Flying To Wdw-how Do You Buy Souvenirs & Bring Home-no Room On Plane, Ya Know?

[FairyDust2008]

Just wondered what all of you that fly to WDW do with all the souvenirs you buy? With so many restrictions and really plain and simple, no room to bring it home, do you have your stuff shipped back to your home because you can't lug it on the plane on your return trip? Just wondered..........

 

[MassJester]

Just wondered what all of you that fly to WDW do with all the souvenirs you buy? With so many restrictions and really plain and simple, no room to bring it home, do you have your stuff shipped back to your home because you can't lug it on the plane on your return trip? Just wondered..........

When I'm travelling and I get into that situation, I mail home my dirty laundry. If it gets banged up and lost in the mail, who cares?

 

[mx55mom]

I usually pack a duffle bag (or the like) and use it as a carry on for the flight home if it's anything fragile. It will also give you a little extra room in the suitcase (taking out the duffle bag). OR.......... don't buy so many souvenirs

 

[n2mm]

Because of all of the flight restrictions I've cut back alot. My last trip I bought none. Since I buy alot of lenox, jim shore, WDCC pieces, I can get them at home, usually with free shipping and sometimes a discount. So no need to haul them home on the plane anymore. Just less money I spend in WDW now.

 

[LowesChevy]

Most stores offer shipping for $15. We always buy Christmas decorations at DTD and have them shipped directly home. It may be beneficial to buy the majority of your souvenirs at the larger stores like World of Disney, Mouse Gear etc. to maximize the shipping value. We buy the gifts near the end of the trip to ensure the package does not get home before we do. It also makes for a nice bonus-after you get home, you get more great Disney stuff.

We also reserve some space in the suitcases when packing for souvenirs as well.

 

[KikiFan]

On the way there one suitcase is usually half full of food (snacks and breakfast items) So when we go home, we've got half a suitcase to work with.

 

[nictodisney]

We always have the extra room that cereal, waterbottles, and snacks took up on the way down. I also take half empty shampoo etc (full size in checked luggage) and throw away when we leave. I hate to waste money on travel size when I can get 4 times more for the price buying full size.

 

[Harambe]

We do a combo of all these suggestions, since we never check any luggage - we only do carry-ons:

Pack a canvas bag in DS's suitcase. We use this for over flow - remember, each person gets to take one carry-on and one personal bag on the plane(canvas bag is personal bag for DS).

If we pick out a lot at certain shops (MouseGears, Villians shop in HS, etc) we ship that home. It is fun to get it later when we get home. $$$ but worth it to me!

Have shipped home the dirty laundry in the past when we went in the winter (who needs shorts back home in snowy MA?), but now that we go in August, we need our clothes - dirty or not!

 

[valley526]

we had the same dilemma when i was planning our trip. we just got back 2 days ago the 16th of feb. I bought a pop-up nylon bag. alot of room. it fits in your luggage going , and ready when you need it. They are at walmart, different colors over in the luggage area. cost under $10. i work there, so i know this. trust me i had alot of souveneirs myself. we also had things shipped back . which they said takes anywhere from 5-7 days. we stayed WL. we went to mercantile , and ship by price of items shipped, so keep bar codes on things, or have receipt. we had a strange item that my son bought. it was a walking stick with a skull on it, he got at animal kingdom.very long, did not want to risk taking it on plane, they found a perfect box to ship, that they use for toy rifles that they sell. plus we had a couple other things, mugs, and aladdin princess bank for my daughter, couple boxes of goofy taffy, that they said they do not ordinarily do not ship food items, but they said they would since it was in a closed up bag. they took care of everything. only cost us $14.97 . plus it will be a nice surprise to get more things in the mail from disney. another alternative is the main desk, they also ship items according to weight. you have to have it boxed up though. they find a way to make sure you get your souveneirs, or anything back home. i loved someone saying they shipped their dirty laundy back. they only thing is , i wish i was cleaned and folded. HAHA!! I hope this helps, have a magical day!

 

[pat fan]

Like some others said, we usually have 1/2 to a full suitcase of room after the snacks/laundry det. etc...have been consumed, but I also have the greatest little duffle bag (tow actually). They zip around themselves so they are about 12x12 and an inch thick and it takes up no room in a suitcase. When unzipped, it is a pretty decent sized duffle bag. It also has pockets on each end for even more storage. My 2 DS's each use them as one of their personal carry-on's. They have a back pack too with their hand held games, I-pods and snacks etc...Between the suitcase, those two bags and a bag my DH carries (an actual WDW bag with stuff in it) we're good to go.

I do have to admit it was close this last year. We stayed longer so we bought more stuff...I almost had to buy a suitcase from the gift shop (gee, too bad, a Disney suitcase) but I managed to get it all in

OR.......... don't buy so many souvenirs

This is not an option

 

[Bizneo]

On the way there one suitcase is usually half full of food (snacks and breakfast items) So when we go home, we've got half a suitcase to work with.

We do the same thing, it's empty by the time we need to pack up and leave.

 

[Poohbear123]

I bring along a Tote bag, like from LLBean, fold it up in my luggage. Going back, I check in BOTH the carry on bag, and my other 20" inch bag, and carry the tote bag on the plane, with my "stuff" in it. I don't have to worry about the handlers crushing any of the stuff.

 

[episode]

We always have the extra room that cereal, waterbottles, and snacks took up on the way down. I also take half empty shampoo etc (full size in checked luggage) and throw away when we leave. I hate to waste money on travel size when I can get 4 times more for the price buying full size.

But if you throw away half, you aren't saving that much ...

However, my suggestion to you would be to go to CVS/RiteAid and get the 3oz empty bottles. They are reusable and cost like ... $1.50 and then you can put whatever you want in them for your trip. That way you can buy the full size and then not worry about throwing anything away.

 

[bumbershoot]

But if you throw away half, you aren't saving that much ...

However, my suggestion to you would be to go to CVS/RiteAid and get the 3oz empty bottles. They are reusable and cost like ... $1.50 and then you can put whatever you want in them for your trip. That way you can buy the full size and then not worry about throwing anything away.

I read it that they toss the now-empty container at the end of their trip. If they brought a full shampoo bottle they would just take it home, but bringing a non-full shampoo seems to mean they just use and finish it.

 

[jess20k]

We always bring an extra bag with us, which is a huge duffle like bag, that we stick into one of our other suitcases on the way there. Then when we are ready to go home we pack all our stuff in it, and then just check the bag with the airline to bring home.

 

[CarolA]

Remember SNOW GLOBES are liquids! They won't fit in your baggie. Your options are Check or ship. I strongly recommend ship as that way Disney deals with it when it breaks!

 

[CathrynRose]

Just wondered what all of you that fly to WDW do with all the souvenirs you buy? With so many restrictions and really plain and simple, no room to bring it home, do you have your stuff shipped back to your home because you can't lug it on the plane on your return trip? Just wondered..........

Okay - here a goes.

I ship something down. A few bathing suits, my beach towels. But I ship them in an obnoxious sized box - along with packing tape, and a permanent marker.

Then - I use that box for dirty clothes.

At the end of trip - I pack that puppy full, smooshing it with clothes, and any snow globes I might end up with, in the middle. I tape it shut, address it to myself, and haul it to the front desk.

i then have them ship it UPS, back to my house.

In the mean time, I stuff my suitcases with souveniers.

And - and I pack an extra bag.

 

[lwilliam]

i've been wanting to ask
how does one know how much the box will cost (weight) to ship back home (dirty clothing, non-breakable souvenirs, etc.)

 

[CathrynRose]

i've been wanting to ask
how does one know how much the box will cost (weight) to ship back home (dirty clothing, non-breakable souvenirs, etc.)

You dont really know - BUT mine was seriously BIG - gosh I wish I knew the measurements, but it was REALLY big - and was pretty stinking heavy.

It was under $30 (like 27, I think) to send it back.

 

[Snow Shoe]

We ship everything home by Disney/UPS. We might keep a T-Shirt or a piece of jewelry and bring it home with us. To us, its worth the $$$, figured at the counter when you check out, to have it all shipped home and not have to worry about packing it. If something gets broken, Disney has always replaced it. Then when you get home and several days later Disney boxes start arriving, it's ike being at Disney all over again!!