Hi Christine,
I see that you'll be visiting Walt Disney World Resort later this spring! SO exciting! With the
Taste of EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival in full swing and all kinds of magic and fun to be had, you're going to have a BLAST!
I'm happy to share that yes, you're allowed to
bring your own food and drinks into the theme parks along with as much or as little gear as you'd like! While some Guests are able to waltz into the park with only their MagicBand and a wallet in their pocket, others bring a backpack or diaper bag, a small cooler, and a bag extra of clothing in case it cools off in the evening, they get wet on an attraction, or if any of their Mouseketeers are prone to accidents or spills. I'd encourage you to check out the
park rules which do limit bag and cooler sizes to 24" x 15" x 18", but as long as you don't have any items that are prohibited, please feel free to bring whatever you feel is necessary to help you have a magical day. When my kiddos were smaller, I needed more gear for diaper changes, feedings, etc., but nowadays, I tend to bring MagicBands, photo IDs, any necessary medicine, sunscreen, sunglasses, a water bottle, snacks, ponchos (if necessary), a few small sensory toys for my kiddo with autism, and hand sanitizer, but that's about it. I can fit all of that into a sling bag, and I have everyone in my crew tie a sweatshirt around their waist if they're worried about the temperature dropping at night.
If you can't quite fit as much in your bags as Mary Poppins and have more gear with you than you'd care to cart around all day, you'll be happy to know that there are
lockers available to rent in every theme park. So convenient!
Thanks so much for visiting us at planDisney, Christine, and please let us know if we can help with anything else as you're thinking through the details of your trip. I hope you and your loved ones have a truly magical vacation!
Missy