No drink with DDP?- UPDATE POST 6

[DisneyDreamer1974]

Any news on Disney cutting your drink out of the 2014 DDP. I never have nor will I ever pay for the DDP? (gotten it numerous times with the free dining promo) If so, this will make the free dining promos less valuable than before.

 

[Cafeen]

Any news on Disney cutting your drink out of the 2014 DDP. I never have nor will I ever pay for the DDP? (gotten it numerous times with the free dining promo) If so, this will make the free dining promos less valuable than before.

This is the first that I've heard of it, and I highly doubt it.

 

[bdklein]

Any news on Disney cutting your drink out of the 2014 DDP. I never have nor will I ever pay for the DDP? (gotten it numerous times with the free dining promo) If so, this will make the free dining promos less valuable than before.

Not of which I am aware, but in typical Disney fashion the price will go up and/or some element will be eliminated/reduced. Maybe now 8-year old children will be considered adults?

 

[purple figment]

Any news on Disney cutting your drink out of the 2014 DDP. I never have nor will I ever pay for the DDP? (gotten it numerous times with the free dining promo) If so, this will make the free dining promos less valuable than before.

I haven't heard this. Where did you hear about it?

They did eliminate the second beverage for breakfast a few years ago, but that's the only instance I'm aware of.

 

[khaoskat]

If you go to the thread confirming the RFID resort mugs, an insider does state that they will be doing away with the drink on the QS credits. When this happens, I cannot remember. But at the same time, the person made it sound like they would be allowing the refillable mug to be used in parks as well. But that is in the future, as they have to bring in the machines and wire them.

I will see if I can go get the link to the thread I am talking about...you will have to read through it, to find the exact post though...

 

[DisneyDreamer1974]

JeffSunday, July 7, 2013 at 6:39:00 PM EDT
Looks like the 3rd Anonymous is one of the targets we were looking for. I'm not ashamed to say that I am a part of WDW Finance and were looking for ways to control costs.

While you may not think of this as stealing, or you justify the retail cost elsewhere, to the cost of a mug, it is nonetheless theft. In food courts lately, we've seen an increase in food theft too. When guests are questioned, they shrug it off and just say that they'll be back to pay.

There are thousands of guests each day at each resort, and even the smallest increase of cost adds up. Disney Parks and Resorts is not eating these costs, they are simply passed on to other guests. Controlling these costs does help everyone else by holding costs in place.

Water and ice will still be available and any cup can be used.

And for those of you thinking this is policing, or Disney doesn't trust you, how do you feel when you're walking through a department store? So security tags scream, hey, they don't trust me??? For the honest, it should be no big deal, to the criminal, it makes them have to think of their next move.

Reply


and later in the forum he says that down the road the ddp will not include a beverage.


JeffSunday, July 7, 2013 at 10:37:00 PM EDT
Continued....

Mugs in general and DDP- This is further down the road, and this will likely rile up some more folks, but the DDP will no longer include a drink at QSRs. Now hear me out. Your mug in conjunction with your MagicBand WILL allow you to access soda in the parks. But there is a ot of work that still needs to happen, and more fountain machines added before this can happen. So you can take your mug with you, and use it all day long. Until that happens, there will be no change to the current set up.


i'm guessing when he rfid process is complete and drink stations are in the parks, you can buy the mug at the hotel and pay for the day usage for this.
so it makes sense that the ddp will be dropping the beverage.

i'm more of a hands free person when in a park.
i'll take a pass on that new mug system when it rolls out.
__________________

 

[DisneyDreamer1974]

Theres no way me and my family would lug those mugs around the parks and hotels all day, and Disney knows that.

 

[darnheather]

DisneyDreamer it might be helpful if you edit your thread to show what is quoted. Anyway, I'm pretty sure "Jeff" was joking.

 

[DisneyDreamer1974]

No, hes not joking. And ya, I did go back and edit it.

 

[wiigirl]

Theres no way me and my family would lug those mugs around the parks and hotels all day, and Disney knows that.

Agreed.

 

[DisneyDreamer1974]

Right, Disney knows that many if not most families will just will just pony up the money for a drink. I have a family of four, can you imagine if you have a family of five or six. Really?

The thought of ordering a round of ice waters, and breaking open the flavor packets is beginning to sound pretty good to me right now if this was ever going to effect me! As long as the ice water will be free, and who knows how long that will last?

 

[darnheather]

Ok, went back to the original link, http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2013/07/rapid-fill-mugs-coming-to-walt-disney.html to reread. It is possible. My family has annual passes to a local water park. We bought one refillable mug. Refills are 99cents (with tax after our ap discount). I always carry this mug around with us and we share one or two refills per trip, after that we drink water. Not a big deal and saves me around $2 each refill. If Disney goes this route and doesn't charge for the refills then absolutely I'd carry one or two mugs around all day. No one needs to drink soda. We do at the parks because it's a special treat, but I limit the amount and would continue to do so even with free refills.

 

[DisneyDreamer1974]

No one needs to drink soda. Really. Well some people may like soda.

 

[Cafeen]

It reads to me as: "Someday, we might think that this is a possibility that may happen. Maybe." Certainly not the "It's losing its drink for sure!" language that I was expecting.

Of course, that also hinges on whether "Jeff" is legit... and even if he is, if he's ACTUALLY in the "know" or is just blowing smoke like most CM "informants". (This seems much more likely to me).

Now, shifting to allow the mugs to be refilled in the parks, that I can see. It saves Disney on paper cups (which are where the expense is on fountain drinks, as well as the garbage/environmental impact), and provides an upsell opportunity for non dining plan resort stays. I simply don't see how they could ever not include a drink with a meal though, and I'd see them dropping the CS dessert long, long before the drink.

(As a special note. I had more than my share of the Minute Maid Light - Pomegranate Lemonade in last year's mug. That stuff is tasty!)

 

[darnheather]

No one needs to drink soda. Really. Well some people may like soda.

Perhaps you're confusing "need" with like or want. No one needs to drink soda in the way we need to drink water. I enjoy soda very much and tend to drink a 12oz can a day. I would drink more but I know it is bad for my teeth and body. I am also trying to set a good example for my children which is why I limit their soda consumption as well as my own.

If you like soda and don't think the refillable mug is a good option Disney is kind enough to allow you to bring drinks into their parks. No other park I've ever been to allows this practice. They also have refrigerators in most of the rooms now so you are free to bring drinks and have them chilled in the room. If you don't drive then you can work out the cost of a) buying the refill mug versus buying drinks individually through the course of your stay or b) taking a taxi to a gas station on property and purchasing drinks.

 

[DisneyDreamer1974]

Perhaps you're confusing "need" with like or want. No one needs to drink soda in the way we need to drink water. I enjoy soda very much and tend to drink a 12oz can a day. I would drink more but I know it is bad for my teeth and body. I am also trying to set a good example for my children which is why I limit their soda consumption as well as my own.

If you like soda and don't think the refillable mug is a good option Disney is kind enough to allow you to bring drinks into their parks. No other park I've ever been to allows this practice. They also have refrigerators in most of the rooms now so you are free to bring drinks and have them chilled in the room. If you don't drive then you can work out the cost of a) buying the refill mug versus buying drinks individually through the course of your stay or b) taking a taxi to a gas station on property and purchasing drinks.

Ok, I see what you mean. The dropping of the CS desert by an above poster makes a lot of sense as well. I will never pay for the dining plan, but I do enjoy getting it free every now and then. I will be going all OOP for my trip next month.

 

[Anniefrances]

We opted not to purchase the dining plan this year and for the first time drank only ice water in the parks with the exception of a few TS meals. I brought the water flavor stuff (liquid powerade) and it was fine. It saved a ton of money and we didn't really miss all the fountain drinks after a couple of days. We also had resort mugs which I would continue to purchase. However I also don't think I would be inclined to lug them around the parks all day long. For someone really aiming to max the system though what would prevent a group from bringing a single mug into the park and ordering ice water for everyone else? (With unlimited refills transferred via the mug, those water cups could easily be filled with other beverages).

 

[clanmcculloch]

With the direction Disney's been taking with trying to offer healthier food options at QS locations, can you imagine removing the options of juice and milk and bottled water as the drink? That's what switching from a drink to only mugs does. Unless they add milk, soy milk, rice milk, and a variety of juices to the machines but they'd need a heck of a lot more machines to be able to do that. I just can't see it happening. It would not be good PR to say they're removing the healthy drinks as an option in their dining plan.

I can see them in one year dropping the QS dessert and adding a snack credit (basically a break even so people don't get upset) then the following year reduce the snack credits. Note: I have not read of this being even considered anywhere and have no inside information. This is merely my own personal speculation.

 

[daizieduck]

The markup on everything at Disney is already so high you would think it more than covers the amount lost due to food and merchandise theft. In the end it's reducing the amount of PROFIT. Anyway, if this kind of drink program was ever put in place, my concern would be people trying to steal other people's refillable mugs.

 

[StuckInKS]

I simply don't see how they could ever not include a drink with a meal though, and I'd see them dropping the CS dessert long, long before the drink.

I agree with you on the second point, especially since the desserts likely cost Disney more money than the fountain drinks. But I don't see why they couldn't do it, other places do.