Got Milk?

[rlduvall]

I so hate being a Type A personality. Everything is a major deal, lol. Sooo, here's my dilemma: We have rented points for a BWV - studio for September 27 to October 1. We will arrive in TPA at 11:20 a.m., get rental car, and anticipate, if all goes well, arriving at BWV between 1:30 and 2:00. Check-in isn't until 4:00 p.m.; no guarantee of an early check-in. We want to stop at a grocery store before getting there (trying to be time efficient) and pick up breakfast and light snacks, including OJ and milk for our 4 year old son. Then we want to hit EPCOT for the evening. (note we are only there 4 nights; trying to get the most for our money) The question: If we have purchased OJ and milk, but can't get into our room, is there anywhere they can store it so it doesn't go bad; or, should I not buy perishable items and purchase them at the small general store they have at the Boardwalk? Hate to pay those kind of prices though. Why I am paranoid is 10 days after the September 11th crisis, we went to WDW for an already planned trip. Had heard on the news all the way down there how slow they were. Got to our hotel at 1:30 and room wasn't ready. Waited until 4:00 p.m. I know the policy and I wasn't upset about that, I had just wrongfully antcipated no problem with an early arrival. Thanks for all the help.

 

[roserae]

I don't know the answer to your question, but if you post this question to the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Forum I KNOW someone there will be able to help you. We just joined DVC but haven't stayed in any of the villas yet. Have fun on your trip!

 

[rlduvall]

roserae:

I live in Tulsa, too. How funny!!! I didn't post it in DVC because it's not really a DVC question. It's more a question for anyone whose room has a refrigerator. What do you do with your perishable items if your room isn't ready?

Thanks.

 

[tjmw2727]

We don't stay DVC but I always do a grocery shop and rent a fridge. What I do is just get a cheap styrofoam cooler at the grocery stop (between $2 and $5) with a bag of ice and put any perishables in that. The bellman will store this and the grocery bags right along with your luggage or you can just store in the car if your driving. Even the styrofoam coolers stay cool for a long time. I also get as much as I can that dosen't have to be kept cold to avoid regular spoilage during the week. The oj juice boxes and parmalat milk boxes work well for us as single serve, a bit more but still less than resort prices!

 

[roserae]

"It's a small world after all..." (good thing for you that you can't actually hear me singing this!)

I wondered if you lived in Tulsa, but didn't notice until after I already posted that you were from Oklahoma. Don't think there are too many of us on these boards.

Anyway, we have also done the cheap styrofoam cooler, but only for drinks and stuff and we didn't rent a refrigerator. We just wanted a beer every now and again and we would fill it with ice every day. This is not something I would want to mess with for only a few hours of storage.

The question really is an appropriate one to ask on the DVC board because those people stay in the villas all the time and always have groceries. I would imagine that the villa resorts might be set up for storing groceries of DVC members since it is so common for them to have them. (for instance having a refrigerator in the area where they store your luggage before check-in time) Where as the other resorts with just a rentable refrigerator might not be set up for storing perishables. Make sense?

Lots of knowledgeable and nice people on that board. Now that I own DVC I'm on there a lot and they have answered all sorts of obscure questions for me!

BTW, sounds like you do Disney the way we do it...every thing planned out so you know pretty much what you will be doing and when and how to spend your time the most effeciently. We are fairly "type A" about it also. Actually, I should say my DH is. I'm fairly laid back about the whole thing, but only because I know DH will work out the details!

Have fun on your trip! Wish we were going sooner!

 

[always dreamin']

I just asked this very same question a few weeks ago. I'm not sure how to post a link, but it was on the tips board. I got some good advice so you may want to jump over to that board and do a search?!

HTH

 

[llp479]

All DVC resorts have freezers and refrigerators for perishable items. When you check in, give the items to the bell staff. They will be tagged like your bags, and brought to your room. I've always kept mine in the grocery bags as it was easier for the CM to put the tag through the handles of the bag, than on the carton of milk, juice, etc.

 

[rlduvall]

Thanks so much for the responses. One less thing to stress about. Sure I can find something to take its place, lol. Actually, that was my last big concern. Thanks again.