Anyone send stuff down ahead of time?

[Baileymouse]

Hi All,

We're going on 10/30 and I was wondering if any of you mail stuff to yourselves so as not to have to pack so much. We're traveling with an infant and we're going to need all of our hands on the trip. We're staying at the Beach Club Villas, and I was thinking of sending some stuff down via priority mail or UPS a few days before the trip. Has anyone done this?

 

[lailah]

Hi Baileymouse! Yes, we do it every year since my granddaughter has been going with us. I sent down a large package of diapers, wipes, juice or formula (depends on what she was on at that time), her swimvest and our snacks. We would send it down about 4 days ahead of time and they would note it on our reservations when they got it so that when we checked in they would have it for us. We've never had a problem and it saved a lot of room in our suitcases. I would just take enough diapers/wipes, etc. for the trip. (they were always cheaper back home anyway). We still do it now. I pack an extra suitcase with snacks and consumables to fly down with us and send down a package with beach towels and any other items that I won't need right away. Then coming home, I pack the items in the suitcase that we emptied (with the food) with the beachtowels, etc! It's a wonderful idea and I highly recommend doing it. AND I'll be doing it again in about 53 days! Have a good trip!

 

[Baileymouse]

Thanks, Lailah!

It definitely sounds like a plan - I'll do it!

Adele

 

[Jillpie]

Lailah, how much does this usually cost? Do you use just any ol box? Also, wondering why you wouldn't do the grocery stop instead to pick up this stuff...we're doing that for the first time since we're staying at the BCV's and we can buy big things like juice etc. for the fridge. thanks.

 

[Girls Scout Leader]

What we plan to send ahead of time:
styrophome bowls, plastic spoons, cereal, snack bars, crackers, Little Debbies,
then ,at the grocery stop, we will get:
milk, juice, fresh fruit, bagles or muffins, etc

Plan to use the 15 minute grocery stop very quickly and efficiently.

 

[lailah]

Jillpie,
I found that the first couple of years the diapers/formula/juice were cheaper to buy in Ohio and send then to purchase in FL. We also tried the grocery stop and found that in that 30 min. my kids couldn't find everything that wanted. So I start buying things at home about 3 weeks before, put them in the box or suitcase and voila, I have everything they want without the stop.(and shhhhh ... I get it on sale). Plus my whole family (including DH) likes to fly in and GET THERE! I also like the empty suitcase at the end for souvenirs ro whatever. The cost for sending just a regular box, which is about 9-10" deep, regular mail (which took 3-4 days) was about 11.00. It all depends on how heavy it is. So for our arrival on Sat. I will ship my box out on Tues. It was as easy as pie! I think it may even be cheaper if you use UPS, but I'm not sure. I'm sure someone else can tell you that. But I will continue to do it everytime we go. If you need anymore information, I will try to supply it!

 

[MamaQuack]

I have done this for years. We like to travel with just our carry on luggage - quick in to the airport and quick out once you reach Orlando. I also enclose a duffle bag in one of the boxes for our dirty laundry and souvenirs!!!!!

Just be sure to put your name and arrival date where the return address would go. This helps the mail room keep track of things. On our last trip the YC mail room was swamped. We went on to the parks and upon our return our two boxes were sitting there waiting for us.

I have also gotten fresh boxes from the front desk and shipped things home too!

Lailah is so right - everything from film to sunscreen to munchies is so much cheaper at home and this way you know you will have things you like.

You'll love the BCV too - great place to stay with an infant!
Enjoy!

 

[TimeWarp]

On your mailing label do you just put the package to your ATTENTION and the date you are arriving? I think this sounds like a great idea. We will have the 30 minute stop but I can just see me and my crew forgetting something and if I just have to remember bottled water, a styro cooler and maybe a couple of other things for that stop it would be better.

 

[whozit]

Check with your resort for their exact street address. Our resort asked that we address it to: Resort guest (your name here) arrival date (xx/xx/xx). I found that UPS and FedEx Ground were both less expensive than USPS (and they guarantee a delivery date....USPS will tell you when they expect it to arrive, but they do not guarantee). Go to UPS.com and Fedex.com and you can find out what it will cost to send a package from your zipcode to Lake Buena Vista. The website will also tell you how to measure your box (and what is an oversized package). You can have a pretty darn big box that is considered standard sized. When I checked the sites, I just estimated a box size and weight at both sites and this year, FedEx was less expensive (last year it was UPS). Also, when I was checking on prices, I found that for the same sized box at FedEx, the cost was the same for a 25lb box and for a 50lb box (over 50 lb it went up).

 

[matjef9091]

Just did this today for our stay at POR check in date of 10/23. I put in the box cereal, bowls, spoons, pop tarts cookies and sponge bob crackers and other munchies. Also put in there a bunch of "glow" stuff that is much cheaper here than there. It was in a box 19X19X19 (pretty big box) and was 39lbs. It will go out today by 430 est from conn and arrive either tues or wed to our resort. There is a web site that I can go into and track the sucker the whole way down. It cost about $25.00, not a big savings, but it is much easier than hauling it all down in suitcases. Hope this helps...

Have a great trip