outside food allowed, or not?

[rsjj]

ok, all you disneyland experts...

are we allowed to bring food into the park? yes, i'm trying to save some $ here !! i'm not looking at meals...just some water bottles, finger sandwiches, snack type foods (crackers, fruit snacks, small items...) can we put all this into a little ice chest/lunch box type thing, and bring it in? or maybe outside food is not allowed?

i have 2 DSs, 3 & 5. and they need to snack...and i know it'd be fun to buy all those goodies, there, cuz that's the fun part, as well. but i was just wondering...like they could munch while in line, or strolling down main st. or whatever. and yes, it would definitely save us some money!!

thank you in advance!!

 

[LucyKate]

There were a few posts about this lately - consensus was that unless you try to wheel in a huge ice box, nobody minds a few snacks.

There was apparently a ban on opened waterbottles - but it only seemed to apply to those they thought might be smuggling in alcohol.

 

[CalGal]

According to a few "Disneyland Today"/"Guide to the Magic" (maps) that are always available:
"A picnic area is located west of the Disneyland park Main Entrance for your convenience. We request that no food or beverage be brought inside either theme park."

I have interpretted that to mean "We would rather you spend your money on our food, water, and sodas, but as long as you are safe and reasonable, we really don't mind. No cans or glass, and, of course, no alcohol." I always bring in water and light snacks and have never been questioned. I've brought in thermal lunch sacks also. I definitely would recommend that you keep hard ice chests in the car, but the soft kind should be fine.

 

[Bunnymommy]

If you have a stroller and a diper bag I would try to sneak food in those - at lease until you get past the gate.

Another idea to do is freeze (if you can) juice boxes, wrap them in a paper towel (to contain the coolness and condisation) and by midmorning they will be cold and defrosted.

Most of the time if you have your snacks at the bottom of your diaper bag the people at the gate won't notice.

Also might want to consider fruit snack - the don't smoosh too much.

 

[msteddom]

I always bring a sealed bottle of water or soda with me to the parks. The only question I have ever been asked is "is that open?". You shouldn't have a problem.


Melissa

 

[rsjj]

thanx for all your response! yes, i will have a diaper bag & a stroller, so will keep my water & things there. it's mostly snacks, anyways. but it's good to know! again, thank you!

 

[dletz]

Snacks are fine, they are much more relaxed than they used to be (they used to complain about everything they saw including water bottles). They will not let coolers in. either the soft sided wheeled kind or regular. Little lunch box type ones they may not have an issue with, haven't tried it. If it looks like snacks they will not say anything, however if it looks like lunch they may. The reason for the no food in the park is not so you will buy theres (though they are hoping you will for the inconvience) but rather they don't want you taking up the tables (especially inside tables) that are there for those who buy their food. I know some people think since they paid to enter DL they have paid to use any table they please. But part of the cost of your food includes the people to clean off the tables etc.

They have cooler size lockers next to the picnic area. It's shaded and has bushes all around it. Kind of hard to find, but not a bad area.

 

[AngieWin]

We brought in soft-sided lunch boxes (from ESPN MVP club) with no problem. And then when empty, they fold flat. DH even brought in an opened bottle of soda (not remembering it was on the stroller) and they had no problem with it. My purse/diaper bag was full of snacks and nobody questioned it. And we had a plastic sack of chips, etc. and they searched it and said nothing.

 

[iceskatejen]

A couple of times I've brought in bottles of water I've refilled at home and no one has said anything.

 

[rsjj]

yes, we just went...had a playdate with a friend & her daughter...

here's what i packed...inside my diaper bag...bottled waters, ziplock full of snacks (fruit bars, fruit snacks, some crackers) all very visible. inside our stroller, had a lunch box type cooler, filled with finger sandwiches, cookies, ice packs.

the man searched through my diaper bag, saw the goodies, didn't say a thing. he looked into the bottom of the stroller...i mentioned that there's a cooler there. but he didn't ask me to take it out to open for his investigation. just walked right through!

i'm glad. we saved $. and we didn't even buy anything to eat there! so i had the boys pick out a pin of their choice. all in all, it was a fun day! oh, and btw, we snacked on our sandwiches right by at the end of main st, right before the castle...just sat on the benches, and ate, while people just milled around! and we threw out our own trash! so no tables were used! hee hee...

anyways, thank you all for your responses! really appreciated your input!!