Is an Owner Locker for me?

[hayesdvc]

Wife and I are very fortunate to fly from Atlanta to WDW multiple times a year. We fly Southwest which allows each of us to check two bags. I would say at least 1/3 of our luggage space would be items that could go into a locker. If it was just that it would seem the locker would make no sense. We always buy more than we can take back (yes we are "unfavorable" AP holders, too). The extra space in the luggage going down would be wonderful for this reason.

Here is where I struggle. Based on the annual cost of the locker if I need it delivered multiple times a year, the items inside the locker must have a value greater than this sunk cost. Based on how easy it is to have the "necessities" delivered to the resort, would it be best just order the items you may store in the locker (crock pot, Keurig, etc) as disposable and gift the items forward. The main variable I did not cover is "you are on vacation, time is money" would be the locker's convenience.

Your thoughts are appreciated.

 

[MICKIMINI]

Our Owner's Locker was delivered to us at BWV in May. What a wonderful concept!

We have personal products, pj's, a complete outfit for both of us, fleece vests, swim stuff for both, a fleece blanket ($5 from WM), string lights (we decorate), foil, wrap, zip bags, coffee filters, packing tape, scissors, sharpie and lots of other goodies.

We can toss, bring home and/or restock what we need before we come home. We are staying five weeks this year (two trips) so it eliminates an entire suitcase or three boxes shipped for each trip. Living in NH, we find items are cheaper and no sales tax which offset some of the original shipping. Now we can travel with two carry on's, a tote bag and a backpack.

We're all in!

Edit to say we got an AP discount.

 

[LadybugsMum]

Remember that you are also paying for convenience and for some of us, it's worth it. It really cuts down on how much I need to pack for me and the kids since I only have to do clothes and shoes. I love not having to pack a second suitcase as I keep a complete set of toiletries and so many other things we like to have on our trips. For me, it's worth the money not to have to pack that every time especially if we are flying.

I have in my OL: brita pitcher and filters, charging cords for phones/ipads, hair brush and accessories, tooth brushes and tooth paste, disposable ponchos, misting fans (we only use these at Disney), water bottles, shampoo, conditioner, hand soap (don't like bar soap), laundry detergent, dryer sheets, notepad, pens, scissors, nail clippers, first aid kit (banadages, neosporin, tylenol, dramamine, qtips, allergy meds, etc), white noise machine, and more stuff that I can't remember at the moment.

 

[CarolynFH]

We don’t fly SW, so having the OL is extremely beneficial for us. We too keep full size toiletries, toothbrushes, and first aid items in ours. We also have some inexpensive kitchen knives and other cooking equipment, because we stay in other TS in Orlando besides DVC, and they’re not all equipped the same. And there’s also the Disney regalia - mostly hats - that we don’t wear at home. So it’s a great convenience not to have to pack all those items, even when we drive. It means at least one less suitcase to deal with!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

When we had a locker the problem I found with storing consumables, were that they were consumable. We still had to run to the market every trip to replace whatever was low, or expired.
IMO consumables just don’t work well in an OL.

That said, we also had all of our clothing in a second (and third) locker. We would leave home with basically the clothes on our back.
Eventually I soured on that practice also, as I do not like using the DVC washers & dryers.

So, after several years of having three lockers, we got rid of them.
(A few years after that we also got rid of DVC.)

 

[RoseGold]

Based on the annual cost of the locker if I need it delivered multiple times a year, the items inside the locker must have a value greater than this sunk cost

I mean do they? If you really need a crock pot and a Keurig, then this is already a no-brainer, but that's not why I have it. And I think you can ask for a Crock pot??

I hate MCO as an airport and I have no desire to waste time with checked luggage on both sides, even if bags were free. I like being free to fly the budget airline with backpacks and hop in a Lyft.

If my locker got swept away in the hurricane, I wouldn't be heartbroken, most of it isn't worth much. My MVP item is a blanket. Air mattress, old swimsuits and pool sandals and pajamas, full size toiletries, noise machine, nightlight. Some medication and extra contacts. A few snacks if we are desperate, and somehow we always are. And the park junk I don't use anywhere else, like the fans, park bags, park sneakers, Magic Bands, raincoats, etc. I have like 10 pairs of ears we like to play with. I don't want to think about packing all of this stuff. I don't want to pack this stuff and schlep this stuff. I really don't want to stand around MCO for 45 minutes waiting for this stuff. I want to bring a couple changes of clothes and go.

If you're really buying this much stuff at Disney, you could bring a folded up duffle and check that back one way. I know I'd much rather pick up bags at my home airport than MCO, and it's not exactly the best.

To me, Owners Locker is indispensable and one of my favorite things. If they had them in Vegas, I'd have one there too.

 

[Brian Noble]

The main variable I did not cover is "you are on vacation, time is money" would be the locker's convenience.

It's this plus "Stuff I don't want to have to think about while packing." So, we keep full-sized toiletries (we may be the last people on the planet with some H2O+ products), some fancy beach towels that fold down super small for the water parks, a slimline Brita pitcher (Central FL water: ick), and a nonstick pan that isn't scratched to high heaven.

It's not a way to save money. It's a way to provide convenience, and it's a small splurge to be able to do that.

 

[MelRavenswood]

If your main concern is bringing back souvenirs, as your bags are free, I would just ship everything that you have purchased home from the resort gift shop before you leave. Just save your receipts, and they can send for a rather reasonable price. Much cheaper than an owners locker!

 

[calismic]

We use our Owner's Locker for convenience. Though the price overall for several years may be higher than the price of the items inside; it saves on waste and gives us the comfort of knowing our stuff will be there when we arrive. I love having extra blankets, all my OTC meds, bandages, tooth paste, floss, extra hair products, my Mickey waffle iron, curling iron, etc. I made a list of the 'oh god did I forget to pack' items and just put them in the owners locker, so if I do forget them I have extra! More ideas, shaving products, contact solution, contacts, spare pair of glasses (mine broke one year) sun glasses, extra swimsuits, beach towels....I could keep going

 

[SLThomas318]

I think it's a convenience item for sure. It makes our WDW trips easier. For us, it is just part of the cost of our trips. Not sure if you are DVC, but they had a good promo for signing up that I want to say was unlimited deliveries the first year. I want to say there was an AP discount as well. We signed up with the promo to try it and we love it... it will just be part of our Disney costs for the year

 

[Ms.Minnie]

We had an owner's locker for many years and it worked out very well. We no longer have one because we now drive to FL so I can bring what I want without worrying about my luggage being overweight. Also, the dates of our annual trips always seemed to overlap so that we were having to pay extra deliver charges. Example in 2022 or trip began 1/23/22, in 2023 our first day will be 1/20/23 so we don't have a full year (12 months) between the delivery dates which equates to two visits in the same calendar year to OL. This part really annoyed me, to my way of thinking I was only taking on trip to WDW during 2022 and one trip in 2023 not two but that's not how OL's calendar works, and they own the company, so you have to go with their rules...Another issue is we have gone to VB after or before WDW and OL doesn't deliver or pickup from this location so again it wasn't working out for us.

I will say that while we had the OL it was very helpful and I'm not sorry we had it when we did. Nothing stays the same...

 

[HappyDisneyWife]

I love my owner’s locker, but I also realize that it’s not for everyone. I signed up with the DVC promo (=free setup, free service for 6 mo, free unlimited deliveries for the first year… in a blue box, not purple) and have switched levels of service for different years with no issues.

The main reason for my box was so that I could always have a good shot of espresso to start my day (just like at home). Like others have said, it’s more of a convenience factor. ️

But, of course, I’ve filled that poor box to nearly overflowing! Not only do I have an espresso machine with capsules, I’ve also got- travel coffee mugs, wheelchair accessories (fan & cupholder), corkcicle (for leaving Epcot with cold beverages that I don’t want to pound down at the exit ), packable rain jacket & hat, toiletries, first aid kit, medicines, extra contacts, 2 pairs of flip flops (I never have to pack extra shoes again!!), popcorn buckets, ziplocks, sharpie, scissors, blowup noodle (for the pool), sunglasses, sunscreen, cutting mats, a good pairing knife, 1 glass bowl with 1 SS spoon (for studio stays), chip clips, my favorite magicbands, a cooling towel, Christmas light up necklace, laundry detergent pods…. & more!!

What I LOVE- packing at home for my next Disney trip is always super easy!! I really don’t need to bring much & it feels so good

What I could do without- putting everything back into the box when we leave (with toiletries, etc, zipped up inside of “smelly proof” bags so that my box doesn’t acquire a stink & my espresso never tastes off bc of it )… it does take a considerable amount of time when we pack up (and it kind of adds to the *bleh* feeling of leaving)… but that’s just me & how I roll. I’m sure other people are happy to just throw everything in the box without much to-do (it’s actually what I do when we’ve got a split-stay & I love how quickly we can pack it all up!!!).

 

[RoseGold]

I’m sure other people are happy to just throw everything in the box without much to-do (it’s actually what I do when we’ve got a split-stay & I love how quickly we can pack it all up!!!).

I have a duffel bag and a big plastic shopping bag in the owner's locker, so I can expand out for resort transfer and don't have to do the puzzle every time. I do all split stays. I can cram, say, the blanket, in a shopping bag.

 

[zavandor]

I have nearly bought one before the pandemic, but decided against it at the end because they don't pick-up or deliver at Universal hotels, where I always start or end my vacations. It's unfortunate Universal won't allow it, but it's a deal breaker for me.

 

[Wakey]

I could never get the cost/ benefit analysis of one of these.

 

[DonMacGregor]

I could never get the cost/ benefit analysis of one of these.

Here's all the stuff we have in our locker that we don't have to think about bringing with us or finding out we need after we get to our resort:

Aloe Gel
Brita Pitcher and Filters
Bandaids
Charging Station/cables
Coffee - Ground (we replenish every trip)
Coffee Filters
Contact Solution (I think DW actually threw in a spare set of disposables last time too)
Deodorant
Electric kettle (DW prefers tea over coffee)
Gas-X
Kitchen Knives (2, with actual sharp edges)
Medicine - Sinus
Medicine - Prilosec
Medicine - Ibuprofen
Medicine - Acetaminophen
Medicine - Benadryl
Nail clipper set
Ponchos
Scissors
Sewing Kit
Shaving cream
Sugar in the Raw
Sunscreen, face
Sunscreen, Spray
Tide Detergent pods
Toothbrushes x2 (spares)
Toothpaste
Tweezers
Wine/Bottle Opener
Ziploc Bags - Gallon
Ziploc Bags - Sandwich

I have Delta Medallion Status and get one free checked bag for up to 8 people travelling with me so for us, it's purely convenience. Compared to what a typical stay costs us, the $50 or so per trip that the OL comes out to doesn't even move the needle.

 

[BeachClub2014]

Couldn't live without our OL. Here's our inventory, and no laughing at how we have a list!

First-Aid/Medicines		Pool/Parks
Acetaminophen		Flip Flops
Antibiotic Ointment		Cooler
Bandages		Coozies, Bottle
Cold and Flu, Daytime		Coozies, Can
Cold and Flu, Nighttime		Pool Bag
Cough Drops		Sunscreen
COVID-19 Test		Umbrella
Ibuprofen		Yeti Insulated Mugs
Itch Relief Cream
Thermometer
Toiletries		Kitchen/Laundry
Antacid		Bag Clips
Bath soap		Charger, Phone/Kindle
Bathspray		Clorox Wipes
Chapstick		Corkscrew
Contacts		Dryer Sheets
Contact Solution		Keurig Mini
Deodorant		Knives
Floss		Laundry Bag
Nail Clippers		Scissors
Q-Tips		Sewing Kit
Razor		Tide Pods
Razorblades		Wine Stopper
Shampoo		Ziploc, Gallon
Shave Cream		Ziploc, Quart
Toothbrush		Ziploc, Sandwich
Toothpaste		Ziploc, Snack

 

[DonMacGregor]

Couldn't live without our OL. Here's our inventory, and no laughing at how we have a list!

First-Aid/Medicines		Pool/Parks
Acetaminophen		Flip Flops
Antibiotic Ointment		Cooler
Bandages		Coozies, Bottle
Cold and Flu, Daytime		Coozies, Can
Cold and Flu, Nighttime		Pool Bag
Cough Drops		Sunscreen
COVID-19 Test		Umbrella
Ibuprofen		Yeti Insulated Mugs
Itch Relief Cream
Thermometer
Toiletries		Kitchen/Laundry
Antacid		Bag Clips
Bath soap		Charger, Phone/Kindle
Bathspray		Clorox Wipes
Chapstick		Corkscrew
Contacts		Dryer Sheets
Contact Solution		Keurig Mini
Deodorant		Knives
Floss		Laundry Bag
Nail Clippers		Scissors
Q-Tips		Sewing Kit
Razor		Tide Pods
Razorblades		Wine Stopper
Shampoo		Ziploc, Gallon
Shave Cream		Ziploc, Quart
Toothbrush		Ziploc, Sandwich
Toothpaste		Ziploc, Snack

Seems we all have the same ideas when it comes to what's in there. Almost like it's not random and arbitrary and may be based on some experience? LOL

 

[BeachClub2014]

Seems we all have the same ideas when it comes to what's in there. Almost like it's not random and arbitrary and may be based on some experience? LOL

Lol, exactly. And seemingly tends to be age-specific.

 

[DonMacGregor]

Lol, exactly. And seemingly tends to be age-specific.

LOL.