Why You Should Bring Your Own Food to Disney World! 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 😂

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.

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.

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.

I use to do that when the kids were young. Now I just spend a ton of money 😂😂

The Pedialyte isn't just for kids in the Children's Centre. Perfect for an adult with a hangover, or not feeling 💯

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!

I usually bring a small snack - but just for emergencies (ie: in line for a ride and someone starts dying of hunger).

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with Go go squeeze and Welch’s fruit snacks