Just an update regarding bringing in outside food

[whimsy87]

I think there is always a line that everyone has on what they will do. We stay offsite at a farther away hotel because we have a problem paying for breakfast everyday when we can have it for free at our hotel (which we are paying less for). We also stay in a suite with a kitchen so we can fix sandwiches to bring into the parks. Can we afford to eat at the parks -- yes. Can I bring myself to spend the money on it -- no. People just have different values on what is worth what to them. I would be embarrassed to bring in cans of tuna and a gallon jug of water. However, those people are trying to enjoy the DLR in whatever way is possible for them. If they are able to budget for tickets but not meals -- then go for it. They shouldn't be judged for how they choose to spend their money. I just think we (everyone, including myself) are so quick to judge people who do things differently then us. When really, we need to relax and if it doesn't hurt us then move on.

I agree! At the end of the day, everyone in the park has one thing in common: they want to enjoy their day at Disneyland. And that makes us all friends, in some small way.

 

[Funball]

i dont see why they wont allow coolers at least in the lockers..or even the outside the park lockers? that is just crazy that they turn them away at the security check point!

 

[whimsy87]

I don't really know, either. I have a pretty large cooler bag that I got at Target that they say would hold about 9 cans of soda. I've never had any problems bringing it in because it is soft-sided. Still very spacious! They've never asked us to keep in the picnic area, either.

 

[Grim_Grinning_Girl]

Unless things have changed in the last month, you can bring sandwiches in without any problems. The issue with the family you saw is that it is against park rules to bring in fixings for sandwiches. There is no issue with sandwiches. So - if you have a loaf of bread, a container of mayonnaise, onions, a head of lettuce, a tomato, and some cheese, they will not allow it in and will direct you to the picnic area to make and enjoy your sandwich. However, if you bring a cheese sandwiches with mayo, lettuce, onions, and tomato on it in a baggie in your backpack, they do not care.

It's not an issue of bringing your own food, but an issue of bringing ingredients that need to be put together vs. bringing something ready to eat.

- Dreams

Prepared small individual sandwiches yes I'm sure are fine. I'm referring more to outside food as in fast food such as foot long sandwiches from Subway or a bag of McDonalds - those foods I'm not so sure about and think checkers may (or may not) have an issue with, so this post is just more of an update / heads up in case anyone is wondering or thinking about doing it.

I once saw a man try to go in with a bucket of KFC fried chicken - denied, and on this last trip I also saw a guest try to go through with a medium size "to-go" container from I'm assuming a restaurant from Downtown Disney. He was a little upset with the checker about not being able to bring it in.

I like what posters have been saying about processed foods and how an advantage to packing your own lunch is that you know exactly what you are eating, never thought of that. Bringing in snacks are our way of getting through the day without having to buy an overpriced park snack when ever we feel hungry. We will have at least one park meal, but Disney prices are ridiculous and not fair to any family on a budget - or any family. Plus Disney food is hit or miss, it's either gross or somewhat tasty but rarely worth the price.

 

[Funball]

Well now wait maybe dreams is right.. I did see a girl with a jamba juice in disneyland park at the bathrooms waiting for her mom, that was last night.. so maybe the “fixings” is not allowed, but full on already prepared food is ok, or a soda from mcdonalds..trying to bring in a bucket of KFC is stretching it..but then again did see a family bring a pizza to DCA!

 

[Funball]

DASANI is owned by coca-cola bumpershoot.. of course it's expensive!!!!!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Well now wait maybe dreams is right.. I did see a girl with a jamba juice in disneyland park at the bathrooms waiting for her mom, that was last night.. so maybe the “fixings” is not allowed, but full on already prepared food is ok, or a soda from mcdonalds..trying to bring in a bucket of KFC is stretching it..but then again did see a family bring a pizza to DCA!

I have seen people with a bag of Subway footlongs hanging from their stroller handles.

 

[Funball]

I have seen people with a bag of Subway footlongs hanging from their stroller handles.

Yeah have seen that too! That is why I think that dreams is right, the no food in park thing is for if you bring in a whole Vons deli just to make lunch! It’s ok to bring, snacks, water, sandwiches in a cooler, subway, McDonalds….

this is good to know also cause I might want to bring my cooler to put in a locker to keep my sandwiches cold!

 

[CrazyDuck]

Yeah have seen that too! That is why I think that dreams is right, the no food in park thing is for if you bring in a whole Vons deli just to make lunch! It’s ok to bring, snacks, water, sandwiches in a cooler, subway, McDonalds….

this is good to know also cause I might want to bring my cooler to put in a locker to keep my sandwiches cold!

So the portable barbecue and raw steaks is probably a bad idea?

 

[Funball]

So the portable barbecue and raw steaks is probably a bad idea?

well now it depends.. are they omaha steaks? Cause if they are, I will be there to back you up when you try and bring you weber BBQ/smoker in to DCA!!

 

[Funball]

..how about an hibachi grill? Would that be suitable? We could do grilled veggies to go with your Omaha steaks…. RFLOL, can we say tailgate pary at disneyland?

 

[CrazyDuck]

..how about an hibachi grill? Would that be suitable? We could do grilled veggies to go with your Omaha steaks…. RFLOL

Hahaha! Can you imagine sitting in the grassy area in front of the castle with a hibachi grilling steaks and vegtables? That would be hilarious!

 

[whimsy87]

Hahaha! Can you imagine sitting in the grassy area in front of the castle with a hibachi grilling steaks and vegtables? That would be hilarious!

Now that is something I would pay for!

 

[Funball]

Hahaha! Can you imagine sitting in the grassy area in front of the castle with a hibachi grilling steaks and vegtables? That would be hilarious!

And if I could I would sooo do it! total tailgate on the grass near the castle complete with a keg!!!

……..Who wants a flet minon with blue cheese before fireworks?

 

[CrazyDuck]

They should totally have a tailgate day at DLR!!! Set up spaces in the espelande where people can put up one of those 10'x10' tents and people can bring their own grills and coolers and beer... How fun would that be?

 

[Funball]

They should totally have a tailgate day at DLR!!! Set up spaces in the espelande where people can put up one of those 10'x10' tents and people can bring their own grills and coolers and beer... How fun would that be?

…they should an well in that case, I’d brining my huge tractor trailer smoker for my pulled pork sandwiche..everyone is invited to try it, I am a great cook no one has died yet! And I will also bring a keg and we can do keg stands in the esplanade!! And then watch the fireworks afterwords an then we can go to glowfest afterwards!!

 

[kelmac284]

I knew if I said what I did I would get "flamed" by people who think it is perfectly ok to do this but the fact of the matter is it IS a rule and I think Disney just lets a lot of it slide like they do with a lot of things. Like bag check for example. We all know they are supposed to be checking our bags for weapons or what have you but I don't know about the rest of you but I have gone through those bags MANY times where they barely looked inside much less at all the pockets and pouches. I could have EASILY have brought in god knows what.

I can honestly say when my kids were BABIES yes it was easier to bring in baggies of gold fish or grahem crackers or such things because babies are hard to feed and of course I brought in jars of baby food and I know they aren't going to say anything about that because obviously they don't have BABY food. But once my kids got old enough to eat what was there we did that. I am not saying that bringing in SOME snacks or such is bad but I think Disney would prefer if people bring their lunch to eat it in the picnic area is all I am saying.

If you want to save money and eat healthier fine but then don't break the rules and go outside and eat it. I think they just don't SAY anything because they don't want problems but if they DID see someone with a bucket of chicken or something really obvious they might. Perhaps it is about the trash, but I am sure it is mostly about them wanting you to buy their food. After all they ARE a business. We all know you aren't supposed to bring food to the movies either. Do people do it, YES but it is still against the rules. I am not saying that it is right for them to charge 5 bucks for a soda and we usually don't get concessions at movies but we also don't bring things in either.

And again I don't have a problem with people wanting to just be healthy or save some money but like I said Disney is NOT cheap and if someone truly is that bad off that they can't even have a decent sandwhich then I would certainly be re-thinking going on such an expensive trip. These people had like 6 people with them and that could NOT have been cheap. We went with some friends that brought their food to a park and then they didn't have ANY money for anything else and it made us feel uncomfortable the rest of the day because we felt like we couldn't even get an ice cream cone or anything because THEY couldn't get anything. Then we wanted to stop at applbys on the way home and they had NO money and wanted to borrow some and it just kind of made the whole day awkward.

Like I said I understand people wanting to be healthy or to save money and I am not judging the people I saw but I am just saying that I personally would not want to go if I had to worry about money that much. I could care less what their circumstances were and just thought it odd that they whipped out a bunch of cans and a huge gallon jug of water. I thought sure I could see bringing in your own sandwhiches but they couldn't even afford a soda? It just seemed really strange. But again I don't care WHAT their reason was. They could have been millionaires who were just health nuts. Who knows. But the only point I was making was IF you are so broke that you have to scrimp then to me it would not be very fun. I personally don't want to have to worry about every dime I am spending and as far as the food itself I think there are plenty of healthy things now that you can get.

They have a cheese and cracker plate with fruit and milk that the kids can get and there are salads, chicken etc. Plus you can always go OFF property and find other things to eat. Cheaper and probably healthier.

Again these are just my 2 cents on the topic.

 

[Funball]

Ohh I bring food all the time to the movies.. full on buffets sometimes! Rflol

No but seriously, … I think that if they had a problem with someone making sandwiches in line while waiting for space mountain then the CM’s should enforce the rule to the full extent, but other then that I don’t see a problem with people bringing in small coolers and such as long as they stay in the lockers and eat the food at the picnic area!

 

[momtotwolittleones]

I can't believe people pay this much attention to what others are eating in Disneyland. I don't know that it has ever occurred to me to notice.

 

[caimakale]

And I will also bring a keg and we can do keg stands in the esplanade!! And then watch the fireworks afterwords an then we can go to glowfest afterwards!!

I did a couple keg stands last weekend (we cut loose for one weekend after the weightloss competition we were in ended), while it was a fun night, I don't know if I'll be drinking beer again any time soon. It's amazing how after eating healthy for so long, fattening food and beverages make you really sick after one meal/evening.