Packing food into the parks

[skbaker]

When we went to Disneyland this past October, we were able to pack a lunch and cold drinks and take them into the park where we left them in a locker until we were ready for lunch. Does anyone know if this is allowed at the Disney World parks? We'll be taking our first trip there in June.

If its not allowed, does anyone have any suggestions of places to eat in the various parks that are more budget friendly than others?

 

[Hobbes]

The official line is that you cannot take a picnic into the parks, but I don't think anyone ever is stopped taking food in-One night I went in with a couple of little snack bags of brownies which the security spotted and all she said was "Ooh, my favourites"

You cannot take alcohol into the parks at all.

http://allearsnet.com/din/dining.htm gives the menus, both CS and TS and will give you some idea of price. Whilst I agree none of its particularly cheap, its usually good value and some of it is a real experience for the kids.

 

[bicker]

Hobbes is exactly right. I actually asked Disney for its official policy on this some time ago, and this is what they replied:

Dear Brian,

Thank you for contacting WALT DISNEY WORLD!

With the exception of food items for guests with specific dietary restrictions, we do not permit guests to bring food and beverage items into our theme parks.
Generally, however, plastic bottles for water, juice, etc. are allowed.

We hope this information is helpful, and we look forward to future opportunities to entertain you.

If you have questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact us.

Please include your full name, E-Mail address, and reservation number if applicable on all correspondence, and allow up to 80 hours for response to E-Mail.

Thank you - and have a DISNEY day!

Sincerely,

William Ferguson

On Line Guest Service
WALT DISNEY WORLD Reservations
P O Box 10,100
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0100

The security guards aren't there to enforce this. They're there to ensure safety (which is why they will confiscate glass bottles and prohibit entry with hard-sided coolers and rolling luggage). Disney relies on the integrity of their guests to voluntarily comply with policies like this.

 

[englishteacha]

On our last trip I brought some small snacks in my bag, and no one said anything. If my blood sugar gets too low, I get really woozy (and cranky!) so I have to have something with me just in case. We often leave a picnic in the car (since we drive to the parks).

 

[fakereadhed]

When you have little(picky) kids you have to bring some food in the park. We brought canned deviled ham and bread in for DD, bananas, juice boxes, crackers, etc. .Security joked with us about sharing with them, but that was it. No problem at all!

 

[disneyfan67]

We bring some comfort food for my son who is Autistic and we never had a problem with geting it in. It's usually just Quaker Oat fruit bars, dry Honeynut Cheerios, chips, etc.


On my February 2004 trip, one morning when were trying to get into MK, I noticed a security guard confiscating 2 cases of beer from a guest. They had put it in two strollers and I couldn't believe someone was trying to get away with this. Bringing in two cases of beer into MK???? It just didn't make any sense to me.

 

[liamandcaili]

If you are traveling with children, they seem to have no problems with you bringing food into the parks...in fact, the security guard joked with us one time that we didn't have anything with us. I have brought peanut butter sandwiches, bottled water, juice boxes and snacks in with me with no problem.

Now, if you are an adults-only party and you try to bring in a gourmet picnic, they might be more strict, but I really can not say for certain. I have seen plenty of people enter the parks with those small, flexible coolers and they have never been confiscated.

 

[kmccain]

I had a insulated cooler that was a back pack. I packed a full lunch every day. We had a can of Pringles, a sandwich (wraps work good) and a 12 oz Coke for all 4 of us. It was heavy until we ate but we didn't have to buy lunch or go back to our camper.

The security guard looked in it every day and never said a word.

 

[CleveRocks]

On two separate days we packed a complete lunch for 6 in my backpack. We didn't try to hide it, and security gently roots through everything. There was absolutely no problem with doing this. It's not like I winked at the security guard and slipped him a Twinkie under the table.

On all the other days, we brought in bottled water, some munchies, some fruit, and "back-up food" for our two pre-schoolers. No problems whatsoever. As long as there's no alcohol or glass, and no hard-sided or rolling coolers, you'll have no trouble whatsoever, and you won't have to "smuggle" anything in.

 

[bicker]

I'd be very upset if the security guards ever were diverted from their responsibility to look for dangerous things. If Disney decides to enforce their prohibition against bringing food into the parks, they had better add operations staff to the bag checks, looking for that stuff, leaving the security guards alone to do their job.

 

[Evil Queen]

Not last trip, but the one before, we did a few days where we brought in lunches, not much. A sandwich, snack cake or fruit, and sodas.

Looks like we will be doing that again on next trip, due to less income and rising gas prices.

My fav place to park it and have this type of lunch in MK, is next to water/Tom Sawyer's Island, exit of BigThunder, many benches and plenty of shade.

 

[Sweedee]

No problems here either...but we didn't pack a picnic lunch. We just packed drinks and light snacks in our backpacks.

 

[Our2Girls&Disney]

On our last trip, we brought in sandwiches, fruit, soda, water, and juice boxes. We found it much easier, faster, cheaper, and healthier than waiting for counter service. We just found a park bench, ate our lunch, and continued on our adventure. Later in the afternoon, we enjoyed coolling off with an ice cold ice cream.