Packing Meals at Disney

[friend2Figment]

My DD informed me that they want to bring peanut butter wraps this year since they do not like Disney park food at most QS locations. We will bring applesauce, beef sticks, pretzels, granola bars, water bottles & cheese sticks. We normally brought stuff as the kids were picky or we wanted to have a snack handy when they wanted something. I do not like to buy food the kids will not like. So saving for meals they will like is the way we tend to spend our food budget. We will eat breakfast in the villa and do not eat big meals during the day so the dining plan is not a value to us.
If we are just snacking we will sit off to the side on a wall or bench, if most of the group is eating QS food the kids sit at the table with us as they will eat fries or try our meal.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

We eat all meals in the park, but we do bring snacks for lines and always bring a new set of plastic Tupperware type stuff from Ikea (4.00). We pack hummus and pretzels and pita, grapes and blueberries, goldfish and peanut butter, celery and carrot sticks with ranch, pretzel breadsticks, trail mix and stuff like that are always fan favorites! Cheese and sausage sticks along with pita chips and walnuts. WE change it up daily so that nothing ever gets too boring.

We also pack silicone roll-up water bottles that we chill overnight. When emptied they roll up small. We drink during meal times, but don't like to stop to buy anything in between and we refill the waters during meal time too.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I've always been anti pack food to take in the parks. I used to pack snacks when the kids were younger and we had a diaper bag with us. Now we are completely bagless travelers in the parks.

With that said, after our 10 day trip of eating out every single day and for every single meal I felt like crap. I was sluggish, bloated, cranky and uncomfortable. Next trip I think I will choose better options in the park or just go back to the room for lunch with food we brought ourselves (salads, lunchmeat, more healthy stuff). We take midday breaks everyday at the pool so it's not a hardship for us. I still don't want to carry the stuff into the parks so that would work better for me.

 

[Sagginit]

I have done snack type meals in DL rather than sandwiches so I am going to do the same for an upcoming trip. I packed celery sticks, carrot sticks, fruit, string cheese, turkey jerky sticks, crackers, chips etc. I am not into anything that involves tupperware, I put everything in baggies and toss as I go. We only have a mini-fridge in our room so I don't want anything too complex and we decided the cost for a room with a microwave, full fridge, or stove top isn't worth it for two people.

I plan on making an amazon prime order this trip for snacks and breakfast in the room. I have done DDP 3 times but this time I am not able to eat as much, let alone the QS junk, as my preggo digestive system can't handle it. I am going to try to use shelf stable foods to begin with. I like go picnic boxes but they can be pricey so I found some of the items in them on Amazon that they sell separately so I can order just what I want and put together a lunch or large snacks.https://www.amazon.com/GoPicnic/b/r...92854011&field-lbr_brands_browse-bin=GoPicnic
We will still do one TS meal a day and perhaps a QS, I just don't want too many sweets, starchy carbs, or fried foods which can be hard to avoid there.

For the person asking where do you eat the food, anywhere others eat. There are plenty of benches, curbs, and even grassy areas that are tied to a particular QS. I think with the way QS is set up if seating is limited they have some sort of system, if its plentiful WDW seems to let anything go. The only time I have ever been displaced when getting QS food was during a MVMCP as it was raining so everyone set up camp inside the 1-2 places open. We almost had to stand which was frustrating as we paid for food but the CMs did not ask anyone to leave or move it along.

 

[pampam]

Here is as favourite recipe for healthy cookies which we would pack and have for lunch.

2 medium ripe bananas ( or 1 cup applesauce, or whatever pureed fruit you would like)
2 egg white (or 1 egg)
1 cup pitted chopped dates (or craisins)
1 1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup raisins
preheat oven to 350

Mash bananas
add egg white
add dates. mix
stir in rolled oats and raisins. set aside for 10 minutes
Wipe cookie sheet with a little oil
Place teaspoon of dough on cookie sheet
flatten with spoon back (I never did)
bake 20-25 minutes till light brown
freezes well.

These cookies are good as well healthy. We would just graze on these or sometimes sit with something to drink . They worked well in the parks for lunch.

Now we can't eat grain, so we don't pack these anymore. Instead we take celery and carrot sticks, fruit, and nuts.

 

[momof2gr8kids]

I've always been anti pack food to take in the parks. I used to pack snacks when the kids were younger and we had a diaper bag with us. Now we are completely bagless travelers in the parks.

With that said, after our 10 day trip of eating out every single day and for every single meal I felt like crap. I was sluggish, bloated, cranky and uncomfortable. Next trip I think I will choose better options in the park or just go back to the room for lunch with food we brought ourselves (salads, lunchmeat, more healthy stuff). We take midday breaks everyday at the pool so it's not a hardship for us. I still don't want to carry the stuff into the parks so that would work better for me.

That's our plan too. Since our last Disney trip both dh and I eat healthier, plus dd is a vegetarian. My kids don't care as much about the meals as the desserts and snacks everywhere. So we plan to eat healthy stuff back at the room at some point during the day - breakfast for sure and sometimes a lunch or dinner. Even if it's just grabbing a pizza and eating it pool side and supplementing with some fruits and veggies we bought. No hardship, and everyone feels better. And we're not carrying everything into the parks with us.

 

[CabesLove]

Two words...Publix subs. lol We'll typically just eat meals at the parks though. We do always have breakfast in the room, and bring snacks and plenty of bottled waters (seriously, I've put a whole pack of water in the bottom of our stroller a few times lol) to the parks. I love the dark chocolate covered almonds, if I can keep them from melting. We also do trail mix, veggie straws, granola bars, stuff like that. Basically, every Disney trip kicks off with a trip to Sam's. lol