Will we need to order groceries if on QSDP?

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

I recommend packing a box of cereal if you are cereal eaters. I am not, so take granola bars and peanut butter crackers (protein) for quick in-room or on-bus breakfasts and mini nutter butter cookies for after park in-room snack before bed, in a checked bag. I also carry a package of cheese sticks in my carry-on bag. I need a little protein in the morning, and those are easy to bring in carry-on, and easy to eat on bus or in room. Since the QSDP now only includes entree and beverage, don't waste your snack credits on breakfast, use them on some of the special Disney goodies-Dole Whip float, Mickey bars, Mickey pretzels with cheese dip, school bread at Kringla, Zebra Domes at the Mara, fruit & cheese at Harambe Fruit Market,etc. Look for the snack credit on allears.net menu listings to see some of the wonderful things you can get.

 

[Off to Neverland 7]

I recommend packing a box of cereal if you are cereal eaters. I am not, so take granola bars and peanut butter crackers (protein) for quick in-room or on-bus breakfasts and mini nutter butter cookies for after park in-room snack before bed, in a checked bag. I also carry a package of cheese sticks in my carry-on bag. I need a little protein in the morning, and those are easy to bring in carry-on, and easy to eat on bus or in room. Since the QSDP now only includes entree and beverage, don't waste your snack credits on breakfast, use them on some of the special Disney goodies-Dole Whip float, Mickey bars, Mickey pretzels with cheese dip, school bread at Kringla, Zebra Domes at the Mara, fruit & cheese at Harambe Fruit Market,etc. Look for the snack credit on allears.net menu listings to see some of the wonderful things you can get.

Amazing recommendations! Thank you!

 

[Jack & Monica]

I do not think you will go wrong in either option (Garden Grocer or no Garden Grocer*). If you plan it out fully, you can probably get by with using some snacks as meals. The Yak and Yeti offers that chicken stir fried rice as a snack -- DW, DD12 & and I love it and it only costs one snack credit. There are other good snacks that you can stretch to lunch meals. We have not used the dining plan since they doubled the snacks though. Here is an article I found helpful http://www.couponingtodisney.com/making-your-snack-credits-count-at-walt-disney-world/ We always have come in waayy over on snacks and end up having to load up on bags of candy for gifts for friends at home (although this does earn us browny points with our friends ) and that was before the doubling of the snack credits. As people have pointed out, if you can figure out how best to use a snack credit for breakfast that may be the way to go. LOL, however (there is always an however!), we have always used the Garden Grocer for some breakfast items such as bananas, yogurt, pop tarts or cereal and milk. The GG has items that you can by one of (bananas/yogurt/etc.) The big reason though why we use the Garden Grocer is that they carry wine and beer * (unless I have missed this, Amazon Prime does not offer alcohol). I will get a 12 pack of beer for me and 2 bottles of Chardonay for DW. You should be able to get these items at a premium from the resort store. Here is a website regarding POFQ http://www.portorleans.org/jacksonsquare-store.php While on vacation we love to relax at the end of the day and have a glass of wine/beer to talk over the day and discuss the next day's options. For me, the Garden Grocer is extremely reasonable in its pricing.
I would advise doing the math. Since you are paying an arm an a leg for your vacation -- if it comes in close -- do whatever is more convenient. You are on vacation!

 

[Harambe]

We don't do any of the DDP's but you seem to be getting lots of good advice from DDP users. For us, we order from Garden Grocer when it is all 4 of us - spend way more than $40 - LOL!

But if it is just DH and I and we don't do concierge (where there are beautiful breakfast options laid out for you), then we do the 30 minute grocery stop allowed by our car service that picks us up at the airport (we use Tiffany Towncars). The stop is not an extra charge, and we go in and grab bagels, whipped cream cheese, granola bars, maybe some apples. That gives us a good base, and we "supplement" by grabbing a few goodies as we leave the parks in the evening to have in the morning.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I would order the groceries b/c for $40, I'd rather have the fresh produce and protein options in my room, so I didn't feel like I had to waste snack credits on fruit and/or order the "biggest" CS meal so I wouldn't starve - I'd rather order the one I wanted...

I'd have a stash of shelf-stable fruit, some yogurt, some nuts and granola, some cereal and milk, and some alcoholic beverages, with disposable bowls and spoons...I'd also get some toiletries so I didn't have to deal with TSA - easy to get to $40 if you include those...

 

[Off to Neverland 7]

I do not think you will go wrong in either option (Garden Grocer or no Garden Grocer*). If you plan it out fully, you can probably get by with using some snacks as meals. The Yak and Yeti offers that chicken stir fried rice as a snack -- DW, DD12 & and I love it and it only costs one snack credit. There are other good snacks that you can stretch to lunch meals. We have not used the dining plan since they doubled the snacks though. Here is an article I found helpful http://www.couponingtodisney.com/making-your-snack-credits-count-at-walt-disney-world/ We always have come in waayy over on snacks and end up having to load up on bags of candy for gifts for friends at home (although this does earn us browny points with our friends ) and that was before the doubling of the snack credits. As people have pointed out, if you can figure out how best to use a snack credit for breakfast that may be the way to go. LOL, however (there is always an however!), we have always used the Garden Grocer for some breakfast items such as bananas, yogurt, pop tarts or cereal and milk. The GG has items that you can by one of (bananas/yogurt/etc.) The big reason though why we use the Garden Grocer is that they carry wine and beer * (unless I have missed this, Amazon Prime does not offer alcohol). I will get a 12 pack of beer for me and 2 bottles of Chardonay for DW. You should be able to get these items at a premium from the resort store. Here is a website regarding POFQ http://www.portorleans.org/jacksonsquare-store.php While on vacation we love to relax at the end of the day and have a glass of wine/beer to talk over the day and discuss the next day's options. For me, the Garden Grocer is extremely reasonable in its pricing.
I would advise doing the math. Since you are paying an arm an a leg for your vacation -- if it comes in close -- do whatever is more convenient. You are on vacation!

Oh my gosh, thank you so much for your feedback and for sharing that article! Tons of great information. Really appreciate it!