So in a little over a month I’m going to be Fearless Leader for a truckload of Norwegians who want to see Disney World. As the Resident Token American and Certified Control Freak, I’m the logical one to be in charge of planning.
One of our unanswered questions concerns food. We’d like to have breakfast and some snacks in our hotel rooms. I know that there are several grocery delivery services in the area, but the rest of the group, less familiar with American food, wants to have some of us go to a local supermarket, so the representatives can actually see what they’re picking out. This is especially true of those who are hoping to get some decent wine to enjoy in the evenings. Besides, going to a supermarket in a new country is fun, right?
My research online tells me that the two big chains in that area are Winn-Dixie and Publix, and both have stores within reasonable taxi distance. Neither one of them ever made it to my corner of Pennsylvania (which is Weis Markets/Giant Foods/Stauffer’s of Kissel Hill country), so these are just names to me. Are they significantly different? Would you recommend taking visitors to one over the other?
Our lists are going to include decent (wholegrain) bread, fruits, breakfast cereals, Poptarts and potato chips and other pre-teen and teenage boy food, and of course the wine already mentioned and maybe some beer, if this makes any difference in which you’d recommend.
Judging by the stores in my area (St. Pete) Publix, hands down. Frankly, Winn Dixie is third rate at best. Publix is based in Lakeland which is fairly close to Orlando so I would imagine there aren’t many Winn Dixies in the area anyway. I’m sure you’ll get better, more specific advice when our Orlandopers check in.
It’s true that Publix has the better reputation for bigger, brighter, cleaner stores. Yet WD has made inroads in that regard I am told. Also my sources reveal that WD is the better butcher. YMMV in Orlando.
My vote would be SuperTarget - good bakery plus an Atlanta Bread Company colocated there in the plaza, better prices, plus you can shop for more than groceries.
Just off the Greenway at exit 11 - coming from the airport to Disney it is on your way.
If you want to freak the Norwegians out really bad, you can eat at the Cracker Barrel that is right there as well.
(I have family in the Daytona-Orlando area, and we have been going there somewhat regularly now.)
Definitely Publix. There’s a lot of things I don’t miss about living in Florida — the traffic, the tourists, the lack of things to do for people who aren’t tourists — but I do miss Publix. We’re going down to visit my parents in September, and one of the first things we’ll do when we get there is go to Publix and get a Boar’s Head Ultimate sub on the sunflower bread with white American cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo and a little salt and pepper. Not that I’ve given this any thought or anything.
Do they have Food Lions down there too? That frickin’ chain must be a front/tax writeoff for somebody, because it’s always near-empty on those rare occasions I go in there. Yet they continue to stay in business, year after year, even as Winn-Dixies across the state are shuttered.
Publix, where “shopping is a pleasure.” Seriously, there’s no comparison. Even the Publix store brands are good. And their subs are some of the best I’ve ever had.
Winn Dixie, on the other hand, is the store you go to because you have to - Publix is closed or you need liquor (they have an attached liquor store) or your car broke down and Publix is too far away.
Plus, even though it is in other places now, Publix is very Florida. The color scheme, the building styles, the produce, the history - for out of country guests, it might be more fun to see something that really reflects the area.
Thanks, everybody! It looks like it’s going to be Publix, then. filling_pages, I get what you mean about it being “local” - if we were going to my old hometown, I’d probably take them grocery shopping at Stauffer’s, even though I grew up in a Weis family, just because Stauffer’s is such a Lancaster County thing.
I loved Publix it is my favourte grocer. Now I know this is just me, but no matter where I’ve been I’ve never seen a “clean” Winn-Dixie. They always look grimy. Again I know it’s just me but still.
No, it’s not just you. They are(at least all the ones I’ve been in)filthy and illmanaged. I’m sure it’s no coincidence that they are generally located in low end locations, economically speaking.
I’d have to say Publix too, especially if you’re looking for deli food or baked goods. But I usually shop at Sweetbay because it’s closest and for the most part cheapest. But if I’m looking for some more variety or better produce I go to Publix. I will occasionally go to Winn Dixie as well if they have some good “buy one get one free” specials. But I also have all three of these stores within a few blocks of each other so it’s not out of my way to pick one over another, the Sweetbay is just the closest and easiest to get in and out of but I actually kind of hate it a little.
I have gone way out of my way to go to a certain Publix several miles away from me because they have the best deli and make sushi fresh in the store.
Publix. It is the superiour store by far. If you don’t mind a short drive, there is a brand new Whole Foods located just off of I-4 at the Sandlake exit. It is amazing.
Publix. I went to Winn-Dixie exactly once, where they charged me for writing a check over the amount. It wasn’t the fact that they charged me, but they didn’t* tell *me they were going to charge me. No signs, no word from the cashier, just $19.50 given to me when I had written the check for $20. Besides, the store always seems grungy.
I find Publix cleaner, friendlier, and nicer. I’ve gotten a birthday cake on a day’s notice, told buying fried chicken a different way would be cheaper, and had them fresh-bake a loaf of asiago cheese bread because they didn’t have any out.
