Hi Kristy, and welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! It's great to answer an old friend of the panel once again!
I've just called my dear friends at
Guest Services to confirm the information that you can take a hard cooler into the Theme Parks as long as it doesn't have wheels and fits
within the size rules. It's also wise to remember that
loose ice is not allowed, so it's nice to keep the ice inside resealable plastic bags, for example.
To make the Theme Park visits more comfortable, my husband and I
rent lockers to keep the food fresh and move freely. We pack delicate items like sandwiches and fruit into a small collapsible cooler and store it on the locker until it's mealtime. We've done it with tuna sandwiches, bagels, apples and bananas and they were all great from dawn to dusk!
This strategy helps us keep our backpack lights and the food fresh, so it's a win-win!
Let us know if you want more help, as we'd love to help with specific tips for each
Theme Park or to guide you through the awesome rooms available at the
Disney Hotels.
May the magic be with you,
Julie