Owner's Locker - Please convince me

[Inkmahm]

We are new DVC owners, and will will be at SSR for 3 nights prior to our cruise in December and then BWV for 2 nights after. Is there a way to avoid paying an extra delivery charge? (We'll be back in Oct 08, so I'd like to use the 1 free annual/pickup then).

We won't have a car, so wouldn't be able to transport the locker ourselves.

I'd appreciate any advice/guidance on the best way to handle this.

Thanks!

There are ties to lock it so I'd send it with the rest of your luggage.

We're doing the same thing. One night at AKV, then 4 night cruise, then 5 nights at BWV. I'm having the locker dropped off at AKV and picked up 10 days later at BWV. It's definitely going on the cruise with us and to both resorts.

I'm currently planning an Alaskan cruise for next August and I"m wishing John delivered to Anchorage so I wouldn't have to pack so much stuff! Last time we went for 2 weeks in Alaska we had 3 big suitcases and a rolling carry on case. I'd love it if I could elliminate one of those because I had an Owner's locker stored with Princess!

 

[goofy4tink]

I wasn't really sure I was going to find enough value in having a locker, but after a few months going back and forth, I jumped on board. Well, all I can say is...my locker is full to the brim. I go to WDW twice a year, usually staying in either POP or a DVC...sometimes starting at POP and ending at BWV. It's so nice to be able to leave all my stuff that is Christmas themed behind, in Orlando. It's a huge pain to cart it back and forth. Shirts, sweatshirts, hats...all sorts of things I wouldn't use back here in Mass. Add to that the fans, Disney themed dishes/cups (melamine from Disney Store), shampoo/conditioner, coffee filters, extra bottles of water, water straps, batteries. I'm thinking of getting a white noise machine before my Dec trip and leaving that behind also.
Yep, I love the whole idea. I'm really close to being able to travel to WDW with carryon only.

 

[bonzarella]

We've had the pleasure of using OL four times this year & one to come We cannot praise them enough, not only is the "product" wonderful but J & B are terrific to work with. Due to new smoking policy our summer trip took us off site(waaaaaaay off site) J&B didn't bat any eye when we asked for pickup in what seemed like another country. John came right to the door of the private home & at our convenience.

You'll be amazed at the volume the locker holds, large laundry soap, kids toys, & all important booze bottles. We have gotten to where we can do carry on only & are so grateful.

THANK YOU OWNER'S LOCKER

 

[jdvm]

Hi jsMom2,

I have twins, too. Identical girls. The first two years can be a nightmare but it's nothing but fun after that!

Anyway, back to Owner's Locker. Your first Visit is part of your Membership Fee and your year doesn't start running until your Locker comes back into our warehouse full of your stuff.

Your trip to WDW for your cruise will be covered by your one-time Membership Fee. Your empty Locker will be waiting for you at Saratoga Springs when you arrive in December.

When you go on your cruise, you can either take your Locker with you as a lot of people do or leave it at Saratoga Springs and secure it with one of the seals we leave for you that Inkmahm was talking about.

The resorts will allow you to leave things with bell services while you're on a cruise. Since you're coming back to the Beach Club Villas, I can't guarantee that they will transfer it there but I'm almost positive that they will.

So, when your Locker is picked up from Beach Club after you leave there to go home, it will come into our warehouse for storage and we call this your Anniversary Date and charge you for your Annual Plan at that time. This is when your year starts to run and it's sort of like a use year. Your October, 2008 trip would occur during this period so that Visit would be covered as your yearly free Visit.

I hope this makes sense!

John

 

[TLSnell1981]

I'm still on the fence. I guess I'll make up my mind on my next trip. The $174 you are paying for the first year is what is putting me off. I keep trying to rationalize it.

 

[JsMom2]

Hi John,
Do you pickup and deliver to/from the ship, if someone does cruise only?

 

[Rozzie]

I'm still on the fence. I guess I'll make up my mind on my next trip. The $174 you are paying for the first year is what is putting me off. I keep trying to rationalize it.

What surprised me the most is how much money we SAVE with OL. I used to do this "WDW Wallyworld" trip before each time, and it seemed like I was always buying the same thing. Now, no more of that! We have a small pharmacy in our OL, saves paying a fortune at the gift shops for such things. Plus we keep a extra camera battery, extra memory card, extra cell phone charger, everything that requires a 2nd mortgage to buy on property.

We are actually thinking of adding a 2nd locker. And we are DINKS! I cannot think of my life before Ownerslocker, that is how much it has transformed our vacations. Never for 1 second have we regretted it.

Can't say enough for the service, we are always switching resorts, beginning one place, ending another place, changing minds in middle of trip, anything you could think that would throw the guys a loop, but nope, 1st class service every single time.

 

[jdvm]

Hi John,
Do you pickup and deliver to/from the ship, if someone does cruise only?

Are you flying in and out of the Orlando airport? If so, we've got you covered. We haven't had enough demand yet for deliveries and pickups just to the ships (or Vero) but if folks are coming through the airport or starting out and finishing somewhere near the attractions we can handle it. Thanks for asking!

John

 

[JsMom2]

Are you flying in and out of the Orlando airport? If so, we've got you covered. We haven't had enough demand yet for deliveries and pickups just to the ships (or Vero) but if folks are coming through the airport or starting out and finishing somewhere near the attractions we can handle it. Thanks for asking!

John

Yes, next October we'll probably do WDW pre-cruise then fly home directly afterwards out of Orlando. Being able to keep WDW AND cruise stuff in the locker sounds awesome!

 

[GEB@okw]

Having used our locker three times in nine months and planing two more times by the end of January I do not think I want travel with out it. John says there is a money back guarantee if you are not happy so go fot it. You have nothing to lose!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[NJAviator]

Based on what I've read here, this sounds like a huge convenience and probably a money saver in the end. I know I find it to be a huge hassle to pack and try to remember everything. Only to forget at least a few things. Plus, having to live without those items you don't want to deal with packing.

Great idea John. Sounds like you are all about customer service. The wife and I will discuss. I expect to try it out for New Years this year.

 

[jdvm]

What a very nice post, NJAviator,

Our whole purpose is taking the hassle out of your vacations and making them more convenient and rewarding because you can have more of your personal stuff around you.

We're also aware that we are developing long term relationships so we'd better get it right!

We look forward to working with you.

John

 

[bonzarella]

Another kudo for John & Brian Within 24 hr notice I had our locker delivered. These guys are the best!!!!! We had an extremely early flight & while pulling out of resort check-in I saw the Purple Van pull up. So happy to see them. I've been given the challenge to notify them upon arrival next time, might take them up on it. Thanks so much for providing this service.

 

[bavaria]

It's the best thing since sliced bread.... (better actually - I can slice my own bread just fine with a knife)

Recently on a late evening flight my luggage was delayed; I have everything in my locker that I needed to be comfortable without a suitcase. That's a pretty amazing testament to the usefulness of the locker.

I strongly believe that on vacation one should be more comfortable than at home, so I keep 'luxury' items in my locker such as a duvet, toasted sandwich maker, coffee, Nutella, chocolate bath products, travel candles, etc.

I also keep a variety of necessities such as extra toiletries, pair of shoes, extra shirt, umbrella, etc.

Plus the service provided by John and Brian is a model of excellence. Having a locker makes 'coming home' feel that much more like 'home'... and for someone who is on the road about 300 days a year, I do like that feeling!

 

[TinkTatoo]

We're Owners Locker fans from Ireland. Firstly I couldn't believe how big the locker was and just how much stuff we could fit in it. As we visit from Europe we have the usual stuff that people leave in their lockers plus quite a few things that we only use in the US (chargers / adaptors etc.,) It was great to be able to leave all this stuff in Florida and know it will be waiting for us when we go back. It also meant plenty of room in our suitcases for bringing home even more shopping (those of you from Europe will understand that one )

We also got a first class service from John and the rest of the OL crew who are courteous and professional at all times

 

[mikesmom]

Bavaria, thanks for the idea! I had never thought of the lost luggage scenario as we always travel SW and they are pretty reliable. However, things can happen, so next trip we will leave behind a set of underwear, shorts and t shirt for everyone in the family "just in case". Toiletries and other "home" comforts are already stored in our Owners Locker.

Who knows? Some day we may just take a quick run down with no lugagge at all!

 

[bavaria]

next trip we will leave behind a set of underwear, shorts and t shirt for everyone in the family "just in case".

HMMMM....

Apparently you do not follow Bavaria's rule to always carry two spare pairs of underwear in your purse....

I never leave the house without my passport and my spares 'just in case'!

 

[luminous]

Since someone already posted that there is a money back guarantee with the owners lockers, that is probably already enough to get you to try it out. But I still felt like adding my two cents! An owners locker is a huge stress-buster for me. Since we usually stay in a one bedroom and have a washer/dryer we keep laundry soap, shout "color catchers", and dryer sheets in our locker. We also found a small, powerful, hand held vacuum at Walmart for $18 that we use for our space bags and to fill up my daughters air mattress/sleeping bag. Between being able to do laundry and using the space bags, our family of 5 travels with one large and one small suitcase. This has made the airport process so much easier for me!!! I now have my hands free of luggage so I can hold on to my little wanderers. It also made our villa more comfortable as we didn't have a bunch of suitcases to try to store (this was an issue on our first trip to SSR). I don't keep anything perishable (vitamins or medications) but I do keep hair care products for my "special needs" hair that don't come in travel sizes. We also keep things that may be needed on our trips that we may not think to pack, like umbrellas and rain ponchos, and items that are a pain to pack like flip flops and beach socks, although not for the little ones whose feet are still growing. We have sand buckets and shovels for the kids in case we go to the water parks or stay at the BCV. I also keep Ziploc baggies to put away leftovers or carry snacks into the parks. Because of our situation (3 kids, doing laudry to cut down on luggage) and because of the peace of mind it brings, the owners locker makes perfect sense for us. Hope this helped.
FYI- we bought a storage tub with roughly the same dimensions and did a "dry run" before we left home to make sure everything would fit. We then shipped most of those contents ahead of us a week before our trip.

 

[mikesmom]

HMMMM....

Apparently you do not follow Bavaria's rule to always carry two spare pairs of underwear in your purse....

I never leave the house without my passport and my spares 'just in case'!

Heck, Bavaria, I don't even carry my PURSE! I have a passport/boarding pass case that hangs around my neck that holds the aforementioned boarding pass, ticket, divers license, a few bucks, credit card, pen and cell phone. I usually pack my purse in the luggage and carry on a backpack with an Ipod, noise cancelling headset, book, tissues, chapstick, drink tickets, and all the things DH (and DS if he is along) don't have room to carry but can't live without - in other words home packed lunches .

 

[Judy WI]

Just received my "message from your Owners Locker" Have a solo trip planned for early Dec. This is the second time this year to use the OL and I know it is silly but get a kick out of the updates that are sent out. They tell you they are ready for your trip and you get a message when the locker is back in storage. Really a nice thing to use.