Hi Mary,
Thank you for visiting the Disney Parks Moms Panel with your question!
I have always brought food into Walt Disney World theme parks with me. Especially with little ones, knowing that you have food readily available that they will eat is important! I have always carried a backpack with me in the theme parks, and in it I include water, as well as snacks that my family likes, such as pretzels, granola bars, and apples, to name a few. You can bring food into the theme parks as long as you adhere to the
restricted personal items list and do not bring in any alcohol or glass bottles (glass containers are allowed for baby food). Be sure that your backpack and other bags meet the size policy listed on that page, and you should be fine.
As to
dining reservations, if you want to dine at a table service restaurant while at Walt Disney World, it is a good idea to make those. For quick-service or snack locations, you do not need to worry about reservations. Given that you know your children best, you will have to decide if you think sit-down meals with them at Walt Disney World are a good idea. One of our tricks, when my husband and I wanted to enjoy a nice meal at Walt Disney World and my daughter was young, was to give her a treat that she did not usually get, but that she really liked, and would take her a long time to eat. Once, we bought her a gigantic cookie that was pretty crispy. She loved it, and sat in her high chair eating it for as long as it took my husband and I to have a lovely meal at
The Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney's Hollywood Studios!
I hope that these thoughts are helpful for you, Mary! Have a wonderful time planning your magical vacation.