ME vs the grocery stop

[IMGONNABE40!]

We are a party of 10. We can get a van for $114 plus tips so about $135 or so. Split three ways, so $45 per family. We are staying 6 nights, 7 days. We won't have breakfast on the dining plan. At a mod or deluxe we will likely have a fridge. If we use the grocery stop for breakfast items, soft drinks, bottled water, chips, fruit and...beer ( ), it seems to me that we will save $$ over what we would pay in the park for those items, even with the $45 for transportation.

What does anyone else think? Seems to me that Disney implemented ME because they were losing so much $$ on the grocery stop.

 

[Lewisc]

Many of us think one of the purposes of DME is to help capture a greater percentage of our vacation dollars. It was posted that once you land at MCO your wallet belongs to Disney.

You have many options cheaper than a towncar.

You can use a grocery delivery service like wegoshop or gardengrocer. You could rent a car for around $50. Have a few people rent the car at MCO, make the grocery stop, then return the car at WDW. You could bring a suitcase of food and just buy milk in your resort. You could take a Disney bus to PI and walk over the Hess mini-mart to buy the few items you don't pack like bottled water and milk.

What does anyone else think? Seems to me that Disney implemented ME because they were losing so much $$ on the grocery stop.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Oh, I do like the grocery delivery idea!

 

[kirbsam]

for a party of ten, and three different families, the simplest solution is to go withthe van and buy your snacks and supplies. you can save 25 bucks per meal at breakfast by buying cereal and milk, not to mention the money you can save by buying soda and water.

 

[CleveRocks]

I booked my trip before DME was even announced. I'd planned on using a towncar service, in part because the idea of the grocery stop appealed to me as very practical and economical. Then DME was announced, to start 3 days before my arrival. I got online and learned about grocery delivery services. PROBLEM SOLVED! I used Gooding's (www.goodings.com). They deliver to Bell Services, Bell Services delivers to you, and if you're not in WHO CARES!!! Bell Services leaves you a message to call them back, and they hold onto your groceries, even keeping the cold stuff cold. VERY CONVENIENT!!! We didn't have to bother with taking the time to stop, and then rooting around an unfamiliar grocery store, then waiting in line there, etc. I've done that when I've traveled elsewhere, and I really liked the idea of having someone else bring me my groceries that I ordered a few days earlier from the comfort of my den.

I seem to be one of the few fervent Gooding's fans on the DISboards. Most other grocery delivery veterans mention good experiences with www.wegoshop.com and www.gardengrocer.com.

So as you can see, you don't need to choose between getting free transportation or being a slave to Disney's food prices. If saving money is your aim, then using DME and getting a grocery delivery should be your game.

 

[Lewisc]

For the benefit of the OP, most of us have found Goodings to be significantly more expensive than other supermarkets. They will deliver to bell services but that option will really require an additional tip to the bellhop. I don't think Goodings will deliver adult beverages, if that's important double check.

I'd go with the grocery deliver but a one day car rental won't be that expensive, you only need a small car, if you prefer to do your own shopping.

I seem to be one of the few fervent Gooding's fans on the DISboards. Most other grocery delivery veterans mention good experiences with www.wegoshop.com and www.gardengrocer.com.

So as you can see, you don't need to choose between getting free transportation or being a slave to Disney's food prices. If saving money is your aim, then using DME and getting a grocery delivery should be your game.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Thank you for that information. Having a few cold ones available back in the room is a huge money (and sanity) saver!

 

[CleveRocks]

I don't think Goodings will deliver adult beverages, if that's important double check.

I can confirm that Gooding's DOES NOT deliver alcohol. Since they deliver to Bell Services 100% of the time, they never see the actual customer. So they have no way of knowing if the customer is a cunning teenager who sees a loophole and is taking advantage of it. Apparently they'd rather hold onto their liquor license than make a few extra bucks.