We used to think we had to buy everything inside the parks. Wrong.
Here’s what we do now:
Order groceries delivered to our resort the day we arrive. Sounds simple, but this changed everything. 🩷
Our essentials list:
∙ Breakfast items (bagels, cream cheese, fruit, yogurt, granola bars) 🍓
∙ Snacks for park bags (goldfish, pretzels, fruit pouches)
∙ Cases of water bottles 💧
∙ Milk and easy lunch items for midday breaks
The math: Family breakfast at a Disney restaurant = $60-80. Our resort breakfast = $8-10. We save $50-70 EVERY morning, plus we’re not wrangling tired, hungry kids through a crowded restaurant before we even get to the parks. 💪🏻
Other benefits I didn’t expect:
∙ No more $ bottles of water or $8 Mickey pretzels when kids are having meltdowns
∙ Healthier options for picky eaters who won’t touch theme park food
∙ Quick snacks during that crucial 2-4pm nap/pool time back at resort, or snacks for long wait times for attractions
∙ Kids can eat familiar foods when they’re overstimulated
∙ We actually WANT to go back to resort for breaks because we have food there
How to do it:
Use Instacart or Garden Grocer and have it delivered right to Bell Services at your resort. ✅
They’ll hold it until you check in. We spend about $150 on groceries for a 5-day trip and save literally $1,000+ on food we would’ve bought out of desperation., with a ton of it going to waste.
The best part? More money for souvenirs, extra park days, or a special Disney party if one is going on.
Traveling to Disney can be overwhelming, especially when feeding a family inside the parks. From my personal experience, switching to grocery delivery was an absolute game changer. On our last trip, we placed an order through Garden Grocer right before arrival, and having breakfast and snacks waiting for us at the resort made daily mornings so much smoother. No more rushing for table service or standing in long lines just to grab overpriced meals. With kids, having control over what they eat reduces meltdowns significantly. For example, when my little one refuses theme park food, having familiar staples like bagels, yogurt, and granola bars on hand made a huge difference. Plus, hydration is key under the Florida sun. Carrying our own water bottles from the resort saved us from buying $5+ bottles multiple times a day. Another unexpected benefit was how it influenced our park schedule. Knowing we could retreat to the resort for a quick, relaxed lunch or afternoon snack break helped us avoid burnout. We found that the 2-4pm downtime, often a tough window, became much more enjoyable with easy food options close by. Financially, the math adds up fast. Paying around $150 upfront for groceries for a 5-day trip contrasted sharply against $60+ per person for breakfast at the parks. That daily savings easily exceeded $300, which we happily redirected towards a special Disney character dining experience and extra souvenir shopping. I highly recommend parents consider this little-known hack. It not only saves money but also enhances the overall Disney experience by giving you more comfort, convenience, and control over your family's well-being during a busy vacation. So next time you book a Disney trip, don’t forget to research grocery delivery options like Instacart or Garden Grocer—it truly changed how we approach park days.