Owners Locker Question

[heathers4um]

Hi All!

I am obsessing and wanted some opinions. I want to do an OL but cant decide if I should do it this time since our 1st trip home will just be DBF and I...no kids.

And, if I do it, whats the best way to get the things to put in it? Pack a suitcase full of stuff from home or add it to the Green Grocers list I will be making soon?

What are your experiences, tips, and thoughts?

 

[SamSam]

Dh and I (empty nesters) absolutey love our OL! I am the Queen of Frugal and it took me a long time to decide to try it, but I am so glad I did. We did a combination of bringing things from home and purchasing in Orlando to fill our locker.....actually 2 lockers.
Here's a list of what is in our lockers:

1 Box Wipe-on OFF Repellant
1 Can insect Spray
1 Can Yard Guard
1 tube SPF 15 Suntan Lotion
Bandaids
1 Bottle Ibuprofin
1 Moleskin
1 Bottle Antacids
1 Bottle Gas Relief Pills
1 Dental Floss

2 disposable razors
1 Tube Beyond Zone Hair Spike
1 Can Rave Hairspray
1 Small Can Root Boost
1 Degree Deodorant
1 Women's Deodorant
1 Curling Iron
1 Flat Iron
1 Manicure Set
1 Tin Fashion Tape
1 Small Sewing Kit
1 Booklight
1 Flashlight

1 Paring Knife
1 Box gallon size ziplock bags
1 Box snack size plastic bags
1 Brita Faucet Filter
1 Brita Water Bottle
1 Corkscrew
1 Handheld Drink Mixer
1 pack coffee filters
travel coffee press
spoons & forks for studio
salt & pepper
2 Candles
Refill Mug
matches

1 feather pillow
2 mickey t's
1 lightweight jacket
1 Travel Folder
1 Backpack
1 Hip pack
1 pair black flipflops
1 pair white flip flops
2 rain ponchos
2 umbrellas
1 pair binoculars

Laundry Detergent
Fabric softener
1 Small bottle wrinkle release
1 Lint Roller

1 Flat Screen Monitor
2 Keyboards
Printer
router
extension cord
multi-outlet
scotch tape
sticky notes
strapping tape
2 AA Batteries
2 AAA Batteries

And we plan on taking a Mini Keurig on our next trip to make the stay even better.

 

[heathers4um]

Wow....you are prepared to move right in!

I think it will make it easier to have an OL and it will make me feel like it really IS a 2nd home!! I have a long list already of things I may not want to live without for a week or so a couple times a year, not to mention how awesome it will be to not have to drag things from one point to the other each time we go!

Dh and I (empty nesters) absolutey love our OL! I am the Queen of Frugal and it took me a long time to decide to try it, but I am so glad I did. We did a combination of bringing things from home and purchasing in Orlando to fill our locker.....actually 2 lockers.
Here's a list of what is in our lockers:

1 Box Wipe-on OFF Repellant
1 Can insect Spray
1 Can Yard Guard
1 tube SPF 15 Suntan Lotion
Bandaids
1 Bottle Ibuprofin
1 Moleskin
1 Bottle Antacids
1 Bottle Gas Relief Pills
1 Dental Floss

2 disposable razors
1 Tube Beyond Zone Hair Spike
1 Can Rave Hairspray
1 Small Can Root Boost
1 Degree Deodorant
1 Women's Deodorant
1 Curling Iron
1 Flat Iron
1 Manicure Set
1 Tin Fashion Tape
1 Small Sewing Kit
1 Booklight
1 Flashlight

1 Paring Knife
1 Box gallon size ziplock bags
1 Box snack size plastic bags
1 Brita Faucet Filter
1 Brita Water Bottle
1 Corkscrew
1 Handheld Drink Mixer
1 pack coffee filters
travel coffee press
spoons & forks for studio
salt & pepper
2 Candles
Refill Mug
matches

1 feather pillow
2 mickey t's
1 lightweight jacket
1 Travel Folder
1 Backpack
1 Hip pack
1 pair black flipflops
1 pair white flip flops
2 rain ponchos
2 umbrellas
1 pair binoculars

Laundry Detergent
Fabric softener
1 Small bottle wrinkle release
1 Lint Roller

1 Flat Screen Monitor
2 Keyboards
Printer
router
extension cord
multi-outlet
scotch tape
sticky notes
strapping tape
2 AA Batteries
2 AAA Batteries

And we plan on taking a Mini Keurig on our next trip to make the stay even better.

 

[Dizny Dad]

SamSam - I was going to pipe up and say "are you sure you can get all that stuff in just two OLs? But in checking DW's list of what we have in just one, you probably still have room for more stuff . . . . .

Love the OL!

 

[TIGGERmetoo]

I love my OL too. We packed up a box and send it UPS before our trip so it was waiting for us like the OL.

 

[Checkers]

We will be using our OL for the first time next week. I will be sending a box via UPS to arrive the day before our check-in.

 

[heathers4um]

TIGGER and Checkers - thats a great idea!!

 

[DizGirl20]

I love my OL too. We packed up a box and send it UPS before our trip so it was waiting for us like the OL.

I was wondering if this was possible as we just signed up for OL. How long will a resort hold a UPS box? We arrive on a Saturday so I am thinking of shipping one out on a Tues/Wed... does that sound OK?

OP, we just joined DVC and signed up for OL in preparations for our upcoming trip. I am planning on ordering some stuff from Garden Grocer, bringing some stuff with me and MAYBE making a pit stop at Wal-Mart if I don't do the UPS Box thing, which I think is a great idea. My goal someday is to just pack a carry-on, wouldn't that be sweet?!

 

[DaveH]

When we got our OL we rented a car and went shopping. The choice is up to each person. Some take with them. Airline baggage charges changes that. Send a box ahead of time. I never thought of the green grocer thing. I would suggest looking into each and do what works best for you. Some folks use a cab each way to a store also. OL holds alot of stuff. We love ours and we are empty nesters. OL boards beside here on the DIS have alot of lists in many posts. Some folks leave toys or older game systems with games in their lockers.

 

[heathers4um]

YES! That would be sweet - and entirely possible since you dont hve to pack a different outfit for every day...I never thought I would be excited about doing laundry on vacation!

I am going to go to our walmart or target and even the dollar stores here and get things to ship on ahead too and only have to pack clothes - I think you have the timeline down right to send it 3-4 days ahead!

I was wondering if this was possible as we just signed up for OL. How long will a resort hold a UPS box? We arrive on a Saturday so I am thinking of shipping one out on a Tues/Wed... does that sound OK?

OP, we just joined DVC and signed up for OL in preparations for our upcoming trip. I am planning on ordering some stuff from Garden Grocer, bringing some stuff with me and MAYBE making a pit stop at Wal-Mart if I don't do the UPS Box thing, which I think is a great idea. My goal someday is to just pack a carry-on, wouldn't that be sweet?!

 

[Anal Annie]

First - we LOVE our Owners Locker!

Second - on our trip where we filled ours we were going down on a Fri. evening so I shipped a box (44.5 Lbs) to SSR. I checked with UPS before I shipped it and the estimate was 2 days for std. ground shipping (MD to FL). It cost about $30 I think to ship it which was = to what we would've paid to check a bag. But this was sooo easy! I sent it on Monday and tracked it - it DID arrive on Wed. but I wanted that extra "just in case" cushion as I was shipping all of our toiletries etc. When you ship a box you need to put your ressie confirmation # somewhere on the outside of the box along with your arrival date and the name of the person the ressie is in.

Thanks to our Owners Locker and the discovery of packing cubes we can now usually travel in carry-ons! We recently just went in March for 6 nights in carry-ons only and I packed quite a mix of clothing for all of us (I packed for 50's at night & 70's during the day)! When we checked in the CM at the desk said "Where's your luggage?" and I said THIS IS IT! He was quite surprised - said he RARELY sees someone there for that long with just carry-ons. We just LOVE IT!!

 

[heathers4um]

this may sound like a silly question but what kinds of things do you keep in your locker? And was all the things you shipped left in your locker or did you end up shipping things back? And finally...what are packing cubes?

First - we LOVE our Owners Locker!

Second - on our trip where we filled ours we were going down on a Fri. evening so I shipped a box (44.5 Lbs) to SSR. I checked with UPS before I shipped it and the estimate was 2 days for std. ground shipping (MD to FL). It cost about $30 I think to ship it which was = to what we would've paid to check a bag. But this was sooo easy! I sent it on Monday and tracked it - it DID arrive on Wed. but I wanted that extra "just in case" cushion as I was shipping all of our toiletries etc. When you ship a box you need to put your ressie confirmation # somewhere on the outside of the box along with your arrival date and the name of the person the ressie is in.

Thanks to our Owners Locker and the discovery of packing cubes we can now usually travel in carry-ons! We recently just went in March for 6 nights in carry-ons only and I packed quite a mix of clothing for all of us (I packed for 50's at night & 70's during the day)! When we checked in the CM at the desk said "Where's your luggage?" and I said THIS IS IT! He was quite surprised - said he RARELY sees someone there for that long with just carry-ons. We just LOVE IT!!

 

[Anal Annie]

this may sound like a silly question but what kinds of things do you keep in your locker? And was all the things you shipped left in your locker or did you end up shipping things back? And finally...what are packing cubes?

I have an inventory list of about 120 or so things in ours!! I'll just name a few off the top of my head:

Band-aids, Blister Block & Moleskin, alcohol & Neosporin
Mini-umbrellas & ponchos (both a supply of cheapy 99 cent disposables for emergencies and heavier duty ones for those "it's gonna rain all day" days)
Spray fan bottles & misters & lanyards
Collapsible coolers (2), can & bottle huggies, blue ice (2)
My Oil of Olay Body Wash & my Dove Shampoo & Conditioner (for color treated hair) & my Pantene Mousse
Razors for both myself & DH + shave cream & a shower mirror for DH
String backpack, a WDW backpack, a med. size pool bag and a really large beach bag that we use for the water parks
Extra AA batteries for anything that uses them like the fans & cameras, a flashlight & some tea light candles (ya never know when a storm could hit)
flip flops, slippers, hats & visors
Sewing kit, safety pins, rubber bands, scotch tape, packing tape, nightlight & scissors
OTC meds like Advil, Immodium, Gas-X, Benedryl, Aleve & cold meds (I keep track of their dates)
2 ea. of 3 diff. SPF sunscreens (8, 15 & 30 + face)
Misc. toiletries like Q-tips, deoderants, moisturizers (facial and body), manicure set, tampons etc.
Air freshner spray for the bathroom
A set of sharp knives (we use studios so there are no "real" utensils), a supply of coffee filters, paper plates & plastic bowls with lids
Captain Morgan & unopened wine
Wine glass + plastic cups & straws (to take to the pool)
Sm. Lysol & Clorox wipes & Travel size Downey Wrinkle Release
SMALL bottle of Tide & dryer sheets (tho I've only done 1 load on vaca so far)
ETC, ETC, ETC

Here's a pic I took when I was filling ours for the first time!

The only thing that I shipped that did not stay was some re-usable plastic water bottles and that was 'cuz I simply couldn't get them to fit and we usually get a case or 2 of water delivered anyway!! As it is I have to sit on the lid while DH fastens the lid on!! It's so full that if it was a balloon it would pop!!

I had a plastic bin at home that I collected things in over a period of months. I had a list of things I wanted to put in the OL so pretty much every time I went to Target or Walmart on my regular shopping excursions I would pick a few things off the list to buy so it wasn't as costly as a one-tme shopping spree. I found mini-umbrellas on sale at Target and grabbed a couple then I found one once at TJ Maxx so I picked up 1 more. I threw the blue ice in my cart at the grocery store one day when I was in that aisle. I grabbed extra ponchos at Target prior to a camping trip etc. I buy batteries in bulk at Costco so I just counted out a doz. or so spares & put them in a zip lock bag (good until 2015 so why not). We already had several pool / beach bags so I just set a couple aside that I would've normally probably packed to bring. When I got to 1/2 empty on my mousse & body moisturizer & stuff like that I set them aside to ship & bought new ones for home so I don't really have full (new) ones down there - but plenty to last me for 3 or 4 years or so!!!

Packing cubes are these wonderful packing aids that have taught me how to roll our clothes when I pack and help limit me to what fits in each one (ie 1 for tops, 1 for bottoms etc.). They're also super easy for unpacking - you just lift them out of the suitcase & put them into the dresser. I don't know how I ever lived without them! We have a bunch in diff. sizes. I use the packing folders too for dressier clothes. AWESOME products!

http://www.ebags.com/category/packing-folders-and-cubes/20014520?seeall=true&lastterm=packing%20cubes

 

[DizGirl20]

I am lovin' this thread - thanks for posting!

I just wanted to add that we plan to purchase an air mattress to keep in our OL. I have 2 daughters and now my oldest doesn't want to sleep with the youngest on the pull-out sofa, so I figured we might as well invest in one to keep in our OL!

Other than the air mattress, I plan to keep laundry detergent, Lysol and our rain ponchos (so far). We plan to make a pit stop at WalMart so who knows what else I will walk out with...

 

[Tara]

Hi All!

I am obsessing and wanted some opinions. I want to do an OL but cant decide if I should do it this time since our 1st trip home will just be DBF and I...no kids.

And, if I do it, whats the best way to get the things to put in it? Pack a suitcase full of stuff from home or add it to the Green Grocers list I will be making soon?

What are your experiences, tips, and thoughts?

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our Lockers! Our family loves them (me, DH, DS8). DH was skeptical at first, but we just ordered our 3rd Locker! Our experience has been nothing short of outstanding and I highly recommend the service.

I won't repost my list here, but you can see the most recent version in this thread. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2436002&

I think it will make it easier to have an OL and it will make me feel like it really IS a 2nd home!!

That's exactly what we love about it - our visits are very comfortable and homey, which is what we love about our DVC anyway. I love that I can curl up on the couch in the evening and watch a DVD from Community Hall and be cozy because I have my fleece blanket. I love that I have my inflatable bath pillow to use in the jacuzzi. I love that I never have to worry about packing the ponchos or goggles for the pool or mist fan or water bottles or phone chargers or any of that stuff. I love that we can keep a wireless router so if we want to use a laptop or iPod Touch, we can do so anywhere in the room. I could go on, but I won't.

It is just an awesome, awesome service.

 

[Tara]

this may sound like a silly question but what kinds of things do you keep in your locker? And was all the things you shipped left in your locker or did you end up shipping things back? And finally...what are packing cubes?

Most of what I sent or took to put in our Lockers is still in the Lockers. I've taken back very few things. I recently took out the Pal Mickey because it just isn't the same anymore since they don't support it and aren't updating it - not fun anymore.

I used three methods to fill our Lockers:

1. Shipped a box on the initial trip - didn't cost much, went UPS ground. Mostly bigger items that weren't easy to pack around in a suitcase, like the coffee grinder.

2. Packed a suitcase with just Locker stuff and checked it for the trip. No charge since we usually fly Southwest.

3. Bought some items on a couple of grocery runs over the next trip or two. I also bought some kitchen items like an ice cream scoop, pizza cutter, coffee scoop while we were at Disney so we'd have Mickey-themed items.

 

[tx2tn]

This Sept will be our 3rd year with our OL and we love it!! When we first got it, we had shipped all of what we were going to put in it via UPS direct to our resort (BWV). I think it cost around $30 to do that. It worked perfectly!! Enjoy!!

 

[heathers4um]

I am sure to pick up disney themed things on the way as well - I will need another mickey head wine stopper and will enjoy personalizing our villa each time we go

Most of what I sent or took to put in our Lockers is still in the Lockers. I've taken back very few things. I recently took out the Pal Mickey because it just isn't the same anymore since they don't support it and aren't updating it - not fun anymore.

I used three methods to fill our Lockers:

1. Shipped a box on the initial trip - didn't cost much, went UPS ground. Mostly bigger items that weren't easy to pack around in a suitcase, like the coffee grinder.

2. Packed a suitcase with just Locker stuff and checked it for the trip. No charge since we usually fly Southwest.

3. Bought some items on a couple of grocery runs over the next trip or two. I also bought some kitchen items like an ice cream scoop, pizza cutter, coffee scoop while we were at Disney so we'd have Mickey-themed items.

 

[Coach81]

Wife got us in earlier this year.. gonna really take advantage of it this coming Summer trip at the THV!!!

 

[Minnie Lor]

I got an OL in 2007. I love it! I shipped a huge box down with Fed-Ex before my first trip with OL. I shipped it about 7 days before. I wanted to track it before I left for the trip.

Some of the things that I have in my OL:
terry cloth robe
flip flops
pillow in a shrink bag
light weight blanket/throw for afternoon naps
mickey ponchos
large sized containers of shampoo, conditioner, lotion, body wash all in a tropical scent
box of pads and tampons
ziplock bags
wine opener
a few bags of popcorn
can of nuts
bottle of febreeze
bottle of wrinkle reducer

I know that there's more but that's all I can think of right now.