All Star Mugs: now for length of stay only

[WDW2002]

How are they going to link the "bar code" on the cup with a person?? Are you going to have to show your room key or whatever when you buy the cup?? Then are they going to have to code that bar code to your reservation?? Sounds like a lot of work for the few cents per cup that it costs for the soda.

 

[Gagebre]

I bought the mug my last trip to the ASMusic (and it was well worth the cost) and there was a line several times to just get up to the drink fountain. I couldn't imagine having to scan the mug at the checkout or at the fountain. This was another benefit of staying onsite to me. This is getting ridiculous.

 

[ajblbv]

boy this really irks me. Coke gives Disney all the beverages FREE, imagine the profit margin they must already have, and now they plan on inconveniencing their entire customer base practically, Happy 100th Walt!

 

[Kitten516]

I like going for just a weekend here and there, and I already bring a cooler, and a portable fridge (the benifits of living an hour away and driving) but last time we went we did buy the mugs, the refills for my tea, and Poweraide afer an all day park day were nice. But if it takes standing in a longer line than the one just to get the refill, it will not be worth it to me. I will just use our cooler and fridge more than I use their refills, and I can live without tea in the morning. Plus buying a new mug for just the weekend will not be worth it to us. One more thing to buy at the superwalmart before the trip. Oh well Disney does need to make their money. It will just not be by inconviencing me.

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by ajblbv
boy this really irks me. Coke gives Disney all the beverages FREE, imagine the profit margin they must already have, and now they plan on inconveniencing their entire customer base practically, Happy 100th Walt!

Coke does not just give Disney the product for "FREE". They exchange services. Example Coke is the official soft drink in WDW. They usually would pay Disney for this. Then Coke delivers the product to Disney and Disney would pay Coke for the product. So instead of Coke writting a check to Disney for let's say $1mill and then Disney writting a check back for a $1mill they just exchange services. Advertising space for product.

 

[starshine73]

I certainly do not begrudge purchasing new mugs every WDW trip. Like others who have posted, I regard them as a $10 souvenir and enjoy using them once I am home to get that "WDW feeling". I hope that WDW plans this one out properly though. We all know what the beverage section is like at peak hours at the AS food courts! Having to line up each time sounds pretty ridiculous.

 

[ajblbv]

Same difference, the profits they must make from quote most likely come close to operating expenses per day I would say. The amount of cups you see is insane, and they overcharge for them too. The mugs were a great thing, and if this system goes in it will really make me mad, it will follow in line with a lot of recent things that take away from the magic.

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by ajblbv
Same difference, the profits they must make from quote most likely come close to operating expenses per day I would say.

Hi ajblbv,
Since you did not quote I am assuming you are replying to the post that I put up in response to your post stating that Disney gets their Coke product for free.

Exchanging services is not the same as getting product for free. It is not the "same difference". If Disney was getting the Coke product for "free" then Coke would be writting the $1mill check for the advertising and giving the product to Disney. The difference is about $1mill(or whatever the revenue price tag on the advertising is) to the revenue line without a corrosponding expense entry.

Are they making a profit on the mugs? Of course. The mugs do not cost $10 to manufacture. Let's not forget that that is what Disney is in business for to make money. Specificly to make money for their shareholders and this is not something that has happen the last few years.

I am off my economic soapbox now. I am not a fan of having to wait in line to get my mug filled and if this bar code thing causes lines then it will need to be rethought but let's not get upset until it has actually been rolled out and in place and then we will be able to make informed judgements of this new policy.

 

[ajblbv]

Originally posted by Tiffany


Hi ajblbv,
Since you did not quote I am assuming you are replying to the post that I put up in response to your post stating that Disney gets their Coke product for free.

Exchanging services is not the same as getting product for free. It is not the "same difference". If Disney was getting the Coke product for "free" then Coke would be writting the $1mill check for the advertising and giving the product to Disney. The difference is about $1mill(or whatever the revenue price tag on the advertising is) to the revenue line without a corrosponding expense entry.

Are they making a profit on the mugs? Of course. The mugs do not cost $10 to manufacture. Let's not forget that that is what Disney is in business for to make money. Specificly to make money for their shareholders and this is not something that has happen the last few years.

I am off my economic soapbox now. I am not a fan of having to wait in line to get my mug filled and if this bar code thing causes lines then it will need to be rethought but let's not get upset until it has actually been rolled out and in place and then we will be able to make informed judgements of this new policy.

Let us look realistically at what is actually happening. Disney is given the majority of it's soft drinks in exchance for the exclusivity of Coke as the soft drink provider for Disney. Disney World arguable is the most profitable part of the Disney corporation right now, and in the past few years they are making major cuts there, and attendance has dropped, coincedence? Dino-Rama is one other example, my first time seeing it was 4 days ago, and I was extremely disappointed. They took carnival rides and put them in Disney, but did not make them Disney. I expect things such as Splash Mountain, or Spaceship Earth, or Tower of Terror, even minor rides such as Dumbo are more well themed.

The failure of Disney in Europe and California Adventure, combined with 9/11, and actual competition in the animated world leave Disney World the only place left to make money and sustain a profit, but instead of seeing that they have taken measures that are 'cost effective' as opposed to pleasing to longtime customers. I can say that because I know 20+ people who have been disappointed in changes and 'upgrades', in fact the only good things I can cite are the Annual Passholder lounges, and the Figment renovation in recent months.

 

[maryliz]

Is it just me or has Disney gone from one extreme to the other. I have witnessed many, many times people filling up their water bottles, other travel mugs etc at the food court right in front of a CM and nothing was ever said. One guy even asked her where he could find the cream for his coffee ! I am certainly one who has used my mugs on return trips (because I was told to), but I have never used them at a different resort nor filled other non-disney containers. I think the scanning thing will just be a nightmare for guests and CM's (and the food court managers --- I suspect they'll be pretty busy calming down irate guests). One of the reasons CSR is not a resort high on our list of "must stays" is that refilling your mugs there is a pain, especially if that's ALL you're doing at the time (ie. not eating). This rates up with the passes they came out with about 10 years ago that actually had your picture on them ! This was very short-lived for a very good reason. Hopefully they will have figured out that this plan is just nuts before our trip in October. Good luck to all of you going in the hot, busy summer months. Guess I'll just be bringing 2 coolers instead of one -- oh wait, they'll probably start charging for ice !

Mary Liz

 

[kenman]

I am going to coronado springs next year for two weeks! It would save me alot of $ having a mug, but It is not worth it to me, I always got one every year but I will not wait in line for a dumb soda! I will just go to the machine and buy it there! When I'm at disney time is money!! You spend enough time in lines at the parks, I am not about to wait in line at the hotel for a drink! I think that next year I'm going to take a cooler as my suitcase so when I get to the hotel fill it up with ice at the ice machine in the hall and take my own soda!

 

[bullcat_02]

This is my first time to ever post on this board. But I had to come jump in this discussion. My mom and I just returned two weeks ago today from a wonderful week at the Movies. Let me also tell you that this was my high school graduation present from my parents. My mom saved up for 3 years just so we could go. It really infuriates me that Disney would do that. We bought those b/c we could use them for a LIFETIME.--Thanks to listen to me ramble on--I just had to get my feelings out about this subj.

 

[Deb & Bill]

You probably will be able to use them for a lifetime, just not for free. Not all refillable mugs were free to refill. I can use my Typhoon Lagoon sports bottle forever, but I have to purchase the sticker so that I can refill it with soda at the park. The sticker is much cheaper than a completely new sports bottle with fillup for the day.

 

[mbkteach]

Does anyone know of an e-mail address that we could use to express our thoughts on this?

 

[Poohbear123]

Needless to say I am NOT too HAPPY with this decision! I leave for my trip in 10 days, and am hoping this is NOT in effect than. First EE and now this?? I guess I won't be going back after this trip, and I usually go 3-4 times a year! I will stay OFF site and bring my own stuff!

 

[Kaitysmom]

On the original post no mention was made about being able to buy another sticker for your mug. How much does it cost at Typhoon Lagoon? Hopefully they will offer this here as well - don't get me wrong though - I think this stinks! As somebody else said, every time I go to WDW a little more magic is gone. Silly really, considering soda costs about a nickel for a refill. At $10 for the mug, you'd need to have an awful lot of refills before they're losing on the deal!

 

[jdads2]

I can understand being upset that our old ( I mean previously enjoyed) mugs MAY no longer be usable. I say may because we don't really know if they are or aren't. Maybe if you have a mug with no barcode it gets grandfathered in and you still get to use it for a "lifetime".

If not, yeah, I guess I will be a little dissappointeed, OK maybe not dissappointed. What's less than dissappointed? In the grand scheme and cost of things at WDW it doesn't register. I really assumed lifetime meant, in our case anyway, until our kids lose or destroy them. I never thought they would last into our 3rd trip.

What's more upsetting is waiting in another line just for a refill. Maybe they will have a strictly refill line where you can scan your own mugs.

I'll be watching this closely for our trip in September. I can see the lines becoming intolerable, especially at AS and during peak season. If that happens I'll be brining lots of powder drink mixes with us to WDW.

 

[Toad]

At the risk of being flamed, and remember this is my opinion only, perhaps Disney felt they had to do this because so many people (myself included) continue to use the same mug trip after trip. I have never been told , and I ask every time, that the mugs are "good for a lifetime". I have always been told that they are good for my "length of stay" only. On my last trip, I used the mug I purchased two months before and, frankly, the guilt I felt wasn't worth the cost of a $10 mug.

 

[Poohbear123]

Thats OK! I will just bring my mug, fill it with Ice, and fill it UP with MY OWN SODA! Not a problem at ALL! I am just wondering how this is going to go over.........

 

[Tigger73]

I really can't believe that so many people are getting upset over a silly mug. We're all willing to spend thousands of dollars on our vacations, yet get bent out of shape over a $10 item. Here's a suggestion, use your old mug as a bank for loose change. By the time your ready for vacation, you'll have your $10...

There are so many things to worry about, I wouldn't let this be one of them....