going into the parks, it saved us a lot of money and meant we could have a nicer meal in the evening. We did have a couple of snacks in the park when i was too lazy to worry about it in the morning. We will be doing the same again on our next trip in feb 04.

 

[signtalker]

Personally I didnt think the parks were expensive!

Lets face it youre on holiday, and the last thing I wanted to do was worry about money.We did use the water fountains for water throughout the day(so no need to buy drinks unless you need to), we ate in the park everyday(usually lunch time), with soda's ect with our meals. We did however take DS's food in the park with us as he has an eating disorder, the CM's didnt have a problem with it!.
If you ate every meal in the park then I suppose you could say it would start to work out expensive, but if you have a good breakfast you will find you'll only snack at lunchtime anyway..

Jules

 

[LINCLAIRE]

I have to agree with Jules.
I don't think the food is that expensive in the parks and you do get a decent portion. I find it quite difficult to finish what I've bought.
Never yet managed to eat a whole ice cream!!
I do think I've got a big appetite.
Like you say jules, you're on holiday!!!
lin

 

[BONZO]

Hi,

We tend to bulk up at a Sizzler / Ponderosa type breakfast buffett - keep the kids going with popcorn during the day, and have a main meal in the evening.

 

[edie w]

I've heard it said you can bring a small cooler in and although the CMs will search it, they won't stop you. We just take one (have always found one in the villa, but you can buy them at Publix for a few $) and left it in the car boot, containing frozen drinks for the journey home.

Go and have a look on the US budget board - you'll find lots of tips there on saving money on snacks and in the parks.

 

[Disney owl]

Have just got back & bags were searched at all the parks.

food & snacks were taken in & security weren't bothered about it.

We didn't think the counter service too expensive it cost us approx $50 dollers for 6 of us to eat burgers & drinks.

Did take in sweets to suck whilst stood in line.

Always always took in water with us. My kids hate the taste of Florida water from the taps & fountains & are very reluctant to Drink it.

Like Edie we always had a cooler in the boot of the car. The polystyrene ones are very cheap from the suppermarket. Every morning we filled it with 2 bags of ice & 2 bottles of gator aid. Its worth the effort when the 1st thing you do when yuou reach a hot car is have a cold drink. i packed plastic beakers to go in it.

 

[galaxy]

The park food may be considered expensive but you certainly get value for money.

The portions are big and almost always can be shared as can the drinks if your buying(always ask for NO ICE..you get more juice and its cold anyway). We usually bought 2 meals, ie hotdog or sandwich and fries, there are 5 of us and were were well fed!!

Galaxy

 

[Madjock]

We too used to stock up at breakfast. We generally ate at Ponderosa or Sizzlers which do all you can eat buffets at a very reasonable cost so we would stuff our faces at breakfast. We generally carried snacks, such as bananas, pretzels, biscuits and/or sweets for the kids to nibble on whilst queuing. This generally kept us going till dinner. On the rare occasion we ate at the park we found the portions big enough to share, certainly between the children and we didn't think it too expensive.

Annmarie

 

[IAN5150]

Me too Im on holiday I dont worry about the cost of food in the park,
Apart from that its incredibly good!! I had the best fish and chips ever in MK And the corn dogs in Universal Amity Island were spot-on!
Plus all the counter service places has great theming,I think its an integral part of the overall holiday,Plus work out on 4 meals convert it into £s how much do you spend for 4 meals in a cruddy UK Mcdonalds?? Not a lot of diffence!
IAN