To ship or not to ship????

[JoanieS]

We were going to ship a box (UPS) down that includes breakfast items, toiletries, etc. I figure it will cost about $25.

We have the baggage space to use a suitcase for it, and just check it. I can't decide what to do.

Here are the pros/cons of both, that I can see:

Pros of shipping a box

1. We will know it got there by tracking it
2. One less thing to take along

Cons of shipping a box

1. Can't add last minute stuff
2. Cost

Pros of using luggage

1. Free
2. Can add last minute stuff
3. Will have space to bring home souvieners

Cons of luggage

1. Scared the airline will lose the luggage
2. Have to lug it with us

So, in your professional opinions, what would you do and why????????? HELP!

 

[tchrrx]

The only way that I would ship would be

1.) If it were cost effective b/c I was going to have to pay an extra baggage fee.

2.) If I had so much to deal with (strollers, wheelchairs, etc) that I would have a difficult time handling another piece of luggage.

Otherwise, I would just go ahead & pack it. Remember to separate everyone's things amongst the suitcases. Even if one gets lost, everyone will still have some clothes & you'll have some toiletries. Also, pack your toiletries into zip lock bags so that if they leak, you don't ruin anything. We buy cheap toiletries for vacation so that if we don't have room to bring them back, we're really not out too much money.

 

[JoanieS]

The only way that I would ship would be

1.) If it were cost effective b/c I was going to have to pay an extra baggage fee.

2.) If I had so much to deal with (strollers, wheelchairs, etc) that I would have a difficult time handling another piece of luggage.

Otherwise, I would just go ahead & pack it. Remember to separate everyone's things amongst the suitcases. Even if one gets lost, everyone will still have some clothes & you'll have some toiletries. Also, pack your toiletries into zip lock bags so that if they leak, you don't ruin anything. We buy cheap toiletries for vacation so that if we don't have room to bring them back, we're really not out too much money.

This is the way I am leaning - in the luggage. It's free! And, I am a big coupon/CVSer, so I got all my toiletries free or close to it, so I don't care if I leave them. And OH YEAH, they will be in bags! A friend of mine ruined a beautiful cocktail dress on a business trip thanks to leaky baby oil!

My DH is just worried about luggage loss.

 

[Disney Crazy Debbie]

I think whether you ship or not depends on you and your family needs. I have never shipped before but I am planning on it this next trip because we will have a 16 month old with us and a 4 yo. By shipping perishable items, like snacks, box juice, diapers, some baby toiletries, etc. it means that once we leave there won't be anything that needs shipped home because we'll have used it all. From what I read on here diapers on property are pretty expensive and we are flying so the extra space will be needed.

 

[Peace Mickey Lovers]

I am doing both this time, packing my clothes and shipping the snacks, ect.
UPS isn't that expensive last time it was only about $15 for 2 boxes.

 

[shopn24seven]

I shipped b4...not to WDW but w.in the US.
As long as the weather is good (no hurricane, tornadoes) you should be fine.
I would bring at least a carry on if you fly..no bags could raise a red flag taht you wouldn to want.....

 

[karliebug]

I don't ship or lug another suitcase anymore, I order from gardengrocer.com and they deliver it to me for only $12.

 

[JoanieS]

We decided to go with the suitcase full of food and toiletries! We were going to pack our clothes in luggage, not ship that - it got a little confusing there!

So, we are going with the suitcase It's already packed!!!

I did consider Garden Grocer, until I looked at the prices! I am a HUGE coupon user, and to have to pay $4.00 for a box of Cheerios, when I never pay more than .25 cents....well, just can't do it! I am going to have water shipped from Costco to the hotel, though.

 

[WhitGB]

We just got back on Monday and our package never made it to POFQ (well, at least to us).

We ordered water from Costco and send a box USPS. Both were signed for 2 days before our arrival and neither made it to us before we left and we were there for 5 days.

Thankfully I only put the "nice to have/fun items" in the box (glow sticks, treats, wipes etc) but it was disappointing not having the items with us. I talked to so many different CM and shipping areas and each call resulted in a transfer to someone else. I had dates and names of who signed for the items and they could still not locate them. To me it seems weird that two items shipped from different locations could not make it to me...

I just wanted eveyone to know about this snafu... Hopefully they will eventually send me my items back since I did have a return address on the box.

Good luck sending. If I would have met up with my items, it would have been a perfect way to travel...my suitcase was nice and light.

 

[jdvm]

Forgive the rather blatant self-promotion, but why don't you just leave your stuff with us? We have it waiting for you when you check in, pick it up when you leave and keep it in a climate controlled warehouse until your next visit. A lot of our Members just carry on and don't hassle with luggage or shipping.
And we have a super deal just for DIS Board members.

John

 

[JoanieS]

Forgive the rather blatant self-promotion, but why don't you just leave your stuff with us? We have it waiting for you when you check in, pick it up when you leave and keep it in a climate controlled warehouse until your next visit. A lot of our Members just carry on and don't hassle with luggage or shipping.
And we have a super deal just for DIS Board members.

John

No problem on the self promotion! But, we have to get it down there, and who knows how long it will be before we get back to WDW - we have a long list of vacation destinations ahead And, most of it is consumable, so really, nothing to leave!