Soft sided cooler....(just so happens to have little wheels)

[dannysmommyval]

Can I carry this into the park? I want to carry water/food etc into the parks and this bag has a strap and I can carry it.

Will I get stopped at the gates to the parks because it has wheels?
Will I get stopped in the park if I just happen to use those wheels and pull it?

I have 2 10 year old boys and my mom and mom mom going and I think I am going to have to pack a bunch of stuff.

What are your thoughts/experiences?

Many thanks for any input!

 

[livndisney]

Can I carry this into the park? I want to carry water/food etc into the parks and this bag has a strap and I can carry it.

Will I get stopped at the gates to the parks because it has wheels?
Will I get stopped in the park if I just happen to use those wheels and pull it?

I have 2 10 year old boys and my mom and mom mom going and I think I am going to have to pack a bunch of stuff.

What are your thoughts/experiences?

Many thanks for any input!

Disney rules say no rolling coolers. Basically nothing you can pull behind you.

 

[RMulieri]

They may stop you for carrying it, you try to roll it and they will definitely stop you. Rolling items are prohibted. They are an incredible risk for trips and falls for those around you.

 

[dismom2-3]

You may not want to buy another cooler, and I get that, but I did find a great one at Target. It was in the sporting section with the water bottles and such. It is a backpack. We used it at Disney World last year and it was great. You could get two and have the kids carry them? They are cool looking, not at all nerdy and you wouldn't even know it was a cooler. We just bought my dad one for our trip this year. BTW it has an mp3 section on top with a hole for the earphone cord.

 

[tlens]

How much stuff do you really need? They do sell food there. Throw some granola bars in a backpack, freeze some water bottle and bingo, snacks for the day.

If they say no rolling coolers, then it's no rolling coolers. There's really nothing vague about that policy.

 

[growinupdisney]

You may not want to buy another cooler, and I get that, but I did find a great one at Target. It was in the sporting section with the water bottles and such. It is a backpack. We used it at Disney World last year and it was great. You could get two and have the kids carry them? They are cool looking, not at all nerdy and you wouldn't even know it was a cooler. We just bought my dad one for our trip this year. BTW it has an mp3 section on top with a hole for the earphone cord.

Do you have a picture of this I would love to see it! May have to drive 45 min to get. Thats how far our closest target is.

 

[allison443]

Rolling coolers aren't allowed.

Maybe you could rent/swap a stroller!! j/k

 

[crisi]

my thought is that anything big enough to roll is too big to haul around for the day anyway.

If you want to pack in some stuff, do - but remember that anything you pack in needs to be carried around. Liquids - in particular - get heavy. Bulk doesn't fit on attractions easily (and there aren't a lot of places at Disney to stash stuff while you ride - you are carrying it with you - often putting it in very small bins).

 

[Magic Mom]

How much stuff do you really need? They do sell food there. Throw some granola bars in a backpack, freeze some water bottle and bingo, snacks for the day.

If they say no rolling coolers, then it's no rolling coolers. There's really nothing vague about that policy.

That's how we handle it. And if one of the kids wants more snacks, then they can carry their own small backpack. Besides, who wants to lug a cooler around the park, or worse yet run back and forth to the lockers all day.

 

[dismom2-3]

I can't post links yet, but it is an IGLOO Maxcold Max-Pack Cooler on Target's website. They have a pretty good picture. If you copy/paste this link, just add www before the target. Or put the name in search, it went right to it. Good Luck.



target.com/IGLOO-Maxcold-Max-Pack-Cooler/dp/B000F6RXBI/sr=1-2/qid=1238419088/ref=sr_1_2/183-2068740-1123420?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=0&pricerange=&index=target&field-browse=1038604&rh=k%3Acoolers&page=22

 

[dreaminofdisneyx7]

Thank you for the info on the backpack cooler. With five little ones, I have been trying to decide what to carry with us. We could drop a GRAND on snacks and water!!!

Here is the link for those who are interested. At least, I think it is LOL!!

http://www.target.com/IGLOO-Maxcold...ombrowse=0&index=target&rh=k:Igloo max&page=1

 

[tar heel]

You'll have a lot more fun at Disney World if you pack light. I can't imagine lugging around a thing like you're describing. Where would you put it while you go to a ride or show?

One thing I decided long ago in our family was that I wasn't going to be a pack mule. With fannypacks, backpacks and water bottles with straps, everyone can carry his/her own snacks. If someone thinks something is important enough to take, they can carry it themselves.

If this is your first trip, you may be surprised to find that counter service food is not as expensive as you thought it would be. It's less than my local mega mall and way less than most ballparks.

 

[PatsMom]

You'll have a lot more fun at Disney World if you pack light. I can't imagine lugging around a thing like you're describing. Where would you put it while you go to a ride or show?

One thing I decided long ago in our family was that I wasn't going to be a pack mule. With fannypacks, backpacks and water bottles with straps, everyone can carry his/her own snacks. If someone thinks something is important enough to take, they can carry it themselves.

If this is your first trip, you may be surprised to find that counter service food is not as expensive as you thought it would be. It's less than my local mega mall and way less than most ballparks.

ITA!! If DD or DH want it in the park, they carry it! She's been toting her own water bottle since she was old enough to not need a stroller. And she got her first fanny pack at age 5 to carry her autograph book and pen.

I can't imagine hauling a cooler around but I see other people doing it.

We bring water and once in a while small snacks into the parks. Travelling light is the way to go for us.

OP - odds are you will get stopped if you try to pull the cooler around. It is a safety hazard and the rules are pretty clear. As the PP mentions, counter service food isn't that terribly expensive at Disney. Water is what adds up fast but you can deal with that by getting ice water at any counter service instead of bottled water. The one thing we do find worthwhile to carry in hot weather is a refillable nalgene water bottle. They have a wide enough mouth that we can put ice in them and fill them up with regular tap water. DH uses Crystal Light because he hates the taste of WDW water but DD and I aren't as picky and just drink it straight.

 

[crisi]

Thank you for the info on the backpack cooler. With five little ones, I have been trying to decide what to carry with us. We could drop a GRAND on snacks and water!!!

Here is the link for those who are interested. At least, I think it is LOL!!

http://www.target.com/IGLOO-Maxcold...ombrowse=0&index=target&rh=k:Igloo max&page=1

You may be surprised. We seldom take time to stop for snacks - and the family (there are only four of us) gets one big thing of water in the morning and again mid afternoon to share - plus what we drink with meals and a few stops by water fountains. We are so busy it doesn't occur to us to stop, and when we do stop, we share. A kudos bar for each of the kids for the morning and a pack of fruit snacks for the afternoon is the most we carry in - and most often they go unused.

 

[tjmw2727]

I have seen folks stopped with a rolling cooler, if it has straps they will ask you to use them, if not you won't be allowed to bring it in. If you choose to use it be prepared to carry it and not roll it. FWIW I don't think it would be very easy/convenient to roll something behind you anyway. There would also be the issue of what to do with it while your on the rides?

I travel as the solo adult with my dd's and have since they were toddlers. I learned quickly to pack light. They both wear a water bottle strap sold at all the drink stands with a refillable water bottle. If they want to do autographs, press pennies or trade pins they use a fanny pack and carry wat they need. I use small shoulder bag or fanny pack and carry a few healthy snacks, country time or crystal lite drop in's and a few other things.

Even when I brought lots of snacks and such I found the kids wanted an ice cream or other snack anyway. Now I just budget for a snack or two each per day and carry just a few granola bars & such. I do enjoy the savings on drinks by us having our sports bottle though.

TJ

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

Forget the rolling cooler. To cumbersome, not allowed. Each person carries 1 water bottle/ snacks/ disposable poncho. If you really need food stuff take a small soft side cooler and keep in a locker.

 

[dismom2-3]

You may be surprised. We seldom take time to stop for snacks - and the family (there are only four of us) gets one big thing of water in the morning and again mid afternoon to share - plus what we drink with meals and a few stops by water fountains. We are so busy it doesn't occur to us to stop, and when we do stop, we share. A kudos bar for each of the kids for the morning and a pack of fruit snacks for the afternoon is the most we carry in - and most often they go unused.

I tend to agree, but only on the snack front. We used this cooler to keep water cold. We are a family of five, and were there in the summer. We bought two cases of water at the supermarket, one of larger bottles, and one with smaller. We were there for one week and left with a bottle each for the airport. We also bought additional bottles during the day as needed, we weren't able to carry all we needed for the day. Thank you August tropical heat and humidity! (FYI We still had a great time,heat and all!) Hydrated kids are happier kids! We didn't snack much between meals, because of the heat.

OP, you may want to look into the QS meal plan, or the DDP. I don't want to start a major debate, as many don't see the plans as a huge value. For us, and what our plans were, it was def. a good choice, it may eliminate your need to carry as much with you. That being said, it worked for US and our style of vacation, maybe not for you. You have a large age span to balance, with the two ten year olds and a great grandmom. I think that it is nice that you will all vacation together. Even though it looks as if your cooler plan may not work out, remember not to sweat the small stuff. It all somehow works out and you are having fun with your family. Have a good time.

 

[DISNEYNV]

You may not want to buy another cooler, and I get that, but I did find a great one at Target. It was in the sporting section with the water bottles and such. It is a backpack. We used it at Disney World last year and it was great. You could get two and have the kids carry them? They are cool looking, not at all nerdy and you wouldn't even know it was a cooler. We just bought my dad one for our trip this year. BTW it has an mp3 section on top with a hole for the earphone cord.

I have the coolers that look like a backpack! We use them for Disney trips and lunches for work. I also use them fir my baby bottles! We got them at Target.

 

[beccaewert]

When it was just DH and I-- I had a nice satchel bag that I took with sandwiches, and a couple frozen waters...

Now that I have DS (2 1/2) I will always bring a stroller (until all my kiddos are at least 9 +) it is so nice to have a stroller to put all your stuff in jackets, ponchos, snacks, water, souveniers....yeah sometimes the hassle of having a stroller in parking it, but honestly for us, the pros totally out-weighs the cons. Plus it doesn't have to be the huge disney strollers you rent,...we just bring an umbrella stroller or a graco stroller....

Ok on the note of the food not being expensive....I don't know about you guys, but I am the opposite when I'm hot....I get hungry,...plus you smell all that yummy junk food and your mouth starts watering...lol! DH and I would spend a fortune if we ate/drank every time we wanted something. Disney for us is an expensive vacation, we actually camp at Fort Wilderness so we can cook our own meals and save $$$ but still have the experience and the fun. So I understand the mom wanting to bring a cooler, especially with young kids. It really does add up,....for me it would! IF the kids are old enough to carry a backpack or fannypack....good let them carry a snack and water,...but at the end of a long day mom's usually end up with the baggage when the kids are pooped

I do agree that bringing a cooler would be hard to do w/o a stroller to store it in during the rides (besides a locker). So,...you might want to invest in a stroller if it sounds like something that would work for you? Just a suggestion,....I think everyone has there own ways of doing disney...and to each there own.

 

[princessmom29]

I don't know if this has been suggested, but a lot of my students put a frozen bottle of water down in a tube sock to bring to school in their backpacks. Keeps it from sweating all over everything else and provides some insulation.