Please Explain the Resort Mugs [Archive] - The DIS Discussion Forums

Mmketeer

04-06-2002, 10:20 AM

Hi Melissa,

Which resort will you be staying at? Because only some of the resorts offer this option...i.e: Carribean Beach, Wilderness Lodge and Port Orleans. I am sure their are a few others, but I don't remember which ones they are. Most of the more expensive resorts like: The Grand Fla. Contempoaray, Old Key West, Boardwalk and Yacht and Beach do not offer these mugs for drink refills.

Hope this helps...Mmketeer

matu8063

04-06-2002, 10:22 AM

We are staying at Port Orleans Riverside

Emy'sMom

04-06-2002, 10:23 AM

When we stayed @ the Poly in 2000 we all bought one of the refillable mugs. Every morning re-filled them with coffee and in the afternoon with soda.

When we returned to the Poly in 2001 we brought our mugs from 200 with us and we were able to use them again.

Debbie

renessa

04-06-2002, 10:30 AM

Yes, even the deluxe resorts have refillable mug programs! Check this link for all the info!

http://wdwig.com/mugs.htm

Have a great time!

mickey0216

04-06-2002, 01:26 PM

The OFFICIAL position from Disney is that refillable mugs are good only at the resort that the mug was purchased and it is only good for the duration of the vacation in which you purchased the mug.

I realize that many people have re-used mugs, used them at other resorts, CM's have said go ahead and use, and etc... I am strictly sharing official policy.

I view re-using mugs in the same vein as: smoking in a non-smoking area, passing in a no passing zone, line jumping... it's against the rules, but some people do it anyhow. Besides... if $10 a mug is going to break you, maybe you should reconsider your vacation plans.

DMRick

04-06-2002, 04:48 PM

I view re-using mugs in the same vein as: smoking in a non-smoking area, passing in a no passing zone, line jumping... it's against the rules, but some people do it anyhow. Besides... if $10 a mug is going to break you, maybe you should reconsider your vacation plans.

As I posted on another thread, in the resort area, I don't view it as the same. Disney doesn't tell me it's ok and encourage me to smoke in a non smoking room. The police don't encourage me to pass in a non passing lane..well, you get the drift.
But at most resorts, you are encouraged to bring back your mugs, and I have yet to hear from someone who, when they asked, were not told it's good forever by CM's or a food court manager. On the other hand, we (collectively) are often being told, even as we purchase..be sure to bring it back on other trips.
I don't think it necessary to try and make people think it's a "break the bank" type of deal..if you can't afford $10, rethink your vacation at all, any more than I would refrain from using a code I saw on Mary's site, just because it's not a newspaper my small city carries. It's still a savings, and one I use...when staying at the same resort.

musicfan

04-06-2002, 05:34 PM

I asked the CM AT THE CASH REGISTER when I bought my mug last August if you could use it on future trips and she said "yes". And I said are you sure this is WDW policy, because some people say it isn't, and she said "Yes.", so I consider this case closed. You can used the mugs in future trips and not feel bad as of August 2001.

Trekker

04-06-2002, 06:11 PM

I e-mailed Disney

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On the many internet discussion boards that revolve around WDW, there are many discussions concerning the reusable mug program at the resorts.

Does WDW have an official policy for the use of these mugs?

The main questions are usually:

1.) Can I use the mug purchased at ABC resort at XYZ resort.
A.) If I visit it?
B.) If I split my stay and move there for the second half?

2.) Can I bring the mug from ABC resort back with me on Subsequent trips to the ABC resort forever?

Thanks for a reply as to the official WDW policy on this.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Disney's reply

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you for contacting WALT DISNEY WORLD!

Please know that the "Souvenir Mug" program at Disney Resorts allow you to refill beverages (including hot coffee & tea) at your Resort for the length of your current stay and is for your resort only. It is not extended to refills at other Disney Resorts or Theme Parks or future visits.

If you have questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact us.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Online Guest Service
WALT DISNEY WORLD
P.O. Box 10100
Lake Buena Vista FL 32830-0100

SueM in MN

04-06-2002, 08:04 PM

When my DH bought one a few weeks ago at WL, the sign with the price said the refill program was good for "your length of stay". When he checked out, the CM said "You can refill it for the length of this stay." We have seen similar signs at CBR and PO (although we didn't buy one there).

RCF

04-06-2002, 08:06 PM

Hi,
I am probably in the minority, but we did not get the resort mugs. We stayed at the AS-Music and our room was quite a walk from the food court, and we did not want to make a special trip back to get drinks. We did not spend many days at the hotel, so it would not have been a good value.

I brought a hot pot and used Folgers coffee bags. I also brought koolaid and juice concentrate in can.

joanne862

04-07-2002, 05:44 AM

wdisneyw.co.uk lists the Refillable mug prices

Jo :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

edited to remove link to a cmmercial site

Geri

04-07-2002, 09:35 AM

Which mug hold more liquid - the tall thin one or the fat one?

Thanks!

musicfan

04-11-2002, 07:30 AM

Well, the e-mail aside, I intend to use my mug on future visits. They told me it was good, and if it isn't I consider that to be false advertising. I wouldn't have bought the mug if it wasn't good for future trips. They should train their CMs if that is indeed their policy. But, as usual, the left hand of Disney doesn't know what the right had is doing, and they give you five different answers depending on who you ask. So I'm going with what they told me at the point of sale.

gepetto

04-11-2002, 10:51 AM

Originally posted by Geri
Which mug hold more liquid - the tall thin one or the fat one?

Thanks!

Geri, the lady at AKL told me they were the same. I measured them and the fat one holds more. :)

I use my mugs every day. They're a great souvenier.

Geoff_M

04-11-2002, 01:37 PM

Ah, the "great mug debate" rages on...

The police don't encourage me to pass in a non passing lane..well, you get the drift.
But even if a police officer says it's OK, that doesn't make it legal. Try telling the cop that pulls you over 20 miles later "You can't give me a ticket, an officer 20 miles ago said it was OK!!!".

...and she said "Yes.", so I consider this case closed.
It is until the next CM tells you it isn't OK. Just as some CM's have told people that it is OK, others have, and do, give the correct policy when asked.

They told me it was good, and if it isn't I consider that to be false advertising.
There's a novel argument. But your recourse would be to ask for your money back, instead of feeling you should allowed to continue to ignore the policy.

But, as usual, the left hand of Disney doesn't know what the right had is doing, and they give you five different answers depending on who you ask. So I'm going with what they told me at the point of sale.
Proper CM training does seem to be an issue. But there's only two answers I've heard of. Every time you call or write WDW directly the answer is consistent: "One mug, one resort (plus sister resorts), one visit." Of the CM's working in the food service areas, some give the correct policy and some don't. But CM's don't set policy. But I'm not going to adopt the mindset that because one CM at Port Orleans in 2000 told me it was OK, then by Jimmeny Cricket, it's OK.

DMRick

04-11-2002, 02:34 PM

But even if a police officer says it's OK, that doesn't make it legal. Try telling the cop that pulls you over 20 miles later "You can't give me a ticket, an officer 20 miles ago said it was OK!!!".

Does sound a little funny taken out of context as a stand alone statement, doesn't it..LOL? You'd have to know what was going on in our city with our local police right now to really see the irony of that statement.

No normal police officer would say it was ok to speed..that was why I used that analogy. However, in Disney, it seems every CM (and food court manager) says the same thing..bring 'em on back. I bet if you say..the CM at breakfast said it was OK to refill my mug..the lunchtime CM would believe it..since CM's are always sayign it. A little different. I have asked each time..as soon as someone at the food courts tells me no, I won't use it.

Same with the no smoking in no smoking rooms..NO CM say sit's ok. Another reason I used that analogy.

It is until the next CM tells you it isn't OK. Just as some CM's have told people that it is OK, others have, and do, give the correct policy when asked.

Have you never heard of rules that are there in case the "rule-maker" wants to have the rule in case it gets out of control and needs to be enforced? I have..and I believe this is one of them. Sometimes, owners give managers the right to "not go by" the rules.

Obviously, you have to do what feels right to you.. I would never fill up a mug that I haven't been given permission to fill up.

Did you know that if you write to Disney, they will tell you that the transportation is only to be used for those with Park hopper passes? One of our friends sons is a bus driver there..he has been told, unless there is a problem, not to "card" people....another "gray" rule at Disney. There if needed.

Geoff_M

04-11-2002, 03:42 PM

it seems every CM (and food court manager) says the same thing..bring 'em on back.
It may seem that way, but over the course of these debates there are been more than a few people who have reported that the CM's in the food courts have cited the correct policy when they asked.

I have..and I believe this is one of them. Sometimes, owners give managers the right to "not go by" the rules.
I agree. But it's one thing to do something after being told "OK" with a wink and a nod from a CM and another to assume that it's a given that it's always OK to do something and telling others that they can do it too.

thewiz49

04-11-2002, 03:55 PM

In summer 1999 there was a sign at WL that said "Free refills for Life". I assume they didn't mean for life only if you never leave WDW.

DMRick

04-11-2002, 04:08 PM

But it's one thing to do something after being told "OK" with a wink and a nod from a CM and another to assume that it's a given that it's always OK to do something and telling others that they can do it too.

I've not gotten the wink or nod, and never said I did..just been told it's OK to refill previous mugs...and I've never told anyone that the sign says anything other than what it says..good for your stay. All I see is people telling other people their expreriences, and that it seems to be a rule Disney doesn't feel needs enforcing...again, maybe it's a good will thing for them. I seldom find that CM's tell me anything but what they have been trained to tell me.

I'm not changing my postion however, just because you change my wording..unless you meant someone else said they got the wink and nod..I know I didn't. I have missed the posts where people were told at the foodcourt they couldn't re-use mugs.

I will be buying new mugs in May, since we are going to another resort..Disney doesn't seem to have a problem letting us know that rule is enforced...and since it's their rules, I'll let them dictate what parts they decide to enforce..and have no problem with it either.

Disneyholic

04-11-2002, 04:33 PM

Disney's reply

An E-Mail back from Disney saying NO doesn't necessarily mean they are right either.

I E-mailed Disney about Disney Quest being included in the Premium Annual Price and they said NO, it is only included in the length of stay passes. I wrote an E-mail back asking why it is included according to their Official Web Site and they never got back to me on that one. I came here to the Dis and asked if anyone had used a Premium Annual Pass for Disney Quest recently and I got many YES replies. If it's not included how did all these people use it and why is it listed as included on the Official Site.

The CM's at the Disney Store said it wasn't included and that's why I E-mailed Disney. That's why so many people say that the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing at Disney.:confused:

Geoff_M

04-11-2002, 05:14 PM

DMRick,

The "mug debate" dates back probably to the origins of the mugs themselves. Threads flare up on his board probably every 3 or 4 months on the topic. Over a year ago there was even one that reached up to 300+ posts (if memory serves me correctly). In these thread there have been people that posted that they were told "No".

"The wink and a nod" was not meant literally. That was an expression to mean "when an employee ignores a policy for whatever reason" or as you said it "Sometimes, owners give managers the right to 'not go by' the rules."

I have no idea why either the CM's haven't been properly trained with regards to the policy, or if they have been told to ignore it unless there is obvious abuse. But since I know from the uniformity of the "one mug, one resort, one visit" replies from HQ that it is the policy. disneyholic, you may have gotten one incorrect answer out of WDW HQ, but several people over time have all gotten the same response on the mugs.

So I guess where should we as individuals draw the line? Your personal experience says that WDW does enforce the "one resort" rule, but a number of CMs tell people that the mugs are good at ANY WDW resort and people report seeing others do it without being stopped by CMs. So how to we interpret that? Maybe you should take your old mugs from the other resort and give it a try and see if you're told "No". I'd say your odds are probably 4 to 1 that you'd be OK. Some people have been given the impression that it's OK to loan them to others to take and use at WDW. Others even go so far to think that it's OK to buy used ones off eBay and take them.

So what a guy to do this all these options? To me the final arbitors are the ones that run the joint... and the message from them is consistent... and that's what I stick to. But it's a free country and I won't think your soul is in mortal danger if you don't agree.

tigger'spal

04-11-2002, 05:39 PM

If you stay in concierge you don't need a mug

Geoff_M

04-11-2002, 05:57 PM

tigger'spal,

That's probably the first new idea offered in a "mug debate" thread in a long, long time!!! Congrats!

DMRick

04-11-2002, 06:45 PM

If you stay in concierge you don't need a mug

If I could afford that, who would worry about carrying back a mug LOL.

On eBay, eh? Was that something you've seen or were you being facetious :eek: ?

Geoff_M

04-11-2002, 07:29 PM

I'm dead serious.... I haven't done it in a while, but go search on "Disney Mug" or "WDW Resort Mug"

Update: There's none open for bidding but here's some recent ones:

ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1090387114

ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1090378373

Looks like the winners could save a few bucks.

edited to remove links to commercial sites

DMRick

04-11-2002, 08:36 PM

You gotta love those eBayers..my bread and butter. They pay more with shipping than they can buy it at the resort. Now I know what to do with my old ones (I'll even toss in some little containers of jelly, and some tabags) if I never go back to those resorts..(kidding..I'm just kidding!)

Geoff_M

04-11-2002, 09:45 PM

eBay's amazing... But the ones I posted were for two mugs each. So at those prices the new owners would save a couple of bucks over buying them new.

MrsPete

04-12-2002, 09:07 AM

Regardless of what Disney's policy is about lifetime usage vs. length of stay usage, I don't think the mugs are a very good bargain.

Consider:

I can buy a mug for about $10. Let's say I'm staying a week. I'll get a soda first thing in the morning (even though I'd rather have juice or milk), a soda when I come back to my room after lunch, and a soda in the evening. So let's say that I'm drinking 21 sodas in my week -- that's kind of pushing it, I think. Yes, I'll probably have sodas at the parks, but my mugs are useless there. That means that the sodas are .476 apiece. Plus I have to run downstairs to pick up the sodas (and probably buy a cookie while I'm there -- that's part of the plan!), and I have to wash the mug out in the hotel sink.

But there's a better choice:

I can bring sale-purchased sodas from home. Just about any day I can get a 12-pack of Cokes for 1.99, which makes them .165 apiece. Plus I can bring some individual bottles of juice, some water, some milk juice-boxes -- this lends some variety and is healthier. Ice is free, so you don't really need a refrigerator.

I am making a couple assumptions here, of course:

1. I assume that you're not going to use the mug on a return trip. Personally, I'd rather visit a different resort, so the lifetime thing wouldn't be a big deal to me anyway.

2. I assume that you don't care about the mug as a souvenier. Personally, I don't. I don't need one more plastic cup in my cupboard.

3. I'm assuming that you're driving, and thus you have room to add a couple cases of drinks. Even if you're flying, however, you can make a grocery store stop, or you can have netgrocer.com deliver drinks right to your hotel room.

DMRick

04-12-2002, 09:28 AM

I noticed that they were for two mugs, but with shipping, it's still abotu the retail price, only they are used (assuming).

The mugs don't work out for everyone..but we usually spend time at the resort as well as parks, and use our mugs for hot choc, coffee, soda and lemonade (I'd love if they had juice and milk, but those items are much more expensive to offer). We've done the coffee pot thing, and it's messy and smells up the room (not all of us like coffee). Before we leave for the parks, we fill our mug, and dump it in the thermos type container we bring to the parks.
We have brought our soda as well, for when we are away..but then it's a trip to the store, gas money (if you have a rental), and time, and more expensive using netgrocery...and usually some are left behind, because it's a drag to bring them on the plane. But you're right, they aren't for everyone.

gabylin

04-12-2002, 10:30 AM

Wow I really thought I'd be able to bring back my old ASMO mugs
this year. Hmmm maybe this is my excuse to stay at a different
resort???? Can't use my ASMO mug well then we gotta stay at
the Poly!! J/K

DMRick- I really like your clipart :)

2ndvice

04-14-2002, 12:51 PM

DMRick

04-14-2002, 01:20 PM

I stayed at the ASM in 1999 and purchased 2 re-usable mugs. They were the best thing..coffee in am ..soda in pm. I am thinking about taking them back this July..we will be staying at POR.

As big a proponent as I am for bringing back and using your mugs (although I always ask at the begining of my new trip in the food courts)..that is only for the same resort. I have never heard of any foodcourt CM okaying the use of another resorts mug. If you were stayng at another AS, I would say you would not have a problem..but I think the chances are very good, you will be asked to not reuse your mugs at another resort (but then who knows..maybe they won't...after all I've seen some strange things being filled..albeit that seems ot happen at the AS resorts..when visiting ohter resorts, I've not seen this). I think that is beyond the "gray" area of the rule, and may be a time when they invoke the rule. You'll have to let us know if they "OK" it.

ellyn2000

04-14-2002, 05:13 PM

We purchased them @Contemporary and AllStars Movies and were told by the CM's at both that they could be used at the resort they were purchased at for any future stays as well. I intend to take my AllStars mugs back on my 11/2002 trip and will use them unless told at that time by a CM that I cannot. I would never do something that it's posted not to do, but I will do what I'm told I'm allowed to do.

DMRick

04-14-2002, 07:01 PM

I would never do something that it's posted not to do, but I will do what I'm told I'm allowed to do.

I don't think you're going to be a happy camper then..it is posted just as you walk into the food court, at each of the AllStars, that it is for length of stay only. However, I do ask, and have been given the OK, so far, each time.

shinyhappy

04-14-2002, 09:37 PM

Are the mugs at the Dolphin limited to just one visit too? We bought ours in Jan, and are going back this summer. I don't remember a sign saying that they were just for the length of that visit.

ellyn2000

04-15-2002, 01:27 PM

If it's posted at the Food Court that it's for the length of stay only, I'll certainly abide by that. I'm not much of a rule breaker. I bought the mugs as a nice souvenier and it's convenience on the trip I bought it on. I just happened to be going back to the same resort and thought I'd use them again since we had been told we could. If not, I'll just buy another because it is a good value when you add up all the drinks we would have bought at meals eaten in the Food Court.

2ndvice

04-15-2002, 02:54 PM

Now thinking about the whole mug issue again and whether to buy or bring from last trip, my hubby and I decided if $20-$30 is going to break us to buy new ones then we shouldn't be going in the first place. My kids look at them as a remembrance of the trip anyway!/ Besides, Disney gives us so much, that I dont want to be one of those people you see that tries to get something for nothing. Thanks all for your advice ....

MrsPete

04-16-2002, 08:46 AM

Here's what I think:

Disney's original plan was to allow guests to bring their mugs back for future vacations. When they first came out you heard it all the time -- no qualifications to it.

I think Disney assumed that people would choose to visit different hotels, lose their mugs, forget their mugs . . . in other words, the majority of people wouldn't bring them back. I also doubt they counted on mugs being sold on ebay!

Now it's looking like more people are using mugs on return visits, so they're sort of changing the policy . . . at least that's what it looks like to me.