Need groceries in your Walt Disney World trip? Utilizing a supply grocery service is a money-saving strategy to get snacks and meals dropped at your resort. This publish provides ideas, data, and a comparability of Instacart, Amazon Prime Now, Walmart+ or Ubering to Goal, Dealer Joe’s, Complete Meals, or Publix. (Up to date Could 1, 2023.)
There have been a whole lot of large adjustments on the grocery supply entrance in the previous couple of years as new companies have popped up and others have light. As a threshold matter, grocery supply remains to be allowed at Walt Disney World. Different guidelines and insurance policies have modified concerning ECVs and baggage dealing with with the top of Disney’s Magical Categorical. Nevertheless, nothing has modified with grocery supply.
Resorts nonetheless permit bell companies and the entrance desk to just accept groceries (relying upon how they’re ordered/shipped), with the identical procedures as earlier than. We’ll focus on the specifics of that right here, however suffice to say, we nonetheless strongly suggest getting groceries at Walt Disney World for a straightforward strategy to save money and time, amongst different issues…
For one factor, the Disney Eating Plan is nonetheless not again, so for many who depend on that pre-paid meal plan to save cash or funds, that’s not an possibility. (When you’re right here questioning when it’ll be introduced again, we try to reply that in When Will the Disney Eating Plan Return?)
Then there’s the problem of inflation, which has disproportionately impacted meals prices. Menu costs at Walt Disney World have been excessive earlier than, however they’ve gone up much more within the final yr. That is on prime of all the things else at Walt Disney World– costs have elevated considerably throughout the board within the final couple of years. Simply take a look at How A lot Does a Disney World Trip Price in 2023?
Naturally, many guests wish to trim their journey funds down a bit, and meals prices are one of many best methods with out compromising the standard of the expertise. We cowl the best way to this in High 13 Methods to Save Cash at Walt Disney World in 2023, certainly one of which is doing grocery supply particularly for breakfast and snacks.
For one factor, there’s nearly no alternative value to this. When you do grocery supply and order Coke or different packaged snacks, they’re going to style the identical as those you purchase at Walt Disney World. The one distinction is that they’re considerably cheaper. Similar goes for fruit and veggies, that are extremely costly within the parks, and style no totally different from what you’d get at Walmart or Publix.
As for breakfast, it’s the weakest meal at Walt Disney World. By skipping breakfast on the meals courts, you aren’t lacking a lot–except you get pleasure from powdered eggs and rubber bacon–by consuming breakfast in your room. Put that financial savings in the direction of higher lunches and dinners!
We’d really take {that a} step additional and argue that changing a counter service breakfast with in-room groceries can really enhance your Walt Disney World trip. It’s simpler and extra environment friendly to do breakfast in your room, and having nutrient dense groceries in your room can provide you a wholesome, energizing begin to your day.
All of which means that grocery supply won’t simply prevent cash, but in addition time and complications. Even should you don’t wish to put together full meals, we’d strongly suggest some fundamental snacks and easy gadgets to tide you over so you may keep away from the dinner-time rush crowds. Past doing grocery supply, our single largest eating advice proper now’s consuming at off-hours. When you can eat breakfast in-room, take a snack with to the park, and eat “lunch” at 2 or 3 pm and “dinner” after 7 pm, you’ll save a ton of time and frustration.
Turning to logistics, it’s value beginning by noting that normal resorts at Walt Disney World have moved from common mini-fridges to glass entrance beverage coolers, like what’s pictured above. These don’t have freezers, and show a sticker on the skin indicating that they cool to 41 levels and above.
As you may see within the pictures right here, we at all times get yogurt and cottage cheese as a part of our grocery supply orders. That is likely to be taking part in with fireplace and isn’t a “finest apply” for dairy, however we’ve by no means had any points. We wouldn’t retailer uncooked steaks or eggs in these beverage coolers…however there’s additionally no cause to buy both of these issues because you’d haven’t any strategy to prepare dinner them.
Absolutely the easiest method to purchase groceries (except for bringing them your self in checked baggage) is to go to the reward store in your Walt Disney World resort resort. Each resort has a restricted choice of groceries, together with refrigerated stuff. Whereas a banana isn’t really $10, there’s a substantial markup on all the things in these outlets.
These things are nonetheless cheaper than shopping for ready gadgets within the parks, and it’s a pleasant choice to have in a pinch, however you actually shouldn’t count on to go “grocery procuring” at your resort. It’s impractical from each a value and choice perspective.
With that out of the best way, let’s check out a few of the finest choices for getting groceries at Walt Disney World, together with Amazon, Walmart Plus, Instacart, close by comfort shops or grocery supply for cheap breakfast, beer, fruit, greens, and different issues usually bought for a big mark-up by Disney…
Grocery Supply
For these unfamiliar with grocery supply companies, the gist of the service is that you simply go on their web site, order from a preset choice of groceries (you may also make particular requests that they usually fulfill) at costs which are barely marked up assembly a minimal greenback requirement for the order, they go to Publix or Complete Meals and decide up the gadgets, and drop them off at your resort. It’s principally what it appears like: a private grocery shopper.
Grocery supply companies takes the gadgets you order on to your resort at Walt Disney World, leaving them with bell companies (which refrigerates perishable gadgets). For each resort stays at Walt Disney World final yr and in 2023, we’ve used Walmart+ for grocery supply. Walmart+ is principally the superstore’s reply to Amazon Prime. A membership to Walmart+ prices $98 per yr or $12.95 a month. Nevertheless, you may at the moment do a free 30-day trial to Walmart+ and get $20 off an order through Sarah’s referral hyperlink.
Our experiences with Walmart+ at Walt Disney World (and past) have all been top-notch. We actually like the flexibility to trace order progress within the app and obtain real-time updates, which has enabled us to fulfill the driving force to obtain the order reasonably than having them go away it with bell companies. (That’s only a matter of private desire–we’ve additionally had orders dropped off after we have been within the parks.)
One large advice we now have with Walmart+ is to order a number of days prematurely. Order time slots can refill, and also you may need to pay surge pricing or select an inconvenient supply time should you order final minute. We’ve additionally needed to do same-day orders for gadgets we wanted in a pinch, and it labored out advantageous–nevertheless it wasn’t perfect. (It’s additionally not at all times attainable–we’ve seen slots completely full throughout holidays or hurricane season.)
There are a number of Walmarts which are handy to Walt Disney World, so the service is fairly environment friendly. When you don’t have a Walmart+ membership, you may also simply order from the shop’s web site or app and pay a supply payment. Walmart+ is our #1 selection for grocery supply at Walt Disney World as of 2023.
We’ve additionally used Instacart and have had constructive experiences with that. In case you’re unfamiliar with it, Instacart is actually a private shopper service. You basically browse the aisles of native grocery shops proper out of your telephone. After putting an order, an Instacart shopper goes to the shop and purchases your gadgets and delivers them to you.
You may place an order from Publix, CVS, ABC Superb Wine & Spirits, or Complete Meals. We’ve solely ordered from Publix (which is the grocery retailer in Florida, in order that’s most likely what you’ll wish to use except you simply need booze), however the expertise was good. All the identical upsides as Walmart Plus, simply barely dearer. For $20 off your first Instacart order, right here’s Sarah’s referral hyperlink.
At this level, Instacart could be our #2 grocery supply decide after Walmart Plus.
One other related possibility is Amazon Prime Now. When ordering through the app or Amazon.com, you may have gadgets delivered inside 2 hours in case you have a Prime membership–there’s now a $9.95 supply payment for gadgets sourced from Complete Meals, and Amazon Contemporary orders now have a sliding scale for supply charges based mostly on the price of the order.
We’ve discovered that choice is extra restricted through Amazon Prime Now than Walmart Plus, and costs are usually increased–particularly should you’re procuring at Complete Meals (nevertheless it’s most likely apparent that Walmart is cheaper than Complete Meals). With that mentioned, Amazon provides tens of hundreds of every day necessities together with quite a few dry meals and perishable gadgets like deli meat, pizza, cheese, bread, juice, and so forth.
Nonetheless, it’s Amazon, which is environment friendly and has an enormous choice. That makes it #3 behind Walmart+ and Instacart.
Then there’s Backyard Grocer. We actually need to maintain recommending them since they’re regionally owned and operated. Additionally they have over a decade of expertise coping with Walt Disney World–so their crew is aware of what it’s doing.
Nevertheless, the costs have skyrocketed and should not even remotely aggressive with Walmart+ or Amazon. Backyard Grocer additionally has extra restricted choice, and requires ordering additional prematurely. We’ve additionally heard a rising variety of blended critiques for Backyard Grocer within the final two years–one thing that by no means used to occur.
As such, we not suggest Backyard Grocer in any respect. We don’t not suggest them, we’re simply detached to them. There’s no compelling cause to not use Walmart Plus, Instacart, or Amazon at this level.
By way of what we order, carrots and grapefruit are go-tos for whereas we prepare, throwing a pair items of fruit in our luggage to take to the park, and discover this works very well. With a single banana, apple, or orange costing $2+ within the parks, this financial savings provides up shortly. It’s additionally most likely higher “pure” power than the copious quantities of caffeine I eat on any given day at Walt Disney World, too. When you drink, one other nice money-saving use of grocery supply is for beer; for lower than the price of a single beer within the parks, you may get a 6-pack!
Orders are delivered to bell companies at your resort inside the supply window chosen. Once we’ve used the service, I signal as much as obtain each an e-mail notification and a textual content message (optionally available) when the products arrived. Our supply experiences have been flawless. Groceries are picked up from Publix, and chilly gadgets have been separated out and refrigerated by bell companies on the resort (so remember to tip them).
Walt Disney World is now charging a $6 per package deal dealing with payment for every package deal that’s acquired by means of the entrance desk or delivered to your resort room. Beforehand, this package deal payment solely utilized to resorts with conference facilities, however it’s being prolonged to all accommodations.
The excellent news is two-fold. First, should you decide up your order from bell companies, there’s nonetheless no payment (as that’s not the entrance desk); it solely applies if the order is delivered to your room. Second, the payment remains to be far lower than you may count on to pay on mark-up on groceries at Walt Disney World reward outlets.
Different Methods to Get Groceries at WDW
Now, onto options. There are another grocery supply companies in Orlando, together with Grocery Categorical, Kroger Grocery Supply, and Shipt. When you’ve got a membership to any of those, you most likely already understand how they work and have your favourite. When you don’t, there’s no level getting one for Walt Disney World.
When you’ve got a rental automobile, you may simply go to the grocery retailer your self–except you wish to save time. Even should you don’t have a rental automobile, you may take into account going your self. Because of Uber, you may make a round-trip grocery run your self for about $25-35 relying upon your Walt Disney World resort, the shop to which you go (see addresses under for closest location, and the way lengthy it takes you to buy.
For starters, use our Suggestions for Utilizing Uber at Walt Disney World publish as a primer should you’re unfamiliar with Uber. Subsequent, if you request an Uber, ensure that to contact the driving force instantly and inform them that you simply’re doing a grocery run, to see if it’s okay with them. Drivers will extra seemingly be okay with this should you inform them they’ll drive across the parking zone whereas they look ahead to you (drivers are paid in miles and minutes, so in the event that they sit parked ready, they gained’t make a lot when you store).
When you’re a Complete Meals fanatic or transfer on the velocity of Large Al in a grocery retailer, and plan to spend 60 minutes attending to intimately know the place, you may simply have one driver drop you off after which request one other to choose you up. Most drivers don’t thoughts passengers with groceries however, once more, you may wish to contact them to verify (it doesn’t take a detective to infer {that a} pick-up at a grocery retailer goes to have…groceries, although).
When you’re going to get groceries your self, hit up Complete Meals (8003 Turkey Lake Street, Orlando, FL 32819), Publix (Regency Village Buying Heart, Vineland Avenue, Orlando, FL), SuperTarget (4795 W Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, Kissimmee, FL 34746) Goal at Flamingo Crossings (204 Ruby Crimson Place, Winter Backyard, FL 34787) or Dealer Joe’s (8323 West Sand Lake Street, Orlando, FL 32819).
The Goal at Flamingo Crossings is certainly one of many shops in that new improvement that has not too long ago debuted. This can be a smaller retailer, however has a sturdy choice of groceries and booze (it primarily companies Faculty Program housing and space accommodations). That is about 10 minutes from Coronado Springs, Animal Kingdom, or the All Stars. Though past the scope of this publish, Flamingo Crossings can also be an up-and-coming resort district that we’d extremely suggest. See our Information to Flamingo Crossings: Walt Disney World’s Second Springs for more information & recommendation.
An alternative choice should you don’t have a rental automobile and don’t wish to pay for Uber or a taxi is to hit up the Speedway fuel station that’s positioned inside strolling distance of the Swan & Dolphin, Disney’s BoardWalk Inn (simply outdoors the parking zone), and Yacht & Seaside Membership. When you’re staying on the Swan & Dolphin with out a automobile, this is likely to be your best choice as these two accommodations not permit grocery supply.
Choice is proscribed (…it’s a fuel station), but when it’s essential to top off on air fresheners and Rockstar power drink, that is the place for you. The choice isn’t fairly that restricted, and it’s really a great, low-budget possibility. I might strongly not suggest doing this except you’re staying at certainly one of these accommodations. You may look slightly loopy carrying a bag of groceries on two separate buses en route again to your resort, and admittedly, you wouldn’t simply look slightly loopy doing that, you’d be slightly loopy going by means of all that trouble.
Delivery issues to ourselves from Amazon or Amazon Pantry has been another choice that has labored for us, too. Amazon is nice should you’re solely in search of pre-packaged gadgets. We’ve discovered beef jerky, power bars, Starbucks VIA, and Gatorade combine packets to be a few of the finest issues to get from Amazon. You may also wish to take a look at what different snack gadgets at the moment have coupons through Amazon. We’ve different ideas in our What to Pack for Walt Disney World publish.
By way of the logical choices, I believe that about covers it. I say logical as a result of there are seemingly some “on the market” options like shopping for totally different snack gadgets at every reward store in World Showcase and spending $593 within the course of, however that will defy logic. When you don’t wish to spend your restricted time happening grocery runs, Amazon, Walmart Plus, and Instacart are all good choices. Alternatively, these with a rental automobile or willingness to make use of Uber and an additional hour or so to spare may take into account going to one of many many grocery shops positioned about 10 miles off-site.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? When you’re desirous about studying extra about accommodations, our Walt Disney World Resorts Evaluations web page is an efficient place to start out. For the place to eat, check out our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations web page. If you wish to get monetary savings on tickets or decide which kind it is best to get, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a novel take a look at unconventional issues it is best to take in your journey. When you arrive on the parks, our Walt Disney World “Trip Guides” are nice for figuring out what to do and when to do it. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for all the things it’s essential to know!
Your Ideas…
How do you get groceries at Walt Disney World? What are your favourite gadgets to order when you could have groceries delivered to you? Have you ever had any constructive or unfavorable experiences with the grocery supply companies? We love to listen to from readers, so in case you have any ideas or questions, publish them within the feedback!