Thanks for coming to planDisney, Janelle! You are asking the kind of question that indicates great planning! A good plan = a great vacation!
Guests visiting a Disney Park are able to enter the park, leave the park, and then re-enter the same park. So, the scenario you provided of going to a park, leaving to eat a meal at another location outside of the park, and then returning to the same park later sounds like a good Disney-day to me! Remember to make your Disney Park reservation after you have your park tickets! A reservation must be made for the Disney Park you plan on visiting! This can be done using the
Disney Park Pass Reservation System.
Janelle, another option that is once again available for Guests is the
Park Hopper ticket option. This ticket allows Guests to enter two Disney Parks in one-day. You can begin your day at one park, leave that park, and then enter another Disney Park after 2:00PM that same day! I recommend this option for adult-guests or adults traveling with older children. When you select the Park Hopper option, you only need to make a Park Pass Reservation for the park you plan on visiting first. You don't need to make a reservation for the second park you plan on visiting that day!
Keep bringing great questions to planDisney!
Hakuna Matata! Jonathan