Free refills

[Bulk182]

On my vacation last week we stumbled into The Electric Umbrella on Epcot. Awesome food and plenty of seating out of the sun. But they had they something I hadn't seen on Disney before, FREE REFILLS on drinks. I felt kinda good refilling my cup a couple times and not being charged for it! Am I missing other places that do free refills on this and other parks?

Thanks

 

[HM]

Back Lot Express at DHS has that too.

 

[ShayBells]

BOG has it.

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[MouseMomx2]

Sunshine Seasons has it as well.

 

[Itinkso]

Restaurantosaurus in AK also has a refill station.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Disney does not pay anything for fountain drinks. *
2) Zilch.
3) Zip.
4) Da Nada.
5) So, they have a few places where you can refill your drink for free.

* At one time, Disney sold both Coke and Pepsi products. In one contract review, Coke
offered free soda to Disney parks and resorts. Voilà! Only Coke products, and free to
all Disney parks and resorts.

 

[BuzzBelleMom]

1) Disney does not pay anything for fountain drinks. *
2) Zilch.
3) Zip.
4) Da Nada.
5) So, they have a few places where you can refill your drink for free.

* At one time, Disney sold both Coke and Pepsi products. In one contract review, Coke
offered free soda to Disney parks and resorts. Voilà! Only Coke products, and free to
all Disney parks and resorts.

This is going to have people who are upset about the cost of the refill mugs and the lag in refilling them, screaming to high heaven.

 

[kaulds]

This is ridiculous, I cannot believe this. And they complain about refills. I completely understand wanting to make a profit be it seems lately everything is going up in price, tickets, pop, DVC dues, at what point are they going to stop.

 

[Jennasis]

This is ridiculous, I cannot believe this. And they complain about refills. I completely understand wanting to make a profit be it seems lately everything is going up in price, tickets, pop, DVC dues, at what point are they going to stop.

Not sure what you're upset about? What is it you can't believe? That there are a few QS places with drink refill stations?

 

[fsupharm77]

They won't stop raising prices and trying to make more money until people hit a point where they will no longer come to the parks. Since they are having people pouring through the turnstiles they won't be stopping anytime soon

 

[theparsons]

Maybe no one is stopping yet...but if you listen to those here on DIS they're feeling like it's getting close to the breaking point.

 

[Gracie09]

Can someone please show me where it says Disney gets coke products for free. Seriously it's one of those urban legends that refuse to go away.

And it's not just the cost of the syrup that goes into the cost of a soda. The cost of the cup, the ice, the purchase and maintaining of the machines, the personnel to service the machines etc etc.

 

[Venaros]

Can someone please show me where it says Disney gets coke products for free. Seriously it's one of those urban legends that refuse to go away.

And it's not just the cost of the syrup that goes into the cost of a soda. The cost of the cup, the ice, the purchase and maintaining of the machines, the personnel to service the machines etc etc.

Even if they do have to pay for it, you do realize they are making an enormous profit?

I used to work in a distribution center that housed all the products for restaurants on a university campus. So everything food related came through us.

Soda syrup comes in 5 gal. bags in a box (BIB) and a Coca-Cola Classic BIB can cost around $30 (That's what our university's contract with Coke set the cost as it could be different every where).

A case of 20oz cups (the standard Large size) averages about $25 (or less even). And there's 500 cups in that case.

That 5 gal. of syrup goes a long way. They can use more than one case of cups per case of syrup. But for simple math lets just say one of each. They pay $55 and serve 500 people at $2.50 (I like round numbers). That is $1,250. Nearly 23 times what they spent. If my math is correct that's 2272% profit.

My math may be off, it never was my best subject (I move boxes for a living...) but regardless, my point still stands that it doesn't matter if they get it for free or have to pay for it, their profit margin is outlandish. A few more free refill places wouldn't hurt them much.

 

[rangebob]

Don't forget the gas price too. They need to carbonate the soda.

 

[Jennasis]

Profit is not a dirty word.

They are not a charity. Disney is and always had been a BUSINESS. Without profit there is no WDW...no Avatar land....no Star Wars land...no new resorts...nothing.

 

[Tigger's ally]

On my vacation last week we stumbled into The Electric Umbrella on Epcot. Awesome food and plenty of seating out of the sun. But they had they something I hadn't seen on Disney before, FREE REFILLS on drinks. I felt kinda good refilling my cup a couple times and not being charged for it! Am I missing other places that do free refills on this and other parks?

Thanks

Ok, so Electric Umbrella has free refills
Electric Umbrella serves Bud light.

 

[Gracie09]

Even if they do have to pay for it, you do realize they are making an enormous profit? I used to work in a distribution center that housed all the products for restaurants on a university campus. So everything food related came through us. Soda syrup comes in 5 gal. bags in a box (BIB) and a Coca-Cola Classic BIB can cost around $30 (That's what our university's contract with Coke set the cost as it could be different every where). A case of 20oz cups (the standard Large size) averages about $25 (or less even). And there's 500 cups in that case. That 5 gal. of syrup goes a long way. They can use more than one case of cups per case of syrup. But for simple math lets just say one of each. They pay $55 and serve 500 people at $2.50 (I like round numbers). That is $1,250. Nearly 23 times what they spent. If my math is correct that's 2272% profit. My math may be off, it never was my best subject (I move boxes for a living...) but regardless, my point still stands that it doesn't matter if they get it for free or have to pay for it, their profit margin is outlandish. A few more free refill places wouldn't hurt them much.

Last I checked Disney was a for profit company. They charge what the market bears (bares?? I can never remember that one). If you dot want to pay it, bring your own. Disney is one of the few theme parks that allow you to bring unlimited food and drink into it.
In your analysis you forgot the cost of the employees to maintain the machines, distribute the products to the parks, remove the waste. The cost of the machines themselves. Gas for the vans or other trucks the distribute the products around the parks, the cost of the trucks themselves etc etc. so you're $2.79 coke has to absorb the relative cost of all the infrastructure to get the product to the consumer.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Ok, so Electric Umbrella has free refills . . . Electric Umbrella serves Bud light . . .

1) Not sure if they installed the beer tap on the soda beverage island, YET.
2) But, one could hope Maintenance gets on it soon.

 

[ShayBells]

Even if they do have to pay for it, you do realize they are making an enormous profit? I used to work in a distribution center that housed all the products for restaurants on a university campus. So everything food related came through us. Soda syrup comes in 5 gal. bags in a box (BIB) and a Coca-Cola Classic BIB can cost around $30 (That's what our university's contract with Coke set the cost as it could be different every where). A case of 20oz cups (the standard Large size) averages about $25 (or less even). And there's 500 cups in that case. That 5 gal. of syrup goes a long way. They can use more than one case of cups per case of syrup. But for simple math lets just say one of each. They pay $55 and serve 500 people at $2.50 (I like round numbers). That is $1,250. Nearly 23 times what they spent. If my math is correct that's 2272% profit. My math may be off, it never was my best subject (I move boxes for a living...) but regardless, my point still stands that it doesn't matter if they get it for free or have to pay for it, their profit margin is outlandish. A few more free refill places wouldn't hurt them much.

That profit really doesn't mean anything w/ all the other costs. But to my knowledge Disney went bankrupt when they merged with ABC so they can charge all they want and probably still be in the hole. Anyone who has taken at least one business class should know how hard it is to run a business and that cost adds up fast and that 2.79 to is probably isn't that bad. I mean I've paid way more for a drink in a big city for a small coke than that.

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[fairestoneofall]

is it sad that i love the counter service restaurants that offer free refills?