Lunches in parks

[maxie]

There are 2 of us (honeymoon)! We will be in the parks for 7 days and 2 days at the waterparks. Also 1 day each SW, US and IoA. I was thinking to save $ of bringing in to the parks a small cooler (drink cooler size - fits about 4 cans of soda - hard case). I was going to put in some bagels, 2 cans of soda and fruit. I was going to leave it in a locker. Would this work? WOuld I receive save enough $ to be worth the hassle by the time I paid for a locker? I would bring snacks in regardless so it's only the lunch I'm wondering about!

 

[Karel]

Well, technically you're not allowed to bring food into the park and I don't think they'll let a cooler go in. You might be able to throw everything into a backpack but I'm not sure what kind of bag checking they do for security since last fall.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Disney has not allowed me to bring in a cooler.....now if you can put the items into a larger purse/bag you may be able to. I use to put them in a waterproof diaper bag. Universal has allowed soft sided mini (like large luch box type) in. I cannot answer for SW. I am not sure on policy's now with everyones bags being checked since 9/11. I have brought in water & snacks in a back back & security has allowed me in. My sister has taken in a lucnh box (with her stroller) at Universal & they have allowed her in. That was just this summer.

 

[AKASnowWhite]

We usually use a back pack. We freeze a 1/2 full water bottle , then add water to the *ice block* in the morning. If you wrap the bottles together in a hand towel from your resort, the bottles will be insulated and stay cold longer...but also the towel will keep the cold OFF of whom ever is carrying the pack. (It can be a bit uncomfortable having an ice-pack on your back ) If you pack your wrapped bottles and other *lunch* items in a plastic bag inside the pack, your whole lunch will stay cool.

We have never rented a locker, and I don't even know how much they cost...but carrying a pack will allow you to eat whenever you decide to, without having to trek all the way back to the main gate to retrieve your lunch from a locker.

 

[singitalto]

I have brought a cooler in and they have let me. We were in Disney last Sept right after 9/11 and I had no problems. They did inspect it and of course it was a small cooler (fit about 9 cans) and it was in a large beach bag.

I don't know how much the lockers are to answer your question of if it will be worth it. If you spend $5 on the locker it might not be worth it. Then I would just bring water bottles (maybe with some koolaide), to go with meals bought in the parks for 2 people., I would check menus at Deb's site and see how much I would spend for lunch and figure it from there.

 

[SandraC]

I always intend to being in a lunch to the parks, but never do because we enjoy the break in the afternoon at the room and eat a picnic lunch there. I have brought in granola bars, water bottles, juice boxes and even small individual cans of Spaghettios for my 2 year old. I brought 10 cans of Spaghettios to WDW and ds ate 8 of them! They were perfect for him. Small, pop top and a plastic toss-out spoon. Often dh and dd would go to rides for 30 minutes while ds and I took a little break and he ate his lunch. I always thought about bring a nice small picnic lunch into the parks, just never did. S

 

[whozit]

just back on 8/15/02. We didn't use a cooler in the parks, but brought backpacks full of snacks and juice boxes. Security looks in all containers, but didn't bat an eye at the food coming in (one of them commented to my niece "those peanut m&ms sure look good"). I did see a lot of coolers in the parks (mostly 6pk - 9k sized soft-sided coolers and backpack coolers, but I also saw a number of soft-sided coolers (probably about 15"x15"x15" in size) on wheels, similar to carry-on luggage (with retractable handles). At the magic kingdom, I even saw on guy pulling a large (probably 36-45qt) rigid plastic Igloo or Rubbermaid cooler on wheels with a handle so it pulled like a wagon. I didn't see any of these in the ride lines, so don't know what these people did with the coolers when they went on rides (maybe they had little ones so someone always sat out instead of going on rides). Oh, at a ride like Snow White's Scary Adventure, I may have seen one parked by the strollers...and on that ride, you get dropped off at the same place as where you enter. In any case, our experence at the 4 parks (entered a total of 6 times), there was never a problem bringing in food or drinks.

 

[Karel]

I'm really surprised that they are letting coolers in. I know they are pretty liberable about letting snacks and water bottles in.