I second that using a grocery delivery service may well be your cheapest option, even though their prices are higher and there is a delivery fee.
We have used Garden Grocer several times and find it quote worthwhile: they have most of what we need and our order has always been delivered before we even arrive at the resort. No time out for us.
That said, on two of my trips several years ago we needed a car anyway for a day. What I did, which worked very well: rent a car from (I think it was Alamo) at the Car Care Center at WDW. The price was quite reasonable. THey have a shuttle -- I called the day before to arrange a pickup time from my resort (it doesn't have to be YOUR resort; they will pick you up at another resort) -- and will pick you up before your rental and drop you off after your rental. We made a grocery and Target run then that evening went out to Outback for dinner (we love Outback, but they closed them in Canada, so it was a special treat
). My sister enjoyed extra park time alone while I made the shuttle run to pick up the car, and got to sleep in the next morning while I returned it...
I made the original car reservation as soon as we decided we needed it; I then rechecked often and got a much better deal (less than half the original price) a couple months later, so I just changed the reservation to the lower price. That way I had a guaranteed reservation at a price I was willing to pay (even if high) and then when a cheaper price came long I took advantage of it -- but if there had been no cheaper price I would have been ok with the original AND it meant I knew I had the car. I only booked for 24 hours and that was plenty for us. I will note that I learned my lesson decades ago (rock + windshield...) and I also purchase the LDW from the rental agency, so that adds to our cost.
I have priced taxis and it was looking like 50+ return and that is just to one store (e.g. Target).
Some options we use:
- we are
Amazon Prime members; so we order some things from Amazon and have them delivered to our resort (e.g. the ginger snap cookies I like for anti-nausea); Amazon Pantry is also an option though we have not used it yet -- we probably will for our next trip.
and
- we are Shoprunner members; so we order some things from Drugstore.com and have them delivered to our resort (e.g. for a nearly two week trip, a fullsize container of my special shampoo; bandaids and other first aid items; fluoride rinse; etc)
and
- we order from Garden Grocer for the items we can't get from the other two; yes most of their prices are a little higher, but not THAT bad; if I have 20 items and each is (average) $1 higher than in local stores, that is $20, plus the delivery fee even; still cheaper than a taxi and cheaper than a car rental (esp with the LDW).
This next trip we are also considering using probably a USPS Priority mail flat rate box to mail a package to us at the resort.
As long as you time these things well so they arrive before you do, it works well. FWIW, I have made an urgent next day delivery order form drugstore.com during a trip and even that delivery fee was not too bad (and I REALLY REALLY needed the items we ordered - made the difference between ruining and not ruining the trip). The delivery fee was still less than a car rental to go to a drugstore/Target...
SW