Shipping Boxes to Resort - Reliability

[WhitGB]

Can you give me the reliability of shipping boxes to a resort? We are staying at the WL in November and I was hoping to ship the non clothing items.

I shipped to POFQ on our last trip and none of the items made it on time. I did get the box back about 1 month after our trip.

After reading the shipping thread, it seem that the USPO may not have been the way to go.

So, my question is, has anyone else shipped and not received their package? I did not get by box or my Costco water and both were sent from different places. Was I a fluke?

BTW - I sent it about 10 days before the trip, we are in WI.

TIA

 

[dawnbu40]

We're in Michigan and last month I mailed a box 10 days before my arrival at the Boardwalk using the USPO. When we arrived we were given the box and did not have any issues. Could you have used the wrong address perhaps?

I hope it works out for you this time!

 

[DisMN]

I'm in northern Minnesota and we've always always had shipping/mailing issues with the USPO. Even a simple birthday card getting mailed in the local box coming to our house can take more than a week to get here. I have no clue why it's so horribly slow but I don't have faith that the USPO could get my package to WDW in a reasonable amount of time no matter when I mailed it.
Other shipping methods are too costly IMHO so we're usually just stuck with checking luggage if that's what you're trying to avoid.

I agree with the other poster though, maybe the resort address was a little funky? Maybe it was as simple as that.

 

[*pixie*dust*]

I was told to use UPS and not the post office. Apparently many others have had issues with sending from the post office. Something to do with the address not being valid by post office standards since it is on private property? Something like that. Try UPS.

 

[JB2K]

After reading the shipping thread, it seem that the USPO may not have been the way to go.

NO - it is not the way to go (especially, if you have a short window until you leave for WDW) - if you ship with the USPS (not USPO), all Disney mail is routed to the main post office at Lake Buena Vista (and is picked-up at a later time by a resort staffer), which means you can expect significant delays by the time it gets to your resort's front desk.

UPS Ground or FedEx Ground are better choices (as they both deliver directly to the resort's front desk) and actually cost less than the Post Office's "Priority Mail" (I have had great success with both) -- also, don't forget to ship them to your resort's actual street address!

 

[3mickeymom]

as well and the desk staff was not especially helpful in looking for it. I mailed early and had the correct address. I had to stop at the desk everyday to inquire. Inside were wrapped birthday gifts that missed the birthday!! I won't do it again. Maybe UPS is the way to go. Oh, I'm in NJ.

 

[Best Aunt]

NO - it is not the way to go (especially, if you have a short window until you leave for WDW) - if you ship with the USPS (not USPO), all Disney mail is routed to the main post office at Lake Buena Vista (and is picked-up at a later time by a resort staffer), which means you can expect significant delays by the time it gets to your resort's front desk.

UPS Ground or FedEx Ground are better choices (as they both deliver directly to the resort's front desk) and actually cost less than the Post Office's "Priority Mail" (I have had great success with both) -- also, don't forget to ship them to your resort's actual street address!

I would just add -- with UPS and FedEx, you get a tracking number when you ship. If you plan to have it arrive a few days before you do, you can go to the UPS/FedEx website and see if it arrived. You can print out the information showing that it was delivered. Sometimes it even shows you who signed for it. You can take that with you. If the resort claims they have no record of it, you can show them the delivery paperwork.

I shipped FedEx to BoardWalk Villas in March with no problem.

As for your water -- there have been a lot of posts where people had problems getting Costco to deliver water to Disney hotels. Although some people have had success, you might want to consider alternatives.

 

[Taja]

We ship a box nearly every WDW visit!

Due to distance (Arizona to WDW) and time of year (December), I usually ship the box about two weeks prior to our arrival. And put "PLEASE HOLD FOR (PRIMARY GUEST'S NAME) ARRIVING ON MM/DD/YY" on all four sides of the box, as well as the shipping address! Overkill, I'm sure! But we've always received our box!

We ship via FedEx or UPS ground.

 

[jessica52877]

I have shipped several times using USPS. Every time it has been a box weighing around 2 lbs but no issue at all with it arriving and the guests getting it. I only ship it off 2 or 3 days before I want it to arrive.

 

[poochie]

We ship a box nearly every WDW visit!

Due to distance (Arizona to WDW) and time of year (December), I usually ship the box about two weeks prior to our arrival. And put "PLEASE HOLD FOR (PRIMARY GUEST'S NAME) ARRIVING ON MM/DD/YY" on all four sides of the box, as well as the shipping address! Overkill, I'm sure! But we've always received our box!

We ship via FedEx or UPS ground.

I did the same thing. Shipped UPS and tracked the shipment with the tracking number in fact the website even tells you what day it will be delivered. I also put my name, and arrival date, along with confimation number on all sides of the box. Never had a problem.

 

[WhitGB]

Thanks to everyone who responded. I would really like to try again this year since we are going for over a week there are a few things I would like to send early.

I pity the person who is keeping my box that is holding my coffee hostage.

Once again, thanks!

 

[spacemountainmom]

We shipped to POFQ using FedEx and it was great. We shipped on a Monday to insure it would be there for our Sunday arrival. It arrived on Thursday and it was held for us until we got there.

We have a FedEx account so we arranged ahead of time for the box to be picked up for return to us. We just left the box with bell services and it was picked up the next day. The trip home took a bit longer....box was picked up on Monday and on my doorstep in MN on Friday.

In planning, you should remember that FedEx Ground does not deliver or pickup on Sat or Sun so that should be figured into your timeframe. Make sure you have the accurate street address for your resort and be sure to have your name and reservation number on the box.

A few more packing tips.....use a sturdy box or better yet, a rubbermaid tote. Be sure to tape it well and put a slip of paper with your name and home address inside the box in the event it does break or come open. Address labels should be of decent size and legible. Cover any old shipping labels and bar codes to avoid confusion.

Hope this helps!