Why not save time and money when you go to Disney World?
The secret?
Figuring out the best food to bring to Disney World so you don’t have to buy snacks all day long.
The best food to bring to Disney World includes non-perishable and easy-to-eat items like dried apple slices, baby carrots, Pop-Tarts, Goldfish crackers, fruit snacks, granola bars, and trail mix. These snacks are not only cost-effective but also convenient for on-the-go munching during park visits.
Bringing your own snacks to Disney can save you money.
Packing snacks at Disney allows you to choose what and when you eat.
(The Ultimate Guide to Disney World)
Introduction to the Best Food to Bring to Disney World
A Disney vacation can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
However, there are ways to save money at Disney if you’d like to visit more than once in your life.
Planning ahead for snacks and breakfast helps our family of six save money.
By bringing your own snacks, we estimate we save about $40 a day per child.
Eating at Disney is a big part of the Disney experience.
We Nerds highly recommend eating at some restaurants.
(Can you bring a cooler into Disney World?)
Figuring out the best food to bring to Disney World
Based on experience, you can save approximately $40 and up per day (per child) when you bring your own snacks into the park.
Making it so your Disney World vacation budget can be maximized.
Before your Disney Vacation, start thinking about and planning your meal options once you know you’re going to Disney World.
We recommend reserving one or two meals in amazing restaurants during your trip.
Then doing grab-and-go food or packed meals the rest of the time.
This is the best food to bring to Disney World
Plan snacks for Disney that your kids will actually eat, are easy to eat, aren’t messy, and aren’t perishable.
- Apple Slices (dried)
- Baby Carrots
- Baby food pouches
- Breakfast: Pop-Tarts, Oatmeal Single Serving Packs, Boxed Cereal
- Cheese Crackers: Goldfish or Cheez-It crackers
- Crackers and Cheese
- Fruit (Oranges, Bananas, Apples, Grapes)
- Fruit snacks: Gummies or Fruit Leathers
- Granola bars
- Graham Crackers
- Hummus
- Nuts
- Pretzels
- Peanut butter and jelly
- Raisin boxes
- String Cheese
- Trail Mix
Be sure to pack snacks and drinks for your trip, especially if you have young children with you. If your hotel room has a fridge, make use of it to store food. Ice packs and a small cooler will come in handy for keeping things cool while you’re out exploring the parks. Reusable water bottles are essential – not only can you fill them up with water, but also use powdered straws to make flavored drinks like Propel or Gatorade.
Fresh fruit, juice boxes, Capri Suns, and other drinks are also fun alternatives. Because Disney necessitates a lot of walking, ensure that the kids have interesting beverages to keep them hydrated.
Make sure you bring snacks for the children so they don’t get too hungry while waiting in line.
Free ice water is available at all Walt Disney World and Disneyland quick service restaurants.
Eating breakfast may save you money at Disney.
Best food to bring to Disney World (Breakfast)
Some of the best food to bring to Disney World are breakfast items.
If you can get rid of an entire meal from your daily budget, then you’ll have immediate savings.
You can enjoy oatmeal packets, Pop-Tarts, cereals, and fresh fruit for breakfast in your Disney hotel room.
Using a coffee maker to warm water for oatmeal is an option if your room has one.
Remember to bring reusable utensils.
There may not be a microwave or coffee maker in some of the value resorts.
It may be advisable to bring reusable coffee mugs.
For oatmeal, you can get hot water from a dispenser at the value resorts as well as microwaves in the dining areas.
Packets of coffee can also be brought if you want to make your own.
Keurig coffee makers are now available at some resorts that have been renovated Coronado, Port Orleans, Pop Century.
While Disney parks have Starbucks locations, you can use Via instead of the coffee powder for instant iced coffee whenever you need it.
Consider it your back-up plan in case you need caffeine in a pinch.
Pick Disney themed or other fun treats
While there are many theme park options around them, your kids can occupy themselves with fun-size cereal packs and Pop Tarts.
It is easy to find character themed granola bars and Disney snacks outside.
Snacks to buy before you leave
Take a look at your list after you’ve made it.
Do you have anything you can buy right now?
Is there anything perishable that needs to be purchased while you’re on site?
Look for deals on nonperishable items after you split your list.
Make sure you remember to order the other items by setting a calendar reminder or Google Task.
Pack snacks in plastic containers
Plastic organizers will help you set up “the snack stash” at Disney World.
Keeping organized at Disney and saving money is a win-win.
A large plastic cereal container is a part of my snack packing strategy.
Which prevents crunchy snacks from crumbling into dust.
Also, putting items into plastic and discarding boxes can help you pack a lot more.
Set up a snack stash
You can save money at Disney by carrying snacks into the parks in a backpack.
Having a dedicated snack pack and organizing snacks by type will make it easier to prepare the snacks for the day.
Don’t want to carry food around the parks?
Consider renting a locker at the park if you are packing food for a large family.
It is, however, convenient to always have everything with you.
DISNEY NERD TIP: Disney does not allow coolers, dry ice, or large strollers. It’s always been a backpack and a soft-sided lunch bag with ice packs that work for us.
With Coleman soft packs, we’ve always had great luck.
Remember that Florida is hot and humid, so it’s essential you have some form of cool ice pack.
To keep from getting too sticky, even items that don’t need to be chilled are better in coolers.
The lunch bags from the kids’ school work well for this purpose.
You can potentially save upwards of $40 per day per child by planning our snacks for Disney.
