Hi Yolanda,
You must be so excited that your
Walt Disney World vacation is just a few days away. I'm glad you stopped by the Disney Parks Moms Panel with your last-minute planning question, and I'm happy to answer it for you.
If you want to save money or time on meals (or cater to your family's special dietary desires), you are welcome to bring in your own snacks, food and drinks to the Walt Disney World theme parks with only a few restrictions. You can't bring alcoholic beverages from outside the parks or glass containers (except for baby food jars). Plastic straws are prohibited at
Animal Kingdom.
Otherwise, you are good to go. Over the years, I have seen lots of families setting up their own picnics, everything from a shared loaf of bread, bag of chips and plastic jar of peanut butter to a full three-course hot meal stored in a cooler in a stroller.
If you bring a cooler, it needs to fit within the size guidelines you will find in the
list of park rules, no larger than 18" high by 15" wide by 24" long. Loose ice and dry ice are not allowed. Solid ice packs are recommended.
Here's another tip for saving money in the parks: Every quick service restaurant will give you a cup of ice water, whether or not you buy food there. It's important to stay hydrated in the theme parks, so I recommend bringing a refillable water bottle for each member of your family. You also will find water fountains throughout the parks and a number of water bottle filling stations.
Please let us know if we can answer any other questions for you as your vacation nears, Yolanda. We're always happy to assist. Enjoy!
Wilma