Question... Can a cooler be taken into the park?

[New2Disney2006]

We were thinking about taking a small cooler into the park each day to hold some waters and a few snacks. Does anyone know if this is allowed?

 

[wendy46001]

No coolers are allowed in parks, not ever the soft sided ones...people do sneak them in...but if you get caught you have to toss it

 

[Tam1067]

We just got back last night, and we brought in a small cooler with 6 bottles of water every single day at all four theme parks. The CMs working security would have us open them up and look inside and tell us to have a nice day. We were able to fit it in the bottom of my daughter's stroller so it worked out perfectly. I ordered bottles of water from www.gardengrocer.com (a great service by the way) and saved both time and money bringing in the ice cold water to drink. You

 

[NotUrsula]

Actually, small soft coolers are allowed. The limit is that they cannot have wheels, and they have to be small enough to be carried by one person. The upper limit is pretty much no bigger than 12-can capacity, unless you are a masochist. People who have strollers very commonly will put a small cooler in the basket.

You cannot bring in any alcohol or any glass containers (the only exception is glass jars of babyfood.) Otherwise, food is not going to be confiscated. The reason for the food restriction is to keep non-customers from taking up space at the counter-service restaurants' tables.

 

[chobie]

We always bring a soft cooler with a few bottles of water in it. Never been questioned about it all.

 

[becca011906]

Last year we packed a soft sided cooler every one of our 5 days at the parks, we took bottled waters, frozen juices, frozen gatorads, ect.... also took many many snacks for the kids, some PBand J's a few times too, they just eat thoes better then other stuff when it was hot and i didn't have to worry about them going bad from the heat, ect. i was never questioned and got advice from this board to bring in whatever no one had ever seen someone have to throw anything out???

 

[eeyoregon]

No coolers are allowed in parks, not ever the soft sided ones...people do sneak them in...but if you get caught you have to toss it

Not true. We were at the parks in April this year and saw dozens and dozens of people with the large rolling soft sided coolers as well as small hard sided (Igloo types) and small soft sided coolers of every shape.

They could not possibly have "snuck" them in because ALL bags/strollers/personal belongings are searched at the gates of every park.

 

[daisyduck123]

No coolers are allowed in parks, not ever the soft sided ones...people do sneak them in...but if you get caught you have to toss it

Hmmm...not true for all the trips I've been there. In May 2004 & May 2005 we brought in a soft-sided cooler...the gate guard even checked it when he checked our bags.

Our 2 trips this year, we didn't have the cooler since we did the Dining Plan.

We've spent a total of 17 days in Disney this year & saw coolers ALL OVER THE PLACE.

 

[wendy46001]

Guess they change ....probably good for everyone

 

[luvwdw]

We always have a soft sided cooler and security looks through it. We always take water and juice boxes and last time we even took a few cans of pop. As long as it is not alcohol, I don't think they care.

 

[mommiepoppins]

we bring a small cooler every year and I have never had a problem... i packs drinks and snack items

you will have to go through the security bag checking be for entering.. which holds you up a little bit

 

[theprincess]

I hope I can bring a soft sided one with wheels since thats what I got and plan to fill it with water.

 

[New2Disney2006]

Thank you all for your replies. I was planning on taking one for water and juices for the kids. Does anyone know if the strollers you rent in the park have the basket underneath to carry the cooler in? I think we have decided to rent a double stroller everyday for our trip. THANK YOU!!!

 

[brymolmom]

The strollers do NOT have baskets under them. The only way you're going to be able to hold a cooler in a rented double is to have a LONG strap on it that can go over the wide handlebars (be careful - this makes it back-heavy and can tip the stroller backward) OR have the kids keep it in between them.

This is one of the main reasons I'm bringing a double instead of renting it this time. MUCH easier for storage.

 

[plutolovr]

Backpacks and anything with wheels, besides strollers, wheelchairs and scooters are not allowed. They may get through security, but if a CM sees you rolling it around you will be asked to carry it or put it in a locker. Anything that you pull behind you is an accident waiting to happen. That's why wagons aren't allowed either.

 

[New2Disney2006]

The strollers do NOT have baskets under them. The only way you're going to be able to hold a cooler in a rented double is to have a LONG strap on it that can go over the wide handlebars (be careful - this makes it back-heavy and can tip the stroller backward) OR have the kids keep it in between them.

This is one of the main reasons I'm bringing a double instead of renting it this time. MUCH easier for storage.

Thanks for the info. I have never been to Disney before so please don't laugh but... Is it very cumbersome getting on the different transportations and getting through the gates with strollers? I have a 5 and 7 year old child both are small for their age but I would like to bring my own stroller or strollers for this trip just so that I can have a stroller with storage underneath. Do you have any advice???

 

[jayhjay]

Thanks for the info. I have never been to Disney before so please don't laugh but... Is it very cumbersome getting on the different transportations and getting through the gates with strollers? I have a 5 and 7 year old child both are small for their age but I would like to bring my own stroller or strollers for this trip just so that I can have a stroller with storage underneath. Do you have any advice???

You can definitely bring your own stroller, we always do. I have a double (Peg Perego Aria Twin) which is a side by side. It fits through doorways so we have no problems getting around. You will have to fold it up on buses and sometimes other transportation depending on how busy it is. Getting through the gates is no problems, they will let you through the wheelchair gate if needed.

I prefer my own stroller so I have it in the airport, at the resort, and can fill it up with my stuff (we pack blankets, jackets, snacks, toys). If you want to bring your own you should be fine. JJ

 

[tjmw2727]

No coolers are allowed in parks, not ever the soft sided ones...people do sneak them in...but if you get caught you have to toss it

I have been taking a small soft sided cooler into the parks for 11 years, since my dd was a baby. Even since bag search they have me open the cooler, check for glass or alcohol and then let us through.

TJ

 

[tjmw2727]

Thanks for the info. I have never been to Disney before so please don't laugh but... Is it very cumbersome getting on the different transportations and getting through the gates with strollers? I have a 5 and 7 year old child both are small for their age but I would like to bring my own stroller or strollers for this trip just so that I can have a stroller with storage underneath. Do you have any advice???

No its fine, the bus transportation can be tricky but going through the gates, the boats and the monorial are fine. I suggest packing everything in a backpack and cooler for ease in carrying them when your folding the stroller. We always had a small softsided cooler with a strap and two small backpacks. One backpack had the valuables, cameras etc and the other had the change of clothes, diapers & wipes and snacks. We then left the cooler and the diaper backpack in the stroller on rides etc and brought the one with the valuables with us. Keeping everything packed up and ready to carry helps when loading onto the bus when you need to fold up the stroller.

We prefered our own stroller until our kids were in the 3-5 age range, at that point a rental became more convient.

TJ

 

[laceemouse]

We prefered the rented strollers for the very reason you suggested, getting your own stroller folded up and unto the transportation is a royal pain! You have to take your own stroller when they are infants, but for older kids we always rented. Now we are HAPPILY done with strollers, much easier to get around! As far as the coolers, I think a lot of people store them in the lockers. That might be an option to carrying the thing around, but I am not sure how large the lockers are???