Are you heading to a magical vacation soon and wondering if you can bring food into Disneyland Park or Disney World? I think bringing food like snacks and water into the Disney parks is a great idea because it can save you money! It can also help save young kids from having a meltdown in the Walt Disney World parks. Just because your Disney vacation took loads of planning and an investment of time and money, kids will still be kids. Snacks help when they are feeling cranky, irritable or even just bored!
Our family typically plans one sit down meal, whether that be at a quick service location or a sit down reservation. We grab breakfast on the go on our way to the parks, since we love the lower crowds at rope drop. The rest of the time, we just snack through the parks.
Keep reading to see what snack items are allowed in the Disney theme parks, along with some storage ideas and any important details you need to know about bringing outside food and your own meals into Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort.
Disney Guidelines for Bringing Food Into Disneyland and Disney World
Disney World and Disneyland both have their outside food policy on the Disney World website and Disneyland website. Their rules specifically state that outside food and drinks:
- must be for guests’ self-consumption
- must not be in glass containers (except baby food jars)
- not need to be reheated or refrigerated
- not have pungent odors
- are nonalcoholic beverages
- larger coolers pulled behind are not allowed past the security checkpoint; soft-sided coolers are acceptable
Disneyland food policy states that Disneyland Park does offer a complimentary picnic area outside of the main entrance. This could be a great option for a larger family that would like to bring in meals and be able to spread out and sit down. Both parks also suggest that you alert the security cast member of any food items you are bringing into the parks.
Cooler Restrictions at Disneyland and Disney World
There are some strict rules on bringing coolers into Disney World theme parks. Coolers can not be more than 24″ long x 15″ wide x 18″ high. You also cannot use loose ice in the coolers, as it will make going past security difficult. Use reusable ice packs or put ice in a Ziploc bag for temperature control. Also, consider packing an insulated cooler bag or soft sided coolers for easier transport of your own snacks. If you bringing items for any medical issues or for specific dietary restrictions, make sure they will be safe at the cooler’s temperature.
Snacks to Pack for Disney World and Disneyland
Can you bring food into Disneyland and Disney World? If you are looking to pack your own food for a Disney vacation, simplicity is my personal preference! Consider using grocery delivery services like InstaCart or Amazon to have groceries delivered to your Disney resort hotels, especially if you do not have a car available. Check your resort rules for possible fees associated with food delivery. Also, be advised that some delivery services require a signature and ID for alcoholic beverages.
On our last trip, we also utilized Wal Mart pick up service, since we had a car. This saved us some money on delivery fees which is always great!
Simple snacks to pack to include would be:
- energy bars or granola bars
- frozen grapes or apples
- peanut butter crackers
- single size bags of chips
- carrot sticks
- trail mix
- gum (not sold in Disney parks)
- hard candy/lollipops
- Goldfish/cheese crackers
- yogurt raisins
Remember, to try not to bring too much food, as mom and dad will have to tote it through the parks and the parking lots. It’s always a good idea to let the kids pick and choose their own snacks to make sure they aren’t begging for items throughout the park.
Our new rule is to let each child pick one special snack for the day, so that we aren’t spending an exorbitant amount of money (and calories) on Disney snacks every day of our Disney vacation. Also, another good idea is to consider throwing a few empty Ziploc bags into your fanny packs or day bag. These will come in handy if you have leftovers that you want to enjoy later in the day.
Water in Disney Parks
If you are visiting any of the parks, whether it be the water parks, Downtown Disney, Magic Kingdom, Disney California Adventure Park, or any other, make sure to pack your own bottle of water! I love so many things about Disney, but overpriced bottles of water are not one of them! Consider using a reusable water bottle like Hydro Flasks to keep water cold throughout the day.
Also, remember do not try to use refillable water bottles for alcohol. Some have tried to bring in clear liquor and Disney clearly prohibits this in the parks. There are a variety of great dining options in the parks which will offer a wide range of choices of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages.
Quick service restaurants are a great place to grab free water, along with other beverage items. Water stations are also available throughout the park. Make sure to stay hydrated on your trip!
I hope these ideas help you decide what to bring on your next Disney vacation and answer your question about can you bring food into Disney World or Disneyland. Sign up for my free list of items to pack for your next Disney vacation. Be sure to keep reading for more ideas on:
Guide for an Adults trip to Disney World
Non Park Day at Disney With Kids
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