Having you clothes box-shipped to Bell services?

[Seabean]

I'm not quite sure what forum this belongs, so I'll give it a try here...

I've wondered... instead of the traditional packing suitcases, schlepping them to the airport, then to the hotel, and back again.... what if you could just box up your stuff and have them sent to Bell services? (and then back home via a box from Bell services too)

Would that be via UPS or so? What strategies can be done to save money... 2-3 day delivery?

Has anyone ever tried something like this?

 

[brekin67]

I have been looking at doing the same thing this year. Go to the UPS site and you can get an estimate for how much it will cost you.
It really was not too bad. For us, not much more than taking it on the plane, but we won't have to carry it around with us through the airport.

 

[dizluvah]

DH and I shipped a box to Port Orleans Riverside via UPS. We just added Hold for guest (our name) with dates we will be on-site. When we checked in - the reservationist was able to make a call and tell us our box had arrived. They will even deliver it to your room for you. We did not ship our box back so I am not sure if the resort can handle return shipment for you but I imagine they could. They offer shipping of your disney purchases to your house for a fee so I don't see why they can't ship a box for you.

 

[Seabean]

So I guess UPS is the one for this?

Did you use your own boxes, or did UPS supply them?
(we have a UPS store nearby)

 

[3boymthr]

Hi, I've not shipped to WDW but I do a lot of shipping for E-bay (700 items and counting).

Things to remember when shipping items:

The UPS store does not provide free boxes - you have to pay for them and they are expensive. I bought a box and paid $7.

The shipping for that box cost me $18 from MA to KY there were 26 pieces of kids size 7 clothing in it.

Really, it's probably not all that much more convenient; schlep to the store to buy the box, wait in line to get the box, schlep it home, pack it, schlep it back to the UPS store, wait in line again to ship it, schlep home again.

You have to time this just right to get your stuff to WDW in time for your arrival but still have it at home when you need it.

Keep in mind UPS does not deliver on Sundays or holidays and charges extra for Saturday delivery.

You still have to go to the airport to schlep yourself to WDW.

Don't forget to add the cost of tape to the box (@$3) and don't forget to bring it with you to WDW. (Will they allow this on the plane as a carry on? And if not can you buy it at the resort?)

Boxes over a certain dimension carry a shipping surcharge and can take longer to arrive.

Because you have to ship it several days before you leave, and some items are forbidden in your carry-on, you might need to have extra personal care items for use at home after you ship your items.

Just like airports there is a list of forbidden items for shippers as well - make sure you check this before you ship - some shippers don't allow shipment of batteries or items with batteries in them, some don't allow liquids, others don't allow food, etc.

UPS rates include insurance up to $100 on the box. For UPS extra insurance costs extra money. Make sure you add up how much your clothes worth and how much the insurance will cost when pricing the shipping.

HTH

ETA - As I found to my regret when my fruit got frozen and turned to mush - UPS items can sit in hot warehouses or hot trucks or cold trucks or cold loading docks for overnight (or longer) make sure your items can withstand the temperature extremes because the backs of the trucks and the warehouses loading docks do not have heating/airconditioning.

 

[lovetheworld]

I ship all the time but I have never shipped clothes. Just diapers, wipes, paper products, snacks. I guess the question would be how would you send back? We are going in August and I intend to ships some items so that I have less bags at the airport to pay for, but what I am packing will not come home with me it is all disposable.

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

I've done this a number of times. I used a box that I had at home that was still in very good shape and I took off all of the labels. I packed what was left of the packing tape, a label that I had typed up with my return address and a magic marker in a little ziplock in case I need to cross off any markings on the box for the return trip.

The day before we were going to leave I packed up my box with my luggage expect for what I was going to wear the next day, P.J.'s and my 3-1-1 bag etc. (that went in my small carry-on). Used the rest of my tape to tape up the box and tape my label on and took the box to the concierge desk and told them I wanted to ship it UPS and they took care of it and asked how I wanted to pay. I could pay cash, charge it to my room (since it was the day before I was leaving), put it on a credit card etc. They did charge $5.00 for a processing fee which was fine with me. I had about a 23 lb. box and it cost $16.00 to ship. It would have cost me $15.00 for a airline fee so it was worth it to me not to have to worry about my luggage being lost or waiting around for it or dragging it around with me to the rental car etc.

I will continue to ship my luggage - plus I had brought alot of snacks for breakfast and lunch since I wasn't on the dining plan and coffee and filters etc.