Taking a cooler to the parks?

[Filomali]

Have you ever brought a cooler with you to the parks? I'm thinking of bringing a soft cooler with wheels to put the kids' snacks and drinks in.
Thoughts?

 

[leftaslide]

From what I can tell, they are not permitted. (Ones with wheels, anyways...) Not sure if it's changed...

http://disneyworldforum.disney.go.com/questions.aspx?qid=25667&cid=82

 

[leftaslide]

More specific here:

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/parks/

 

[4kids4karen]

Ugh, I am so mad about Disney not enforcing this! I tripped over a cooler with wheels a man was dragging behind him as we were exiting the Tikki Room. I didn't fall, but it should have never happened. I just loudly exclaimed to DH that THIS is why Disney doesn't allow coolers with wheels or other pull-behind contraptions. He was in the row in front of us, we were in the very back row, so of course after they exited their row I went to exit behind in an orderly fashion.

 

[Filomali]

Thank you.
This will be our first trip, that's why this board is so awesome because I can ask question and avoid problems due to ignorance.

 

[dsneprincess]

I have never carried a wheelie cooler, however, when my son was drinking milk but still bottle fed, I did bring in the soft sided cooler bags and ice packs without a problem. The bag did look like a tote bag, but I am sure it was post 9/11 bag check.

 

[McQueen2013]

From what I have read, it has to be soft sided, within certain dimensions, and cannot have wheels.

 

[monorailsilver]

Ugh, I am so mad about Disney not enforcing this! I tripped over a cooler with wheels a man was dragging behind him as we were exiting the Tikki Room. I didn't fall, but it should have never happened. I just loudly exclaimed to DH that THIS is why Disney doesn't allow coolers with wheels or other pull-behind contraptions. He was in the row in front of us, we were in the very back row, so of course after they exited their row I went to exit behind in an orderly fashion.

Were you there recently? The reason I ask is because Friday, August 9th ( I think..it was a Friday), we were in the MK. My dd and I were waiting for wishes on Main Street by the train station and my dh and other 2 were upstairs at the train station.

This man came near us with his dd I think in a double stiller and with a HUGE cooler. It looked like it had wheels. I am talking 2 feet by 2 feet.

Of course there was a perfect spot for him to stand in front of us, we'll in front of the man I was next to in an ECV. I told the man he needed to move and I was nice when I did. But then he chose to stand in front of my dd and me with his dd on his shoulders. Really? I was not nice and said loudly "oh great now we can't see." He got the hint and moved.

Anyway, back to the OP. I have taken a small lunch box into the parks. But it went in the stroller.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

We use a soft side cooler and stash it in a locker.

 

[Filomali]

oh yes, the lunch box idea is great. And probably a better idea anyway. Thanks.

 

[kcp1377]

We use the soft sided coolers and bento boxes for the kids' lunches. Works great and everything has it's own compartment. I'm shocked they let the guy with the big cooler in. I've never seen that!

 

[kim929]

I have also brought soft sided coolers into the park and hung them off the stroller.
I just came back on Wed from 10 days in the world and I couldn't believe how many people were pulling coolers on wheels.
I really wish Disney would enforce this they are pulling these coolers at least 2 feet behind them so your not looking for them, I saw many people trip over them.

 

[SqueekieKitty]

We just took a lunch box that we had laying around (that fit easily under the stroller) and still had ice cold sodas at the end of the day. I'm frankly baffled by the people dragging full-size coolers around all day... And yes, I saw plenty when we went last week.

 

[CiCiBee]

We use an igloo cooler backpack that my mom got us for Christmas. I believe she got it at target, that way we do not need to use a locker and we tend to carry a backpack anyways, why not it be a cooler one. When we spend all day in the parks in the summer, we just tend to dump out the water mid day and ask for 3 cups of ice for a QS place to refill. Keeps our water, lemonade, and fruit nice and cool!

here you go!

http://www.target.com/p/igloo-maxcold-maxpack-cooler/-/A-13465885#prodSlot=medium_1_1

 

[4kids4karen]

Were you there recently? The reason I ask is because Friday, August 9th ( I think..it was a Friday), we were in the MK. My dd and I were waiting for wishes on Main Street by the train station and my dh and other 2 were upstairs at the train station.

This man came near us with his dd I think in a double stiller and with a HUGE cooler. It looked like it had wheels. I am talking 2 feet by 2 feet.

Of course there was a perfect spot for him to stand in front of us, we'll in front of the man I was next to in an ECV. I told the man he needed to move and I was nice when I did. But then he chose to stand in front of my dd and me with his dd on his shoulders. Really? I was not nice and said loudly "oh great now we can't see." He got the hint and moved.

Anyway, back to the OP. I have taken a small lunch box into the parks. But it went in the stroller.

My incident happened 30-Jun. I don't know why Disney doesn't turn them away. I guess because they know how far it is to go back to the hotel.

 

[Filomali]

Well, I am planning to bring a stroller, so a wheeled cooler is not very practical.
Thank you for the backpack cooler idea, that's very neat!

I also just found out that our plan includes the refillable mugs, so I can get water at the parks.