Anyone purchased Thanksgiving dinner from a grocery store?

[disneygrandma]

We're arriving late afternoon/early evening on Thanksgiving Day, and thought it would be nice to eat in our SSR villa, instead of going out. (Also, ADR's are very hard to come by at this late date.) Has anyone ordered one of those complete turkey dinners from a local grocery store? If so, what are your thoughts? We're wondering which locations would be the best to order from.

If you haven't ordered a turkey dinner, maybe you have experience in ordering other food from the deli's at these stores. We would love to hear some comments on this type of food from Goodings, Publix, Winn Dixie, and any other locations.

Thanks for all your help!

 

[Melynny]

Hi Last year I ordered t-giving dinner from Winn Dixie. I have to say, I would definatly do it again. All I had to do was re heat the turkey, the sides I got were a sweet potatoe dish and dressing I added marshmallos to the top of the sweet potatoes. I added my own frozen mashed potatoes. it also came with a small package of gravy that I added to a jar of pre made..It also came with rolls, I think. The turkey was MOIST! it was probably the best turkey I have ever "cooked"

I do think that Winn Dixie is open part of the day on thanksgiving. I searched online and watched their online flyers and called and pre ordered on our drive down. I had all the tools in the kitchen that I needed.

 

[disneygrandma]

Thanks for the reply. Which Winn Dixie did you order from? You said that you added to the mashed potatoes and gravy. What size dinner did you purchase, and how many people are in your family? We'll have 4 adults, and 3 small children. Also, did you pick this up early in the day, and eat later? Just wondering because you mentioned having to warm up the turkey.

You said that you ordered this on your drive to WDW. How far ahead was it that you needed to place the order?

I'll do a search for their website & start watching for the dinners. Thanks again for all your help.

 

[JimMIA]

We frequently get most or all of our Thanksgiving dinner from Publix, and we've been very pleased with the food quality.

As Melynny said, all you have to do is reheat. Publix has a wide variety of sides and options, as well as sizes of turkeys for just about any group. Here's a link to their Thanksgiving page: http://www.publix.com/food/entertaining/events/Thanksgiving/Home.do

I would check to see if the store you order from is open on Thanksgiving day.

Either way, you might be able to get one of the grocery-delivery services (WeGoShop, Garden Grocer, etc) to pick it up along with any other grocery items you want and deliver it to your resort. Either of those services should be familiar with the operating hours of the stores, and I know that WeGoShop will shop anywhere you want them to shop.

 

[disneygrandma]

I'm not sure of the locations, but our daughter just called a Publix, and was told they would be closed all day Thanksgiving. A Winn Dixie told her they would PROBABLY be open until 4:00. Goodings said they're open 24 hrs, and that SHOULD include Thanksgiving.

Has anyone done this from Goodings? The 4:00 closing at Winn Dixie might be a little early for us. We were hoping for something closer to 6:00.

Thanks again for the info I've received so far.

 

[JimMIA]

I'm not sure of the locations, but our daughter just called a Publix, and was told they would be closed all day Thanksgiving. A Winn Dixie told her they would PROBABLY be open until 4:00. Goodings said they're open 24 hrs, and that SHOULD include Thanksgiving.

Has anyone done this from Goodings? The 4:00 closing at Winn Dixie might be a little early for us. We were hoping for something closer to 6:00.

Thanks again for the info I've received so far.

Goodings will be somewhat more expensive than Winn-Dixie or Publix. Plus, you don't want to take a chance with "might be" or "should be" open.

I'd call WeGoShop, which will buy anywhere, and ask about two options:

1. Whether someone like Costco or Super Wal-Mart offers similar precooked dinners? Possibly one of those would be open.
2. Whether they can pick up your dinner the day before and deliver it to your DVC resort for refrigerated storage?

The grocery delivery services only charge modest fees, and they may offer the best alternative for you.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Several years ago, we got a Christmas dinner from Goodings. I was surprised how long I had to heat up the turkey. Almost as long as it usually took me to make a turkey breast since we don't usually do a whole turkey.

But it was very good.

 

[Dean]

I'm not sure of the locations, but our daughter just called a Publix, and was told they would be closed all day Thanksgiving. A Winn Dixie told her they would PROBABLY be open until 4:00. Goodings said they're open 24 hrs, and that SHOULD include Thanksgiving.

Has anyone done this from Goodings? The 4:00 closing at Winn Dixie might be a little early for us. We were hoping for something closer to 6:00.

Thanks again for the info I've received so far.

Publix is closed all day but you can pick up the day before.

 

[disneygrandma]

Thanks for all the info. I'll check out the other suggestions. Between these options, I'm sure we can come up with something.

I'm pretty sure Wal-Mart would be open, but not too sure of that one.

Thanks again!

 

[Sammie]

I have gotten Thanksgiving to Go from Cracker Barrel and I know they are open as we have also eaten Thanksgiving dinner there too.

 

[disneygrandma]

We had originally thought about getting something from a restaurant, but weren't too sure if anything would be open. We thought the pre-cooked dinners would be more like Thanksgiving. However, we don't want to spend a lot of time warming them up. We had hoped to be able to pick up the food shortly before eating.

Where is Cracker Barrel located? We will be staying at SSR.

Thanks.

 

[Melynny]

Ok I posted before about Winn Dixie, I ordered on Sunday and Picked it up on Wednesday am. There were supposed to be 4 adults and 3 teens but it ended up being 3 adults and 1 teen. I ordered the smallest dinner available. We had pleanty of food and I feel confident that we would have had enough had all of the teen boys been there. I did have have to heat up everything. It comes cold from the cooler in a carboard box. Nothing was warm. I was going to suggest Cracker Barrel OR most of the WDW counter services will be serving a "Thanksgiving dinner" meal plate special. Really, I think for the amount of work involved and the time that you are arriving, Craker Barrel carry out may be the best bet. Oh I just re read your questions, we ordered from the Winn Dixie on vineland?..instead of going straight on Hotel Plaza Blvd, to Goodings, you go left.. and it's on the right about a mile down that road.

 

[Sammie]

We had originally thought about getting something from a restaurant, but weren't too sure if anything would be open. We thought the pre-cooked dinners would be more like Thanksgiving. However, we don't want to spend a lot of time warming them up. We had hoped to be able to pick up the food shortly before eating.

Where is Cracker Barrel located? We will be staying at SSR.

Thanks.

On 192 not far from the entrance to Celebration.

 

[disneynutz]

I'm not sure of the locations, but our daughter just called a Publix, and was told they would be closed all day Thanksgiving. A Winn Dixie told her they would PROBABLY be open until 4:00. Goodings said they're open 24 hrs, and that SHOULD include Thanksgiving.

Has anyone done this from Goodings? The 4:00 closing at Winn Dixie might be a little early for us. We were hoping for something closer to 6:00.

Thanks again for the info I've received so far.

We will never buy anything from Goodings again. The store is dirty and overpriced.

Publix comes highly recommended as does Honeybaked Hams.

I would beat the rush, pick up the day before and re-heat.

 

[starstruck93]

I'm not much of a cook and we had company down one time for Thanksgiving (when we lived in Tampa) and we got EVERYTHING from Publix and LOVED it!! Good luck, just make sure you call in advance for your dinner! Have fun! April

 

[disneygrandma]

I just talked to our daughter. Both of us were thinking that we would be able to purchase these meals warm, and pick them up shortly before we were ready to eat. Their plane doesn't arrive until 5 PM on Thanksgiving. My husband & I are driving, and we hadn't planned on getting to WDW until around 3 or 4 PM. We're hoping now to drive more hours on Weds, and also after leaving home on Tues afternoon/evening. (Not sure yet exactly what time my husband will be able to get off work.) Anyway, our plan is to check in around 1:00 now. However, warming everything up just seems like a lot of work to do upon our arrival. I think we'll go with the suggestions to get our food to go from Cracker Barrel. We'll be able to pick it up when we're ready to eat, and it won't require the extra work.

Thanks again everyone for all your help!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I just talked to our daughter. Both of us were thinking that we would be able to purchase these meals warm, and pick them up shortly before we were ready to eat. Their plane doesn't arrive until 5 PM on Thanksgiving. My husband & I are driving, and we hadn't planned on getting to WDW until around 3 or 4 PM. We're hoping now to drive more hours on Weds, and also after leaving home on Tues afternoon/evening. (Not sure yet exactly what time my husband will be able to get off work.) Anyway, our plan is to check in around 1:00 now. However, warming everything up just seems like a lot of work to do upon our arrival. I think we'll go with the suggestions to get our food to go from Cracker Barrel. We'll be able to pick it up when we're ready to eat, and it won't require the extra work.

Thanks again everyone for all your help!

Even easier would be just getting counter service at one of the parks, say rotisserie chicken from Cosmic Rays or a hot dog from Casey's Corner and calling it Thanksgiving dinner. Sounds like a time to create a new holiday tradition.

 

[Dean]

Even easier would be just getting counter service at one of the parks, say rotisserie chicken from Cosmic Rays or a hot dog from Casey's Corner and calling it Thanksgiving dinner. Sounds like a time to create a new holiday tradition.

Or get a reservation at one of the sit down locations that will serve a traditional meal such as Boatwrights. I wonder if any of the better CS will have a more traditional meal that day?

 

[disneygrandma]

Our plan is to not go in to the parks that evening. When our daughter called Disney Dining to inquire about resv's for dinner at some place close, for example Turf Club or Olivia's, she was told that nothing was available until after 9 PM. That's when we came up with the idea of picking up something & eating it at the villa. With 3 little kids who have been flying all day, it would be best to just relax at the resort. (no waiting around at a restaurant) All of us thought this would be a better option. We'll be pretty much eating in restaurants all week anyway.

We had considered getting something from Artist's Palette, if they will indeed have a Thanksgiving option that day. But we figured that the price of each counter service meal would probably add up to more than what a family meal to go from Cracker Barrel would cost. Cracker Barrel would also probably have more choices. I called Cracker Barrel & was told that the prices & options should be finalized this week. So I'll check back later. But from what they were able to tell me, it sounds like it is going to work out good.

I appreciate everyone's suggestions. Thanks again!

 

[Dean]

Our plan is to not go in to the parks that evening. When our daughter called Disney Dining to inquire about resv's for dinner at some place close, for example Turf Club or Olivia's, she was told that nothing was available until after 9 PM. That's when we came up with the idea of picking up something & eating it at the villa. With 3 little kids who have been flying all day, it would be best to just relax at the resort. (no waiting around at a restaurant) All of us thought this would be a better option. We'll be pretty much eating in restaurants all week anyway.

We had considered getting something from Artist's Palette, if they will indeed have a Thanksgiving option that day. But we figured that the price of each counter service meal would probably add up to more than what a family meal to go from Cracker Barrel would cost. Cracker Barrel would also probably have more choices. I called Cracker Barrel & was told that the prices & options should be finalized this week. So I'll check back later. But from what they were able to tell me, it sounds like it is going to work out good.

I appreciate everyone's suggestions. Thanks again!

I know years ago they had a package on property for Thanksgiving, I haven't heard of it in a few years. And it's possible that there may be private chef services that will provide the option though they might be pricey. Personally I'd call over to the PO resort and see if either counter service location is doing anything special and specifically ask if they're doing a package meal. If so, that's what I'd do, if not, I'd call Cracker Barrel. There is a boston Market in Kissimmee as well where one could pick up something appropriate, I'd just call to make sure their open. There are a number of online companies that will deliver but it doesn't sound like you will have the time to make that work well. You might also talk to wegoshop to see if they had suggestions or could help.

One last option since you're driving would be to make arrangements to stop en-route and pick up a meal at a cracker barrel or similar. That way you have control and know you're getting what you need when you need it.

Personally I'd just get pizza or similar that night and eat out the next day making it thanksgiving if other options didn't easily work out. Having been driving on longer trips on Xmas day I am painfully aware of how limited the options can be.