Shipping to/from resorts

[della]

We are a large family and the cost per suitcase is making our great airfare not so great. We are thinking of sending some things down ahead of time (via USPS or UPS). I have a few questions:

Which shipping method were you happy you used?

I know to have my name, reservation number and dates of stay on the shipping label. Am I missing anything?

Do I have to notify the resort that the package is coming?

Does the resort charge any type of service fee?

And my biggest question, how do you send your things back home? Is there a Staples or UPS store nearby that you use. We will have a car.

Thanks!

 

[DiznyDi]

Prior to having my Owners Locker, I always shipped a box down. The last box I shipped down cost $30.00 each way - that's when I signed up for my locker.

I used UPS. You can go to their web site and sign up for an account. I would print my own labels from my computer and bill to my account. I always included a return label in the box to ship things back home. I haven't shipped anything since 2007. At that time, there was no (Disney) charge. Bell services delivered the box to our room with our luggage. They also made sure the box got back on the UPS truck upon departure.

If you don't want to have an account, you can probably have the return label printed at your local UPS store.
Di

 

[della]

Thanks! For a family of 7, $30. each way can be a big savings for us. We are definitely looking to get an Owner's Locker this time.

 

[DonnaL]

I have used both UPS and FedEx. I've found FedEx to be be a few dollars less.....service to be about the same. You can go to both of their websites and key in your info (pkg weight/size, from/to, etc.) and get a pretty close estimate of what your cost and time frame for shipping will be. I usually ship a box between 20/25 lbs and cost is usually around $16/$18 for ground shipping. We usually arrive either Friday afternoon or Saturday, so I try to time my shipment to arrive Thurs/Fri which means for ground I need to ship by Monday afternoon for guaranteed arrival on Friday.......sometimes it gets there on Thurs. I did read somewhere here on the boards that several people were charged by Disney for receiving their packages.......however, I think that may have been at a few of the convention hotels. I have not been charged as of yet at any of the DVC resorts (stayed at all except BCV) however, did have a problem once at BWV .....the package was inadvertently sent to the BWI package room, which is where they send any packages for upcoming conventions, even though I had addressed it to myself and DVC check-in date in large letters. It took a few hours to track it down, but, I had the name of the person who received it from FedEx since I always print that out before we leave if its showing in FedEx tracking system as having been received. I've considered an Owner's Locker, but, we travel usually twice a year, sometimes three at most.......I don't usually send a box back, since it's mostly things like toiletries, detergent, kitchen stuff which gets used up during our trip.......so at this point I don't think an Owner's Locker would be cost efficient enough for us.....even though I love the idea.

 

[Claudia1]

I just shipped our Spring Break box. I used the Postal Service and went online to request a pick-up at home. It was great! It was cheaper than UPS or FedEx and I didn't have to take the box anywhere. I could have saved another $6 by shipping parcel post but the carrier pick-ups must have at least one box that is going priority mail.

We stay at BWV, which has a business center that ships it back for us.

I put our name, arrival date, and the full resort name & address. The bell staff brings it to our room.

When you pack your box, it helps to put packing tape in it for the return. Even though the business center will seal it for you, I think it saves time to already have it done.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Thanks! For a family of 7, $30. each way can be a big savings for us. We are definitely looking to get an Owner's Locker this time.

Not sure what airline you are flying , but for most you can check one 50 pound bag for $15 each way per passenger. The total for 2 checked bags both ways would be $30 each way for a total of $60. I doubt you can ship 100 pounds on UPS or FedEx for that price. -- Suzanne

 

[Kid_@_50]

Years ago if you went to an actual Fedex or UPS your shipping rates were must cheaper than 3rd party shippers such as Mailboxes Etc.

When Fedex and UPS partnered or bought the 3rd party shippers to expand their market shares, they both hiked their rates significantly. Nher ow when a person walks in off the street they pay the same at all authorized Fedex shipping locations or authorized UPS shipping locations.

You can save a fortune if you go online before you need to ship and apply for online accounts at Fedex and UPS. I go to the post office (when they are closed) and weigh my packages to get a good weight. I go home and print out my Fedex shipping label billed to my Fedex account, then drop it off at a Fedex drop off location.