Laundry Question

[tanyaandallie]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this or not. We are staying at WL for 8 nights. There is just no way we can get away with not doing laundry at least 1 time. I keep reading that doing laudry at the resort is a huge pain, not enough machines, takes forever to dry, etc. Is there a laundry mat anywhere close by that is recommended? Or a laundry service or something? I am thinking one night when the kids go to sleep dh or I can head out to a laundry mat. We will do the laundry in the hotel if they are free but I don't want to have to wait around forever if it would be faster to just go elsewhere.

Thanks!

 

[DANAW]

We stay at the WL every year. Our last trip was exactly one year ago. I have never had a problem doing my laundry there. However, I tend to get up early to do it. If you zig when everyone else zags you won't have a problem. Its not free though, unless Disney has changed it in the last 12 months. Also, if I do 2 loads in the washer, I separate it into 3-4 dryer loads to make sure everything dries.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Here is what the costs of laundry service were at WL/VWL in November 06 when we went:

Dry Cleaning
Suits 11.50
3 PC Suits 12.00
Coats 8.00
Pants 6.50
Jackets 7.50
Overcoats 12.50
Shirts 6.25
Sweaters 7.50
Ties 3.50
Blouses 6.25
Dresses 11.60
Gowns/Jumpsuits 20.00+

Laundry
Shirts 5.50 (you can request heavy starch, folded, light starch, hangers, no starch)
Pants 6.50
Socks 2.00
Undershorts/panties 2.00
T-shirts 4.50
Sweatsuit 7.50
Pajamas 6.00
Undershirts & Bras 2.00
Handkerchiefs 2.00
Blouses 5.50
Slips 4.50
Nightgowns 6.00
Tennis shorts 5.00
Knit shirt 5.00

Plus an environmental surcharge
Liability limited to 10 times the dry cleaning charge.
Not responsible for buttons, ornaments and zippers.

Items received by 8:30AM will be ready by 6:30PM

Silks, linens and pleats 50% surcharge; lined +1.00; minimum charge $5.00; shirts folded on request +10% surcharge; press only 75% of dry cleaning charge.

 

[LowesChevy]

We stay around 8-9 days so doing laundry is a must for us. Yes it can be a drag, cost around $6-8 dollars, and be busy at times, but it is better than driving aorund the area looking for a laundromat.

On the day we do laundry-it is a mellow day. We either get up really early and beat the crowd or head to the park in the morning, head back in the afternoon, toss in the laundry and go for a swim, hit the arcade or explore the grounds.

We plan on packing 2-3 rolls of quarters for the laundry and the tolls. Plus the laundry service is $$$$ and they staple tags to your clothes.

 

[skipperkim]

The only time I needed to do laundry was on a 10 day trip. But we stayed at a 2 bedroom villa at OKW, so we had a washer and dryer in the room. It was very easy to just throw a load in washer when we left in the morning. Put it in the dryer when we got back in the afternoon.

 

[amylovesdisney]

Years ago, we stayed at the GF/concierge and I did my laundry when we popped back to the hotel for an afternoon swim. The kids needed to cool off (July 04) and DH was all for watching them at the pool. Not a soul in sight. I finished up while everyone showered and dressed for a return trip to MK and supper.

We signed up for DVC (W/D on every trip since) during that visit! I like packing light.

 

[disnut8]

If you are willing to go out to a laundramat after your kids are asleep, then you shouldn't have a problem doing laundry at Disney World. Once you get to the Wilderness Lodge and BEFORE you need to do laundry, make a couple walks by the laundry room at various times (early morning, after your kids are asleep) and see when the room is the emptiest. One of my friends likes to get up at 6:00 AM and do her family's laundry. She says the place is deserted and she has time to herself. The cost of doing laundry at Disney World isn't that bad and you will need two cycles of the dryers but if you birng your own supplies, it's not going to cost any more than going offsite to do it.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

I did our laundry at the WL around 7am one day. There was only one woman there when I started but it did get very busy as the morning progressed. It was kind of fun meeting my fellow hotel guests over dirty clothes. I don't know about the evenings.

A reminder to everyone who may read this. Please DO NOT leave your laundry unattended! There was one load in a washing machine the entire time I was there (about 2 hours). Another woman started a load and left for a while and someone needed her machine after the cycle was done. Eventually someone took the wet clothes out and folded them in a stack. Leaving your stuff in a machine longer than necessary is just rude.

 

[sbdw]

Also don't forget you can save a bit by bring your own detergent. We
always bring a small container of premeasured detergent and fabric sofener.
You can find the small boxes at the grocery store. Just remember to put
them in a plastic bag when traveling

 

[kldmom2000]

The last 2 trips I planned perfectly and had exactly the right # of clothing changes for each of us.... and there were some days we had to change twice due to the August humidity/heat Of course, this resulted in 4 suitcases and 4 carry-ons for the 4 of us (2 adults, and 2 kids) for a 7 week stay.... I was trying to avoid doing laundry because when we were at the BC in 12/04, I tried numerous times throughout the day/evening to get into the tiny laundromat they have near the quiet pool and the machines were always all in use w/ people waiting for a free one When we were about to run out of clothes that trip, I set my alarm for 3:30am and went down to an empty laundry room and did all of our laundry. Of course it was not fun getting up so early after a long day in the parks, but it's the only time I can seem to find an empty machine at the BC! I will have to do this again on our upcoming trip because I really don't want the hassle of so much luggage!