Keeping food cold in parks

[Dis703]

We travel with 3 kids who have a ton of food allergies. QS options are very limited for them so most days we bring food for one meal with us into the parks. On recent trips we were staying deluxe so it was easier to go back to the resort mid day allowing us to grab food closer to the time we would be eating it. This trip we aren't planning on taking the bus back to the resort for breaks every day so we may need to keep food cold much longer.

Any tips or tricks for the best way to do this? Any cooler options that work better than others? I think the current bag we use is a rather cheap Target brand bag. Are the Coleman or other brands better insulated?

I had heard if for medical reasons the front desk can keep ice packs in the freezer overnight but staying at CBR the front desk isn't going to be easily accessible.

TIA!

 

[GatorMama]

What about filling up ziploc bags with ice from an ice machine each morning? You can get free cups with ice during the day if you notice your ice is starting to get too melted.

 

[ellie05]

Get a soft side cooler and put ice packs. Get a locker at the front of the park and leave it there until you needed it. I think this is your best option. I've never tried to take food to the parks, but I remeber someone mentioning this in the budget board.

 

[JimmyV]

Get a soft side cooler and put ice packs. Get a locker at the front of the park and leave it there until you needed it. I think this is your best option.

Agree. Bring gallon size freezer bags with you and fill them with ice and put them is a good cooler. Placed in a locker, this should keep things plenty cold through lunch.

 

[sharonabe]

Staying at CBR, you will have a small refrigerator in your room, so some smaller or flat cold packs will go in the freezer. If you plan to use a locker, make sure you check out the sizes of the lockers before you buy a new cooler.

 

[georgina]

My fear with ice is that sometimes ziploc bags and soft sided coolers can leak. I wouldn't want my stuff in a locker underneath a leaky bag. Maybe you could get a locker on the bottom if using ice. I agree the reusable cold packs would be better.

 

[jbish]

I use something like these in my kids' lunchboxes:
http://www.amazon.com/Techni-ice-Sh...44768&sr=1-36&keywords=reusable+gel+ice+packs
I like them because when they thaw, they don't sweat or leak. If you do end up with a small fridge in your room, you can refreeze them overnight and they should be ready to go again in the morning! They come to you flat and then you soak them in water to hydrate them. Be sure not to overfill them - they do slowly take on more water over time so they can overfill. But overall, I have really liked having these since you can cut them into various sizes to fit your needs.

 

[sueliz]

I was thinking the refrigerators at CBR didn't have a freezer but have never been- just from looking at pics people have posted. I do know that stuff will freeze in other hotel fridges I have used if you put it in the very back and sometimes nearer to the top and turn the dial as cool as it will go. Anyone have experience with freezing stuff in the refrigerators at disney?

 

[Dis703]

Staying at CBR, you will have a small refrigerator in your room, so some smaller or flat cold packs will go in the freezer. If you plan to use a locker, make sure you check out the sizes of the lockers before you buy a new cooler.

Unless they use different fridges from all the other resorts I've never had luck with ice packs actually staying frozen in those little freezer compartments.

 

[Lauralaylin]

I've had a lot of luck with the 31 coolers along with ice packs.

 

[marybama24]

We actually freeze bottles of water and use them to keep everything cold in the cooler. This keeps everything cool, and gives us nice cold water to drink.