SIL wants to bring whole meals to the park

[Disney Doll]

I would agree with the other posters who say that just because you are going to WDW together doesn't mean you have to spend every waking minute together or have the same vacation. If SIL wants to pack sandwiches for her family, let her. Just tell her she doesn't need to include your family in her amounts for food.

And send her the link for the backpack cooler...it'll make it easier for her to schlep her food aorund than dragging a wheeled cooler behind her!!!

 

[jenjen212]

i also can confirm that they most certainly allow coolers, although we've only brought soft sided ones that would fit under my godson's stroller. The first time we brought him there he was about a year old or so, and was still drinking milk out of a bottle. so we would have some thermos containers with milk in them, and some of his baby food and snacks in the cooler. we kept it with us the whole time under the stoller in case he needed anything. Plus, they HAVE to allow people to be able to bring in some sort of cooler if they need to. there are certain medications that some may be on that need to be kept cool (like certain insulins), and keeping it in a cooler would help them.

i don't think that there is anything wrong or to be ashamed of by bringing in sandwiches. dh and i do this ALL the time to save on money. it depends on our day. if we eat breakfast at the resort, and plan on staying the park most of the day, we'll bring sandwiches. or we'll hit the park early, bring breakfast bars and fruit (maybe buy a snack there), and then head back to the resort to make sandwiches in the room. we usually go out for dinner, either a PS at a restaurant or counter service in the parks or at downtown. (one of the luxuries of staying at por is the nice boat ride to downtown - very romantic).

we either make PB&J sandwiches, or i will make them with cold cuts and cheese and then get some mayo or mustard from one of the counter services. we'll buy something from the counter service, like a drink or dessert or something, and eat in a place with a/c.

we don't have this problem, but there are plenty of people with dietary needs, who may be allergic to certain things, or may be diabetic that has to watch their sugar or caloric in take, or with a heart condition and has to watch their sodium intake. they may feel more comfortable eating their own food and know what the intakes are. so, there is nothing embarrassing about bringing in your own food like that.

don't worry about this, i think that it is just a minor issue. just let her make her sandwiches (maybe that is what she can afford), and then you can get your meals from in the parks. Trust me, SOOOOOOOOOO MANY people do this, i do not think that anyone would be staring at you, or cause you need for embarrassment. remember everyone is there to have fun. if her kids see that you're embarrassed, they'll be embarrassed of their mom too, you don't want that.

good luck and have fun!

 

[momofbgtwins]

JoannaOhio -
I agree 100%.

 

[shaylahc]

i also can confirm that they most certainly allow coolers, although we've only brought soft sided ones that would fit under my godson's stroller. The first time we brought him there he was about a year old or so, and was still drinking milk out of a bottle. so we would have some thermos containers with milk in them, and some of his baby food and snacks in the cooler. we kept it with us the whole time under the stoller in case he needed anything. Plus, they HAVE to allow people to be able to bring in some sort of cooler if they need to. there are certain medications that some may be on that need to be kept cool (like certain insulins), and keeping it in a cooler would help them.

i don't think that there is anything wrong or to be ashamed of by bringing in sandwiches. dh and i do this ALL the time to save on money. it depends on our day. if we eat breakfast at the resort, and plan on staying the park most of the day, we'll bring sandwiches. or we'll hit the park early, bring breakfast bars and fruit (maybe buy a snack there), and then head back to the resort to make sandwiches in the room. we usually go out for dinner, either a PS at a restaurant or counter service in the parks or at downtown. (one of the luxuries of staying at por is the nice boat ride to downtown - very romantic).

we either make PB&J sandwiches, or i will make them with cold cuts and cheese and then get some mayo or mustard from one of the counter services. we'll buy something from the counter service, like a drink or dessert or something, and eat in a place with a/c.

we don't have this problem, but there are plenty of people with dietary needs, who may be allergic to certain things, or may be diabetic that has to watch their sugar or caloric in take, or with a heart condition and has to watch their sodium intake. they may feel more comfortable eating their own food and know what the intakes are. so, there is nothing embarrassing about bringing in your own food like that.

don't worry about this, i think that it is just a minor issue. just let her make her sandwiches (maybe that is what she can afford), and then you can get your meals from in the parks. Trust me, SOOOOOOOOOO MANY people do this, i do not think that anyone would be staring at you, or cause you need for embarrassment. remember everyone is there to have fun. if her kids see that you're embarrassed, they'll be embarrassed of their mom too, you don't want that.

good luck and have fun!

I agree 100%!!! What's the big deal with bringing your own food? I have 4 kids and they wouldn't eat 99% of what they have at Disney. We always bring in a small cooler when we visit Disneyworld, usually it has plenty of drinks and sandwiches and snacks. The kids love being able to eat their favorites, we enjoy not having to dish out money for food the kids wouldn't eat anyway (and let's face it.....most of the food at DW is not that spectacular anyway!), and since we usually bring a stroller it is no extra hassle to haul the cooler around. Dis security has never said a word about it. Usually we eat a large meal offsite in the evenings, and we always go to the Alfredo Di Roma restaurant at Epcot once every trip because we love their fettuccine

I think it's unfair to assume that because someone does it differently, that it's wrong. Some people like the park food and some people don't! I don't think it's wrong to want to save a little money by bringing your own stuff, or bringing your own stuff because you don't like the fast food offerings at the park. To each their own, but I certainly would not try to make someone feel cheap or stupid for wanting to do it

 

[dmonroe]

We usually just take drinks in with us. It's not that we can't afford to buy drinks in the parks, but I just think $2.50 is ridiculous! We each probably drink 2 or 3 drinks a day, so in the end we do save quite a bit of $$$ by doing this. Dh would love to bring lunch in because he gets tired of the counter service offerings, and we're not taking time out of our day to do 2 table service meals. So, you might see my family eating out of a small backpack cooler in October!

 

[lillygator]

We only take DD's formula/bottles in a diaper bag with ice packs and maybe a snack size bag of cheerio's/fruitsnacks/etc....we don't bring in stuff for DH and I, simply because Ihate lugging extra stuff around and we aren't the "bring your lunch even to work type"...we like to eat out and when at WDW are on a vaction and enjoy trying the various restaurants.

Just tell SIL you want to dine seperately and meet up with them later.

I have seen the white styrofoam coolers in a rented stroller before DH and I both looked at each other and shook our head laughing. It just looked funny. It was kind of like a beach day cooler with a small grocery store in it....

 

[VSL]

If your SIL wants to bring her own food, great.
If you would rather eat at Disney, great.

Just do your own things. We're all different.

 

[jjarman]

A CM has already said that big coolers are allowed, and in my trips there I have seen many. I'm sure she could get in with one if she truly wanted to, but I can't imagine having to keep up with it all the time. It'd be one thing if you can squish your stuff into a locker, but dragging it around all day would get old. Fast.

OP, I don't see why you need to convince DSis of anything, honestly. If she ultimately decides that her family needs to bring in food or leave the park at mid-day to go eat in the room, then just set a time to meet her later. I wouldn't break up my day to go back to the hotel to eat PB&J, nor would I drag around lunch all day if my budget allowed for some counter service. Just because you're going together doesnt' mean you have to be together all the time. I would be honest and tell her that you have budgeted and saved to dine out while at Disney, and that she is welcome to join your family at any meals she wants. maybe you can get her to do breakfast in the rooms, bring snacks, and eat counter for lunch and dinner?

Good luck!

I have even come up with a budget for her. Hopefully she will take me serious about the budget thing. You must know, she is not your typical SIL. She is my best friend too and I wouldn't hurt her feelings for anything in the world but I do like the suggestion that if they want to go back to the room to eat we will just meet up with them later. I think if I tell her that ahead of time she will see how ridiculous it is to waste time going back to the room just to save a few bucks on food.

 

[jjarman]

we either make PB&J sandwiches, or i will make them with cold cuts and cheese and then get some mayo or mustard from one of the counter services. we'll buy something from the counter service, like a drink or dessert or something, and eat in a place with a/c. /QUOTE]

See, I have a real problem with this and I am afraid that is what she would want to do. I don’t believe you should take anything from the fixin’s bar unless you bought something there that you could put that stuff on. I know some people do it and some people say it is okay as long as we are buying a drink or dessert but I think it is wrong. I would no more do this than I would go into any other restaurant here in town that had a salad bar and help myself to some lettuce and tomato or mayo to go on the sandwich I brought in with me. Don’t want to start up an argument here but that is my opinion.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

we've seen people dragging around coolers on wheels. So Disney will let you bring them in. Also, we have brought in our own food and snacks in backbacks so they will let you bring in food. We've been lots of times and always take food so I don't know why people are saying they won't. Universal won't let you bring in any food -- maybe they have them confused with Disney. Have a greattrip whatever you decide!

 

[TinkerbellMama]

I may be in the minority (or maybe other people are just afraid to speak up) but when we visit Disney World, we don't eat in any of the Disney restaurants. All four of us have special dietary needs, and bringing our own food keeps everybody happy and healthy. We stay off site, and have a full kitchen for keeping groceries and preparing sandwiches, salads, et al. We eat a hearty breakfast at the villa, and bring enough food to the parks for the rest of the day. I know that many on these boards plan their entire vacation around Disney World. We very much enjoy our time at the World, but we also include other things during our Florida vacation. Although we like saving money by not eating at the parks, we also like saving the time that a sit-down meal takes away from other park activities. Just another way of enjoying Walt Disney World.

I'm with you. If the OP chooses not to have a sandwich, obviously that is fine and completely her choice! But her DSIL is also free to pack sandwiches for her own family, as well. If I were going with people who did not care to eat in the restaurants, I'd probably do as the Romans do for that trip, or work out a compromise to eat some inexpensive CS meals and do some picnic-style. We also have special dietary needs, and although TS meals can be modified with advance notice, we ALWAYS take in plentiful snacks. Only the popcorn and occasional fresh fruit is "safe" for us to eat, and who wants to eat popcorn at every snacktime for a week??

P.S. Love your elephants and congrats on surviving breast cancer!! GO YOU!!!

 

[cleo]

In defense of those who said outside food is not allowed, that most certainly was the policy at one time. It must be a more recent arrangement (or out of sheer exhaustion at telling so many people they had to leave their food in their car) that the policy was changed (if it was).

Obviously, food is now being allowed in the parks, but that has not always been the case. The 'fact' was, not even snacks or water were allowed in the past, then small snacks and drinks were allowed. I'm not sure if the policy itself has changed, but apparently you will not be stopped with a small cooler.

 

[lillygator]

we either make PB&J sandwiches, or i will make them with cold cuts and cheese and then get some mayo or mustard from one of the counter services. we'll buy something from the counter service, like a drink or dessert or something, and eat in a place with a/c. /QUOTE]

See, I have a real problem with this and I am afraid that is what she would want to do. I don’t believe you should take anything from the fixin’s bar unless you bought something there that you could put that stuff on. I know some people do it and some people say it is okay as long as we are buying a drink or dessert but I think it is wrong. I would no more do this than I would go into any other restaurant here in town that had a salad bar and help myself to some lettuce and tomato or mayo to go on the sandwich I brought in with me. Don’t want to start up an argument here but that is my opinion.

if you buy a drink there - such as tea, coffee, then sure help yourself to sugar...but what other condiments go in a drink? or dessert for that matter....

I agree - a "fixin's bar" is for "fixin'" the food you purchased from that establishment, not your own. While some people may feel it is appropriate I wouldn't do that....it is just a preference thing I guess...

 

[tn_disney_addict]

I am with the poster that said eat lunch in the park and do the sandwiches in the room in the evening. Lunch is cheaper than dinner, plus you don't have to lug all that stuff around! I get miserable just with the backpack full of stuff that we "have" to have...camera, wallets, blah blah blah...

We have traveled several times with other families and if we don't want to do the same thing, we go our separate ways and hook back up later.

Either way it turns out...have a great trip!

 

[lillygator]

does anyone know if the WDW website has a listing anywhere for do's and don'ts of bringing things in? I would look myself but, alas, WDW website is a banned/blocked site at work

 

[Hillbeans]

I also like to buy lunches in the parks on vacation. We're already staying in a vacation home this time and MIL wants to do a lot of home cooking - which is fine - but I also like to eat out as well. I plan on eating breakfasts at the house, lunch at the parks and dinner either home or at the house.

I do, however, bring bottled water into the parks along with DS' cup of juice along with a few granola bars or something easy to snack on between meals.

If the rest of DH's family wants to make sandwiches and bring them into the parks, so be it however I won't do that.

 

[robinb]

I don't see anything wrong with them bringing in a cooler as long as it fits in their stroller. Please ask them to leave the ones on wheels at home! They are a tripping hazzard in a crowded Disney park. While security won't turn away a small cooler in a stroller, they may in fact turn away a cooler or backpack on wheels.

My DD is a very picky eater. We pack a couple PB&J's in disposable Glad/Ziplock containers for her every day at the parks and we have never had a problem.

Bring two water bottles each and if you can stand florida water refill them at the bubblers.

Are you from Wisconsin? I thought we were the only ones that used the word "bubblers".

 

[cindybasket]

Make the sandwiches and get the condiments from the fixin' bar area and don't blink an eye about doing so! This past April, we bought FRIES from the eating area at MGM for the little ones to eat while the big kids went on Tower of Terror. Guess what? No ketchup to be found at the bar. The CM apologized and went over to an area to get a refill from somewhere else. She didn't say "sorry, but please go somewhere else and buy something from the other stand because we don't have any ketchup available and it would look completely wrong to get from another stand without buying something from it."

Getting a cup of ice water is FREE and available to anyone who asks for one at the counter service areas. Disposable cups have to be just as expensive to Disney as a condiments packet. If Disney wanted to make sure that no one was getting over on them regarding condiment packets, then they would only be behind the counter and available to people who bought something - they aren't. Whenever you notice a CM cleaning up after people who didn't take care of their food trays at counter service area, do you see them make sure that the unused condiments are brought back to the condiment area? Nope - they are thrown away.

I guess you could also say that anybody who brought in a sandwich or drink and wanted a napkin that they should also buy something from a vendor before taking a napkin or by utilizing the paper towels they would have been alloted for using the bathroom.

It's a little ridiculous to give a second thought about taking a mustard or mayo pack to put on your sandwich - if it bothers your conscience then just take one or two the next time you eat at one of the restaurants and considered yourself payed forward.

 

[jjarman]

Make the sandwiches and get the condiments from the fixin' bar area and don't blink an eye about doing so! This past April, we bought FRIES from the eating area at MGM for the little ones to eat while the big kids went on Tower of Terror. Guess what? No ketchup to be found at the bar. The CM apologized and went over to an area to get a refill from somewhere else. She didn't say "sorry, but please go somewhere else and buy something from the other stand because we don't have any ketchup available and it would look completely wrong to get from another stand without buying something from it."

Nothing wrong there. You bought fries at MGM so ketchup comes with them.

Getting a cup of ice water is FREE and available to anyone who asks for one at the counter service areas. Disposable cups have to be just as expensive to Disney as a condiments packet. If Disney wanted to make sure that no one was getting over on them regarding condiment packets, then they would only be behind the counter and available to people who bought something - they aren't. Whenever you notice a CM cleaning up after people who didn't take care of their food trays at counter service area, do you see them make sure that the unused condiments are brought back to the condiment area? Nope - they are thrown away.

I guess you could also say that anybody who brought in a sandwich or drink and wanted a napkin that they should also buy something from a vendor before taking a napkin or by utilizing the paper towels they would have been alloted for using the bathroom.


It's a little ridiculous to give a second thought about taking a mustard or mayo pack to put on your sandwich - if it bothers your conscience then just take one or two the next time you eat at one of the restaurants and considered yourself payed forward.

No. I think it is wrong to even take a mayo pack to put on your sandwich. You didn’t buy a sandwich there so you shouldn’t take the condiments. They are there for the guests who bought food there. Even napkins should not be taken. I don’t bring my picnic into McDonalds and use their tables, ketchup, napkins, straws, etc. That would be wrong. Bring your own ketchup, mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, etc.

 

[bopper]

She may find that her little ones need a break to go back to the hotel and nap.
That would be a good time for you to take your older one on some more of the thrill rides. After the lunch/naps, they could meet back up with you (I assume everyone has cell phones?) Otherwise don't waste your time waiting if they don't show up.