Off-site Condo - Do you shop before or after check-in?

[Mickey2013]

Planning our first off-site stay at WH condos. When do you do your shopping? On the way from the airport, get to condo and then shop? Go to the parks and then figure it all out? Just wondering about different plans of attack. We'll be traveling with 3 kids so I wasn't sure if we should just get there and then run out or if it might be easier for the kids to shop on the way and once they are there they can "nest". Thoughts please...

 

[laurafergie]

We always get to where we need to go, be it a condo, hotel or campground and then go grocery shopping. Then we're not stressing out about the cold groceries while trying to check in. It works out great when one of the older kids are with us, and then we just leave everyone there to swim or whatever. Just our routine.

 

[osprey6]

We also wait to shop until get there, especially if staying in an unfamiliar place.

It greatly helps to know what appliances, utensils and cookware are available.

 

[swilshire]

After check-in. You never know when there will be a glitch and you won't get into the unit on time. We also would typically leave one adult and the kids behind, or now the teen and the younger kid. They can watch tv while Mom grocery shops.

Sheila

 

[Disney Ella]

After we check in and see our room/villa. I'm always worried that they'll lose our reservation and we'll have nowhere to put all of the groceries in the car.

 

[Mickey2013]

Thanks for your help! I figured after we arrive is better..like you said - make sure everything is OK first. I just feel like arrival and shopping will really suck up our day w/ no real plans until the next day. But I guess it's better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Thumper_Man]

Another here that waits until after we check-in. We've learned that some places turn down the refrigerator after guests leave, to conserve on energy. You'll want to make sure it's on before storing your perishables. Usually on this night, we'll make an ADR for some place in DTD or some place outside the parks we wouldn't normally go to.

 

[nchulka]

After! You will have a better idea of what you need also. We stayed at a townhome in windsor hills and when we got in we saw that former guest had left things like dish detergent, paper towels etc.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Another vote for after check-in. We rent a house, and I find the kids are chomping at the bit to get into the pool. So, we check in, and DH takes care of the kids and gives them their pool time. That frees me up to unpack and go shopping. I typically have a list made up ahead of time and hit the Super Target on 192. That way, I can also get shampoo, kleenex, and any forgotten items.

Because of our travel schedule, we're typically arriving in the mid-late afternoon. For that first night, I get something easy to heat and eat, like a rotisserie chicken. My gang doesn't want to leave the house to go out to eat.

Something else to keep in mind--I don't know how fun it would be for anyone to all go to the grocery store. It's not where the kids are going to want to be on vacation, and you would concentrate better without them. So, if possible, I would leave them at the hotel/condo/house with someone responsible.

 

[Brian Noble]

We always get to where we need to go, be it a condo, hotel or campground and then go grocery shopping. Then we're not stressing out about the cold groceries while trying to check in.

This. Always.

 

[Catira]

After check-in. You never know when there will be a glitch and you won't get into the unit on time. We also would typically leave one adult and the kids behind, or now the teen and the younger kid. They can watch tv while Mom grocery shops.

Sheila

I agree with Sheila... We first check in and then since our kiddos are now 12 and 16 we let them stay in the resort watching TV and go buy our groceries.
If I had perishables in the car, I would be worried that our room wasn't ready.

 

[bankr63]

Our flights usually land a bit before noon, so we head to the resort and attempt an early checkin. With Sheraton Vistana, there are a couple of good reasons. If you are early, the line is very short, and it much easier to take time and understand your room assignment, they are more likely to be flexible early in the day if you are unsatisfied with the assignment. If you checkin later you may be stuck with the last units available.

If the room is not yet ready, we head out to the bell station and check our bags so they don't sit exposed in the car while we shop; we usually have an SUV so the bags are exposed in the back. When we get back, the keys are usually waiting at the bell station, but if not, we can check our groceries too. They can keep your perishables cold for you while you hit the pool. When the keys are available, collecting them at the bell station avoids the long lines at the registration area during prime checkin time.

Many resorts offer these same services (bag check, cold storage, early checkin), so it is worth calling and checking before you get there.

 

[dobtia]

We drive in from Texas.

We normally arrive around 2 or so and our room is ready. We unload the van really quickly. Make sure the fridge is cooling, turn on the air. While I unload my wife unpacks and hangs clothes, etc.

We then go shopping for the week knowing that things are good back at our timeshare. That gives us time to roam a bit around wal mart and then put away groceries.

After that we head to DTD to get our toe in the water before our first day in a park.

 

[spiceycat]

always after.

you never know until you check in - if your room will be ready when you arrive.

most condo have a place (refrigerator) to store your stuff if your room is not ready - but still would prefer not to worry about that

 

[DawnM]

We go after, but we also bring a HUGE cooler with us with at least enough food for the first day or two.

 

[kksmom92]

We rent a house, but what we usually do is to the house first and my DH and kids swim & hang out there while I go and the grocery shopping. To me it's easier w/out them with me.