Picking up simple groceries in 30 minutes?

[Esmerelda]

I am tossing around the idea of either just using a town car for airport RT and perhaps a taxi for anything special we may need thru the week. We had discussed having groceries delivered also. On the other hand, we could just rent a car..but we really won't use it that much other than a grocery run and maybe a dinner here or there at a hotel.

I know many of the transportation places will stop for 30 minutes for groceries. Can I pick up bottled water...bottled tea...chips...cookies...fruit in 30 minutes or less? I know sometimes standing in the checkout takes more than 15...and I'm in an unfamiliar grocery....what if I go over 10 minutes..will they scold me?

undecided here,
Esmerelda

 

[ducklite]

That's one of the reasons the drivers won't stop at Super Wal-Mart.

30 minutes is more than enough time at Publix, I've never waited more than a few minutes to check out, they will always open other lanes.

Albertsons has a service where you can fax in yoru order and they'll have it pulled and waiting.

Best bet is to ask your car service which stores they stop and and then let us know and we'll give you our opinions.

Anne

 

[Madhatter266]

We make our list before we go, (snacks, soda, water,etc.) then split it up among the family. We have been able to get in and out in about 15 minutes. It's almost become a game!! We have always stopped at Publix.

 

[Lewisc]

One of the limo companies has a posted price, per minute, if your grocery stops goes over. I don't remember the company but they gave you a 20 minute stop with a 10 minute grace period. If you go over 30 minutes they start charging. A significant additional tip would be appropriate in any case. The normal hourly rate for a towncar is around $75.

Would you otherwise use DME? Renting a car for a day or paying for a grocery delivery service would probably be cheaper and give you more flexibility.

Anne is right, let the limo driver pick the store. They can't blame you for a long line. They won't stop at places like WalMart and COSTCO for that reason. Have a list. If there is a long line have one of your party wait in line while you finish shopping. Unless you're waiting at a deli counter you should be OK with a 30 minute stop.

If you just want soda, bottled water and "fun food" the mini-mart at the Hess station has good prices. I wouldn't count on them for fruit but they might have some.

 

[seashoreCM]

We could sure use a treasure trove of anecdotes about what happened if the grocery stop went over the prescribed time. Perhaps this thread, retitled to be dolled up as and faked out as a poll question (i.e. no radio buttons to click and vote with) may attract some war stories.

You need to be disciplined to grab 'n go when you get into the supermarket.

You probably won't run into a timing problem if you don't examine the skin of each apple and peach and do not pull out the calculator or see whether the Giant Economy Cheerios costs less per ounce than the Super Jumbo Publix-O's.

It's still chancy letting the driver choose the supermarket. You could end up at Goodings just outside the little Rte 535 entrance to WDW, where the prices are noticeably higher.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

OT: Unless you and the party you meeting were all track stars back in high school, don't count on finding a space, meeting your party, bringing them to your car, and reaching the exit pay station within the 30 minutes of free parking some airports gives you.

 

[Lewisc]

I didn't think of Goodings, although they are the only 24 hour supermarket that's available for guests on late flights. I meant let the driver pick which Publix or Albertson to stop at. You're not being charged by the mile and the driver might know a supermarket tends to have shorter lines. I think guests who only want bottled water, soda and "fun foods" can do fine at the Hess mini-mart.

You're 100% right, Goodings is significantly more expensive than other supermarkets. They might not even be much cheaper than just buying stuff at your hotel.

I joked that passengers spending more than 30 minutes might find the limo gone with their bags left at the curb.

We could sure use a treasure trove of anecdotes about what happened if the grocery stop went over the prescribed time. Perhaps this thread, retitled to be dolled up as and faked out as a poll question (i.e. no radio buttons to click and vote with) may attract some war stories.

You need to be disciplined to grab 'n go when you get into the supermarket.

You probably won't run into a timing problem if you don't examine the skin of each apple and peach and do not pull out the calculator or see whether the Giant Economy Cheerios costs less per ounce than the Super Jumbo Publix-O's.

It's still chancy letting the driver choose the supermarket. You could end up at Goodings just outside the little Rte 535 entrance to WDW, where the prices are noticeably higher.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

OT: Unless you and the party you meeting were all track stars back in high school, don't count on finding a space, meeting your party, bringing them to your car, and reaching the exit pay station within the 30 minutes of free parking some airports gives you.

 

[LoveWDW]

Our limo company, FL Tours, gave us a store map to make quick shopping easier. I forgot the map. But even so, and searching for wine that we liked that had a screw cap since we didn't want to buy a corkscrew, we collected everything and checked out in 20 minutes.

 

[Edd]

If you pick the right car service company no one will get upset if you go over the allotted time. I wouldn't push a shopping trip of over 45 minutes to an hour, but there are those companys who are there to give service. If you go over a certain time pick an extra $5.00 out of your pocket and take care of the driver. The Walmart close to Disney isn't any faster or slower than any other store, or like the Publix. In fact the Walmarts are very good stores for groceries and whatever.

 

[CleveRocks]

If you pick the right car service company no one will get upset if you go over the allotted time. I wouldn't push a shopping trip of over 45 minutes to an hour, but there are those companys who are there to give service. If you go over a certain time pick an extra $5.00 out of your pocket and take care of the driver. The Walmart close to Disney isn't any faster or slower than any other store, or like the Publix. In fact the Walmarts are very good stores for groceries and whatever.

Thanks for the helpful info, Edd!!!

 

[Marseeya]

We used Sunray and had a 30 minute grocery stop at a Publix. So we ran into the store with our list in hand, and then started booking it down the aisles.

At the end of the first aisle, this elderly man stopped us, and I think he was a bit "off," if you know what I mean, and he started telling us how he singlehandedly stopped smallpox and that we should thank him that our kids didn't need vaccinations anymore. Tick-tock, tick-tock, time's wasting away. We didn't want to be rude, so we just stood there listening to him. Besides, he was just so danged interesting!

The grocery stop only took us 15 minutes total. The store wasn't very big and it wasn't super crowded like a SuperWalmart would be.

 

[ducklite]

If you pick the right car service company no one will get upset if you go over the allotted time. I wouldn't push a shopping trip of over 45 minutes to an hour, but there are those companys who are there to give service. If you go over a certain time pick an extra $5.00 out of your pocket and take care of the driver. The Walmart close to Disney isn't any faster or slower than any other store, or like the Publix. In fact the Walmarts are very good stores for groceries and whatever.

You obviously do'nt shop in Wal-Mart and Publix in this area.

Trust me--from a local, you'll never wait in line more than a few minutes to check out at Publix. They WILL open more lines, even if it means the stores GM is ringing or bagging.

On the otherhand, it's not unusual to wait ten minutes or longer even in the express lanes at Wal-Mart.

Anne

 

[CleveRocks]

Trust me--from a local, you'll never wait in line more than a few minutes to check out at Publix. They WILL open more lines, even if it means the stores GM is ringing or bagging.

On the otherhand, it's not unusual to wait ten minutes or longer even in the express lanes at Wal-Mart.

Anne

I can't believe I'm actually coming to Edd's aid, but fair is fair ....

Edd is about as local as local gets, from what I recall.

 

[Edd]

Actually I shop in both stores. Shop in the new Walmart a lot and the lines are not what the you are talking about. The prices at Walmart are definitely cheaper. The fruit, groceries and meat are top quality. Publix is also good and have great deals. I shop at the Publix, but more so the Walmart. Have not had any wait times at the Walmart close to Disney and the prices have not been set up higher because they are close to Disney. The big plus is that the Walmart is open 24 hours a day. How about speaking out if you have shopped at these stores. Clermont is not local to Orlando residents. It is 40 miles west of Orlando.
Yes, I am local as they get.