Grocery Shopping

[JimNY]

I'll be staying at OKW for a week and am wondering about the need to rent a car to do grocery shopping. Will I need to or is there a grocery store right there? Thanks.

Jim

 

[Pa@okw95]

The general store at OKW has food for you to buy. It will keep you alive for the week but Olivias Restaurant is right there also there is a an outside snack bar at the dock area where you can get hamburgs, etc. The food at the general store is limited I must say. WDW is noted for its restaurants also. Then you have the DD area that is a boat ride away from OKW. I never go to OKW without a car. Have you given any thought to driving from NY? I would not rent a car for the sole purpose of food shoping.

 

[CarolMN]

How do you plan to get from the airport to OKW?

Might be worth it to book one of the towncar services. Most of them include a 30 minute "grocery stop" for no extra charge. It's more expensive than Mears if there are less than 3 of you, but we think it is worth it.

In addition to the grocery stop, you get a private ride (instead of riding with strangers in a crowded van or bus) and you go directly to your destination - no waiting for the van/bus to fill up and no stopping at other resorts before yours.

It's about $100 RT - less than a car and if there are 3 or 4 in your party, less than Mears will charge.


Best wishes -

 

[JimNY]

Thanks, I think the towncar idea is a good one. It's just me my wife and the 2 kids, so that might be the way to go. I'd prefer not to get a car if I can get away with it. Thanks again.

 

[pumpkinboy]

The towncar grocery stop is very handy. Barring that you have a couple of other alternatives. One is you can shop on-line and have your groceries delivered to OKW. I know Goodings does this and I believe there is another service in the Orlando area too. There is also the Taxi alternative, which is what we did last time; just grabbed a taxi fro the resort to the nearest Publix, then got the cabbie's cell # and called him when I was ready to return (actually, I went in a driving rain storm, and made friends with my awesome Haitian cabbie, and then he waited for me while I did my shopping - can we say Big Tip? ).

This time it was more cost efficient for us to rent a car for the whole time, but it will likely only be used for airport transport, grocery shopping and to get to our PS at Jiko, remaining in the BWV lot most of the trip.

Good luck!

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Don't rule out that car just yet.

Some things to think about:

1). OKW is spread out. Unless you get lucky with your room assignment, you will have a bit of a walk to Hosp. House, Hank's, Olivia's, etc. A friend just came back from OKW withOUT a car & was kicking herself for NOT getting one.

2). If you are going to do the towncar service (which I have done & have had great experiences with) with a driver's tip you are going to pay around $110 - $120. There are deals to be had with car rental co's, for example, an SUV from Alamo for 8 days in Jan/Feb (with a coupon from BJ's Wholesale Club) is about $240 (I paid same amount in Sept. too).

Everyone has to make the best choice for themselves but our feeling is that the added convenience & freedom of having that car is worth the $120 difference.

Just thought I'd share!

 

[shelbyjosh]

If you go with a town car service may I suggest Tiffany? They have always been on-time, courteous, and more than helpful. Their website is: www.tiffanytowncars.com

Good luck and have fun!

 

[plamp]

Originally posted by MinnieGirl33
Don't rule out that car just yet.

Some things to think about:

1). OKW is spread out. Unless you get lucky with your room assignment, you will have a bit of a walk to Hosp. House, Hank's, Olivia's, etc. A friend just came back from OKW withOUT a car & was kicking herself for NOT getting one.

2). If you are going to do the towncar service (which I have done & have had great experiences with) with a driver's tip you are going to pay around $110 - $120. There are deals to be had with car rental co's, for example, an SUV from Alamo for 8 days in Jan/Feb (with a coupon from BJ's Wholesale Club) is about $240 (I paid same amount in Sept. too).

Everyone has to make the best choice for themselves but our feeling is that the added convenience & freedom of having that car is worth the $120 difference.

Just thought I'd share!

I agree, for an extra $100 or so its worth it to have a car

 

[lisareniff]

Another option is WeGoShop.com. They will shop for you deliver to your room at a arranged time for fee plus price of the food. I have read good review of their service.

You can also fax your shopping list to Albertson's grocery and they will have it all ready for you when you stop.

 

[dznyacct]

My son and I are staying at PC for 4 nights before our 5 night stay at OKW on Easter. I am planning on using wegoshop.com to have some grocery items delivered once we are at OKW. I have never used them before, but have read many positive posts on the DIS boards. I believe they charge $15 for an order under $100. Much cheaper than renting a car and using my time. In the past we have also used Tiffany Town car with a grocery stop when we were going right to our DVC resort. Good luck with whatever option you decide to do.

 

[mndisfam]

We had the same dilemma. My hubby hates having a car at WDW so we use the busses. Its a close call, bcs while the busses drop you off very close to the gates, sometimes you have quite a wait. Sometimes you don't.

Also, for some reason, when we have a car we got lost at night when we are tired! I don't know why we get confused. But, as I said he likes to site back and leave the driving to someone else - esp. after a day at the F&W festival!!

So, since we are a dedicated bus family, we use wegoshop. The owner Becca is a very nice lady, and she did a great job. I don't think the options at the grocery store are great, but the other poster is right - they will keep you alive!

We are all a bunch of picky eaters tho. !! It was nice having someone knock on your door with your groceries

 

[DeeDeeDis]

JimNY

We've done all of the above,

benefits of Tiffany Town Car - get off the plane, go to luggage and a driver and car are waiting just for you. will stop for food on the way to your resort, at the end of your trip the same driver and car is waiting at valet service to take you to airport - you don't worry about parking, getting lost or returning a car on time.
the few times i've used this service it was 90.00 round trip with a 5.00 coupon off the web site. $45.00 one way.

i could swear Meare Transportation (coupons that come with my dvc reservations) cost $25.00 per person (that would be 100.00 for you actually more than a rt town car)

Renting a car - we've done various forms of this
Alamo and National (sister companies) both have drop off sites at the dolphin at wdw. We've rented for our whole stay if you have a disney visa and contract number you can save up to 20% with alamo have gotten a full size car for the week for under $150.00. Option number 2 rent for the weekend - get the car when you arrive at the airport, shop on the way to your resort then return the car to the dolphin. to go back to airport you could a. rent the car overnight again or have town car pick you up.
You could most likely get a economy for 4 people, its not like your going to be in the car alot.

We stayed at OKW in August and found the car to be very handy there, we originally planned to return our rental car after 4 days, but called and extended our rental to the end of our vacation.

If your staying a week, with kids, Its really nice to have breakfast items, snacks, juice and water in the room. So when you come back for a midday break and/or swim you can have a cocktail or snack. Also recommend pizza delivered at least one night during your stay, kind of a veggie night to relax and recharge your battery.

Goodings is a VERY EXPENSIVE grocery store, very OVERPRICED. go to Publics much more reasonable.

Have fun, your'll love OKW the rooms are large and beautiful, very relaxing resort

 

[tjkraz]

One more suggestion to throw out there.

Last time we visited we rented a car from Alamo and returned it the next day to the Alamo desk at the Dolphin resort. Then, on our departure day we picked up a car at the Dolphin and left it at the airport. We only paid for the two days we actually had a car instead of our entire trip. Total cost was about $90 (which included an upgrade to a convertible on the arrival day.)

This was really easy to do since we were staying at BWV; the Dolphin is within walking distance. But, I've read that you can return Alamo cars to the Car Care Center on property and they will transport you back to your resort.

Yes, the cost is comparable to town car service, but we like the convenience of being able to grocery shop and hit the outlet stores during our stay. And, the convertible rental really helped DW forget about the two little ones we left at home.