Hello, Mary!
Welcome to planDisney! I think that snacks are key to a great day in the parks, so I'm glad you're already thinking about packing your perfect "park day" bag! I love a fresh churro or a cool DOLE Whip, but I also know that sometimes it's nice to be able to bring some items from home.
Guests are welcome to bring outside food and nonalcoholic beverages with them to the parks as long as nothing is in glass containers, and you don't need to reheat or refrigerate anything. There are also some limits to the size of the cooler or bag that you bring (no more than 24" long by 15" wide by 18" high) and you won't be able to bring loose ice. Reusable ice packs work great, and sometimes I even freeze tubes of yogurt to keep our other snacks cool. It's a good idea to check the
Park Rules and Regulations before your visit to make sure you don't run into any surprises on the prohibited items list.
I often pack snacks like grapes, carrots, crackers, and granola bars in reusable plastic containers so nothing gets squished in my bag. As a bonus, I can use those plastic containers to hold my favorite park snacks later, like popcorn and cookies! You should also bring refillable water bottles so that you can use the many
water bottle filling stations around the parks! I usually bring a fairly small bottle, since it's so easy to find a spot to fill it back up again.
Between snacks and extra layers during this time of year, I often like to
rent a locker to store some of our gear. Your rental is good for the whole day, so you can visit your locker as often as you'd like! It's a great place to keep snacks, jackets, and souvenirs on a long day in the parks.
The
Holidays at the Disneyland Resort are truly magical, Mary! I hope you will feel all the joy and love this season.
Keep moving forward!
Amanda