Packing lunch

[KorbensMomma]

we are thinking of packing little sub sandwiches and chips to take into the park for lunch, and they getting QS for dinner.
I know we can bring in a small soft sided cooler but can you bring those frozen blue ice packs? If not how do you keep things cold.
Also where do you eat your packed lunch at?

 

[Tomh]

We did exactly this, sandwiches and bottled water in a soft sided cooler with blue ice packs. We then put it into a locker, and just went back at lunch time.

 

[HopperFan]

Freeze a couple bottles of water. They will keep your lunch cool and give you cold drinks in the afternoon. No weight the rest of day carrying the blue "colds".

HINT: Pack sandwiches in plastic containers, so it doesn't get squished. You can put in recycle or carry back they are light. They also make good "plates". AND chips like pringles in their tube stay uncrushed as well.

 

[KorbensMomma]

Where do most people stop to eat lunch, like tables and things. I can't imagine they want us taking up QS tables.

 

[HopperFan]

Where do most people stop to eat lunch, like tables and things. I can't imagine they want us taking up QS tables.

Lots of spots ...

MK:
- By Storybook Circus lots of tables and chairs, some with umbrellas.
- By Tangled bathrooms small tables with charging stations 2 for 1 there
- Tomorrowland Terrace and Tortuga Tavern are usually closed, if so great spots to use
- Few tables & chairs on Center street, that dead end on right in middle of Main Street

DHS:
- Tables with umbrellas along Echo Lake in front of 50's Prime
- Tables OUTSIDE of Backlot to the side by Indiana Jones are rarely used

AK:
- Tables and Chairs in numerous little spots along river behind the tree between Africa and Asia
- Picnic Table by Chesters in Dinoland
- Random spots on side paths you may see benches
- The pavilions for Flame Tree the farthest away (close to Mickey greet) are usually empty

Epcot:
- Tables chairs by the Outpost in World Showcase usually empty
- Table/chairs in Italy not connected to eatery
- LOTS of outdoor seating by America that is never used since lots of indoor seating there
- LOTS of benches and walls you can sit on
- Was some indoor tables & chairs in Innoventions West behind Character Spot, lots changes happening there

NO, we never eat in a QS restaurant that is open since are not patronizing or paying for food from the restaurant. Park ticket purchase has nothing to do with dining. Restaurants are their own profit center and have every right to ask you to leave. Many have CMs guarding tables during busier times and make it clear, no buy no sit.

 

[KorbensMomma]

Hopper that's great, it will help out lots.

I told myself if I take my lunch most of the time then I can do dinner at T-Rex and lunch at BOG one day.

 

[lovethattink]

I think all the tables and chairs around Echo Lake at DHS were removed, except the ones at Minn and Bill's.

 

[jkh36619]

We have found it easiest to make wraps instead of sandwiches because they pack tighter without getting smushed. Turkey and lettuce in glad ware and we do the frozen bottles of water as well.

 

[HopperFan]

Hopper that's great, it will help out lots.

I told myself if I take my lunch most of the time then I can do dinner at T-Rex and lunch at BOG one day.

Most our trips are breakfast eats in room while getting ready, sandwiches for lunch and then we eat where we want for dinner.

 

[Klayfish]

I can help with this. We almost never buy food from Disney, we pack everything, every day (with the exception of buying the kids a treat here and there). When we do nights in the parks, that means we're packing a full dinner for a family of 5. Our food bag will include:

Grilled chicken breast for my wife and I (often cut up into small cubes or strips). Package those either in Tupperware or just in tin foil.
Wraps for the kids, or maybe Hot Pockets or chicken nuggets. Again Tupperware or tin foil.'
Cooked veggies, enough for all the kids and me (usually in those small Thermos things, to keep them at least warm)
Salad for my wife (in Tupperware)
Chips/pretzels for the kids (usually at least one full Pringles box and a full pretzel bag).
7 cans of soda (2 each for my wife and I, one each for the kids)
A few odds and ends

We have a very large soft sided cooler bag, and we've done it so many times that we know how to pack it efficiently. We even put in 3 or 4 ice packs to keep the things we want cold to stay cold. The bag is quite full. And yes, it's rather heavy when fully loaded. We have an umbrella stroller that is used exclusively to hold the bag, as well as our travel bag (ponchos, autograph books, etc...). The stroller makes it super easy. More often than not, we just park the stroller somewhere and leave it there until we're ready to sit down and eat. We've never had an issue with eating in a quick service restaurant, as long as we can find a table. Our favorite spots are:

MK: Cosmic Rays or Tomorrowland Terrace
HS: ABC Commissary (the kids love watching the AFV clip show)
Epcot: The Land building
AK: Forget the name of the place, but it's right across from the entrance to Dinosaur

 

[dreiwhit]

+1 on the table area in Sunshine Seasons by the entrance to Soarin' and Living With the Land. We ate our lunch there back in March and it was deserted, maybe only two other families there.

The ABC Commissary was almost deserted when we ate there. Restaurantosaurus was empty as well.

FWIW, we don't take a cooler and just carry sandwiches, chips and cookies in our backpacks. I didn't take a cooler to school for all those years, and survived eating a warm sandwich just fine!

Also, Restaurantosarus and Sunshine Seasons don't have their soft drink machine behind the counter. So if you want a soft drink, just buy cups from the restaurants and enjoy the unlimited refills!

 

[china mom]

If you are staying on property, you will have a mini fridge in the room but it does not have a freezer so you won't be able to freeze your blue ice packs. I take ziplock bags and fill them from the ice machine... note: double bag to avoid soggy sandwiches. If your ice runs out too early, you can get more ice from any quick serve. We don't go during the hottest ties of year and we usually eat early so that is not a problem.

Now, about where to eat... mention sitting at quick serve tables and then just sit on back and watch the battle begin.

Some one these boards are downright passionate in the opinion that the tables are for "paying customers only" and others (like me) feel that anyone who pays entry to the park is a paying customer.

Since we usually eat before 11:30, it has never been an issue for us to find an empty table in any of the quick serve locations.

 

[DAKL101]

When we bring food (it is usually me and the kids) and almost always eat at QS places. We have done sunshine seasons, abc comissary and columbia harbor house.

 

[lovethattink]

If you are staying on property , you will have a mini fridge in the room but it does not have a freezer so you won't be able to freeze your blue ice packs. I take ziplock bags and fill them from the ice machine... note: double bag to avoid soggy sandwiches. If your ice runs out too early, you can get more ice from any quick serve. We don't go during the hottest ties of year and we usually eat early so that is not a problem.

Now, about where to eat... mention sitting at quick serve tables and then just sit on back and watch the battle begin.

Some one these boards are downright passionate in the opinion that the tables are for "paying customers only" and others (like me) feel that anyone who pays entry to the park is a paying customer.

Since we usually eat before 11:30, it has never been an issue for us to find an empty table in any of the quick serve locations.

Certain seasons, CS restaurants won't allow anyone to sit before they have their bought food in hand at certain times.

This has happened to us twice when my son overheated and we needed to quickly get him in air conditioning. They would not allow us access to Pinochio Haus or Pecos Bill's. Which typically have been quick cool off spots for us. This was during peak season 2015 summer. We haven't ever been turned away from CS otherwise.

 

[Accident]

Certain seasons, CS restaurants won't allow anyone to sit before they have their bought food in hand at certain times.

This has happened to us twice when my son overheated and we needed to quickly get him in air conditioning. They would not allow us access to Pinochio Haus or Pecos Bill's. Which typically have been quick cool off spots for us. This was during peak season 2015 summer. We haven't ever been turned away from CS otherwise.

Walk up to where you pick up your food and get a free cup of ice water. (skip the CM that is taking orders, they will just tell you to go right to the counter and ask for it). Now your a "customer" of the place.

 

[lovethattink]

Walk up to where you pick up your food and get a free cup of ice water. (skip the CM that is taking orders, they will just tell you to go right to the counter and ask for it). Now your a "customer" of the place.

It was 4th of July week. The entrance line was out the door. We made it to first aid.

Recently, the CS have been empty as have the parks. So finding a place to cool off has been easy.

 

[Accident]

It was 4th of July week. The entrance line was out the door. We made it to first aid.

Recently, the CS have been empty as have the parks. So finding a place to cool off has been easy.

interesting, I found getting into CS on july 3rd to be no problem but then again usually come in lesser known side doors.

 

[lovethattink]

interesting, I found getting into CS on july 3rd to be no problem but then again usually come in lesser known side doors.

2015 for me. 2016 has been a tourist's dream summer.

 

[Accident]

2015 for me. 2016 has been a tourist's dream summer.

Oh ok I disagree with how empty people are calling it. News reports and stock meetings talk about difference from last year and yes it's lower but it's right in line with crowds before the frozen years.

 

[jaysmom4285]

Generally the CMs have no problem with guests eating their packed lunches in the QS restaurants, as long as the restaurant isn't busy and there are plenty of empty seats for the paying customers. I have to emphasize this so that no one thinks that I'm saying it's okay to do anytime. If it's so crowded that seats are at a premium, the CMs will probably be on patrol and won't let anyone hold a table and will make parties wait until they have their food before they sit down. Except at the busiest times of the year, there are usually enough empty tables that it isn't a problem.