Staying in a FW cabin for marathon weekend, Question about Garden Grocer delivery

[VAfamily1998]

Hi!
I'm so excited to be staying at a cabin for marathon weekend in a few weeks! I have a couple questions:

1. Has anyone here stayed at FW for a race weekend? How did transportation go for you? I know the fort is huge so there is a inner transportation bus, was that operating race morning to get you to a central place to pick up the chartered bus that takes you to the race start?
I will not have a car and didn't plan on renting a golf cart or anything.

2. One of the big reasons I wanted to stay at a cabin was so I would have a kitchen and could make my own pre-race breakfast/dinner the night before. I'm debating between setting up a delivery with garden grocer, or packing my suitcase with the food I need (I'd have to check a bag, which will cost money--so I'm trying to figure out which is more budget friendly )
There are really only a few perishable items that I would not be able to bring from home-half and half for my coffee and chicken.

Do they sell half and half at the trading post? Not coffee mate, or international delight---but just real half and half?
What about chicken breasts--I'm open to those pre-cooked convenience strips, or just regular raw chicken breasts that I could grill myself in my cabin...

Anything else I should know?

Thank you!

 

[John VN]

When DW and I headed to the EPCOT parking lot in our RV at 0230, the internal bus was up and running. Drop-off is the Outpost for connecting bus to EPCOT.

Garden Grocer would be my go to for all food items, thereby eliminating one source of concern that really is not needed during Marathon Weekend.

already Dopey McFlurry John

 

[bama_ed]

I agree with John to go with Garden Grocer or a service like http://www.wegoshop.com that shops at local grocery stores you specify like Winn Dixie, Publix, or WalMart. You just pay a service fee ($19 for a grocery bill to $50 and $24 for a bill to $100) which should be less than the cost of an extra checked baggage fee.

I ran the Half and Whole many years ago but I bet the transportation is unchanged. Internal busses at the Fort will run in the early a.m. to get you to the Outpost Depot (up by the checkin area) where you transfer to an external bus that will run you over to EPCOT. The RunDisney folks say to leave your resort by 330am and everyone should be at EPCOT by 4am.

My suggestion would be to request in MDE a cabin in loop 2800 up near its entrance. That loop is closest to the external bus depot at the Outpost and you can easily walk it (2800 is the last stop for the internal bus line before getting to Outpost). So get 2800 and don't even bother with the internal bus stuff.

I will be back next month to run the Half and will probably have a trip report going so stop by and say Hi or post into it.

Good luck!

Bama Ed

 

[VAfamily1998]

Thank you both! I will go ahead and arrange for grocery delivery--one last thing to worry about after I arrive.

One question about that--my plane lands at MCO at 2:50 and I will take DME to the fort and check in...since check in is at 3:00, if I do the "online check in" and schedule the grocery delivery for say, 4 pm-6 pm delivery window, will they already have my cabin assigned and go ahead and put my stuff in there? Even though I likely won't have arrived yet (figuring it will take a while to get off the plane, walk to the magical express area, board the ME, travel down to Disney, etc.)
Or am I better off scheduling a much later delivery time, like the latest ones after 6 pm?
And I don't have to be present, someone from Ft. Wilderness will let them into my cabin to put the groceries away?

Thanks!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I agree with John to go with Garden Grocer or a service like http://www.wegoshop.com. . .

I ran the Half and Whole many years ago but I bet the transportation is unchanged. Internal busses at the Fort will run in the early a.m. to get you to the Outpost Depot (up by the checkin area) where you transfer to an external bus that will run you over to EPCOT . . .

1) GreenGrocer or Wegoshop are your best choices, as mentioned.
2) Also, as mentioned, the buses WILL BE operating "in the wee hours", so don't worry about transport.

PS - Glad you are running. Bama_Ed and I have talked about marathons.
Even with my major weight loss (160#, so far), I don't do runs, as my only "runs" are
. . . my nose
. . . my artist paints
. . . my car on good days
. . . my wife's stockings
. . . my efforts at political office

 

[bama_ed]

Also, to answer your question about grocery delivery....

I've never had groceries delivered but we have heard it hear on the board pretty consistently. You do NOT have to be there for delivery. It sounds like for cabins your groceries will be put in the fridge for you in your pre-assigned cabin. So they will be there even if you aren't.

For folks in campsites I've read here that the Fort has a fridge to store them in until you arrive.

Also one thing we've read here regarding MDE is that while it can be pretty smooth getting YOU to the Fort (walk off the plane, board the bus, and away it goes), it can take several hours for your checked luggage to arrive at your cabin (it will be delivered). So take anything you might want to use in the first few hours after arrival (a change of clothes, etc.) in your carry-on.

Have fun!

Bama Ed

 

[Jimsig]

As Ed mentioned above, your groceries will be delivered to your cabin and you do not have to be there for delivery. We arrived at MCO at 730p and got to the Fort around 9p. We put in for a delivery around 7p and the food was in our cabin when we got there. Perishable items were in the fridge.

 

[VAfamily1998]

Great! Thank you so much everyone!

I have gone to MDE and requested the 2800 loop, per BamaEd's advice!
And have placed my garden grocer order with a delivery window of 4-6 pm.

I can't wait!

 

[Jimsig]

We stayed in the 2800 loop and it's a very easy and safe walk to the outpost.

 

[VAfamily1998]

Just wanted to give an update

Thank you so much, BamaEd, for recommending the 2800 loop. Not only did I get a cabin there, but I got one of the cabins closest to the entrance of the loop--so it was a VERY quick and easy walk to the main buses!

My garden grocer food was delivered and placed in my cabin before I even arrived. Actually, my plane was delayed by over 3 hours, so I got the text saying that it had been delivered before I even boarded my plane. The perishable stuff was in the fridge and everything else was on the table.

I did go to the meadows outpost while I was there, and noticed that while I would have been able to get the half and half, they didn't have any kind of chicken. So I'm really glad I ordered from Garden Grocer.

I think I may be hooked on the fort! Especially for race weekends. I LOVED how calm and quiet it was. I slept like a ROCK the night before the marathon. I loved being able to cook my own dinner the night before the race and the morning of the race. And also just in general; I loved taking a bus to the beach area to watch the fireworks (and would have stayed to watch the water pageant, but it started to rain.)

So, thank you for the advice, everyone!

 

[bama_ed]

I think I may be hooked on the fort! Especially for race weekends. I LOVED how calm and quiet it was. I slept like a ROCK the night before the marathon. I loved being able to cook my own dinner the night before the race and the morning of the race. And also just in general; I loved taking a bus to the beach area to watch the fireworks (and would have stayed to watch the water pageant, but it started to rain.)

So, thank you for the advice, everyone!

Oh great! ANOTHER one.

Now it will be even HARDER to get reservations.




























Just kidding, VAfamily1998. Glad you enjoyed it. I would do the Half again if I could get my brothers to do it with me.

Ya know, this is how ..IT.. starts. First a cabin visit, then maybe renting a trailer at the Fort with your loved ones in tow. Next you're shopping the RV shows - you've got a reservation a year from then at the Fort but need to buy a trailer/RV SOON.

See you 'round the Fort.

Bama Ed

PS - lastly you will wonder why anyone would visit Disneyworld any other way....

 

[Sur]

Got that right!

 

[garneska]

Way to go vafamily1998. I agree with Bama Ed. We stayed at cabins, then rented a 5th wheel, and now bought a class a. I love it. We stayed at the fort 2 weeks this trip and I love it.