Park Picnics

[Momtastic]

We are a group of 6 going to WDW in April. We’re thinking of doing the picnic thing for lunch for a few of the days we are there, and I’m just looking for some inspiration/tips. What foods do you like to bring with you for “park picnics”? I am thinking of bringing a medium sized insulated backpack style cooler and putting in a rented locker at the front of the park at the beginning of the day. Has anyone else done this, and did you think it was convenient?
Thanks!

 

[kwdw]

This isn’t terribly common at WDW, but I think it’s doable at MK and HS. At EP and AK, I think the walk back to the front of the park where the lockers are is just not worth it. I’ve definitely brought real food with me to eat in the parks, it tends to be cheese, fruit, crackers, chips, or leftovers from a TS meal. We did bring pb & j sandwiches one time. We’ve never purposefully planned to do this. It’s always been about eating up food we can’t travel home with, or if we have a really nice dinner planned and it was about making lunch just a quick snack. I’ve also just done this with bagged ice and what we wanted to carry so we didn’t need to put it in a locker and everything was disposable after we ate. We see this a lot more at local amusement parks, but not as much as WDW.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

We are a group of 6 going to WDW in April. We’re thinking of doing the picnic thing for lunch for a few of the days we are there, and I’m just looking for some inspiration/tips. What foods do you like to bring with you for “park picnics”? I am thinking of bringing a medium sized insulated backpack style cooler and putting in a rented locker at the front of the park at the beginning of the day. Has anyone else done this, and did you think it was convenient?
Thanks!

are you looking to do this with young kids? not sure if you can sit at counter serve tables without ordering food with reduced seating. might be some tables in mask relax stations but not sure. know my young grandkids would not do well sitting on a bench to eat without a table

 

[Momtastic]

are you looking to do this with young kids? not sure if you can sit at counter serve tables without ordering food with reduced seating. might be some tables in mask relax stations but not sure. know my young grandkids would not do well sitting on a bench to eat without a table

Yes, the kids are 6 and almost 9. We were not planning on sitting at the CS tables, as I assume outside food and drink is not allowed there. I am bringing a parade/picnic blanket to spread out if we can find a suitable spot, or alternatively a picnic table if there is one available. From my research, I have found a few places such as Tom Sawyers island which have picnic tables or places that a picnic blanket would be allowed. There are not a lot of places like that, but there are a few. Figured we would try it for a day or two, and if we find it’s a hassle, no problem, we’ll get counter service for lunch the rest of the days.

 

[happymommy]

I’ve never seen people sitting on a picnic blanket at Disney parks; not sure where you’d find space (plus what if it’s raining?). It’s just not a common thing to bring in actual meals to the parks. I think in all my trips, I’ve seen folks one time eating out of Tupperware containers food they brought in.

When my kids were little, we’d bring along snacks (my oldest has food allergies, so I was used to having safe snacks for him when we were out), but never full on meals or sandwiches.

As far as convenience, no, I do not think it’s convenient at all to bring a full on picnic into a park. Part of the fun of a Disney park is that to us, many of the counter service places have really decent options for lunch (and dinner).

 

[LovesTimone]

With everything going on right now, there is really not going to be a place to spread out a picnic blanket and eat... and honestly I don't think I have ever noticed this in all the years I have been going... since 1971... I have noticed families back before covid sitting on benches, or outdoor restaurant seating eating sandwiches and chips and such...

We have taken food to the pool with us, when taking a break mid-day... things like, rolled deli meat and cheese, pickles and olives, dips and chips, cheese and crackers, cheese sticks, carrots and celery sticks with ranch, grapes, juice boxes, canned soda, bottled water adult beverages...

When my DD was little, I would take a small soft sided collapsible cooler( it held like 8 cans) with juice boxes, bottled water, a couple cans of coke, cheese sticks, and grapes, for us to snack on... I used freezer packs, no ice as it melts to fast and will make a mess...

 

[MickeyWaffles]

I’ve never seen people sitting on a picnic blanket at Disney parks; not sure where you’d find space (plus what if it’s raining?).

With everything going on right now, there is really not going to be a place to spread out a picnic blanket and eat... and honestly I don't think I have ever noticed this in all the years I have been going... since 1971... I have noticed families back before covid sitting on benches, or outdoor restaurant seating eating sandwiches and chips and such...

On many trips I have seen people sit on the grassy areas in front of the castle at MK (aka hub grass) eating food they packed. That is a very common spot. I have seen people sit on a blanket there. Some sit right on the grass.

We don’t pack meals for the parks (I personally don’t think the hassle of packing it, making sure it stays cold, leaving it in a locker, working around the weather and finding a spot to sit it is worth it) but I have seen families sitting down/eating on the hub grass many times.

 

[LovesTimone]

On many trips I have seen people sit on the grassy areas in front of the castle at MK (aka hub grass) eating food they packed. That is a very common spot. I have seen people sit on a blanket there. Some sit right on the grass.

We don’t pack meals for the parks (I personally don’t think the hassle of packing it, making sure it stays cold, leaving it in a locker, working around the weather and finding a spot to sit it is worth it) but I have seen families sitting down/eating on the hub grass many times.

I don't know with Covid and the restrictions if this area is opened right now? We have been in MK a couple of times, but I can't remember if this area is opened right now... Anyone else notice?

 

[MickeyWaffles]

I don't know with Covid and the restrictions if this area is opened right now? We have been in MK a couple of times, but I can't remember if this area is opened right now... Anyone else notice?

I haven’t been since Feb. 2020, so I’m not totally sure. But I am near positive I saw a someone on Instagram recently sitting out on the hub grass with their Starbucks.

Hopefully someone can confirm! Also, with Casey’s Corner still closed, I wonder if those tables are fair game as they are not associated with any quick service right now - are the tables there?

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Yes, the kids are 6 and almost 9. We were not planning on sitting at the CS tables, as I assume outside food and drink is not allowed there. I am bringing a parade/picnic blanket to spread out if we can find a suitable spot, or alternatively a picnic table if there is one available. From my research, I have found a few places such as Tom Sawyers island which have picnic tables or places that a picnic blanket would be allowed. There are not a lot of places like that, but there are a few. Figured we would try it for a day or two, and if we find it’s a hassle, no problem, we’ll get counter service for lunch the rest of the days.

Tom Sawyer Island is a good distance from lockers plus not sure about getting cooler to them as they are not just as you get off rafts. plus I have also never seen blankets spread out and not sure where you would be able to. grass takes a lot of up keep more than concrete walkways. I have not seen tables either other than ones at or near a counter serves.

 

[disny_luvr]

I don't know with Covid and the restrictions if this area is opened right now? We have been in MK a couple of times, but I can't remember if this area is opened right now... Anyone else notice?

I’m pretty sure the area around the hub is open. The only reason I know is because last night I watched a Disney YouTuber and he commented (and showed) people sitting in that grassy area. He even noted some looked like they were napping.

 

[nancipants]

Hub grass is open now.

I've brought peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and snacks to the park. Nothing more elaborate. My MIL brings entire meals for her whole family.

 

[Momtastic]

https://www.****************/10-great-places-to-have-a-picnic-at-walt-disney-world/
https://plandisney.disney.go.com/qu...ns-picnic-lunch-four-parks-preferably-351898/
FYI, thought I’d share since so many folks were surprised by the idea of a picnic. I know it’s not common and certainly not for everyone, but we’d prefer to eat outside and away from other people. Thanks to the posters who mentioned the hub grass- that was a spot I hadn’t considered. We may try that in addition to TS island.

 

[Momtastic]

I've brought peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and snacks to the park.

Can’t go wrong with a classic. My kids will always eat PBJ, and bonus points for not requiring refrigeration.

 

[lanejudy]

I do think there is a decent number of folks who pack-in their lunches rather than buying. While I've never seen anyone spread out a picnic blanket anywhere, maybe I just haven't been at the right place at the right time. I think most just grab a section of curbing or find an out-of-the-way bench. Depending on when you are going, "away from other people" may be a rather subjective concept -- check out posts on the TPAS forum about this week!

 

[MICKIMINI]

We always bring snacks like dried fruit and nuts, granola bars and maybe PB crackers. It's just a light snack to tide us over. When our son was young we'd freeze fruit juice boxes overnight at our villa and bring those in too.

We find food from the grocery stores in FL so expensive that it is actually cheaper to split a meal at a QS though we do eat an occasional meal in our villa. Allears.net is a good source to check out menus and prices. Splitting an adult meal is a better value than a child's meal IMO as they tend to be large portions. Just worth looking into. I think it might be more of a pain than it is worth to bring a cooler in since you asked. Enjoy your trip!

 

[Triple A Mom]

When my boys were pre-teens we transitions from one big backpack for all to each of us carrying our own small lightweight backpacks. This gave my boys freedom to bring all the little stuff they always wanted me to carry with the caveat that they had to carry it themselves (and I had final approval). It was one of my most brilliant Disney ideas! They always had stuff to entertain themselves in line and snack! Now, I always have an assortment of snacks/food and before we leave the room they fill up their bags with anything they want so they can eat at their own pace. One likes to eat a lot in the morning and the other really doesn't so this works out well for us (no more complaining about hunger).

Pro tip, bring a sandwich size plastic container for each person because no one wants to eat a mushed up PBJ or crushed to bits goldfish crackers. This idea also allows you to carry your food with you so you don't have to store in a locker.

 

[loves to dive]

First, yes I've seem many families bring their food in but I see them mostly eating it in line (pre-Covid) so it's doable. It might depend on what week you are going in April. From what I understand up until about April 10 or 11 is expected to be pretty crowded with Spring break and Easter folks. After that it might slow down. In MK there seems to be a few areas that are less crowded, I think there is an area in FL near the Storybook Circus that is a relaxation area and outside of it there are some tables sort of tucked away. I'm not sure I'd go full bore and spread an entire picnic blanket out and take up a lot of space on the lawn just because of space issues and you are pretty much guaranteed someone is going to step on something. Years ago my mother and older brother lived in Fl. and had APs and would go to Disney for the day and take a lunch but they would go back to the car and eat it because back then you couldn't take your own food in the park.

 

[iheartglaciers]

I’ve also seen people eating packed lunches at tables throughout the parks. I’ve noticed that there seems to be even more scattered tables throughout World Showcase during the pandemic.

 

[Momtastic]

Pro tip, bring a sandwich size plastic container for each person because no one wants to eat a mushed up PBJ or crushed to bits goldfish crackers. This idea also allows you to carry your food with you so you don't have to store in a locker.

That is an excellent pro tip! Thanks!