Bringing food to US themeparks

[Coasterfan85]

Hi,

 

my name is Sascha and I´m a German student from Hamburg. I´m planning to visit several US themeparks and waterparks next year from July 1st until September 7th and I would like to ask in which parks it is prohibited to bring own food. I´m asking because a friend of me visited SF New England and his bag was searched.

 

Here is the list of parks I´m planning to visit:

 

California:

SF Discovery Kingdom

California´s great adventure

Santa Cruz

Gilroy Gardens

SF Magic Mountain

SF Hurricane Harbour

Universal Studios

Pacific Park

Legoland California

Belmont Park

Knott´s BF

Knott´s Soak City

Disney Land

Disney´s California Adventure

 

Texas:

SF Fiesta Texas

Sea World San Antonio

Schlitterbahn New Braunfels

SF Over Texas

SF Hurricane Harbour

 

Florida:

WDW Magic Kingdom

WDW Animal Kingdom

WDW Epcot Center

WDW MGM Studios

Typhoon Lagoon

Blizzard Beach

Wet´N´Wild

Aquatica

US Florida

US Island of Adventures

Sea World Orlando

Busch Gardens Tampa

 

North Carolina:

Carowinds

 

New York:

Playland Park

 

New Jersey:

SF Great Adventure

 

If someone of you wants to join me in a visit of a specific park, you can write me a message. I can then write you the exact date of my visit there.

Thanks in advance!

 

Regards

Sascha

[moinab]

You can bring food into any of the Walt Disney World theme parks, including the water parks. We do it all the time. They do search bags, but they are looking for weapons, not food. You can't bring in hard sided coolers, though.

 

We usually pack sandwiches, chips, water bottles, and snacks into a backpack.

[Jew]

Take a look at the parks websites: most (if not all) of them should have a section on there devoted to park policies.

 

Here's a few...look around the park websites and it should be pretty easy to find.

 

http://www.knotts.com/public/visit/faq.cfm

 

What am I NOT allowed to bring into the park?

Unauthorized items not allowed in the park include radios, cassette recorders, sleeping bags, luggage, bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades, and coolers. Wagons used as strollers and coolers containing baby food are allowed. Additionally, no outside food items will be allowed to be brought inside Knott's Theme Park (or Soak City Waterpark). Please note that all backpacks, purses and bags will be inspected upon entrance at the Main Gate. Small insulated coolers, no larger than 1' x 1' x 1' with water and/or sports drinks only.

 

http://www.sixflags.com/magicMountain/info/policies.aspx

 

PROHIBITED ITEMS

The following items are not permitted at any time:

Food/coolers (except special diet and infant food)

Lawn/folding chairs

Magic markers, spray paint

Aerosol cans

Glass bottles

Knives

Spiked clothing/jewelry

Fireworks/explosives

Firearms/ammunition

Chemical weapons, mace/pepper spray

Multi-tools

Skateshoes or any footwear with wheels

Wagons

[Pufferfish]

Pretty much all of the Six Flags and Cedar Fair parks don't allow food to be brought in from outside of the park. It pulls away too much extra capital from the parks when you bring food in from outside instead of buying what they serve.

 

I'm glad you are coming to visit and I hope you have a great time.

[cfc]

I know that Kings Dominion has picnic tables set up in their parking lot, so you can eat what you brought out there (it's even part of the entrance announcements--eat it there, don't bring it inside). Not sure about other Cedar Fair parks.

[jamesdillaman]

^ Like Chuck said, bring it, but not in the park. At lunchtime, go out to your car (making sure to get your handstamp) and break out the cooler with the food. When you're done, reenter the park and continue your day. We do this all the time. At some parks where you can reenter the parking lot again free, we'll even go out to eat at a nearby restaurant, then come back.

 

-James Dillaman

[ginzo]

Yeah, the US parks are very different from the European parks in this respect. You're generally NOT allowed to bring outside food in. I think Kennywood might be one exception to this.

 

However, like other people said, you can still picnic in the car. And, if you bring a small amount of snacks inside, nobody is probably going to say anything to you. Security is generally looking for weapons, not contraband food.

[The Disneylander]

Generally, all if not most US parks prohibit bringing your own food.

 

That said, I've never seen it enforced myself...I've brought plenty of stuff into the parks, including sandwiches, thermos bottles, etc. and security always let it go.

 

As others have said, they're looking for weapons and dangerous stuff, not food. They have bigger fish to fry.

[BeemerBoy]

Since we all jumped right into the helpful answers, I'll just add welcome to TPR, Sascha!

 

On a side note, for a German student from Hamburg, your English is really good!

 

That's quite a trip you have planned, and I'll agree with what others have said. For most parks you can just leave a cooler in the car, have your hand stamped, picnic in the parking lot, and then re-enter the park.

 

Have fun!

[ginzo]

On a side note, for a German student from Hamburg, your English is really good!

 

Europeans are frequently good at making us Americans feel dumb like that.

[jamesdillaman]

^ He talks all pretty and smart like. He mustve been learned real goodly in schools.

 

-James "It's sad when non-native speakers have better english than most americans" Dillaman

[SharkTums]

Just as a side note to what Maureen said, often if you have children with you the parks will allow you to bring in a few snacks, water or juice. If you don't have kids, you can expect to be told NO FOOD at all is to be brought in.

 

Like others have said, if you really want to bring food and not buy any at the parks, just leave it in the car and leave the park at lunch time then return when you're done.

[haiderodes]

Also a note on parking at the Southern California parks...

 

SFMM, Disneyland and USH let you leave and return same day with your parking receipt

 

Knotts forces you to pay again...unless of course you are utilizing a platinum pass.

[moinab]

^^We haven't been there in 6 years, but as I recall, Sea World allowed only baby food/bottles and snacks for young children.

 

I think Disney World is an exception. Here is their official word, from their website.

 

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/common/helpFAQ?id=HelpFAQDiningPage&bhcp=1

 

Q. Can food be brought into Walt Disney World® Resort and Theme Parks?

 

A. Guests are allowed to bring food items, such as snacks or foods that do not require heating, into any Walt Disney World® Resort. If you have items that need to be refrigerated, please ask the front desk Cast Member to have a refrigerator placed in your room. Please check with the front desk to see if there is a charge for use of the refrigerator. Guests are allowed to bring food items, such as snacks or foods that do not require heating, into any Walt Disney World® Theme Park.Just inform a Security Cast Member.

[ebl]

I've been allowed to bring small Ziploc bags of M&Ms or nuts into SFMM, once I explain that I need that to help control my blood sugar. Like everyone else has said, parks aren't worried about the little things.

 

Should I not have any treats, the candy store near Terminator gives free samples of fudge should I need to get something quick.

 

Eric

[darklingscribe]

Here is the list of parks I´m planning to visit:

 

California:

Santa Cruz

Pacific Park

Belmont Park

 

These three I know are safe to bring food into. In my experience any park which allows free entry and has a pay per ride system does not mind if you carry your own food in.

[HowieP]

Knoebel's allow food to be brought in though, right?

[ginzo]

^There's no gate and they have a large picnic area.

[Coasterfan85]

Thank you for the fast answers! I'll check the park websites for the official rules, but you've talked already about most of the parks.

About my English, I've learned it 9 years in school like most of the German students. But I generally like foreign languages, I also know French and Russian.

 

Regards

Sascha

[Squid]

I know one of the reasons why American parks don't allow outside food is the vendors. Major food vendors send people into the parks on occasion and will report back if they see any outside food, especially if it's a rival. (Coke, I'm looking at you!) The parks then get in trouble with their food contractors.

 

Sad, but true.

 

Squid