If you’ve spent any amount of time planning a Disney trip—Disneyland, Walt Disney World, or anything in between—you know that resort logistics are practically an art form. Guests schedule dining reservations months in advance, create elaborate mobile orders, ship groceries to their hotel, send Amazon boxes to meet them on arrival, and arrange Instacart drop-offs like a carefully choreographed performance. Disney vacations involve moving parts, and most travelers go to extraordinary lengths to make them run smoothly.
But even seasoned Disney resort guests were caught off guard recently when a resurfaced policy took over online conversations: Disney’s $6 handling fee for packages delivered to your room. It’s not new. It’s not secret. But it’s one of those operational details that many guests don’t encounter until it appears—unexpectedly—on their room charges.
What pushed the topic into the spotlight wasn’t an official announcement or a policy change, but a simple Reddit post, a photo, and a relatable complaint that resonated with thousands of Disney fans who had no idea this fee even existed.
This is a breakdown of the now-viral conversation, why the fee exists, what it covers, and how guests are learning to navigate it.
The Viral Post: One Delivery, Two Boxes, and Double the Fees
The buzz started when a Reddit user posted a short but effective vent:
“Quick Vent….
And of course my order came in 2 separate packages so why not be charged twice. Okay vent over.”
Attached to the post was the catalyst for all the discussion: a hotel letter from Disney titled “Package handling.” The text read:
“We hope you are enjoying your stay. Please note a $6.00 handling fee will be charged to your room account for the package(s) recieved today. If you have any questions, please press 0 on your in-room telephone for assitance.”
One letter. Two packages. Two separate fees.
Even though this policy has existed for years and applies across multiple Disney resort categories, the reaction made one thing clear: a huge number of guests had absolutely no idea Disney charges per-package handling fees when items are delivered directly to guest rooms.
As with most Disney-related controversies, the conversation exploded almost instantly.
The Delivery Hacks: Guests Reveal How They Avoid the Fee
Within hours, Disney fans jumped into the Reddit thread to share their personal experiences—and more importantly, methods they use to avoid the fee. Some have clearly mastered the resort delivery system in ways that most casual travelers never consider.
The most direct workaround came from one commenter:
“Helpful hint: if you get stuff delivered from Doordash or whatnot and you meet the driver there, you will not get hit with the fee.”
This confirms what many frequent guests already suspected: the fee is tied to Disney cast members handling the package, not to packages arriving at the resort property.
Another user offered their recent Instacart story:
“In January we did instacart and collected it from front desk and they didnt charge us a fee. Is it only if they bring it to your room?”
This question prompted more detailed clarification from another guest with firsthand experience:
“I believe so because in march I had a package shipped from my house in PA via usps (it was a script I forgot to pack) sent overnight but went to the lobby of coranado springs and picked it up myself and didnt get a charge. People saying use lnstacart or door dash to save the $6 delivery fee i guess dont realize how much those apps upcharge items plus they have a delivery fee & tip as well….”
This is the heart of the debate:
Save money on the Disney fee by going through delivery apps—only to pay more in markups, delivery fees, and tips. A small charge avoided becomes a larger charge elsewhere.
Another guest chimed in with an older example:
“I may or may not have had a camera delivered to my room which may or may not have been declared returning to Canada several years ago. It also had a charge. Think it was 4 or 5 bucks then.”
A crucial detail emerges here: Disney’s package handling fee has grown over the years, not suddenly appeared.
The Real Reason This Fee Exists: Disney Had To Clean Up a Growing Problem
“To be fair before this fee was added some guests would order hundreds of packages and send them to their hotel. Often they would start ordering months before their stay. So you could potentially have a hundred packages for one guest, and not need storage for all of those items. The guests would then get all of these items, turn around and take them all home to sell them and pay for their expenses. Some of the resorts weren’t equipped for that sort of storage. It was done out of necessity to stop people from doing that.”
Translation:
A small group of guests were turning Disney resorts into shipping warehouses and personal profit centers.
Resort staff ended up dealing with rooms full of packages, months of deliveries piling up for guests not yet checked in, and no available storage space for legitimate hotel operations. The fees weren’t created to punish ordinary guests—rather, to stop widespread abuse.
Another commenter emphasized that Disney isn’t breaking industry norms at all:
“This is a standard practice across the hotel industry.”
This point matters. Walt Disney World and Disneyland aren’t inventing fees out of thin air. Many major hotel brands charge for package handling, storage, and room delivery. Disney simply has a higher volume of guests ordering deliveries, which makes the policy more visible.
How the Fee Actually Works (and How to Avoid It Without Paying More Elsewhere)
Based on the discussion:
You will be charged $6 per package if:
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Disney cast members receive the item
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Disney team members handle or sort the package
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The package is delivered to your resort room
This is a per-package charge—meaning a single order split into multiple boxes equals multiple fees.
You will likely avoid the fee if:
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You meet the delivery driver at the resort entrance
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You pick up your package at the front desk
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You receive items outside of the hotel building
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You retrieve USPS/UPS/FedEx items directly before cast members process them
In short: if Disney doesn’t handle the package, Disney doesn’t charge the fee.
Is the Fee Fair? Guests Are Split
Some believe $6 is minor compared to the convenience of room delivery. Others feel it’s a hidden cost added to an already expensive vacation. And some argue the fee prevents system abuse, keeping resort storage and staffing manageable.
What is undeniable is this: many guests didn’t know about the fee until now. And unexpected charges are never welcomed on a trip where expenses are already tightly managed.
Know the Rules Before You Place an Order
The fee isn’t new. The fee isn’t unusual. The fee isn’t going away. But thanks to one viral Reddit post, guests are finally talking about it.
Before you order groceries, medical items, clothing, or electronics during your resort stay, decide whether convenience is worth the additional charge—or if meeting your delivery driver is the better choice.
Author
I just stop at Walmart or Target on my way to the resort if I can. We usually get an awesome deal on a rental car when we book well in advance. But if we don’t, we have it delivered from one of those stores and pick it up at the desk. No fees.