Mailing a box to your WDW resort before you arrive **UPDATE**

[goofy4wdw59]

I've seen posts on this topic in the past, but the "search" function is disabled, so, I'm posting!
I want to bring some things I purchased from the Disney Store for the kids, and because we are flying, I don't want to bring extra luggage. I think it would be easier for me to mail a box before we leave.
I would be mailing a box (thru the US post office) from Illinois for arrival at AllStar Movies by Sun. May 25th. How many days prior should I mail it? I don't want it to arrive too soon?
For those of you that have mailed boxes to your resort before your arrival, how many days prior to your arrival date did you mail your box, and what was your experience with this?
Thanks for your imput!

 

[macs4us]

I usually ship Priority Mail, and it gets there in 2 - 3 days. You want it there the day before you get there, so I would call the resort directly and ask what they recommend (their internal mail system may delay things, and the USPS doesn't know that). I would say the Tuesday or Wednesday before you leave. You can also check the USPS website for shipping times.

Hope this helps....have a great trip!!!

 

[msdis]

Read on a post about this a while ago where someone was charged by the resort a $25.00 storage fee for someting that they sent to the resort for themselves. Not sure of all the details but I decided against after hearing that. Just an fyi, you may want to check.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

Coronado Springs charged us. I think it was around $20.00. i'm not sure if its by weight, or just a flat fee.

What made me mad was that I had called before sending it, and they told me no charge. I did not find out who I talked to, so had no recourse.

Anyway with the charge added on, any savings was out the window.

I had sent some food supplies, napkins, cereal and other bulky stuff. If I had known the grocery that the town car stopped at was like it is, I could have waited, and purchased things there.

 

[summerrluvv]

I shipped a 15lb box to the YC last year via UPS. I was charged a package fee by the hotel of like 6-7 dollars. I too was told there was no fee for having them hold the package for a couple days, but I didn't wanna argue it when we were checking out.

 

[MaMudduck]

you're there and checked in? Do they still charge you (for use of the internal WDW mail system)?

 

[goofy4wdw59]

Thanks for the replies!
I wouldn't be interested in this if a storage/package charge is added! I called AllStar Movies today and asked about mailing a box. The CM (noted his name) told me it would be no problem & to put "Attention" with my name and arrival date on the box. I asked if there would be a storage charge and he said no, it would be OK, etc.
So...today, Tuesday, May 20th, I mailed an 8lb box "priority mail" to the AllStars Resort. It should arrive Thursday or Friday. I didn't want to wait another day as I want to allow an extra day or two for arrival by Sunday, May 25th. Hopefully, it won't be a problem arriving early!
I will post what my experience was with this. Can't wait until the vacation starts!!

 

[cinmell]

We've sent a package to ourselves twice with diapers, wipes, etc. with no problems and no fees from the resorts at all. We did this at Grand Floridian and Contemporary. Both times, I mailed it 6-7 days prior to our arrival date and used Fedex both and I was able to track the package. We addressed the box to ourselves at the resort address and included our arrival date and reservation number. The Grand Floridian told me to use Fed Ex or UPS because for some reason because USPS wouldn't deliver onsite but I think the CM was wrong. You might want to call the resort to ask about that just to make sure and to obtain the correct address.

 

[safetymom]

For conventions when you ship to certain Disney hotels they charge you .40 a lb. for anything you ship to the hotel. They said that CSR is a union hotel. So I don't know about the other hotels or any that are considered convention hotels.

 

[lynnie78]

For what it's worth, I lost one of my contacts last year while at All Star Movies. I had my college roommate back home overnight mail me my extra. (Now I know to bring extras with me in the future ) She used USPS and it got to me the next day and the resort did not charge me at all.

Lynn

 

[bethsg]

In addition to sending myself, I always order groceries from Net Grocer, and they are waiting for me, when I arrive. Works out great and saves on some cash. check it out
www.netgrocer.com

 

[goofy4wdw59]

Here was my experience with mailing my box...
I didn't remember to check on my box until hours after we had checked into our room at AllStar Movies. It was about 11pm before I went to front/checkin area and told a CM I had mailed a box earlier in the week and it should have arrived.
I think I only told the CM my name--he went in the back for a little bit and came back with my box. The CM checked my room key/ID to make sure I was the right person for the box and handed it over with no problems. I didn't have to pay any additional fee.
I carried the box back to my room. If my box had been bigger, I may have asked for help in getting it to my room. (My box was about 2ft high by about 1ft wide and weighed 8lbs)
Per the above replies, it may be that other WDW resorts charge a fee or something?, or maybe the size/weight of the box makes a difference.
For those interested, it might be a good idea to call the front desk/guest services at the resort where you will be staying (note the name of the person you speak to--maybe ask for a supervisor) and confirm that there will/will not be any additional charges for storage, etc.
I will probably do this again. I may also check out the "netgrocer" for our DVC stays!

 

[frannn]

Just wondering how much it cost you to ship the box? I'm trying to decide on a grocery stop or not. Thanks!

 

[tinaw]

I am very interested in using Netgrocer but have a question. On the shipping form, do you just use the hotels address? I didn't see anywhere I could put in additional info such as reservation number or date or a place to include the name of the hotel itsself how did you address your package?. Also, do you know what you paid (approx) for shipping? Thanks!

 

[Cinders]

You can go to the USPS website to figure exact postage from your zip code to WDW. But just for an example for me in Northern Indiana to mail a package to WDW that weighs 8lbs and use Priority would cost $11.45. 10 lbs would be $13.00. Parcel Post is cheaper but not by much 8lbs would be $9.84 and 10lbs would be $11.01

 

[goofy4wdw59]

Sorry I haven't responded yet--just signed on the DIS tonight! (I'm not on as often as I would like to be )

anyway, I paid $13.10 to mail my 8lb box "priority mail" from Illinois (12.65 + I added "delivery confirmation" for .45)


tinaw--I haven't tried the netgrocer yet, so not yet familiar with it. Bethsg suggested netgrocer, so, she may be able to help out on that.

 

[Cinders]

I added "delivery confirmation" for .45)

You can get free delivery confirmation on Priority if you download the Shipping Assistant program on the USPS site and print your labels using it. Media mail labels can be printed and their DC is only $.15.

 

[Pete's Mom]

We've done this twice via UPS at ASMo with no problems. Of course, I would recommend that you send it out to arrive no earlier than a day or so before your arrival. I can see where WDW would charge a fee if they had to store these packages for a week.