Homemade sandwiches in the parks

[pooh4evr]

Disney lets you bring picnic lunches into the park now? When did this start?

You can't take a huge cooler in just a small soft one that fits under a stroller or so. Think a couple bottles of drink, some sandwiches and a couple of snacks, I wouldn't say enough for a huge real picnic meal.

 

[BBandDisney]

Just bring in your groceries and a big blanket and set up under a nice shady tree.

 

[Traveliz]

At pecos bill on Sunday, they wouldn't let us to the tables without our food.

Monday at Electric Umbrulla, my wife was able to grab a table, while I got the food.

So it really just depends.

Yep cause Monday we were at pecos bills and there was no restriction on getting a table before your food..

Liz

 

[Gumbo4x4]

We did one trip where we bought no food in the parks - just ate sandwiches, etc. we had made in the house we were staying off-site. It was not a busy time of year, so there were plenty of empty tables and the CMs did not seem to have any problems - at least, nobody said anything to us. There are also some areas where you can eat (like Tomorrowland Terrace) where it is cool and they aren't serving food anyway.

If you're worried, just ask a CM. They'll let you know if it is okay.

You could always go up to the counter and ask for your (free) glasses of water and then take them to your table.

Teresa

The CMs actually encouraged us to bring our picnic inside The Land to eat at the cafeteria area. Granted, it's not quite the same as going inside a restaurant. Plus, there were plenty of seats.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Just bring in your groceries and a big blanket and set up under a nice shady tree.

They only lawn area accessible to the public that I have seen at MK is where service dogs go to the bathroom.

 

[DawnM]

We often eat at places that are larger, like Ray's or The Land, but we only do it when there is so much seating that it is not a problem, and we usually buy a drink or fries to go along with it.

July might be more crowded to take up a seat, unless you are willing to eat at times that aren't heavy lunch hours (before 11 and after 2pm). We have done that too.....eat a big breakfast, eat lunch around 2pm or so and then leave for dinner after 7pm.

Dawn

 

[chobie]

FWIW, they did just put in new picnic tables, trees and bathrooms over by Peter Pan, where that sky ride used to be.

 

[tigger51276]

Last trip, was a super budget trip for my kids and I and I made 75-80% of our meals. I usually made bagel sandwiches for lunch which normally we'd eat walking around but then for dinner we'd usually find a spot in one of the quick service places and eat our dinner (I did hot dogs, mac and cheese, pasta....all kinds of things). We eat at off hours anyway, so the quick service locations were never busy and it was no problems (we were there in Feb last year). That being said we would usually order a drink or two and perhaps a side of french fries to go with our meal and no one said anything to us or even glanced at us oddly. I take my kids at least once a year to Disney and have seen countless folks eat "home" meals there and never even blinked about it.
After eating Disney food for the last 24 years, I'm kind of tired of it. It all seems to taste the same and leaves ya feeling kind of icky at times. It was refreshing to eat just a few of our favorite counter service meals and restauarant meals and then eat things that are more familiar and that I know what's in it. I am seriously considering it for this next trip too even though it isn't as tight a trip this year.

 

[okeydokey]

We usually go in the off season and still have a hard time finding a table at times. I imagine in July there will not be scads of empty tables indoors. I think you should plan on finding a shady outside spot or bench to eat the lunch you bring in the parks.

 

[Tanooki]

I can recommend the bench near the Philarmagic exit. You get a place to sit (no table, of course...) and the door is almost always open so you also get the A/C draft from the inside, which is really nice

 

[Maggie Lizer]

If you are eating at a busy time, it might be impossible to get a table at a CS place due to CM's policing the areas. If you eat at off-times, I bet you'll be able to find a table easy-peasy, and you wouldn't be taking space away from the CS purchasers.

 

[scoutie]

if you get free ice waters at the counter it will 'look' like you bought a drink

I can't figure out if you're being funny, or if you're serious.

Water is "free" but the cups, straws and lids aren't. Bring a refillable water bottle and fill it at a fountain.

 

[MrBean]

Sorry, but a counter service at an amusement park is not the same as McDonalds or any other restaurant. It's a place to get out of the sun and enjoy your meal in the A/C, whether you purchased it there, purchased from the snack cart down the way, or brought in to the park with you.

 

[Woodmnky]

To the OP - do what you feel is appropriate.

We are planning on making sandwiches at home and buying some drinks & side items in CS, so yes we are planning on eating in the CS. I have a 2yo that will need an actual table to eat at, so we can't just eat on the go. I would much rather pay $5 for fries & a drink than $13 for a sub par hamburger, fries & a drink. Thankfully we generally eat lunch around 10:30, so I would expect that most restaurants will be very slow.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I can't figure out if you're being funny, or if you're serious.

Water is "free" but the cups, straws and lids aren't. Bring a refillable water bottle and fill it at a fountain.

Giving out free cups of ice water is a service that WDW offers. People including us use it all the time. We don't do water fountains and are very happy WDW does this for guest. Now, I would not try to make it look like we bought something when we just got free water in order to get a seat in the seating area. We don't carry food at WDW, and eat within the restaurants, but we do get the free ice water often, whether ordering food or not.

 

[luvmy3]

Sorry, but a counter service at an amusement park is not the same as McDonalds or any other restaurant. It's a place to get out of the sun and enjoy your meal in the A/C, whether you purchased it there, purchased from the snack cart down the way, or brought in to the park with you.

If you go by that logic, the resorts are just places for guests to sleep while visiting WDW. Maybe if we just show up with our own pillows and blankets they'll let us use one of the rooms.

Sorry but a counter service restaurant is for paying customers of that restaurant to get out of the sun, and eat the meal they purchased in the AC. If the OP is not purchasing anything there, then she shouldn't using that facility. Lets not forget that someone is being paid to clean those tables after people eat there, so the least the OP could do is buy drinks to off set that. Now, WDW isn't going to go out of business because of people doing what the OP is suggesting, its just the principle of it all. It is just like walking into a McDs and using their AC and tables to eat your food from home, TACKY.

 

[Marionnette]

Sorry, but a counter service at an amusement park is not the same as McDonalds or any other restaurant. It's a place to get out of the sun and enjoy your meal in the A/C, whether you purchased it there, purchased from the snack cart down the way, or brought in to the park with you.

So then, why does Disney waste money paying CMs to monitor the tables during busy times and only seat people with trays of food? If the tables are there for anyone to use, there would be no need for this. It sounds to me, between putting in the new picnic tables and the need to pay CMs to police the indoor dining areas, Disney is sending the opposite message.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Sorry, but a counter service at an amusement park is not the same as McDonalds or any other restaurant. It's a place to get out of the sun and enjoy your meal in the A/C, whether you purchased it there, purchased from the snack cart down the way, or brought in to the park with you.

BUT....be aware, depending on crowd levels, you might not be ALLOWED to do this. When we go off season, (which is most of the time), dinning areas are open and anyone can go and sit anywhere they want. Last trip was a BUSY time and most places had a CM at the exit doors, and people were not allowed to come in that way. Only way in was through the food line and they were stopping people at the entrance to the dining area to be sure all the party was together and then they would be allowed and helped to find a seat. Happened pretty consistently that trip. Now, we did not see anyone request to sit there with a bag lunch, and I would have no issue with someone doing so.....but not sure if it would be allowed or not. I have heard others say no, but have not seen it myself.

 

[Mersmom98]

I was trying to let this thread die but it doesn't seem to be going away...So I have to say THANK YOU to everyone who gave kind answers to my question no matter whether you were for or against it. However, for those of you that were unbelievably condescending and rude, why? I have been called tacky and not exactly sure but possibly "bless your heart poor"...We are a large blended family with teenagers and a toddler (both difficult ages) and I am just trying to take us on a decent family vacation on a decent budget. We make plenty of money to support our family and are actually very nice people. I will definitely think twice before I post any other questions, and I would never reply to someone the way some of you have replied to me. You would think that I asked about hiring a person on a scooter to get me through the lines quicker. I can promise you that nobody will see my family eating in any QS place without a purchased meal.

 

[ilovemk76]

Sorry, but a counter service at an amusement park is not the same as McDonalds or any other restaurant. It's a place to get out of the sun and enjoy your meal in the A/C, whether you purchased it there, purchased from the snack cart down the way, or brought in to the park with you.

No it is not. It is for the patrons of the restaurant.