Who can I use to send a basket to the resort?

[princssdisnygina]

No, she didnt send me a pic but we communicated via email and I pretty much told her piece by piece what I was looking for... and when I added in the $25 fee I decided to talk to the disney florist to see which would be more worth my money. The actual merchandise is the same pricing for the most part, I am just saving money on the fee. I have no doubt sarah would have given me a good thing too. Just trying to get as much as I can if you know what I mean. I did add somethings with disney florist, however, I gave the disney florist my original list and the cost was almost $20 cheaper.

Gina

 

[BetsyinFL]

Keep in mind that Sarah's gifts are in a foldable box (usually) which makes bringing them home a lot easier than the baskets and tins included with Disney Florist gifts. Also, Sarah does NOT mark up the merchandise AT ALL, which is unusual. For the amount of time she spends searching for exactly what you want, the $25 is a bargain!

 

[Tiger926]

We have only every ordered from Disney Florist, so I just checked Sarah's website, and I am confused as her prices seem really high compared to Disney Florist as mentioned above. I don't understand the whole $28.00 fee and then adding in the merchandise - this definitely makes it higher priced than Disney Florist. Her baskets (which don't look like baskets at all, but paper boxes) look nice, but the prices seem high to me - am I missing something?

Thanks for sharing this link, Tiger

 

[mom2of2]

Keep in mind that Sarah's gifts are in a foldable box (usually) which makes bringing them home a lot easier than the baskets and tins included with Disney Florist gifts. Also, Sarah does NOT mark up the merchandise AT ALL, which is unusual. For the amount of time she spends searching for exactly what you want, the $25 is a bargain!

She raised her price. It's $28 for the 1st basket, $8 each after that. She is marking it up...she's just calling it delivery, set up and shopping charge

DisneyFlorist is going to be cheaper. Private companies have to make a profit or otherwise they wouldn't be in business. They have to mark up. It's not like they are doing this from the goodness of their hearts....it's how they earn their living.

 

[LauraAnn630]

Im going with Sarah. I want...
2 refillable resort mugs
1 resort magnet
1 YOMD photo album for my in-laws.

For our family basket Im getting...
4 refillable resort mugs
1 Where the glass slipper always fits tote
2 etched Mickey wine glasses
1 YOMD photo album
2 sugar free Mickey chocolate bars
2 bags of Mickey shortbread cookies
2 pirate swords
2 bags of chocolate coins
3 YOMD landyards
2 Epcot passports
1 resort magnet

All things we would buy anyways! To have it delivered, wrapped all pretty, right to our room will be a time saver and a treat!

Sarah can put things in your basket Disney Florist cannot. So it depends on what you want. I think her prices are great!

I can pay for these things in advance. I like that! The more I get paid off now the better! Then DH thinks the trip is less expensive than it is...LOL

2007 All Star fridge swap! Check and see if your dates are available! Its much cheaper than renting on from the resort!!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1439963

 

[CampbellScot]

I will say for Sarah that she is an angel to work with. And if you consider the price of gas these days, her time spent getting all the personalized little things you want in your basket with NO MARK UP, the time she takes to organize the baskets and wrap them up, and then delivering them straight to your room so they are there when you arrive...her fee isn't that much. She should be paid for her time and the service she is providing.

I just really like Sarah. She's the nicest lady to work with. I'm sure that disneyflorist can do a similer job, but I guess I would worry that they are a pretty big operation and the margin of error is bigger and they probably aren't as concerned with getting everything "just so" or making certain that the baskets get to your room before you arrive.

Case in point, my husband ordered a dozen roses and a box of chocolates from Disneyflorist.com to be in our room before we arrived on our honeymoon. My husband was none too happy when the roses were not there. He had EXPLICITLY told the place when we would be arriving and that he wanted the roses in the room at least 45 in advance. They promised him that the roses would be there before we were! He had wanted me to be surprised and the effect was ruined (in his eyes...I thought the roses were gorgeous regardles!!! ). It was odd when he said said rather abruptly after entering the room "I'm going to check things out..." and disappeared. He came back 10 minutes later and about TWENTY minutes after that the flower person sauntered up unhurriedly to our room with the roses. It was then that I understood why my husband had been stalling our trip to DTD!

I appreciate the personalized attention you get with Sarah. She makes sure those baskets get to the room before you are there. They are always beautifully done and she adds a "message from Mickey" to the baskets for the kids. It's a nice touch. She's a nice lady and she does a professional job!!!

 

[Tiger926]

I will say for Sarah that she is an angel to work with. And if you consider the price of gas these days, her time spent getting all the personalized little things you want in your basket with NO MARK UP, the time she takes to organize the baskets and wrap them up, and then delivering them straight to your room so they are there when you arrive...her fee isn't that much. She should be paid for her time and the service she is providing.

I just really like Sarah. She's the nicest lady to work with. I'm sure that disneyflorist can do a similer job, but I guess I would worry that they are a pretty big operation and the margin of error is bigger and they probably aren't as concerned with getting everything "just so" or making certain that the baskets get to your room before you arrive.

Case in point, my husband ordered a dozen roses and a box of chocolates from Disneyflorist.com to be in our room before we arrived on our honeymoon. My husband was none too happy when the roses were not there. He had EXPLICITLY told the place when we would be arriving and that he wanted the roses in the room at least 45 in advance. They promised him that the roses would be there before we were! He had wanted me to be surprised and the effect was ruined (in his eyes...I thought the roses were gorgeous regardles!!! ). It was odd when he said said rather abruptly after entering the room "I'm going to check things out..." and disappeared. He came back 10 minutes later and about TWENTY minutes after that the flower person sauntered up unhurriedly to our room with the roses. It was then that I understood why my husband had been stalling our trip to DTD!

I appreciate the personalized attention you get with Sarah. She makes sure those baskets get to the room before you are there. They are always beautifully done and she adds a "message from Mickey" to the baskets for the kids. It's a nice touch. She's a nice lady and she does a professional job!!!

Sorry this happened, but Disney's policy is that no one is allowed to enter the room - even Disney Florist - until after guests have checked in. They are not allowed to have stuff waiting in guests' rooms. That is why they ask for check in times and usually suggest that they deliver after check in, so that itemes are not sitting at resort front desks too long. Incidentally, Sarah will not be able to have a basket waiting in room either, unless you've already checked in - it's Disney policy. We are DVC members who travel to WDW very frequently (sent many baskets) and have checked on this policy very thoroughly - we just recently went in January, so unless something has changed since then, no company (even Disney themselves) will be allowed to have baskets waiting in your room prior to check in for various reasons (eg. change of rooms, security, etc.). We have checked and rechecked on this policy many times with Disney resort managers, Guest Services, DVC and Disney Florist.

Thanks for the info regarding Sarah's baskets, Tiger

 

[CampbellScot]

Sorry this happened, but Disney's policy is that no one is allowed to enter the room - even Disney Florist - until after guests have checked in. They are not allowed to have stuff waiting in guests' rooms. That is why they ask for check in times and usually suggest that they deliver after check in, so that itemes are not sitting at resort front desks too long. Incidentally, Sarah will not be able to have a basket waiting in room either, unless you've already checked in - it's Disney policy. We are DVC members who travel to WDW very frequently (sent many baskets) and have checked on this policy very thoroughly - we just recently went in January, so unless something has changed since then, no company (even Disney themselves) will be allowed to have baskets waiting in your room prior to check in for various reasons (eg. change of rooms, security, etc.). We have checked and rechecked on this policy many times with Disney resort managers, Guest Services, DVC and Disney Florist.

If that is the case then Disney Florist should not have indicated otherwise. My husband was not mistaken about what he was told.

Our baskets from Sarah were on our beds when we arrived last summer. maybe it's Disney magic!

 

[Tiger926]

If that is the case then Disney Florist should not have indicated otherwise. My husband was not mistaken about what he was told.

Our baskets from Sarah were on our beds when we arrived last summer. maybe it's Disney magic!

Thanks for the update - I am definitely going to have to check on that as that is not what we have been told time and again, and we have been getting baskets for years both to regular Disney resort rooms (Caribbean Beach, Contemporary) and DVC.

Good to know, Tiger

 

[Feralpeg]

It is true that no one has access to leave a basket, flowers, etc. in a guests room other than the runners who work for the resort. All deliveries (including the Disney Florist) are made to the front desk of the resort. Sometimes, when the resorts are not busy, rooms will be assigned in advance. In such case, it is possible that your purchase will be in your room when you arrive. During busier times of year, rooms are not assigned until you check in. Therefore, they will not make a delivery to a room prior to check in. There is too big a chance that the room might be re-assigned and the wrong guest receive the item.

I made hundreds of deliveries to Disney resorts when I was doing gift baskets. A couple of times, my baskets were delivered to wrong rooms and I had to scurry to make up new baskets because my clients had requested specific items. They couldn't retrieve the first baskets because the guests who checked into the rooms opened them. Disney did reimburse me for the cost of the second baskets, but it was a big mess.

As for the cost, only the Disney Florist can get WDW merchandise for less than retail. When I was doing gift baskets, I paid the retail cost of each merchandise item included in a basket plus tax. If Sarah, or any other private gift basket company, does not mark up their merchandise, they must do something to cover the cost of their time, effort and gas/mileage.

If you stop to think of how much time it takes to communicate with clients, do record-keeping (the IRS requires this), shopping (often multiple trips to price information for quotes and then back to make the purchase once the client approves an item), assembly time and delivery time (I found it normally took an hour to do most deliveries), gift basket companies are not getting rich by any means. When I was doing my business, I was lucky if I made $10 on a basket once all cost, time, etc. was factored in. This is the main reason I'm not doing them now.

 

[CampbellScot]

I just wanted to say that I wasn't trying to be snarky...I just know that Disney is FULL of misinformation and/or one CM is saying "yes" where another says "ABSOLUTELY NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES". I really think it all depends on which day and who you ask. My husband is one of those men who is overly (okay, OBSESSIVELY) meticulous about detail. He was pretty disappointed when things didn't turn out as he had been told they would. But like I said, I was STILL surprised and I loved the roses!!

I initially thought "Wow, I'll bet Sarah is making a TON of money on this! What a fun way to make extra cash..." but when I sat down to think about all that goes into making these baskets and how nit picky people can be, the amount of shopping and driving and assembling and communicating and MIND CHANGING (guilty here) this takes...I'm amazed that Sarah hasn't lost her sweetness and sworn Disney off for life!

I'll just say again, I think she is a doll and her price isn't that high considering all that goes into it and the professional product she delivers!

Thanks Feralpeg for the info!! It's good to know!!!

 

[safetymom]

Gifts of a Lifetime is also a great company to work with. www.giftsofalifetime.com

They will work with you to make the basket just the way you would like it.

 

[Tiger926]

I just wanted to say that I wasn't trying to be snarky...I just know that Disney is FULL of misinformation and/or one CM is saying "yes" where another says "ABSOLUTELY NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES". I really think it all depends on which day and who you ask. My husband is one of those men who is overly (okay, OBSESSIVELY) meticulous about detail. He was pretty disappointed when things didn't turn out as he had been told they would. But like I said, I was STILL surprised and I loved the roses!!

I initially thought "Wow, I'll bet Sarah is making a TON of money on this! What a fun way to make extra cash..." but when I sat down to think about all that goes into making these baskets and how nit picky people can be, the amount of shopping and driving and assembling and communicating and MIND CHANGING (guilty here) this takes...I'm amazed that Sarah hasn't lost her sweetness and sworn Disney off for life!

I'll just say again, I think she is a doll and her price isn't that high considering all that goes into it and the professional product she delivers!

Thanks Feralpeg for the info!! It's good to know!!!

I'm sorry if you thought I thought you were being snarky - not at all. I just know that being frequent WDW visitors, we have checked into this many times, as we have had baskets delivered many times, and this is one area that has remained consistent for us, and others we know. So, I didn't want anyone to get their hopes up in thinking that they would absolutely be guaranteed baskets waiting in their rooms.

As Feralpeg said (and she would know-lol!), it is official policy not to have any type of gift items waiting in rooms, but you were so lucky to have your baskets from Sarah waiting for you as that is definitely not the case - for us DVC members especially as we have had several baskets waiting at front desk until we checked in as it has to do with room assignments. Glad it worked out for you as that must have been a nice surprise!

Thanks Peg for the info, Tiger

 

[princssdisnygina]

The Disney Florist pricing is cheaper on the items. They are the same or cheaper as ordering from disney merch or buying in the parks. I did my research and compared and that is why I chose the Disney Florist. Sarah was great to work with when I was trying to decide but I wanted to get the most bang for my buck. She did have access to things the disney florist didnt keep in stock but they do get deliveries from the mail order dept all the time so I can call the disney merchandise number and order it from there and they deliver it the florist. It was no big deal at all! I will let you know how it is after we get back! We are going Memorial weekend!

Gina

 

[**pixiedust**]

I completely respect the OPs decision to go with Disney Flrorist, but I find it bizzare that people think $25.00 is expensive to compensate someone like Sarah for the time and effort she spends on putting these baskets together. Do people think she should do it for free? I just finished working with her and she is delivering a basket to the POFQ this Friday for me, when we arrive. She was nothing but professional, friendly and helpful. She is doing this for income....why wouldn't she charge a fee to drive, shop, assemble, and deliver (not to mention the constant emailing she must have to do).

 

[Tiger926]

I completely respect the OPs decision to go with Disney Flrorist, but I find it bizzare that people think $25.00 is expensive to compensate someone like Sarah for the time and effort she spends on putting these baskets together. Do people think she should do it for free? I just finished working with her and she is delivering a basket to the POFQ this Friday for me, when we arrive. She was nothing but professional, friendly and helpful. She is doing this for income....why wouldn't she charge a fee to drive, shop, assemble, and deliver (not to mention the constant emailing she must have to do).

I'm not sure about others, but I don't think that Sarah shouldn't be compensated at all. I just find her prices are higher than Disney Florist (especially since she doesn't give a real basket or container of any kind), of course she has to factor in gas and travel expenses, but for us, Disney Florist, works out best. They charge the $9.00 delivery fee (they do not charge the additional $2.95 service fee that is listed - I've asked them to remove it from the website many times as they said they never charge it, but they haven't as of yet), plus the cost of the basket. They will also do substitutions (I got the entire basked substituted out one year - they give you credit for those items, and let you add new ones), which is great!

The beauty is that we all get to choose whom we would like to do business with, as well as what additional charges are of value to us.

Good thread as there is lots of information on here that is very useful, Tiger

 

[princssdisnygina]

Sarah was great to work with when I was deciding who to go with, and when I told her I decided to go with disney florist she was very understanding. I am just trying to get the most out of it, and unfortunately Sarah was not the best choice for me. That is not saying she doesnt do a good job, because she was certainly helpful and willing to do whatever she could. But, as an independent person trying to do this, she would of course have to be a little more expensive to make any sort of profit, which is understandable. I may use her in the future, but for now I am going with the Disney Florist.

Gina