9 days to go and I'm flabbergasted! Help!

[Amps]

Hey guys. Well apparently you can spend 7 months planning your first real trip (ie. first trip that I'm planning everything) and not settle on a plan for getting to the resort until the last minute and I've got tons of questions. Btw, we'll be staying onsite at CBR and we leave May 16.

Not smart I know.

I've been juggling my 2 main options:

1) Number one is taking a cab from the airport to a nearby grocery store to pick up stuff like bagels and juice for breakfasts and snacks. If we do this, which cab company should I call to pick us up? Will they wait for us at the grocery store while we shop and then take us to WDW or we'll we have to call another cab to pick us up? How much do you think the fare would be from MCO->Grovery Store->CBR? And also, does anyone know a good grocery store that is close by or along the way? Oooh, and what would the fare difference be between a really nice towncar and a regular cab?

2) Second option is taking Magical Express from the airport to CBR and ordering food from someplace like GardenGrocer.com. I've held off on this option because I don't think I'll be able to think of $50 worth of groceries (the min order size) and I don't want to leave a ton of food behind. Still not sure how much we'll need for our 8 1/2 days. If I decide to go with ME, can I still book it even though our flight leaves in 9 days? Will I get my tags in time? Our flight doesn't get in untill 3pm, do you think our bags will be in our room by a reasonable time that evening?

What's everyones opinions on my 2 options? I really don't want to take time off during the next day to go back to the grocery store and I also don't want to miss out on a good thing by taking one option over the other. I need to decide as soon as possible I geuss since I have to make the neccessary calls. I think I'm leaning more to ME since it is Disney afterall but I'm real worried about it being to late to get my tags (even though there is a disney mailing center 40km from my house).

Thanks in advance!

-Chris

Edit: Forgot to ask; can we get ME back to MCO when we leave even if we don't take it to the resort on arrival?

 

[salmoneous]

I would strongly advise against taking a cab from MCO -> grocery -> Disney.

Me? I'd just take ME and have food delivered. The other options are going to cost you more than the $50. And I've got to believe you can eat $50 of food in 8 1/2 days without wasting anything.

 

[westjones]

We are flying this summer and using ME for the first time. We always rented a car in the past, but decided to use ME and see what it is like (and the price is RIGHT!)..

We are packing breakfast stuff and snacks in a suitcase and it will just show up in our room! Before we always tried to keep to just 3 suitcases for the 4 of us because we rented mid sized cars and that is what fit in the trunk, but it doesn't matter with ME and so each of us will have a suitcase this time.

Then at the resort store we will pick up milk and juice. I am not taking pop to drink, but I am taking those powdered pre-measured drink mixes that you put in water bottles. We can just fill up our water bottles with water and mix up our own lemonade or raspberry drinks in the room (I did pack a pitcher that I am going to fill with water to have cold in the fridge to fill up our reusable water bottles).

I am packing:
Pop Tarts
Bagles
Ritz Crackers
Wheat Crackers
Peanut Butter
Easy Cheese (in a can)
Powdered Drink mixes
Iced Tea mix
Cookies

Then when we return the space that the food took up can be used for whatever I end up buying at WDW or I will just spread out the dirty clothes (they seem to take up more room anyway ).

So my vote is to use ME, pack all the dry foods you can pack and pick up the perishables in the resort store.

DJ

 

[taylor2285]

I know this might sound a bit crazy, but have you considered the Orlando LYNX bus system? I'm going to work at WDW this summer and have been looking at the transit, and I've heard good things. There's frequent and safe service. You might think about doing ME to your hotel, settling in, and then taking the bus to one of the grocery stores on the Southeast side, near I-4, World Dr, International Dr. The #301 or #303 seem to serve Epcot area hotels, you could easily transfer to the #300 at Pleasure Island, a "Superstop," which would take you to the World Dr shopping area. It wouldn't be as convenient as a cab, but it would be a lot cheaper. Just in case it sounds like a good idea, there are maps and schedules at the website, go to google and look for "orlando lynx." I can't use urls for some reason.

 

[taylor2285]

Sorry, I was wrong about the 300 buses, they're once-a-day commuters. There doesn't really seem to be any other very good option; there's a #56 that goes south to Hwy. 192 through Kissimmee where there are probably some stores. Guess I can't count on saving too much gas money all summer.

 

[zurgswife]

During our spring break trip. We took ME and I rented a small car for the first day for about $25 for the day with a pick up at Dolphin. I was able to do the grocery shopping when I wanted.

It is definately cheaper then the cab route.

 

[DebbieB]

I agree with westjones, I would pack what you can and pickup perishables at the store at CBR. Even though the resort store is overpriced, it's not as much as you would spend on a cab or rental car.

 

[Amps]

Thanks guys, I've decided to go the DME route. I was looking at car rentals but since I'm only 23, a single day of rental would cost about $68. I ordered groceries online and was actually suprised how fast I hit the $50 minimum with just the neccesities and I figured the $10 delivery fee is much better then taking the time out of my vacation to go shopping.

Thanks for the suggestions guys, now just to find out if I can get my DME tags in time