Can someone explain to me exactly how grocery delivery to a hotel works? Thanks :)

[DesertBell]

I am not sure if we should do it before we go, or after we get there, or if we have to have someone waiting in the room, or or or . . .
So if someone can give me a step by step I would be most appreciative.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

ok you go to vons or albersons you pick what you want you want it delivered the day you get there the hotle will usely hold it for you if you arent there (call and make sure) there is usely a 2hour time window - 1-3pm july 19th (excample)

2.30 the guy gets there say your held up at air port the hotle holds it you get there 2.45 take food to the room.

(im gona try to get it delivered like right before we get there)

 

[avalon451]

We did this when we stayed at GCH in March.

I used Albertson's. Their website worked well, once I figured out that I could order so specifically, like 3 bananas, 4 apples, one container of peach yogurt and 2 containers of blueberry yogurt, specific brands and sizes. It was great.

You enter a delivery address. This is the address of the hotel you are staying at. This is perfectly cool with them; they are used to doing it and the hotels seem to be used to accepting the deliveries.

You pay with a credit card, and that has your home address on it. It has to be U.S.; I've heard they won't allow Canadian billing addresses, for some reason.

You pick out what groceries you want. For example, we had milk, soymilk, juice, yogurt, pop tarts, apples, bananas, containers of "cereal to go" cups, a 24 case of water (much cheaper than the $3 a bottle you'll pay at the hotel and parks! And the tap water was horrible!), a roll of paper towels, and a small box of plastic spoons for our cereal. You can order beer and wine, too, though I've heard conflicting reports on whether you need to be there to sign for it in the case of receiving alcohol.

If you have a club card for the grocery card, you input your number and you get the same discounts you would as if shopping in the store.

There's a cost of $9.95, I believe, for delivery. You might be able to find discount codes, or it might be waived for first delivery or for a total of over $50, depending on the store (Von's or Albertson's). Personally, I didn't care; it was so nice to just have it delivered and ready with no fuss for us, it was well worth the delivery fee.

When you complete your order at Albertson's, they show you the timetable of when you want it delivered. I seem to remember it was in 1-1/2 hour or 1-1/4 hour time slots. You DO NOT need to be there; the hotel will take delivery for you. Just call the hotel ahead of time, and let them know that you have groceries coming. I have heard that some hotels even took the groceries up to the room and put them in the fridge for you, but at GCH they just held them at the bell desk for us.

I was concerned about the timing; for example, our flight was supposed to get in at 4, so I had the delivery time slot of 4-5:15, I believe. But it was delayed, and we didn't get in until 5, and therefore didn't get to the hotel until nearly 6. However, Albertsons had packed our groceries snugly in a cardboard box, and the milk, juice and other refrigerated stuff was still quite cold when we picked it up. So that was a relief. Personally, I wouldn't want to wait around in the hotel room for the grocery delivery while we were raring to get to the parks or to dinner, so I tried to time it so that it would be there by the time we got there, or very soon after.

It worked really well for us and we used just about everything up over the course of 5 days. We liked having breakfast in the room, so we didn't need to take time in a restaurant or a counter service when we could be heading to the parks.

Hope that helps!

 

[DesertBell]

That helps so much! It's not so intimidating now. Thank you!

 

[Sherry E]

That helps so much! It's not so intimidating now. Thank you!

I have ordered from both Alberstons and Vons many times over the years, and still do. I have bad luck with Vons in my area of SoCal, but apparently they operate ok down in Anaheim. But I am with Avalon451, Albertsons is better in many ways. But it is very easy and not at all intimidating to order from either website.

I am just so interested to hear that so many people are ordering groceries for their Disney stays. For some reason, before being on this board, it never dawned on me that ordering groceries was something that people would do at the DLR, and that guests so easily could have things delivered to the hotel even when they are not in their rooms. It makes me wonder exactly how many people are doing this now. I guess the darn prices of food have gone up so much in the resort that people are cutting back where they can. I mean, I love Goofy's Kitchen but those prices are outrageous now.

 

[disneyL0VE]

I am definitely going to try Albertsons out for groceries! It's such a great idea. I'm with Sherry E, I too am interested in hearing about people getting groceries at Disneyland. It's obvious that older people do that service, but haha never actually thought of that!

Thanks for the detailed-ish process avalon451

 

[Sherry E]

I am definitely going to try Albertsons out for groceries! It's such a great idea. I'm with Sherry E, I too am interested in hearing about people getting groceries at Disneyland. It's obvious that older people do that service, but haha never actually thought of that!

Thanks for the detailed-ish process avalon451

Yeah, it is just not something I ever considered as happening at DLR. I can see a situation where a businessman is in town, staying at a hotel down the street for two weeks, and has groceries delivered. And I order at home because I don't have a car. But I think I just always assumed that people who stay at DLR just buy the DLR food for every meal, because that is what is there, and I think I find this growing trend in grocery delivery to be fascinating because it demonstrates that people want the Disney experience, but are not willing to pay through the nose for it, and are saving in any way they can while Disney continues to hike up prices! I imagine as the economy crashes even further than it has, and Disney basically makes it impossible to eat in the parks because of the prices, we will see more and more grocery deliveries to Disney hotels. In fact, Vons and Albertsons might soon have to set up on-site locations at the DLR!!

Oh, one other reason why Albertsons is good - there is no minimum to order. You will pay a delivery fee, but you are not required to order $50 worth of stuff to get a delivery, unlike Vons, who only delivers for $50 or more!