Cab to the local grocery store or by on property?

[3Gs4Me]

We are flying in and getting picked up at the airport. We have the meal plan with a CS and TS meal plus snack. We will need food in our room for breakfast and also snacks to bring into the park for the day. Is there a reasonably priced place on property to get things like milk, cereal, yogurt, fruit, granola bars, etc... or should we take a cab to the nearest grocery store?

 

[jmb120]

I'd suggest placing an order with we go shop or garden grocer and they will deliver it right to your resort for you. I used garden grocer last time and their prices are a little high but not outrageous. There is a minimum order amount, you'll have to check their websites for that info. It will save you cab fare and also you won't have to waste any of your vacation time food shopping.

For my upcoming trip, we are going to use the QSDP and just pack a few supplemental items in our luggage. We found that we didn't really eat most of the stuff we ordered from Garden Grocer last time.

 

[LMC]

Can you pack the granola's in your suitcases? If you can pack dry foods like that I would suggest doing so. As far as cereal and milk, I would buy it in the gift shop or food court which ever is cheaper at your hotel. I personally purchase things at the gift shops when we camp at Ft Wilderness all the time. I don't think the prices are THAT bad when you consider it would take at least an hour to travel off site to shop (time is money when you are at disney) plus you would have cab fare. There are also some shopping companies that will shop for you and deliver to your resort. You can find info about those on these boards. Some where on the budget board or disney for family board, there is a link about ways to save and you can go to the main street bake shop in the mornings and get a muffin or such for $2/$3; very cheap considering all their prices. I think all the parks have bake shops near the front entrances.

 

[LMC]

Oh, depending on who is picking you up, some of the transportation companies allow a short grocery stop on the way to the hotel.

 

[Winnie23]

I would also suggest Garden Grocer.....we use them every time we go. They are great!

 

[3Gs4Me]

We are being picked up by ME

We are also huge produce eaters and since my kids aren't used to typical park fare they and I will be ready for some fresh food for breakfast and snacks.

Thanks for the suggestions. I will give garden grocer a look see.

Can you buy full boxes of cereal and milk at the resorts or just single serve type containers?

 

[3Gs4Me]

Do you pay a delivery fee through garden grocer or is it added into product prices? If delivered while we are gone and their are perishables, would a Disney staff member put the items in our fridge?

 

[zarvgirl]

Last April we used wegoshop. Excellent service. Also a great way to get some bottled water (it's expensive to buy in parks, although you can get a glass of water at any CS) and my DH wanted a case of beer!! They picked up banana's and some other perishables.
They delivered right to our resort room and at the time we wanted.

The restaurants at WDW do offer a wide selection of fruit.

Have a super trip.

 

[3Gs4Me]

Called and had my questions answered. $40 min. with a $12 fee for delivery. Rep. said that Bell services at the resort would keep items that were perishable cold.

Definitely a better option than trying to get a cab. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[happymommy]

We did that last year with Garden Grocer, and were also on the regular dining plan. I didn't realize things like, at the Boardwalk Bakery, a SNACK credit was a box of cereal plus a milk. A meal (CS) was a sandwich, side dish, drink, plus a pastry (they are really good). The sandwich was huge - definitely enough for two people! The dining plan had so many desserts! We don't eat that many, but hopefully you can get fruit.

Ended up, we had way too much food! Just warning, as if we ever did the dining plan again, we'd know how much food it is. I would want some items in the room like cereal, milk, and of course a bottle of wine, but those you can pick up at the resort.

 

[3Gs4Me]

Happymommy. You are speaking of adult meals correct? I have heard that children's meals are small. Since I have an almost 10 year old I am assuming he will be digging into a bit of mine and dh's food as well since all of the sudden he seems to have 2 hollow legs.

 

[Curiouser&curiouser.]

i order from garden grocer, actually just submitted my order for next month.
everytime i have ordered and it was at the front desk when i checked in, they had my cold items together and the staff @ the disney resorts had them in the fridge. my cold items were always cold. never had a problem.

last trip in dec, i did not buy garden grocer & i regret it b/c i spent way too much $$ in the store @ OKW! i was so frustrated with the high cost and knew I could have done so much better if i had put an order together for garden grocer...but i learned!

 

[robinb]

I really don't think you will need extra food if you are on the dining plan. You will get a LOT of food. You can replace just about any dessert with fruit and you can use snack credits for fruit and veggie packs (celery, carrots, etc) in the parks and back at the resort. I would also make reservations at buffets where the fruit and vegetable selection is better. For breakfat I would just pack a couple bags of cereal and buy milk and juice at the resort. If you are staying at a resort that has a sister DVC resort the gift shop will have full sized containers of milk and OJ.

 

[hematite153]

We are also huge produce eaters and since my kids aren't used to typical park fare they and I will be ready for some fresh food for breakfast and snacks.

Don't assume that you have to get "typical park fare". You can get yogurt, grapes, carrots, etc. with the kids meals just about everywhere and both adults (adults can get large milks) and kids can get milk, rather than pop, to drink.

There are also several snack credit options that are fresh produce.

Happymommy. You are speaking of adult meals correct? I have heard that children's meals are small. Since I have an almost 10 year old I am assuming he will be digging into a bit of mine and dh's food as well since all of the sudden he seems to have 2 hollow legs.

I recommend booking buffets for your TS meals then.

 

[woody5]

We have used netgrocer.com for the last two trips. They have a great selection and you can schedule your delivery. Now that being said, I would not order any additional food to have if you are on the dining plan. We split meals at lunch and breakfast and plenty to eat. You also get a snack with this plan and you can get fruit and such for your snack. We always have snack credits that we are trying to use up by the end of the trip. If you want just stash some granola bars, fruit bars, and other snacks in your suit case.

 

[3Gs4Me]

Dh thinks it would be worth it for the water alone. We would consume 6-8 bottles of water for our family just between the PM and AM time we will be there. 3 of the 32 pack bottles of water would be $27 or just under 30 cents a bottle. Someone told me they run about $3 in the park. Not sure if that is accurate but the savings alone for water is probably worth it for us.

I am so glad I asked this question here. I would have never thought of a grocery delivery service.

 

[happymommy]

Happymommy. You are speaking of adult meals correct? I have heard that children's meals are small. Since I have an almost 10 year old I am assuming he will be digging into a bit of mine and dh's food as well since all of the sudden he seems to have 2 hollow legs.

Yes, that is right! The kids meals have definitely over the last 10 years shrunk! At least CS ones, as I used to get one for myself a lot. It's a nice portion (what I'd normally eat) and came with a drink.

I actually hated all the desserts they gave us on the dining plan, only because I'd never have a huge cookie or piece of cake at lunchtime! I wish they had better fruit - when I could, I'd get apple slices for the dessert.

But, back to the original posting, I guess my point was we also ordered soy milk, cereal, poptarts, chips, and water (and some wine). The water and milk was great to have, but we ended up with leftover cereals and poptarts and chips. We were constantly bringing back half our sandwiches to the room, and ended up tossing some.

Garden Grocer was convenient, but I don't really think we saved too much over buying down at the Boardwalk's shop, simply because I over bought. They did drop it off in the morning at the resort, so it was put in the fridge by the bellmen. They just brought it to our room when we got there. It is a nice service!

 

[hematite153]

I actually hated all the desserts they gave us on the dining plan, only because I'd never have a huge cookie or piece of cake at lunchtime! I wish they had better fruit - when I could, I'd get apple slices for the dessert.

At most places you can get a yogurt or grapes as your dessert. (The grapes are usually part of the kids meals, but, they'll give them to adults as their dessert.)

 

[robinb]

Dh thinks it would be worth it for the water alone. We would consume 6-8 bottles of water for our family just between the PM and AM time we will be there. 3 of the 32 pack bottles of water would be $27 or just under 30 cents a bottle. Someone told me they run about $3 in the park. Not sure if that is accurate but the savings alone for water is probably worth it for us.

I am so glad I asked this question here. I would have never thought of a grocery delivery service.

As I suggested on your water thread, I would buy water bottles with a built in filter. Not only will it save you money but it will also save the environment *and* your back. WDW does recycle, but it can sometimes be difficult to find a recycling can when you're in the parks. In addition, you will just be carrying in a couple of water bottles and not (what appears to be) a 12-pack of disposable bottles per day.

 

[LWatson]

OMG Garden Grocer was a wonderful service last trip. It was waiting in our room (except the milk) when we got to the hotel. We went and picked up our fridge and they delivered the milk then too (bell services). I am going to do it again next trip.