One of the best ways to save money on your Disney World vacation is to make your own meals when you are there. This is why we are giving you the best tips on how to get groceries delivered to your Disney Resort, even if it's as simple as having your breakfast in the hotel room versus picking something up in the food court of your resort. Over the course of a 5 day trip for a family of four, that could be a savings of over $300! (Though we still recommend splurging at least one day to make sure everyone has some Mickey Waffle memories!)
Don't Forget Snacks!
I love to pack my own snacks on trips to Disney since snack prices are typically between $7 and $9 dollars per snack. While you can find a few snacks cheaper, plan on spending at least $5 per snack and you will be limited to what is available in the park, which could pose a problem for young ones or picky eaters. Not just to help save money but when I was dealing with food allergies, having my own food was a lifesaver. I knew whatever food I brought was safe and I didn't have to worry about cross-contamination. Disney is really great about serving those with food allergies, but you can never be too safe.
Disney Rumor...
We have heard people say that you need to "sneak" food into Disney. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Disney is 100% okay with you bringing in all the food you want! Go ahead and pack a picnic! They realize that they are a wildly successful company, and they don't have to hold you hostage to get your money.
There are only a few rules around bringing in your own food that you need to concern yourself with:
- No Wagons - This also applies to any pull behind coolers. Just don't do it. Now that you've read this, you can't claim you didn't know. Wagons and pull behinds are against Disney policy because of crowd control.
- No Loose Ice - Why? To be honest, we're not really sure. But it's a rule, so we'll follow it!
- No Glass - Glass is breakable, and when it breaks it's sharp. Cuts from glass are decidedly not magical, so Disney says "no, thank you" to glass containers.
- No Alcohol - While we would also love to enjoy a cocktail in the Magic Kingdom, they are just not meant to be. Please don't put some poor Cast Member in an awkward position when you try to sneak in some Jack and Coke in your Stanley cup.
Groceries Delivered to Your Disney Resort: Shipping
Did you know that you can plan this all ahead of time and just ship your groceries early? This is a great option if you still have kids in diapers! That way you don't need to use precious luggage space on diapers, wipes, and all of the accessories.
If you are shipping the groceries to your resort, we recommend you place your order for groceries about a week before your trip. Of course, this always depends on the shipping speed and origin of shipment. Note, Disney has started charging a $6.00 handling fee for each UPS or FedEx package delivered to the Front Desk or hotel room.
Disney Resort
If you are staying at a Disney World hotel they do have a small sampling of groceries in their store or in the quick service food area. You will find there is an even bigger selection if you are staying at a resort that also has Disney Vacation Club rooms or area. This is because DVC rooms have a kitchenette or full kitchen inside. I have found Fort Wilderness has the biggest set of options probably just to cater to their guests who mostly have their own kitchens with them.
The downside with this is just like the rest of the food at Disney World, there is a significant markup on items. It is also a very limited selection of food so you won't be able to be picky about brands or sizing. It's great in a pinch but with the cost and selection, it's just not practical to do all of your shopping here.
Groceries Delivered to Your Disney Resort: Prime Fresh
Why wait when you can get your groceries now?! Delivery windows are as early as 2 hours, and there is no service charge for orders over $150! The advantage of going this route is in addition to groceries, you'll find many other items that you might need on vacation. This includes items such as clothing, shoes, charger, sunscreen, etc. People say the selection is slim, but I really have been impressed with how this service has grown over the years.
You can order here at Amazon Fresh
Groceries Delivered to Your Disney Resort: Garden Grocer
Garden Grocer allows you to order your groceries online and have them delivered to your resort. These guys are great and really know their stuff, they have been in business for over 10 years now! They even have an app you can download on the App Store!
When you are ready to order head over to browse through over 5,000 products here. When you find what you want it is as easy as adding the item to your cart. Shop by brand, or category, or use the search toolbar to find the products you want! Looking to get some alcohol sent to your resort? Garden Grocer can handle that too!
So let's get down to the details. Your total cost will be the price of the food plus a $15 delivery fee. There is a minimum order of $40, but if your order is over $200 the delivery fee is waived! Tipping is optional, but I would recommend it just like any other delivery service. On the note of deliveries Yacht Club, Beach Club Resort/Villas, Boardwalk Inn/Villas, and Campground only accept deliveries after 4 pm.
If you are staying at a Disney resort, Garden Grocer delivers directly to their bell service area, so you are not required to be present for delivery. And yes, Disney's Bell Services has refrigeration so your perishable items will stay nice and fresh. Having this delivery option is a huge relief if your plane gets delayed or if you get stuck in some of that fun central Florida traffic. They have notifications available via email and text so you can be notified as soon as they arrive at your resort.
Groceries Delivered to Your Disney Resort: Instacart
You may be familiar with this just from using it at your own home grocery store. This company sends out personal shoppers to pick up and deliver items from local grocery stores like Publix, Whole Foods, Costco, and ABC Fine Wine and Spirits. Some cons with this service are you don't find the cost for delivery until checkout. Plus if you happen on a busy time they can add-on a surcharge in addition to the delivery charges.
If you have never used Instacart before they have a special promo offer of getting your first delivery for free. You can check it all out using my referral link here.
Groceries Delivered to Your Disney Resort: DoorDash
The process of ordering from DoorDashhttps://www.doordash.com/ is quite simple. First, you can open the DoorDash app or website and browse through the various grocery stores and/or restaurants available in the vicinity of your Disney resort. Select the items you need, from fresh produce to pantry staples, and even some Disney-themed merchandise. You can add them to your cart, just like you would with a food delivery order. DoorDash offers a wide range of options, ensuring that you can cater to your dietary preferences and any special requirements you may have.
What is really convenient about DoorDash versus some of the other competitors is that the delivery fee is listed when you are scrolling the different shops, so you can pick and choose where to shop and how much you want to spend in the service fees.
Once you've completed your order, you can specify the delivery address, which would be your Disney resort. Make sure to provide all the necessary details, including your room number, to ensure a smooth delivery process. The DoorDash driver will then pick up your groceries from the selected store and bring them right to your doorstep, allowing you to focus on enjoying your time at the resort without the hassle of grocery shopping.
Groceries Delivered to Your Disney Resort: Speedway Gas Station
There are three different gas station locations at Disney World and since Speedway is the latest gas partner they are all Speedway stations. There is one just outside the parking lot exit of Magic Kingdom, a second by Hollywood Studios across from the Boardwalk Inn and the third is directly across from Disney Springs.
Like many other gas station convenience stores, the inside is filled with your standard mini market items. It is also on the plus side cheaper than Disney food pricing. However, pricing is still slightly more expensive than you would get by going to a traditional grocery store in the area. One thing to note is that these gas stations abide by the rule of no gum!
Groceries Delivered to Your Disney Resort: Uber Eats
Using Uber Eats to have groceries delivered to your Disney World resort is a smart and efficient way to ensure that you have everything you need during your magical vacation. Disney World resorts offer a range of amenities, but sometimes you may require specific groceries or snacks, especially if you have dietary preferences or special items for young children. Uber Eats, primarily known for food delivery, can be a handy solution for this purpose.
The process is straightforward. Start by opening the Uber Eats app or website, where you can explore grocery stores available near your Disney World resort. These stores often feature a variety of items, from fresh produce and dairy products to canned goods and personal care items. You can select your preferred items and add them to your cart, similar to how you would with food delivery. Uber Eats provides a user-friendly interface with detailed item descriptions, making it easy to find the products you need.
Once you've completed your grocery order, you can enter the delivery address, specifying your Disney World resort and room number for accurate delivery. Uber Eats will dispatch a driver to the selected grocery store to pick up your items and bring them right to your resort. This convenience saves you the time and effort of grocery shopping, allowing you to focus on enjoying the magical experiences that Disney World has to offer without any unnecessary distractions.
Wal-Mart Grocery Delivery
Have you heard that Walmart does grocery delivery now? Some of you readers may be confused because you have gotten to utilize these services for years, but for the rest of Small Town America, we're just getting started!
Walmart offers fresh grocery delivery, (different from their online shipping services), and Amazon Fresh better watch it's back. Because it's Walmart, the prices are competitive and affordable, more so than the fancier grocery stores typically used in delivery services.
Walmart offers a subscription service comparable to Amazon Prime called Walmart+. For around $12 a month users can enjoy free grocery delivery on orders over $35. Score!
If you don't choose to be a member, or the service isn't available in your hometown, you can order delivery without a subscription, as well. Be prepared to pay between $8- $10 for delivery.
Checked Luggage
You can always box up some groceries from your local grocery store and check it as luggage. This is the best solution if you are flying on an airline that doesn't charge extra for checked luggage like our favorite, Southwest. Also, if you are a rewards member or have a credit card for other airlines they often have free checked luggage as a perk.
Great food items that we have brought in were granola bars, protein bars, and gummies. Also... Don't forget as a resort guest you have access to coffee, tea and soda all day, everyday. Why is that important? One word - Oatmeal.
Oatmeal can be packed nearly anyone once you take the packets out of the box! And every hotel has coffee cups in it, so that is the perfect place to "cook" it. Tadaa! Instant cheap breakfast.
Groceries Delivered to Your Disney Resort: Ship It
This one is pretty self-explanatory. You can just shop at your favorite local grocery store and then mail it from your local post office. I recommend using a USPS Flat rate box that way you don't have to get all caught up in how much stuff weighs and how it will affect your shipping costs. A medium flat rate box can be shipped for $17.05.
The only time this is a better option than any of the ones listed above is if you have insane food allergies. Or you just really like extra work. Other than these, stick with the delivery arrangements.
How to Label your Disney Grocery Shipment
Your name (or whoever's name is on the hotel reservation)
c/o Your Disney World Hotel's front desk
Arrival date: 12/1/2019
123 Some St. (See list below for reference)
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney World Resort Addresses
Disney’s All Star Movies Resort
1991 West Buena Vista Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s All Star Music Resort
1801 West Buena Vista Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s All Star Sports Resort
1701 West Buena Vista Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney's Art of Animation Resort
1850 Animation Way
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney's Pop Century Resort
1050 Century Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
900 Cayman Way
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
1000 West Buena Vista Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort French Quarter
2201 Orleans Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
1251 Riverside Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
2901 Osceola Pkwy.
Bay Lake, FL 32830
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
4600 North World Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
4401 Floridian Way
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
901 Timberline Dr.
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Polynesian Resort
1600 Seven Seas Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
1800 West Epcot Resort Blvd.
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
1700 Epcot Resort Blvd.
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
2101 North W Epcot Resort Blvd.
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort/Campground
4510 N Ft. Wilderness Trail
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Old Key West Resort
1510 North Cove Rd.
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort
1960 Broadway
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
I have been visiting the parks annually since my parents first brought me at just a year old. Recently I was able to fulfill my life long dream of being a Florida local and moved from the wintery Northeast to the sunshine and fun of central Florida. Now I am hoping to share my Disney knowledge with you so you can have the best vacation possible!
Becca
Tuesday 26th of February 2019
We have a group of 12 of us staying in two rooms at The Beach Club Villas. What would you recommend as the the best option for us for grocery delivery? Also, do you know how much the Disney resorts charge to accept the packages? Someone mentioned $5 per package and discouraged going with Amazon as they tend to send a different item in each box. Do you have any information on that? Thank you for your advice!
Peggy Price
Saturday 10th of March 2018
The resort charges more than $5 delivery fee. I had to pay a little over $10 at Coronado Springs. They said it's by weight, not by each shipment. So be advised you may have to pay more, depending on what you order.