Originally Posted By RCG09 Has anyone had to make a run to a Grocery Store while in Disney? If so, anyone know the best one around? We are staying at SS and there is one about 2 miles away. Also, has anone used the Mears taxi cabs in WDW? I was just wondering if anyone knew the rates? Thanks!
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I've been to Gooding’s at the Crossroad of Buena Vista which I believe is the one you are referring to... just a couple of miles from SS. It has good selection and is lower priced than buying at the SS store, but is expensive compared to grocery stores anywhere else. If you had to take a cab to get there you would probably be better off just trying to get by with what you could purchase at SS.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Mapquest says it is 2.5 miles from SS to Crossroads Shopping Center at the Entrance to DtD. You could probably walk it. Or perhaps there is a grocery service that delivers in the greater Orlando area.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Just googled it, there are at least a dozen companys or grocery service food chains that deliver in the Universal and WDW area. You might want to call SS and see if there are any limitations Disney might have with allowing outside delivery on the SS property. A lot of information on www.mousesavers.com and others. Actually was just reading mousesavers recommendations on dining and stuff.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <a href="http://www.mousesavers.com/meals.html#groceries" target="_blank">http://www.mousesavers.com/mea...roceries</a> How to Bring Food With You If you are thinking about bringing food from home, be aware that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) suggests that you do not put dense food items (such as peanut butter, chocolate bars, etc.) in your checked luggage. It's not forbidden, but the automated bomb-detection equipment tends to give false positives on such items. Your luggage is much more likely to be opened and searched outside of your presence if you check dense food items. Thanks to Mary S for the reminder. A better bet is to ship non-perishable food items in advance to your hotel. Disney resorts will usually hold packages for you without charge* (see below for possible exceptions); if you are staying at a non-Disney hotel, be sure to call and inquire first. Address the package as follows: Hold for guest: (write the full name under which you made the reservation) Check in date: (insert date) Hotel's name and address (which will appear on your confirmation form) You may want to check into getting your package delivered by FedEx Ground, which is frequently about the same price as sending a large box by USPS. If you decide to use FedEx to ship a package to a Disney resort, address the package as follows: Hold for guest: (write the full name under which you made the reservation) Check in date: (insert date) 1701 West Buena Vista Drive Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 Phone: 407-939-5000 *The Disney resorts that have conference centers (Coronado Springs, Contemporary/Bay Lake Tower, Beach Club/Yacht Club, Grand Floridian) will sometimes apply a charge for receiving boxes, because their deliveries are handled through the conference center. The charge is generally $3-$5 per box, depending on size, but may be even higher for very large/heavy boxes. If you are not part of a group or conference, you can try to get the fee waived, though there's no guarantee you'll succeed. Thanks to Dave C for the reminder. Buying Groceries When You Arrive If you will have a car (or are willing to pay for a taxi), there are plenty of supermarkets near Walt Disney World -- click here to see more information. If you won't have a car while on vacation -- or you just don't want to spend your vacation in the supermarket -- there are two companies in the Orlando area that will do your shopping for you and deliver the groceries to your hotel. They are Garden Grocer and WeGoShop. I have had positive reader reports about both companies. If you plan to buy more than 2 or 3 grocery items during your stay, using one of the shopping services will probably save you a substantial amount of money compared with buying food from Disney's convenience stores. I have not used either company personally, but my sister-in-law used Garden Grocer and was very happy with the service. She says she chose Garden Grocer over the other service because it has exact products and prices on its web site, which she found easier and more convenient. Garden Grocer has a minimum order of $40. There is a $12 delivery fee on smaller orders, but delivery is FREE if your order is over $200. Tipping the delivery person is at your discretion. By contrast, WeGoShop requires you to submit your own very specific list of items, including sizes and brands. You can also choose which supermarket they'll use. So this company allows you to be very picky, but it takes a lot more time to put together your order. (If you just want to choose some basics and move on, Garden Grocer is a whole lot easier.) Also, with WeGoShop you won't know the exact prices in advance. WeGoShop charges a shopping fee, which starts at $24 for orders of $100 or less and goes up to 14% of the order total for orders over $300. You're expected to tip the "personal shopper."
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom What a lot of people will do is if they are not using Disney's Magical Express from the airport then they will have their cab swing by a grocery store on the way to their resort and food shop at that time. As indicated in the post above, you can ship nonperishable items to your resort also.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper For the love of all that is holy don't go to Goodings. INCREDIBLY expensive. Honestly, spend a little bit of money on a cab to go to the Publix that's only a little further away.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORGOCH: 'Course by the time ya spend all that money on a dang cab, ya might as well shop at that Goodin's place after all!
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Then again, I highly recommend the Publix coconut custard pie. I introduced members of my family to Publix while on a trip to WDW ( since I always drive to WDW ). After eating on the Publix deli sandwiches and trying the Publix coconut custard pie they now do it every trip. I of course regret it to this day. Since I shop at Publix at home, it's not where I want to eat while on vacation. I prefer trying food and eating food I can't get at home. No offence to Publix, but it is what I do everyday. I want something different while on vacation. Kinda like the; I can eat McDonald's back at home, why would I want to eat hamburgers and chicken fingers while on vacation sorta thing.
Originally Posted By magic0214 If you want, coming out of Disney World via Hotel Plaza blvd, talk an immediate right and keep going straight. About two to three miles away is a very nice Super Wal-Mart (Nice as far as Wal-Mart's go). We usually go there for all our needs.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 publix is the best option-- however if it is just a small order of things the general stores in the DVC are actually cheaper than Goodings. Also a huge problem with Goodings besides things prices 3x their value, is much food out that is already out of date. I always wonder how they stay open.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<I always wonder how they stay open.>> Probably because it's within walking distance of so many hotels.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<MMMM Coconut custard pie!>> Its good. Publix has won awards for their coconut custard pie. But, don't go to the darkside by eating, shopping or lodging off property. Wait a minute, your already lodging off property, too late. Darth tasha.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Last time we visited WDW we went to the "dark side" because I felt like some GOOD Mexican food. Since my last visit to the San Angel Inn featured mediocre food and dismal service I figured we would have to go off-site to get it. We had diner at Chevy's Fresh Mex in the Crossroads Center. We had great food and service for half the cost of San Angel. Yes, I know it is a chain but it was my favorite chain when I lived in Minneapolis... they have no locations near where I live now. Not only was the food and service great, we didn't have another table of guests 6 inches from our own.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper Chevy's is really good. All the Corssroads restaurants were nice to have so close when I lived right there.
Originally Posted By SeventyOne RoadTrip, next time you want Mexican, drive two blocks up 535 to the place by Giordanos and Steak & Shake. Nothing wrong with Chevys, but this little local joint blows them away--at a third the price of San Angel. (And no, I can never remember the name. Starts with a G.) I'll echo the hate for Goodings--insanely overpriced, and dirty. A shame, too, it's the last of a chain that once rivaled Publix down here. Publix is the best option, bar none, but the Winn Dixie a few blocks up 535 is a lot closer and the best that chain has to offer. Prices are reasonable, and it's the only clean WD I've ever set foot in.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper ^^^Completely forgot about that WD. Yea, that's not a bad choice either.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<but this little local joint blows them away--at a third the price of San Angel. (And no, I can never remember the name. Starts with a G>> I'll maybe give it a try, but I have to tell you that I ADORE the chips and salsa at Chevy's. The chips are light and crisp and the salsa is fresh, not overly hot and wonderfully seasoned with cilantro. YUM!
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: Speaking of Chevy's Restaurant at Crossroads, my sisters and I practically live there whenever we're in the Orlando area. The gorgeous waiters, alone, are the best reason to visit. (And the food isn't so bad, either.)
