Do any of you ever pack a suitcase full of your own "groceries"?

[igitur]

We've got a quick 4 night trip this coming weekend...the first two nights at another timeshare and then two nights using our points at OKW. I'm thinking that since it's such a quick trip, that maybe I can get away with packing the few staples that we'll use (cereal, poptarts, sandwich stuff) and save ourselves having to make a long drawn-out grocery store trip. We've never made such a short trip and I feel like I want to be able to enjoy every minute of if that we'll have

Have any of you ever packed and brought groceries with you (we're flying.)

Deb

 

[ont/ohana]

We've got a quick 4 night trip this coming weekend...the first two nights at another timeshare and then two nights using our points at OKW. I'm thinking that since it's such a quick trip, that maybe I can get away with packing the few staples that we'll use (cereal, poptarts, sandwich stuff) and save ourselves having to make a long drawn-out grocery store trip. We've never made such a short trip and I feel like I want to be able to enjoy every minute of if that we'll have

Have any of you ever packed and brought groceries with you (we're flying.)

Deb

Hi Deb, We went down in Nov to POP. I brought anything nonperisable in one carry on(granola bars, cereal, juice boxes, cheese stringers etc..). I put juice boxes into freeezer bags and packed them in collaspable cooler bags. We flew from BUF and had a 4hour flight. Everything was fine. We are going to SSR in Dec, I am giong to do the same except for eggs and milk(purchase at SSR). Hope that helps!
Judi

 

[TinkGirl]

We always do that! Then you have an empty suitcase to fill with souvenirs. I also take things like granola bars and popcorn out of the containers so they take up less room.

 

[MLK-RI]

Yes we have done it and most certainly will again. We flew as well and put all items in checked baggage. We didn't try to bring cold items, figured we'd buy that stuff there.

We packed bread & english muffins inside shoe boxes so they wouldn't get crushed. One of our party needed to bring juicebox type packages of rice milk and things like that not easily obtained at DVC stores. We just put them in ziploc bags and again inside a shoe box to give added protect from getting crunched. Cereal, granola bars, crackers and other snacks. Also brough peanut butter and jelly in plastic jars - again inside Ziplocs. The peanut butter and jelly jars were large size as we had 11 people in our group. They must have looked interesting on the xray as security did open up to have a look. Lots of jokes made about being hungry for lunch and being able to make sandwiches right on the xray conveyor! But all was no problem, they passed us through and all items made it through the flight and to our villa without any trouble.

Tips I can pass along - the old shoeboxes were wonderful for the squishable items, use plastic zip bags for added protection, for example we doubled or tripled around the jelly jar although it was fine. And the luggage we used was a softsided canvas style but it has ridged corners so the sides are reinforced and it rolled so there is the added protection of the handle etc along the bottom.

Good luck and enjoy.

 

[Disney Doll]

No, I go to the Publix on SR 192 and buy stuff when I get there. Their prices aren't bad, I kind of know what I am going to buy so I bring coupons, we got a Publix Customer Card.

 

[kcork1026]

We always do that! Then you have an empty suitcase to fill with souvenirs. I also take things like granola bars and popcorn out of the containers so they take up less room.

We did the same last June and I am packing our food suitcase now. And it was wonderful to have extra room for souvenirs!

 

[CapeCodFam]

We always do that! Then you have an empty suitcase to fill with souvenirs.

Us too! We used to bring diapers and anything special the kids liked to munch on. It's great to have space for souvenirs.

 

[LIFERBABE]

We are driving this time, so Im bringing Everything!! I dont mind cooking on vacation, but I do not want to see a grocery store at all!! That is where I draw the line!

If we flew, I would bring nonperishables in a suitcase and either have the rest delivered or buy at the resort. The resort prices really are not that bad, except for the $5 boxes of cereal.

 

[jmcdonnell04]

We get a box of food staples (including Diet Pepsi since WDW is a Coke world) and ship it to the DVC resort one week before we arrived. We wrote "Hold for McDonnell Party -- Arriving on this Date". This was especially a lifesaver when we were packing diapers and formula when our DD's were younger. Just ship it via UPS ground for $ 10-12 still saving money over the Resort store prices and no hassle of carrying thru airport. I had access to UPS shipments at work so I know this may be easier said than done.

 

[canwegosoon]

I do it all the time. I usually pack a med size suitcase with items like mini muffins, pringles, frozen bagles, PB/J and a 2-3 2Lof soda. More than that I don't need, and I love having the extra suitcase.

 

[DrTomorrow]

We only pack a few oddities that we can't find in FL (those coffee packs, etc). The rest we buy at Winn Dixie a few miles from SSR - we have their discount card. However, we fly.

Like LIFERBABE said, when we drive (usually Las Vegas) we bring a ton o' stuff - bottled water, soft drinks, snacks, etc.

 

[Laurabearz]

We bring some food, but I mostly pack spices... since they are so expensive! between garlic, salt, pepper, oregno, et all it adds up fast.

We use diapers space for our souvieners still, but when that changes I could see bring food as a space holder. lol

 

[vcunning]

I've used the Alberson's here. You can fax them your order, flight number and arrival time. They'll shop for you. It's on the way from the Airport to Disney.

I've used a couple of times. Once for a big shopping trip and once for just some snacks, bottled water and wine. It works great.

From the Albertson web site. Here is the information for the Alberstons that is on the way to WDW just of the 417. Hope it helps.

Store Number 4462
Store Name S. Orange Blossom Trail and Deerfield
Address 12981 S. Orange Blossom Trail
City Orlando
State FL
Postal Code 32837
Phone (407) 857-5666
FAX (407) 857-0132
Store Hours 6 a.m. till 1 a.m. 7 days a week

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

Peanut butter seems to cause some sort of problem at x-ray. Had it in the checked luggage last trip. Luggage was opened and checked.

How about bringing your own liquor. We are Canadian and stop at the Duty Free before crossing the border to Buffalo. One carryon is entirely from this shopping trip. Even with the cheaper prices in Florida, this saves us a heap of money !!! (Need to bring some Canadian beer along....) Course this is just on the trip without the kids...

 

[Corinne]

We always pack cereal, water, Nutri-grain bars & snacks. I don't cook on vacation, but we like to have a quick breakast before heading out. As others have mentioned, we then have an empty suitcase to fill with our souvenirs!

 

[DougM1965]

We are staying in a 2br villa at the Wilderness Lodge. I'm just planning on using gardengrocer.com to do my grocery shopping. For $10 they will deliver your order to the resort. Seems well worth the money to avoid that hassle of lugging a suitcase full of food around.

Anyone else use them before? Their website looks pretty simple to use to place your order.

 

[dwdeb]

I just pack coffee, filters, tea bags, and sugar packs.
We buy everything at the dvc general stores on property... it isn't worth it for us to drive to a grocery store to save a few dollars. We just buy breakfast items, milk,and the gallons of water. We usually eat lunch at the resort pool...PBJ on a bagel, or cheese and crackers, bought at the gen store...
When my DD was a baby, I would pack a whole suitcase full of baby food and diapers!
She is 11 now, and it is just myself, and DH, and DD so we travel very light...
deb

 

[OurDogCisco]

We do but that's because I don't like bringing back a ton of food. I mostly bring snack foods like popcorn but I might only bring one or two bags. I bring laundry soap placed in individual baggies for the washer. I bring bounce dryer sheets. I bring all kinds of snacks for the kids but honestly we don't need much since we eat well at Disney. I usually just need one for the plane ride there and back. So I don't pack a whole suitcase but part of one.

 

[flechette]

We get a box of food staples (including Diet Pepsi since WDW is a Coke world) and ship it to the DVC resort one week before we arrived. We wrote "Hold for McDonnell Party -- Arriving on this Date". This was especially a lifesaver when we were packing diapers and formula when our DD's were younger. Just ship it via UPS ground for $ 10-12 still saving money over the Resort store prices and no hassle of carrying thru airport. I had access to UPS shipments at work so I know this may be easier said than done.

I did something similar this past trip - I shipped most of our clothes and a bunch of snacks - 38lb box cost $9 to ship from NC to to Disney FedEx Ground. arrived in 2 days, just keep in mind FedEx ground doesn't run on weekends...

 

[bwvBound]

Have any of you ever packed and brought groceries with you (we're flying.)

With several years of timesharing now behind us, yes, packing "the basics" has become routine for us. However -- we did receive a "special screening" in Calgary over the skillet we were carrying. (Reason for having it: A TUG review for our destination resort warned that the cookware was old and worn. Wouldn't you have done the same?)

Our better story, however, was arriving AU. Who would have guessed that the Australians block microwave popcorn? And ohhhh, boy -- were they concerned over our little baggies of cooking spices. Ok, next time I'll leave those behind!!

And I wonder why I'm often pulled aside when trying to use the green line through customs??