Where to eat bagged lunch at the parks?

[singitalto]

To keep within our budget I want to brown bag a couple of lunches. We always bring snacks, i figured we would bring some pb&j sandwiches

Where is a good out of the way place to stop and eat our bagged lunch at each of the parks??

 

[SeaWitch]

We like to head over to Aunt Polly's landing in MK. It's typically pretty relaxed over there... and if the kids need to run around - they can!
We also get a kick out of hearing the piped in music punctuated by the occasional howl from Haunted Mansion wafting across the water.

 

[Colleen A.]

We ate outside of Tomorrowland in MK. Not sure of what it is called, but there were outside table with umbrellas. We ate around 11, before the lunch rush. Wanted to be courteous to those buying lunch in the park!

Colleen

 

[Wiggle]

There is a nice, quiet, shaded patio with a few tables behind the Liberty Tree Tavern.

 

[PieInYourEye]

At the train station, upstairs, looking down on Main Street. Conveniently near the lockers.

 

[AKASnowWhite]

I'm with Wiggle....behind LTT is such a nice quiet and (shady ) spot. Rather relaxing, IMO.

 

[Ethelina]

I'm not sure if I got this right??? You may pack a lunch and they allow it to be brought into the parks? I'm not thinking of a cooler but a small colapsable lunch tote for kids. This is allowed? I read water may be brought in but snacks also? This would be great to keep our food budget down.

 

[Colleen A.]

When we were there, we'd take the lunch in with us in our backpack. No one ever stopped us. You're not "supposed" to, but they don't really bother. Now, if you were to bring in a large cooler, I'm sure they'd say something! We'd bring in juice boxes for the kids, make sandwiches out of bagels (they hold up better than bread!) and snacks. Once the lunch is gone, there's plenty of room for souveniors!!

Colleen

 

[Ethelina]

Thanks for the info!! I wouldn't take in anything bigger than a backpack or diaper bag. But some snacks for the kids would help out alot. Do they random search anyone's backpack for security? We will have our DD who is 8 mos.

 

[kda]

They routinely search everyone's bags (separate line if you aren't carrying anything, so you don't have to wait). It seems that Disney is pretty tolerant about overlooking food that's brought into the parks and people aren't questioned about it.

Quite different from a nearby casino entertainment venue that seems to use the "security" concern to search everyone and prohibits absolutely EVERYTHING from being brought in.

 

[DocRafiki]

those sound like good recommendations.

this reminded me of a bit of tackiness i saw on my last trip to mgm... there were people eating their sack lunches under the canopy covering the entrance to the Brown Derby restaurant. It totally ruined the mood. There are plenty of outdoor tables set aside for fast food and snacks.

At DAK, I found this great place that I never saw in any of my former visits. It's hidden behind the Flame Tree BBQ and is sooooo pretty (and has LOTS of seating). You can even watch the parade from one corner of it.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Quite different from a nearby casino entertainment venue that seems to use the "security" concern to search everyone and prohibits absolutely EVERYTHING from being brought in.

What casino would that be? Foxwoods NEVER checks anything.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

this reminded me of a bit of tackiness i saw on my last trip to mgm... there were people eating their sack lunches under the canopy covering the entrance to the Brown Derby restaurant. It totally ruined the mood. There are plenty of outdoor tables set aside for fast food and snacks.

It is this tackiness, that make me wish they would enforce their "no outside food" rule a bit more.

 

[Ethelina]

I'm glad to hear the security is checking bags for obvious safety issues. I'm also glad Disney can tolerate my outside food since they are already getting a good chuck of my money.

I will be sitting in areas for non-paying customers like benches. But if I seen a family sitting in the "wrong" place having a bagged lunch. I would never judge them. I would be happy for them that they are at Disney!!

 

[joanuk]

When I was on the official disney website the other day there was a comment ( in Q&A I think) that you are allowed to take your own food into the parks but they advise against large coolers because of locker space.

 

[GEM]

Just please don't eat it at one of the outside seating areas for the counter service restaurants, thus preventing someone who actually purchased their food there from having a place to sit. That has happened to us a few times.

 

[SeaWitch]

With all this talk about tackiness... I guess I should add to my earlier post.

We do like to go to Aunt Polly's but we always purchase a drink and sometimes an ice cream.... I don't think we would feel right about taking over a table if we were only bringing in our own food. Plus, we don't make a big production out of the food items that we do bring in... we bring it in a small collapsable cooler tucked inside our backpack, etc.

No harm - no foul!

 

[Debbie]

I saw a number of the square coolers on "wheels" (collapsible handles like the luggage) at the parks last week. We had loads of snacks with us in the backpack, and yes, they check everything: backpacks, waist/fanny packs, diaper bags, camera bags. . . Very reassuring, but it can be time consuming, too, at certain times of the day. That could fluster some commando type plans lol.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I believe that is only for the water parks.


Q. May I bring my own food and beverages in to the Water Parks?

A. Coolers of a size that may be safely carried are permitted. No glass containers or alcoholic beverages allowed. There is no storage areas for coolers.

 

[GEM]

Actually, I don't even think it's true for the water parks anymore, is it? Didn't they switch to a "no cooler" policy - or maybe I'm wrong.