Owner's Locker - Please convince me

[jemiaule]

I have been reading about Owner's Locker since the get go and have been sitting on the fence this whole time trying to decide.

This week I made up a list of things I could store if I get one...it wasn't a very long list and soem things were items I would only bring if I had a locker, otherwise I wouldn't bother nor miss them.

I think the main thing that is holding me back maybe is the price. $99 a year seems very reasonable, it is the $25 delivery charge that has me hesitant. Part of my brain is not letting me justify spending the money. One moment I will think yes, it sounds like it worth it. The next I think, oh I don't have much I really need to bring each time and shouldn't spend the money.

So, will you all who use Owner' Locker extoll me with tales on how wonderful it is. Hopefully then I can get that part of me that is hesitating to quiet down!

[Inkmahm]

I just updated the list of the things we left in our Owners Locker in April. We are going back for the first time since then in December for a night at AKV, 4 nights on DCL, and then 5 nights at BWV. All I will have to bring with me for the 10 nights is clothes. EVERYTHING else I need for all that time is already in the Owner's Locker. That includes my Mickey Holiday ears. :yay:

Just not having to think about organizing and packing all that stuff makes me very happy. DH and I could probably go with one suitcase for the two of us but I'll probably still take two just so we have extra space to buy gifts to bring home.

[wdwstar]

Here is something that i posted on my dvc share a tree thread.....

I also want to brag about the "Owners Locker" thank you so much John & Brian for making my trip "Magical" ! I have been so busy with the tree list, working, unfortunate events, and getting things together for our trip that i ran out of time to email "Owners Locker" my arrival dates until the night before we left. When we arrived at BWV for one night before our Cruise, there was our "Owners Locker" waiting for us ! Thank Goodness, when we unpacked the locker, i realized all the things i forgot to bring for our trip and
our "Owners Locker" saved us time and money, that we didnt have to run out and purchase the items that i forgot to pack. THANK YOU, Owners Locker !

It takes time to pack all your important items for your family, and if you or someone else forgets to pack something, then your out running to walmart or target spending a half of a day picking up those items, when you can be enjoying your vacation, sitting by the pool/ being in the parks/enjoying the dining plan. We all know how fast the time flys when your on vacations .
Spending time in a store while on vacation is not fun and a waste of valueable time, unless your at the dowtown market place/ disney store:yay:

[mikesmom]

There are SO many things we need to feel at "home", that we either have to drag down each time or (if we forget something) have to run out and buy and then waste if we discard them instead of hauling them back.

It seemed we forget coffee filters every time. Then there are all the kitchen things: plastic wrap, baggies, salt & pepper, tea bags, popcorn. Being the compulsive mother, all the medicine chest stuff "just in case" - bandaids, aloe, moleskin, q tips, first aid cream, benadryl, moisturizer, feminine hygiene products, scissors, extra laundry soap, dryer sheets, "our" shampoo, conditioner and shower gel. We also throw in flip flops and a swimsuit and coverup I only use in Florida.

My husband says the first time you have to go to a hotel gift shop at midnight for some "emergency" item, the OL will pay for itself!

You just have no idea how much extra convenience it brings to the vacation. We've even had an unplanned return trip to Florida where we didn't get home first. Since we had the Locker, we only needed clothes. Since the Locker had plenty of laundry soap in it, we just washed the clothes we had with us - no problem.

[jekjones1558]

Originally I, being the coupon-clipping, rebate-sending, sale-chasing queen, thought that the Owner's Locker might not be worth the cost. But then I got to thinking about other expenses for my WDW vacation that are "extra" but justifiable because they so improve my trip, like DVC rooms on site instead of a value hotel or off-site villa, non-stop flights instead of connecting flights, a rental car instead of only Disney transportation. And now that I have used Owner's Locker, I can say that it absolutely is in the same category for me as those other "luxury" upgrades to my vacation. Here is one cheapskate who will never be without Owner's Locker again. And, by the way, the personal service provided by OL staff is 5 star!

[WebmasterDoc]

We have now used our locker six times (with #7 coming up soon) and can easily travel with just carry-on bags. We found we could pack an incredible amount of "stuff" in our locker. Lots of it may be things we will not use on a regular basis (scissors, first-aid kit, pliers), but most things are used on every trip. We have clothing (shirts, shorts, sweaters, jackets) that we only use at WDW along with items that could be a hassle getting thru airport security, so not having to pack them at all is great.

On our last trip during F&W we found ourselves with 3 extra bottles of wine at the end of the trip and rather than leave them for the housekeepers or trying to drink them ourselves, we just packed them in our locker for the next trip (sorry about the extra weight John/Brian ;) ).

Owners Locker has really simplified our WDW trips and we find a few things each trip that we forgot were in the locker but were glad we had available.

The service is wonderful! :)

[wdwstar]

, the personal service provided by OL staff is 5 star!

I total agree! :thumbsup2

[wdwstar]

DOC, what a great idea about the wine...... we left our wine bottle opener in our OL and we brought a few bottles from the F&W fest back with us, we carefully packed the bottles in our suitecases and when we got home i was so thankful that the bottles made it. :rotfl: we should have just left the wine with our bottle opener in our OL. :lmao: If i keep adding things to my OL, ill have to call John & Brian and upgrade to a bigger locker:woohoo:
John & Brian i think it maybe time to order that forklift :rotfl:

[LIFERBABE]

Here is something that i posted on my dvc share a tree thread.....

I also want to brag about the "Owners Locker" thank you so much John & Brian for making my trip "Magical" ! I have been so busy with the tree list, working, unfortunate events, and getting things together for our trip that i ran out of time to email "Owners Locker" my arrival dates until the night before we left. When we arrived at BWV for one night before our Cruise, there was our "Owners Locker" waiting for us ! Thank Goodness, when we unpacked the locker, i realized all the things i forgot to bring for our trip and
our "Owners Locker" saved us time and money, that we didnt have to run out and purchase the items that i forgot to pack. THANK YOU, Owners Locker !

It takes time to pack all your important items for your family, and if you or someone else forgets to pack something, then your out running to walmart or target spending a half of a day picking up those items, when you can be enjoying your vacation, sitting by the pool/ being in the parks/enjoying the dining plan. We all know how fast the time flys when your on vacations .
Spending time in a store while on vacation is not fun and a waste of valueable time, unless your at the dowtown market place/ disney store:yay:

I think this is the biggest thing for me too!

It normally falls on "mom" to run out and do the shopping to buy our millionth pair of goggles because we forgot them again or the floaties. Our floaties (that we keep in our locker) alone saved us $50 over renting them everyday from SAB and there wasnt a day we didnt use them.

I just spent 5 days at WDW without a car or a care! There was not one day we woke up and said "let's go to Wal-Mart or CVS!:goodvibes.

We went to the pool, to the F&WF, we enjoyed having the DDP, DTD, etc.

We went back and forth about renting a car, but having the locker tipped the scale to not getting one.

The service is excellent from OL. WDW could not run it better. I was able to add our last night at BCV instead of moving to SSR. I called Brian (I have them on speed dial :rotfl: ) and it was no problem. My Bell Services guy had never seen an OL before and kept expressing concern about what to do with it. I reassurred him to just hold it and OL would pick it up. I was a little concerned because he was so unsure, but our locker was back in the warehouse before our flight departed MCO:love:

Cant wait to see it again in December!! We have used it in March, June, October and December this year alone and not 1 hitch:thumbsup2

[wingawh]

I feel the need to chime in. I am an OL fan, a huge fan to be exact. I have used our locker 3 different times and keep an OL list on our dry-erase board in the kitchen to make sure we have what we need each trip.

From the OL website - "There is a one time Membership Fee to join Owner's locker of $75.00 (which includes your Locker and your initial Visit) and a yearly storage/delivery plan which you choose. The Standard Annual Plan costs $99.00 per year and includes storage in our climate controlled warehouse and one free Visit per year. Additional Visits are $25.00 each. The Premium Annual Plan includes storage and unlimited deliveries. It costs $179.00 per year."

If you choose the standard plan you actually get 2 deliveries included for the first 12 months.

On our most recent trip, my wife realized how nice it was to have the locker. She had packed all of her things and then asked me what was in the locker. At that time I printed her the list and handed me the bag she had packed things in to put back in the attic.

Have a wonderful trip!

[wdwstar]

Cant wait to see it again in December!! We have used it in March, June, October and December this year alone and not 1 hitch

I would have to say, you know me too LIFERBABE we seem to be on the same schedual and we have never had a problem with delivery or return of the locker to the warehouse either, its like :wizard:

I would have to say with just a few postive posts so far proves that OL is well worth the membership, i would have to say even if you go with the unlimited deliveries, it is well worth getting an Owners Locker :cloud9:

[jdvm]

ooooooh, I just saw this thread!

jemiule, I'm so glad you have asked the question. One of the reasons no one has provided a service like Owner's Locker before now is that people haven't demanded it. In fact we often see people who, like you, are on the fence. After all, you've been coming to WDW and getting by just fine before Owner's Locker ever came along. But a funny (and very gratifying) thing happens once people try it---folks wonder how they ever got along without it.

The comments here by our Members really make me smile and it's nice to see that Owner's Locker has been able to make people's time here more convenient. And of course it's nice to see more and more people get on the OL bandwagon. If you want to read more comments about us, there are forums and my not so short blog in the Community section of the Owner's Locker site.

John

[wingawh]

For those of us who jumped to the other side of the fence and have an OL it is an easy decision when we look back. I just wanted to add one more note...whenever you visit WDW or The World you come to expect the Disney Magic. Having an OL allows you to create your own little Magic when you realize there are some things in your OL that you forgot (especially when it is a bottle of wine or a partial bottle of scotch, rum etc...)

Have a Magical Day!

[TLSnell1981]

I feel the need to chime in. I am an OL fan, a huge fan to be exact. I have used our locker 3 different times and keep an OL list on our dry-erase board in the kitchen to make sure we have what we need each trip.

From the OL website - "There is a one time Membership Fee to join Owner's locker of $75.00 (which includes your Locker and your initial Visit) and a yearly storage/delivery plan which you choose. The Standard Annual Plan costs $99.00 per year and includes storage in our climate controlled warehouse and one free Visit per year. Additional Visits are $25.00 each. The Premium Annual Plan includes storage and unlimited deliveries. It costs $179.00 per year."

If you choose the standard plan you actually get 2 deliveries included for the first 12 months.

On our most recent trip, my wife realized how nice it was to have the locker. She had packed all of her things and then asked me what was in the locker. At that time I printed her the list and handed me the bag she had packed things in to put back in the attic.

Have a wonderful trip!

Is this $75 + $99, for a total of $174 for the first year? Or is it $75, you load your stuff up, and $99 each year after? I think I would like using it for an additional suitcase I didn't have to carry with me.

[jdvm]

Hi TL,

Here's how the pricing works. There’s a one-time Membership Fee of $75 that will cover the cost of your Locker and its initial delivery and pickup from your first Visit.

Your Locker will be picked up on the day you depart and will be brought full of your stuff back to our warehouse. We call this you Anniversary Date (it’s sort of like a use year) and you will be charged the $99 fee for Annual Plan on that date. This fee will cover storage for one year starting on your Anniversary Date and you will get one free delivery and pickup (we call this a Visit) during that period. We also have a plan that has unlimited Visits.

I hope this makes sense. If you have any more questions, ask away.

John

[jemiaule]

Thanks so much everyone for taking the time to answer! I think I am swaying to giving it a whirl for a year and deciding how we feel from there.

John - one question for you. Can you have delivery at one location and pick up at another? Here is the scenario on why I ask:

We decided to come out early for our trip this month and are staying offsite the first 5 days at the HGVC by Sea World. After that we are moving over to OKW for 8 days. If I decide to get a locker can I have it delivered to HGVC and then picked up at OKW?

[jdvm]

Glad to hear you leaning toward giving OL a try! We always offer a risk free trial where we will gladly refund every penny paid if anyone decides Owner's Locker is not for them in the first year.

As for switching resorts, of course you can do that. We deliver to over 200 resorts--you can see the list on the Features and Benefits page of our site--and you don't have to leave from the resort where you started out.

I must say that one of the things that has amazed us is how often people switch resorts. Our system allows people to switch their arrival and departure resorts at any time. We've found there are a lot of people working with waitlists and will switch a departure resort after they've already begun their vacation.

John

[jekjones1558]

As for switching resorts, of course you can do that. We deliver to over 200 resorts--you can see the list on the Features and Benefits page of our site--and you don't have to leave from the resort where you started out.
See what I mean about great service? :thumbsup2

[TLinden16]

First off, let me tell you that as someone who works in records management and deals with storage companies all the time, the $25 delivery fee is very reasonable. It takes them time to pull the lockers out of the warehouse, scan them, load them on the truck, and deliver them to you.

I started using Owner's Locker in August, and it was nice to be able to leave somethings down there--I would like to brag about how much lighter my suitcase was going home but really, it gave me extra room for extra souvenirs ;) It's nice to be able to leave full size bottles of shampoo down there so I don't have to put it in my suitcase every trip. I'm sure I'll especially appreciate it when I go down for quick trips and just want to bring a carryon.

My locker is only about half full now (but I'm expecting to fill it when I'm there in December), but the way I'm looking at it is I'm trying to put things in there that will enhance my trips. You know, put things in there that I wind up leaving at home because I just don't have enough room in my suitcase. Stuff like a pair of slippers, a picture of my nieces and nephews to put in the room, an iPod speaker, real plates and bowls. Stuff like that. I have an old jacket I'm planning on leaving in there for those nights in December when it can get extra chilly.

[JsMom2]

We are new DVC owners, and will will be at SSR for 3 nights prior to our cruise in December and then BWV for 2 nights after. Is there a way to avoid paying an extra delivery charge? (We'll be back in Oct 08, so I'd like to use the 1 free annual/pickup then).

We won't have a car, so wouldn't be able to transport the locker ourselves.

I'd appreciate any advice/guidance on the best way to handle this.

Thanks!

[Inkmahm]

We are new DVC owners, and will will be at SSR for 3 nights prior to our cruise in December and then BWV for 2 nights after. Is there a way to avoid paying an extra delivery charge? (We'll be back in Oct 08, so I'd like to use the 1 free annual/pickup then).

We won't have a car, so wouldn't be able to transport the locker ourselves.

I'd appreciate any advice/guidance on the best way to handle this.

Thanks! There are ties to lock it so I'd send it with the rest of your luggage.

We're doing the same thing. One night at AKV, then 4 night cruise, then 5 nights at BWV. I'm having the locker dropped off at AKV and picked up 10 days later at BWV. It's definitely going on the cruise with us and to both resorts.

I'm currently planning an Alaskan cruise for next August and I"m wishing John delivered to Anchorage so I wouldn't have to pack so much stuff! Last time we went for 2 weeks in Alaska we had 3 big suitcases and a rolling carry on case. I'd love it if I could elliminate one of those because I had an Owner's locker stored with Princess!

[goofy4tink]

I wasn't really sure I was going to find enough value in having a locker, but after a few months going back and forth, I jumped on board. Well, all I can say is...my locker is full to the brim. I go to WDW twice a year, usually staying in either POP or a DVC...sometimes starting at POP and ending at BWV. It's so nice to be able to leave all my stuff that is Christmas themed behind, in Orlando. It's a huge pain to cart it back and forth. Shirts, sweatshirts, hats...all sorts of things I wouldn't use back here in Mass. Add to that the fans, Disney themed dishes/cups (melamine from Disney Store), shampoo/conditioner, coffee filters, extra bottles of water, water straps, batteries. I'm thinking of getting a white noise machine before my Dec trip and leaving that behind also.
Yep, I love the whole idea. I'm really close to being able to travel to WDW with carryon only.

[bonzarella]

We've had the pleasure of using OL four times this year & one to come:santa: We cannot praise them enough, not only is the "product" wonderful but J & B are terrific to work with. Due to new smoking policy our summer trip took us off site(waaaaaaay off site) J&B didn't bat any eye when we asked for pickup in what seemed like another country. John came right to the door of the private home & at our convenience.

You'll be amazed at the volume the locker holds, large laundry soap, kids toys, & all important booze bottles. We have gotten to where we can do carry on only & are so grateful.

THANK YOU OWNER'S LOCKER

[jdvm]

Hi jsMom2,

I have twins, too. Identical girls. The first two years can be a nightmare but it's nothing but fun after that!

Anyway, back to Owner's Locker. Your first Visit is part of your Membership Fee and your year doesn't start running until your Locker comes back into our warehouse full of your stuff.

Your trip to WDW for your cruise will be covered by your one-time Membership Fee. Your empty Locker will be waiting for you at Saratoga Springs when you arrive in December.

When you go on your cruise, you can either take your Locker with you as a lot of people do or leave it at Saratoga Springs and secure it with one of the seals we leave for you that Inkmahm was talking about.

The resorts will allow you to leave things with bell services while you're on a cruise. Since you're coming back to the Beach Club Villas, I can't guarantee that they will transfer it there but I'm almost positive that they will.

So, when your Locker is picked up from Beach Club after you leave there to go home, it will come into our warehouse for storage and we call this your Anniversary Date and charge you for your Annual Plan at that time. This is when your year starts to run and it's sort of like a use year. Your October, 2008 trip would occur during this period so that Visit would be covered as your yearly free Visit.

I hope this makes sense!

John

[TLSnell1981]

I'm still on the fence. I guess I'll make up my mind on my next trip. The $174 you are paying for the first year is what is putting me off. I keep trying to rationalize it.

[JsMom2]

Hi John,
Do you pickup and deliver to/from the ship, if someone does cruise only?

[Rozzie]

I'm still on the fence. I guess I'll make up my mind on my next trip. The $174 you are paying for the first year is what is putting me off. I keep trying to rationalize it.

What surprised me the most is how much money we SAVE with OL. I used to do this "WDW Wallyworld" trip before each time, and it seemed like I was always buying the same thing. Now, no more of that! We have a small pharmacy in our OL, saves paying a fortune at the gift shops for such things. Plus we keep a extra camera battery, extra memory card, extra cell phone charger, everything that requires a 2nd mortgage to buy on property.

We are actually thinking of adding a 2nd locker. And we are DINKS! I cannot think of my life before Ownerslocker, that is how much it has transformed our vacations. Never for 1 second have we regretted it. :thumbsup2

Can't say enough for the service, we are always switching resorts, beginning one place, ending another place, changing minds in middle of trip, anything you could think that would throw the guys a loop, but nope, 1st class service every single time.

[jdvm]

Hi John,
Do you pickup and deliver to/from the ship, if someone does cruise only?

Are you flying in and out of the Orlando airport? If so, we've got you covered. We haven't had enough demand yet for deliveries and pickups just to the ships (or Vero) but if folks are coming through the airport or starting out and finishing somewhere near the attractions we can handle it. Thanks for asking!

John

[JsMom2]

Are you flying in and out of the Orlando airport? If so, we've got you covered. We haven't had enough demand yet for deliveries and pickups just to the ships (or Vero) but if folks are coming through the airport or starting out and finishing somewhere near the attractions we can handle it. Thanks for asking!

John

Yes, next October we'll probably do WDW pre-cruise then fly home directly afterwards out of Orlando. Being able to keep WDW AND cruise stuff in the locker sounds awesome! :thumbsup2

[GEB@okw]

Having used our locker three times in nine months and planing two more times by the end of January I do not think I want travel with out it. John says there is a money back guarantee if you are not happy so go fot it. You have nothing to lose!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NJAviator]

Based on what I've read here, this sounds like a huge convenience and probably a money saver in the end. I know I find it to be a huge hassle to pack and try to remember everything. Only to forget at least a few things. Plus, having to live without those items you don't want to deal with packing.

Great idea John. Sounds like you are all about customer service. The wife and I will discuss. I expect to try it out for New Years this year. :thumbsup2

[jdvm]

What a very nice post, NJAviator,

Our whole purpose is taking the hassle out of your vacations and making them more convenient and rewarding because you can have more of your personal stuff around you.

We're also aware that we are developing long term relationships so we'd better get it right!

We look forward to working with you.

John

[bonzarella]

Another kudo for John & Brian:thumbsup2 Within 24 hr notice I had our locker delivered. These guys are the best!!!!! We had an extremely early flight & while pulling out of resort check-in I saw the Purple Van pull up. So happy to see them. I've been given the challenge to notify them upon arrival next time, might take them up on it. Thanks so much for providing this service. :love:

[bavaria]

It's the best thing since sliced bread.... (better actually - I can slice my own bread just fine with a knife)

Recently on a late evening flight my luggage was delayed; I have everything in my locker that I needed to be comfortable without a suitcase. That's a pretty amazing testament to the usefulness of the locker.

I strongly believe that on vacation one should be more comfortable than at home, so I keep 'luxury' items in my locker such as a duvet, toasted sandwich maker, coffee, Nutella, chocolate bath products, travel candles, etc.

I also keep a variety of necessities such as extra toiletries, pair of shoes, extra shirt, umbrella, etc.

Plus the service provided by John and Brian is a model of excellence. Having a locker makes 'coming home' feel that much more like 'home'... and for someone who is on the road about 300 days a year, I do like that feeling!

[TinkTatoo]

We're Owners Locker fans from Ireland. Firstly I couldn't believe how big the locker was and just how much stuff we could fit in it. As we visit from Europe we have the usual stuff that people leave in their lockers plus quite a few things that we only use in the US (chargers / adaptors etc.,) It was great to be able to leave all this stuff in Florida and know it will be waiting for us when we go back. It also meant plenty of room in our suitcases for bringing home even more shopping (those of you from Europe will understand that one ;) )

We also got a first class service from John and the rest of the OL crew who are courteous and professional at all times :thumbsup2

[mikesmom]

Bavaria, thanks for the idea! I had never thought of the lost luggage scenario as we always travel SW and they are pretty reliable. However, things can happen, so next trip we will leave behind a set of underwear, shorts and t shirt for everyone in the family "just in case". Toiletries and other "home" comforts are already stored in our Owners Locker.

Who knows? Some day we may just take a quick run down with no lugagge at all!:lmao:

[bavaria]

next trip we will leave behind a set of underwear, shorts and t shirt for everyone in the family "just in case".

HMMMM....

Apparently you do not follow Bavaria's rule to always carry two spare pairs of underwear in your purse.... ;)

I never leave the house without my passport and my spares 'just in case'! :rotfl:

[luminous]

Since someone already posted that there is a money back guarantee with the owners lockers, that is probably already enough to get you to try it out. But I still felt like adding my two cents! An owners locker is a huge stress-buster for me. Since we usually stay in a one bedroom and have a washer/dryer we keep laundry soap, shout "color catchers", and dryer sheets in our locker. We also found a small, powerful, hand held vacuum at Walmart for $18 that we use for our space bags and to fill up my daughters air mattress/sleeping bag. Between being able to do laundry and using the space bags, our family of 5 travels with one large and one small suitcase. This has made the airport process so much easier for me!!! I now have my hands free of luggage so I can hold on to my little wanderers. It also made our villa more comfortable as we didn't have a bunch of suitcases to try to store (this was an issue on our first trip to SSR). I don't keep anything perishable (vitamins or medications) but I do keep hair care products for my "special needs" hair that don't come in travel sizes. We also keep things that may be needed on our trips that we may not think to pack, like umbrellas and rain ponchos, and items that are a pain to pack like flip flops and beach socks, although not for the little ones whose feet are still growing. We have sand buckets and shovels for the kids in case we go to the water parks or stay at the BCV. I also keep Ziploc baggies to put away leftovers or carry snacks into the parks. Because of our situation (3 kids, doing laudry to cut down on luggage) and because of the peace of mind it brings, the owners locker makes perfect sense for us. Hope this helped.
FYI- we bought a storage tub with roughly the same dimensions and did a "dry run" before we left home to make sure everything would fit. We then shipped most of those contents ahead of us a week before our trip.

[mikesmom]

HMMMM....

Apparently you do not follow Bavaria's rule to always carry two spare pairs of underwear in your purse.... ;)

I never leave the house without my passport and my spares 'just in case'! :rotfl:

Heck, Bavaria, I don't even carry my PURSE! I have a passport/boarding pass case that hangs around my neck that holds the aforementioned boarding pass, ticket, divers license, a few bucks, credit card, pen and cell phone. I usually pack my purse in the luggage and carry on a backpack with an Ipod, noise cancelling headset, book, tissues, chapstick, drink tickets, and all the things DH (and DS if he is along) don't have room to carry but can't live without - in other words home packed lunches:thumbsup2 .

[Judy WI]

Just received my "message from your Owners Locker" Have a solo trip planned for early Dec. This is the second time this year to use the OL and I know it is silly but get a kick out of the updates that are sent out. They tell you they are ready for your trip and you get a message when the locker is back in storage. Really a nice thing to use.

[Debi]

I am another fan of OL. It is such a convenience to be able to leave toiletries, etc. in WDW and not have to worry about taking them to and from. I also underestimated the size of the lockers - I was able to fit more than I expected in there. What a great service!! Thanks, John and Brian. :)

[Inkmahm]

We leave for WDW on Saturday and I probably won't pack until Friday night. Now that we have the OL, I only have to worry about clothes. Everything else is already there waiting for me! We're taking the locker with us on the Disney cruise this time so we'll see how it works fitting in the cabin. I"m guessing we'll love it there, too.

[TLSnell1981]

It's the best thing since sliced bread.... (better actually - I can slice my own bread just fine with a knife)

Recently on a late evening flight my luggage was delayed; I have everything in my locker that I needed to be comfortable without a suitcase. That's a pretty amazing testament to the usefulness of the locker.

I strongly believe that on vacation one should be more comfortable than at home, so I keep 'luxury' items in my locker such as a duvet, toasted sandwich maker, coffee, Nutella, chocolate bath products, travel candles, etc.

I also keep a variety of necessities such as extra toiletries, pair of shoes, extra shirt, umbrella, etc.

Plus the service provided by John and Brian is a model of excellence. Having a locker makes 'coming home' feel that much more like 'home'... and for someone who is on the road about 300 days a year, I do like that feeling!

I have been trying to rationalize the upfront fee. You have hit a nerve with lost luggage. This happened to me two years ago in Dusseldorf. I went 2 days without luggage. I am petite and couldn't find little peoples clothes anywhere! Earlier this year the driver left my bags on the curb at the airport. I was lucky to get them back. You have definitely given me food for thought.

[CarrianneB]

You can use it for the cruise? Do you have to be staying at WDW before the cruise to get it? Just wondering how that would work.

[Inkmahm]

You can use it for the cruise? Do you have to be staying at WDW before the cruise to get it? Just wondering how that would work.
In this case, I am staying at AKV Sat night before the cruise and then returning to stay at BWV after the cruise. I have read though where Owners Locker will meet you at the airport to drop off or pick up your locker if you are "just" doing the cruise.

[SleepyatDVC]

Just wanted to add my 2 cents here. I agree with all the praises from previous posters. Not only is the OL concept a great one, the principals of the company really know what customer service is all about. :thumbsup2

I have been traveling the last few times with my 2 young DDs without DH. We've been using ME and not renting a car like we previously did. Therefore, we either needed to bring everything we need or buy it on site since we didn't have a car.

OL has been soooooo convenient. We left laundry detergent, rain poncho, extra water (sorry that's why it's so heavy), ziplocks, food storage containers, dry pasta, toiletries, etc. It really helped me not to pack as much stuff which cut out a lot of the stress of traveling by myself with kids. It gave me peace of mind about things I had access to at WDW without a car and without having to pack and bring "everything and the kitchen sink" each and every trip. And traveling alone with young kids, I didn't want to have a car. It was nice to have ME handle all the luggage and transportation.

Our Locker was always waiting for us at whatever resort we checked into. And I received an e-mail from OL everytime it was picked up and returned to storage.

Let me give you an example of wonderful customer service. The girls and I took a week trip to WDW in Feb 2007 over President's Week. We were staying in a studio at VWL and the night before our flight home, my DD7 came down with a stomach bug. She and I were up all night in the bathroom.

By morning, she was totally empty but very, very weak. She kept crying that she wanted to go home so we planned to fly home as scheduled. We checked in all our luggage at the resort and got our boarding passes. The resort did extend our check-out for an extra hour because of a sick child. We took ME to the airport. DD7 sat and slept in the stroller we had brought on the trip for DD5. We pushed her all the way to the gate before finding out that the flight home was cancelled!! :scared1:

DD5 was a trooper and watched over her older sister while I tried to find us a flight home. I was on the customer service phone with Delta and on the cell with DH who was looking on-line. Delta had us on an early morning flight that connected twice before getting home 8 hours later! :headache: No way I was taking a chance of getting stranded in a unfamiliar city. All the non-stop for the next few days were fully booked and I could only stand by for them. No way! So, I had the Delta rep book us on the first confirmable non-stop flight which was 2 days later on a Tuesday morning. We were suppose to fly home Sunday early afternoon.

After re-scheduling the flight, we went over the MCO Hyatt to see if we could get a room. DH said it was sold out on-line. And it was.

As I tried to figure out what to do next, we went down to luggage claim to get our luggage. I got one of those luggage trolleys and took care of all the luggage while DD5 pushed her 70+ lbs sister in the stroller. Boy she was such a help that day. We found a place to sit and I could make some phone calls. DVC MS was closed on Sundays. So, I called the resorts directly. They managed to find me a one-bedroom at BWV for 2 nights on points. Told me to just give my room reservation to ME in order to get back on the bus to WDW.

So, over 5 hours after leaving WDW property, we were heading back. Once we got to BWV and our room, I put DD7 right to bed and I gave Brian or John a call to see where my Locker was and to see if they could drop it off for me tomorrow morning. They had already picked up all the lockers on property and were on their way off property. I told them that tomorrow would be fine but once they heard about my cancelled flight and that my toiletries were all in the locker, they came right back and made a special trip to drop off my locker at the BW. I think I got my locker within 30 minutes. :goodvibes

Brian and John are really gentlemen and they take their business seriously and really put 1000% into it. They are quick to return any e-mails and phone calls. I got locked out of the OL website one time, and John called me right back while he was cooking dinner for his family on the BBQ grill to help me re-set my password.

Yes, the initial costs might be a hurdle to get past. As an educated consumer, we have to do our homework and make sure that we make the right decision for our family and our money. But once you get past that initial hurdle, I think you will find that OL is a quality product and service with a quality company behind it and it is worth every penny. HTH.

[jdvm]

Aw, Sleepy what a sweet post. Stories like yours really make our day. We're all about convenience we try to always treat people the way we would want to be treated. Thanks for sharing!!

....and if anyone feels like sharing OL thoughts outside of the DVC boards here at the DIS, there are several threads on the resorts, camping and theme park boards where some people need convincing, too...hint, hint.
John

[JsMom2]

....and if anyone feels like sharing OL thoughts outside of the DVC boards here at the DIS, there are several threads on the resorts, camping and theme park boards where some people need convincing, too...hint, hint.
John

Thanks for letting us know that John. I have ordered my locker, and I'm sure I'll be thrilled with the service (we leave in a week! :banana:) I'll be sure to give any feedback in those forums also.

I do have a question. You mentioned we can arrange for pickup or drop off at MCO. How is that handled?

Thanks!
Wendy

[Maistre Gracey]

I wish I had more time to type, but it's off to work I go...
I think that's John from OL?? Maybe Brian?
Anyway, I got two lockers from you on our recent trip. One is filled with toiletries, detergent, beach shoes, ponchos, and a wad of other stuff. The other is filled with Christmas and Halloween decorations.
We can't say enough good stuff, both about the lockers, and the great personal service you both have provided.
My wife and I plan over the next year or two, to leave Connecticut with a single carry-on. I will be adding clothes to my locker soon..

Thanx for the great service! :smokin:

MG

[1000th happy haunt]

My husband was unsure at first, but now he's a firm believer in Owner's Locker. In fact, our current locker is packed so tight that you can't get anything else in it (we needed to use two straps to keep it shut). We need an Owner's Locker annex.

[ADP]

I love the concept of OL, but the pricetag of $279 for the first year seems a little high for me. I understand the convenience factor and purchasing goods you need along your trip, but I just don't think I'll spend that much in a year on those types of items. We typically purchase samples and reuse them on our trips throughout the year until they run out. They are small and cheap.

I guess we are simplistic and don't carry a ton with us outside of our clothes on vacation. I think it just comes down to your needs and how you like to vacation.

[mikesmom]

It's not $279 for the first year unless you go an awful lot! It's $75 for the membership which includes the Locker and the first pickup and delivery. After that it's $99/year. If you go more than once/year it's $99 + $25 for each subsequent pickup/delivery. It's $179/year for unlimited, so I figure unless I go 4 times a year I don't need the unlimited. $25 a trip for the extreme comvenience seems way worth it to us. One trip to the hotel gift shop for something you forgot can easily wipe out $20!!

Hopefully, John will chime in here if I've figured the math wrong.

[shellbelle1971]

DH initially thought the OL was a waste of time and $. Then, on the first night of our last trip, he was spared a midnight run to WalMart for Infants' Tylenol (for the baby) and Pepto-Bismol (for the 12 yo) because I had put those items into the OL on the previous trip. He was sold! :-)

As for me, I love having my own set of clean, fitted sheets ready to put on the bed when we check in. I HATE those *&$(%&# flat sheets at the DVC resorts! They're low quality and uncomfortable. Keeping our own good ones in the OL is a little bit of heaven!

I also love having a crock pot in the OL. I can just throw something in in the morning before we hit the parks, and have a nice dinner ready and waiting for us when we get back to the villa.

[bavaria]

As for me, I love having my own set of clean, fitted sheets ready to put on the bed when we check in. I HATE those *&$(%&# flat sheets at the DVC resorts! They're low quality and uncomfortable. Keeping our own good ones in the OL is a little bit of heaven!


DUVET

;)

[jdvm]

JsMom2, you asked about being able to pick up or drop off your Locker if you're flying into Orlando and not staying at a nearby resort. When you schedule your Visit, choose "other" as your resort and let us know your circumstances in the special notes section and Brian or I will be in touch to coordinate.

mikesmom, your math is perfect!

ADP, Owner's Locker isn't for everyone but I think that shellbelle1971 gives you a good feel for how people use the service. It's not just the stuff you don't want to throw away at the end of a trip. It's the things you like to have on hand that make you feel more at home when you're at WDW. Things you'd never pack or ship back and forth (I'm assuming here that no one would pack a crock pot!!)
John

[shellbelle1971]

DUVET

;)

OOOOHHYEAHH! Do you think I could fit my featherbed in there too?...

[Rozzie]

DUVET

;)

Guess what is going in our 2nd locker? Duvet and Booze, what else do you need in life? :rotfl: :thumbsup2

[bavaria]

Guess what is going in our 2nd locker? Duvet and Booze, what else do you need in life? :rotfl: :thumbsup2

he he he.....

Yes, I have a duvet in my OL! $15 from IKEA but it is priceless.

Earlier in the year my friend came to join me at OKW - she said 'oooh, they finally got duvets!' Um, not - she had to sleep with nasty sheets and blankets while I indulged with the duvet :rotfl2:

[JsMom2]

I also love having a crock pot in the OL. I can just throw something in in the morning before we hit the parks, and have a nice dinner ready and waiting for us when we get back to the villa.

That is an AWESOME idea!!:thumbsup2 :thumbsup2

[Inkmahm]

Uh oh. This thread is giving me OL "add-on-itis."

[nunzia]

I'm still on the fence. I guess I'll make up my mind on my next trip. The $174 you are paying for the first year is what is putting me off. I keep trying to rationalize it.

I actually don't think I'd ever get OL as I'm more of a west coaster and my WDW visits won't justify it, but I think the $174 is reasonable. They have to purchase those big bins, and get people set up in a system and such. I can imagine that's alot of work. It actually all seems like a very good deal and kudos to the guys who started this. Great example of doing what you know.

[Rozzie]

ADP, Owner's Locker isn't for everyone but I think that shellbelle1971 gives you a good feel for how people use the service. It's not just the stuff you don't want to throw away at the end of a trip. It's the things you like to have on hand that make you feel more at home when you're at WDW. Things you'd never pack or ship back and forth (I'm assuming here that no one would pack a crock pot!!)
John

Very good point John. I know we have 2 things in there that I would never have shipped, but I can't imagine my locker without now. A snuggle blanket for naps and reading, and a journal.

The journal idea came about when our camera blew up on a trip, and instead of taking another 200 pictures that are always eerie familiar of the other 200 pictures on the trip before, we decided to write down our memories--the old fashion way. It is always so much fun to break open a bottle of wine on our first night and read all the memories from trips prior, and then our last night, another bottle of wine of course, and share together our thoughts, likes and special memories to be vaulted again into our beloved locker. :goodvibes

[mikeandkarla]

Hi John,
I just signed up for OL to try on our dec. trip. I was wondering if the cost for a second OL is the same price($75 and $99)? Or is it discounted? Thanks for your service in advance.

[jdvm]

Hey mikeand karla,

This slipped by me---sorry. There is indeed a discount of $10 off the Membership Fee for the second Locker ($65 instead of $75). There is also a discount for extra deliveries of the second Locker (1/2 price) but the Annual Plan fee of $99 isn't discounted for multiple Lockers. Hope you have a great trip.

Thanks for the kind words Rozzie and nunzia. Inkmahm, there have been a few Beta Trial Members to "add on."
John

[ksoehrlein]

I'm really tempted -- especially after hearing the interview on WDW Radio. That said, we always drive down and have plenty of room in the SUV for all our gear. However, gas prices and my daily commute are making me consider trading in my Honda Pilot for a Honda Fit. If I do, I think Owner's Locker will be my very next purchase! And if I do that, I think we might consider flying down more often.

Doesn't that sound like "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie?"
If you give a DVC Member a smaller car, she'll need an Owner's Locker. If she has an Owner's Locker, she'll want to fly instead of drive. And if she flies more often, she'll want to pack fewer bags, so she'll want a second Owner's Locker...