To Owner's Locker or Not - Does the cost make sense?

[RoseGold]

Looking at the cost of common items put in the lockers, comparing the cost seems like the treating those items as disposable (Amazon Prime, etc) would be much cheaper than renting a locker if you visit once a year. With the additional delivery fee for more than one delivery and pickup per year I cannot make the math work if you have multiple visits to WDW annually either.

Sure, for pure cost efficiency, maybe this isn't the best plan. Might I suggest WDW in general isn't a great choice if your goal is frugality? If you're paying for bags, Owner's Locker might still be the cost effective solution.

The items I need are not high monetary value: ponchos, a blanket, a nightlight, old swimsuits, first aid, the shampoo I like, my chargers, my contacts, my park sneakers, our Minnie ears and bubble wands and such. Sure, I guess I could get all of this delivered and throw it away every year, but even this limited list of cheap stuff is more than the cost of the box. Or I could just lug a checked bag with this stuff. Owner's Locker saves me picking up bags and packing in general. It's awesome to go with a backpack with a couple changes of clothes, and a laptop, and just show up.

Bummer about Universal. I can see how that does make the service less valuable.

 

[DonMacGregor]

Sure, for pure cost efficiency, maybe this isn't the best plan. Might I suggest WDW in general isn't a great choice if your goal is frugality? If you're paying for bags, Owner's Locker might still be the cost effective solution.

The items I need are not high monetary value: ponchos, a blanket, a nightlight, old swimsuits, first aid, the shampoo I like, my chargers, my contacts, my park sneakers, our Minnie ears and bubble wands and such. Sure, I guess I could get all of this delivered and throw it away every year, but even this limited list of cheap stuff is more than the cost of the box. Or I could just lug a checked bag with this stuff. Owner's Locker saves me picking up bags and packing in general. It's awesome to go with a backpack with a couple changes of clothes, and a laptop, and just show up.

Bummer about Universal. I can see how that does make the service less valuable.

No matter how I slice it, every trip to WDW costs me at least $3,500-$4,000, taking in to account airfare, tickets (until AP's are available again to non-recovery passholders), and dining and other expenses. Usually we have at least one family member with a Silver Pass with us, but free park entry comes at the price of additional airfare, a 2 BR villa, and more general expenses. It always seems to wash out. Do two trips and the debate over spending an additional $120 for an owners locker tends to get lost in the noise.

 

[pinkxray]

I’m glad I read this thread. I’ve been thinking about getting an owners locker since we have at least 3 trips this year. I didn’t realize they didn’t deliver to Universal. All 3 of our trips end with 2 nights at a Lowes resort.
Guess that’s a no for us. Bummer.

 

[DISJeff74]

We just filled our locker for the first time Sunday. Surprised on how much we actually fit in and don’t have to lug down on our next trip. We have trips scheduled for October, February and April…let’s see how it goes!

 

[SarahWI]

Do two trips and the debate over spending an additional $120 for an owners locker tends to get lost in the noise.

Totally agree!! For us, it’s about having our stuff, decent coffee, and handles of liquor.

 

[RoseGold]

I’m glad I read this thread. I’ve been thinking about getting an owners locker since we have at least 3 trips this year. I didn’t realize they didn’t deliver to Universal. All 3 of our trips end with 2 nights at a Lowes resort.
Guess that’s a no for us. Bummer.

You could leave it at your last Disney resort if you can make it the last two nights without it. But yea, it's got all my swim stuff and my park shoes. No pickup at Universal is a bummer. It's worth noting the warehouse isn't far from Universal. You could drop it off on the way to the airport (or pick it up going to Universal). That's an idea if you have a one-off Universal trip.

 

[Sandisw]

Totally agree!! For us, it’s about having our stuff, decent coffee, and handles of liquor.

Not having to dump liquor in June (like we did in March) is huge. I will now have it there waiting for me when we arrive tomorrow!!!

 

[robinb]

I've thought about it a few times but I can't justify the price. I really don't bring a lot of big extras with me so I don't have stuff to store. I also don't buy stuff to just leave behind. I have to admit that a PP's booze idea has me intrigued, LOL. It *would* be nice to have a full bar every trip.

 

[DonMacGregor]

Like I was saying above. With the cost of multiple trips plus MF’s reaching almost $10k per year (and I’m sure I’m somewhere in the median range), the decision to pay $130.00 more per year was more about do we need it, versus the cost.

Full-sized beach towels, a coffee maker and a grinder alone made it an easy decision. Living in So Cal, I have one REI rain jacket I use when camping, and never any other times, so ponchos are the last thing we remember to bring to WDW, so those are in the box too.

 

[Castillo Mom]

We have had two owners lockers for some time. We always fly. We keep a nespresso coffee maker plus pods, special wine glasses/mugs that we only use at Disney, a monorail throw blanket, pool stuff (hat, bag), first aid stuff, cribbage board/cards, DVC pull overs, DVC polo shirts, extra toiletries, dishwasher pods, laundry sheets/pods, spare magic bands, and liquor (gin,vodka, rum, tequila all in 1.5 liter bottles).

totally worth it!

I recently signed up for the service and was planning on buying a Nespresso just for our WDW stays and thought I was being too extra! Would you mind sharing which one you bought ame why? I can’t decide!

 

[SarahWI]

I recently signed up for the service and was planning on buying a Nespresso just for our WDW stays and thought I was being too extra! Would you mind sharing which one you bought ame why? I can’t decide!

We bought a nespresso vertuo mostly because of bigger beverage size options vs the original. Also we didn’t need or want frothing capabilities. The one in the locker is an older vertuo that we took down after buying a new one for home. The one at home is the Vertuoline by Breville. We might get a Vertuo next to put in the locker because of its smaller size.

 

[PsycProfPlum]

We debated a long time before finally getting an owners' locker. From a strictly cost-benefit calculation, I doubt you'll ever make the math work. But then again, when does a vacation ever make financial sense from a strictly economic standpoint? You would always be better off financially skipping vacation entirely and investing that money if your goal is just maximizing your net worth. Vacations have a positive psychological impact though and similarly, the reduction in hassle you get from a storage locker is what you are paying for. The cost is more than just packing those things for each trip, but relatively small compared to the cost of a trip and owning DVC. We enjoy having it and the percentage increase in costs over the top of our buy-in and dues is very small.

We keep gin and whiskey in our locker and have a drink nightly after the kids are in bed and figure the cost saved on a Disney cocktail pays for the locker. I also keep Disney-specific hats and mugs in the locker so it's kinda like getting "new" merch each visit. We find it's best for things that hard to travel with such as cutting boards & knives, alcohol, etc.

On the whole, no, it's not saving us any money and it never will, but it adds to our vacation experience in a positive way.

 

[chrish2]

Reading the comments I wonder if there is demand for a "owners' mini bar", sort of a customised selection of items that's delivered on a sale or return basis on each visit.

 

[Micca]

We love our Owner's Locker! Like pretty much everyone already said, it's the convenience that provides the product value.

We go twice per year, and on the trips with just me & DW, we can take a carry-on each for a trip of 5 or 6 nights. We're old and the novelty of schlepping bags through airports and rental cars has completely worn off.

 

[crazywig]

We've had ours since 2009. The one year cost is not much more than counter service lunch for the four of us these days! But for us it's convenience and we generally only go once a year (although this year, three times).

 

[masupo]

I plan to start an owner's locker on my November trip. I live very close to the Atlantic City airport, which is all Spirit all the time. I'm so tired of paying their baggage fees, especially since they charge even more for a carry on than checked baggage. Any savings I'd get using another airline is usually negated by the cost & hassle of getting to/parking at Philly or Newark.

I bought a small suitcase that fits under the seat and counts as a free item. It actually holds a lot, but to travel with just that bag it would help to leave stuff like toiletries, hair products, curling iron, undies, shoes, umbrella, ponchos, Disney related stuff like ears, etc.

It will either be a Spirit-buster or just a bust

 

[ColonialMouse]

We also keep a nespresso and milk frother in ours.

Also an electric skillet (for pancakes), whisk, and pizza wheel.

Shower mirror and laundry and dishwasher pods.

The rest is random stuff like ponchos and shampoo that we could probably check without too much of an issue, but just the coffee and skillet is enough to justify the whole thing

Bruce

 

[micheleq]

We love our OL! In the locker we keep toiletries, kitchen items like a proper knife for cutting, aluminum foil, ziplocks, sweeteners/sugar for coffee, a first aid kit, full sized sunscreen aloe, peppermint foot lotion, umbrellas, baseball hats, spare flip flops, pool bag. Laundry tabs/dryer sheets. All the random things I don’t want to pack or buy each time. We had a Brita but didn’t use it as we typically order a case of water.

 

[sticker231]

I plan to start an owner's locker on my November trip. I live very close to the Atlantic City airport, which is all Spirit all the time. I'm so tired of paying their baggage fees, especially since they charge even more for a carry on than checked baggage. Any savings I'd get using another airline is usually negated by the cost & hassle of getting to/parking at Philly or Newark.

I bought a small suitcase that fits under the seat and counts as a free item. It actually holds a lot, but to travel with just that bag it would help to leave stuff like toiletries, hair products, curling iron, undies, shoes, umbrella, ponchos, Disney related stuff like ears, etc.

It will either be a Spirit-buster or just a bust

Don't forget another ACY perk, getting through security in less than five minutes

 

[masupo]

Don't forget another ACY perk, getting through security in less than five minutes

That's definitely one of my favorite things about it! Right up there with the 2-5 minute walk to your car in the lot. And, as my friend says, you're always first in line for takeoff at ACY.