Travelling to Walt Disney World as often I do, it always bothered me that I kept lugging the same stuff back and forth. Every trip I would pack the same things to take with me, things that were just used in Disney. Eventually I just stopped taking them OUT of my suitcase when I got home so I didn’t have to put them back in for the next trip. Then my sister found the incredible Purple Box. If you’re a frequent traveller to the Orlando area, you might want to check this out.
So what is this mysterious Purple Box? It’s a storage container (20” x 22” x 13”) that keeps all of the things we don’t want to bring home, but will need on our next vacation. Our Owner’s Locker is stored in a secure, climate controlled facility until one of us returns to Walt Disney World. When we are ready to visit again, we go online and give them the details for our arrival and our locker is waiting for us at bell services when we get there. It’s that simple.
Our Owner’s Locker provides a convenience that I never anticipated. I was originally against this idea of paying to store shampoo, but my sister insisted and got one. Over the years, our storage needs have evolved, but there are 3 major reasons why I now love our Owner’s Locker.
1. Tea is important to me.
It sounds silly, but I can’t function without a really good cup of tea in the morning. I don’t like having to go to the food court when I wake up and I need at least one cup of tea before I do anything. The coffee makers in the rooms might be good for coffee, but they don’t boil water for tea. In our locker we have a big box of Red Rose tea bags, an electric kettle and sugar. We order a fresh carton of milk each trip from Vacation Grocery Delivery and voila – I can enjoy a perfect cup of tea in my jammies each morning. While I’m happy to have my kettle, I know others who store crock-pots, Brita water jugs, and French press coffee pots!
2. Saying I’m overweight at the airport isn’t fun.
Sunscreen, deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, laundry detergent, sandals, running shoes, walking shoes, the list goes on! All of these things can be pretty heavy and take up valuable room in your suitcase. The ‘travel size’ toiletries seem to be more expensive so we buy the bigger ones and leave them there for next time. We leave extra shoes, rain ponchos and hats that we know we won’t need at home. No need to worry about our suitcases having enough room or being overweight! Somehow we always have more stuff coming home than we did going there, hmmm – too many souvenirs? Nah…there is no such thing!
3. When we don’t finish stuff…
Sometimes we like to sit on the balcony or in the room and have a nightcap, we currently have half a bottle of vodka in our locker that we picked up at the duty free on the way down. We buy the mix (or get it at the food court) and can enjoy a mixed drink (or two) in our room. At the end of the week sometimes there is beer, wine or bottles of water left over that we can save for next time. Okay… truth time – there was only 1 time that we didn’t drink all of the bottles of Rosa Regale we bought ….
Over the years I have come to realize that my sister was right (don’t tell her I said that) and the Owner’s Locker has become a necessity for us. The convenience is something I didn’t expect and it has saved us money in baggage fees through the airlines.
Do you have an Owner’s Locker? What would you keep in yours?
