I think many of us here keep one unusual (i.e. eccentric) item in our owner's lockers. The best one I've heard about is a shower head and wrench, to undo some of the low-flow heads at the resort. I don't keep that in a locker. But I do have something else. So I'm just throwing this out there in case anyone's interested - I keep a small grinder and a Breville bambino espresso maker in my owners locker.
I'm OK with the coffee drinks at Riviera. I'm kinda OK with the coffee drinks in the lobby at the Contemporary. But beyond that, a decent latte is a real weak link in offerings at most of the
DVC locations. (And honestly, I'd be mostly OK with Starbucks--but most espresso drinks at DVC areas aren't even up to Starbucks levels.)
This was a few years back, just post-pandemic, when I was sitting in Roaring Fork, drinking one of their push-button, automated lattes, and I thought: how much would it be to get a decent-ish espresso maker. And then, on
Amazon, the Bambino Plusses were 30% off. (I think this was right before Mother's Day, a few years back, when all of the Breville stuff was on sale. But the sale, as I recall, lasted through most of June.). And then I did the math.
On an average day at Disney I would buy one to two lattes, most of which weren't great. These are around $6 each. So $6 some days, $12 on others. So I put it at $9 on average.
Then I multiplied it out by a very conservative estimate of 40 days per year on property. So $360 on lattes in DVC quick serve areas.
Then I looked at the hard costs: the Bambino, as best I recall, was $320. I found a cocinare portable (re-charable) grinder for $150. I had plenty of extra espresso tools at home. (I've been at this for a while.). So hard costs were $470. The espresso maker and grinder should make it at least four years. so $117 per year over four years. And maybe they last longer, the grinder in particular. I had the espresso maker shipped from Amazon to Disney for my next trip--again to CCV--and I carried the grinder in my carry-on luggage as it's powered by a rechargeable lithium battery. It came with a carrying case (it's made for travel) and easily fit in my backpack.
Then there's the cost of a second owner's locker, which is $180 per year with unlimited visits. (Also the second locker holds a lot more than the Bambino and grinder.). The Bambino and grinder take up maybe 55% or 60% of the locker. So I can now leave a little more gear in Florida--umbrella, rain jacket, etc.
Anyway $118 plus $180 = $298 per year. Add in milk (from the convenience store in the lobby) plus beans from the roasters near my house and it's very close to $360 for superior coffee per year. (I keep waiting to be stopped at airport security as flying with coffee beans can be a bit suspicious, but it's never happened.). And I can make lattes in my room. And drink it on the balcony without going to the lobby.
I've since also purchased a storage bag for the espresso maker, which makes packing up at the end of a trip easier.
This is probably not for everyone, but I think it's fabulous, especially for days that I mostly hang around the resort.
My husband and I were both CPs (many moons ago!
) so WDW definitely has a very special place in our hearts
. I would get tear up from time to time walking down main street, all the memories just rush through then I get emotional...I'm such a cry baby!
neighbor!
