Soft Drinks Included?!

[Wendy&Grumpy]

I just had a thought - why doesn't Disney just increase room rates by $10 - $15 per person and include the drink fountains at the resorts just like they do on the cruises?

That way, everyone would be paying for their own fountain drinks rather than those of us buying mugs or dining plans paying for the drinks for the other non-buyers!

 

[smitch425]

I just had a thought - why doesn't Disney just increase room rates by $10 - $15 per person and include the drink fountains at the resorts just like they do on the cruises?

That way, everyone would be paying for their own fountain drinks rather than those of us buying mugs or dining plans paying for the drinks for the other non-buyers!

There are a lot of people that don't drink sodas for a variety of reasons. The mugs allow those who want sodas to pay for them, and also allow those who don't want sodas to NOT pay for them.

 

[mariamouse]

There are a lot of people that don't drink sodas for a variety of reasons. The mugs allow those who want sodas to pay for them, and also allow those who don't want sodas to NOT pay for them.

Agreed. No one in our family drinks soda, so I would be PO'ed if that was an automatic part of our room bill.

 

[Missytara]

I hate soda; plus the fact that it is full of sodium and is not hydrating, especially in the summertime. I would be more than upset to pay an extra 10 bucks a night for unlimited soda.

Also, on cruises, it is a choice, just like the mugs at the resorts. And you have full sailing days on the cruises where you can take full advantage of it.

 

[Wendy&Grumpy]

There are a lot of people that don't drink sodas for a variety of reasons. The mugs allow those who want sodas to pay for them, and also allow those who don't want sodas to NOT pay for them.

Maybe so, but they also give those who want drinks without paying for them the opportunity to help themselves.

Which in the long run is causing those of us who do want them to pay more.

And folks who don't drink soda probably still drink coffee, tea, or lemonade.

 

[smitch425]

Maybe so, but they also give those who want drinks without paying for them the opportunity to help themselves.
Which in the long run is causing those of us who do want them to pay more.

And folks who don't drink soda probably still drink coffee, tea, or lemonade.

In the past, this was true, but I have been seeing more and more reports of security cracking down on this. Also, I believe that the system that was tested at ASSpo will make a return and be installed property wide at some point. Disney clearly knows it is an issue, but they also know that the best way to go about it is not make it a mandatory purchase. Why should someone be forced to pay for something that they have no intention on using? They shouldn't. Fortunately, Disney knows that.

 

[windi622]

I completely agree that this would not make sense for those who do not drink pop at all. Also, I can't imagine a way to monitor who is actually a resort guest and has paid as a part of their room reservation. I think that would cause a simliar challenge to what is going on now. Really a shame that there's so much dishonesty that this even has to be an issue.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Disney offers the mugs for ~$15 for the entire resort stay. No way would I want my room rate raised $10/night for drinks to be included. Besides, we spend more of our waking hours in the parks than at the resort.

 

[Deb & Bill]

For some, the refill locations are far away from where they are staying.

 

[JKMJ441724]

I stay DVC and we stock our fridge and pantry.

 

[kerplop]

Or people could just buy a refillable mug, if they wanted sodas at their resort?

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Interesting, but did you know that Disney DOES NOT pay for fountain drinks?

 

[BigDis]

When we stay at Disney we buy some soda and water for under $20 for the week. This suggestion would cost my family of five between $50 and $75.

 

[goofy4tink]

Several things would have to change....the soda dispensers would have to be made room key ready. Otherwise, anyone at all could get soda/coffee/lemonade. There are plenty of non-resort guests at various resorts...so what is to prevent them from just moseying up to the fountain and getting themselves a freebie drink?? On a cruise, everyone there has paid to be there.
It really does work better to use the refillable mug system.

There is no way I would be happy with paying an addtl amount of money to stay in a room, in order to get free drinks. I drink mostly water, with an occasional soda and one cup of coffee in the morning. The refillable mug works perfectly for me.

 

[Eliza32]

It doesn't pay for the syrup, but still has to pay for the water, the machines, someone to maintain the machines, someone to clean up etc.

 

[Wendy&Grumpy]

Disney offers the mugs for ~$15 for the entire resort stay. No way would I want my room rate raised $10/night for drinks to be included. Besides, we spend more of our waking hours in the parks than at the resort.

Oh, no, no! Not per night, just over the course of a stay! I'm sure Disney has some complex formula for figuring out what an added $10 per guest per stay would break down to in terms of room nights!

Several things would have to change....the soda dispensers would have to be made room key ready. Otherwise, anyone at all could get soda/coffee/lemonade. There are plenty of non-resort guests at various resorts...so what is to prevent them from just moseying up to the fountain and getting themselves a freebie drink?? On a cruise, everyone there has paid to be there.
It really does work better to use the refillable mug system.

There is no way I would be happy with paying an addtl amount of money to stay in a room, in order to get free drinks. I drink mostly water, with an occasional soda and one cup of coffee in the morning. The refillable mug works perfectly for me.

The soda dispensers are already available to anyone who wants. Just ask the hundreds of us who have stood waiting with our paid mugs while others fill up whatever they have handy and there's no CM's around.

I'm guessing if Disney did the math and included drinks, those of us who actually pay for our mugs would end up ahead.

Interesting, but did you know that Disney DOES NOT pay for fountain drinks?

In that case, we should all get free drinks, not just those of us who choose not to pay for them!!!

 

[KittyKat1978]

Maybe so, but they also give those who want drinks without paying for them the opportunity to help themselves.

Which in the long run is causing those of us who do want them to pay more.

And folks who don't drink soda probably still drink coffee, tea, or lemonade.

I don't drink soda, coffee, or tea. I do drink lemonade but not the artifical sweetened kind that WDW offers. Therefore I would be paying $10 for nothing. So, that would be a "no" vote for me, sorry.

 

[minnie mum]

Completely impractical. How are you going to treat visitors to the resort, then? If your assertions as to the massive numbers of people not paying for sodas at the resort food courts is valid, and was actually impacting WDW's bottom line, it would have been firmly dealt with years ago. So go ahead and buy your refillable mug, and leave those of us who only have one glass or cup per day to pay for what we use. And no more. I have no wish to subsidize your soda addiction.

 

[TDC Nala]

I'm not sure what the difference is between adding $15 to a resort stay and offering unlimited drinks, or allowing those who want unlimited drinks to buy a mug for $15 and get them. Concievably a party could purchase one mug and use that for everyone. The only difference would be that with the first situation, everyone is paying, whether they want the drinks or not.

 

[jenlov]

I have to agree with the majority here. We only got the mug b/c it came with our free dining. We only used it a handful of times while there, if that (tea, coffee in the morning). We actually never had a meal in the resort food court, so it was of little use to us. We drink only water at home, so there's no way I'd be happy about being forced to pay $10/ person (9 of us) for something we normally would not even use.

Let's face it, Disney's prices are not cheap. On anything. I'm sure they make up for those "free" drinks somewhere in there. Is it right? NO! But, I doubt that it is putting a financial strain on them.

I agree that it's not fair. Maybe there IS a solution out there, but I don't think this is it.