Not every Disney World expense involves admission, food, or a hotel room.
Some charges only come into play when guests need a particular service, and one of those could get expensive surprisingly fast. In certain cases, the previous pricing structure pushed the cost close to $100.
That isn't how the process works anymore.
Beginning September 1, Walt Disney World introduced a new system that changes how guests are charged for the service. Depending on what they're sending home, the difference could result in some significant savings.
Disney Offers More Than the Obvious Perks
Most guests are aware of the major conveniences available around Walt Disney World.
Disney transportation connects theme parks, resort hotels, and Disney Springs, while guests staying at Disney hotels receive additional benefits. Other services tend to fly further under the radar until someone actually needs them.
Merchandise shipping is one of them.
A purchase that's easy to make inside a Disney shop isn't necessarily as easy to get home. Large or fragile items can create problems, and limited luggage space can make the situation even more difficult.
Disney gives guests the option to ship purchases home rather than take everything with them. However, the price previously depended heavily on the value of the merchandise.
Higher Values Previously Meant Higher Prices
Under Disney's former domestic system, the total merchandise value determined the shipping tier.
Items valued at $100 or less cost $19.99 to ship. Once the value exceeded $100 but remained at or below $250, that charge increased to $34.99.
The jump became much larger in the next tier.
Shipping merchandise valued between $250.01 and $500 cost $74.99. Anything exceeding $500 in value carried a $99.99 shipping charge.
International shipping followed another pricing structure, ranging from $30 to $150. The cost increased by $10 for every $50 interval in merchandise value.
Disney has now moved away from that structure.
Guests Now Choose a Size
Ricoh is serving as Walt Disney World's third-party merchandise shipping provider under the new system.
For standard domestic shipments, guests now choose a bag based on the amount of space they need.
The smallest option is an extra-small green bag priced at $19.97. It's intended for small purchases and trinkets.
For $29.97, guests can upgrade to a small pink bag, which holds items such as several shirts, a small toy, or a popcorn bucket.
A medium blue bag costs $44.97 and offers considerably more room. Disney says it can accommodate purchases, including shirts, plush toys, and even a small suitcase.
The large yellow bag costs $49.97 and has enough room for a small carry-on suitcase along with other smaller items.
Disney uses a separate clear bag for international, custom, or overweight shipments. Anything exceeding 50 pounds qualifies as overweight.
Shipping Now Involves a Digital Process
After choosing a bag, guests fill it with their items, making sure they don't overpack. They initially leave the bag open.
Next comes the digital portion of the process.
Guests scan a QR code and follow the prompts to provide their shipping destination, contact details, and payment information.
Once everything is complete, they close the bag with the supplied zip-tie tag. Guests then bring it to a participating location, show their online confirmation to a cast member, and hand over the tagged shipment.
After the Ricoh Merchandise Shipping Center processes the package, the guest receives tracking information by email.
There's More Included With the New Rates
The bag pricing isn't the only part of Disney's new system worth knowing.
Each shipping rate includes insurance for up to $100 in declared value without an additional charge. Guests who need more protection can purchase additional insurance, with coverage available for shipments valued up to $5,000.
Additional insurance charges begin at $5 and generally increase by approximately $1 to $2 for every additional $100 in declared value.
Guests may have some additional flexibility as well.
A Reddit user who reported using the service said that receipts weren't required and that items didn't have to come exclusively from a single Disney merchandise location. Because that comes from an individual guest rather than an official Disney policy, certain shipping restrictions could still apply.
Guests can ask a cast member at a Disney gift shop for additional information. Disney Springs also has a dedicated shipping station next to Marketplace Co-Op.
Some Guests Could Save Considerably
The biggest difference between the two systems comes down to what determines the price.
Previously, merchandise value could push a domestic shipping charge as high as $99.99. The new standard bag prices top out at $49.97 for the large yellow option.
That doesn't mean every guest will suddenly save a huge amount. The smallest previous tier, for example, cost $19.99 compared with $19.97 for the new extra-small bag.
But for guests who would have fallen into Disney's more expensive value tiers, the new structure could produce a much bigger difference.
It's a relatively small operational update compared with the major projects happening around Walt Disney World. Still, for guests who need the service, it could make getting everything home considerably less expensive.
