Picnic ideas

bhartman

Mouseketeer
Joined
Nov 10, 2012
I’m not sure if this is the right place for this post, so feel free to move it, if needed.

My husband and I are taking our three kids (10, 7, and 23 months) to WDW in three weeks. We’re staying in a Fort Wilderness cabin and have decided to cook most of our meals in the cabin and bring a picnic lunch (or dinner, depending on the day) to the parks each day.

I don’t want to pack turkey sandwiches every day because that will get boring real quick. I’d love some ideas for fun picnic meals or snacks that would be easy to pack in our backpack cooler. My husband and kids don’t like “salads” (like tuna salad, chicken salad, or chicken salad), but will eat just about anything else.

I’d thought about making BLT sliders on those little Hawaiian rolls, but that’s the only fun picnic meal I could come up with. It’s vacation, so I’d love to have some fun food planned for them. We’ll definitely indulge in treats at the park (funnel cake, ice cream, dole whips) too, so I don’t really need dessert ideas. Mostly entree ideas and maybe some fun snacks.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me!!
 
Here are just a few ideas.
Old school PB & J's
Cut up snacks (fruits, veggies and dip, cheese, crackers, pepperoni) almost sort of like lunchables
Cold pizza? (you could get one delivered, find carryout or even cook frozen ones and pack slices in tinfoil
Fried chicken (I know they sell this in grocery stores---cook in the morning or night before and bring cold)
Antipasta salad (meat and cheeses for the protein)
Hard boiled eggs *you could bring coffee cakes and fruit and make it like a breakfast for lunch theme
Grilled chicken to put on regular salads or even on a sandwich
Chicken ceaser wraps
Asian pasta salad (could put cold chicken on top)
Ham and pineapple skewers *did this for a dinner party at home and it was a hit even with kids. i used lunchmeat.
Cheese tortalini salad

Not sure how adventurous your family would be---but I think there are lots of sandwiches that you could pack too. Putting them on different breads (even bagels, croissants and ciabtta bread) can really change them up. You can put sliced avocados, apples, different cheeses or do grilled chicken, italian meats or fresh spinach to switch them up a bit.
 
Bagels with cream cheese, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cheese/cracker/pepperoni, fruit/cheese, fried chicken, pasta salad with italian dressing instead of mayo.
 
My kids always loved crackers and meats and cheeses. Vary these each day. Fruit and cheese sticks, wraps with favorite meat and cheeses. If budget is the reason for picnics; also consider taking in chips, fruit etc and get a burger or pizza in the park.
 
Thank you all so much for you replies! I’m sure I can it together several picnics with all of these good ideas. I love the idea of using other breads (bagels, croissants, etc)

Thanks again!!
 
Keep in mind there is no place to picnic in the parks. As in, spreading out a blanket on grass and having your meal. You will be sitting mostly on planters and benches. It is rare in my experience to find any outdoor table seating that isn't occupied.

Also, I'm not sure if you are aware, but you can't bring in a rolling cooler. You will need to carry it somehow, or place it in a locker. Or put it in the bottom of a stroller if it will fit. Security will check your cooler too, so try to stack your stuff neatly. I've seen people put food items into clear ziplock bags and that seems like a great idea.
 
Keep in mind there is no place to picnic in the parks. As in, spreading out a blanket on grass and having your meal. You will be sitting mostly on planters and benches. It is rare in my experience to find any outdoor table seating that isn't occupied.

Also, I'm not sure if you are aware, but you can't bring in a rolling cooler. You will need to carry it somehow, or place it in a locker. Or put it in the bottom of a stroller if it will fit. Security will check your cooler too, so try to stack your stuff neatly. I've seen people put food items into clear ziplock bags and that seems like a great idea.

Thanks for the heads up! We didn’t plan on taking a picnic blanket. On one of our MK days, we plan on eating at Tom Sawyer Island, where there are picnic tables. On the other MK day, we’ll eat either on the train or on a park bench. On our HS day, we’ll have our picnic dinner while we wait for fantasmic. In EPCOT, we’ll probably find a bench or spot somewhere to sit and eat. I’ve actually seen plenty of posts with suggested picnic spots throughout all of the parks, so I’m not all that concerned about finding a spot to eat. We’ll have a stroller, which will make it easy to carry our cooler backpack with us. And having been to WDW several times, we’ve experienced going through bag check, so we’re familiar with that process. Thanks!
 


I second pepperoni, cheese, and crackers. Halo's are easy to take and refreshing if its warm. Little containers of peanut butter, ranch, etc... to dip celery, broccoli, carrots in. I know it isn't very creative but our girls will eat pizza anytime cold. Maybe you could bake a frozen pizza the night before and cut it into bite size pieces. Maybe if you make sandwiches you use Disney cookie cutters to cut them to make them more fun. Have a great trip.
 
Thanks for the heads up! We didn’t plan on taking a picnic blanket. On one of our MK days, we plan on eating at Tom Sawyer Island, where there are picnic tables. On the other MK day, we’ll eat either on the train or on a park bench. On our HS day, we’ll have our picnic dinner while we wait for fantasmic. In EPCOT, we’ll probably find a bench or spot somewhere to sit and eat. I’ve actually seen plenty of posts with suggested picnic spots throughout all of the parks, so I’m not all that concerned about finding a spot to eat. We’ll have a stroller, which will make it easy to carry our cooler backpack with us. And having been to WDW several times, we’ve experienced going through bag check, so we’re familiar with that process. Thanks!
You won't be eating on the train. No eating or drinking on the train.
 
We always did this when our kids were little.... they never complained b/c we always got treats too...sometimes we'd buy some french fries to go with whatever sandwich we brought in,or ice cream later, I tried to pack foods we didn't eat much at home, like salami and cheese with chips (they considered that a treat)
 
Thanks for the heads up! We didn’t plan on taking a picnic blanket. On one of our MK days, we plan on eating at Tom Sawyer Island, where there are picnic tables. On the other MK day, we’ll eat either on the train or on a park bench. On our HS day, we’ll have our picnic dinner while we wait for fantasmic. In EPCOT, we’ll probably find a bench or spot somewhere to sit and eat. I’ve actually seen plenty of posts with suggested picnic spots throughout all of the parks, so I’m not all that concerned about finding a spot to eat. We’ll have a stroller, which will make it easy to carry our cooler backpack with us. And having been to WDW several times, we’ve experienced going through bag check, so we’re familiar with that process. Thanks!


We like to pack our lunch and do TS for dinner.
Actually there are plenty of spots for you to eat at a table.
There are even some tables so random folks just miss them.

MK:
- By Storybook Circus lots of tables and chairs, some with umbrellas.
- By Tangled bathrooms small tables with charging stations 2 for 1 there
- Tomorrowland Terrace and Tortuga Tavern are usually closed, if so, great spots to use
- Few tables & chairs on Center street, that dead end on right in middle of Main Street
- Next to the Pirate Adventure on way to Splash is an area with LOTS of picnic tables
- Tom Sawyer Island

DHS:
- Tables with umbrellas along Echo Lake in front of 50's Prime (not sure they are still there)
- Tables OUTSIDE of Backlot to the side by Indiana Jones are rarely ever used
- Tables with umbrellas outside in Muppet Courtyard (apart from the restaurant)

AK:
- Tables and Chairs in numerous little spots along river behind the tree between Africa and Asia
- Picnic Table by Chesters in Dinoland
- Random spots on side paths you may see benches
- The pavilions for Flame Tree - the farthest away (close to Mickey greet) are usually empty

Epcot:
- Tables chairs by the Outpost in World Showcase usually empty
- Table/chairs in Italy not connected to eatery
- LOTS of outdoor seating by America that is never used since lots of indoor seating there
- LOTS of benches and walls you can sit on
- Indoor tables & chairs in Innoventions West behind Character Spot (right at some bathrooms)


Food thoughts:
We actually are fine with the same thing over and over .... we pack on rolls so nothing gets soggy and put them in plastic containers which then serve well with their lid for plates. We like to bring the small packets (from fast food places) of condiments, again to keep them from getting soggy. Pringles are great because the tube keeps the chips from breaking in the backpack.
 
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My little girl likes what we call a "nibble tray" for lunch. It's like a homemade lunchable. Diced grilled chicken (I grill extra when we have it and I freeze it), cheese, crackers or tortillas, fruit, etc. Add a ranch dip, and it's good. Sometimes I save extras we have of dipping sauces from Chick Fil A and she loves that.
 
My little girl likes what we call a "nibble tray" for lunch. It's like a homemade lunchable. Diced grilled chicken (I grill extra when we have it and I freeze it), cheese, crackers or tortillas, fruit, etc. Add a ranch dip, and it's good. Sometimes I save extras we have of dipping sauces from Chick Fil A and she loves that.

Good idea! We’re planning on grilling chicken at our cabin one night. I could just grill a little extra and take that to the parks. I love cold grilled chicken.
 

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