No more checking-in beverages as luggage?

[ssclbc]

I read in the first part of Irish Cowboys trip report that the porters are not accepting beverages anymore! Say it isn't so!

Are you still allowed to bring beverages on-board? Can you do it if they're inside your luggage?

Has anyone else had problems lately?

I'm leaving on Friday for the 2/2/2 Magic cruise and was planning on stocking up in Cocoa Beach the day before.

Help!

[DiznyMagic]

Ditto...

[jiminyC_fan]

We checked in a 24 pack of Pepsi on January 6th. No problem.

[Ariel Lover]

Please say it isn't so! Do you think it would be okay to pack/hide soda in your luggage and pack my soft-sided cooler full of snorkeling gear, beach shoes, and what-not? I can't believe Disney is taking this away!!!

[4nana]

I'm confused on this too Irish Cowboy. I read it to mean they will not be responsible for cases of drinks just taped together and tagged. However, if it is wrapped and in your wheel on luggage it is still acceptable. Could you please confirm???

[snelsonbrown]

It has been dicussed on the docks that drinks etc will be not allowed to be taken aboard unless wrapped and secured tightly - The restrictions I also understand will get even harder within 2 weeks - This of course is rumor, but the ones that were circulating after 9-11 have been put into actions with all vendors big and small - If I hear it is definite will let the board know.
Stay safe as always,
Shirley

[Towncrier]

We had four 12-packs of canned soda that we took aboard the January 19th cruise. The porter witnessed us putting the soda into our "spare" rolling dufflebag. No problem. Perhaps they are worried more about somebody swiping your drinks before you take them into your stateroom. I know that during the disembarkation talk, they warned you NOT to put liquor outside your stateroom for that very reason.

[Ariel Lover]

We have a soft-sided cooler that is grey and looks like a small duffle bag. It has a carrying handle and I think it looks like luggage. It holds 48 cans. Do you think I could check it as one of my pieces of luggage or would Disney object? Should I put something other then the drinks in it?

[snelsonbrown]

Make sure that all drinks regardless if its in cans or bottles be wrapped securely so that neither will create a problem with leakage or breakage - I understand there has been a great deal of problems with that - there are times while doing deliveries to the port, we are behind vans loaded with luggage being transported from WDW and have seen that it was not handled with a great deal of care, which does created the breakage etc. Did not realize this until all the search points were put into effect. I do not know what rules will be implemented as of yet, but if I do will advise the board so each would be prepared.
Until then just take the above precaution.
Always,
Shirley

[tecdavidt]

One word, Bubblewrap. I packed our beverages in a checked bag but packed with lots of bubblewrap. All arrived safely. Kathy

[IrishCowboy]

Maybe if your beverages are 'hidden' inside something, it isn't a problem. I securely had taped together a 24 can cube of diet pepsi and a 12 pack of bottled water. I even tried to 'bribe' the porter and said that I would give him an extra $10 but he refused to take it.

Maybe I just got stuck with a porter who is a stickler for the rules, but I just wanted to warn others about what could happen. Next time, I'll pack it inside a suitcase.

[Towncrier]

It's amazing that we were on the same cruise and had such a different experience. I know that the porters saw us stuff the soda into a dufflebag. And they didn't say a thing. I guess that we should consider ourselves lucky.

Thanks for mentioning your problems so that future cruisers will be prepared.

[Ariel Lover]

Bump

[Firefighter Mickey]

It seems pretty clear that the major issue is with poor packaging and leaks that result.

Strapping some boxes of soda together do not constitute appropriate packaging for checked baggage. Baggage generally undergoes some rough handling, and those soda boxes and soda cans cannot take a lot of abuse.

Frankly, I'd be a little upset if I received my bag with my tux in it only to find out that the tux was soaked with soda because someone just thru a couple of soda boxes together with tape and something punctured a can or 6.

I think all that DCL is asking here is for people to use some common sense and pack things well.

[bcburgner]

I thought you could just bring the soda on board the ship with your carry-on stuff. Why do you have to check it in or put it in a suit case?

I was hoping to just load it up on my rolling carry-on.

[IrishCowboy]

Firefighter Mickey may be right. Maybe it is all in the packing and common sense.

Strapping some boxes of soda together DOES not constitute appropriate packaging for checked baggage.

But in the past, DCL has accepted beverages that were taped together. I was only doing something that hundreds of other DCL cruisers have done in the past.

[jiminyC_fan]

All we did was put it in a WDW plastic sack with a DCL luggage tag on it. Didn't even realize we were not suppose to.

[DizC1288]

On our 1-19-02 cruise I used a red soft side cooler with pop and water in it. I put a luggage tag on it. It went with our luggage at the check in. Nobody said anything.

[DisneyKids]

We brought beer and wine all in our rolling carry-on. It was a bit heavy to move around when we boarded the ship but not worth the potential breaking and issues and was NO big deal. Unless you plan on an excessive amount, I suggest you just carry on and you won't have to worry too much about bubble wrap, breakage, whether the porter will take it, etc. And, while you're there...have one for me!:smooth:

[Ariel Lover]

Did they ask you to open your cooler before they allowed you to check it? I have read trip reports that say people have been asked to open their coolers to show contents, especially since the docs say coolers aren't allowed.

I am so confused. I just don't want to have to leave my cooler full of soda and water sitting at the port if they refuse to take it. This would be a lot easier if there was one straight answer. Don't you think?

[DisneyKids]

As I said, ours was in a rolling carry-on (regular luggage). No one asked us to open it to look at it but it did run through the X-Ray machine when we boarded. I assume they could see it there! I don't want to speak for DCL but it really doesn't seem like they care much.

[bcburgner]

I called DCL this morning and they said you can bring soda/beer on board in a carry-on bag, but it must be in some sort of bag/luggage.

[cinbis]

I'm with Ariel Lover....this seems so confusing for such a simple matter!!!

When Disney said it was okay to bring drinks but they needed to be in a bag or luggage, do you think they meant it was okay to put the drinks in a soft sided cooler? I'm not planning to bring an extra piece of luggage for drinks. It would be so much more convenient if I could put them in my cooler!!!

[DizC1288]

No, they didn't ask us to open the cooler. We just put on a luggage tag and away it went Ü

We didn't have any problems with using the cooler. Infact, we put it out in the hallway with our luggage at the end of the cruise....since we too had brought too much water with us. They just took it away and didn't say anything.

I don't think I would worry about it. I think as long as it is in some kind of holding bin (container) that won't leak any liquids if some should break open, it should be okay!

[DizC1288]

No, they didn't ask us to open the cooler. We just put on a luggage tag and away it went Ü

We didn't have any problems with using the cooler. Infact, we put it out in the hallway with our luggage at the end of the cruise....since we too had brought too much water with us. They just took it away and didn't say anything.

I don't think I would worry about it. I think as long as it is in some kind of holding bin (container) that won't leak any liquids if some should break open, it should be okay!

[Otimon]

I was at the Epcot Resort area this morning and stopped by the DCL desk just off the Beach Club lobby. A cruise line representative was at the desk.

She indicated, in answer to my question, packs of soda were NOT allowed in your regular luggage but it was ok to bring soda in your carry-on luggage.

Bon Voyage.

[Barnsquad]

With 8 days to go and our packing all laid out we've made a decision in our family on that!

We will be using bubble wrap to secure with tape each bottle of liquor and wine. taking a case of my favorite canned beer and placing several cans per heavy freezer bag. This will all be placed in a roll on soft sided cooler/carry on we purchased months ago just for this purpose. And just in case we encounter any problems with staff peaking in bag I've decided to pack our masks/snorkels & water shoes on top!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Based on the "per beer" prices and estimating a few glasses of wine before second seating each night this should save us about $225 against our bill.

(maybe I should include a "special" package on top of everything in bag...created especially by my 100 lb sheep dog??!! I'm sure it would deter someone from digging deeper if you know what I mean!! ha ha ha )

Seriously though, not looking for any trouble, just keeping positive thoughts and won't let anything ruin this trip we've planned for 2 years!

Thanks for all the tips on this thread everyone!

Barnsquad

[jugalava]

We're just back from the 1/26 Magic. We brought on lots of Mountain Dew and snacks. Picked them up at WalMart in Cocoa Beach the night before and packed them in banana boxes (as suggested previously on this site). Securely taped the boxes up with duct tape, attached the luggage tags, and voila! No problems getting them at our cabin the day of the cruise.

[Ariel Lover]

We just got back last night and we checked lots of soda and water without any problem. I truly believe it is all dependent on the porter that checks you in.