Garden Grocer Delivers

What is a Garden Grocer and why are we so in love with it?  Garden Grocer is local supermarket outside the Disney World properties in Orlando.  There are many grocery stores in the area that deliver, so you can always "shop around".

5 Reasons why we love Garden Grocer:

1. Online ordering.  It’s so much easier to peruse the selections online than try to explain something over the phone.  Their system is very user-friendly and their selection complete.  Coming from “up North” some of the brands were unfamiliar, but they had everything I was looking for.  They even have an "app" to make purchasing from your phone easier.
2.  Delivery.  Right to your Disney Resort or place off property.  With a delivery to our Disney Resort we didn’t even need to be in our room.  Your groceries are left with luggage/bell services and the cold items in refrigerated storage.  At most of the moderate or deluxe resorts you may have the groceries then delivered by bell services upon your return.  Otherwise you can pick them up at the luggage services.  Check with your resort ahead of time if you think there may be an issue.
3. Selection.  Garden Grocer has a huge selection of products.  They have baby items, snacks and even alcoholic beverages.  They have a good variety of gluten free and kosher items as well.  The online ordering section is divided into “aisles” just like your grocery store at home.  My favorite section…”Park Essentials”.
4.  Savings.  Buying these same items are a fortune at Disney’s gift shops.  If all you want is a half-gallon of milk you can go into any Disney gift shop and get one.  We even found we were able to use snack credits for boxes of crackers and cookies.  However, if you are looking to save on snacks to bring to the park or have breakfast items on hand you will not save any money by going to the food courts.
5. Time.  We don’t rent a car while at Disney.  If we did, LAST thing we would want to do is running to the grocery store.  We would rather be relaxing by our resort pool or enjoying the parks.  You are on vacation, for a small delivery fee and a little planning ahead you really can enjoy it!

The Facts:

• Order at least 72 hours in advance, longer if possible.  There is a 36 hour minimum.  You will select a 2 hour delivery window and the earlier you order the better your selection will be. Currently there is a promotion where you receive a discount for ordering early.
• Delivery Fee is $14 and minimum order is $40.  Deliveries over $200 are only $2.
• You have to use a credit card to have your groceries left at the resort.  COD orders require your attendance.  The store will call to confirm with you before delivery.
• Tipping is optional according to their website.  We always leave a tip for the driver.
• If you cancel your order before the 48 hour mark there is no fee.  Inside 48 hours there is a restocking fee.  It gets gradually higher the later you cancel.
• Delivery times are between 8am and 9pm, 7 days a week.  You select a 2 hour window but keep in mind they may deliver a little earlier.
• Refrigerated items will be kept cold at a Disney resort.  If not staying at a Disney resort, please check with your hotel/condo for their policies on delivery.
• Visit GardenGrocer.com for additional and current information.

Insider Tips:

• Don’t go nuts with the refrigerated and frozen items.  There just simply isn’t the space to keep them cold.  Value and Moderate resorts have tiny, dormitory style refrigerators.  For Milk or Juices do not order larger than a half-gallon.
• Do go nuts with snack items.  Order things your child wouldn’t normally have at home.  This makes the snack special and can hold them until you are ready to splurge on the Mickey Ears Ice Cream Bar.  Get those Disney gummy fruit snacks and Cars shaped pretzel bags.  Put a few in your backpack every day for happy children (which equals happy parents).
• Do order bottles of water by the case.  Put a few in the fridge each night.  No need to waste snack credits or cash on bottled water at the parks.  Same goes for sodas or juices for the end of the day.
• Do order baby supplies.  This has been a packing lifesaver for us.  We’ve ordered formula, diapers, wipes, gallons of water, etc for our little one when we traveled.  Don’t forget to pack enough until you get that delivery though!
• Do order breakfast items.  Depending on your dining plan you may want to have some breakfast items available.  Makes for savings and a quick exit from the resort in the morning. Bagels, Nutri-grain Bars, and Cold Cereal make great choices.  Don’t forget the cream cheese!

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Mickey Mom aka Maria is mom to two boys, confirmed Disney addict and travel planner with Snapshot Getaways.  You can follow her on her Mickey Mom Facebook page or email her at maria@snapshotgetaways.com

Top 10 Dining Tips at Walt Disney World

We get Dining questions all the time.  When is the best time to eat?  Quick Service or Table Service?  Dining Plan or No?  Ask ten people how they eat when they are at Walt Disney World and you will get twelve different answers!  It all depends on how you like to do things at the parks.   I’m going to give you a rundown of how we plan our meals at Walt Disney World with two kids.

1. Disney Dining Plan:  We like to do the Disney Dining Plan (especially when it’s free).  There are debates on whether you are saving money, but we like the convenience.  I like being able to budget most of my expenses ahead of time.  Children under 3 are not required to purchase a Dining Plan, so they can eat off of your plate.  There is so much food, this is never an issue.

2. Plan your Advance Dining Reservations:  Yup, we love to eat at Disney and have our favorite places to go.  So after consulting a crowd calendar, we decide which days we will be at which park.  Then we map out our Advance Dinning Reservations (ADR’s).  With the dining plan you get one Table Service, one Quick Service and one Snack per person, per night of stay.  You can use in any order or combination and we do!

3. Bang for Your Buck: If you are using the Disney Dining Plan, get the most out of your money. Plan character meals, which are often very expensive. Check out the menu’s ahead of time and make sure you go somewhere special, that you might not go to otherwise. If you are looking to do Artists Point for a romantic evening, or Cinderella’s Royal Table for your Princess, plan on 2 Table Service Credits.  If you find you are looking to dine at more than one signature restaurant, look into upgrading to the Deluxe Dining Plan.

4.  Space out Meals:  When planning our meals we try to stick to one Table Service per day.  It is a lot of food and two Table Service meals is also more time away from the parks.  We do a combination of dinners and Character buffets.  We rarely do a Table Service Lunch unless there is somewhere we really want to go and the reservation time works out that way.  Too much food + too many rides=disaster.

5.  Timing is Everything:  This is where you need to do a little thinking.  Depending on what you are doing at the parks and your family needs, reservations times can vary.  Ours vary from day to day during our trips.  If we are having a resort day/afternoon, we plan our dinner later so there is plenty of time for clean up or napping.  If we are having a Table Service breakfast we go as early as possible.  If you get a reservation before the park opens you have the place to yourself! If we know we are going to push through the day with minimal naps, then an early dinner is on the menu.

6. Grocery Shop: Don’t waste your cash or snack credits on bottled water. If you have a car, head to a local grocery store for Breakfast items, Snacks, Bottled Beverages, Milk, etc. If you are not renting a car, then use a grocery delivery service like Garden Grocer. For us, snack credits are for Mickey Ice Cream Bars!

7.  Be Nice and Share: This applies to snacks and Quick Service meals. For breakfasts we often have items on hand from Garden Grocer for quick eats before we head out. But if we decide we want a hot breakfast, we use one or two of our Quick Service credits and share among the four of us. If you are staying at the resorts you have your refillable mug for coffee, so get a drink for later. Children’s Quick Service credits do not need to be used on kid meals, so we plan on sharing with them an adult portion. Then we share a lunch later on in the day. This way we all have more room for Table Service Meals!

8. Save for Later: Save your Quick Service dessert or sides for a snack later. Obviously this doesn’t work for ice cream, but there are plenty of other things to throw in the backpack for later. For our Table Service meals we are often full by dessert. Ask your server to pack your dessert for later. After you’ve walked around a bit, or returned to your room you have a treat.

9. Park Hop: We utilize the Park Hopper option for the sole reason of being able to have flexibility. If we want a relaxing night at Epcot’s Le Cellier after a day at the Magic Kingdom, no problem. Remember, even if you have a reservation for dining, you need a ticket to get in the park.

10. Airplane food: Is horrible and expensive. Save a quick service credit or two for your last day. Purchase a sandwich or salad and ask for ice if necessary. Maybe even have a small collapsible cooler bag. With the exception of liquids, you can take your meal on the plane. A last  bit of Disney for your way home.

By no means is my way the only way to dine at Disney. You need to think about what works for your family. I like to plan ahead, so this works for me. We like to have nice sit-down dinners as a family, but you may want to have more park time with each other. Key is to have a great time and enjoy all that Disney has to offer!

Share your dining tips in the comment section below, we love reader tips!

Maria aka Mickey Mom is a Travel Planner for Snapshot Getaways part of her job is making dining reservations first thing in the morning for clients!  Follow her on her Facebook Page or email maria@snapshotgetaways.com for travel planning.

Disney Devoted Survival Tips-Flying to Disney

After months of planning you are now on your way Disney.  No time to slack…you’ve got to get through the plane ride!  Here are some helpful hints that you and your plane mates will appreciate.  Did you miss Disney Devoted Survival Tips: Planning Ahead?  Click Here

At the Airport

• Get there Early
  :  Arrive with plenty of time to get through the process with your children.  Its stressful enough without being rushed.
• Look for the Family Line at Security:  Most airports have them and it’s meant to give families a little breathing room getting through security.  This is not an excuse to be unprepared.  Have your toiletries ready, pockets emptied, belts off etc.  The family behind you will appreciate it.
• Dress appropriately:  Hopefully you’ve worn comfortable clothes and shoes!  At the time of this article children are no longer required to remove their shoes for security screening.
• It all goes in:  You will need to put just about everything through the security belt.  Including your stroller and car seat.  Remember to take your child out of the car seat if they are in it.  If you’ve ever gone through this process you will understand how it happens!
• Tire them out:  Once you are through, you need to look for ways to keep your child entertained.  Avoid the goodies you packed, if at all possible until the plane ride.  Many airports have children’s play areas, but if not a child can be easily entertained at a busy airport.
• Everybody goes:  Get some beverages and a potty break in so you are ready to go when the time comes.  Not all airplane bathrooms have a changing table, so get a fresh diaper in at the last-minute.

The Plane

• Boarding:  One of the advantages of traveling with kids is getting to be one of the first to board the plane.  Be prepared to do this 20-30 minutes before takeoff.  With that said, some flights to/from Orlando will not give you this particular benefit.  With so many families on the flight it’s counter productive.
• Seating:  Once you are on, get your child settled in their car seat or in the seat belt.  If they are a lap child, the attendants will instruct you on the proper way to hold your child  during takeoff and landing.   Have their survival bag at their feet.  You should have your supplies handy as well.
• Takeoff:  During takeoff, an infant should be nursing, drinking or using a pacifier to keep their ears clear.  So plan your timing if they are bottle feeding or nursing.  Older kids are helped with chewy food like fruit gummies or crackers.  Anything to keep the jaw moving.
• Play Nice With Others:  You are traveling with your children, but some on the plane are not.  Be conscious of your child’s feet and hands during the flight.  It may go unnoticed, but the littlest pulling on the tray table or banging the seat back is annoying to the people in front of you.  The lady with the stylish hairdo, may not appreciate your toddlers hands running through it.
• The Flight:  Once you are in the air, the boredom will start.  Dole out those snacks and games one at a time.   If need be, take your kiddo for a walk up and down the aisle.  Just avoid doing this during beverage service, as you will be in the way.
• Landing:  With a little planning and patience, you will be in Orlando before you know it!

The plane has landed, you are here!  Follow the signs to your method of transportation and Disney is about 40 minutes away.   Make sure you have directions to your hotel if are renting a car, as it can be confusing.

Disney Devoted Tip:  One of the best advantages of staying in a Disney Resort is the Magical Express.  You will get luggage tags ahead of time and once placed on your luggage, the Disney Magic begins.  You leave your luggage at the check in desk in your departing city and don’t have to worry about it until you get to your hotel room.  Bags will arrive a few hours after you do , so pack your carry-on accordingly.   Follow the signs to the Magical Express and they will check you in and you will be on the bus to your resort.  Most buses go directly to one resort during the busy times, but may make several stops if it’s not as crowded.

Maria aka MickeyMom is a travel planner with Snapshot Getaways, Disney Devotee and hates to fly!  Visit her on her facebook page or email maria@snapshotgetaways.com for travel assistance.