Laundry at Resorts

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

Just wondering if its possible to have your laundry done at the resorts (we'll be at WL and AKL). Also how it works and what the cost is. Being that we are on vacation I would prefer to have it done for me, not by me but that would work too. We'll have 10 days in WDW, then a 4 night crusie, and finally 1 more day at WDW before flying home, so laundry at some point will be a must!

I did do a search but had a hard time finding info on this. Thanks!!!!

 

[nygrl]

I did laundry on our last trip at the cr they had two laundry rooms. Im sure both akl and wl have laundry rooms also. you can also have it done for you but im sure it costs a fourtune. i dint even inquire about it i just got up early one morning and had it done before anyone else was up. it was actually a very peaceful quiet time lol.

 

[Mermaid02]

I did laundry last year at WDW. I did it early enough so it wasn't too busy. Didn't mind at all and frankly, didn't want anyone else touching our clothes. Call me strange!

 

[lovmy2girls]

When I was doing our Laundry at the Poly last summer, overheard a few people talking about this most were going on the cruise and doing all their laundry before they left (They also said that on the boat there are not that many washers and dryers on board) anyway they said they charge by the piece. I didn't get how much.

 

[DVC-Don]

We almost used the resort laundry service once. But, reading the cost, it appeared to be cheaper to drive off site and buy new clothes. So, even before jumping into DVC, we did laundry in the laundry rooms at the resorts.

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

Thanks for the replies!

Don- I jokingly told dh that (about it being cheaper to buy more clothes then have them wash them). He didn't think I was too funny.

I'm not seeing it as too likely that I would get up and do the laundry early. We are coming from West Coast time, and will be trying to make it to the parks 1/2 before opening in the summer, and I'm the sleeper in the family... so all of that will already put me up much earlier then normal (usually no problem at Disney, but I'm guessing I'd be less enthusiastic for laundry). Dh would be much more likely to do it. But I'm guessing he would not be thrilled either. I'll try and contact Disney CSR and nail the cost on having it done down, and present it all to dh, and figure something out.

 

[3Mousketeers]

I've been wondering about this for our upcoming trip to AKL. I've heard the rumor about charging by the item of clothes but haven't confirmed that. I'd appreciate your posting if you find anything out. I would really prefer not to do laundry on my vacation (with 3 kids laundry is my life) but I don't see DH going for buying new clothes either. LOL!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

The first time we went to WDW I didn't realize GF even had a laundry room. We sent everything out, even kids socks and underwear. It cost us $200 for the week. Last year I found out where the laundry room was - I don't think anyone else was ever in it. I still sent out some things - polo shirts, kids nicer outfits, nice shorts etc, but washed socks, underwear, kids pajamas etc. I think we spent about $100 for 8 nights. This year we're going for two weeks so I'm sure I'll spend some time at the laundry. I get up really early anyway so it's no big deal for me to throw in a load once or twice a week.

 

[chyam]

The WL does have a laundry room right down from the snack bar, I think all of the resorts do since I remember them from years ago at the AS. Anyways I usually will do a load and then sit out by the pool til it's ready to go in the dryer. I perfer to do my own laundry and always plan to do some on vacations since that way I don't have to haul the whole closet!

 

[Taja]

Laundry rooms are available at all of the resorts. It's $2 per load for the washer and $2 per dryer for 30 minutes. Heavier clothing takes longer.

Valet service is extremely expensive--to me, anyway! It starts at $2 per piece and escalates from there. It would have cost me about $75 to have my laundry done. It cost $4 to do it myself (had to let a couple of things air dry in my room, but I do that at home, anyway!).

It's your choice and money!

 

[laceemouse]

We stayed at the Poly once and I did laundry mid-week. So did everyone else in the resort. I have 4 kids and lugging the bags full of dirty clothes to the laundry room almost did me in. The place was extremely crowded! It was awful This experience was one of the main reasons we bought DVC. I am a laundry fanatic, if I miss a day it if hard for me to catch up. I love the 2 bedroom units with our own washer and dryer. Worth every penny to me. No, I was not at the Poly laundry at the break of dawn, that may help. Just remember that you may have quite a hike to the laundry room.

 

[tar heel]

The prices for the send-out laundry are out of this world. I don't remember what they all are but do remember underwear and socks are over a $1 each and some things are $4-$5. And it's no rumor -- you definitely pay PER PIECE. I computed it once for the laundry I did at Disney and it was around $200. I think you might could save $ by buying very cheap underwear and throwing it away!

 

[Martha7]

I've never stayed longer than a three-day weekend before, but we'll be staying for a week in April at the CR, so I may need to do the laundry while there. How do you guys manage the problem of transporting the clothes to the laundry and then back to the room? Do you just use a suitcase? Thanks!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Yes, I use suitcase. That makes it easy to just fold it and put it back. The suitcase is on wheels so it's convenient. When we stayed in Sago Cay at GF the laundry room was still in our building, just on the first floor so it really wasn't a big deal.

 

[welovedis]

I always do the laundry at WDW, it is just something that is necessary since we usually take long trips and can't pack enough clothes for 10-12 days.

One way I do this is by taking along some clean white garbage bags. I make sure everyone puts dirty whites in one bag and dirty colors in another, no sorting in the Laundry Room. I also get a box of those laundry tablets at the grocery store with indivually wrapped detergent and a small box of softener sheets so that I don't have to purchase these at the resort. Also on my packing list is a small roll of quarters for the machines. When we are getting "low" on clothes I just put everything in a rolling suitcase and head off the the LR.

I have found that early morning (really early at the value resorts) is the quietest time, but it all depends on who needs laundry done. One time I work up at 4am & couldn't fall back asleep and met 2 other moms in the LR who said the same thing! If you are at the pool or back at the resort and know that you'll have a couple of hours downtime, head out and stick some laundry in, you'd be surprised at how little time it takes. I have also done it in the early and late evening, and sometimes the room is packed, sometimes it is empty.

I realize that you are not staying at a DVC resort, but if you do then the laundry facilites are free, otherwise it will cost $2 for a wash and $2/30 minutes of drying time. Obviously these are commerical type dryers you'll see at a laundromat and tend to get pretty hot so watch out for those clothes that might shrink!

If you send your things out be prepared to pay about:
$2 per pair of socks or underwear
$3 child's top or bottom
$4 adult t-shirt or lightweight shirt
$5 adult pants
$5+ for jeans, sweater/sweatshirts, dresses, slacks, etc...

I remember seeing the list and thinking it was pretty outrageous!

Anyway, if you are willing to invest a bit of time and maybe roping DH into helping you can save a lot of $$$!

 

[3Mousketeers]

welovedis - thanks for the great specifics! at those prices i think i can manage to fit a load in sometime!!! i love your suggestions about the garbage bags & laundry tablets. thanks!

 

[CrazedDisFan]

If you have a Family Dollar, Dollar General or Big Lots near you, you can pick up pop-up hampers also.

We did this and they worked out great. They cost maybe two or three dollars, but were well worth it. It made toting the clothes back and forth simple!


I totally agree about the laundry tablets! They are so easy to take in your luggage. Just smash them in the package before you pour them in the washer. It has been my experience that they kind of clump up if you don't smash them.

 

[jenelope]

I haven't been able to find the detergent tabs lately. I had a box of Tide Ready-tabs (or whatever they were called) that I saved for vacations, but I'm all out now. The Tide website doesn't list them as a product any more, either.

I used a large WDW shopping bag last time I did laundry on a trip. I've been looking at various pop-up hampers and laundry bags recently. The best bet for small packed size and nice handles seemed to be at Camping World. All of the other ones I've seen didn't seem to pack small enough. Whatever the size, though, I'd rather pack a laundry bag than twice as many clothes!