Gold Coast Theme parks ban packed lunches

[Doing my best]

Apparently the staff and security have been told that they are not allowed to question if someone says they have an allergy, so yep, sure many allergies or special eating habits will come to light, haha...

I will see if I can get some more info in the next few days from them, but thought it would be helpful that people knew so that they could prepare accordingly..

[Floweryfields]

How do they intend to police this?

[STARRYSKY]

I saw on the news last night that seaworld was doing bag searches out the front!! how ridiculous!!
dreamworld has the same policy but no bag searches

[Tinks]

When we went to QLD in March they checked our bags before we went into Movie World but not Dreamworld or Sea World.

I packed a snap lock bag for each of us with fruit, snacks and a couple of sandwiches in and put them down the bottom of everyone's bag under all the stuff, they didn't even see it. I don't know how throroughly they will check now. But I was under the impression that NO food was allowed into the theme parks ever. We didn't take drinks, we bought those there.

[maz]

arent bag searches a breach of privacy? what are they going to do if you do have them in your bag?

[Tinks]

Bag searches happen all the time at football, concerts etc. They're only allowed to search bags over a certain size, not handbags etc. There has to also be a sign at the entrance stating bags may be searched. If you have anything in your bag which breaches their policy they are allowed to confiscate it.....Can you imagine all the food they'd have piled up at MW?

[maz]

your joking arent you...that is just F****ed! I bet they take the really healthy looking yummy food so they dont have to eat the crap there

[Just Me]

I was kind of wondering about breaches to privacy in having to disclose that you have a food allergy to the security staff . . . someone has said that they can't questions you, but why should I have to disclose anything to them??? They are not health care professionals or family or friends so why do I have to disclose private information about myself to them? I think it is almost discrimination.

LZ - I don't think it is a litter issue. The food they serve at the theme parks have more wrapping than McDonalds and I would think that if it was because of litter, their biggest problem would come from their own products. Lots of people bring lunches in plastic containers that they take home with them and if it were a litter issue, it could be easily resolved by having a policy about having lunch in reusable plastic containers (like many schools are doing here now).

Last time we went to MW they searched our bags to make sure that we weren't taking knives and other makeshift weapons with us. They have done bag searching for the last couple of years but they have never commented on the food. It's like at the airport, you do have the option to take items that aren't allowed back to the car.

[Tinks]

I found this on the My Fun Club website this morning

No food Policy

Sea World and Warner Bros. Movie World have introduced a new food and beverage policy effective from 1 July 2009.

Food & beverage, eskies and coolers may not be brought into the parks. Guests with special dietary requirements as detailed below are exempt from this policy:
- Guests with allergies
- Infants and babies
- Pre booked education groups

You may bring in fruit and bottled water. Although a new policy for our parks, this is an industry standard practice employed by most theme parks as well as sporting and entertainment stadiums worldwide.

Allergies are exempt which is good to know.