Picture this: You’re exhausted after a long day at one of Walt Disney World’s theme parks, and you’re trudging to your transportation method carrying several shopping bags full of souvenirs of your day at the “Most Magical Place on Earth”, all the while knowing you’ll need to carry those bags on a crowded bus (or boat, or Skyline gondola…) and then get them back to your room. We’ve all been there, but the truth is, there used to be a better way.
I’ve been staying at Walt Disney World hotels for over 30 years, and during that time, I’ve seen new perks for guests arrive, including earlier access to Lightning Lanes, complimentary transportation, and a free water park day, just to name a few. However, I’ve also seen some disappear, including one of the most popular ways Disney helped guests deal with packages, and myself, and many other Disney fans STILL want to know why.
For many years, Walt Disney World hotel guests didn’t need to carry their purchases through the resort’s theme parks or on transportation back to their hotels. Instead, they could simply have their packages sent back to their hotel, where they would “magically” arrive back in their room.
Many Disney guests took advantage of this perk, especially those staying at the further corners of Disney World property. For example, it was definitely beneficial for guests staying at the All-Star Resorts to have their Magic Kingdom packages delivered.
Then COVID-19 happened.
When Walt Disney World reopened in the summer of 2020, package delivery was nowhere to be found. At the time, that wasn’t totally out of the norm, since many perks and elements of Walt Disney World didn’t initially return. However, in the nearly 5 years since, even as nearly everything else at the resort has returned to normal, package delivery is nowhere to be found, despite guest demand.
So, why hasn’t hotel package delivery returned? While there’s no confirmed answer, it’s safe to assume it has something to due with money, much like other once beloved perks like room service and the Magical Express that have disappeared. The apparatus to sort, mark, and deliver packages to Disney World hotel rooms was likely a large one, and an “easy” cost to cut.
We do think people would spend more money on souvenirs if this were offered again. We have had so many readers explicitly say just that. So Disney, if you’re reading this, we think it would be worth the money to bring it back!!
Hotel package delivery was once an integral part of the Walt Disney World experience. However, it’s been gone for years, and Disney isn’t showing any signs of bringing it back. Stay tuned to AllEars for more on staying at the “Most Magical Place on Earth.”
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Do you miss package delivery at Disney World hotels? Let us know in the comments below.
I would pay a small fee per day for this to even come back. It would be so worth it! Please bring this back!
People would doubtless spend more money with package delivery. I have given a pass to several items since it went away. But note that packages were never delivered directly to our room at the All Stars but rather to the gift shop for guests to pick up.
At least you can still get your packages delivered to your home. When traveling by air, this is a real saver in meeting luggage weight restrictions on your return trip home.
I know we would be spending more, especially on the bigger and higher ticketed items. We simply aren’t buying big things or a lot of smaller items that we have to lug around the park. We end up getting something similar of a non Disney branded item in a store online that will deliver to the house. We also limit the number of smaller items we buy as well. Too many of those and it becomes too much and makes for an uncomfortable experience.
I’m a local so very rarely stay on site. But I do miss package pick up at the front of the parks. I’ve saved soo much money because I don’t want to carry anything around all day.