I actually had to look myself when someone brought this to my attention. Sure enough, after looking over the guest services policies for every park, I did not come across a single mention of the word cooler. Kind of strange, especially since one of their recommendations is to bring plenty of drinking water.

The good news is that you can indeed bring small, soft-sided coolers into the theme parks. I recommend checking out Walmart to find one of the larger ones. I picked up this Coleman 16-Can Soft Cooler (pictured below) for $15 over our summer trip to Disney. It is compact enough to pass through security and still provides a decent amount of space for 160z. bottles.

For all of you thinking about bringing in those large 38 or 54 quart plastic coolers – don’t. These are not allowed into the parks. Basically you need to find something that will fit under a stroller or can be carried as a bag. Also keep in mind that all bags and coolers will be inspected at the gate for prohibited items like alcohol, etc.

Okay, so you have your approved cooler and it doesn’t take long to figure out that the space inside is limited. What do you do? One simple strategy is to think outside of the traditional 12oz. cans and 16ox. bottles. Consider stocking it with the mini soda cans and bottled waters. They provide enough enough liquid to quench your thirst and with being on the go you probably won’t need a full sized drink. Kid drinks have several great options like small juice pouches, Capri Suns, and individual milks.

Obviously the limited capacity of a soft side cooler means less ice to keep things cold. You can get cups of ice at the concessions stands but getting through the lines can be a real pain. My wife used those frozen gel packs, which seemed to last longer and prevent the inevitable water spills you get when pulling your cooler out from under the stroller. I’ve never tried this, but you could also pack a couple of those first aid ice packs that you “pop” to make them cold…just an idea.

If you reserve your cooler space for drinks only you should be able to make it through most of your day. Dry snacks like pretzels, peanut butter crackers, and granola bars can be stored in your backpack. If you really want to pack sandwiches then PB&J might be the best way to go since those don’t need to be cold. Any other method will require you to either eat one meal from dining services, or get back to your resort room to re-stock.

The short answer is yes, purchasing a Disney World Dining Plan will still save you money…but not as much as they used to, and only if you use all of your meal credits.

Here is an overview of the three most popular dining packages:

Quick Service Disney Dining Plan: Includes 2 Quick Service or Counter Service Meals and 2 Snacks per person/per day. $34.99/day/adult, $11.99/day/child

Regular Disney Dining Plan: Includes 1 Table Service Meal, 1 Counter Service Meal, and 1 Snack per person/per day. $47.99/day /adult, $12.99/day /child

Deluxe Disney Dining Plan: Includes 3 credits that can be used for Table Service or Counter Service, and 2 snacks per person/per night. $78.99/day/adult, $21.99/day/child

Notes:
Table Service meals are equivalent to restaurant meals where a server takes your order. They include an appetizer at lunch or dinner.

All credits are added at the start of your stay, so technically can use multiple credits per day. The Regular and Deluxe Dining Plans allow you to exchange two table service credits for a show or signature dining experience.

For most people, the Deluxe plan offers more table service dining than you would likely use. That is unless you want to dine at a restaurant for all 3 meals every day. With that in mind, most families could survive on the 1 restaurant meal, 1 counter service meal, and 1 snack provided with the Regular plan.

So let’s see what you would pay out of pocket for a daily menu similar to the Regular plan…

Cereal and milk for breakfast = assume $4 (equivalent to 1 snack credit)
Counter service lunch = assume $15
Table service dinner with entree, dessert, and beverage = assume $35
Total out of pocket expense = $54
Price of regular dining plan = $47.99
Potential Savings = $6 per day

Now compare that to a daily menu similar to the Deluxe plan…

Table service breakfast = assume $12
Table service lunch = assume $18
Table service dinner = assume $35
Two snacks = assume $8
Total out of pocket expense = $73
Price of regular dining plan = $78.99
Potential Savings = None

A couple features not included in the calculations for the Deluxe plan are a refillable drink mug and the option to add appetizers to all table service meals. If you include those items then you would likely save a few bucks by purchasing this package. But again, this is A LOT of food for one person to eat every day.

So the bottom line is you won’t save an extravagant amount of money by purchasing a Disney World Dinning Plan. You do however get the convenience of budgeting your food expenses in advance, and with the Deluxe option you can redeem multiple meal credits for a dinner show or character dining experience.

In the end it just depends on what your family prefers and how much you plan to use the benefits of the dining package. If you really want to maximize your savings opportunities, then book your vacation during the “free dining package” promotional dates that occur every year.

Similar to last year, this promotion will offer different tiers of free dining service depending on where you stay. Guests staying at value resorts will receive the Quick Service Dining Plan, while those staying in moderate, deluxe or deluxe villa rooms will receive the standard Disney Dining Plan.

There is a minimum 3-night stay and all guests must have park passes. Offer is valid on most nights from August 15 through October 2. Rooms must be booked by August 14, 2010.

So how much can you save with Disney Dining Plans?

Regular Dining Plans cost $41.99 per day per adult and $11.99 per day per child ages 3-9.  Quick Service Dining Plans cost $29.99 for adults and $8.99 for children. When you start to add this up per day and per person you could save a considerable amount of money.

When comparing the free dining plan offer with room discounts, the dining plan usually is the best option if you have three or more guests who are staying at a value or moderate resort. You should run the numbers though because sometimes rooms are discounted as high as 40% off in the off-season, which begins after Labor Day.

All discounts aside, Disney dining plans are a convenient and budget friendly way to plan your meals. Food and beverage is one of the biggest expenses associated with a vacation. If you can control these costs before arriving then you will probably be able to enjoy your meals a little better…instead of worrying about how much you are spending!

The promotion launched to the public on March 30th and includes most check-in dates from August 16, 2009 through October 3, 2009. Packages must be purchased by June 21st. Free dining will extend past the October 3rd date, as long as you check in October 3rd or before. As with all Disney promotions, this offer is subject to availability.

The upgrade gives you a Magic Your Way Plus Dining package for the price of a regular Magic Your Way package. You must purchase a regularly priced Magic Your Way package consisting of at least a 3-night stay at an official Walt Disney World resort hotel, AND a minimum of a 1-day Magic Your Way Base Ticket.

You can also chose to upgrade to the Deluxe Dining Plan for just $32 per adult per night and $10 per child age 3-9 per night. The Deluxe Dining Plan includes three meals a day at your choice of table service or counter service locations. Table service meals include an appetizer on the Deluxe Dining Plan. The Deluxe Dining Plan also includes two snacks per day and one refillable mug for each ticket holder.

Even without the upgrade, a family of four will save just over $100 per day with this promotion. You’ll likely save even more however because you won’t need to budget as much for your meals during your vacation. The Deluxe Dining Upgrade is a steal at $32 per adult since it covers all of food needs while at the park.

No other discounts can be combined with this offer. Reservations are limited. Please note that gratuity for table service meals are not included.

How It Works
The Disney Dinning Package includes one quick service meal, one snack, and one table service meal for each night of your stay.  Quick service meals are offered at the park and are similar to what you would find in a fast food combo menu.  Snacks include ice cream treats, popcorn, and soft drinks.  Table service options are offered at different sit-down restaurants throughout the park.

The meals included in your vacation package are cumulative; meaning that you can use them at anytime during your stay.  For example, you can redeem three snacks per person on one day and use two table service meals the next.  You will receive a dinning card that stores your allotment of meals and is used by the cashiers as payment.  All service charges and gratuities are included with the price.

If you are interested in special food options like Character Dinning and Disney Signature Dinning, a handful of locations offer the opportunity to redeem two table service meals as full credit for one meal.  Keep in mind that reservations are necessary for the most popular attractions.

The Cost
A three night Magic Your way Package with Food costs about $450 per adult, $325 per child under 18, and $200 per child under 10.  For six night stays, the price increases to $700, $425, and $250 respectively.  This is a pretty good deal as it averages about $35 per day for food per adult.  Most people would find it difficult to eat under that budget without the package deal.

Is It Right For You?
There are several things to consider before purchasing the dinning option.  Are you willing to accept the restrictions of eating at only those places that are approved under the plan?  You should also consider how many character dinning experiences you plan on attending.  There are only a few approved locations that accept the 2-for-1 meal plan exchange rate, and your kids might not be as interested in these options.  Review this guide to dinning plan locations for more information.

Overall, the food packages offered at Disney World can be a great budget saver for the right family.  It is nice to be able to plan most of your food costs before you go.  You can also help control costs by bringing snacks and beverages in the park as long as you don’t mind carrying them around all day.  The best plan is to use a mix of both options.  This will help you save money and prevent anyone from going hungry while on your vacation.

First and foremost, decide as a family what is most important for you all to see. This will vary with the age of your children and your different interests. However, when everyone can decide on a plan, it’s time to plot out your day. For example, if a trip to the Magic Kingdom is agreed upon, decide which rides you MUST go on. Hopefully, you have obtained maps of the theme parks from your travel agent, your travel package, etc. so you know which rides are at what park and where they are. If you haven’t already checked it out, go to Disney’s website. It is a very valuable source of information. So, if your family decides that they must go on Space Mountain first, make that the first ride and bypass everything else. There will be time in the day to backtrack. Also, arrive at least half an hour before the park opens. This will give you time to be at the front gates, ready to make a run towards Space Mountain when the park opens. Be aware of what rides have fast pass tickets available. This will also help your planning as well. Since there are so many rides in the Magic Kingdom, you may not get to go on all of them in a day so only go on the rides you and your family have dreamed about and make it a priority to go on only them.

If going on your Disney vacation during the summer, please stay hydrated. During midday, when the sun beats down and reflects on the concrete, it can really feel like an oven. Contrary to popular belief, you can bring your own water bottles and snacks with you into the park. Just bring a tote bag and, though all bags are checked, Disney officials don’t mind if you have a couple of drinks and a pack of granola bars. Just don’t go overboard. Food prices are high at Disney. Water usually costs around 2.00. Also, from 11:30 in the morning until around 4:00, the theme parks are very busy and the day is at its hottest. Don’t overstress yourself during these times. Instead, find some shade and take a break from the day or go on a ride that you hopefully have a fast pass for. Since the lines are also extraordinary long during these times, if you don’t have a fast pass, go on one of the more unpopular rides where the lines are the shortest. In the Magic Kingdom these rides are The Carousel of Progress and the Hall of Presidents. At Epcot, the pavilion at Mexico is the best place to go and the little boat ride there is very enjoyable.

Another point that I have to stress is eating lunch and dinner. Please make reservations for the fancier sit-down restaurants because if you do not make them, you will be disappointed. Also, the theme parks only have so many fast food restaurants and around 11:30, these places are packed! Believe me, it is no fun having to wait in line for thirty minutes only to have the only place to sit and eat be directly in the hot sun. So if you can, try to eat lunch around 11:00 or at about 1:30. This way you can eat in air conditioning and not have to wait so long. The same is said about dinner. Eat around 4:30 or after 7:00 to have a relaxing meal.

Above all, have fun! This is why so many families experience the Disney vacation year after year and now you can do it right and have a memorable, great time!

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