Picnic in the Park - where it is okay to sit with your packed lunch

[HopperFan]

I was in Disney this week with tens of thousands of others. As we walked by each quick serve, and the lines were out the doors ... I was glad we had our big breakfast and booked a couple ADRs. The few quick serve meals we bought, after they took too much of my money for what we got, I wished I had packed my lunch. Being that the folks offsite often have kitchens or kitchenettes I was thinking these guests are most likely to pack a meal and bring inside with them.

This question has been asked again and again,
but thought Orlando Board would be a good place to put it.

Actually there are plenty of spots for you to eat at a table.
These are NOT spots that are specifically for QS locations.
I'll try to list and keep up with these ... adding pictures later.​

MK:
- By Storybook Circus lots of tables and chairs, some with umbrellas.
- By Tangled bathrooms small tables with charging stations 2 for 1 there.
- Umbrella Tables all along the Speedway in the Tomorrowland Terrace.
- Tomorrowland Terrace (when closed), shaded outdoor.
- Tortuga Tavern (when closed), a few indoor and plenty of shaded outdoor.
- Few tables & chairs on Center street, that dead end on right in middle of Main Street.
- Next to the Pirate Adventure on way to Splash is an area with LOTS of picnic tables.
- Tom Sawyer Island has some spots to sit and get away.
- Built in benches in front of Pinocchio Haus (no tables).

DHS:
- Tables with umbrellas to left of Frozen Theater (where busts used to be).
- Tables with umbrellas at end of Commissary close to Chinese Theater.
- Tables OUTSIDE of Backlot to the side by Indiana Jones are rarely ever used.
- Tables with umbrellas outside in Muppet Courtyard (apart from the restaurant).
- Tables with umbrellas where Starring Rolls used to be.
- Tables with umbrellas behind Starbucks 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.
- Sometimes the Rivers of Light Theater is open, sit reverse to use bench for table.
- DAWA Bar in Africa has tables under a roof that are often empty.


Epcot:
- Tables chairs by the Outpost in World Showcase usually empty.
- Sometimes regular picnic tables along lagoon in Germany.
- Table/chairs in Italy not connected to eatery.
- LOTS of outdoor seating by America that is never used since lots of indoor seating there.
- Picnic tables to right as you look at it America ... sometimes a BBQ food stand but sometimes not.
- LOTS of benches and walls you can sit on (no tables).
- Indoor tables & chairs in Innoventions West behind Character Spot (right at some bathrooms).

Waterparks:
- You are permitted to bring food and drinks into the water parks.
- Check the website for cooler size.
- NO alcohol.

 

[HopperFan]

Magic Kingdom Picnic Spot Photos

Some of the seating in Storybook Circus, plenty more, bathrooms next to it



Center Street off Main Street, about 6-8 tables, some umbrellas here



Picnic Tables by Pirates Adventure



Tomorrowland Terrace (when closed), bathrooms next to it

 

[HopperFan]

Epcot Picnic Spot Tables Photos

Africa Outpost, about a dozen tables, some with umbrellas along lagoon





Sometimes there are a row of regular picnic tables by lagoon by Germany



Tables in the Italy courtyard are not attached to any quick service location



Tables outside of America Pavilion are usually empty



Picnic tables to right of America

 

[HopperFan]

Disney Hollywood Studios Picnic Spot Tables Photos

Former Starring Rolls patio next to Brown Derby



Tables behind Starbucks



Tables in the open plaza in front of Muppets 3D



Tables at end between Commissary and Chinese Theater, bathrooms across



To left of Frozen Theater (where busts you to be)

 

[HopperFan]

Animal Kingdom Picnic Spot Photos

Several locations around the park with tables and chairs, look off to sides

 

[HopperFan]

Picnic Menu Ideas

~ We keep it pretty simple; sandwiches, chips, goldfish, maybe an apple but I'm sure there are lots of great ideas. We don't want to bring a cooler so we put our stuff in plastic containers, dropped into a plastic Disney or grocery bag with frozen bottles of water, then in backpack. By time we eat we have some ice cold water to go with it. Either the sandwiches are together in a flat rectangular container we carry the rest of the day or disposable (recycled) smaller containers per sandwich. These will make great plates as well. HINTS: We pack sandwiches on firmer rolls so they don't get soggy. We take packets of mayo & mustard to add at the time we eat. We buy tubes of chips (Pringles or Lays) so they don't get smushed.

 

[Klayfish]

Very cool idea. We pack almost all of our food, but honestly we almost always eat inside QS places. We won't go in if it's clear the restaurant is at capacity and take a spot from someone buying food, but it's rather rare that it's full to capacity. Our most common spots:

MK - Tomorrowland Terrace (lunch), Peco's Bill (dinner). If the weather is really good, we'll eat at the tables across from Pirates

Epcot - Electric Umbrella or in the Land building.

HS - ABC Commissary, the pizza shop near Muppets, or in good weather at the picnic tables near the little lake (across from Frozen)

AK - The restaurant across from Dinosaur

 

[Asherry25]

We sometimes eat inside for lunch at MK, but eat closer to 11 or 11:30. We’re often one of only a few tables occupied at Cosmic Rays in the room with Alf Sometimes we buy a French fry order to share.

We’ve also sat on the low castle
walls behind the carousel, and on the bench leading to the bathrooms behind Pinocchio Haus.