Taking food vs Garden Grocer/Amazon

[Florida2012]

We are currently deciding what we should do in way of taking snacks, etc and needed some help!

We want to have maybe a box of tea bags and probably some breakfast bars (as we are not really breakfast-y people) and a bar of two of chocolate (for the wife's handbag, as she is diabetic)

Are we going to be stopped by customs for that? As I really don't want to appear on an episode of Border Control as they have mistaken some PG Tips for cannabis!

When we have checked Garden Grocer/Amazon it seems like a lot of money for what we want!

Also, is there any food shops on site? we are staying at All Star Music Resort so if they have a shop we could go there

 

[2Tiggies]

Nothing wrong with taking snacks and teabags. You must declare them on your customs form as food. It is not a big deal. We usually have a rolls of hard candy to suck on the plane and I always declare anyway. They ask what you have brought. You tell them. They ask you to go through a second screening process where the hold luggage and cabin bags are scanned again and as long as you have told them what you have and that you have it and it is not prohibited (fresh fruits and vegetables, meats and plant products etc are not allowed) you just go through on your way. It might have taken 5 minutes, if that and they were so polite. We have always been told to go through green except twice when I'd taken additional food for DD when she was Gluten Free.

I now order from amazon.com because I get my suncream there anyway and add in a box or two of snacks for DD and a couple of cases of water.

 

[Simba07]

We travel internationally with food a lot due to DH's food allergies. We have never had a problem with sealed, packaged foods. Homemade bake goods in baggies have been iffy. Fruits, vegetable, and meats (even packaged cued meats) are usually a problem.

 

[penlanspice]

If your not planning on needing much then take them with you as Garden Grocer soon adds up.
All Disney resorts have a small shop where you can pick up essentials, a little over priced but if it's only the odd thing their ok, another option is across the road from DTD is a petrol garage and you can pick up most things there and then jump back on the resort bus.

 

[chocolateMinnie]

personally I say it depends. We never take stuff in as we don't want the hassle of remembering to declare everything correctly plus water works out so expensive in the parks that we order stacks of it from gardengrocer and add our usa favourite snacks for park use and to bring home. However, if I had brand specific requirements then I probably would take it with me and just declare it.

Not sure if you are very picky with your tea but all the Disney resorts and restaurants have twinings tea.

 

[Elise79]

You'll be fine taking those items

Just tick yes to the food question on the customs form. We always take PG tips for friends and they are used to the Brits and our tea!

If you like a good cuppa do not rely on the Disney tea bags

Only thing I would say is your wife might want to look for an alternative snack as chocolate doesn't do well in Florida

 

[thebadger]

We have done a garden grocer shopping list and we think it's going to work for us but whats the situation with water?

Is the water drink-able or will we be better off with bottled?

Noted about declaring the tea bags, Mrs B can't function without a good cup of tea

 

[catherine]

We have done a garden grocer shopping list and we think it's going to work for us but whats the situation with water?

Is the water drink-able or will we be better off with bottled?

Noted about declaring the tea bags, Mrs B can't function without a good cup of tea

We always use bottled water. We usually take a 2 or 3 bottles from out of the fridge for use first thing and take additional bottles from the freezer for use later on in the day. We've always found that this works really well, but I know that others just ask for water from the ice cream carts or use the water fountains!

 

[scoobydooby]

I always buy bottled water. Just ordered 30 bottles from GG today for our trip next week much cheaper than Disney prices.

 

[disneyholic family]

We have done a garden grocer shopping list and we think it's going to work for us but whats the situation with water?

Is the water drink-able or will we be better off with bottled?

Noted about declaring the tea bags, Mrs B can't function without a good cup of tea

the water is drinkable, but tastes horrible in my opinion.

You can ask for ice water at any counter service, even if you aren't buying anything - and that tastes a bit better, since at least it's cold (not like from the fountain)..

but we tend to buy a huge 24 pack of small bottles either at the Hess gas station by the boardwalk inn or at walgreens, a short drive from the DTD entrance to WDW. But of course, that requires a car.

we keep bottles in the fridge and carry a few in to the parks with us each day.

you really have to drink drink drink drink drink drink drink - to avoid getting dehydrated in that heat.

If your kids won't drink water, then let them drink whatever, as long as they drink. It's more important that they drink than what in particular they're drinking (other than alcohol of course).

 

[Elise79]

We have done a garden grocer shopping list and we think it's going to work for us but whats the situation with water?

Is the water drink-able or will we be better off with bottled?

Noted about declaring the tea bags, Mrs B can't function without a good cup of tea

Let me start this by saying since DD was potty trained I do not like carrying anything into the park I don't have to and this includes bottles of water! bag free is my ideal

In the parks we will drink the free iced water which you can get from anywhere that sells fountain drinks. We get one and share - drink it up and bin it. If we can't be bothered to do that then we will just buy a bottle from the nearest cart.

During our Publix shop I will get a gallon bottle for the room as well as large bottles of soda.

But heck like I said at the start I am lazy on holiday and will do convenience over cost savings.

 

[disneyholic family]

Let me start this by saying since DD was potty trained I do not like carrying anything into the park I don't have to and this includes bottles of water! bag free is my ideal

In the parks we will drink the free iced water which you can get from anywhere that sells fountain drinks. We get one and share - drink it up and bin it. If we can't be bothered to do that then we will just buy a bottle from the nearest cart.

During our Publix shop I will get a gallon bottle for the room as well as large bottles of soda.

But heck like I said at the start I am lazy on holiday and will do convenience over cost savings.

i agree with convenience over savings..
those bottles we carry into the park are completely gone by 10 AM and more often than not, we finish them as we stand in line waiting to get into the park.
After that we buy.

at table service restaurants, the soft drinks are bottomless, and we put that to very good use. I distinctly remember each of us drinking 8 refills one time at rose & crown. We were all VERY thirsty and the waiter just kept bringing another refill and we kept drinking!!! (we sat there for 2 hours - a very long, very leisurely, very enjoyable meal!!!!!!!!!!!)

 

[scoobydooby]

I would never be in a park in Orlando in August without physically carrying water for us all. I actually think that's potentially quite dangerous. We would also typically get through three or four bottles a day in the parks each so 16 a day at about $2 each over two weeks is a massive amount of money to spend. Fizzy pop is not going to hydrate you properly.

 

[2Tiggies]

It is all very well to buy water and take your own bottles into the park. We do it, but we only take one bottle each and we drink it within the first hour or two. Leaving water in plastic bottles baking in the sun and then drinking from them is a really bad idea. If you are worried about cost and hate the taste of the Florida water, it may be worth looking into one of those Brita filtering sports bottles so you can top it up as you need to.

 

[Hipster Meg]

It is all very well to buy water and take your own bottles into the park. We do it, but we only take one bottle each and we drink it within the first hour or two. Leaving water in plastic bottles baking in the sun and then drinking from them is a really bad idea. If you are worried about cost and hate the taste of the Florida water, it may be worth looking into one of those Brita filtering sports bottles so you can top it up as you need to.

Another way to avoid the taste might be to take some of those new handbag sized squash bottles that Robinson's have started doing.

 

[wilma-bride]

I would never be in a park in Orlando in August without physically carrying water for us all. I actually think that's potentially quite dangerous. We would also typically get through three or four bottles a day in the parks each so 16 a day at about $2 each over two weeks is a massive amount of money to spend. Fizzy pop is not going to hydrate you properly.

Whilst I agree that pop doesn't hydrate you properly, you can buy bottled water from any cart. We drink plenty of water (especially in August) but we never take any into the parks with us. Since you can't walk more than a few yards without somewhere to buy water, I don't see how that can be dangerous

 

[scoobydooby]

My opinion stems from my own experience/stupidity. Our first August trip we got inside Lights, Motors, Action with no water. By the end my DD was dehydrated and quite poorly. No water immediately available. So for me I won't risk it again.

 

[wilma-bride]

My opinion stems from my own experience/stupidity. Our first August trip we got inside Lights, Motors, Action with no water. By the end my DD was dehydrated and quite poorly. No water immediately available. So for me I won't risk it again.

So, do you honestly carry around enough water with you for the entire day? I must admit, I would never go into a show or anything in the height of summer without water (or some form of liquid )

 

[Elise79]

I would never be in a park in Orlando in August without physically carrying water for us all. I actually think that's potentially quite dangerous. We would also typically get through three or four bottles a day in the parks each so 16 a day at about $2 each over two weeks is a massive amount of money to spend. Fizzy pop is not going to hydrate you properly.

As someone who has low blood pressure and is prone to fainting I am yet to pass out in FL. We have travelled in the hottest part of the year too.

Like Joh says you bearly have to walk to find somewhere that will either give you free iced water or you can buy a bottle of water.

I think saying its dangerous is taking a bit too far.

 

[scoobydooby]

As someone who has low blood pressure and is prone to fainting I am yet to pass out in FL. We have travelled in the hottest part of the year too. Like Joh says you bearly have to walk to find somewhere that will either give you free iced water or you can buy a bottle of water. I think saying its dangerous is taking a bit too far.

That's fine you go ahead and think that. I think suggesting you shouldn't need to carry it in summer is irresponsible. I guess we will have to agree to differ.

Yes Wilma bride. We carry three bottles of water each a day and get one each with lunch. It is a pain I can't deny that.