How Do You Use Your OwnersLocker?

[drakethib]

Love the idea and hope it takes off but the price is cost prohibitive IMHO.

$50 - $75 per year I think is a better range. Just MHO.

I do applaud the idea and look forward to seeing / hearing more about it.

 

[3DisneyKids]

Love the idea and hope it takes off but the price is cost prohibitive IMHO.

$50 - $75 per year I think is a better range. Just MHO.

I do applaud the idea and look forward to seeing / hearing more about it.

This is where I am at as well. But Here, Here! for the entrepreneurial spirit behind this idea!

 

[CarolA]

I love the idea, but I can't see this as cost effective.

Wouldn't it be less expensive, and probably more efficient, to pack an extra bag with these items and pay the airlines for the transportation of the extra bag?

Well that's a toss up. The extra bag cost is up to $50 each way so.... (If the airline will even take it. Extra luggage is loaded at the airlines discretion, if you are flying a commuter airline there is a risk involved!)

I have raised the pricing question on the overall thread and think that it's a valid concern.

For me it's a way to do carry on only so I like it, but the pricing is a concern.

 

[jdvm]

Ooooooooooooooh, didn't know this thread was here or I would have jumped in sooner.

Our current thinking on pricing is:
-$75 for the Locker (guaranteed for life)
-$12.50 per month for climate controlled storage (includes one free visit per year)

We're currently in the middle of a full scale test of Owner's Locker with a large group of fantastic volunteer Beta Trial Members--most of whom came from here at The DIS. For example, as I write this, there are currently about 15 families at the various resorts with one of our Lockers in their room.

This is a brand new service and we've had to make lots of assumptions and guesses about things, including pricing. One of the main purposes of our test is to get feedback from our Beta Trial Members about all aspects of Owner's Locker.

So we very much appreciate your questions and comments. The points you raise will be among those we will be asking as well.

We also know that now matter what features we offer or what we charge, Owner's Locker will make sense for some people and not others. A major feature of our service is convenience. And different people value convenience differently.

Please keep passing on your comments and we will consider them together with the feedback we get from the Beta Trial Members who are using the Locker and experiencing the service.

John

 

[Simba's Mom]

Remember, it's not just the cost of the "extra" bag. I'm hoping this allows me to go back to the "good, ole' days" when I traveled with just carry-ons, and bypassed the time spent at baggage claim waiting for my luggage so I can once again "maximize my fun time in Wally World" (in the words of Sparky Griswold). Now that the airlines have so many restrictions on carry-on items, that's impossible right now.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Things I thought of to add to the liist include:

A pop up laundry basket (for studio stays esp.)
Hats/Caps
Swimmes for DD5 who isn't a good swimmer yet
WDW water bottle holders/straps
The WATER MISTER that only gets used at Disney in summer
Flip flops
Feminine products

We'll be on the DDP this February. If we have any left over snack credits, I will get bottles of water to stick in the locker for the next trip.

 

[Boston5602]

I got back last weekend from Boardwalk. This was my first time using Owners Locker.

I don't think to many people have tried it yet , when I asked about picking it up and when dropping it off with Bell services they were a tiny bit confused ( so it seemed to me ) that I one , didn't know exactly what it was I was picking up other than a big plastic box. Two , that I wasn't coming back for it when I dropped it off.

On this trip I took a huge suitcase with me , half of it was filled with stuff not coming back with me I went down with a bag that weighed 48 1/2 pounds. Came home with a bag that weighed 27 pounds!

It came with a smaller container , which I found very useful . I was able to put this in the bathroom when packing up and made things go smoother with all my little stuff. I could have put the box in the closet of the one bedroom , but I actually put it behind the chair in the corner of the living room. Completely out of our way.

The box was bigger then I thought it would be ,and it had separators to use also. I mostly just kind of threw things in and still had a good amount of room left but I managed to fit in this list of things....

=tube of clorox wipes
=band-aids
=new brush
=soap
=tooth brush with cap
=toothpaste
=baby powder
=lint brush
=2 chip bag clips ( magnetic for use on fridge too )
=Advil
=1 pair scissors
=Ziploc bags
=Salt/Pepper
=Coffee Filter
=mugs
=bathing suit
=candles and matches
=6 plug outlet
=Q-Tips and holder
=plastic hooks for hanging items
=toothbrush holder
=soap dish
=box of sweet and low
=sugar packets
=kona coffee
=deck of cards
=2 mickey shaped ice cube trays
=extra hangers brought from home
=towels
=throw-away camera
=nail clippers
=tweezers
=battery charger
=zip ties
=my Disney Hat
=4 suction hooks ( to hang towels on )
=shampoo
=hair spray
=1 bottle hand soap
=12 packs of laundry cleaner tablets
=12 pocket over the door organizers ( mainly for the studios )
=bottle of Tums
=2 umbrella's
=dryer sheets
=first aid kit
=roll of tape
=mini mesh bag
=travel alarm clock with soothing sounds


I'm very excited to be able to test out this new service. I have a trip planned for this summer and I'm thinking about adding one in June. I will keenly be aware how this service works and how I utilize it , to see if it makes sense for me and my family.

I'm looking forward to bringing my carry on suitcase only this summer , since half the stuff I need is already down there. I think I'm going to have to go buy some sneakers and a pair of shoes to leave down there too.

The box was there when we got to the resort and I received and e-mail when I got home that the box was picked up from Boardwalk so that was nice.

As I understand it the e-mails will be automatic when everything comes online . The only thing I noticed was they sent an email about the box the morning we were leaving , and we were already in the air when that was sent , so I'm hoping John and or Brian can keep that in mind when things go automatic.Maybe an e-mail the day before instead letting us know you remember where coming the next day.

As to pricing , I'd like to see how things are on my next trip where everything is there already, to see what kind of value it has for me. I've read lots of post on different reasons why the price is reasonable and why too people think its to much money. I'll wait and see and tell you what I think about that later.

Right now I want to just say thanks to John and Brian and wish them the best of luck with this new company!

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

For all those members with the OwnersLocker...

Don't forget the Charmin TP.

It will make your trip more enjoyable.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I contacted John this week for information about the Owner'slocker. DH and I came up with the following list of what we would put in it:

Laundry detergent
5 days worth of underwear and socks
walking shoes
shampoo, conditioner, and shower jell of our liking
razor
contact solution
extra reading glasses
extra pair of contacts (disposables)
sewing kit
lotion
electric toothbrush and brushes
toothpaste
floss
salt and pepper
sugar
Bisquick
egg replacer
water bottles
DVC tote for parks
belly bags
sweatshirt for each
bathrobe for each
foil and plastic wrap
rubbermaid bowls for leftovers
batteries
favorite neck pillow

We too decided it was pricey when compared to sending these kinds of things down via UPS. The delivery fee is what made it so.

 

[mikesmom]

We just tried it out! We're analyzing the cost effectiveness for ourselves, but we're leaning toward "well worth it'. I know that's easy for me to say as we're still in Beta (not paying) but here's the random thoughts so far....

- we don't use coffee filters at home as we have a permanent filter in the coffee maker. So. darn near every time we go to WDW we buy filters. Goes something like this " anybody packed those filters?" "I though you had them, they are laid out in the pantry" " My bag was too full" "OK, we'll buy some, what size do we need" " I dunno, maybe we should get a couple sizes?". ..If I had a dollar for every time we've bought coffee filters in 7 years of ownership, we'd have a lot more dollars and a lot less coffee filters. Ditto on tea bags, aloe vera, swim suits, etc

- we do cook in the room. So every time we go down it's either buy zip loc bags and plastic wrap or waste food.

- numerous things are a fortune if you have to buy them suddenly at the resort or near the resort. These are caused by all the unforseen disasters requiring antibiotic ointment, band aids, feminine products, allergy medicine, etc. There isn't enough luggage to drag down the whole darn medicine chest and there isn't enough time to pack it.

- I own a business as a marketing consultant, DH is an accountant and writer/teacher of taxation. For both of us, our time is worth money. BOTH of us on this trip worked up to the last minute. We both were actually still getting cell phone calls from clients as we left. I even got a call when we changed planes. Often, neither one of us has the time before a vacation to pack a special bag to make the room usable as home. I try and plan for it, but if a good client calls with a problem, they get my attention.

-DH can be pretty cheap, but his line to me is often "what is your time worth?". It's not only the "stuff", it's the hours required to think about the stuff . We often have said it's too much trouble to take a vacation because of all the hotel, air, car rental reservations, packing, pet-sitting plans, food that needs to be frozen and put away so it doesn't go bad while we are gone, someone to take care of the mail and package delivery at home and office.... Just as DVC has taken away a lot of the uncertainty of accomodations, Owner's Locker seems to take away some more of the planning stress.

- As others have said, there is a limit to the amount of luggage you can carry these days, and for us, one of those pieces has to be a computer. We may or may not plan on working, but we'd better be prepared for an emergency.

- another cost issue: DH has had both hip and knee surgery. There is a pretty tight limit on how much weight he can lift and carry, and how far he can carry it. I have no restrictions, but only have 2 hands and can only juggle so much. So, if you figure extra bags will cost us in the form of skycaps, bell services and valet, there is some savings in having one batch of stuff waiting for us.

Anyway, right now looks like we are on the yes side of the "is it worth it" debate.

By the way, in addition to what others have packed, we threw in a Winn Dixie discount card and a ABC discount card for shopping only in Florida!

 

[LIFERBABE]

We just tried it out! We're analyzing the cost effectiveness for ourselves, but we're leaning toward "well worth it'. I know that's easy for me to say as we're still in Beta (not paying) but here's the random thoughts so far....

- we don't use coffee filters at home as we have a permanent filter in the coffee maker. So. darn near every time we go to WDW we buy filters. Goes something like this " anybody packed those filters?" "I though you had them, they are laid out in the pantry" " My bag was too full" "OK, we'll buy some, what size do we need" " I dunno, maybe we should get a couple sizes?". ..If I had a dollar for every time we've bought coffee filters in 7 years of ownership, we'd have a lot more dollars and a lot less coffee filters. Ditto on tea bags, aloe vera, swim suits, etc

- we do cook in the room. So every time we go down it's either buy zip loc bags and plastic wrap or waste food.

- numerous things are a fortune if you have to buy them suddenly at the resort or near the resort. These are caused by all the unforseen disasters requiring antibiotic ointment, band aids, feminine products, allergy medicine, etc. There isn't enough luggage to drag down the whole darn medicine chest and there isn't enough time to pack it.

- I own a business as a marketing consultant, DH is an accountant and writer/teacher of taxation. For both of us, our time is worth money. BOTH of us on this trip worked up to the last minute. We both were actually still getting cell phone calls from clients as we left. I even got a call when we changed planes. Often, neither one of us has the time before a vacation to pack a special bag to make the room usable as home. I try and plan for it, but if a good client calls with a problem, they get my attention.

-DH can be pretty cheap, but his line to me is often "what is your time worth?". It's not only the "stuff", it's the hours required to think about the stuff . We often have said it's too much trouble to take a vacation because of all the hotel, air, car rental reservations, packing, pet-sitting plans, food that needs to be frozen and put away so it doesn't go bad while we are gone, someone to take care of the mail and package delivery at home and office.... Just as DVC has taken away a lot of the uncertainty of accomodations, Owner's Locker seems to take away some more of the planning stress.

- As others have said, there is a limit to the amount of luggage you can carry these days, and for us, one of those pieces has to be a computer. We may or may not plan on working, but we'd better be prepared for an emergency.

- another cost issue: DH has had both hip and knee surgery. There is a pretty tight limit on how much weight he can lift and carry, and how far he can carry it. I have no restrictions, but only have 2 hands and can only juggle so much. So, if you figure extra bags will cost us in the form of skycaps, bell services and valet, there is some savings in having one batch of stuff waiting for us.

Anyway, right now looks like we are on the yes side of the "is it worth it" debate.

By the way, in addition to what others have packed, we threw in a Winn Dixie discount card and a ABC discount card for shopping only in Florida!

Excellent post!! I really like the Winn Dixie card idea!!! I could go a step further and leave my entire Passporter with all My disney stuff in it. Even my DDE card!

I hate to go to the store when I am on vacation and I hate to feel like I am paying too much for stuff that we need so we often go without. Dh and I always argue about the amount of stuff I pack, so some things are worth it, just to keep the friction down. It's like my navigation in the car, well worth it, because now we dont argue over directions and who was right or wrong
I am looking forward to trying out the service next month!

 

[lunch pail Bob]

what does the service cost?

 

[debloco]

I'm excited about the concept, but we'd need a bigger size locker. Since we go for Christmas, it would be great if we could store our tree/ornaments/garland/lights/other decorations. Maybe this would be an idea for expansion down the road?

 

[greenban]

[SNIP]... EMPHASIS ADDED...
I contacted John this week for information about the Owner'slocker. DH and I came up with the following list of what we would put in it:

Laundry detergent
5 days worth of underwear and socks

...[/snip]
walking shoes
shampoo, conditioner, and shower jell of our liking
razor
contact solution
extra reading glasses
extra pair of contacts (disposables)
sewing kit
lotion
electric toothbrush and brushes
toothpaste
floss
salt and pepper
sugar
Bisquick
egg replacer
water bottles
DVC tote for parks
belly bags
sweatshirt for each
bathrobe for each
foil and plastic wrap
rubbermaid bowls for leftovers
batteries
favorite neck pillow

We too decided it was pricey when compared to sending these kinds of things down via UPS. The delivery fee is what made it so.

Diane:

You know I love you (can't ever spell your last name right the first time, but love you none the less), but.

I think many of us might have written 5 pairs of underware and socks, you used much more interesting language.....

So, how much underware and socks is five days worth?

Enquiring minds want to know!



-Tony

 

[jdvm]

Hey Debloco,
How about this? Here's a photo of the prototype Christmas Locker that we have in the pipeline. It has a divider down the middle and it would come with a high quality 4 1/2 foot tree that fits on one side of the Locker and the other side would have space for your decorations. We're also working on a smaller Christmas Locker that will come with a 3 foot tree. This is still in the design stage so we don't have a feel for cost yet, but we're with you on the idea! What do you think?

John

p.s. lunch pail Bob, see post 24 for pricing info
j

 

[dwelty]

We are beta testers also. My wife and I came up with a way to use the owners locker and reduce our luggage by half! We have used those "Space Bags" that you see advertised on TV to store clothes under the bed. Suprise suprise, they actually work! We have always wanted to use them on vacation, but the problem has always been how do you pack up on the other end? (You need a Vacuume with a suction hose) DVC rooms have uprights with no hoses. We bought a very small hand Vacuume with a hose, and it works great. We are planning on storing this vacuume in the owners locker, along with some other items. We have already done a "test run" and it reduced our luggage by half (2 suitcases for a family of 5!) We had been lugging 4 suitcases and 2 strollers at the airport it has been really stressfull. This will make things alot easier for us. In addition, we will still have 3/4 of the owners locker to store additional stuff in. Our trip in March should be alot more relaxing. P.S. we plan on storing a twin Aero Bed in the locker, the vacuume has a setting that alows you to use it to inflate items as well.

 

[ReneeQ]

How does the Beta testing work (if you get chosen)? I take it you don't have to pay for the $75 locker? Is the $12.50 a month rental fee waived also? For how long?

 

[disneykidatheart]

I have already posted most of this message on the operations thread for Owner's Locker. We were thrilled to be chosen as a tester for the locker. The locker was delivered as promised, we were notified at check in that it had been delivered. The locker looks very roomy but you will be surprised at how fast you can fill it. Like Doc's, the cover on our locker was pressed to close and secured with a lock. There were a few items we didn't have room to leave. By the time we arrived home from the airport there was an email telling us our locker was back in storage.

John and Brian have been great in the communication department. All questions were answered very promptly.

Most of the items we left are duplicates of items listed so far. I also left makeup and curling iron and a set of underwear (I have been in Florida while my luggage enjoyed a night in Dallas and found it miserable to start my vacation without the necessary items to begin the day). I also left a small soft sided cooler for day trips, sudoku book and paperback, and a small cross stitch kit (not that I am in the room long enough to use any of them). Could have used some of those items last year when my husband was sick for the whole time we were in Old Key West.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

Here is a photo of the box from the OwnersLocker site:

Hey, I see they have pantiliners and tampax in there.

If I have to pack those, I'm not GOING on vacation...

but I don't think anybody put them on the list.

We bring our 'magic medicine basket' down with us-every conceivable medicine you'd ever need, adult or kid. Has come in reeeeaaally handy a few times, especially the swim ear stuff, which we'd normally never use.

We'd need a really big locker, right now our locker looks like this:

It even has wheels....

 

[jdvm]

Hi ReneeQ,

In mid-January, we asked for applications here on The DIS for people to become our Beta Trial Members. We were swamped with applications and we filled our quota of 100 in a little over a week. So I'm sorry that we're no longer offering Trial Memberships in Owner's Locker. We chose folks who come to Orlando often and (importantly) who were coming soon. This business is seriously more complicated than it looks and we wanted to fully test everything before we offered to the general public. We also wanted to solicit feedback from our Beta Trial Members so we could come closer to getting everything right before we formally launch.

Here we are at the start of Feb and we have already delivered over 50 Lockers to our Beta Trial Members and we have 10-15 Lockers out at the resorts at any one time. The test is going great and we are learning soooooo much. We gave a locker to our Trial members which is theirs to keep and we are giving them free storage and unlimited free deliveries for a two year period. We want to push the system to the max (let me tell you, there are a couple of Lockers that ought to have odometers on them already!)and pick up feedback on absolutely every aspect of Owner's Locker so it will be the best we can make it when we launch.

While the offer for Trial Memberships is closed, you can go to our website and register your interest and we'll notify you when we're about to launch. And I'm sure we'll have some sort of grand opening promotion that we'll offer to the people who have signed up prior to launch.
John