Quick question about candy/food to bring on and take off ship

[CheriePenguin]

One of the items I wanted to bring to include with my FE gifts was Smarties candies. They are factory wrapped, but not particularly sealed tightly (you know how the wrapper is twisted tight at each end?)
Is this something that can be brought on the ship?

If not eaten, is it something that can be brought off the ship at the end of the trip? How do they check for food items? Is it just a customs form you fill out or are they inspecting every item in your bags?
I thought I read something about sealed packages being ok both on and off, is that correct?
Would these be considered sealed?

If needed I guess I could leave the entire sealed bag/package of them intact to board and then separate the individual packs later for delivery into the FEs.

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

Yes, it is alright to bring factory sealed snacks off/on the ship.

They check for open food by asking and/or random baggage inspections. They don't really have time to check everything. They can use dogs to check the checked luggage for fruits/veggies/meat...

 

[Flossbolna]

I can help with bringing candy back into the US: yes, factory packaged candy is always allowed back into the US. I often bring it with me when I travel there and always declare it as candy. If you want to know it in more detail, this is a good starting point: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/agricultural-items

It does get very complicated. For example you are also allowed to import into the US home backed cookies (or cookies that are not factory wrapped but which you purchased yourself at a bakery, but the bakery cannot send the cookies directly to the US). At some point I spent a long time to figure out what was allowed and what not and it is a bit mind-boggling!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I can help with bringing candy back into the US: yes, factory packaged candy is always allowed back into the US. I often bring it with me when I travel there and always declare it as candy. If you want to know it in more detail, this is a good starting point: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/agricultural-items

It does get very complicated. For example you are also allowed to bring home backed cookies (or cookies that are not factory wrapped but which you purchased yourself at a bakery, but the bakery cannot send the cookies directly to the US). At some point I spent a long time to figure out what was allowed and what not and it is a bit mind-boggling!

While such items may be allowed to be brought into the US, I'm not sure how that works with this restriction (from the DCL website) for what's allowed to bring onboard:
You may not bring:

• Homemade, precooked or perishable foods or open food containers.

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faq/prohibited-items/ice-chest-food-containers/

I do know (not on DCL) that people were not allowed to bring onboard cookies purchased at a bakery (packaged in one of those little pink bakery boxes) on one of our cruises.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

The candies will be fine, almost certainly. My mother made "goodie bags" for all her grand children on our trip. Various candies like M&M's, Swedish fish, etc., each in their own Ziploc, but then placed in a paper bag for each kid. These were in the kids carry on's, no problem. Does this violate "open food containers," I don't know, but we didn't have any issues. I think they are much more into the "no meats, no veggies" thing. There were dogs checking at one of the ports. And of course, I'm not suggesting anyone should violate any rules. I'm just offering my opinion that Smarties and M&M's are not what they are trying to restrict.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

The candies will be fine, almost certainly. My mother made "goodie bags" for all her grand children on our trip. Various candies like M&M's, Swedish fish, etc., each in their own Ziploc, but then placed in a paper bag for each kid. These were in the kids carry on's, no problem. Does this violate "open food containers," I don't know, but we didn't have any issues. I think they are much more into the "no meats, no veggies" thing. There were dogs checking at one of the ports. And of course, I'm not suggesting anyone should violate any rules. I'm just offering my opinion that Smarties and M&M's are not what they are trying to restrict.

I agree that the candy stuff is probably fine. Not what they're looking for at all. I was just questioning the ability to bring onboard homemade (not professionally made) items.

 

[Flossbolna]

While such items may be allowed to be brought into the US, I'm not sure how that works with this restriction (from the DCL website) for what's allowed to bring onboard:
You may not bring:

• Homemade, precooked or perishable foods or open food containers.

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faq/prohibited-items/ice-chest-food-containers/

I do know (not on DCL) that people were not allowed to bring onboard cookies purchased at a bakery (packaged in one of those little pink bakery boxes) on one of our cruises.

My comment about the cookies was just an off topic comment regarding the rules of importing food into the US since the OP asked about bring the candy back into the US that has not been eaten. I edited my wording to make it clear that it is not about what you can take on the ship.

However, I think the rules about importing food to the US could still be interesting with regard to possible foods that can be purchased during the cruise. And with my cookie rule, you might actually be allowed to bring cookies baked on the ship on land with you (not that I would recommend this though...).

 

[RedSox68]

We've brought peanut butter crackers, candy (loose in packaging and bars), cookies, granola bars. They were all in original wraps and/or boxes. What we didn't eat we left for the crew.

 

[puffkin]

We just brought back bags of candy that they handed out during the trick or treating events on the Dream last week. You will be fine with Smarties.

 

[CheriePenguin]

Thanks everyone! (The Smarties aren't just for a sweet treat, as they also function as playing pieces in a little game. And I'd like the kids to be able to take them for their car or plane trip home if they don't use them all during the cruise.)

 

[jennyl772003]

However, I think the rules about importing food to the US could still be interesting with regard to possible foods that can be purchased during the cruise. And with my cookie rule, you might actually be allowed to bring cookies baked on the ship on land with you (not that I would recommend this though...).

Now, in full disclosure, my experience is 13+ years old...I was married on Castaway Cay and we were not allowed to bring our cake's top tier off the ship.

 

[PlanoNana]

And we always bring bags of individually wrapped snack sized chocolates (Snickers, Milky Way, Twix, etc) as a gift for our servers and stateroom host. Those folks work really hard and don't have much opportunity to get off the ship in port to shop for goodies so we like to bring them something unexpected.

 

[jdb in AZ]

People give wrapped candy for fish extender gifts all the time. Haven't ever heard of anybody not being able to take a fish extender gift home with them, has anyone else?

 

[party-of-five]

We carried on peppermint candies, some lollipops, and some individually packaged crackers. We had no problem bringing them on, or taking what was left over back off.

 

[msmama]

So that means I won't be able to bring Timbits back to my room during our Canadian cruise then, right?

Guess I'll just have to eat 'em all on land.