Help! Need lots of info on buying groceries

[Wendybird55]

Hello everyone,

I will be staying at BWV 1st week of Sept. My first time using DVC as a friend was kind enough to let me use the points she can't use this year.

I have a 2-bedroom and though was not planning on cooking or eating meals in the room - I got to thinking...there are still things I can use to save money and maybe ordering groceries is the way to go. I'm thinking of things like water, soda, diapers, snacks..

So, I need lots of info. as I've never done this before.
Where should I go?
Do you order online or on phone?
Can I order before I leave for Disney?
I am arriving on a Sunday - do they deliver on Sundays?
Can they deliver to the front desk and the front desk will hold or do I have to wait for the delivery and cut into park time? (I won't be ordering any perishables)

Any info on how to do this will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much
Wendybird

 

[Desnik]

I just ship all the stuff down myself. That way I pick out exactly what I want and need. We do this all the time. I ship down water, soda, drink boxes, cereal, pop tarts and other breakfast items, snacks, pool things for the kids, flip flops and Crocs, toys for the kids and all our toiletries. I ship it from UPS that way I can track it and see when it arrives and who signs for it. I print out that info and bring it with me. We also usually check in on a Sunday and I ship it down the Tuesday before so it arrives on Friday(they don't deliver on the weekend). You can check estimated time of delivery and cost on the UPS site. It has never cost me more than $20 and I send down a big box! You just put the resorts name and address along with your name(whoever name the ressie is under) and your arrival date and sometimes I even put the ressie # too. I have never had a problem and my package is always at the fron t desk when I arrive. They will even have a bellman help you with it to your room.

You can also use a grocery service and many people do. There are some fees involved. I believe you have to meet them in the lobby to pay them. They won't just leave your stuff at the front desk. There are a couple of places to use like wegoshop and the others I can't think of. You can do a search on the boards to get more info. I know this topic has come up before and there have been some really great threads on this subject. I'll see if I can find them for you.

 

[Desnik]

Here's a couple of past threads with some more info:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23477126#post23477126&highlight=grocery

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=19114197#post19114197&highlight=grocery+delivery

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1404684

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1383563&page=0&highlight=grocery delivery

 

[Wendybird55]

Thanks Desnik - Shipping items did occur to me, but I wasn't sure of the cost especially since I'll be shipping heavy items.
I'm thinking of getting a case of water, a gallon of baby water for my sons sippy cups, at least (2) 12 packs of soda, diapers for the week for my son, snacks, coffee...great idea to also ship toiletries, will save in packing.
I just thought all that will be very heavy to ship and would cost alot, but $20 is reasonable - but I have time to check with UPS. Maybe 2 boxes.
We're going first week of Sept and it will probably still be hot and we all like to drink water and I can't see spending $2.50 a bottle for water when I can get a case for less than $5.
Thanks again for the input and ideas...

 

[Desnik]

Your welcome! Another thing I do is put a smaller box inside my big box and add a roll of packing tape and sharpie marker. That way I have everything I need to ship our toiletries and kids stuff back home. You can ship it out UPS right from the resorts concierge desk. They will even provide a box and tape if you need it! We have done this on all our trips and it is great!

 

[senecabeach]

Thanks Desnik - Shipping items did occur to me, but I wasn't sure of the cost especially since I'll be shipping heavy items.
I'm thinking of getting a case of water, a gallon of baby water for my sons sippy cups, at least (2) 12 packs of soda, diapers for the week for my son, snacks, coffee...great idea to also ship toiletries, will save in packing.
I just thought all that will be very heavy to ship and would cost alot, but $20 is reasonable - but I have time to check with UPS. Maybe 2 boxes.
We're going first week of Sept and it will probably still be hot and we all like to drink water and I can't see spending $2.50 a bottle for water when I can get a case for less than $5.
Thanks again for the input and ideas...

I always use gardengrocer.com.
They do regular grogery shopping for you...EVERYTHING..you might want..case H2O, wine, ice cream, diapers,veggies fruit and anything you dont see can be ordered in the comment section of the order.
Its either delivered to the hotel or directly to your room. Works wonderfully!!

 

[solgent]

I'm thinking of things like water, soda, diapers, snacks..

So, I need lots of info. as I've never done this before.
Where should I go?
Do you order online or on phone?
Can I order before I leave for Disney?
I am arriving on a Sunday - do they deliver on Sundays?
Can they deliver to the front desk and the front desk will hold or do I have to wait for the delivery and cut into park time? (I won't be ordering any perishables)

We've used wegoshop.com and are very happy with them. You order online, at least a week ahead. You send her your shopping list of exactly what you want-- brands, sizes, flavors, when it is OK to use store brand. She brings the receipt & you pay that plus a fee which I remember as $17. We also tipped for on-time delivery. She delivers on Sunday but not until 5 pm on Sunday. I am not sure about delivery to the front desk.

 

[Wendybird55]

Thanks senacabeach & solgent...I will definately check out those places. I notice that the prices are higher than when I usually buy the items. I have time so I guess I'll see what an order will cost online (including tax & delivery) then check out the shipping option and see what works best. Either way I know it's a savings from buying thoses items at Disney - the beverage cost is unbelievable there, especially when it's hot out! Plus with the freezer in the room I can bring some ice pack thingys to help keep the drinks cold in Disney.

Another question if you don't mind...chances are if I have bottles of water and soda left at the end of the trip, I'm not going to want to pack them or ship them home (need room for those souveniers). If I leave them in the fridge with a note for the next occupant to "help themselves" is that OK? I know people are leary of using other people's food (and I don't blame them) but these will be sealed bottles of water and soda - why waste them when someone else can use them.

Thanks!

 

[senecabeach]

Thanks senacabeach & solgent...I will definately check out those places. I notice that the prices are higher than when I usually buy the items. I have time so I guess I'll see what an order will cost online (including tax & delivery) then check out the shipping option and see what works best. Either way I know it's a savings from buying thoses items at Disney - the beverage cost is unbelievable there, especially when it's hot out! Plus with the freezer in the room I can bring some ice pack thingys to help keep the drinks cold in Disney.

Another question if you don't mind...chances are if I have bottles of water and soda left at the end of the trip, I'm not going to want to pack them or ship them home (need room for those souveniers). If I leave them in the fridge with a note for the next occupant to "help themselves" is that OK? I know people are leary of using other people's food (and I don't blame them) but these will be sealed bottles of water and soda - why waste them when someone else can use them.

Thanks!

Your very welcome. Yes, sometimes I leave stuff in the fridge.
I will also.. with my sealed leftovers like.. H2O, beer, wine, chips..etc is a day or 2 before I leave I'll, at the pool, get to talking to another family and offer them my stuff. People are usually grateful and come right with me to get them..

 

[Weluvdisny]

We used wegoshop last month for the first time and they were great! We went to our local SuperWal-Mart and picked out the items/sizes that we would need. We then e-mailed her the list and they shop whever you want them to (ours was Super Wal-Mart). There is a delivery charge and then we charged it to our room, so they added 10%, and left all the groceries (including cold stuff) with the front desk. We had them delivered to our room and never had to leave the resort. It was great!!

 

[gvincent]

Was the 10% a tip to wegoshop or was it the cost of booking it to your room .. ie. $$ for Disney??

 

[Spokavegas]

How come none of you use the Disney service that it offered to DVC members for just $5? Are the prices that astronomical? They didn't look bad to me? I was planning to just use that---it says it will be delivered to your room?

 

[Inkmahm]

http://www.ownerslocker.com/

I can't believe no one has suggested the Owners Locker service in this thread yet. We don't keep buying and shipping the same things over and over again. We buy them once and store them in our locker between trips. This also works for extra water, etc that you have leftover. We pretty much have everything in our locker other than the clothes that we wear. Over time, I'm thinking of getting another locker and even keeping our clothes there, too! I'd love to just walk on the plane with my book to read and have everything else waiting for me when I arrive at the DVC location.

 

[twotoohappy]

re: leaving food - mousekeepers will throw it out

You can also walk across the street from BWV to
the Hess Gas station. Their prices are very cheap and
they have water, soda, alcohol, snacks, etc.
When we have to get a lot of water, soda, etc. we take a
cab, it waits for us and then brings us back. It was about $6-
I think. We just usually walk a few times per trip instead of
a big trip. Just a side note, there is no sidewalk after you
cross the road from BWV to Hess because Hess's driveway
is directly across from the BW guard shack so be careful.

 

[dairyqueenmom]

http://www.ownerslocker.com/

I can't believe no one has suggested the Owners Locker service in this thread yet. We don't keep buying and shipping the same things over and over again. We buy them once and store them in our locker between trips. This also works for extra water, etc that you have leftover. We pretty much have everything in our locker other than the clothes that we wear. Over time, I'm thinking of getting another locker and even keeping our clothes there, too! I'd love to just walk on the plane with my book to read and have everything else waiting for me when I arrive at the DVC location.

The OP is renting points from a friend, so she couldn't have an owners locker.

 

[Inkmahm]

The OP is renting points from a friend, so she couldn't have an owners locker.

True, but there are others in the thread who are obviously DVC members.

 

[UP Disney]

How come none of you use the Disney service that it offered to DVC members for just $5? Are the prices that astronomical? They didn't look bad to me? I was planning to just use that---it says it will be delivered to your room?

My understanding is the limited selection as well as cost. If everything you want is on their list, it might be ok but it is more expensive when you look at the quantity & cost comparisons.

 

[murcor]

wegoshop.com

We have used many times and will continue to use. We dont cook alot but get fresh fruit & veggies, snacks, simple breakfast items, flats of water, beverages, etc etc

Cost effective, time saving, easy service

 

[JW9DVC]

It really depends on if you want to save money. Look at the facts, there are some good pointers here. I would suggest Wal-Mart, store is nearby. I can get a weekly rental for $100, usually an Impala. Then I can go when I want, I can drive to the parks myself, the other hotels, any place really. Sure its a vacation. Id much rather pay myself the money and get the best deal. Allows for a few more luxury items. Just my opinion of course. Dominos Pizza delivers until 3am also. What a bargain that can be to have fresh hot pizza. JW