Shipping stuff down in advance?

[Hockey Ninja]

It occurs to me that it might (okay, definitely will) be cheaper to send some snacks and groceries down in advance rather than paying to check a bag. How does this work? Do I address the box to myself, care of the hotel? Will it be at the front desk, or bell services, or waiting in the room when I get there? How long before my trip should I send it? Would it be better to use the Post Office or UPS or Fed Ex?

Thanks!

ETA: I'm staying at POFQ, if that makes a difference to the answers.

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

I've done this twice. I labled the box to the resort, care of myself with my checkin date, then the address of the resort. Ship it UPS or FedEX. They are the only ones who can deliver right to the resort (USPS cannot). I also packed in my box a 4x6 card with my return address, the rest of the roll of tape, and a black magic marker (to cross off markings on the box) so that I could pack the box back up and mail it home.

When you check in, tell them you have box waiting for you and they will either go and get it right there and you take it with you or they will have someone bring it up to your room. I would prefer to have them go and get it right then and I bring it myself. The time we had them deliver it to the room it took a couple of hours and we wanted to get to the parks.

 

[Hockey Ninja]

Thanks!

About how many days in advance would you suggest sending the package?

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

I used UPS and went on line and used their cost calculator to determine when I needed to ship. I wanted to ship the cheapest way possible so I went regular ground and shipped about 7 business days out. I can't remember exactly where on the site it was because it was a couple of years ago but if you go there you should be able to find some kind of shipping calculator. The quicker you want it to arrive the more expensive it will be.

I had a 23 lb box and it cost about $16 from WI.

 

[SnowandMittens]

We've always either gotten the things at the shop at the hotel (shampoo, shaving cream, sunblock, food, etc...) and figured it'd be about the same if we packed it in a box and shipped it to ourselves at the hotel. The inflation really isn't that bad if you look at it that way.

I'd contact the hotel directly, let them know what you are planning to do, and then have them give you the proper formatting for the package.

 

[Zuzu03]

Hey Hockey Ninja, I'm thinking about doing this too - I like not having to wait for my checked luggage on arrival and we've always sent stuff back from the local UPS store (never have enough room in our luggage with all the extra souvenirs), but with the checked baggage fees going up (again) it's making sending stuff down even more attractive.

BTW, lived in the Toledo area (LOVED IT) for 10 years, Mom and sister still in Sylvania and miss it!!!

 

[pepe of ohio]

It occurs to me that it might (okay, definitely will) be cheaper to send some snacks and groceries down in advance rather than paying to check a bag. How does this work? Do I address the box to myself, care of the hotel? Will it be at the front desk, or bell services, or waiting in the room when I get there? How long before my trip should I send it? Would it be better to use the Post Office or UPS or Fed Ex?

Thanks!

ETA: I'm staying at POFQ, if that makes a difference to the answers.

We load our room with groceries but we do an in route grocery stop. But if we ever didn't, I would use a grocery delivery service like: wegoshop.com, gardengrocer etc. Others have used them and we have seen their delivery vans at the resort. check out thier web sites for ordering info and products and the delivery fee is reasonable. They give a delivery window and I believe if you prepay, they will leave it at guest services and Disney will refridgerate.

 

[Hockey Ninja]

All I really want to send down is some snacks and a 2-liter of diet Pepsi. (Because you know how hard it is to find Pepsi once you're on Disney property! ) I'd keep my little travel size toiletries with me, on the off chance that the box didn't make it there. I'm hoping to fit all my stuff into my backback and purse, since I'm only going for 2 nights/3 days.

I did look into Garden Grocer, but they've got a $40 minimum for delivery! And that's a lot of Pepsi and Pop-tarts!

I may wind up not shipping at all, but getting a refillable mug and dealing with the diet Coke, and whatever granola bars and pretzels will fit in my bags. Still, it's nice to know what my options are. Thanks, everyone!

 

[MSMomTJ]

All I really want to send down is some snacks and a 2-liter of diet Pepsi. (Because you know how hard it is to find Pepsi once you're on Disney property! ) I'd keep my little travel size toiletries with me, on the off chance that the box didn't make it there. I'm hoping to fit all my stuff into my backback and purse, since I'm only going for 2 nights/3 days.

I did look into Garden Grocer, but they've got a $40 minimum for delivery! And that's a lot of Pepsi and Pop-tarts!

I may wind up not shipping at all, but getting a refillable mug and dealing with the diet Coke, and whatever granola bars and pretzels will fit in my bags. Still, it's nice to know what my options are. Thanks, everyone!

I am all about Diet Dr. Pepper, so I'm going to have to have some delivered. I haven't researched the grocery delivery enough to know that there is a $40 minimum. Pooh! I was planning to ship down pull-ups and wipes for my daughter myself, but maybe I should buy them from the grocery service.

 

[I Dream of Disney]

Don't forget to bring your package tracking number with you, in case your
package is not there waiting! We send packages often, and really have had
no problems at all.

 

[RitaFaye94]

Also make sure that you write your resort confirmation number with your name on the box. You never know when it will end up misspelled.

I shipped our items in a foam cooler that was inside a shipping box (I work in food sales so this was easy to find), so that we had our cooler in the room also and I didn't have to ship it back if I didn't want to.

I shipped cereal, granola bars, pull ups, wipes, basically stuff that I didn't want to pay for an extra bag to take on the plane. The cooler box was 24 x 26 x 30 and cost $26 to ship UPS ground and arrived in 4 days from Indiana.

 

[treynolds]

Where do you find the shipping address for your resort? I am trying to calculate when I need to mail, but I need an address.

 

[I Dream of Disney]

The hotel address might be on your confirmation letter.

 

[jdvm]

you can find the street address of your hotel here (the Disney Resorts are under "D."

www.ownerslocker.com/locations

Also, keep in mind that packages send to the convention hotels (Grand Floridian, Contemporary, Beach/Yacht, Boardwalk and Coronado) are handled by an outside firm that charges a handling/delivery fee.
john

 

[darthspud]

what do you do about sending it back home? I mean getting it there is one thing but how can you get to a UPS store to ship it back home? I've been thinking about cheap(er) was to camp at the fort with out having to drive down and spend a fortune on gas but I can get decent air fare so this just might be the answer

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

what do you do about sending it back home? I mean getting it there is one thing but how can you get to a UPS store to ship it back home? I've been thinking about cheap(er) was to camp at the fort with out having to drive down and spend a fortune on gas but I can get decent air fare so this just might be the answer

I write my own address on a 4x6 card and pack it along with the rest of the roll of packing tape and a black magic marker (to cross off any markings on the box) into the box I mail down. Then the day before we leave I pack everything I want to send home into the box I mailed down, remove all the old lables etc., tape my 4x6 card with my home address onto it and bring it to the concierge desk of the resort. They will ask how I want to to ship it - I alway pick UPS and then they ask how I want to pay for it (charge to room, check or credit card). Then off it goes. Very easy. This was at POR and AKL. I'm not sure about at the Fort, if they have a front desk or a concierge desk - but all the other resorts will do this for you. I also re-inforced the box I sent down with extra cardboard along the sides so it would hold up to two shippings.

Hope this helps. I mail it the day before so I don't have to worry about how long I'm standing in line at the concierge desk and so I can charge it to my room and just keep the few things I need for the night and next day in the small carryon I will have.

 

[tinkermom23]

When we stayed at All Stars and we brought the box to the front desk, they printed out the label and everything.... however, there is a Disney "surcharge" but I can't remember how much it was.

 

[seadd67]

POP,so I wanted to send some bottles of Pepsi down think It would cost more then 40.00 to send down there?,that Is If anyone has try? sorry. I am looking at 2 cases?

 

[cindykelley]

In addition to the stuff y'all already mentioned, I believe you can order groceries from Amazon and they ship it for free if you order at least $25.

Has anyone tried this?

 

[tinkermom23]

In addition to the stuff y'all already mentioned, I believe you can order groceries from Amazon and they ship it for free if you order at least $25.

Has anyone tried this?

We shipped a case of water from Sam's Club. It worked great! We had a few bottles leftover and before we left we just gave them to another family that we seen in the lobby. They were thrilled.