[lustergirl]

My family is taking a vacation to WDW the last week of September. I have heard many responses to the question that I ask. I have heard no but a small collapsible cooler is fine. What about soft sides? I would like to take my own water and gatorade into the parks if allowed, this will save alot of money.

Thanks,
Lisa (can't wait to go to Disney)

[Tinkerbelle67]

Just came back from WDW on 7/22 and while there I saw lots and lots of coolers. Many people had the kind that they pulled behind them like luggage. I totally understand wanting to bring a cooler but I think it would be just too much trouble. If I was using a stroller and could put a small one in there, well maybe.

Welcome to DC!!!!!!

[lustergirl]

I wouldn't lug a big cooler around either, even if it had wheels like a piece of luggage. I am thinking of a small collapsible one with wheels. I only want to bring water and gatorade for my boys.

Happy Disney Day,
Lisa

[Tinkerbelle67]

How old are your boys? My kids are 7 and 9 and they each carried waist packs with their own water bottles. It was less for me to have to carry!!

[CaraMia]

We have been bringing along a soft sided cooler for the last 3 years. We keep juice and gatorade in it for my 3 yr old. We fill it with ice from the ice machine at the hotel before we go. The cooler fits perfectly inside the stroller basket. Security checks the cooler before entering the park but we have never had a problem bringing it.

[lustergirl]

my boys are 12 and 16 years of age. I think I am more excited than they are.

Lisa

[Tinkerbelle67]

I was the same way, you're entitled.

[lustergirl]

This is our 1st trip to Disney. My husband isn't too keen about the plane ride- he is actually scared to death. It doesn't bother me... We are staying in the All Star Sports Resort. I chose this one because of the great value you get and my boys are really into sports. I would like to do this on a budget if I can so that is why I want to take in a cooler if possible. Any suggestions where to buy one? I think WalMart has them.

Lisa

[Tinkerbelle67]

I just came back from 10 days and we did try to budget where we could. We had breakfast in the room every morning. My kids are happy with cereal or bagels. You won't have a fridge in the All Star Sports though.
I have to say you're a better mom than me, like I said my kids are 7 & 9 and the carried their own bags. In it they carried their Nintendo DS's (to pass the time), snacks, lollipops and their own water bottles. I was not going to be the "pack mule" on this trip. I did carry a back pack, but much smaller than I usually do.

[CaraMia]

We bought our soft sided cooler at target. I think it was about $12. We can fit two 1 Quart plastic drinking containers in it and ice or ice paks.

[lustergirl]

My two boys will be the ones that ride the attractions the most. It may be a hassle for them to unload all their stuff off on to me. My husband can lug the cooler around all day, lol.

Lisa

[PrincessJill]

If you don't want to drag around a cooler, you could keep the cooler in a locker so you didn't have to carry the whole big thing around all day. You could buy those water bottle holders that have a shoulder strap and keep the bottle cold. Then you could just go back to the locker and stock up. :)

[CaraMia]

Since your kids arent "stroller age" anymore I would go with the bottle holders like the other poster said. You know "the mom" always gets stuck with everyone's junk. You dont want to be stuck with the cooler all day or having to run back to the locker so frequently. I would much rather spend the $$ on bottled water then do that.

The last trip to WDW we even passed on the cooler even though we had the stroller. Was one less thing to have to lug back to the hotel at the end of the day. We did have a small Eddie Bauer diaper bag (looks like a camera bag) that we carried ds's sippy cup in and extra clothes, suntan lotion, etc.

[SandrA9810]

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=2603675

That looks like a good investment. The thing about bringing backpacks, coolers, and such, is getting on the rides with them. Now most rides that are gentle, have plenty of feet room for that sort of thing. But once you start on the thrill rides, there's less room for that sort of thing, sometimes they won't allow you to bring it on.
Now that cooler would be good for a family of 3 or more. Plenty of room for snacks, drinks, and no one get stucks lugging in on thier back, unless they wanted to. And the front compartment looks good for cameras, sunglasses, and sun screen. BTW, digital cameras with LCD screen can explode if left in prolong heat. And with it being up against that cold ice, will keep it from exploding. Same goes for game boys. **former Gamestop employee that saw kids with busted LCD screens all the time from them leaving it in the car**
You could always get a hard cooler to bring into your hotel room stocked up with all the drinks you would need for your trip. And each day, load in what you'll need into the smaller one. Colder drinks will stay colder longer, than room-tempature drinks. And they might not be as cool and as refreshing as you would like it to be on a hot day.

[mickeymommy]

My DH and I carried a backpack (we took turns carrying it) and had a small cooler that fit inside of it. We each had a water bottle that we refilled using the water fountains around the parks. The water in the fountains is cold and usually we just wanted a drink, not so much worried about whether or not it was ice cold. Never had a problem getting through security or riding any of the rides.