smartblnde
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2010
Note: The previous version of this thread has been made non-sticky and closed; it will remain on the board for reference if needed.
This post is for those who plan to ship items for their stay to their Disney resorts, or who wish to ship items home from their resort. It’s a work in progress, so if you have any additions or corrections, please post them in this thread, and I’ll do my best to keep the FAQ up to date.
Note: Since FAQ threads can quickly get very long, all off-topic posts will be removed without comment or notification.
Wow, I never thought of sending anything ahead to my resort. What kinds of things do people send?
All sorts of things - air mattresses, luggage, medical supplies, groceries and snacks, cases of water, pool toys, Christmas gifts and decorations. Some guests pack and ship the items themselves, some prefer to order from Amazon, Walmart or other retailers.
Is there anything I can’t or shouldn’t ship?
The major carriers won’t ship alcohol for delivery to consumers, so you’d need to carry that with you or get it locally, either at a resort shop, Speedway store on property, liquor store, etc.
Check your shipper’s website for more information about restricted items.
What shipping method should I use?
Any carrier that you like. The postal service (USPS) delivers WDW mail to a central location, and Disney then distributes mail to its destination. This may mean that your package takes just a bit longer to get to its destination. Other delivery services such as UPS or FedEx deliver directly to the resorts.
Tip: UPS shipping can cost less if you take your package directly to a UPS depot instead of a commercial location like The UPS Store.
Tip: When shipping through the postal service (USPS), unless you pay for special services like Priority Mail or Express Mail, tracking is often not updated at each stop. So don’t be alarmed if your package seems “stuck” somewhere for a few days, it’s probably moving along to its destination and just hasn’t been scanned recently.
Will Disney charge me for receiving a package?
If the package is being delivered to a resort with a convention center, yes. For all other resorts, no. Disney has outsourced the handling of package deliveries at resort convention centers to outside companies, and all packages delivered to those resorts go to the convention center.
Resorts with convention centers are: Grand Floridian, Yacht Club/Beach Club/Beach Club Villas, Boardwalk Inn/Boardwalk Villas, Contemporary/Bay Lake Tower, and Coronado Springs.
You will be charged a handling fee for each package you receive. The fee is based on weight. For packages that are less than 5 pounds, it’s $3. For packages from 5 pounds to 20 pounds, it’s $5. Packages heavier than 20 pounds have a $10 charge.
Note: it’s been said that packages shipped via the post office do not go to the convention center, and therefore there is no handling fee. I have not been able to confirm this, though, so please don’t come back and yell at me if you get charged for your USPS delivery.
How far in advance of my trip should I send it?
It’s suggested that you try to get it there within a week of your arrival date. I haven’t heard of any packages being refused or sent back because they arrived too soon, but resorts have only so much space for holding packages, and I’m sure the resort staff would rather not be storing packages for weeks on end.
How do I address the package so that it will get to my resort?
Use the name of the lead guest on the reservation (makes it easier for resort staff to find your package):
John Smith - Hold for Guest Arrival 6/1/15
c/o Disney’s Wilderness Resort
901 Timberline Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
There’s no need to put your reservation number on the label; in fact, Disney recommends that you do not do this for security reasons.
Resort addresses can be found in the second post of this thread.
Once I arrive at the resort, how do I get my package?
Ask at the front desk. They may be able to give it to you right there, or Bell Services might bring it to your room (tips are appreciated). If you’re staying at a convention resort, you’ll probably need to go to the business center at the convention center to pick up your package. Business centers are open from 8:00am to 5:00pm daily (Monday thru Friday), Saturday 8 am to 10 am, and are closed on Sundays.
What about sending souvenirs and stuff home?
If you don’t have a box, you can pick one up in the resort gift shop. You can bring your package to the front desk, or the Guest Services/Concierge desk. If your resort has a convention center, shipping services are also available at the Ricoh Business Center inside the convention center. Handling fees in the $10 range should be expected in addition to postage charges. If you’re able to print your return shipping label at home before you head to WDW, that’ll be a timesaver.
Hope you find this information helpful.
Lynne M and the DISboards Staff
THANK you! Now I have space in my suitcase for clothes. We were going to pack a small Christmas tree, lights and some other decorations into the checked bag. These suggestions are most awesome.
