Food from the outside brought into Parks.

[ImJustHere4TheMouse]

I read on the WDW website that the parks do allow you to bring outside food into the park, if it does not require heating. I can imagine picnic-style food is the norm for people who want to do this. Have you ever done this? If so, what did you bring? How practical was it for you to carry around in the park?

 

[walkdmc]

Last year, a family I knew rented a house in Kissimmee for 1 month and visited WDW for most of that month. They took a small cooler with ice packs, lunch meats and bread. They also took their own drinks. They rented lockers (?) I didn't know you could do that. But, that's where they kept their food. So, when lunch time rolled around, they all met at the locker and made sandwiches.

I'm thinking oil-based/italian dressing based pasta salad would keep okay in a cooler, as a side. I'd also pack tons of grapes, hummus, pita chips, maybe cheese sticks for snacks.

 

[aprilp]

When I went in December of 2008 with my best friend, we took sandwiches and chips in her backpack into DHS. Of course, it was not hot out, maybe high sixties or low seventies. I imagine that may not have turned out as well had it been in the heat of summer, but who knows. We went and ate at one of the counter services restaurants that had alot of outside seating and oh yeah, forgot to say we brought our bottled water in her backpack too. That kind of helped to keep the sandwiches cool as well. The only comment made by the security guys was that we should share our food with them, lol.

 

[Yngpreacherman]

Yeah, Disney is one of the FEW parks that allows this. We take protein/snack bars in to eat. They work out great to give you energy throughout the day. Another tip is that when you go to Disney, you can get free ice water from any food stand. I did not know this and payed a lot for bottled water when I could have gotten a cup of ice water free! But now I know better!

 

[danceintherain]

My family used to be lunch bringers up until our last trip. My Mom would just pack the same kind of things that she would pack in our lunches for school. PB&J...deli sandwiches...chips...and drinks. We carried them around with us until we were ready to eat. I don't think my parents knew about the lockers, or if they did, they probably didn't want to spend the extra money.

If I was going to do it with my kids (which is fairly unlikely, because I'm pretty sure I've become a Disney resort and afternoon break snob - we could keep the stuff in our room) then I would probably rent a locker, so we didn't have to carry everything around with us.

When I went with my parents, we would eat breakfast at our condo, pack a lunch, and eat counter service for dinner, most days. We were all dayers..

 

[Luvchefmic]

I read on the WDW website that the parks do allow you to bring outside food into the park, if it does not require heating. I can imagine picnic-style food is the norm for people who want to do this. Have you ever done this? If so, what did you bring? How practical was it for you to carry around in the park?

First to the Dis boards....way back in the day....late 1970's early 1980's when my DDs were itty bitty things we brought all food into the parks, no one ever stopped us (I mean how could they we could have dietary needs or something right?) I only bring this up because my kids still laugh about it now (and youngest DD did the same with here DS until he was old enough to know better ) I told my DDs that all those counters selling food was only for the "people that work here"....chalk it up to Santa/Easter Bunny etc...you can get away with a lot

I still bring food in, sandwiches, drinks, crystal light individual & add to ice water at the CS, fruit, etc (no glass & no alcohol) and splurge for the character meals when we want them....saves a LOT of $$$

 

[Tooth Fairy]

My DD(now almost 16) and I are having our first girl trip in June. Splurging as will just be the two of us but she actually asked me to pack pb on ritz. I use to make them up the night before and pack in an old tube that drink mix came in. Keep them from getting crushed. I guess a memory from all the trip when she was a little kid!

 

[Tigger i luv DISNEY]

Food in the Parks...
My best friend and I - both 18 - last summer had our Grad Trip in WDW. It was amazing and to save on costs we brought food into the parks. We packed baggies with dry cereal, crackers, apples, granola bars, fruit snacks etc. WE brought two bottle water each and crystal light too.
WE never brought "lunch" into the park but then again when we didn't have reservations to do character lunches we just munched all day and then had a bigger supper at 5 or 6. Then stayed for the evening things. We would buy popcorn or ice cream or whatnot in the afternoons but not having to buy something to drink or just a little crunchy snack to hit the spot really saved on that impulse buying...

Guess we didn't really save it just went to more shopping!

 

[DISHoppy]

Soft side coolers, no booze and no glass. Sandwiches, small snacks, juice boxes and water are the norm. Done it several times.

-Kevin

 

[coltfan]

I told my DDs that all those counters selling food was only for the "people that work here"...

That is a great story! We told our DD's when they were younger that the ice cream truck driving through the neighborhood is out of ice cream when it is playing music. They believed it for a few years until they saw the neighbor's kids buying ice cream while music was playing.

 

[Lou Holtz]

I have gotten food in different places around the Boardwalk and taken it into Epcot to eat while I wait for Illuminations.

 

[Luvchefmic]

That is a great story! We told our DD's when they were younger that the ice cream truck driving through the neighborhood is out of ice cream when it is playing music. They believed it for a few years until they saw the neighbor's kids buying ice cream while music was playing.

maybe we should start a thread about the things we have told our kids over the years

 

[RN01]

That is a great story! We told our DD's when they were younger that the ice cream truck driving through the neighborhood is out of ice cream when it is playing music. They believed it for a few years until they saw the neighbor's kids buying ice cream while music was playing.

That's kind of sad but funny. I told my DD5 last year during our carnival ( that I absolutely hate to go to) that the rides were all broken down. I felt guilty about it later on. Probably will take her this year!