How to get groceries at Disney World

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So you're planning a trip to Disney World and would like a few groceries to have in your room.

How will you get them? There are lots of options, each with its own benefits.

Let's take a look at all of the different ways to get groceries at Disney World and the pros/cons of each...

Groceries delivered to your resort by a car or delivery service

Note: The Swan and Dolphin reportedly will not accept deliveries from grocery delivery services.

Pros:

• Groceries delivered this way will be dropped off at Bell Services (where perishables will be kept cold)
• You can select a delivery window (how far out varies by company)
• Some will deliver alcohol

Cons:

• Most require minimum orders
• Starting April 2019, Disney resort Bell Services are charging a $6 delivery fee to have groceries delivered from Bell Services to your room (however, you may still pick up from bell services with no additional charge)

Garden Grocer (our favorite way to get groceries at Disney World)

What it is: A grocery delivery service. You place an order by shopping on their website. At checkout, you specify a delivery window that you'd like.

Cost: The price of the food plus $14 delivery fee for orders under $200. Tipping is optional. There is no minimum order. Order ahead of time for discounts (15 days ahead = 5% discount, 30 days = 7%, and 60 days = 10%).

Pros: reliable service with relatively low delivery fee
Cons: you're restricted to the items on their site, only delivers groceries at Disney World resorts, only delivers to Beach Club, Yacht Club, Boardwalk Resorts and the Disney campgrounds during the hours of 4:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

Minimum order amount: none

Additional info: can deliver alcohol

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WeGoShop

What it is: WeGoShop is a grocery delivery service that will shop at Trader Joe's, Publix, Winn Dixie, Whole Foods, Sam's Club, and/or Walmart. You choose your 30 minute delivery window at checkout.

Cost: depends on the total of your order

Shopping at more than 1 store is an additional $5 per store and all orders will have a $3 fuel surcharge added to it. There are additional fees for same-day service, after-hour deliveries, warehouse stores, and stores that require the shopper to bag the groceries. 15% gratuity is added for orders left at bell services. Tipping outside of that is optional.

Pros: lots of options for stores and you can specify any products you'd like from those stores, customer pays the exact same price that they do in the store (no mark up on prices and you'll get the original receipt)
Cons: delivery fee is more expensive than other options and you won't know your total bill ahead of time

Minimum order amount: none

Additional info: can deliver alcohol, flower delivery is also available

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Amazon Prime Now

What it is: Although it is related to Amazon.com and Amazon Prime, Prime Now uses its own website and mobile app and is an exclusive delivery service available only to Amazon Prime members.

Cost: free for 2 hour delivery on orders over $35 ($4.99 if below $35), $9.99 for 1 hour delivery

Pros: inexpensive, convenient
Cons: must be an Amazon Prime member

Minimum order amount: none

Additional info: in addition to groceries, you'll find many other items that you might need on vacation such as shoes, charging cords, sunblock, beach towels, etc., available for fast delivery. Be sure to download the Prime Now app to place an order.

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Quick side note! It's easy to confuse Amazon Prime with Prime Now. Here's a chart showing you how they differ.

Dizzy Dolphin Delivery

What it is: Started by several Disney Vacation Club owners, Dizzy Dolphin Delivery specializes in providing customized orders to Disney World resorts.

Cost: $14 on orders less than $250, free for orders more than $250

Pros: they will shop at a variety of different stores and wholesale clubs
Cons: can take up to 3 days to receive a quote for your order

Minimum order amount: $50

Additional info: can deliver alcohol, gift baskets, and gluten-free items,

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Instacart

What it is: A grocery delivery service that utilizes personal shoppers to pick up and deliver items from local stores (Publix, Whole Foods, Costco and ABC Fine Wine and Spirits).

Cost: the delivery cost varies and is dependent upon the size of your order and the delivery time you choose

Pros: convenient, especially if you already use the service at home
Cons: you won't know the cost for delivery until checkout, and if you are requesting during a busy time they can add on a Busy Pricing fee in addition to the delivery charges

Minimum order amount: $10

Additional info: can deliver alcohol

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Shipt.com

What it is: A membership-based grocery delivery service that utilizes personal shoppers to pick up and deliver items from local stores.

Cost: free for members on orders over $34

Pros: convenient, especially if you already use the service at home
Cons: service requires an additional yearly (or monthly) membership

Minimum order amount: none

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Walmart Grocery Delivery

What it is: Grocery delivery service from one of the local Walmart stores.

Cost: $7.95 - $11.95 depending on selected delivery window

Pros: convenient, especially if you already use at home, and inexpensive compared to some of the other options
Cons: no alcohol delivery, can take longer to receive your order than services like Amazon Prime Now

Minimum order amount: $30

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Gooding's Supermarkets

What it is: A local supermarket offering grocery delivery to Disney hotel bell services.

Cost: $25 delivery fee

Pros: extensive selection, can place order up to a year in advance
Cons: no alcohol delivery, only delivers between 4pm and 7pm to bell services at Disney resorts, pricey

Minimum order amount: $50

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Groceries you pick up yourself (including ones that you can order ahead of time)

Pros:

• Better for people that prefer to do the shopping themselves
• Aren't limited to certain stores

Cons:

• You need a car or car service (taxi, limo, etc.) in order to pick up the groceries
• Takes time out of your vacation

Speedway gas stations

What it is: gas stations located on-site at Disney World. There is a location across the street from Disney Springs and 1 across from the Boardwalk Resort.

Cost: usually slightly higher than a grocery store - as all gas station items are - but no delivery fees to worry about
Pros: convenient if you're staying at a Boardwalk area resort or will be near Disney Springs, prices are mostly reasonable
Cons: limited selection as with any gas station, but if you're just looking for some beverages and a few snacks, it might work for you

Taxi or Uber

What it is: if you don't have your own car, you can catch a taxi or Lyft from your hotel to the store you'd like to shop

Cost: varies, depending on hotel and store location

Pros: you can get exactly what you want, where you want
Cons: can be expensive, takes time out of your trip

Limo or car service

What it is: take a limo to the grocery store to shop in style! Just kidding. Kinda.

If you happen to book a limo or car service like Orlando Transportation by Mike to take you from the airport to your hotel, many companies will allow you to request a short grocery stop. Be sure to have a grocery list ready so you don't waste their time. The feeling of having a limo waiting outside for you while you grocery shop is both awesome and strange.

Cost: all private airport pickup services have different costs for grocery stops so be sure to factor that in when comparing your options

Pros: convenient to buy your own stuff without much trip disruption
Cons: expensive, unless you are already planning on booking a limo

Walmart Grocery Pickup

What it is: Online grocery ordering that you then pick up at Walmart. No need to even get out of your car because the groceries are brought to you.

Cost: free to use

Pros: easy to use and saves time vs. going into the store
Cons: you have to have access to a car in order to use it, the Walmarts that offer it in the Orlando area are not super convenient to the Walt Disney World Resort (if you're flying in, consider a location near the airport)

Groceries you have shipped to you

Pros:

• When shipping from home, it makes it easy to only bring the quantities you need (i.e. a few coffee filters vs. an entire package)

Cons:

• Disney charges $5 per box (not per order) for items shipped to the resort
• Even if your box is delivered ahead of your arrival, delivery to your resort may be delayed several days
• You can't easily ship items that need to remain chilled

Ship from home, Walmart, Amazon, etc.

What is it: Of course, you can either ship your own package right to your resort, or have it shipped from a company like Staples, Walmart, Amazon, etc.

Cost: whatever the service or postage is PLUS an additional $5 per box fee charged by Disney World

Pros: convenient way to buy your own stuff without much trip disruption
Cons: fees and extra charges can add up and delivery might be delayed

How to address your package:
Your name (or whoever's name is on the hotel reservation)
c/o Your Disney World Hotel's front desk
Arrival date: 3/1/2018
123 Some St.
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

When to order: About a week before your trip will usually work but will depend on the shipping method and origin. To be safe, try to get it there a couple days before your trip.

Mailing addresses for Disney World resorts are tricky so be sure to use the following if you mail anything.

Other ways to get groceries at Disney World

Checked luggage

What it is: Just luggage! That you put food in!

Fresh fruit, boxed soy milk (that doesn't require refrigeration) and obviously packaged items are all easy to pack. You usually have to check the bag rather than carrying it on because of the liquid limits of carry-on bags. Just make sure your luggage meets the weight requirements. People flying internationally will need to consult airline rules on transporting food.

Cost: If you fly Southwest or have some kind of elite status on an airline, you might get free checked bags. Even if you have to pay, it might be worth it for convenience and to save on delivery charges.

Pros: easy to have your food items with you and not to have to coordinate the delivery
Cons: can't easily have perishable goods (though you could pack them with ice packs like you do a lunch), might have to pay fees

In-room grocery delivery for Disney Vacation Club Villas and the Cabins at Fort Wilderness

What it is: For guests staying at a Disney Vacation Club Villa (even if you are renting points to do so) and for guests staying at the Cabins at Fort Wilderness, you can arrange via an order form to have many of the same items available at the on-site marketplaces delivered to your room. Orders must be faxed or mailed in at least 3 business days prior to your arrival.

Cost: $10

Pros: easy to use
Cons: selection is very limited, and although the cost to use this service is only $10, the prices of the food items are higher than you might pay elsewhere

Grocery order forms for Disney Vacation club rooms

Grocery order form for the Cabins at Ft. Wilderness

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If you need some ideas on what to order, be sure to check out the Ultimate Packing List which includes some items you may want to get using one of the methods listed above.