Warning About Shipping Water Or Other Stuff To Yourself At Resort

[LMEJ]

Just back from a wonderful stay at the Contemporary. I was going over my final bill and noticed a charge for $25.13 from the Business Center. We didn't use the business center for anything other than picking up an order of bottled water we had delivered from Costco, so I called this morning and was shocked to learn that guests are charged 40 cents per pound for any packages the hotel receives on your behalf! I asked to speak to a manager who confirmed this policy. This applies to any packages you have shipped to yourself, bottled water, or grocery orders that aren't delivered directly to you while you are there. I don't know if this applies only at the Contemporary or at all the Disney hotels, but I highly recommend that you call the hotel and ask about this BEFORE you have something delivered.

 

[dburg30]

I think some folks have said it was in the fine print on some of their travel docs. I think that sometimes the hotels maybe just dont charge it, or it gets charged and people just dont know what it's for lol..

I'm still going to be shipping some water tomorrow ..

It is a good warning though in case someone else doesnt know what a charge is for!

 

[jillmomto3]

Would this also apply to Garden Grocer? I am staying at the Contemporary in 11 days and are getting them to deliver our stuff to Bell Services two hours before we arrive.
Thanks,
Jill

 

[LMEJ]

It might not if it doesn't go through the business center, but I would call ahead and check just to be sure.

 

[ducklite]

This policy has always been in place at the CSR. My guess is that it was delivered to the business center loading dock, which requires use of a different group of people, not bell services. As time goes on and WDW resorts are looking to squeeze out every dime, I'm going to guess that they will more and more be enforcing charges like this.

It's normal for hotels with convention facilities to charge a fee to accept deliveries, and they can get into the hundreds of dollars if you have a lot of heavier things delivered.

 

[npmommie]

we just came back from the Poly and I had a box shipped from home and a case of water delivered. They did not charge me any fee. They gave me my box on check in, and the next day when the water came the staff brought it right to my room.

 

[wdwpixie]

Crimany....I was just getting ready to order water for the 24th as we arrive on the 25th....I don't want to pay extra fees? Maybe I'll have it delivered on the 26th and hope it goes straight to our rooms?!??

 

[Feralpeg]

Hopefully this is not the case at other resorts and not a new policy that has been put in place. Unfortunately, this is another one of those things that didn't use to happen, but now happens all the time thanks to message boards such as the DIS. People didn't use to ship things in advance to their resorts and expect the resort staff to hold it for them. Now, because some found that it works, the resorts have to deal with a lot of this. This requires extra work for the resort staff and, to some extent, puts them in a position of liability if something should happen to your package. Think about how heavy pallets of water are. The resort staff has to move those around.

I spoke to a former manager of CB not long ago. She said it is very much a concern and something they will be addressing. IMHO, the resorts will eventually tire of dealing with this and it will no longer be allowed. There is just too much of it.

 

[CanadianGuy]

While I readily admit to being no expert ..

I think this is something you'll see at all the 'convention' resorts. I don't think it's new.. probably just starting to apply it to all deliveries at convention resorts.

Knox

 

[madalex]

I was going over my final bill and noticed a charge for $25.13 from the Business Center. We didn't use the business center for anything other than picking up an order of bottled water we had delivered from Costco, so I called this morning and was shocked to learn that guests are charged 40 cents per pound for any packages the hotel receives on your behalf!

This works out to approx. 60 lbs of bottled water. I don't know how many cases/bottles that was, but it sounds like a lot.

In any event, having to deal with a package of this size certainly does cause Disney to incur time and expense, so this charge does not seem at all inappropriate.

 

[bavaria]

Hopefully this is not the case at other resorts and not a new policy that has been put in place. Unfortunately, this is another one of those things that didn't use to happen, but now happens all the time thanks to message boards such as the DIS. People didn't use to ship things in advance to their resorts and expect the resort staff to hold it for them. Now, because some found that it works, the resorts have to deal with a lot of this. This requires extra work for the resort staff and, to some extent, puts them in a position of liability if something should happen to your package. Think about how heavy pallets of water are. The resort staff has to move those around.

I spoke to a former manager of CB not long ago. She said it is very much a concern and something they will be addressing. IMHO, the resorts will eventually tire of dealing with this and it will no longer be allowed. There is just too much of it.

Very well said. Unfortunately when you add in the volume of 'swaps' as well and the number of fridges and microwaves potentially being stored, it can add up quickly.

I ship boxes every week for work to hotels around the world. Many do charge a 'handling' fee, especially convention hotels.

In past, CSR and CR have both charged me fees, although sometimes they did waive the fee when they realized that I was not attending an on site meeting.

While I can't see a resort outright refusing to accept ANY packages for guests (such as my work materials, delayed luggage, or Peg's gift baskets), I can see them refusing delivery on cases of water, etc

And frankly, the WDW resorts track record on package handling has never been stellar, compared to other hotels, at least in my years of experience.

 

[ducklite]

And frankly, the WDW resorts track record on package handling has never been stellar, compared to other hotels, at least in my years of experience.

Have to agree on that! About ten years ago I had a Fed-Ex envelope delivered tot eh BC for me--it had a replacement credit card in it. They acknowledged that they ahd received it, but ahd no idea of where it was. It took them almost four hours to find it.

The GF lost my bags dueing a resort to resort transfer and it took hours and the GM of the BW to get involved. The GF said "We don't know where we delivered them to." Um, turns out they were at the GF all along.

The BWV tried to deliver a couple cases of beer and some other groceries to our room two months ago along with our graoceries--and then seemed surprised when we didn't try to keep them.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

I have just returned from the BWI - a convention resort. We were told that WDW resorts with convention facilites are the ones which charge for these advance packages.

We shipped Christmas decorations and more than a few gifts for our local friends...but shipped to Riverside. (added one night because of fabulous airfare) and there was no charge for TWO boxes shipped there.

We have been fortunate, I suppose, and have never lost anything shipped in advance.

 

[stinkerbelle's momma]

We just returned from a stay Nov. 25-Dec. 1. We had water and other groceries delivered to the Caribbean Beach Resort. Due to a mix up, the groceries were delivered on Sat, not our arrival date of Sunday.

When we arrived at our room, we called bell services and they delivered the groceries to our room, NO CHARGE. I should also mention that we had a case of water, plus 3 bags of groceries delivered and still no charge

 

[ducklite]

We just returned from a stay Nov. 25-Dec. 1. We had water and other groceries delivered to the Caribbean Beach Resort. Due to a mix up, the groceries were delivered on Sat, not our arrival date of Sunday.

When we arrived at our room, we called bell services and they delivered the groceries to our room, NO CHARGE. I should also mention that we had a case of water, plus 3 bags of groceries delivered and still no charge

CBR is not a ceonvention resort. This charge only seems to be affecting the convention resorts.

 

[dingoballs]

CBR is not a ceonvention resort. This charge only seems to be affecting the convention resorts.

I was wondering... which WDW resorts are NOT considered a "convention resort"?

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Any resort with an attached convention facility....

Coronado Springs
Beach Club
Yacht Club
Boardwalk
Contemporary
Grand Floridian

Ok folks....what have I missed.

 

[ducklite]

Any resort with an attached convention facility....

Coronado Springs
Beach Club
Yacht Club
Boardwalk
Contemporary
Grand Floridian

Ok folks....what have I missed.

Swan & Dolphin.

 

[tiggersmyguy]

I had water delivered to YC from Costco in June. I guess I should consider myself lucky because I was not charged anything extra.

 

[Sammie]

Hopefully this is not the case at other resorts and not a new policy that has been put in place. Unfortunately, this is another one of those things that didn't use to happen, but now happens all the time thanks to message boards such as the DIS. People didn't use to ship things in advance to their resorts and expect the resort staff to hold it for them. Now, because some found that it works, the resorts have to deal with a lot of this. This requires extra work for the resort staff and, to some extent, puts them in a position of liability if something should happen to your package. Think about how heavy pallets of water are. The resort staff has to move those around.

I spoke to a former manager of CB not long ago. She said it is very much a concern and something they will be addressing. IMHO, the resorts will eventually tire of dealing with this and it will no longer be allowed. There is just too much of it.

Yep, that is about the extent of it. It starts out as a good idea, then everyone gets in on it and pretty soon changes have to be made due to over use. Same thing that happened with faxing and calling your requests to the resorts.