OMG...I can't believe what I just did!

[msaseifert]

Somebody talk to me. I just ordered groceries from the garden grocer for our stay from 8/15 to 8/29. $400 worth when it was all said & done and that did NOT include a tip! We are figuring to eat in our 1 bedroom at Saratoga Springs for the most part but still.....

I keep telling myself...it includes laundry soap, LOTS of breakfast stuff, drinks, some lunch stuff and dinners for 2 weeks......I guess thats about right for a family of 4 for 2 weeks but whew....$400

We are only planning dinner out twice....once at Fultons and once at Rain Forest Cafe. We do have some lunch ressies.....Sci Fi Diner, Rose & Crown and 50's Prime Time. We are hoping to slip into Paradiso 37 a few times just for drinks and maybe a quick snack...........

17 more days.......

 

[bangzoom6877]

If this helps you to feel better......

DH and I keep a monthly budget for various expenses, one of them being groceries. Our monthly budget for groceries for our family of 4 is $866 per month. So 2 weeks would roughly be what you said, about $400 if we maxed out the budget. We normally do not max it out though, we are under budget 10 or 11 months out of the year for groceries. But we do allow ourselves $866, realistically. We go out to eat once a week as well. On occasion we also order take-out (sushi, chinese or pizza) once a week. For the most part I cook and we eat breakfast and lunch at home or we make lunch to bring to work.

Sounds about right for your 2-week stay. It includes a lot of stuff, and eating out consistently for 2 weeks for a family of 4 would cost you way more than $400 if you want to eat decent food.

 

[DVC-Don]

You gotta look into to a Owners Locker and leave the laundry soap and other stuff there.

 

[momx2]

Look at this way...if you were to eat out you would blow through $400 in less than 4 days with 4 people. $100 per person for most meals for that length of time is a bargain.

 

[Resqlt]

It might look like a lot of money up front, but think how much you are actually saving by having your meals in.

 

[rentayenta]

Is it just the two of you? Really, $400 is not bad for 2 weeks.

 

[TinksDH]

You gotta look into to a Owners Locker and leave the laundry soap and other stuff there.

That's a lotta soap for $99/yr!

 

[LadyKay]

Somebody talk to me. I just ordered groceries from the garden grocer for our stay from 8/15 to 8/29. $400 worth when it was all said & done and that did NOT include a tip! We are figuring to eat in our 1 bedroom at Saratoga Springs for the most part but still.....

I keep telling myself...it includes laundry soap, LOTS of breakfast stuff, drinks, some lunch stuff and dinners for 2 weeks......I guess thats about right for a family of 4 for 2 weeks but whew....$400

We are only planning dinner out twice....once at Fultons and once at Rain Forest Cafe. We do have some lunch ressies.....Sci Fi Diner, Rose & Crown and 50's Prime Time. We are hoping to slip into Paradiso 37 a few times just for drinks and maybe a quick snack...........

17 more days.......

I placed our order last night. Our order came to 340$ and I was feeling that very same way. We are 6 and are staying at SSR Aug. 16-23 and then switch over to BLT for the second week. We are on the dining plan during our stay at BLT. I do realize we are saving in the long run (breakfast food, snacks, water, juice, vegetables and 2 dinners). I just think it's so funny that we both shared a similar reaction to ordering our groceries for our upcoming trips. We leave in 18 days! Can't wait. Enjoy your trip.

 

[kikiq]

That's sounds about right. We paid a little over $200 for a week last summer for more people BUT we ate dinner out 3 times and one breakfast at AP for the Mickey waffles.

 

[tomandrobin]

If you think those prices are crazy, just calculate the cost of the Dining Plan for your trip!

 

[DisMN]

That sounds about right but I remember what a shock it felt like at the time I ordered too. LOL

One tip on the items you ordered. Staying the length of time you are, you'll want to use the items that have the earlier expiry date on them first.
Like if you get donuts and cereals, use the donuts first, because they'll get stale the quickest.
I learned this the hard way a few years back!

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[Junebugwv]

It might make you feel better about your purchase if you look at the menus posted for WDW and see how much it would realistically cost you for a family of 6 for one day.

 

[buzz5985]

Somebody talk to me. I just ordered groceries from the garden grocer for our stay from 8/15 to 8/29. $400 worth when it was all said & done and that did NOT include a tip! We are figuring to eat in our 1 bedroom at Saratoga Springs for the most part but still.....

I keep telling myself...it includes laundry soap, LOTS of breakfast stuff, drinks, some lunch stuff and dinners for 2 weeks......I guess thats about right for a family of 4 for 2 weeks but whew....$400

We are only planning dinner out twice....once at Fultons and once at Rain Forest Cafe. We do have some lunch ressies.....Sci Fi Diner, Rose & Crown and 50's Prime Time. We are hoping to slip into Paradiso 37 a few times just for drinks and maybe a quick snack...........

17 more days.......

How much do you usually spend on groceries at home?? We are a family of 3 and occasionally 4 and spend an easy $125/week. That does not include cleaning/paper products that we normally buy at BJ's. So it's probably not that much more than you spend at home.

Just a note - I find bringing laundry detergent from home is a lot cheaper. In the past I have measured out powder into ziplock bags, I normally use liquid at home and would buy a cheap powder brand. Now with the Purex 3 in 1 sheets its even easier. With coupons a 20 count was only 3.99. You can just throw them in a ziplock bag.

Janis

 

[msaseifert]

Thanks you guys for making me feel better....it was just such a shock but really for a family of 4 for 2 weeks - probably got off a little cheap. Of course we are not planning any elaborate dinners either....chicken, hamburgers, hotdogs, spaghetti, tacos, salads, etc......we will have leftovers a couple of nights as well.

As far as the laundry soap goes...my kids have sensitive skin....it HAS to be Tide

I am bringing coffee (gottas have MY coffee) from home and we are bringing our own liquor minus the beer.

Owners Locker sounds like it might be worth looking into but really we only came down twice this year because we had developer points. Next year we will do just one week at the world (AKL - Concierge....yippee) and then another week at Vero (we are hoping).

Thanks for the good ideas guys.......I knew you all could make me feel better about spending that much. I know the dining plan is way more expensive and I know that I am saving money in the long run......I guess it was even more of a shock yesterday because I had just spent $200 at Costco on groceries for us here at home....LOL

 

[Coach81]

Don't worry about it.. you're on vacation!!!!

 

[twinklebug]

Just compare what the cost would be to eating out all the time.... or the DDP.

JMHO, I think Marge at WegoShop could have helped you to reduce that bill as she hunts for the best deals & passes the exact cost along to you. I had her shopping at Walmart for me, but you can choose the store and brands (if available - like I can't ask for Hood ice cream or Vermont Maid syrup in FL Hehe). All she gets is a service charge & tip. Wonderful lady.

 

[Tara]

As far as the laundry soap goes...my kids have sensitive skin....it HAS to be Tide

I am bringing coffee (gottas have MY coffee) from home and we are bringing our own liquor minus the beer.

Owners Locker sounds like it might be worth looking into but really we only came down twice this year because we had developer points. Next year we will do just one week at the world (AKL - Concierge....yippee) and then another week at Vero (we are hoping).

You might want to do a little reading here (search for "Owner's Locker") to see what sorts of things people store. I can't even begin to tell you how awesome it is! You'll be hard pressed to find a customer who isn't simply happy but THRILLED with the service! WePacking is SO much easier for our trips and our trips are so much homier. Since I'm the Chief Packing Officer in our family, my job is easier, we don't have so much to lug, we can travel carry-on if we want to, and there's less unpacking when we get home!

I even think that if you fly in (or I guess drive down) they'll arrange a convenient meeting place to hand off your Locker if you are cruising or going to Vero? So you could use it for both your trips next year. And unless I'm mistaken, there's still a good deal with discount for DIS board readers - I think it's $45/year and 2 free locker deliveries/year for the first three years. Just some of things we keep in our Lockers:

-detergent, bleach (good for cleaning out jacuzzi tub, too)
-coffee filter, grinder, scoop
-all our toiletries
-ponchos and small umbrellas
-clothes we wear ONLY at WDW
-scissors
-foil, Ziploc bags, a REAL knife
-Brita pitcher and filters (no bottled water for us anymore!)
-aluminum water bottles
-small electric griddle
-liquor
-sunglasses and hats
-gloves and handwarmers (we visit in Dec and you never know when it's going to be really chilly!)
-wireless router
-chargers for iPhone, other phone
-waterbox for keeping things dry at pool/water parks
-mister fans
-swimsuits
-games and a set of Star Wars DVDs for my son (we had ended up with 2 sets, so this was easy to part with)
-non-perishable food items

(Here's a picture of what's in my Lockers, complete with notes describing what everything is.)

The real "win" came on our last trip when a new toy my son had bought with his own money that day broke. Instead of tears, I was able to just grab the Super Glue I keep in a Locker and fix it immediately. Score one for Mommy and one for Owner's Locker!

The other nice thing is that if you get to WDW and then decide you want to start using the service, John & Brian can often get you a locker the same day. Their customer service is unbelievable, really!

 

[mericletwins]

I think $400 for two weeks is pretty inexpensive. For our family of 5 we spend about $350 a week. We aren't even big eaters. After being in different areas I have come to realize that our grocery stores are pretty expensive by comparison. I think you did a good job with your groceries!

 

[Anal Annie]

Holy cow! We're just a family of 3 but if I go over $100 a week I gotta cut something out on the next trip! I aim for about $75 / week. And I thought I was spending a lot... Guess maybe I'm not doing so bad....but now of course I DO buy just as much as possible at Costco or Target...I don't buy ANY paper products or cleaning supplies at my grocery store... I would have to agree that for 2 weeks you may want to split some of it into 2 deliveries so that some of the stuff stays fresh. Not everything will keep that long!

I'm glad I stumbled on this thread tho 'cuz I forgot to place our order for Aug. 16!! I had called both WeGo and GG last week and was still trying to decide which one to use while I worked on my list...then I forgot (I think I'm a bit ADD)!! Hope I'm not too late to get it done tomorrow!!

 

[audrey444]

I think $400 is initially shocking, but reasonable. You are saving over the cost of Disney Dining. Then, you mentioned laundry detergent. And, you also have to buy things that at home, you don't buy as often - butter, oil, etc. Stuff that you need to cook, but you probably won't go through it all in 2 weeks.

Enjoy your trip!