Policy on bringing food into Disney Parks?

[Ronnie]

Birnbaum's guide book recommends packing sandwich fixings etc. and yet states "Disney discourages outside food." Is there an official policy on this. If we were to bring a rolling cooler with drinks, sippy cups etc, will it be confiscated at the gate?
Thanks

 

[all4fun]

That is their "official" policy however they DO allow food in the parks. They might turn you away with a rolling cooler though. I have heard of them telling people they have to carry their backpack on wheels. People have posted responses from Disney that were emailed to them here on the boards stating they do not allow rolling bags because they can be a tripping hazard for other guests. Just something to keep in mind. (BTW, for other people reading this, I am NOT trying to start a debate about this!) You can bring in a softsided cooler and either stuff it under your stroller, if you're using one, or rent a locker to stick it in (you really don't want to tote all that food around all day anyway, do you?). I think locker rentals are $5 + $2 refundable deposit. The rental is transferrable if you park hop - save your receipt.

hth!

 

[brymolmom]

I believe what you read to be the official policy, that it is discouraged, but that they do not kick you out for bringing it. I think, too, that the rolling bags are not allowed though for other reasons (not because it has food, but because it rolls).

I have brought a soft-sided cooler (a pretty big one, but not rolling, it had a strap to go over the shoulder) full of drinks, water, sandwiches and fruit and security just looks and says 'have fun!'.

If you bring a carrying cooler instead - you can always get a locker to put it in until lunchtime. We've done that and it's worked well.

 

[sdenis]

We brought in lunch, (sandwiches and what not) and ate them right at where the Liberty Boat takes off... the ride was being refurbished and it made a great sitting area for our lunch.

No one said a word.

Course, that was February and things are usually pretty quiet around that time anyway.

 

[mjmcca]

I have brought in all kinds of food without issue.

 

[powellrj]

bringing in food for your personal use is fine. The rolling cooler isn't allowed. Only a small soft side cooler is allowed. They also don't allow glass or alcohol.

 

[KimWDW]

I brought a sippy cup and some snacks (goldfish, nutrigrain bar) in my backpack for my son. But I've never seen anyone with a cooler. I wouldn't do that.

 

[amarberry]

They also don't allow glass or alcohol.

Just wanted to point out that baby food jars are an exception to the no glass rule.

We've brought several bottles of water into the parks with us on our last couple of trips with no problems. We also bring a small soft sided cooler (actually, DH's lunch bag) with food and snacks for DD. I recently emailed someone in Disney's food services regarding my DD's dietary restrictions and was told to feel free to bring food for her into the parks, but that the Disney food service staff would not be able to heat or prepare anything I brought in (liability issues).

 

[Schmeck]

Disney will not allow rolling backpacks, rolling coolers, or wagons into the parks. Well, they allow rolling backpacks, but you've got to wear them! (How uncomfortable!)

 

[rparmfamily]

We've always brought in our own snacks, never in a cooler though. Just froze some water bottles the night before and a bunch of ziplocked baggies of snack food and pbj sandwiches. I swear they pipe the yummy smells of their own food all around the parks, because at some point we are eating their food... lol

 

[snickerboo]

We were there end of April and everyone was bringing in food. We brought two small soft-sided coolers. I saw one man with a rolling cooler. We went back to hotels for dinner but brought drinks and snacks back for all the night shows at the parks (popped popcorn in the hotel micro and brought it). We had water bottles every day.

They seemed to not care at all as long as you opened your cooler and let them inspect it. Bringing in food is a very good way to keep your little ones happy! I bought Disney-themed cereal, fruit gums, etc at Walmart and packed them for the kids. They were perfectly happy with that, plus we bought one 'treat' each day (sundae at Mrs. Potts, for example).

 

[tiggger1]

We were there end of April and everyone was bringing in food. We brought two small soft-sided coolers. I saw one man with a rolling cooler. We went back to hotels for dinner but brought drinks and snacks back for all the night shows at the parks (popped popcorn in the hotel micro and brought it). We had water bottles every day.

They seemed to not care at all as long as you opened your cooler and let them inspect it. Bringing in food is a very good way to keep your little ones happy! I bought Disney-themed cereal, fruit gums, etc at Walmart and packed them for the kids. They were perfectly happy with that, plus we bought one 'treat' each day (sundae at Mrs. Potts, for example).

did you see the man and rolling cooler at MK? I was just going to post that I saw a man bring in a HUGE cooler for his family. security asked where he was eating and if they were invited......it was april 30 th I think

 

[mjmcca]

I took in a cooler this summer with water sandwiches and frozen gogurts pringles and some capri suns. I had 4 kids between the ages of 3 and 5, one teenager and 4 adults. I still bought 4 turkey legs at the MK, FF to go with them and drinks. We then went to Epcot. I bought 3 frozen coke type drinks for the kids and teen to share. Hubby went to get some beers. At the end of the day we were finishing the sandwiches and I got everyone a dessert from Norway. I still spent close to $75 on food at Disney and we didn't eat a full meal there.

 

[babiesX2]

I once saw a family with gallon size zip lock bags full of spaghetti and tomato sauce eating at one of the CS is Tomorrowland. CM's were tidying up tables around them and no one said anything to them. They pulled all of their food out of a soft sided cooler. It was an a complete spaghetti dinner complete with garlic bread, parmessan (sp?) cheese, plates, utensils, glasses, napkins and ice tea! CM's didn't scold them or make them throw it away and buy Disney's food, but the family was getting "looks" and "whispers" from many people. Bringing a fully stocked rolling cooler in would exceed my comfort level, but to each their own. My family does share meals to avoid overspending and being wasteful, and some people are uncomfortable with that. Like I said, to each their own.

 

[snickerboo]

did you see the man and rolling cooler at MK? I was just going to post that I saw a man bring in a HUGE cooler for his family. security asked where he was eating and if they were invited......it was april 30 th I think

Yes at MK! I would not bring a full hard-sided cooler either. We found a nice spot to eat was at the landing for Liberty Cruise (they put tables and chairs there during the refurb.) Our last day (May 1st) a family sat down there and hand sandwiches made out of huuuuuge panini or baguettes that they had brought in.

 

[all4fun]

I took in a cooler this summer with water sandwiches and frozen gogurts pringles and some capri suns. I had 4 kids between the ages of 3 and 5, one teenager and 4 adults. I still bought 4 turkey legs at the MK, FF to go with them and drinks. We then went to Epcot. I bought 3 frozen coke type drinks for the kids and teen to share. Hubby went to get some beers. At the end of the day we were finishing the sandwiches and I got everyone a dessert from Norway. I still spent close to $75 on food at Disney and we didn't eat a full meal there.

You should check out this thread from the Restaurant board: Family of 4 eats for $75 a day

Just thought that was interesting.

 

[mjmcca]

You should check out this thread from the Restaurant board: Family of 4 eats for $75 a day

Just thought that was interesting.

I have read that thread. Interesting read. In my figure I didnt include the amount hubby spent on beer that could have really made the figure go up.

 

[NotUrsula]

I once saw a family with gallon size zip lock bags full of spaghetti and tomato sauce eating at one of the CS is Tomorrowland. CM's were tidying up tables around them and no one said anything to them. They pulled all of their food out of a soft sided cooler. It was an a complete spaghetti dinner complete with garlic bread, parmessan (sp?) cheese, plates, utensils, glasses, napkins and ice tea! CM's didn't scold them or make them throw it away and buy Disney's food, but the family was getting "looks" and "whispers" from many people. Bringing a fully stocked rolling cooler in would exceed my comfort level, but to each their own. My family does share meals to avoid overspending and being wasteful, and some people are uncomfortable with that. Like I said, to each their own.

The issue I would have with this is not so much that they brought their own picnic, but that they chose to eat it in a Disney restaurant. This is the real reason why WDW "discourages" outside food. If you are going to take up a table in a restaurant, you should at least purchase something from that restaurant, even if it is not the entire meal. The tables are put there for customers, so customers get first dibs on them.

I've got one question re: the spaghetti people, though -- were they eating all of this stuff COLD? Yecch. Some foods are fine cold, I know, but pasta with red sauce?

 

[babiesX2]

The issue I would have with this is not so much that they brought their own picnic, but that they chose to eat it in a Disney restaurant. This is the real reason why WDW "discourages" outside food. If you are going to take up a table in a restaurant, you should at least purchase something from that restaurant, even if it is not the entire meal. The tables are put there for customers, so customers get first dibs on them.

I've got one question re: the spaghetti people, though -- were they eating all of this stuff COLD? Yecch. Some foods are fine cold, I know, but pasta with red sauce?

Please don't think I was advocating their behavior. I thought it was strange and overboard. It wasn't fair at all for them to take up Disney tables when they had hauled ALL of their meal in.

This is what I saw. They sat down and the kids started "setting the table" with all their disposable dishes, utensils, napkins, and cups while the mom pulled out the bags of spaghetti with tomato meat sauce. She "poured" them each a plate of spaghetti from the bags. I remember seeing 3 big bags of spaghetti. It appeared to be room temp. They had a container of cheese for sprinkling. The garlic bread also appeared to be room temp. There was the mom, dad, and 3 kids. Trust me, they were getting plenty of looks and whispers. It looked like the CM's wanted to say something but were just in shock and too embarrassed. The family seemed to be oblivious to all the attention as they feasted away.

 

[Disneymaniacs]

Please don't think I was advocating their behavior. I thought it was strange and overboard. It wasn't fair at all for them to take up Disney tables when they had hauled ALL of their meal in.

This is what I saw. They sat down and the kids started "setting the table" with all their disposable dishes, utensils, napkins, and cups while the mom pulled out the bags of spaghetti with tomato meat sauce. She "poured" them each a plate of spaghetti from the bags. I remember seeing 3 big bags of spaghetti. It appeared to be room temp. They had a container of cheese for sprinkling. The garlic bread also appeared to be room temp. There was the mom, dad, and 3 kids. Trust me, they were getting plenty of looks and whispers. It looked like the CM's wanted to say something but were just in shock and too embarrassed. The family seemed to be oblivious to all the attention as they feasted away.

How embarrassing! We were there last week and saw a large group of people eating hot dogs that they had brought in. They did not take up restaurant tables though. They just stopped at a bench by the teacups and didn't make a big scene. I only noticed because they ketchup and mustard bottles caught my attention. To answer the OP's question, we always take juice boxes and goldfish for our kids. They always ask for something to eat before we are even in the gate so we try to be prepared. The bag checkers have never said a thing about the snacks. I even took each of us a bottle of water last week and nobody said anything.