Can someone explain the refillable mugs to me?

[disny_luvr]

In my research, it seems there are two refillable mug options - one for the resorts and one for the parks. If I’m understanding correctly, we cannot use resort mugs in the parks and vice versa. We also cannot use a resort mug at a different resort from the one we are staying at, is that correct?

For the park refillable mug, can I purchase it anywhere inside the park? Where do I reactivate it daily? This is probably silly, but if eating at a restaurant can you get your mug filled? How about at a quick service location? Can I only use the mug at Freestyle machines or are there regular refill machines, too? Lastly, can the park mug also be used at Volcano Bay?

Thank you!

 

[cschaaf]

In my research, it seems there are two refillable mug options - one for the resorts and one for the parks. If I’m understanding correctly, we cannot use resort mugs in the parks and vice versa. We also cannot use a resort mug at a different resort from the one we are staying at, is that correct?

For the park refillable mug, can I purchase it anywhere inside the park? Where do I reactivate it daily? This is probably silly, but if eating at a restaurant can you get your mug filled? How about at a quick service location? Can I only use the mug at Freestyle machines or are there regular refill machines, too? Lastly, can the park mug also be used at Volcano Bay?

Thank you!

We have some park Freestyle cups that we bought a few trips ago. We've used them on 4 or 5 different trips, but we've never tried to use them at the hotel.

I believe you are correct that the park mugs don't work at the hotels and vice versa. However, on one trip, we were at Aventura and heard a family say their park mug worked at the Aventura Freestyle machines, but I can't confirm that was true.

You can buy the mugs at most of the drink kiosks and at the quick service restaurants (except any in the Harry Potter areas). There's also a Coke 'store' near Men In Black.

When you buy, you can tell them to activate if for x days and pay for it all at once. On return trips, you just go to any location that sells them, and have them re-activate. We've had some TMs tell us to activate a day at a time for less chance of error, but we've always had them re-activate for the length of our stay and just hold on to the receipts just in case. Only had an issue one time - I showed the receipts, and they called a manager and got it fixed.

We've gotten refills at restaurants before - they just see the refillable cup and bring you a regular cup that you can transfer. I get the feeling they aren't supposed to do it. I don't think we've ever asked the waiter, but it's been offered a few times. We usually stop by a machine and refill on our own before heading into the restaurant.

At kiosks, they will scan the cup and get you a refill from the fountain.

We've never done it, but you can also get Icees for your refill. There are Coke Icees at a few places, a banana Icee near King, and Orange and Apple at Moose Juice, Goose Juice.

The Pugh Two have some good videos explaining the cups over on YouTube if you want to check that out.

 

[cschaaf]

Oh, forgot to add - yes, the park cup can be used at Volcano Bay, too.

 

[disny_luvr]

Thank you for all your help, @cschaaf !

I will look into the Pugh Two video. I just stumbled across them a few days ago when I was watching Universal videos.

 

[disny_luvr]

We have some park Freestyle cups that we bought a few trips ago. We've used them on 4 or 5 different trips, but we've never tried to use them at the hotel.

I believe you are correct that the park mugs don't work at the hotels and vice versa. However, on one trip, we were at Aventura and heard a family say their park mug worked at the Aventura Freestyle machines, but I can't confirm that was true.

You can buy the mugs at most of the drink kiosks and at the quick service restaurants (except any in the Harry Potter areas). There's also a Coke 'store' near Men In Black.

When you buy, you can tell them to activate if for x days and pay for it all at once. On return trips, you just go to any location that sells them, and have them re-activate. We've had some TMs tell us to activate a day at a time for less chance of error, but we've always had them re-activate for the length of our stay and just hold on to the receipts just in case. Only had an issue one time - I showed the receipts, and they called a manager and got it fixed.

We've gotten refills at restaurants before - they just see the refillable cup and bring you a regular cup that you can transfer. I get the feeling they aren't supposed to do it. I don't think we've ever asked the waiter, but it's been offered a few times. We usually stop by a machine and refill on our own before heading into the restaurant.

At kiosks, they will scan the cup and get you a refill from the fountain.

We've never done it, but you can also get Icees for your refill. There are Coke Icees at a few places, a banana Icee near King, and Orange and Apple at Moose Juice, Goose Juice.

The Pugh Two have some good videos explaining the cups over on YouTube if you want to check that out.

I had no idea icees are included! That will be a nice treat in the June heat.

 

[Kit Jackson]

I had no idea icees are included! That will be a nice treat in the June heat.

The banana Icees near King Kong were one of my favorite treats the last time I went to Universal Orlando. I highly recommend it.

 

[georgina]

I don't drink soda or other sugary drinks, but wanted to point out for anyone reading this thread that the Freestyle machines will give free cold water into any container. I use it for my refillable water bottle.

 

[sarabguerra]

The Freestyle machines also have Powerade or Gatorade (although not sure about the actual electrolyte content is compared to bottled). And I was able to get sugar-free flavored seltzer. My kids loved the ICEEs in February when it was in the 90s unexpectedly. We didn't buy them the first day because we thought they would be too expensive and not worth it. We were very wrong! We spent about 3x the amount on Powerades to keep us all hydrated when just water from the machines was not enough. Our cups will be going back with us next trip!

 

[wdwrule]

I don't drink soda or other sugary drinks, but wanted to point out for anyone reading this thread that the Freestyle machines will give free cold water into any container. I use it for my refillable water bottle.

We do the same, as water is the most thirst-quenching for us. In big time heat, we bring along Nuun tablets to drop in the water… provides electrolytes with only 1 gram of sugar and tastes good. We use the non-caffeinated ones.

If a big soda drinker though, or whatever else the freestyle machines offer, the refillable cups I would imagine are the way to go.

 

[AdamsMum]

Do these refillable mugs have a handle? Planning a trip next January, but haven't been there in probably 20 years. The kids were preteen and teen at the time.

 

[hockey mom]

Does anyone have the price for these mugs please

 

[wdwrule]

Do these refillable mugs have a handle? Planning a trip next January, but haven't been there in probably 20 years. The kids were preteen and teen at the time.

I don’t believe they do as I’ve seen holders for them which they slide right in.

 

[wdwrule]

Does anyone have the price for these mugs please

The ones for the parks are $16.99 I believe and then a little less if you buy 2 or more. They usually sell some fancier seasonal ones for a little more. This recent article explains costs and details and also includes info on popcorn buckets etc.
https://orlandoinformer.com/universal/refillable-cups-popcorn-buckets-coke-freestyle/

 

[hockey mom]

The ones for the parks are $16.99 I believe and then a little less if you buy 2 or more. They usually sell some fancier seasonal ones for a little more. This recent article explains costs and details and also includes info on popcorn buckets etc.
https://orlandoinformer.com/universal/refillable-cups-popcorn-buckets-coke-freestyle/

Thank you !

 

[disny_luvr]

OP here.

Two more questions about the refillable mugs:
1. We will be arriving late afternoon and heading to IOA for probably two or three hours. Should I wait until our first full day to purchase our mugs? It seems kind of silly to pay the full price for just a few hours, but it would be nice to not have to worry about purchasing them the next morning when we are at VB.
2. Is there any place to wash the mugs?

TIA!

 

[mamapenguin]

The banana Icees near King Kong were one of my favorite treats the last time I went to Universal Orlando. I highly recommend it.

In May banana icees were also at the location near MIB. I got cherry and banana.

 

[Skippyboo]

OP here.

Two more questions about the refillable mugs:
1. We will be arriving late afternoon and heading to IOA for probably two or three hours. Should I wait until our first full day to purchase our mugs? It seems kind of silly to pay the full price for just a few hours, but it would be nice to not have to worry about purchasing them the next morning when we are at VB.
2. Is there any place to wash the mugs?

TIA!

It’s per day so if you’re only going for a couple of hours, I would skip it until you can use it for a whole day. There’s no sinks like you see at Disney resort soda stations but the freestyle machines have water option so you can use that to rinse your cup.

 

[mamapenguin]

OP here.

Two more questions about the refillable mugs:
1. We will be arriving late afternoon and heading to IOA for probably two or three hours. Should I wait until our first full day to purchase our mugs? It seems kind of silly to pay the full price for just a few hours, but it would be nice to not have to worry about purchasing them the next morning when we are at VB.
2. Is there any place to wash the mugs?

TIA!

Not in the parks that I’m aware of. I just wash mine at my hotel at the end of the day.

 

[kevtlas]

In May banana icees were also at the location near MIB. I got cherry and banana.

Cherry-banana Icee sounds delicious