Bringing food in the park...

Hey everyone! I was curious if you can tell me how strict Cedar Point is upon entering the park and inspecting bags. I wanted to bring a small lunch bag with some snacks, sandwiches and pop but saw that they only allow unopened water. I went a month ago and no one checked (it was at the bottom of my stroller), but that was later in the day that we arrived, not at the beginning of the day. What has your experience been? Thanks!

ps- I realize I can leave it in the picnic area but it will really be a small bag and I'd rather carry it with me so we can eat wherever we are in the park.

We do the stroller thing, i have never been checked and even walked in with a plastic pop bottle in hand and one in the cup holder, food in plain site, like chips for the kids and such.... you can shove anything into a diaper bag.

They usually don't say anything. But on a personal note i don't think you should do it because it is breaking the rules. Thats why i like when they inspect your stuff at parks. Cedar Point needs to start checking bags. They could get more profit and make sure people don't bring in unauthorized items.

^Let me guess, you were a hall monitor as well?

On topic, I've never seen any bag checks, pat-downs, etc. A pair of cargo shorts can hide a decent amount of food, airplane liquor bottles and so forth. I typically carry in a metal flask, and it's never been an issue for me. If putting it at the bottom of the stroller worked for you once, it will very likely work again.

As for time of day, I would imagine that during the morning rush, the front gate workers have even less time to busy themselves with stuff like this. Smuggle away.

I wasn't but I do like to follow the rules.:)

Disney does a good job of people keeping food out of the park.

I've never known Disney to prevent food from being taken into the park. I've never even heard of outside food being banned from the Disney parks. A quick search of any disney forum will bring up hundreds of posts about people taking full picnics into the park and leaving them in lockers until later in the day.

Thanks everyone for your tips. I'm not looking at taking a 3 course meal, believe me we will be spending money on parking, games, meals, etc. It's just easy to take a few things, especially when travelling with a toddler. Thanks again!

Don't sweat it, who is doing more wrong, you taking food into the park or them charging the prices for the food in the park forcing you to bring food into the park? lol

You could also leave it in the car. I like relaxing in my car or having a picnic in the shade next to Gemini. Its nice to get out of the atmosphere every once in awhile. I bring drinks in with me all the time. unopened and opened. No one says a thing.

^ I think that is a great alternative. You get away from that rush and then eat in a picnic shelter or even eat in the grass at soak city parking lot.

If it's in a cooler, large or small, then you will get turned away. If it's in something that doesn't look like there's food in it, then most likely no one will say anything. If you're carrying an open beverage, then you can bring it in, as long as its not alcohol. If any outside food is in sight, then you won't be able to bring it in. We were actually a little more strict about all the rules this year than the past at the gates.

coolkid2345 said:
I wasn't but I do like to follow the rules.:)

Disney does a good job of people keeping food out of the park.

Except Disney doesn't try to keep food out of the park. The inspect to make sure there aren't any bombs, guns or other "dangerous" items in your bags.

Did someone actually suggest searching through my personal belongings is a good idea??? WTF???

^As many others have said, there are a whole lot of apologists up in this joint. There are folks here that would probably volunteer for a cavity search upon entry if it meant they could kiss up to Cedar Fair.

^I like you.

This site has no monopoly on that. Same thing with some Disney fans. Even outside the industry. Just look at some of the people on Michigan fan sites bending over backwards to defend Rich Rodriquez. Some even believed those were real tears yesterday at his press conference. :)

It has nothing to do with Cedar Point. Hardcore fans exist everywhere.

I don't know any UM fans defending Rich Rod. I never wanted them to hire him in the first place. I say fire him.

Then you haven't been here: http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard

Hmm. Apparently WVU is trying to conspire to ruin Rodriguez? Maybe some of those posters are a bit over the top.

Then again, nothing more crazy than a lot of the posters here. :)

The hiring of Rich Rod is the single greatest thing to ever happen to MSU football.