Asian families have been doing this for decades. Once, we snuck in bacon sandwiches as light snacks in between meals to Disney World. When we went to sit down and eat them, we sat beside a Filipino family and on their table was a rice cooker pot and a Lock & Lock of adobo. It was wild. Our family ended up friends with that family by the end of the day.
As a man who is married to a Filipina, I have seen this on every trip I make. They take a banquet to every occasion. Good for the hunger, if not the waistline.......
I was amazed when I took my parents for afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian. I was worried there might not be much my father could eat as a diabetic but I put the info on the booking and reminded the server when we were seated. Within 5 minutes the chef came out and spoke to my father about what he likes and doesn’t like. When our afternoon tea arrived my father had a tailor made selection of low and no sugar desserts which he really appreciated.
I’m so glad to hear that! I get such weird looks when I ask if places have sugar free desserts.....and for me, it is a migraine trigger so it’s very important for me to not accidentally eat sugar!
I'll have to remember this. My mom doesn't like to remember she's diabetic and will go for the sweets. But if we can get those no sugar options I'll be ecstatic.
Just keep in mind to look for aspartame or sucralose in so-called sugar-free desserts or drinks. These are bleached sugars and have been proven to cause cancer.
As an Orlando resident I've seen it all at theme parks. Going so frequently I always remember to bring my thermos and granola bars. My snack budget is for an occasional turkey leg and ice cream. The point of Disney is to enjoy the park, not to spend $100 a day which is very easy to do. There is no shame in bringing your own snacks. I've seen a family at Universal with a backpack with a 2L Pepsi, bag of Doritos, and Lunchables for the kids and they were much happier than the family with kids screaming for ice cream. Come prepared to keep the experience pleasant.
Some people like my mom are terrified of rides and won’t go on so she enjoys the snack. Everyone’s Disney experience is not the same. Snack may be pointless to you but definitely not to everyone.
@@annies6566 Never said snacks are pointless, I'm just applauding the video for reminding people you could go to the park with snacks and save money for more memorable experiences. I can remember going to Universal with my grandmother and she sat on benches 80% of the visit. The only ride we convinced her to go on was Jaws. That memory will stay with me forever. In my opinion don't spend money on snacks and try a nice sit down restaurant where you can eat true fine dining that Disney and other theme parks are known for. For Disney my Favorite time of year is the Food & Wine Festival, the only splurging event of the year!
Honestly, imo, the only time it’s acceptable to spend $100 or more on food or drinks at Disney is during the festivals at Epcot. If the purpose of that one particular trip to Disney is to try the drinks and foods, the price is worth it. But it’s absolutely not worth it to do multiple times.
When we went when my kids were young, We packed an extra suitcase with snacks, fruit cups, cereal, and breakfast stuff, and then used the empty suitcase for souvenirs.
For years we brought lunch for the five of us in a soft sided cooler that fit in the lockers. The train station next to the lockers used to have a few tables and chairs. No one ever used those. We would have lunch there with a view straight down Main Street. Best view in the Park.
There are six people in my family and that made everything even more expensive. So on our first trip to Disney world we would leave the park around six and get our hands stamped (which we found exciting) and we would have a car picnic in the parking lot. We made our own sandwiches and got to have a fun time for dinner. Afterwards we would go back in the park for more rides and fireworks. Looking at it now, I know it was because my parents couldn’t really afford table service restaurants but i didn’t care. It was fun and memorable for me and I loved it.
As a kid my family and I would go a lot, all the kids had a snack bag and we all had the same amount of snacks. we visited all the parks in one day (Park Hopper) and having those snacks really helped out. Definitely recommend for parents who want to save money.
It shocks me how many people (based on your survey) don’t even bring snacks to the park! I even bring snacks going to stores/short trips on normal, non vacation days just in case 😂
I think the people that do that are first timers and aren’t aware that u can bring food or just carry enough money that they don’t mind spending it on the expensive food and snacks or just don’t want to carry around food in their packs
Bringing food isn't allowed in some other parks like six flags etc. Once we packed burgers for six flags and when we got the entrance, they made us put it back in the car. So by the time we got to the car it had gone bad in the summer heat.
We've been DVC members for years, and as the mother of four big eaters (plus me and my husband), I've got the food thing at WDW down. We go to Sam's in Orlando and load up the room for the week. Every day, breakfast before we take off to the parks; pack sandwiches/snacks/drinks for lunch picnics inside the parks, and then reservations at a nice sit down WDW restaurant for dinner. Honestly, this saves us HUNDREDS of dollars, but we still get the fun of eating "out" once a day. Good compromise for us. Of course we cheat and get drinks and special treats here and there, but packing food for the parks really helps keep us in budget.
@@katierowen3166 HI ~ we have a thermal backpack and ice the water to keep the bag cool. (My son is the poor pack mule who carries it all, but he's a big strong guy). Food stays nice and cool.
When my family went to planet Hollywood last year, I asked if a sandwich I wanted had blue cheese in it, and if I could get it without, given I’m allergic to blue cheese. The chief himself actually came out to tell me the sandwich I had had no blue cheese.
Now that Mickey Bars pricing increased from 5$ to $7 bucks more snacks for the kids is a must, they will go through snacks especially waiting on rides like nothing!
Tip: If you are flying with snacks and they individually wrapped in mylar (fruit snacks, granola bars, etc.) keep them in the original box! If you take them out to save space, the airport security will need to wand check every single one...you will be that person holding up the entire security line
The baby care centers are a life saver! Often the one or two changing tables in the bathrooms have long lines but the one in the baby care centers (which can also get busy) just feel so much more relaxing. And they clean them and have little covers you can put down and then dispose of...they are just nice little place where you can sit and rest. They also have tiny toilets (but not a lot of privacy) for toddlers.
As a kid, this was our BIG trick for park days! All the snacks with frozen water bottles & CapriSuns (to thaw throughout the day and stay hydrated in the heat). I will say now that we are older, we don’t find ourselves packing snacks anymore. Every family is different and I thank you guys for always sharing why a tip may or may not work for someone.
Yes! I bring emergency bottled drinks. Water is free in cups at QS but nothing beats having the water with you when you get dehydrated waiting in line.
Instead of cold packs in the cooler, freeze 8oz water bottles that are easy to move around in the cooler and will be cold refreshing water in the afternoon. Also no heavy cold packs to lug around; as the bottles are emptied the cooler gets lighter.
Eating out is part of the experience for us. Having said that - Day 1 when we arrive at the resort is making an order from Amazon. Easy breakfast items. Quick energy items. Late-night snacks (chips, salsa, popcorn). Bottled water. We're set for quick snacks in our room if we don't want to head out or if it's late and options are limited but we want to much. It always pays off in convenience and (to some extent) price. Even when we're leaving a 1/2case of bottled drinks on the table with a note to Mousekeeping offering them a drink on their break.
Even the Value Resorts have a chief that can make special meals. I have a granddaughter that is allergic to tomatoes and the chief at the hotel care out and made her a personal pizza with white sauce. I was grateful and she was thrilled. He also made a pizza for her twin sister just because he wanted to be fair to both girls.
This is why I love the Disney Dinning Plan. It’s already been budgeted once we’re at the parks & don’t have to give a second thought to eating. Just scan our magic band & continue our vacation. Yes, it would be pricy out of pocket but the freedom it brings is worth it for us. I mean, you’re Disney Food Blog. You gotta know the food is part of the fun.
Here's another saving tip, there's nothing that can stop you from ordering a kids menu in Disney except perhaps at table service restaurants (never went in any, its way out of my budget sorry I can't spend 30-40-50$ per meal + tips) I've ordered several kids meals in the different quick service restaurants, sometimes just ordering 2 kids meal can save money and you end up with even more than the adult portions.
I know no one cares but I’m so excited I’m going to my dream hotel in 2 months the contemporary I’ve been wanting to go for a long time I’m so excited and I’m going in 2 weeks I’m going to do dcp once i get older so I can be a hotel manager I love Disney omg
I care.. ❤.. It's exciting when someone gets to go to Disney in the near future because we all know the feeling of excitement and anticipation- at least those of us who are huge disney fans. Side note: Something we did that helped us feel that our trip was longer than it actually was from a mental standpoint.. we woke up at the crack of dawn (and we are NOT early morning people but made sure not to push the snooze and just made ourselves get up), then we arrived at rope drop (which is exciting in itself), then left at around noon to nap (even if not tired, still go back to hotel and lay down and close your eyes to rest), then we went back to the parks later that afternoon and stayed till closing. Because of this schedule, 1 day actually felt like 2 days because there was a bit of sleep in between, so it felt like it was another day after we awoke from our nap. Edit: I just read my response, and all i really had to say was to suggest to "take a nap in the middle of the day".. . .. some people make long stories short, but I make short stories long 🥴
On our Disneyland trip my dad got us a popcorn bucket to share as a family at the beginning of the trip. We also packed our own sandwiches during the day and had breakfast at the hotel every morning. It was great!
I have gone as far as to bring my own toaster to a hotel to make toast, bagels, toaster strudel ect. Breakfast is one thing I just don’t like spending money on.
DFBGuide Please don’t endorse this behavior. Irresponsible and selfish. Highly doubt the hotel would be ok with that. And pretty sure underwriters would never approve a liability insurance that allows for it either.
You dang, we clean up after ourselves, unplug it when we are done... there is no harm in this. I have been to hotels that have a communal gas and charcoal grills in the courtyard so that you can host visitors. These were not at Disney, but still. Leave things better than you found them, use common sense, and it’s fine.
Chelsey Parker, and imagine just one guest not taking care to do what you say you do. Imagine one spark and a fire at the property. I’m a business owner. I have strict codes, rules, laws I need to follow. My insurance goes way up if any of them are violated. Suggesting people bring their “toaster to a hotel” is extremely irresponsible. It’s a simple thing to understand.
I love that you included gastric bypass in this!! I went for the first time after surgery in February 6 months post op, and was struggling to even get any info or if there was an reference to Gastric Bypass at all! Thanks!
Into the parks? Almost never. We often make breakfast in the morning, though, at the hotel room, and we definitely bring water into the park. I actually love getting breakfast in the parks, especially the nutella waffle sandwich! I might change my tune, though, next time I go to the parks because I'll be bringing a toddler. God only knows what he'll eat at that point, and we'll bring snacks for him. :)
We used to bring ziploc bags with goldfish and cheerios for my granddaughter when she was a toddler. It was great because toddlers can love something one minute then act like you are tying to poison them the next with some foods. lol. I loved it when she was that age though to watch her reactions of seeing everything in the parks.
My gf eats gluten-free AND requires kosher food. Since very few of Disney’s kosher offerings were also gluten free, she mostly brought her own breakfasts and lunches; then for dinner she pre-ordered a kosher meal and worked out the gluten-free aspect with a guest service member. One thing that was funny; we had dinner at Chefs de France and both the waiter and the chef were visibly distressed that they didn’t have much to offer her for dessert. They wound up bringing her a bowl of fresh berries with a little sugar sprinkled on top. It was very sweet of them!
Especially with younger kids we always brought a few snacks. It's easy to even find fun Disney themed snack to bring which they're still excited for. Especially because for us it never failed that while waiting in line for a ride was when they wanted a snack.
It's good to know that the park allow us to bring outside food to the park, because I think another reason guests don't bring their own food is because they probably assumed no outside food or drinks are allowed. I've been to a few theme parks and entertainment venues that either ask the guests to return their food and/or drinks to the car or to toss them in the garbage before being allowed to enter.
I have never been to the Disneyland/world in America and I love watching these videos just to see all the amazing things that are there! Edit: I love your videos AJ and your voice is soo calming! If it were on an audiobook I would listen to it all the time xD
Make that the two of us! I live in an entirely different continent but I love binging DFB videos. It just makes me happy and I kinda feel like I'm there. Plus, AJ's voice is sooo calming.
We always bring food to resorts or into the parks. With little ones bringing snacks is a must. My big food saver if not on free dining is eating breakfast in the room (oatmeal, frozen breakfast sandwiches, etc..) One trip my mom made sandwiches for lunch everyday during our trip into the parks since we had a full kitchen at Saratoga Springs.
😎👍 When we stay at our Wyndham Bonnet Creek resort, breakfast and afternoon snacks are fixed there but always take a frozen bottled water. While returning to a theme park from an afternoon pool break, we stop at nice, off-property restaurants using discounted gift cards or vouchers. On waterpark days, we take snacks along with water then fix and eat dinner at the Wyndham's lakeside barbecue grills.
Over time I learned to take my snacks and refillable water bottle, we take fruits and small sandwiches.... we always eat one time at any of the restaurants in the parks, we like to just seat and enjoy! Usually the hotel we pick has breakfast included so we do not worry about that...
I recommend bringing a couple granola bars and some snack pack and a refillable water bottle. You can get that water bottle refill at anywhere that has a soda fountain for free
I always pack healthyish snacks for the morning for the whole family and leave the afternoon to indulge on Disney’s amazing snacks. I think that’s the perfect balance for my family.
We bring trail mix to get us through that last long ride line before we go to eat. A few snacks for the room to hold us over. We love micro popcorn for late night in the room. Portable and " fresh". 🍿 Thanks for the great vids AJ. Always my favorite way to start the day!
I watch all of these videos despite knowing I won't be able to go to Disney for years, over in Scotland but definitely wanting to plan a trip in the next few years after uni. Obsessed 🎉🎉❤️
I freeze my bottled water since it is usually hot in Florida. That way I can always have cold water while simultaneously keeping whatever I need chilled. The food and snacks are usually gone by dinner! Another option to save would be to eat lunch at the park...usually the least expensive option and keep the snacks for dinner.
Funny story. Our son with cerebral palsy eats PB&J daily for lunch. Having not been to WDW for 10 years, we didn't know what to expect at the "store" (Saratoga Springs we stayed, first time). I found at our home store a half loaf of bread so i thought perfect. Bought a cheap thing of jelly and individual PB containers. Stuffed it in our backpack and I forgot to tell my other son the bread was in his backpack. Well, it was smooshed by the time we got to the hotel! Flying from WI in our 50s, we now can afford this kind of trip. I wouldn't do that again knowing I can buy a loaf of bread ($) at the "local store".
I always make oatmeal with a banana mashed into it with hot water from the coffee pot in hotel rooms! I just rinse it out well the night before and then fill those paper coffee cups with water and pour it in the back then dump in a packet of oatmeal and put it under the drip. Mash in a banana and pop on the top and you can take it to go. I have celiac disease so knowing I have something in my belly early on makes life easier. We then have lunch somewhere that we have researched as GF friendly (lunch is usually cheaper).
I always bring dry cereal to eat while standing in line waiting for the park to open and keep snacking on the cereal throughout the morning while in lines. When Extra Magic Hour is at 7am and we're leaving the hotel at 6am, nobody is hungry for breakfast that early anyways and we're in a hurry. It's easy to eat dry cereal while in line and walking around. I also always bring apple slices. Then we buy quick service meals in the parks for lunch and dinner.
Good tips. Especially in Florida, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen. We tend to eat a healthy light breakfast then arrive early at a restaurant for a larger mid day lunch, then take a nap, then relaunch and eat a light on the go evening snack.
Agree, I've always brought my own snacks to save time! You'll be surprised how many extra things you can do in your day when you aren't waiting in line for food. Great vid AJ 😊
I'm not advocating breaking any rules or local laws, but food/drinks from home is an excellent way to get absolutely turn't in the magic kingdom. My wife and I once did the late night MK hard ticketed event, and we started the night off with some brownies we brought from home. Let me tell you: no lines, too late for little ones, 51F degrees outside, unlimited soda and snacks, with your brain somewhere in outer space...best way to do Disney after the age of 30.
One of those people with multiple allergies here! My biggest tip would probably be that if you're hesitant to talk to a chef at any of the table service restaurants, DON'T BE! It's a super easy, quick conversation, and it can get you some absolutely life-affirming results. Disney World was the first place I ever had french fries (Garden Grill), brownies (50's Prime Time), dinner rolls (Cinderella's Royal Table). It was the first place I ever ate leeks (they were in this Creamed Leek soup thing at the Rose and Crown, one of the best meals I ever had), seriously DO NOT feel bad about requesting a chef! If you're anything like me, it'll be no more awkward than giving the waiter The Spiel at any other restaurant, and will end you up with some lifelong food memories to show for it.
When I went last December, I brought some pop-tarts and prepackaged muffins from home for breakfast and made coffee in the room. Other than the cost savings, it also made for a calmer start to the day. Lunch and dinner I ate in the park, with some packaged snacks in my bag just in case.
if you have any credits left, even meal credits, you can break them down and use them in the gist shop for novelty candies to take home for gifts for friends
We purchased a small cooler backpack and used those plastic ice packs (not bags of ice). We also packed chicken salad sandwiches, waters and plenty of snacks for the day. We had no problem with security at Disney or Universal. I will say you want a smaller sized cooler backpack so it can fit in the ride lockers.
We often bring our own breakfast or snacks to Disney, but it’s in part because two of us have celiac and with the dining plan, we need to have some way to cover that third meal. Often it’s quick and dirty stuff to eat fast in the morning, and we have lunch/dinner on the dining plan. And we stay at the Cabins at Fort Wilderness since they have fridges and toasters and other kitchen stuff. Great for homemade pop-tarts or other stuff. Disney is the best place for gluten-free services and is THE gold standard among us, though. It’s mainly a budget measure, hard to get a good fast GF breakfast like your one follower said. @dfbGuide
We usually order food from grocery stores like light breakfast items such as fruit and bagels, plus snacks and drinks. We just don’t eat huge breakfasts and it’s easy to grab and go. But we enjoy eating out for lunch and dinner.
We have brought 2 kids in the past, and we’ll soon be bringing 5 kids, including 2 teenagers, in June. In Nov., my husband and I will be going alone. We always bring snacks and water. I would not want to get caught in a long line with a hangry kid. We also don’t like to stop for food because we have to. We’d rather eat a quick snack, and then we can be more intentional with our money and our time. I don’t want to spend $40 on snacks for our kids, when those were the snacks available in the area and not the ones they’ve really been looking forward to. I hope that makes sense:) Also, I like to bring protein snacks, like quality meat sticks or nuts, to help balance out those sugary treats we’ll be buying.
What I liked was how relaxed they could be as well. I have a nut allergy, but because of constant exposure as a child (my parents were a bit forgetful!) my reactions are relatively mild, or I can control them. So I've sometimes told staff in places I had a nut allergy, and they would flat out refuse to serve me most of the menu because of liability! At Disney and other spots in Orlando, I could tell them about my allergy, and then tell them not to worry... and they'd listen! :)
We bring general prepackaged snacks for our hotel room, to eat if we go back during the day.We eat all our meals at the hotels and parks.The refillable mugs are great to fill before you go to the parks in the morning.Buying the special Disney snacks is a huge part of our vacation.We look forward to that each time.
Since we live locally, we eat breakfast at home. Since part of the fun for us is to eat at WDW, we just work that into our budget as part of our visit. But many times our meals are separate from a Disney visit - we used to (i.e., before the coronavirus) love to eat at Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club. Boy Oh Boy! do we miss going to those restaurants! As soon as the virus isn't a worry for folks who have preexisting conditions, we'll be back!
The food always looks disgusting and expensive. But the big thing (as you do mention) is why would you spend valuable minutes in Disney waiting for food? You can get food ANYWHERE (and some amazing food in plenty of places in the world) but there is only one place you can ride Rock n' Rollercoaster!!!
Last year when I did a big Disney trip while visiting family, we brought “smart” things in to the park so we could eat what ever Disney food we want: freeze dried fruit, peanuts/cashews, granola/protein bars- you know, light weight stuff that will curb that hunger while you wait in line, as well as fill some gaps you might miss from just eating dole whip and pretzels all day It was also between 85-100 degrees everyday, so we wanted a more balanced eating (though you just can’t say no to those cupcakes)
i have food allergies so i ALWAYS bring at least a few safe snacks to get me thru the day, just in case. Can often find things, but it can sometimes be tricky... plus, we don't get out to either of the parks all that often, so things can change a lot between visits...
Honestly, there is so much rich and junky food at Disney that we are eating double the amount of calories than a typical day at home. I personally, like clockwork, start to get a little nauseous by day 3 or 4 from the lack of fresh greens and veggies. 😬 So snacks in the park are rarely needed for our family. One cupcake almost fills you up for half the day with all that sugar. 🤢Haha!! However, I do feel like it tends to be when we get back to the room, especially if we are in the parks until close (under normal circumstances) that my kids get a little hungry. It’s at that time that having a small snack is great so you don’t have to head out at 10:00pm looking for food to eat at the hotel.
100% we do this. Groceries, breakfast in hotel, snacks and drinks in the parks. Then we done out or together as a family or something special in one of the parks.but 7 days of meals can add ip
We always bring gum, but leave snacks in our hotel since we usually just need a nice cold Disney snack/drink in the parks. We always eat breakfast before going to the parks, plan a quick-service or dine-in lunch in the parks, and try to leave before dinner.
I'll have to check what veggie options there are. I'm really glad more places are adding veggie options. As a vegetarian it sucks to go someplace and have little to no options. Glad this is changing. :)
I’m surprised how many people are surprised you can bring your own water! My sister, who has gone to the parks for years, was shocked when I pulled out my own bottle! I said, “hey, it’s either $5 for ONE BOTTLE, or $3 for a 24-pack!” She still sipped it like she was worried the Disney Police were going to throw her in Disney Jail! 🤣
We bring granola bars and small snacks. We also cut up an apple or two every morning and bring those to go peanut butter cups. It’s a great small and healthy snack that multiple people can share while they are in line for a ride (pre covid). Oh and we also always brings a reusable water bottles and we typically fill them at the food court (with ice) on our way to the bus stop.
We are not huge breakfast eaters so we like to bring easy on the go breakfast stuff. We also bring some single serving snacks they are great for when you get hungry and are waiting in line.
we always pack breakfast foods for a Disney trip and if we stay in a timeshare with a kitchen we buy groceries. Part of the Disney days we bring lunch in and the rest we buy lunch. Some days we go to a nice restaurant and other days we cook. Other trips we might only stay at Disney and get the meal plan in which case we eat our own breakfast before going to the parks....oh and bring a case of water
We typically freeze two water bottles and take two additional cold bottles. The frozen ones will keep the cold ones cold for a while. Later in the day the frozen ones become drinkable. In addition granola bars, crackers, cheese and peanut butter make for excellent snacks. Tend to avoid chocolate covered because the chocolate tends to melt. All of this is to supplement the in park snacks we buy. Breakfast in the morning is usually English muffins with peanut butter and maybe some microwaved bacon or microwaved breakfast sandwiches. Can eat it before leaving for the parks and have fuel for rope drop.
My husband and I eat oatmeal for breakfast at our resort hotel. Stopped taking snacks when the granddaughter was big enough to order her own snacks at the counter. Food and Wine festival is our favorite time to go. Party for the Senses was a big splurge for us. Headed to Disney in October!
We always bring snacks & water into the parks: Beef Jerky, granola bars and PB& J. We also eat breakfast in our timeshare before entering the parks. We will usually eat dinner in the parks, usually or preferably at Disney Springs.
Me and my fiancé bring our own snacks,water and gatorade. But buy at least one or two snacks at the park and go out to eat later that night at Disney Springs
Disney World is great with allergies but there are always still limits. My home park is Disneyland, and while they are getting much better, they are still pretty restricted on options for my niece (who is allergic to multiple things including dairy, eggs, peanuts and chia). It can be especially hard to find any breakfast that isn't just a fruit plate for her. We always pick up breakfast items to have before we come into the park and store in the fridge at the hotel. My sister brings a food thermos that keeps food really warm for a few hours and makes some dairy-free mac-n-cheese for my niece to have for lunch. Then we plan our dinner meal around one place that she can go and likes (like allergy friendly pizza). We love Disney food but this saves us money and a lot of hassle since we ALWAYS have to check with a chef since there are multiple allergies (we appreciate that Disney takes this extra precaution).
We often bring Disney recipes to Disney. Lighthouse Sandwiches, cold main-dish salads from the Crystal Palace or Biergarten or Chef Mickey's, etc. Or we just take sandwiches. We tend to eat lower fat and semi-vegetarian at home, meaning a pure Disney diet leads to upset tummies, so we focus on the Disney foods we most like. For us, Disney is only so-so when it comes to the healthy stuff, but they're great at decadent food.
We stayed at the Fairfield Inn for their complimentary breakfast, packed our favorite snacks/drinks and splurged for dinner inside the parks, Disney Springs or resorts.
My sister does WDW very different than I do , she will prep sloppy joes and freeze it in sealed bags and packs her electric skillet to boil water to heat things up. She also packs cereal and all snacks for 3 adults and 3 kiddos to bring from home. If I am on vacation , I really don’t want to spend the week before recooking meals and freezing them for 6 people. I have ordered out for pizza several times and it was hot when delivered to me in the lobby.
We eat breakfast on our way to the park, and we bring either subs or wraps and chips for lunch. We also freeze water the night before, and being a bunch of snacks for kids some for us too lol that allows us to save up for a nice dinner in the parks.
I've always brought some kind of snack and a water bottle.. though there's only so much you can pack in a suitcase if your flying.. but when we drive to California then we bring lots of food or hit up a Walmart for drinks and stuff
True but if you’re a passholder or go very often it’s definitely worth it to bring snacks because realistically you probably don’t do a sit down every time!
I don’t usually eat breakfast as I have to be gluten free and low dairy. As I am from the uk I don’t like to bring food from home but love to go to Erin McKennas on the first day to pick up bakery items for breakfast. I have no issues eating cupcakes for breakfast when I am on holiday and it feel like a treat o be able to get something straight from a bakery
We always pack some food. The kid options can be limited so snacks are good to fill them up when they don’t finish their meal. We usually eat a light breakfast to get us out the door. And snack can really save you if your in a long line for a ride or meet and great. We still splurge on dining but we don’t do all 3 meals.
with up to 120 day reservations, we generally have our meals arranged. However we supplement with fruits and veggies, specific snacks the kids like (goldfish/yogurt/cheese/milk), american snacks we havent yet tried (from another country), wine/ciders/coolers (for the hotel room) and water.
2 thing we do or have done...we carry a cooler backpack small enough to fit on the rides with some frozen water battles, non frozen water bottles, soda and juice bottles. This allows us to have money for snacks. I have also purchased the popcorn bucket and refilled it with microwave popcorn before heading back to the parks. I bring popcorn buckets from past trips now so I do not have to buy Disney's.
As a local there is no reason not to take your own snacks/ lunch. I have packed a purse like cooler with an ice pack various times, a sub from wawa or Publix, fruits and some water always hit the spot.
We usually go to the grocery store to purchase food for the time we are there. We will have one meal in the resort and a nice dinner meal in one of the parks. Snacks yes please, we buy disney gift cards throughout the year before our trip and those are used for souvenirs and snacks for the different parks. Now if we stay for a few days and no kids (our kids are 22 & 23) heck no, I am not cooking. The gift cards come in handy for sure and sometimes we have some leftover for our next trip.
I always bring granola bars or other compact snack and sometimes a PBJ sandwich and water bottle. Snacking while waiting in a line, inconvenience of finding the right snack at the right time, waiting in food lines and cost are most of the reasons. Sometimes I buy snacks if it's right and convenient, and it's good to save money for the awesome but pricey sit down meals. It's all about cost and time priorities.
When staying on property you can feel obliged to eat on property but as well as deliveries you can uber to a supermarket, get breakfast and snacks and save a significant amount of money. Also worth noting that international drive has a lot of different restaurants and only a bus ride away. Never feel ashamed of saving pennies on your expensive disney holiday.
I’ve done both depending... but it’s harder then you think to have to will power to eat your own food, when you’re seeing so much yummy food that you don’t have, or can’t access at home. I personally am cheap when it comes to spending money on food so I always play buy cheap food.. splurge every once in awhile.. I make sure to only buy food when I am hungry... and not just bored/moment snacking that saved money too.. and I always bring my own water bottle
I'm a member of a Disney Facebook group where people give away their leftover grocery items to anyone else already at their resort, or coming that day. Some people have a TON of leftover food that they end up never eating, so I see that as money wasted, not saved. I personally never even bring snacks into the parks, nevertheless full on groceries to my hotel. I fly to Orlando, and yes I know you can do grocery delivery, but that seems like too much of a hassle, and by the time you order all that stuff/pay delivery fees/etc. that could pay for at least several quick service meals, depending on the size of your party. Duggar-sized families I could see doing this, but not for only a few people. Unless you eat a ton each day, at least some of that food will go to waste inevitably.
We are going on a Disney vacation next year and I was thinking of bringing my own snacks because of zero waste and it will save my family and I some time. It’s better to eat a restaurant there than buy a snack any ways.
My daughter has multiple food allergies, and while Disney Chefs are absolutely phenomenal about working with me to feed her safely she’s also a picky kid and I don’t like putting them to the trouble for two meals a day when I know she’d rather eat her familiar foods. We tend to eat breakfast in the room, and I pack enough food for a meal-and-a-half so she can have something she likes while I indulge in counter service, with a bit left over in case she’s still hungry after picking over what the chefs come up with at our table service/character meal.
My family always brings snacks into the park. For me I can never eat a ton in one sitting, which means I’m always hungry at inconvenient times (ie. waiting in line for a ride). So I always bring go-go squeeze applesauces, goldfish, raisins, etc. with me. I always try to bring snacks with me that have little to no mess because I can’t stand sticky hands. You might not be able to wash your hands directly after eating a really messy snack; especially, if you are waiting in line for a ride. So if your planning on bringing snacks into the park I suggest non-messy snacks, and hand sanitizer to use before and after eating.
only been to DW once and it was a day trip only so we didnt. When i took my nephews to Disneyland and stayed in the hotel we got bread and PB, ceral and milk etc and had breaky in the room (except for a special mickey character breakie on out last day) we got muesli bars, fruit and our refillable bottles etc to chuck in the backpacks for snacks whilst waiting for rides etc which were perfect for the kiddos
Asian families have been doing this for decades. Once, we snuck in bacon sandwiches as light snacks in between meals to Disney World. When we went to sit down and eat them, we sat beside a Filipino family and on their table was a rice cooker pot and a Lock & Lock of adobo. It was wild. Our family ended up friends with that family by the end of the day.
As a man who is married to a Filipina, I have seen this on every trip I make. They take a banquet to every occasion. Good for the hunger, if not the waistline.......
lol a ricer cooker? 😂 I love it.
Omg I am filipino too! My aunt always sneaks a rice bag! And we would eat that with our meat!!,!,
MantaRayMoons yes we bring a portable rice cooker ☺️, if u see us with a rice cooker.. ignore it :)
Is power point easy to find? We could do hot pot during winter lol
I was amazed when I took my parents for afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian. I was worried there might not be much my father could eat as a diabetic but I put the info on the booking and reminded the server when we were seated. Within 5 minutes the chef came out and spoke to my father about what he likes and doesn’t like. When our afternoon tea arrived my father had a tailor made selection of low and no sugar desserts which he really appreciated.
That is incredible. The experience people with dietary needs get from Disney chefs is truly unmatched.
I’m so glad to hear that! I get such weird looks when I ask if places have sugar free desserts.....and for me, it is a migraine trigger so it’s very important for me to not accidentally eat sugar!
I'll have to remember this. My mom doesn't like to remember she's diabetic and will go for the sweets. But if we can get those no sugar options I'll be ecstatic.
Just keep in mind to look for aspartame or sucralose in so-called sugar-free desserts or drinks. These are bleached sugars and have been proven to cause cancer.
@@taurnguard good thinking... My mom gets headaches when eating something with those ingredients.
As an Orlando resident I've seen it all at theme parks. Going so frequently I always remember to bring my thermos and granola bars. My snack budget is for an occasional turkey leg and ice cream. The point of Disney is to enjoy the park, not to spend $100 a day which is very easy to do.
There is no shame in bringing your own snacks. I've seen a family at Universal with a backpack with a 2L Pepsi, bag of Doritos, and Lunchables for the kids and they were much happier than the family with kids screaming for ice cream. Come prepared to keep the experience pleasant.
Some people like my mom are terrified of rides and won’t go on so she enjoys the snack. Everyone’s Disney experience is not the same. Snack may be pointless to you but definitely not to everyone.
@@annies6566 Never said snacks are pointless, I'm just applauding the video for reminding people you could go to the park with snacks and save money for more memorable experiences.
I can remember going to Universal with my grandmother and she sat on benches 80% of the visit. The only ride we convinced her to go on was Jaws. That memory will stay with me forever. In my opinion don't spend money on snacks and try a nice sit down restaurant where you can eat true fine dining that Disney and other theme parks are known for. For Disney my Favorite time of year is the Food & Wine Festival, the only splurging event of the year!
Honestly, imo, the only time it’s acceptable to spend $100 or more on food or drinks at Disney is during the festivals at Epcot. If the purpose of that one particular trip to Disney is to try the drinks and foods, the price is worth it. But it’s absolutely not worth it to do multiple times.
I'm taking m
When we went when my kids were young, We packed an extra suitcase with snacks, fruit cups, cereal, and breakfast stuff, and then used the empty suitcase for souvenirs.
For years we brought lunch for the five of us in a soft sided cooler that fit in the lockers. The train station next to the lockers used to have a few tables and chairs. No one ever used those. We would have lunch there with a view straight down Main Street. Best view in the Park.
There are six people in my family and that made everything even more expensive. So on our first trip to Disney world we would leave the park around six and get our hands stamped (which we found exciting) and we would have a car picnic in the parking lot. We made our own sandwiches and got to have a fun time for dinner. Afterwards we would go back in the park for more rides and fireworks. Looking at it now, I know it was because my parents couldn’t really afford table service restaurants but i didn’t care. It was fun and memorable for me and I loved it.
As a kid my family and I would go a lot, all the kids had a snack bag and we all had the same amount of snacks. we visited all the parks in one day (Park Hopper) and having those snacks really helped out. Definitely recommend for parents who want to save money.
What a smart idea! You DEFINITELY need some good fuel to get you through a day of park hopping!
@@DFBGuide Great Video AJ ‼‼‼♥
It shocks me how many people (based on your survey) don’t even bring snacks to the park! I even bring snacks going to stores/short trips on normal, non vacation days just in case 😂
I think the people that do that are first timers and aren’t aware that u can bring food or just carry enough money that they don’t mind spending it on the expensive food and snacks or just don’t want to carry around food in their packs
Bringing food isn't allowed in some other parks like six flags etc. Once we packed burgers for six flags and when we got the entrance, they made us put it back in the car. So by the time we got to the car it had gone bad in the summer heat.
We've been DVC members for years, and as the mother of four big eaters (plus me and my husband), I've got the food thing at WDW down. We go to Sam's in Orlando and load up the room for the week. Every day, breakfast before we take off to the parks; pack sandwiches/snacks/drinks for lunch picnics inside the parks, and then reservations at a nice sit down WDW restaurant for dinner. Honestly, this saves us HUNDREDS of dollars, but we still get the fun of eating "out" once a day. Good compromise for us. Of course we cheat and get drinks and special treats here and there, but packing food for the parks really helps keep us in budget.
That sounds awesome and an excellent compromise. May I ask how you store/chill the food for lunch? Do you get a locker?
@@katierowen3166 HI ~ we have a thermal backpack and ice the water to keep the bag cool. (My son is the poor pack mule who carries it all, but he's a big strong guy). Food stays nice and cool.
When my family went to planet Hollywood last year, I asked if a sandwich I wanted had blue cheese in it, and if I could get it without, given I’m allergic to blue cheese. The chief himself actually came out to tell me the sandwich I had had no blue cheese.
Yes! The Chefs at Disney World are SO helpful when it comes to special dietary needs.
😳 Typical PH... A blue cheese sandwich without any blue cheese in it! 🤣
The Pedialyte isn't just for kids in the Children's Centre. Perfect for an adult with a hangover, or not feeling 💯
A true staple before and after a day at Epcot for sure.
Now that Mickey Bars pricing increased from 5$ to $7 bucks more snacks for the kids is a must, they will go through snacks especially waiting on rides like nothing!
Tip: If you are flying with snacks and they individually wrapped in mylar (fruit snacks, granola bars, etc.) keep them in the original box! If you take them out to save space, the airport security will need to wand check every single one...you will be that person holding up the entire security line
The baby care centers are a life saver! Often the one or two changing tables in the bathrooms have long lines but the one in the baby care centers (which can also get busy) just feel so much more relaxing. And they clean them and have little covers you can put down and then dispose of...they are just nice little place where you can sit and rest. They also have tiny toilets (but not a lot of privacy) for toddlers.
As a kid, this was our BIG trick for park days! All the snacks with frozen water bottles & CapriSuns (to thaw throughout the day and stay hydrated in the heat). I will say now that we are older, we don’t find ourselves packing snacks anymore. Every family is different and I thank you guys for always sharing why a tip may or may not work for someone.
I usually bring a small snack - but just for emergencies (ie: in line for a ride and someone starts dying of hunger).
Emergency snacks are totally necessary for those long lines!
Yes! I bring emergency bottled drinks. Water is free in cups at QS but nothing beats having the water with you when you get dehydrated waiting in line.
Instead of cold packs in the cooler, freeze 8oz water bottles that are easy to move around in the cooler and will be cold refreshing water in the afternoon. Also no heavy cold packs to lug around; as the bottles are emptied the cooler gets lighter.
I usually do this!
As Asian and a Filipino we do ALWAYS bring and pack our own food and buy something if we something we want or lack 😅
I use to do that when the kids were young. Now I just spend a ton of money 😂😂
Sometimes you just CAN'T resist those sweet, sweet Main Street scents! 🍭🍫
DFBGuide facts especially after watching all these amazing videos
Maikunt Izichi I’m sure you will be an awesome Disney dad one day. Don’t rush it😂😂
Last vacation I mortgaged one of my kidneys but sooo worth it!!🤪
hipo4eyes1 Same 😂😂 I act like I’m a millionaire at Disney. We got issues 😂
Eating out is part of the experience for us. Having said that - Day 1 when we arrive at the resort is making an order from Amazon. Easy breakfast items. Quick energy items. Late-night snacks (chips, salsa, popcorn). Bottled water. We're set for quick snacks in our room if we don't want to head out or if it's late and options are limited but we want to much.
It always pays off in convenience and (to some extent) price. Even when we're leaving a 1/2case of bottled drinks on the table with a note to Mousekeeping offering them a drink on their break.
Even the Value Resorts have a chief that can make special meals. I have a granddaughter that is allergic to tomatoes and the chief at the hotel care out and made her a personal pizza with white sauce. I was grateful and she was thrilled. He also made a pizza for her twin sister just because he wanted to be fair to both girls.
This is why I love the Disney Dinning Plan. It’s already been budgeted once we’re at the parks & don’t have to give a second thought to eating. Just scan our magic band & continue our vacation. Yes, it would be pricy out of pocket but the freedom it brings is worth it for us.
I mean, you’re Disney Food Blog. You gotta know the food is part of the fun.
Here's another saving tip, there's nothing that can stop you from ordering a kids menu in Disney except perhaps at table service restaurants (never went in any, its way out of my budget sorry I can't spend 30-40-50$ per meal + tips) I've ordered several kids meals in the different quick service restaurants, sometimes just ordering 2 kids meal can save money and you end up with even more than the adult portions.
I know no one cares but I’m so excited I’m going to my dream hotel in 2 months the contemporary I’ve been wanting to go for a long time I’m so excited and I’m going in 2 weeks I’m going to do dcp once i get older so I can be a hotel manager I love Disney omg
Oh wow that's so cool! Have a nice time.
Oh fun! We are doing my moms dream stay in Nov and staying at a Cabin.. It’s totally exciting to stay at your dream place. I hope you have fun.
I'm always happy for anyone getting to go to Disney. I hope you have as much fun as you can squeeze out of every minute.
I care.. ❤..
It's exciting when someone gets to go to Disney in the near future because we all know the feeling of excitement and anticipation- at least those of us who are huge disney fans.
Side note: Something we did that helped us feel that our trip was longer than it actually was from a mental standpoint.. we woke up at the crack of dawn (and we are NOT early morning people but made sure not to push the snooze and just made ourselves get up), then we arrived at rope drop (which is exciting in itself), then left at around noon to nap (even if not tired, still go back to hotel and lay down and close your eyes to rest), then we went back to the parks later that afternoon and stayed till closing. Because of this schedule, 1 day actually felt like 2 days because there was a bit of sleep in between, so it felt like it was another day after we awoke from our nap.
Edit: I just read my response, and all i really had to say was to suggest to "take a nap in the middle of the day"..
. .. some people make long stories short, but I make short stories long 🥴
have so much fun!
On our Disneyland trip my dad got us a popcorn bucket to share as a family at the beginning of the trip. We also packed our own sandwiches during the day and had breakfast at the hotel every morning. It was great!
I have gone as far as to bring my own toaster to a hotel to make toast, bagels, toaster strudel ect. Breakfast is one thing I just don’t like spending money on.
Oh wow! That's definitely something we haven't thought of!
I bought a blender to make margaritas and pina colada's for the pool. Save a bunch of money.
DFBGuide Please don’t endorse this behavior. Irresponsible and selfish. Highly doubt the hotel would be ok with that. And pretty sure underwriters would never approve a liability insurance that allows for it either.
You dang, we clean up after ourselves, unplug it when we are done... there is no harm in this. I have been to hotels that have a communal gas and charcoal grills in the courtyard so that you can host visitors. These were not at Disney, but still. Leave things better than you found them, use common sense, and it’s fine.
Chelsey Parker, and imagine just one guest not taking care to do what you say you do. Imagine one spark and a fire at the property. I’m a business owner. I have strict codes, rules, laws I need to follow. My insurance goes way up if any of them are violated. Suggesting people bring their “toaster to a hotel” is extremely irresponsible. It’s a simple thing to understand.
I love that you included gastric bypass in this!! I went for the first time after surgery in February 6 months post op, and was struggling to even get any info or if there was an reference to Gastric Bypass at all! Thanks!
Into the parks? Almost never. We often make breakfast in the morning, though, at the hotel room, and we definitely bring water into the park. I actually love getting breakfast in the parks, especially the nutella waffle sandwich! I might change my tune, though, next time I go to the parks because I'll be bringing a toddler. God only knows what he'll eat at that point, and we'll bring snacks for him. :)
Oooh... it's hard to say no to a good Nutella Waffle in the morning. You've got a point there!
Why save a Nutella waffle for breakfast? Have it midmorning or as a meal!!
We used to bring ziploc bags with goldfish and cheerios for my granddaughter when she was a toddler. It was great because toddlers can love something one minute then act like you are tying to poison them the next with some foods. lol. I loved it when she was that age though to watch her reactions of seeing everything in the parks.
My gf eats gluten-free AND requires kosher food. Since very few of Disney’s kosher offerings were also gluten free, she mostly brought her own breakfasts and lunches; then for dinner she pre-ordered a kosher meal and worked out the gluten-free aspect with a guest service member.
One thing that was funny; we had dinner at Chefs de France and both the waiter and the chef were visibly distressed that they didn’t have much to offer her for dessert. They wound up bringing her a bowl of fresh berries with a little sugar sprinkled on top. It was very sweet of them!
Especially with younger kids we always brought a few snacks. It's easy to even find fun Disney themed snack to bring which they're still excited for. Especially because for us it never failed that while waiting in line for a ride was when they wanted a snack.
It's good to know that the park allow us to bring outside food to the park, because I think another reason guests don't bring their own food is because they probably assumed no outside food or drinks are allowed. I've been to a few theme parks and entertainment venues that either ask the guests to return their food and/or drinks to the car or to toss them in the garbage before being allowed to enter.
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with Go go squeeze and Welch’s fruit snacks
I love Uncrustable sandwiches! They can be kept frozen and will thaw out by lunchtime.
I have never been to the Disneyland/world in America and I love watching these videos just to see all the amazing things that are there!
Edit: I love your videos AJ and your voice is soo calming! If it were on an audiobook I would listen to it all the time xD
Make that the two of us! I live in an entirely different continent but I love binging DFB videos. It just makes me happy and I kinda feel like I'm there. Plus, AJ's voice is sooo calming.
Ratnasari Cenreng yeah I agree! I live in a different continent as well btw
Haha, well thanks! We appreciate your kind words! 🧡
We always bring food to resorts or into the parks. With little ones bringing snacks is a must. My big food saver if not on free dining is eating breakfast in the room (oatmeal, frozen breakfast sandwiches, etc..) One trip my mom made sandwiches for lunch everyday during our trip into the parks since we had a full kitchen at Saratoga Springs.
😎👍 When we stay at our Wyndham Bonnet Creek resort, breakfast and afternoon snacks are fixed there but always take a frozen bottled water. While returning to a theme park from an afternoon pool break, we stop at nice, off-property restaurants using discounted gift cards or vouchers. On waterpark days, we take snacks along with water then fix and eat dinner at the Wyndham's lakeside barbecue grills.
Over time I learned to take my snacks and refillable water bottle, we take fruits and small sandwiches.... we always eat one time at any of the restaurants in the parks, we like to just seat and enjoy! Usually the hotel we pick has breakfast included so we do not worry about that...
I recommend bringing a couple granola bars and some snack pack and a refillable water bottle. You can get that water bottle refill at anywhere that has a soda fountain for free
I always pack healthyish snacks for the morning for the whole family and leave the afternoon to indulge on Disney’s amazing snacks. I think that’s the perfect balance for my family.
We bring trail mix to get us through that last long ride line before we go to eat. A few snacks for the room to hold us over. We love micro popcorn for late night in the room. Portable and " fresh". 🍿 Thanks for the great vids AJ. Always my favorite way to start the day!
I watch all of these videos despite knowing I won't be able to go to Disney for years, over in Scotland but definitely wanting to plan a trip in the next few years after uni. Obsessed 🎉🎉❤️
I freeze my bottled water since it is usually hot in Florida. That way I can always have cold water while simultaneously keeping whatever I need chilled. The food and snacks are usually gone by dinner! Another option to save would be to eat lunch at the park...usually the least expensive option and keep the snacks for dinner.
We have also always frozen our bottled water. Such a great hack 👍🏻
Funny story. Our son with cerebral palsy eats PB&J daily for lunch. Having not been to WDW for 10 years, we didn't know what to expect at the "store" (Saratoga Springs we stayed, first time). I found at our home store a half loaf of bread so i thought perfect. Bought a cheap thing of jelly and individual PB containers. Stuffed it in our backpack and I forgot to tell my other son the bread was in his backpack. Well, it was smooshed by the time we got to the hotel! Flying from WI in our 50s, we now can afford this kind of trip. I wouldn't do that again knowing I can buy a loaf of bread ($) at the "local store".
I always make oatmeal with a banana mashed into it with hot water from the coffee pot in hotel rooms! I just rinse it out well the night before and then fill those paper coffee cups with water and pour it in the back then dump in a packet of oatmeal and put it under the drip. Mash in a banana and pop on the top and you can take it to go. I have celiac disease so knowing I have something in my belly early on makes life easier. We then have lunch somewhere that we have researched as GF friendly (lunch is usually cheaper).
I always bring dry cereal to eat while standing in line waiting for the park to open and keep snacking on the cereal throughout the morning while in lines. When Extra Magic Hour is at 7am and we're leaving the hotel at 6am, nobody is hungry for breakfast that early anyways and we're in a hurry. It's easy to eat dry cereal while in line and walking around. I also always bring apple slices. Then we buy quick service meals in the parks for lunch and dinner.
Good tips.
Especially in Florida, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen.
We tend to eat a healthy light breakfast then arrive early at a restaurant for a larger mid day lunch, then take a nap, then relaunch and eat a light on the go evening snack.
Agree, I've always brought my own snacks to save time! You'll be surprised how many extra things you can do in your day when you aren't waiting in line for food. Great vid AJ 😊
I'm not advocating breaking any rules or local laws, but food/drinks from home is an excellent way to get absolutely turn't in the magic kingdom.
My wife and I once did the late night MK hard ticketed event, and we started the night off with some brownies we brought from home.
Let me tell you: no lines, too late for little ones, 51F degrees outside, unlimited soda and snacks, with your brain somewhere in outer space...best way to do Disney after the age of 30.
One of those people with multiple allergies here! My biggest tip would probably be that if you're hesitant to talk to a chef at any of the table service restaurants, DON'T BE! It's a super easy, quick conversation, and it can get you some absolutely life-affirming results. Disney World was the first place I ever had french fries (Garden Grill), brownies (50's Prime Time), dinner rolls (Cinderella's Royal Table). It was the first place I ever ate leeks (they were in this Creamed Leek soup thing at the Rose and Crown, one of the best meals I ever had), seriously DO NOT feel bad about requesting a chef! If you're anything like me, it'll be no more awkward than giving the waiter The Spiel at any other restaurant, and will end you up with some lifelong food memories to show for it.
When I went last December, I brought some pop-tarts and prepackaged muffins from home for breakfast and made coffee in the room. Other than the cost savings, it also made for a calmer start to the day. Lunch and dinner I ate in the park, with some packaged snacks in my bag just in case.
if you have any credits left, even meal credits, you can break them down and use them in the gist shop for novelty candies to take home for gifts for friends
We purchased a small cooler backpack and used those plastic ice packs (not bags of ice). We also packed chicken salad sandwiches, waters and plenty of snacks for the day. We had no problem with security at Disney or Universal. I will say you want a smaller sized cooler backpack so it can fit in the ride lockers.
We often bring our own breakfast or snacks to Disney, but it’s in part because two of us have celiac and with the dining plan, we need to have some way to cover that third meal. Often it’s quick and dirty stuff to eat fast in the morning, and we have lunch/dinner on the dining plan. And we stay at the Cabins at Fort Wilderness since they have fridges and toasters and other kitchen stuff. Great for homemade pop-tarts or other stuff.
Disney is the best place for gluten-free services and is THE gold standard among us, though. It’s mainly a budget measure, hard to get a good fast GF breakfast like your one follower said. @dfbGuide
We usually order food from grocery stores like light breakfast items such as fruit and bagels, plus snacks and drinks. We just don’t eat huge breakfasts and it’s easy to grab and go. But we enjoy eating out for lunch and dinner.
We have brought 2 kids in the past, and we’ll soon be bringing 5 kids, including 2 teenagers, in June. In Nov., my husband and I will be going alone. We always bring snacks and water. I would not want to get caught in a long line with a hangry kid. We also don’t like to stop for food because we have to. We’d rather eat a quick snack, and then we can be more intentional with our money and our time. I don’t want to spend $40 on snacks for our kids, when those were the snacks available in the area and not the ones they’ve really been looking forward to. I hope that makes sense:) Also, I like to bring protein snacks, like quality meat sticks or nuts, to help balance out those sugary treats we’ll be buying.
What I liked was how relaxed they could be as well. I have a nut allergy, but because of constant exposure as a child (my parents were a bit forgetful!) my reactions are relatively mild, or I can control them. So I've sometimes told staff in places I had a nut allergy, and they would flat out refuse to serve me most of the menu because of liability! At Disney and other spots in Orlando, I could tell them about my allergy, and then tell them not to worry... and they'd listen! :)
We bring general prepackaged snacks for our hotel room, to eat if we go back during the day.We eat all our meals at the hotels and parks.The refillable mugs are great to fill before you go to the parks in the morning.Buying the special Disney snacks is a huge part of our vacation.We look forward to that each time.
Since we live locally, we eat breakfast at home. Since part of the fun for us is to eat at WDW, we just work that into our budget as part of our visit. But many times our meals are separate from a Disney visit - we used to (i.e., before the coronavirus) love to eat at Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club. Boy Oh Boy! do we miss going to those restaurants! As soon as the virus isn't a worry for folks who have preexisting conditions, we'll be back!
The food always looks disgusting and expensive. But the big thing (as you do mention) is why would you spend valuable minutes in Disney waiting for food? You can get food ANYWHERE (and some amazing food in plenty of places in the world) but there is only one place you can ride Rock n' Rollercoaster!!!
Last year when I did a big Disney trip while visiting family, we brought “smart” things in to the park so we could eat what ever Disney food we want: freeze dried fruit, peanuts/cashews, granola/protein bars- you know, light weight stuff that will curb that hunger while you wait in line, as well as fill some gaps you might miss from just eating dole whip and pretzels all day
It was also between 85-100 degrees everyday, so we wanted a more balanced eating (though you just can’t say no to those cupcakes)
i have food allergies so i ALWAYS bring at least a few safe snacks to get me thru the day, just in case. Can often find things, but it can sometimes be tricky... plus, we don't get out to either of the parks all that often, so things can change a lot between visits...
Honestly, there is so much rich and junky food at Disney that we are eating double the amount of calories than a typical day at home. I personally, like clockwork, start to get a little nauseous by day 3 or 4 from the lack of fresh greens and veggies. 😬 So snacks in the park are rarely needed for our family. One cupcake almost fills you up for half the day with all that sugar. 🤢Haha!! However, I do feel like it tends to be when we get back to the room, especially if we are in the parks until close (under normal circumstances) that my kids get a little hungry. It’s at that time that having a small snack is great so you don’t have to head out at 10:00pm looking for food to eat at the hotel.
100% we do this. Groceries, breakfast in hotel, snacks and drinks in the parks.
Then we done out or together as a family or something special in one of the parks.but 7 days of meals can add ip
We always bring gum, but leave snacks in our hotel since we usually just need a nice cold Disney snack/drink in the parks. We always eat breakfast before going to the parks, plan a quick-service or dine-in lunch in the parks, and try to leave before dinner.
I'll have to check what veggie options there are. I'm really glad more places are adding veggie options. As a vegetarian it sucks to go someplace and have little to no options. Glad this is changing. :)
I’m surprised how many people are surprised you can bring your own water! My sister, who has gone to the parks for years, was shocked when I pulled out my own bottle! I said, “hey, it’s either $5 for ONE BOTTLE, or $3 for a 24-pack!” She still sipped it like she was worried the Disney Police were going to throw her in Disney Jail! 🤣
My son and I just went this last week and I was afraid of the same thing 😂😂
We bring granola bars and small snacks. We also cut up an apple or two every morning and bring those to go peanut butter cups. It’s a great small and healthy snack that multiple people can share while they are in line for a ride (pre covid). Oh and we also always brings a reusable water bottles and we typically fill them at the food court (with ice) on our way to the bus stop.
We are not huge breakfast eaters so we like to bring easy on the go breakfast stuff. We also bring some single serving snacks they are great for when you get hungry and are waiting in line.
Wait, you can request an additional fridge at the resort?!?!?
disney world you can request mini fridge,microwave if room doesn't have it and who knows what else its disney world.
we always pack breakfast foods for a Disney trip and if we stay in a timeshare with a kitchen we buy groceries. Part of the Disney days we bring lunch in and the rest we buy lunch. Some days we go to a nice restaurant and other days we cook. Other trips we might only stay at Disney and get the meal plan in which case we eat our own breakfast before going to the parks....oh and bring a case of water
We typically freeze two water bottles and take two additional cold bottles. The frozen ones will keep the cold ones cold for a while. Later in the day the frozen ones become drinkable. In addition granola bars, crackers, cheese and peanut butter make for excellent snacks. Tend to avoid chocolate covered because the chocolate tends to melt. All of this is to supplement the in park snacks we buy.
Breakfast in the morning is usually English muffins with peanut butter and maybe some microwaved bacon or microwaved breakfast sandwiches. Can eat it before leaving for the parks and have fuel for rope drop.
My husband and I eat oatmeal for breakfast at our resort hotel. Stopped taking snacks when the granddaughter was big enough to order her own snacks at the counter. Food and Wine festival is our favorite time to go. Party for the Senses was a big splurge for us. Headed to Disney in October!
My family did the grocery tactic when we went to Disney World this previous January, specifically for breakfast and snack items to save up there.
We always bring snacks & water into the parks: Beef Jerky, granola bars and PB& J. We also eat breakfast in our timeshare before entering the parks. We will usually eat dinner in the parks, usually or preferably at Disney Springs.
Me and my fiancé bring our own snacks,water and gatorade. But buy at least one or two snacks at the park and go out to eat later that night at Disney Springs
Disney World is great with allergies but there are always still limits. My home park is Disneyland, and while they are getting much better, they are still pretty restricted on options for my niece (who is allergic to multiple things including dairy, eggs, peanuts and chia). It can be especially hard to find any breakfast that isn't just a fruit plate for her. We always pick up breakfast items to have before we come into the park and store in the fridge at the hotel. My sister brings a food thermos that keeps food really warm for a few hours and makes some dairy-free mac-n-cheese for my niece to have for lunch. Then we plan our dinner meal around one place that she can go and likes (like allergy friendly pizza). We love Disney food but this saves us money and a lot of hassle since we ALWAYS have to check with a chef since there are multiple allergies (we appreciate that Disney takes this extra precaution).
We’re going in in early October!!! We’re so excited!!!
Have fun!
We often bring Disney recipes to Disney. Lighthouse Sandwiches, cold main-dish salads from the Crystal Palace or Biergarten or Chef Mickey's, etc. Or we just take sandwiches. We tend to eat lower fat and semi-vegetarian at home, meaning a pure Disney diet leads to upset tummies, so we focus on the Disney foods we most like. For us, Disney is only so-so when it comes to the healthy stuff, but they're great at decadent food.
AJ You should make merch that says No Snack Left behind on it.
We stayed at the Fairfield Inn for their complimentary breakfast, packed our favorite snacks/drinks and splurged for dinner inside the parks, Disney Springs or resorts.
My sister does WDW very different than I do , she will prep sloppy joes and freeze it in sealed bags and packs her electric skillet to boil water to heat things up. She also packs cereal and all snacks for 3 adults and 3 kiddos to bring from home. If I am on vacation , I really don’t want to spend the week before recooking meals and freezing them for 6 people. I have ordered out for pizza several times and it was hot when delivered to me in the lobby.
We eat breakfast on our way to the park, and we bring either subs or wraps and chips for lunch. We also freeze water the night before, and being a bunch of snacks for kids some for us too lol that allows us to save up for a nice dinner in the parks.
I've always brought some kind of snack and a water bottle.. though there's only so much you can pack in a suitcase if your flying.. but when we drive to California then we bring lots of food or hit up a Walmart for drinks and stuff
I mean. its part of the experience to go to a themed disney restaurant
True but if you’re a passholder or go very often it’s definitely worth it to bring snacks because realistically you probably don’t do a sit down every time!
A lot of the restaurants suck.. if you’re used to cooking at home and have a kitchen in your room you can make some pretty good stuff!
I don’t usually eat breakfast as I have to be gluten free and low dairy. As I am from the uk I don’t like to bring food from home but love to go to Erin McKennas on the first day to pick up bakery items for breakfast. I have no issues eating cupcakes for breakfast when I am on holiday and it feel like a treat o be able to get something straight from a bakery
We always pack some food. The kid options can be limited so snacks are good to fill them up when they don’t finish their meal. We usually eat a light breakfast to get us out the door. And snack can really save you if your in a long line for a ride or meet and great. We still splurge on dining but we don’t do all 3 meals.
with up to 120 day reservations, we generally have our meals arranged. However we supplement with fruits and veggies, specific snacks the kids like (goldfish/yogurt/cheese/milk), american snacks we havent yet tried (from another country), wine/ciders/coolers (for the hotel room) and water.
I bring snacks but I never end up eating the snacks. I ended up buying food because... Well. Wdw food!
Retweet for sure! 😅 Definitely hard to resist at times.
We usually do the dining plan but with that not being an option right now this came at a very helpful time. October 24th can’t come soon enough !!!
2 thing we do or have done...we carry a cooler backpack small enough to fit on the rides with some frozen water battles, non frozen water bottles, soda and juice bottles. This allows us to have money for snacks. I have also purchased the popcorn bucket and refilled it with microwave popcorn before heading back to the parks. I bring popcorn buckets from past trips now so I do not have to buy Disney's.
As a local there is no reason not to take your own snacks/ lunch. I have packed a purse like cooler with an ice pack various times, a sub from wawa or Publix, fruits and some water always hit the spot.
We usually go to the grocery store to purchase food for the time we are there. We will have one meal in the resort and a nice dinner meal in one of the parks. Snacks yes please, we buy disney gift cards throughout the year before our trip and those are used for souvenirs and snacks for the different parks. Now if we stay for a few days and no kids (our kids are 22 & 23) heck no, I am not cooking. The gift cards come in handy for sure and sometimes we have some leftover for our next trip.
I always bring granola bars or other compact snack and sometimes a PBJ sandwich and water bottle. Snacking while waiting in a line, inconvenience of finding the right snack at the right time, waiting in food lines and cost are most of the reasons. Sometimes I buy snacks if it's right and convenient, and it's good to save money for the awesome but pricey sit down meals. It's all about cost and time priorities.
When staying on property you can feel obliged to eat on property but as well as deliveries you can uber to a supermarket, get breakfast and snacks and save a significant amount of money. Also worth noting that international drive has a lot of different restaurants and only a bus ride away. Never feel ashamed of saving pennies on your expensive disney holiday.
We have always brought our own food. We do maybe one sit down meal the entire vacation and a few snacks.
I’ve done both depending... but it’s harder then you think to have to will power to eat your own food, when you’re seeing so much yummy food that you don’t have, or can’t access at home. I personally am cheap when it comes to spending money on food so I always play buy cheap food.. splurge every once in awhile.. I make sure to only buy food when I am hungry... and not just bored/moment snacking that saved money too.. and I always bring my own water bottle
I'm a member of a Disney Facebook group where people give away their leftover grocery items to anyone else already at their resort, or coming that day. Some people have a TON of leftover food that they end up never eating, so I see that as money wasted, not saved. I personally never even bring snacks into the parks, nevertheless full on groceries to my hotel. I fly to Orlando, and yes I know you can do grocery delivery, but that seems like too much of a hassle, and by the time you order all that stuff/pay delivery fees/etc. that could pay for at least several quick service meals, depending on the size of your party. Duggar-sized families I could see doing this, but not for only a few people. Unless you eat a ton each day, at least some of that food will go to waste inevitably.
We are going on a Disney vacation next year and I was thinking of bringing my own snacks because of zero waste and it will save my family and I some time. It’s better to eat a restaurant there than buy a snack any ways.
My daughter has multiple food allergies, and while Disney Chefs are absolutely phenomenal about working with me to feed her safely she’s also a picky kid and I don’t like putting them to the trouble for two meals a day when I know she’d rather eat her familiar foods. We tend to eat breakfast in the room, and I pack enough food for a meal-and-a-half so she can have something she likes while I indulge in counter service, with a bit left over in case she’s still hungry after picking over what the chefs come up with at our table service/character meal.
My family always brings snacks into the park. For me I can never eat a ton in one sitting, which means I’m always hungry at inconvenient times (ie. waiting in line for a ride). So I always bring go-go squeeze applesauces, goldfish, raisins, etc. with me. I always try to bring snacks with me that have little to no mess because I can’t stand sticky hands. You might not be able to wash your hands directly after eating a really messy snack; especially, if you are waiting in line for a ride. So if your planning on bringing snacks into the park I suggest non-messy snacks, and hand sanitizer to use before and after eating.
only been to DW once and it was a day trip only so we didnt. When i took my nephews to Disneyland and stayed in the hotel we got bread and PB, ceral and milk etc and had breaky in the room (except for a special mickey character breakie on out last day) we got muesli bars, fruit and our refillable bottles etc to chuck in the backpacks for snacks whilst waiting for rides etc which were perfect for the kiddos