I am a believer...Owner's Locker is a must

[Anal Annie]

I'm assuming you use your carry on for medications, travel documents, and cameras....items you wouldn't store in an owners locker. Where do you put all your clothes??? Even with an owners locker I can't see how you could travel for six days in a carry-on.

ALL OF THE ABOVE!! AND OH YES I CAN!!!! Actually, I store all of our OTC meds in our Owners Locker so all I have to bring with us are any current RX's. (I store an assortment in it of Tums, Aleve, Advil, Immodium, Benedryl, Gas-X, Tylenol ETC. + full size sunscreens and all of our toiletries). I keep track of any expiration dates on my inventory list so I know what needs to be replaced & when.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5248194_pack-light-avoid-airline-fees.html

Just as an example, for our 6 nights in March, for myself, I wore a lightweight jacket, tennis shoes, a pr. of jeans & a sweatshirt and I packed in my carry-on 3 pr of shorts, 2 pr of convertible roll-up crops and 1 pr. of jean crops, a weeks worth of undies & socks, a pr. of sandals (have 1 pr. in the OL), 2 bathing suits & a cover-up, at least (5) short sleeve tops, (2) 3/4 length sleeve tops & like 3 or 4 other long sleeve tops (I know I had 2 tops per day in a mix of long & short sleeved). I know it sounds impossible but I SWEAR by packing cubes & packing folders and YES I got all of that in a std. size carry-on!!

Same idea for DH and DS. For them, I also packed some of those convertible zip-off cargo style pants....plenty of long & short sleeves (we ended up layering).

I use our DVC canvas tote bag as my under-the-seat bag (I stash my purse in it) so that holds anything else that didn't fit in the carry-on. OH, and I use the compression space bags for our dirty laundry - they make more space for the return trip.

 

[TinklednPants]

Well....I am a major overpacker. I use two bags for an overnighter

 

[Tara]

Well....I am a major overpacker. I use two bags for an overnighter

Really?

Even if you don't go all carry-on, you can still greatly reduce the amount of stuff you have to haul back and forth, or possibly reduce the number of checked bags you need.

 

[zumbergc]

I just love my owners locker. I'm a packaholic, pack everything possible. Has cut down on the amount of luggage we bring..

Love the customer service. On our last vacation, I forgot to put in on the website when we were going to arrive. Didn't occur to me until we were heading over to MGM. Our room wasn't ready yet...otherwise that would have been immediately noticable. Well, we had our owners locker to our room by the time our room was ready. So even if you mess up , owners locker has you back.!!! 2 thumbs up!!

 

[mla1977]

I couldn't live without mine. Once you have one, it makes packing for other destinations feel really complicated.

I absolutely agree with this! I went to Texas recently and was Tweeting about the fact that it sucked to pack to go somewhere where I wouldn't have my OL. They loved hearing that!

 

[deebits]

I have been sitting on the fence a long time with the OL. My DH and I fly Continental from NJ to WDW. We each have the Continental Credit card and do not have to pay for our 1st piece of luggage down for each of us. So with the initial cost of the OL $75, $99 for the year and you only get one visit, so for each addtional visit would be $25 and we tend to go 3 times a year. That would be $150 for the year correct? I guess I do not understand where the savings would come in for us. I think it would be great to not have to pack so much( I am the packer for both of us). Does anyone have the OL and also have free luggage on an airline? If so, how do you see the savings?

 

[deebits]

I just love my owners locker. I'm a packaholic, pack everything possible. Has cut down on the amount of luggage we bring..

Love the customer service. On our last vacation, I forgot to put in on the website when we were going to arrive. Didn't occur to me until we were heading over to MGM. Our room wasn't ready yet...otherwise that would have been immediately noticable. Well, we had our owners locker to our room by the time our room was ready. So even if you mess up , owners locker has you back.!!! 2 thumbs up!!

So they deliver your owner's locker directly to your room? Do you call bell services to come get it at the end of your trip also?

 

[MrsNick]

I have been sitting on the fence a long time with the OL. My DH and I fly Continental from NJ to WDW. We each have the Continental Credit card and do not have to pay for our 1st piece of luggage down for each of us. So with the initial cost of the OL $75, $99 for the year and you only get one visit, so for each addtional visit would be $25 and we tend to go 3 times a year. That would be $150 for the year correct? I guess I do not understand where the savings would come in for us. I think it would be great to not have to pack so much( I am the packer for both of us). Does anyone have the OL and also have free luggage on an airline? If so, how do you see the savings?

Hi we fly JetBlue and first bag flies free, so we don't pay for luggage. We have an OL and we don't realize any savings from luggage fees (or maybe we do since we don't have to check a second bag).

Some $ savings is in not having to repurchase toiletries, laundry detergent, wine, cognac, coffee/coffee filters, spices etc.

The major savings is in...TIME, not $. I don't have to go out and buy stuff every time we go to WDW and I don't have to pack it. **to clarify, I also work outside the home in a demanding job and have a baby, so for me TIME is in very short supply.

The other savings is on my back and DH's back in the airport. Especially now that we are travelling with a baby.

As a PP said, OL (just like DVC) is not for everyone. But it is definitely for us!

 

[Tara]

Does anyone have the OL and also have free luggage on an airline? If so, how do you see the savings?

That would be me. See above for why my time is worth more. Is it an outright cost savings? No. Do I gladly spend the money for the ease our Lockers provide. YES-YES-YES-YES!! (Actually, I might quibble a bit that we save money overall because of the value of things being reusable or buying full sizes that we use again and again versus travel sizes that are proportionally way more expensive or buying full size items that get thrown out each time, like detergent. Or what we save because in-room meals are even easier to cook if we have our favorite things, like a griddle for making pancakes. Or what we save in bottled water costs because we store a Brita pitcher and water bottles. But those cost savings are more difficult to track, so I won't quibble. )

And if you use the link at the top of this board and select "The DIS" in the "where did you hear about Owner's Locker?" field, you'll get $30 off the one-time fee PLUS an extra free visit for 3 years. And keep in mind that the one-time fee is just that - one time. You will only pay the annual plan fee after the first year. And the one-time fee includes your initial drop-off and pick up, so that free visit you get with the standard plan is IN ADDITION to the initial time. (And with the DIS discount, you get another free visit on top of that.

Not bad, and when you figure it's a money-back guarantee if you aren't happy, it's really a no-lose situation.

 

[deebits]

That would be me. See above for why my time is worth more. Is it an outright cost savings? No. Do I gladly spend the money for the ease our Lockers provide. YES-YES-YES-YES!! (Actually, I might quibble a bit that we save money overall because of the value of things being reusable or buying full sizes that we use again and again versus travel sizes that are proportionally way more expensive or buying full size items that get thrown out each time, like detergent. Or what we save because in-room meals are even easier to cook if we have our favorite things, like a griddle for making pancakes. Or what we save in bottled water costs because we store a Brita pitcher and water bottles. But those cost savings are more difficult to track, so I won't quibble. )

And if you use the link at the top of this board and select "The DIS" in the "where did you hear about Owner's Locker?" field, you'll get $30 off the one-time fee PLUS an extra free visit for 3 years. And keep in mind that the one-time fee is just that - one time. You will only pay the annual plan fee after the first year. And the one-time fee includes your initial drop-off and pick up, so that free visit you get with the standard plan is IN ADDITION to the initial time. (And with the DIS discount, you get another free visit on top of that.

Not bad, and when you figure it's a money-back guarantee if you aren't happy, it's really a no-lose situation.

That was another question I was going to ask and I am glad you stted it. The $25 for each addtional visit is for pick up and drop off..not $25 for pick up and $25 for drop off correct?

I think it is such a great idea and would LOVE not to buy bottled water. I am another who hates thinking of all those extra bottles when we use our Brita all the time at home.

Thank you for clarifying and I think we need to try out the owners locker. Does anyone store items like pancake mix, or does it that moldy smell of being in storage?

I love this site..there are so many thing I learn with all of your help...THANK YOU!!!!!!

 

[Tara]

That was another question I was going to ask and I am glad you stted it. The $25 for each addtional visit is for pick up and drop off..not $25 for pick up and $25 for drop off correct?

Yes, $25 for the whole visit - drop off and pick up.

Thank you for clarifying and I think we need to try out the owners locker. Does anyone store items like pancake mix, or does it that moldy smell of being in storage?

I haven't had an issue with this - and I often store 1 of those Bisquik Shake & Pour bottles.

 

[needtogomore]

They definitely make sense if a) you fly on a carrier that charges all kinds of baggage fees, b) you normally lug a lot of stuff with you to make your vacation home more home like, c) you don't want to carry all of that stuff with you each time, d) you'd like to be able to bring a lot less each visit...possibly even just a carry on per person.

For me, I just look at it as $8 per month, per box, or one less meal out for lunch twice a month, or one family dinner at fastfood vs. a sit down restaurant to take care of b, c & d. We fly Southwest, so our bags are still free, (a) but we're definitely taking less and less each trip. It's a great feeling knowing that our stuff is already there, and will be ready and waiting for us when we check-in.

Like DVC, it's not for everyone...but it sure works great for us!!

We fly from uk just had a look at what we need to pack for our trip in 14 days, suitcases are half empty, loads of room for gifts to bring back, before OL we had to buy at least 1 bag per trip to bring everything back,
and now the allowance has been halfed, we started with 1 OL and now have 3 yes it costs but for us its totally worth it, also the service is second to none, bigger companys could learn a lot from these guys.

 

[needtogomore]

I have been sitting on the fence a long time with the OL. My DH and I fly Continental from NJ to WDW. We each have the Continental Credit card and do not have to pay for our 1st piece of luggage down for each of us. So with the initial cost of the OL $75, $99 for the year and you only get one visit, so for each addtional visit would be $25 and we tend to go 3 times a year. That would be $150 for the year correct? I guess I do not understand where the savings would come in for us. I think it would be great to not have to pack so much( I am the packer for both of us). Does anyone have the OL and also have free luggage on an airline? If so, how do you see the savings?

We get free luggage last year it was 46 kilo, this has now been halfed to 23 kilo, my wifes meds take up over half her allowance, its not just about saving for us its more about the convenience, her carry on is also full of drugs we cant let out of site i.e controlled drugs, as I have already said in pp its also about the service which as many have said is fantastic.

 

[Anal Annie]

Thank you for clarifying and I think we need to try out the owners locker. Does anyone store items like pancake mix, or does it that moldy smell of being in storage?

I love this site..there are so many thing I learn with all of your help...THANK YOU!!!!!!

I think they ask that you not store OPEN food items because they don't want to develop a bug problem but something like the Shake & Pour mix that Tara mentioned would be fine. I have left unopened coffee & snacks & waters inbetween trips IF the dates are good AND we have another for sure trip planned to go back within a few months. If I don't know when we'll be back then personally, I wouldn't leave food products. I leave a fifth of Captain Morgan in ours but that won't go bad....


I agree about the time savings too! Packing ONLY clothes keeps my packing list short!! Now we don't have to stop at the skycaps to check in. We save money on bag tipping too!! We always park at a Fast Park off-site lot at BWI so we'd tip the shuttle driver...then the skycap. Then the bus driver then bell services. Then we gotta go home so we gotta tip everybody all over again in reverse. Holy cow - did you ever stop to add up what you spend in bag tips when you take umpteen bags?! Now when we get home we don't have to go to baggage claim & deal with that mess. Yes, it's a time saver!!

 

[vicki_c]

I don't look at the OL as a cost savings at all -- we normally drive to WDW in our van. I could take anything I want - all our bags fly free! LOL! But just the fact that I don't need to worry about all that stuff every trip is hugely meaningful to me.

All the miscellaneous stuff we always need to have -- cords for computers and iPods and OTC medicines and "Disney-only" things, coffee filters and kitchen supplies, contact lens solution, etc. - I just don't even have to think about that now beyond checking our inventory list and seeing if a few things might need to be replenished.

 

[jamstew]

Does anyone have the OL and also have free luggage on an airline? If so, how do you see the savings?

I fly SW exclusively so have no luggage fees. For me, OL is about the convenience, not the money. Every time I go, I know that all I have to pack are clothes and prescription medications.

 

[jdvm]

First, let me say that Owner's Locker isn't for everyone.

Second, I'll point out that no one really NEEDS Owner's Locker...you've been coming to Orlando lots without it and have gotten along just fine...and you can continue to do so.

We have lots of Members who drive and lots for whom luggage fees isn't an issue. Yes, you can look as Owner's Locker as a way to save money. But far more important is what having your vacation stuff here where it belongs does to your state of mind and your ability to have an enjoyable time while you're here.

Owner's Locker lifts that invisible burden that comes with a vacation...thinking of the things you need, getting it all together, worrying that you have forgotten something and of course packing it or running to the store when you get here.

It also allows you to keep things here that you'd never haul back and forth-- like a water filter pitcher so you don't have to buy tons of bottled water or a Kuerig coffee maker (the current hot item we hear people are storing in their Locker) and some neat mugs, a wireless access point so you don't have to deal with the ethernet cable or a spare laptop.

Let me share a couple of stories.

Several of our Members tell us that they keep a journal in their Locker and the write a few pages at the end of each trip about their favorite experiences. When they come back, the go over that list and it really sets the stage for their visit.

We also hear that many parents wrap up small gifts for their kids to open on their next trip and put them at the top of their Locker before they seal it up at the end of their vacation.

One of my favorite stories is from a couple who drive and have plenty of room to bring whatever they need.

They keep a bottle of champagne in their Locker and pop it in the freezer when they arrive.

Once they're unpacked and have moved in, the champagne is chilled and they get the two glasses from their wedding that they keep in their Locker and enjoy the champagne on their balcony.

Now, you can't look at these things in terms of cost savings. in some folks' eyes, they are completely unnecessary...in others they are priceless.

I'd suggest you consider giving Owner's Locker a try. We wouldn't offer a complete risk-free trial (where we refund every penny if you change your mind) if we weren't sure you'd like it once you've tried it!
john

 

[jekjones1558]

One day I did some rough calculations and added up a column with the original cost of our DVC points, our annual dues, what we pay for each trip in airfare, rental car, park tickets, meals and misc. In the second column I put the cost of Owners Locker. It was pretty evident to me that my lockers would be barely a blip in the DVC budget. Once I started using the lockers the cost became irrelevant. I AM ON VACATION. I want convenience and comfort. That is why we spent so much money for DVC in the first place! I my Owners Lockers!

 

[dianeschlicht]

John, you are wrong.....We DO NEED our Owner's Locker!!!

 

[SamSam]

John, you are wrong.....We DO NEED our Owner's Locker!!!

So true!