This was posted by Andre-mod on POR thread. He is very accurate with the most up to date info. I hope it clears somethings up
Rapid Fill Refillable Mugs now available at Port Orleans
Walt Disney Worlds new refillable mug program Rapid Fill is being rolled out at all Disney Resort hotel locations which have self-service beverage stations. The drinks stations at the Port Orleans food courts were switched over to the new system on 19 August 2013, having already been pre-selling the new style of mug for about a week.
The new Rapid Fill mugs feature a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip installed in the base of the mug which allows it to be used for a specified amount of days only, all the way through to the guests entire length of stay if required (multiple-resort stays are permitted, but the days must be consecutive and would need to be set up for you by a Cast Member).
The prices for the new mugs are as follows:
- $8.99 for 1 day
- $11.99 for 2 days
- $14.99 for 3 days
- $17.99 for length of stay (up to 14 days, but this can be extended for longer stays at no extra charge by a Cast Member upon request)
The mugs can be used as often as you like during the chosen time period (which ends at midnight of the final day of use) but there is a mandatory 2½ minute delay between refills. Mixed drinks can be dispensed (subject to the overall maximum fill-level for the cup) by partially filling your mug from several different dispensers in succession but there is a 70 second time limit for doing this.
It will still be possible to buy a single drink at the food courts, and the paper cups will also contain an RFID chip coded for several refills over the next couple of hours.
Coffee, hot chocolate, iced tea and water/ice are NOT restricted by the chips.
One new feature is that the mugs will now allow guests to refill beverages at any of Disneys Resort self-service beverage stations, not only at their home Resort but NOT at the pool bars, theme parks, water parks or Downtown Disney. Guests will be able to check their remaining days via the fountain beverage dispensers display screen while they refill.
Rapid Fill mugs may be purchased and activated at the Riverside Mill or the Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory, and
Disney Dining Plan guests will receive the new mugs as part of their package.
Note: Before around 2000, the resort mugs were sold on a perpetually refillable basis, so if you still happen to have an older design even dating back to the old Port Orleans/Dixie Landings days then
technically you should still be allowed to refill it based on the original terms under which it was sold. However the new chip-based system will prevent these older mugs from being used and you will need to discuss the situation with a manager to see if they might be able to work out a temporary solution for you. This would be handled on a case-by-case basis.