Tips for Buying Groceries at Disney World
Want groceries for your Walt Disney World vacation? Using a delivery service is a money-saving way to get snacks and foods brought to your hotel. This post offers tips, info, and a comparison of Garden Grocer, Amazon Prime Now, Ubering to Trader Joe’s or Publix, etc. (Updated August 15, 2020.)
Note that even though Walt Disney World resorts have reopened with new health safety measures and protocol, grocery delivery is still allowed. Hotels still allow bell services and the front desk to accept groceries (depending upon how they’re ordered/shipped), with the same procedures and rules as before. See below for more info on all of that.
In fact, we are recommending grocery delivery at Walt Disney World more than ever. For one thing, far fewer restaurants are open than normal. It’s also easier to do breakfast in your room, as most parks are opening later. Likewise, with parks closing earlier, it’s easier to do dinner in your room. The other result of these limited park hours is larger crowds and longer waits at hotel food courts & restaurants, plus Disney Springs. Meaning that grocery delivery will not just save you money, but also time and headaches. Even if you don’t want to prepare full meals, we’d strongly recommend some basic snacks and simple items to tide you over so you can avoid the dinner-time rush crowds…
We’ve had groceries delivered to our Walt Disney World hotel dozens of times, using Garden Grocer (our favorite option), plus Amazon, Uber, and even walking to nearby grocery stores or gas stations for inexpensive breakfast, beer, fruit, vegetables, and other things typically sold for a large mark-up by Disney.
The absolute easiest way to buy groceries (aside from bringing them yourself in checked luggage) is to go to the gift shop in your Walt Disney World resort hotel. Every hotel has a limited selection of groceries, including refrigerated stuff. While a banana isn’t actually $10, there is a substantial markup on everything in these shops.
These items are still cheaper than buying prepared items in the parks, and it’s a nice option to have in a pinch, but you really shouldn’t expect to go “grocery shopping” at your hotel. It’s impractical from both a cost and selection perspective. Okay, let’s take a look at some of the best options for getting groceries at Walt Disney World…
Grocery Delivery
The easiest and most robust alternative to this is a grocery delivery service that takes the items directly to your hotel at Walt Disney World, leaving them with bell services (which refrigerates perishable items). Of these, our recommended option and the most popular with Walt Disney World guests is by far Garden Grocer.
We have never been disappointed by Garden Grocer, and have always found their service to be top-notch. Our first time using them, we ordered a variety of different options, so we could prepare breakfast in our room and also have some healthy snacks for our trips (in Sarah’s case…in my case, unhealthy energy drinks). Garden Grocer had been recommended to us by friends who are Disney Vacation Club members and swear by it.
For those unfamiliar with grocery delivery services, the gist of the service is that you go on their website, order from a preset selection of groceries (you can also make special requests that they typically fulfill) at prices that are slightly marked up meeting a minimum dollar requirement for the order, they go to Publix or Whole Foods and pick up the items, and drop them off at your hotel. It’s basically exactly what it sounds like: a personal grocery shopper.
Our experience with Garden Grocer has been so positive that we’ve used them even when we’ve had a rental car. I know it doesn’t take that long to go to a grocery store, but on vacation I’d rather be spending time in the parks than shopping. Garden Grocer is efficient and cheap enough that it makes more sense for me to have them do the shopping than me do it myself. (Your mileage may vary on that one.)
This is why ordering from Garden Grocer and having them deliver is my #1 option when it comes to getting groceries at Walt Disney World. If you’re confused about how to use them, I’ll explain that more below.
After our first time using Garden Grocer, we realized preparing meals, even something small like breakfast, was not at all for us. We’ve instead used Garden Grocer since primarily for healthy snacks and caffeine. From my perspective, this is one of the best uses of grocery delivery, as healthy options are really overpriced in the parks, and something I admittedly don’t get enough of on vacation. (I was heartbroken to learn that cupcakes don’t have as many “vitamins and stuff” as I thought.)
We eat some carrots and grapefruit as we get ready, throw a couple pieces of fruit in our bags to take to the park, and find this works really well. With a single banana, apple, or orange costing $2+ in the parks, this savings adds up quickly. It’s also probably better “natural” energy than the copious amounts of caffeine I consume on any given day at Walt Disney World, too. If you drink, another great money-saving use of Garden Grocer is for beer; for less than the cost of a single beer in the parks, you can get a 6-pack!
My biggest recommendation when using Garden Grocer is to order 60 days (or more) in advance. This saves you 10%, and ensures you a good selection of delivery times. Given that prices at Garden Grocer seem about 10-15% higher than in-store prices at Publix or Trader Joe’s, this discount makes the service pretty close to “at cost” of doing it yourself.
The shopping experience on the site is solid. The user interface and ordering process is easy and efficient on Garden Grocer, so I don’t think I need to walk you through that. Selecting enough stuff to meet the minimum ($40), and then place your order. Delivery is $14 on any orders costing $40 to $199, and is $2 on orders $200 and above.
Orders are delivered to bell services at your hotel within the delivery window selected. When we’ve used the service, I sign up to receive both an email notification and a text message (optional) when the goods arrived. Our delivery experiences have been flawless. Groceries are picked up from Publix, and cold items were separated out and refrigerated by bell services at the hotel (so be sure to tip them).
Walt Disney World is now charging a $6 per package handling fee for each package that is received through the front desk or delivered to your hotel room. Previously, this package fee only applied to resorts with convention centers, but it is being extended to all hotels.
The good news is two-fold. First, if you pick up your order from bell services, there’s still no fee (as that’s not the front desk); it only applies if the order is delivered to your room. Second, the fee is still far less than you can expect to pay on mark-up on groceries at Walt Disney World gift shops.
You can browse the other items that Garden Grocer sells by clicking here.
Other Ways to Get Groceries at WDW
Now, onto alternatives. In addition to Garden Grocer, there are some other, similar services in Orlando. Four of those options are: Grocery Express, Goodings, WeGoShop, and Shipt. The newest of these is Shipt, which is a start-up with a membership fee, so it’s not exactly ideal for tourists.
I’ve never tested any beyond Garden Grocer, so I can’t vouch for the others. If your groceries arrive from one of those other places with an armadillo munching on the tomatoes you order, don’t come crying to me. (If you get a free armadillo with your groceries, I would hope you don’t go crying to anyone.) Frankly, given our positive experiences with Garden Grocer, I have no reason to try the rest.
If you have a rental car, you might just go to the grocery store yourself–unless you want to save time. Even if you don’t have a rental car, you might consider going yourself. Thanks to Uber, you can make a round-trip grocery run yourself for about $25-35 depending upon your Walt Disney World hotel, the store to which you go (see addresses below for closest location, and how long it takes you to shop.
For starters, use our Tips for Using Uber at Walt Disney World post as a primer if you’re unfamiliar with Uber. Next, when you request an Uber, make sure to contact the driver immediately and inform them that you’re doing a grocery run, to see if it’s okay with them. Drivers will more likely be okay with this if you tell them they can drive around the parking lot while they wait for you (drivers are paid in miles and minutes, so if they sit parked waiting, they won’t make much while you shop).
If you’re a Whole Foods enthusiast or move at the speed of Big Al in a grocery store, and plan to spend 60 minutes getting to intimately know the place, you might just have one driver drop you off and then request another to pick you up. Most drivers don’t mind passengers with groceries but, again, you might want to contact them to confirm (it doesn’t take a detective to deduce that a pick-up at a grocery store is going to have…groceries, though).
Personally, any visit I make to the grocery store is conducted Mission: Impossible style–I want to get in and out as quickly as possible before my tolerance for being in a store explodes. If you’ve never used Uber, use this link to get your first ride (up to $15) free.
If you’re going to get groceries yourself, hit up Whole Foods (8003 Turkey Lake Road, Orlando, FL 32819), Publix (Regency Village Shopping Center, Vineland Avenue, Orlando, FL), SuperTarget (4795 W Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, Kissimmee, FL 34746) or Trader Joe’s. TJ’s is Orlando’s newest grocer, with the local populace rejoicing that they can now purchase Two Buck Chuck and Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s. It’s located at 8323 West Sand Lake Road, Orlando, FL 32819, which is about 10 miles off property.
Another option if you don’t have a rental car and don’t want to pay for Uber or a taxi is to hit up the Speedway gas station that’s located within walking distance of the Swan & Dolphin, Disney’s BoardWalk Inn (just outside the parking lot), and Yacht & Beach Club. If you’re staying at the Swan & Dolphin without a car, this might be your best option as those two hotels no longer allow grocery delivery.
Selection is limited (…it’s a gas station), but if you need to stock up on air fresheners and Rockstar energy drink, this is the place for you. The selection isn’t quite that limited, and it’s actually a good, low-budget option. I would strongly not recommend doing this unless you’re staying at one of these hotels. You might look a little crazy carrying a bag of groceries on two separate buses en route back to your hotel, and frankly, you wouldn’t just look a little crazy doing that, you’d be a little crazy going through all that hassle.
Shipping things to ourselves from Amazon or Amazon Pantry has been another option that has worked for us, too. Amazon is great if you’re only looking for pre-packaged items. We’ve found beef jerky, energy bars, Starbucks VIA, and Gatorade mix packets to be some of the best things to get from Amazon. You might also want to check out what other snack items currently have coupons via Amazon. We have other suggestions in our What to Pack for Walt Disney World post.
Another, newer and growing option is Amazon Prime Now. When ordering via the Amazon Prime Now app, you can have items delivered within 2 hours for free if you have a Prime membership (or within an hour for an extra $7.99). Selection is more limited on the Amazon Prime Now app, but they have tens of thousands of daily essentials including numerous dry foods and perishable items like deli meat, pizza, cheese, bread, juice, etc.
When Amazon Prime Now has what we want or we don’t need much or need something last minute, it’s a great option. You can place your order the moment your plane lands in Orlando, take Disney’s Magical Express to your Walt Disney World resort hotel, and have your groceries arrive pretty much simultaneously to when you do.
We’ve used Amazon Prime Now many times and the experience has typically been flawless. (Lately, it’s become our most-used way to get groceries and other supplies.) We’ve used it at Pop Century, the Polynesian, Fort Wilderness, and most recently, Disney Springs Resorts. In most cases, we’ve had the package left with Bell Services–in one cases, we’ve met them in the lobby. You can tip in the app and specify in the notes how you want the delivery made.
In terms of the logical options, I think that about covers it. I say logical because there are likely some “out there” solutions like buying different snack items at each gift shop in World Showcase and spending $593 in the process, but that would defy logic. If you don’t want to spend your limited time going on grocery runs, both Garden Grocer and ordering in advance from Amazon.com are both great options. Alternatively, those with a rental car or willingness to use Uber and an extra hour or so to spare might consider going to one of the many grocery stores located about 10 miles off-site.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? If you’re interested in learning more about hotels, our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page is a good place to start. For where to eat, try out our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews page. If you want to save money on tickets or determine which type you should get, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at unconventional things you should take on your trip. Once you arrive at the parks, our Walt Disney World “Ride Guides” are great for determining what to do and when to do it. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts…
How do you get groceries at Walt Disney World? What are your favorite items to order when you have groceries delivered to you? Have you had any positive or negative experiences with the grocery delivery services? We love to hear from readers, so if you have any thoughts or questions, post them in the comments!
Can anyone elaborate on the $6 per package delivery fee to my resort room? If I have 2 bags of groceries and 2 gallons of milk am I going to be charged $6 for each gallon of milk to be delivered?
Thank you!
I am wondering the same thing. Is it $6.00 per packages or $6.00 for delivery regardless of number of packages?
If we pack cereal in our suitcases, will we be able to get fresh milk anywhere nearby? We’re going to be staying at pop century. (Hopefully, next March!)
Sarah, I am nearly certain they sell milk at each of the resorts down in the gift shop, but also in the quick serve restaurants. We have packed a whole suitcase of food before and then used it for souvenirs upon returning.
Does anyone know if I order my groceries from Amazon Prime Now can they be left at the bell services if we aren’t there or do we need to be there to receive them? I’ve read a few articles that said in 2019 the policy changed, and only Garden Grocer can be left at bell services now. Is that correct?
We are staying at Pop Century in October. Thanks!
Does anyone know if bell services has a problem receiving a grocery delivery from Garden Grocer before check in. If check in is at 4, can I utilize the 12-4 drop off time for delivery? It would be nice to have everything ready and waiting.
I just ordered from them for a stay at Wilderness Lodge and the food arrived significantly before my check-in without issue. They keep it at Bell Services and put the refrigerated stuff separately in the refrigerator for you.
Also thanks so much Tom because the tips here just made eating at our resort possible. It really is getting hard to book last-minute dining…even moreso when I have a picky vegetarian in my party.
Hi Dan! I have done this pretty much every time we have gone. Groceries always already on site when we arrive. It has never been an issue!
We have used Dizzy Dolphin on several trips (including the extended Irma stayover). Delivery fee was reasonable and they did a wonderful job of selecting the fresh produce also going to several different stores for specific store brands! Having children with serious allergies cross contamination issues are a concern, the shopping team was extra cautious with separating our order from others orders. Best of all the shopper sent a special treat allergy friendly treat!
First dvc stay this weekend, And need to know if post-covid, are paper plates, bowls, Utensils, coffer cups, provided In the Polynesian studios?
Only a limited amount.
Not sure why you didn’t mention Walmart Groceries. Almost everything is available online that they sell in their Superstores, including groceries, yes, but also including many Walmart non-grocery items. Their prices are good and delivery fee is nominal. They can contact you when they head to the hotel to deliver or they can leave it with Bell Services. I believe they use Lyft drivers to do the deliveries.
I had never heard of Walmart Groceries before. Thanks for the tip, FCivish3.
Agree on Walmart. There is actually one we stop at between Universal and Disney. We have done a few trips including this last one. Get a car and go to Universal for 2 days. On the 2nd day stop at Walmart Superstore which has a full grocery on our way to DVC resort. Get up and go to Animal Kingdom 1st day since driving is the easiest then drop the car off. Take magic express back at the end of the trip.
And delivery is free with a 14 day trial – just remember to cancel the subscription before they charge you…
HI, we are planning to stay at Pop and was wondering if the rooms have microwaves? I can see where ordering food for breakfast like oatmeal and sausage would work if there is a micro. Also, is there a fridge with small freezer?
Pop doesn’t have microwaves in the room, but there are several in the dining area. The rooms have a wine style mini fridge, no freezer. We used Garden Grocer staying at pop century back in January. It worked pretty good except I recommend you print your list off. I had to go down to the bell hop twice because they forgot to give me some of our groceries. Partly my fault as I just wanted to get everything to the room, but I will do a better job next time checking to make sure I have everything.
Thank you Shannon! Your info helped me a lot in what choice to make purchasing food. No sense getting ice cream! LOL
We have been to Disney World twice now and the first time we used Garden Grocer and got the 10% discount when we booked 60 days out. Last year, we did the Publix route. Garden grocer was very convenient because it was all ready for us when we got to the resort. However, they didn’t have everything we wanted and we spent about 480 for 7 days of groceries. (we don’t eat out much). For the same amount of groceries at Publix, we spend about 235.00 and got all the stuff we like. Regardless, I am going to order our groceries from Garden Grocer next week for our trip in December which entitles us to a 20% discount (90 days out). We think that though it will cost us more, this option is less risky COVID wise. It doesn’t seem like there are mandatory mask laws in place there? Am I wrong about that? You can’t go inside any public place here in Toronto without one.
There’s a mask mandate in Orange County, but few (if any) grocery stores are actively enforcing it. We’ve found that compliance ranges from around 60% to 85% depending upon the store.
Wondering if any of the rules have changed during Covid? We have a vacation in October where we will be staying off site for a week (to do universal studios and general Orlando stuff) and then we will be checking into wilderness lodge… check out from the off site resort is at 10… obviously can’t plan on being able to check into Wilderness Lodge at 10:30. We were hoping to leave our luggage at the resort and pop over to epcot since it opens later. Ideally we’d like to grocery shop on our way there and leave groceries with our luggage… don’t know if this is possible? I’ll check with them when we get closer because I’m sure things will change… but I’d love to hear any input. Thanks!
Well we are doing pretty much the same thing. We are going at the end of October and spending our first 3 days down there in Universal and then move to our DVC property in Bay Lake Tower. We plan to spend the day in Volcano Bay on our checkout day in Universal (we bought a ticket package with our stay there) and move over to Disney in the evening with a stop at the supermarket for groceries on the way. Personally we usually stop at the Publix which is not too far away.
I believe there is a general store in Fort Wilderness Campground that sells regular groceries for the campers.
Yes, but you will be paying a pretty high mark up…..good in emergencies though.
Has anyone tried instacart?
We always used WaterButlers.com
It’s very convenient and they always have competitive prices!
Thanks!
We used Instacart in January 2019 while staying at Boardwalk Villas. Excellent and we’ll use it again.
Thanks for your wonderful tips. I love this type of blogs. Keep It UP!