food items in check-in luggage on SWA ?

[cropper]

We plan to take some non-perishables and pack as check-in luggage.
Is there any right way to do this?
What if some items are frozen (but will be ok as they thaw)? Is this ok?

 

[disney world dreamer]

i always put food in my checked luggage and i usually fly southwest airlines.
i've never had a problem other than once my luggage was over the weight limit so i tossed some things in my friend's luggage.

i usually bring things like pop tarts, fruit and grain bards, cookies, individual sized apple juice, individual nesquick (oddly enough they don't have to be refrigerated until opening), and water bottles.

i get the giant 2 gallon zip top food storage bags to put my drinks in in case of a leak.

i just pack the food where it will fit tightly so it won't move all around in the suitcase.

i have never packed anything frozen before.
if the product is fine to be room temp then i'd pack it that way instead of frozen.
if you pack it frozen it may get things wet as it warms up.

 

[jcanary]

I have brought frozen items in my checked bags before but I also bring a small cooler in which I put the frozen items. I then use the cooler to keep drinks cold by the pool or in the parks.

 

[Physics Guy]

Fair warning about the handling of the luggage. We're here now and we packed a few things in our luggage to bring down. One item was some vegan banana muffins I had made and some vegan brownies from a friend packed together in one Tupperware. Once here, the contents of the Tupperware looked as if it was put into a paint can shaker. The muffins were fine, but the brownies not so much. No worries though, this morning we had vegan-brownie-crumb-coated banana muffins. They were delicious.

The rest of the pre-packaged snacks were fine.

 

[bianca]

We just did this last month with SW for a trip in a studio. I keep a sandwich maker in my Owners Locker for breakfast omelettes and occasional sandwiches. I packed in my suitcase, chopped green peppers, dried onions, shredded cheese, a package of frozen turkey bacon, package of bagels, whipped cream cheese, lunch meat for sandwiches and ...... Jack Daniels. I put a small freezer packet in the bag and everything was still frozen when the bag arrived in our room via Magical Express 10 hours later. We use this method on every trip with great success and just purchase eggs and bread upon arrival.

When staying in a 1 or 2 bedroom, on occasion I skip using WeGoShop and just pack an entire suitcase of groceries with accompanying aluminum cooking pans. I have purchased things like frozen lasagna and had them arrive in FL still frozen. I have found, though, that baked goods do not travel well. All the more reason to indulge in some of the great treats around WDW!

 

[cropper]

I packed in my suitcase, chopped green peppers, dried onions, shredded cheese, a package of frozen turkey bacon, package of bagels, whipped cream cheese, lunch meat for sandwiches and ...... Jack Daniels. I put a small freezer packet in the bag and everything was still frozen when the bag arrived in our room via Magical Express 10 hours later. We use this method on every trip with great success and just purchase eggs and bread upon arrival.

This is exactly what I am looking to do!! Thank you for the info that it will work! Besides the freezer pack, did you have the items in any type of cooler or just in a suit case?

I have priced and it seems BWV prices are cheaper then Garden Grocer. Can't compare WeGoShop because of the way you order from them. But, I think I will pack everything I can and purchase the rest from the resort store....I am assuming their prices are comparable to the available delivery list.

 

[bianca]

I don't use a cooler, although that would work. I just pick a box that will hold the stuff I want to stay cold and pack all my items (individually zip-locked) in it with a freezer pack. I then take the box of zip-locked items and place IT in a large ziplock (one of those that you'd find at Home Depot. I have used the same one now for about 5 years). I place it in the center of the suitcase with other stuff surrounding it. I have never had my system compromised, never had a leak and everything arrives perfectly.

 

[cropper]

Wonderful! Sounds like a perfect system!

 

[OKWJan]

Since we live down here, we often bring back frozen Chicago items like Italian Beef when we fly home. I use one of those soft sided insulated back from Sams or Costco and they are great, as well as protect the duffle bag from leaks. Works great!

 

[goofy4wdw2]

I've packed food in our checked luggage also. I make a big batch of gluten free waffles for my daughter and pack them frozen so they stay fresh for the trip. I've also taken GF banana bread, etc., but after reading Physics Guy's post, I might freeze that too so there's less chance it will crumble along the way! We often do Garden Grocer or some type of delivery service but this time I'm thinking of packing what I can, having water cases delivered via Amazon Pantry, and buying milk and a few small perishables from the resort shop.

 

[cropper]

have you ever tried to pack something like the Pillsbury "pop and fresh" cans? Wondering if they will explode

 

[carlbarry]

I take the bulk of my food, as I need to bring my own for religious dietary reasons.
I take already cooked frozen food (e.g. chicken, rice, meatballs, chow mein, rice, fish), refrigerated food (e.g. salami), bread, snacks, cereal, even milk and orange juice. I have never had a problem.
I put them in those aluminized insulated bags along with freezer packs.
Pillsbury "pop and fresh" tubes most likely will not "explode," as the luggage holds in planes are now pressurized. After all, they can also ship live animals in there!
The only oddity I've encountered is that the NSA virtually always opens and inspects my bag, I assume due to the aluminized bags looking odd on the X-Ray machines.

 

[nalajms]

During warmer months, I will use a soft insulated lunch box/bag or the big costco insulated bags. In winter, it's not that big of a deal. I also use frozen capri sun pouches instead of ice packs, since my kids love those.

We always pack yogurt tubes for the kids. Our last trip, I even packed stouffer's mac & cheese. It thawed by the time we took it out, but it was still cold, not warm.

 

[bianca]

I'm kind of surprised by how many of us pack our food! I have always felt like I was the only one, as when I have mentioned it to folks in the past, I have usually gotten some strange looks. I much prefer bringing my own stuff .... Not just for cost, but because we ending up not eating so junky while on vacation.

As for the cinnamon rolls in the can, they do NOT explode. I bring these on occasion to cook in my little sandwich maker. Never have had a problem. Like others posted, the more stuff you can freeze ahead of time, the better off your stuff is upon arrival. We have never encountered spoilage in any manner. I have frozen my yogurts, a water bottle or two, meats and full meals. They can all act as ice packs.

 

[butsy113]

I take the bulk of my food, as I need to bring my own for religious dietary reasons.
I take already cooked frozen food (e.g. chicken, rice, meatballs, chow mein, rice, fish), refrigerated food (e.g. salami), bread, snacks, cereal, even milk and orange juice. I have never had a problem.
I put them in those aluminized insulated bags along with freezer packs.
Pillsbury "pop and fresh" tubes most likely will not "explode," as the luggage holds in planes are now pressurized. After all, they can also ship live animals in there!
The only oddity I've encountered is that the NSA virtually always opens and inspects my bag, I assume due to the aluminized bags looking odd on the X-Ray machines.

Our food bag has always been searched also. They always leave that nice little note The first time it happened I didn see the note, but I knew my zippers weren't in the right spot. I noticed the letter at bedtime lol. We take boxes of cereal, easy mac,peanut butter, jelly, bread (in Rubbermaid)and snacks.

So glad to hear about freezing lunch meat!! We always buy milk and lunch,eat at the resort, but I will pack it from now on

 

[carlbarry]

Lunch meat freezes great. I even freeze it at home to extend the "best buy" date, and it keeps for months and months like that. In fact, I recently used a chunk of smoked turkey breast that was purchased 2 years ago. Call me crazy if you want, but it was just fine.

 

[cropper]

I am so glad to hear everyone's ideas and experiences!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

you can pack anything that is not considered hazardous in checked luggage. Those bringing peanut butter may get their suitcase opened.

 

[carlbarry]

I ALWAYS pack a jar of peanut butter in my checked bag. Not a problem.

you can pack anything that is not considered hazardous in checked luggage. Those bringing peanut butter may get their suitcase opened.

 

[goofy4wdw2]

I'm really leaning toward shipping water via Amazon Pantry or taking reusable Brita bottles, packing most food, and just buying milk and cream cheese at the resort. The only things is fruit...we eat a lot of it at home and it would be nice to have some for our room. Has anyone traveled with fruit? Or just buy at the resort. $1.49 per banana is steep though!