silly question regarding own food sorry!

[berwick]

I am on a budget and at times will be bringing our own food into the parks. Can I ask are there designated areas where we can eat our own food or have we got to eat standing up or on the ground?

[ellie]

You can eat at any of the counter service locations indoors or outdoors or sit on benches if you'd like. You can get free ice water at the CS to drink while you're at it and bask in the air conditioning for indoor locations.

[berwick]

hmmm sorry are you telling me that I can sit at a counter service restaurant (inside or outside) and eat food that we brought in from outside the park? surely not? In most places I have been to in the UK this is not allowed and you are asked to leave as the tables and chairs are only for people who have purchased food

[clanmcculloch]

During peak times of the year you will not be able to go into indoor CS locations to eat as they have a process where a CM escorts groups to their table once they have food which they purchased from that location already in their hands. Other times of year, yes you can eat at CS locations, but please be courteous and only do so if there is lots of seating available for paying guests.

You can sit down on any bench anywhere in the parks and eat. I'm totally blanking on picnic tables.

[ellie]

Yep, that's what I'm surely telling you. I'm not suggesting you do this at the local Chili's restaurant outside of Disney. :)

The disneyfoodblog has a nice page about bringing in your own food:

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2012/0...y-theme-parks/

Under #11. "Where can I eat the food I’ve brought?

Anywhere you like. Stop on a bench and pull out your snack. Or if you have a full meal, you’re welcome to eat at any table at a counter service restaurant, indoors or out.

I like eating at the outdoor tables near Casey’s in the Magic Kingdom. There’s great people watching and a view of the Castle."

Anywhere includes most outdoor theaters (I think Flights of Wonder is an exception for no food) but doesn't
include table service places or indoor theaters.

[vicki_c]

It is true though that at some locations and at some times, they will not allow that. And I agree, that common courtesy should dictate - I would not be doing that in a CS dining area during peak meal times.

[DoctorK]

We took a budget trip last October and brought our own lunches in every day. We packed a cooler with sandwiches and fruit, pretzels, etc. We often sat in the outside tables on the little porch that serves as a transition from Pecos Bill's to Tortuga. If it wasn't busy we ate inside the upper room at Pecos Bills where it was air conditioned.

[pfalcioni]

We always bring our own food, and have found Disney is very accommodating. After all, we are already spending a tidy sum to spend time in the parks, it's not like we're just loitering around a local McDonalds and eating our food in their restaurant.

And, like others have mentioned, we've always been aware of where we sit, if tables are crowded, we look elsewhere. There are so many Counter Service locations in the parks that have little out-of-the-way sections that are usually completely empty and we feel absolutely comfortable sitting and enjoying our food.

The only thing to be aware of is what type of container you're bringing into the park - only softside coolers are allowed, and these must be small enough to fit into a locker in the parks. If you'd like more info on it, check out my "Disney on the Cheap" link below.

[berwick]

thanks you for this information very helpful for our trip in..............********2 days time********

[NHKristy76]

Although we don't bring our own food into the parks (too much planning on my part to get stuff from NH to FL and I'm not grocery shopping on vacation!), I do remember seeing signs at many CS locations that the tables were for patrons of the specific restaurant. Now, I'm sure they aren't likely to ask you to move (kinda like how they don't stop people from refilling old mugs!).

If I were in the MK, I'd be sitting on one of the benches near the end of Main St as it is my FAVORITE place to people watch!