short term rental for groceries

[Buffman]

Hi all.
Plan to come in for 5 days in the beginning of September, before school starts here in Amherst. Staying at OKW, and coming in via ME. The only need for a car will be for some grocery shopping. Who would be the closest for a 1-day (heck 3 hrs would give me lots of time to get to Publix and back)? Would they be near Downtown, or the Car Ctr?

 

[AprilFool]

Why dont you just get groceries delivered? We will be using garden grocer when we go in august as there has been so many good reviews on their service. wegoshop is supposed to be good also.

 

[skiingfast]

The grocery delivery will be easier that picking up and dropping off a car. And unless you get an incredible price cheaper too, but you never know good rates can be found.

If you go south on 535 there is a publix, It's not super close but simple to drive to.

 

[pattyw]

Hello, fellow WNY-er!! We have rented a car for only one day. National/Alamo has a rental desk at the Dolphin ( use Disney transportation to get there) or at the Disney Car Center ( they will provide a free shuttle there). It's usually about $40 for a day. But you can get alot done in a day. Grocery shopping, offsite meal, and a biggie for us- a trip to the Premium outlets and the Disney outlet. You can get great deals here- it's run by Disney and they have great souvenirs- at 50% off and better!! So, in my opinion, you can get the cost of the car rental back in the savings- food, water, snacks, a meal offsite, and souvenirs!!

 

[Buffman]

Good to see a local on the list. So far I've been able to avoid the Outlet area, usually because we tend to go to WDW around Thanksgiving, and the vision of the cars wrapped around the service road up to Mary Queen of the Universe ( or is that Minnie) is enough to keep me away. Thanks though for the info. I like the idea of going to Carraba's after shopping.

 

[Buffman]

Sorry, typing on a bench in Port Jefferson while visiting inlaw, so not thinking things completely. I know about the grocery Svc, problem is do they give you what you want, or just basics . Kids are pretty picking when it comes to some items, else they don't eat. Does this garden grocer have a website?

 

[sue1013]

Their website is gardengrocer.com we've always found everything we need from them.

 

[tjmw2727]

Sorry, typing on a bench in Port Jefferson while visiting inlaw, so not thinking things completely. I know about the grocery Svc, problem is do they give you what you want, or just basics . Kids are pretty picking when it comes to some items, else they don't eat. Does this garden grocer have a website?

I use wegoshop.com and love the service! They will get you the exact foods you want/need down to the brand. They will also shop more than one store if necssary and watch for the best prices. Beer & wine can also be delivered.

I have used them many times and had excellent service every time. IMHO the delivery fee is reasonable and definately cheaper than a rental car plus the hassle factor of renting the car, shopping and then returning the rental.

 

[bgirl29]

Just wanted to add if you need a certain brand and dont see it listed on gardengrocers web site you can just request it in the comments section....same goes for beer and wine.

 

[kinggoofy]

Well, we did garden grocer once. everything was delivered BUT beware, you may have a minimum order amount. we did not know this and we ended up spending about $30 of stuff we did not need.

we use a car for one day all the time. we pick up at mco national Emer Aisle. We then drop off the next day at dolphin. $45. Contract ID 5004625.

it also works the reverse way too when you are going home and ME picks you up 3 hours early. we get a car the day before and its worth it. same price. $45. same contract ID.

hope this helps

 

[granmanh603]

Sorry, typing on a bench in Port Jefferson while visiting inlaw, so not thinking things completely. I know about the grocery Svc, problem is do they give you what you want, or just basics . Kids are pretty picking when it comes to some items, else they don't eat. Does this garden grocer have a website?

You can also rent from some of the other companies they have picks on Hotel Plaza Blvd..you can take disney bus to DDT and walk or they might even come and get you... but ALAMO/Natl at Dolphin is easy....also there is a Publix just down the road from the outlet center and it is a nice clean store..

 

[kidd_freeper]

If you choose to get groceries on US-192, avoid Marketplace in the Giadorno Plaza. Very pricey.

Instead drive a little further west on US-192 to SuperTarget. Prices are reasonable.

 

[CleveRocks]

Just my two cents ...

If the ONLY reason I was getting a car was to get groceries, I'd skip the car and jump at the idea of a grocery delivery service.

Number one, the service charge will be cheaper than the car rental.

Number two, the process of getting to the car rental, driving to the store, shopping in a strange store (not knowing where things are), bringing back your groceries, disposing of the car ... 3 hours easy. NO WAY I'm wasting 3 hours of my vacation on chores if I have an alternative. The alternative is the grocery delivery. If you order through www.goodings.com, they deliver to Bell Services, and they'll hold it for you (even keeping the cold stuff cold) until you're ready to receive it ... this means you take ZERO TIME away from your vacation. Garden Grocer can deliver your stuff to Bell Services rather than making you set a time to wait for them, but you have to request it.

We skipped Disney this year and spent a week in 2 Canadian cities. I was SOOO disappointed when I learned that there was no grocery delivery service in the first city. I was looking forward to arriving at my first hotel and getting the groceries from Bell Services and being set. Even though I had my own car, I didn't want to waste the time going to a supermarket.

With Gooding's and Garden Grocer, you are NOT limited only to what's listed on the website. Garden Grocer is a service, and they'll get you what you want. Gooding's is an actual supermarket that also offers delivery, so they will deliver anything they stock on their shelves, with the exception of alcohol.

 

[kinggoofy]

I think what is getting lost in all of this discussion of car vs. no car is a few things.........

1. for us, its convenient to get to and from the airport. The ME pickup going home is way too early.

2. there is a "minimum" amount of grocery order when having delivered goods. trust me, the last time we did this was 3 years ago. Maybe its changed.

3. rent a cab from the resort to take you for a grocery run. it takes 15 minutes to get to and from any of the stores. 20 minutes in the store. 50 minutes total...cab cost is maybe $30.

 

[Brian Noble]

My time isn't free though. I normally rent a car, and I *still* often have a service shop and deliver depending on what my arrival day plans are.

 

[DonnaL]

We always did our own grocery shopping after arriving, however, a few years ago we started having Garden Grocer delivery our groceries and I will never grocery shop again while at WDW on vacation!! It's wonderful having the groceries delivered and bell services just bring them up........well worth the $12 delivery fee and tips (about $20 total....... less than renting a car for a day). I believe if your groceries are over $200 delivery is free. Others have said they've had the delivery service deliver direct to their room, however, I have not found that to be the case......maybe if you're staying at OKW or SSR, however, we've had deliveries at BCV, BWV, BLT, and VWL and at those DVC's Garden Grocer told me they cannot deliver to the rooms, but, will call you to let you know your groceries are at bell services and then, bell services delivers them to the room when you call them......I'm assuming because Disney doesn't want outside delivery services having free access to interior hallways. Bell services also has facilities to keep items frozen or cold, so, you could even have the order delivered right around the time or shortly before you are arriving at the airport and then, your groceries could be delivered to your room as soon as you check in.

 

[elfbo]

I think what is getting lost in all of this discussion of car vs. no car is a few things.........

3. rent a cab from the resort to take you for a grocery run. it takes 15 minutes to get to and from any of the stores. 20 minutes in the store. 50 minutes total...cab cost is maybe $30.

If you rent a cab, do you rent one for the trip there, and it waits for you, or do you rent one to get there and another to get back?

 

[tjmw2727]

I think what is getting lost in all of this discussion of car vs. no car is a few things.........

1. for us, its convenient to get to and from the airport. The ME pickup going home is way too early.

2. there is a "minimum" amount of grocery order when having delivered goods. trust me, the last time we did this was 3 years ago. Maybe its changed.

3. rent a cab from the resort to take you for a grocery run. it takes 15 minutes to get to and from any of the stores. 20 minutes in the store. 50 minutes total...cab cost is maybe $30.

I disagree -

1. A cab from mco to any disney resort is at least $50.00 last time I used one from the Dolphin to MCO about 2 years ago it was $56.00 plus tip.

If I were going to do this I would spring for a towncar, @ 110 round trip plus tip and they will stop at the grocery, most complimentary some for a fee.

IMHO the DME pickup time is fine- in fact when using a towncar I only save 30 minutes as the suggested arrival time at MCO is 2 hours prior to your flight. I don't think $110 plus tip is worth 30 minutes but I do like the personal service of a towncar now and then.

2. I never have a problem with the minimum at wegoshop - a case of water, 12 pack of beer & soda plus breakfast goodies, snacks and fruit cover it fine.

3. The only grocery store close enough to WDW for a $30 cab ride is goodings and they deliver for much less then $30.00.

Also want to add that wegoshop will deliver beer & wine to bell services as long as you fax a copy of your ID. They will also make sure your items are stored properly esp those that need to be kept cold.

I completely agree with the above poster about not wanting to shop on vacation. When we stay at the Dolphin I use a towncar and it just makes sense to take advanatage of the grocery stop. When we stay on property I love that DME delivers my luggage and wegoshop delivers my groceries. I can hop on the DME bus, check in and hit a park. When we get back to the room we stop at bell services and get the groceries or have them sent up to the room and the bags are already waiting.

 

[dacky041208]

Well, we did garden grocer once. everything was delivered BUT beware, you may have a minimum order amount. we did not know this and we ended up spending about $30 of stuff we did not need.

we use a car for one day all the time. we pick up at mco national Emer Aisle. We then drop off the next day at dolphin. $45. Contract ID 5004625.

it also works the reverse way too when you are going home and ME picks you up 3 hours early. we get a car the day before and its worth it. same price. $45. same contract ID.

hope this helps

The minimum for Garden Grocer is $40. Were you trying to just order water, or was it a different amount when you did it?

 

[goofy4tink]

I have used netgrocer.com, gardengrocer.com, and wegoshop.com. I have also accompanied a friend in her rental car to shop offsite.
While it was okay shopping offsite, the fun came from catching up with my friend. It gave us some nice 'girl time'. But, it also took about 2 hrs out of my day.
When I've used a grocery delivery service, it has worked out quite well. I would do it again if need be.
When I go in 10 days, I will be taking non-perishables with me, in my checked baggage. I will buy water at the Hess Station by the BW. Also will be buying milk, 1/2 and 1/2, bread, butter...that type thing. If I can't get it at the Hess station, I'll just buy it at the Screen Door at BW. I just won't be needing a large amount of groceries on this trip...just breakfast stuff...so a grocery service isn't really needed.

A lot of people just don't want to drive while on vacation. They have no issue using DME, they don't mind the 3 hr p/u time, they don't need to be 'masters of their destiny' so to speak. So...grocery services are a good thing for them.