Garden Grocer - why so expensive?!?

[MJ6987]

We have just ordered some groceries to be delivered to the resort from this place - I have seen it recommended.

I don't know if its just prices in the U.S. are more that here in the UK but I found it so expensive!

Some of the items are nearly double what we pay in UK supermarkets. The delivery charge is about double what we pay for grocery delivery in the UK. Then, to top it off, they want a tip! In the UK, the stores pay the pickers and delivery staff a reasonable wage so no tip is expected (i.e. its included in the price) - in fact there is no facility to pay a tip.

I was always led to believe that the U.S. was cheaper to buy things that the UK but obviously not groceries!

Is it just that Garden Grocer is expensive or is it grocerie in general?

 

[mkel34]

The prices are not that much higher than a typical grocery store here. The cases of water are much higher than a grocery store but you are still saving a large amount of money in comparison to what you would pay at the resort or parks. For example, we got a 32 pack of poland springs sports bottle water for around $12, if we were to buy that water from Disney it would be over $100.

 

[Tammy296]

I don't know what you're paying for groceries outside of the US but the avg grocery bill here is about $140 for a family of 3 or more $$$ depending upon what you buy.

We always buy from garden grocers every trip. We'd rather do that than buy our drinks in the parks. The one thing you might want to be mindful of when buying from garden grocers is don't purchase the "name brand" items. If you buy water, stick with the store brand or no-name brands. One year I bought certain items but those certain items were swapped for the cheaper items even though I paid for the more expensive items. I learned a lesson....

This trip hopefully we get everything we ordered AS we ordered it.

Have a great trip!

 

[RMulieri]

To feed my family of 3 it costs me about $150.00 per week, and that is if I skimp .Garden Grocer is about average for the US.The delivery charge is b/c of the convenience factor.Many people do not have grocery delivery in the US.In fact I have only ever seen it in more urban/city environments.

 

[Pumbaa_]

do you have any specific examples? Just curious what the comparison amounts and items are.

 

[Vickis3js]

When I was looking at prices for GG I was in shock!! But then I looked at it and realized that I normally only buy certain things when they are on sale so I am not used to paying regular prices which is what you are paying for GG. I can normally feed my family of 5 for about $300 a month. When I added the few things I wanted for our week it was about $100 and that was just breakfast stuff, yogurt, milk, drinks, and some snacks. I quickly changed my mind!

 

[Pixiedust34]

At home, I spend less on groceries because I buy what is on sale, use coupons, and buy store brand. With Garden Grocer, I spend more because I buy at regular prices without coupons.

I think the Garden Grocer prices are about the same as regular prices in the grocery stores where I shop at home, so I'm not used to paying those prices for some items but the prices are realistic. GG shops at Publix, and although I don't shop at Publix on a regular basis (there are none in our area) the prices seem to be in range with prices at other stores.

Have you tried www.wegoshop.com? I think you can specify store brands there to save some money, and I think they shop where you ask them to which means you can pick Walmart over a more expensive store.

I actually double-tip for GG because I include a tip with my order (for shopping and delivering to resort). Then it's usually WDW's bell services that deliver our groceries, and I tip them too (for bringing our stuff to the room). I wish I wouldn't have to tip twice for the same delivery, but on arrival day nine times out of ten we're not going to be hanging around waiting for GG so they come when we're out of the room and bell services brings the food when we call for it. Even with the grocery prices and double tipping, we are still ahead with buying from GG than we would be paying OOP for some of the food and drinks in the parks.

ETA: GG does offer some store brand items, such as bottled waters. However, most items we buy (cereal, Pop Tarts, breakfast bars, yogurt, etc.) are not available in store brand with GG. For bakery items and fruit, store brands aren't an option anywhere.

 

[Bev J]

I always use wegoshop. They will shop for the brands, sizes you want and also at the store you want (Walmart, Sams or Publix grocery) . You won't know how much your order will be because they are not prepriceing you are paying the actual cost of the items plus the service fee. A 24pk of water at Sams should be $4-5, probably close to that from Walmart. Plus if your buying cereal you could get store brand or bag brands for a big savings.

Shop around for better prices!

Bev

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

I do find the prices high, but delivery is not common where I live, and I expect to pay a premium for this type of service. Even with the higher prices, it is still cheaper than taking a cab to the grocery store. Some comparisons of things I buy all the time:

Nature's Own 100% Whole Wheat bread - almost always on "sale" for $2.00, full price at my grocery store is close to $3, and it is $3.99 on GG.

24 Pack of Aquafina water - ~$3.50 at my grocery store; $7.99 at GG.

Carton of Horizon Organic Milk - ~$2.99 at my grocery store, but usually on sale for less. $4.59 at GG.

I am aware that the cost of groceries varies wildly throughout the U.S., and I am fortunate to live in a lower priced area.

 

[ngvenice]

I thought it was expensive too. I live in TX and I think our cost of living is just cheaper in general. My cousin in California always tells me Im cheap, lol--but their cost of living is higher so yeah I would not get a warm fuzzy feeling spending what she spends. For example last time I checked, sodas were like $6 a 12 pack at garden grocer, at our local walmart here in houston, thats what we pay for a 24 pk, 12 packs are usually $3 or $4 on the high side. I figured it was a convinience thing, you know like paying $5 for a gallon of milk at the corner store when you can get it at the grocery store for $3.

 

[dburg30]

They arent cheap, but they arent on sale either. If you have a car, go shopping or take stuff with you. If you fly and rent, go offsite and shop. Now you will be taking away from your vacation, but could save some money, so it depends on if the time at the parks / on vacation is worth more then the price of groceries..

Yea, on our $200 worth of groceries, we probably spent ( minus tip and tax) $30-40 more then we should have, but we're on vacation! I was shocked to see that food was taxed, that kind of surprised me. Was it because it's delivered or are groceries taxed in fla?

 

[BEASLYBOO]

We have just ordered some groceries to be delivered to the resort from this place - I have seen it recommended.

I don't know if its just prices in the U.S. are more that here in the UK but I found it so expensive!


I was always led to believe that the U.S. was cheaper to buy things that the UK but obviously not groceries!

Is it just that Garden Grocer is expensive or is it grocerie in general?

The price of food in Florida (I can't comment on if it's across the US) has just gone up and up in the last year and 1/2, it's ridiculous what we pay at the grocery stores. The stores have begun this buy one get one free business but they are making the packages smaller or using the same package and giving you less ounces and charging the same price if not more than the original.

 

[CharmedLife]

Agree that grocery prices vary based on where you are in the US. On the coasts, or in larger metropolitan areas, the costs are going to be higher. I live in a small town in the midwest (but close to Milwaukee) and our prices are typically lower than those in Florida, but they are probably even lower if I were to get another hour or two north of Milwaukee.

Regardless, central Florida is a tourist magnet and everything is going to be higher priced, anyway. In the end you are still saving a TON by ordering groceries over what you would be paying if you eat out for all of those meals and snacks.

 

[MrsLS]

I just checked a few things - cereal, milk, eggs, yogurt, pasta, soda, etc. Some items are 20 cents to $1 or so more than items at my local grocery store. But these items at GG are also not on sale, so you are also paying full price for them too. Basics at home I pay full price (milk and such) but for things like cereal, pasta, soda, I would never pay the prices charged at GG. You are also paying for the service/convienence and if you want to do this, I'm sure its a lot cheaper than buying in the park, but usually cooking at home is a lot cheaper than ordering out/going to a restaurant too.

Just an example - GG for a 12pk of soda it has $5.89, on sale its usually $3-4 1.5qt ice cream at GG is 5.99, on sale at home its usually $2-3.

 

[MrsLS]

Also when we were in London I bought granola bars (I love tracker bars & alpen) and they were about £3, depending on the curency exchange, and when I was there last it was almost 2-1, so they were about double (I also bought them online from a grocery store there and had them shipped). Here a box of granola bars are about $2.59.

 

[TDC Nala]

This topic isn't about restaurants. Moving it to Resorts.

 

[princessbee]

It was far too expensive for us--after some calculation, it turned out to be cheaper to get a taxi to Wal-mart and buy everything there. Of course, we were buying food for the kitchen that came in our cabin at FW and it was supposed to last for ten days--if you're only buying necessities that alternative might end up being even more expensive. But to me it seems that buying from Garden Grocer is just as expensive as buying things like milk from the resort gift shop!

 

[bytheblood]

You are paying for convenience more than anything else. Also, they advertise that tipping is optional - the driver fees are already rolled into the cost, so that is why tipping is optional. (pizza places do that now, too)

 

[mickeystoontown]

We used to go buy a few groceries when we arrived at Disney. We would usually shop at the Publix off Hwy. 192 in Kissimmee. The prices of Garden Grocer weren't that much higher than when we went directly to Publix ourselves.

To be perfectly honest, I don't want to spend my precious vacation time shopping for groceries. So, if I have to a pay an extra $20 or so by ordering from Garden Grocer, I feel it's worth it.