Taking Snacks into Theme Parks

**friendnc** · 01-25-2007, 09:22 AM

Hi! I'm a newbie!! Due to our flexable schedule, we have annual passes to Universal Studios/Sea World this year. We really enjoy theme parks (me, my wife, and 13/11 sons). One of the things we do to keep costs down is bring in our own food/drinks. The Orlando parks have no problems with this. But our local Paramount's park is very strict about doing so. Some in our extended family thinks we're nuts/cheap for doing this. Does anyone else do this? If we didn't do cost-cutting type things, we couldn't do a lot of the fun things we do. It's nice to see others doing it from time to time. Makes us not feel as "different". I just can't see paying the food prices they charge. Does anyone else feel the same?

**monkeywrangler71** · 01-25-2007, 11:14 AM

We've brought snacks and lunch if we are going to be all day. I have small children, so they need frequent snacks and I wouldn't be able to buy something appropriate in a park (can't feed a baby popcorn!). I've never been hassled, and I see lots of families going into amusement parks & the zoo with wagons, coolers and other bags so I don't think it's that unusual.

I haven't been to the Paramount park in years, so I don't know if they are cracking down on that here.

My extended family would think I was nuts if I paid amusement park prices for food

**friendnc** · 01-25-2007, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by monkeywrangler71

We've brought snacks and lunch if we are going to be all day. I have small children, so they need frequent snacks and I wouldn't be able to buy something appropriate in a park (can't feed a baby popcorn!). I've never been hassled, and I see lots of families going into amusement parks & the zoo with wagons, coolers and other bags so I don't think it's that unusual.

I haven't been to the Paramount park in years, so I don't know if they are cracking down on that here.

My extended family would think I was nuts if I paid amusement park prices for food

It's a couple of my wife's sisters who think we're "nut" for taking things in the theme parks. But they're also the ones who are always in debt/filed for bankruptcy. The rest of our families on both sides try to use their money wisely like we do. I know what you mean about kids eating frequently. Mine are jocks and if we had to feed them food at theme park prices, I'd be filing for bankruptcy

**baronmom** · 01-25-2007, 11:35 AM

We did it when we went to Disney. I made sure that we had several bottles of water along. When we drank them, we filled them back up at the fountains. I could not see paying over $2.00 for a bottle of water all day long. Not too mention, the kids like a snack once in a while, and when they wanted something to munch on, it was nice to have something for them. I don't look at it as being cheap, just being smart.

**monkeywrangler71** · 01-25-2007, 11:36 AM

Well, you can rest assured that your wife's sisters are incorrect about your mental state

Maybe the amusement park will let you in with your snacks if you tell them you have 'special dietary needs' (ie. need to eat food that isn't ridiculously over priced).

**Megareader** · 01-25-2007, 11:38 AM

I don't think there is a thing wrong with bringing your own snacks to a theme park. You just keep on doing what you've been doing and enjoy yourself.

**pkellyc** · 01-25-2007, 12:07 PM

Snacks? Six Flags is positively vicious about bringing any kind of food into the park, your bags are searched when the entering the park. When we had season passes, I would bring our entire lunch rolling it inside our beach towels.

**Neeley** · 01-25-2007, 02:57 PM

We go to Disney atleast once a year and always take a small snack in the backpack. However we do it more because I am diabetic and it may be needed if my levels drop too low. We love to eat all of the different foods at Disney - that is one of our favorite things about our trips. Snack wise, DH loves the turkey legs and Dole whips, kids are crazy for the churros (sp?), mickey ice creams and pretzels, and I am a popcorn freak. We usually plan on spending roughly $150 a day on food there and the snacks are only about $10-$30 of that.
Disney always searches every bag, no matter how small (even little camera bags are searched)before entering any of their parks. They have no problem with snacks being brought in as long as there are no glass bottles, no alcohol and no hard sided coolers. You can bring in soft sided coolers though. It is very common to see many people snacking on the items they brought in.

**cherrie79** · 01-25-2007, 03:03 PM

Our Six Flags is also very strict. But we do pack a cooler and make a trip to the car to eat lunch. There is no way I will pay there prices.

**kaykwilts** · 01-25-2007, 05:11 PM

I even sneak snacks inside my purse at the movie theaters. I don't think they want you to bring food in. They want you to pay 3 times as much there. I don't start eating it until the lights are out and movie started.

**friendnc** · 01-25-2007, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by Neeley

We go to Disney atleast once a year and always take a small snack in the backpack. However we do it more because I am diabetic and it may be needed if my levels drop too low. We love to eat all of the different foods at Disney - that is one of our favorite things about our trips. Snack wise, DH loves the turkey legs and Dole whips, kids are crazy for the churros (sp?), mickey ice creams and pretzels, and I am a popcorn freak. We usually plan on spending roughly $150 a day on food there and the snacks are only about $10-$30 of that.
Disney always searches every bag, no matter how small (even little camera bags are searched)before entering any of their parks. They have no problem with snacks being brought in as long as there are no glass bottles, no alcohol and no hard sided coolers. You can bring in soft sided coolers though. It is very common to see many people snacking on the items they brought in.

I home school our 13/11 yr. old boys. Not many of us HS dads!

**lilbit** · 01-26-2007, 07:14 AM

We have an amusement park not far from where I live..they will stamp your hand and let you go to your vehicle to eat your food you brought, but will not let you bring any kind of food in the park, but will let you bring bottled water in. I also will pack up items to take to the movie theater. Why not pay a dollar for a large candy bar at the dollar store, than pay 2.50 at the theater.
I say save when you can!

**Libby** · 01-28-2007, 04:43 PM

I've taken food into theme parks with me. A water bottle (pluse those drink mix stix in my purse teehee) but then again on those days there's usually a heat index. I bring snacks that the parks dont offer. Fresh fruit cut up in zipper seal bags, nuts/trail mix, granola bars, crackers etc. When they do tell me they offer these snacks my excuse is that they're not readily available as cotton candy. Only the ONE snack bar on the OTHER SIDE of the park offers it and by the time I get there I'd pass out - being diabetic and all. Plus my friends love sneaking their snacks in on me as well *rolls eyes*

Most parks if they dont allow you to bring food, they will let you go back to your car and have your parking lot picnic from your tailgate LOL or let you in with soft sided coolers no hard containers, glass etc.

Nothing wrong with bringing your own snacks. If you're going to be there all day, why not? I bring snacks but will eat a substantial meal there - at least one, followed by dessert - cuz thats half the fun of going to theme parks, the treats!

As for the movies - havent shocked the bf yet on how frugal I can and will be. He LOVES going to the movies.....as for entertainment ok I can afford that but I plan on sneakin in my trail mix, granola bars and drinks soon LOL. We'll have to see how he feels about that one! Cant wait! Hahahahaha

**justpeachy92** · 01-28-2007, 04:56 PM

When we lived in Tampa we had season passes to Busch Gardens, we did carry our own drinks in and a few small snacks, but when we got hungry we usually went home as it was only 5 miles away. Now that being said other times we have visited these types of parks, they weren't just 5 miles away. For that reason we budgeted in to spend on food and drinks at the park.... when you only go once in a blue moon the high priced food and drinks are just part of the whole experience. Though I can admit when we lived close to busch gardens we often went their just for dinner, we loved the place that did all the smoked bbq ribs, and chicken.

**Mamaw** · 02-18-2007, 12:20 PM

I find that more and more parks do not want you to bring in any snacks but will permit you to exit and re-enter the park to tailgate. Some of them do offer picnic areas and tables. I always check out their rules on the web before going and believe me, if I can pack a picnic lunch I certainly do so. I also bring healthful snacks for DGD instead of allowing them junk all day. And of course, being a grandma, I also buy them a treat during the day and usually a tee shirt or something....( really overpriced but like I said...Grandma's)