Change in Refillable Mug Program?

[JudithM]

Originally posted by mikek
Need to clarify my previous post about someone who i wrongly stated hadnt paid for a soda in 7 years- let me rephrase that- Disney missed seven years of sales on that customer.

Ok, I take offense at your comments about my having purchased All Star mugs in 1995 - seven years ago - & that Disney has missed out on the sales of my soda. Did you ever think that we also spend money by purchasing food at the food courts when we are there? I don't just go back to refill a mug with "lifetime refills." I am usually at the resort to buy a meal. Personally I don't htink Disney is losing money on me by my having a mug with "lifetime refills." I also take the mugs to the parks - I usually start out with ice & water from my room & contiune to fill it with ice & water to drink throughout the day. My carrying around a WDW resort mug is also PR for that particular resort!

 

[Granny]

Originally posted by PamOKW
I'm just wondering why the mug program is so important to DVC'ers? Having drinks in the room seems a lot more convenient than having to go out for refills all the time. I understand people who are upset because they won't get the full use they were promised. But, other than that, what is the appeal of the mug program for a DVC'er?

Pam, when I posted early on in this thread, I used the words "bothersome" and "disappointing". I was referring, as other have, to being told one thing and then something else transpires. It's no big deal to me personally, as we got plenty of use from our free refills during the three trips we used them. But I do feel for those who just purchased with the intent to make them "pay off" sometime in the future.

I guess the issue many have is with promises or statements by Disney employees that are later retracted. We've heard many stories of Member Guides providing somewhat misleading information and promising pool-hopping, free valet parking, etc for the next 40 years. Most of us realize that Disney is not required to hold to any of that, but find it disappointing when such statements are made to make a sale.

Like I said, this is not that big of issue to us. We won't throw our mugs away, and we won't boycott Coke or Disney. What others choose to do is fine....free country!

 

[Doctor P]

Though I like the refillable mug program, my concern over it and any changes to the refillable mug policy went away went we bought into DVC (maybe because the first resort we bought into was OKW, but I think it was more than that). Given that we have a refrigerator and generally drive (or in one case had a rental car from Tampa), it is much more cost effective for us to buy sodas than to buy a refillable mug. The mugs are souveniers and often quite attractive/nice, but they are really no longer an issue for us.

 

[manning]

You think the comments are heated here, go over to the resort board. Wouldn't call it war, but is heated at times

I agree. It doesn't seem the cost justifies the change proposed. There are other ways of doing this. Heck add Three cents to the room rate and no one will be the wiser. That's one way, or increase the cost of the mug is another.

Another way of maybe solving this. If it is possible to:
1. have a dispenser as dependable as the old ones.
2. Have the machine set up to scan the mug when it is put in
place for filling.
3. Have a dated bar code sticker (date generated at purchase)
made of same material used on
license plates placed on mug upon purchase.

Now, like the annual pass, make this an annual mug. The chip in the machine knows the current date, reads the the date on the mug and if it is more than a year it won't dispense. Forget about the lockouts, keep the line moving and everyone will be happy. You'll get your moneys worth if not more and Disney still makes a profit. You can buy new stickers at check-in or guest services. I bet Disney can make a big profit at $10 per sticker.

Use it at any resort. They can even have a premium one for resorts and parks. The vendors in the parks can handle the refills. It would speed up the line. No need to make change.

 

[KNWVIKING]

Good idea Manning,but what if- and of course we know this is a BIG if - I go and buy one renew sticker for one of my four mugs then fill the legal mug,pour into expired,etc,etc...
Also,since mom and dad won't do that,they send little Johnie over to do they deed and while he's trying to juggle four mugs,a line is forming behind him. BUT,we all know this could NEVER happen.

 

[Granny]

manning....would they need to have a finger reading machine like for the AP's to make sure people aren't giving them to friends heading to WDW?

And thanks for the heads up on the resort board. One more place to avoid while looking for a Disney fix!

 

[PamOKW]

is a BIG if - I go and buy one renew sticker for one of my four mugs then fill the legal mug,pour into expired,etc,etc...

KNWVIKING -- I (think) you are basically joking but the sad fact is that people are thinking like this all the time. Then, when they devise a scheme that works, instead of it just being them and maybe their small group of friends, they post it on the Internet. The idea spreads to such a large group that Disney can no longer just turn a blind eye.

I think Disney has a lot of new issues to deal with since people started sharing info so easily. People who were once surprised by a memento from Disney on a birthday are now demanding the best way to insure that they are given something.

It sounds like a similar mug program has been working at the water parks. It also sounds like they are going to roll this out resort-by-resort. If it creates the type of panic and mayhem people are predicting, it will probably be re-worked or dropped.

People predicted that WDW would close it's doors when they dropped early entry. If anything, WDW bookings have been increasing. Disney doesn't make decisions without doing research first and without a "Plan B" in mind.

I guess I'm still missing the desire to keep the program. I usually have a pina colada by the pool (can we have free refills on those?) or bring a drink from the villa with me. In the parks is where I'd really like to see a program -- but they hit us up for the big $$$ for Coke there.

I understand the value for the non-DVC resorts -- I just don't see the value for DVC.

 

[manning]

Knwviking- This is not a perfect solution, but takes a big step forward. I don't think there is or will be a fool proof solution other than to eliminate the program. (oh boy, now what do we do with the mugs?)

Granny- As long as there is a system, someone will be trying to beat it, it takes the life time equation out of it. After the set time limit expires, another sticker has to be bought. You heard of K.I.S.S. . We had K.I.S.C. keep It Simple and Cheap.

PamOK - Your idea has a built in solution. After a number of Pina Coladas We won't care if anyone is cheating. Like the idea though.

After saying this and reading elsewhere, I'm beginning to think a mountain is being built. That poor little mole is probably wondering what has happened to his hill. LOL

 

[KNWVIKING]

Pam...

I'm joking to the extent I would not do that, but we all know something along those lines will happen.

As for a "park" mug-yeah that would be great, but Disney knows the $$$$$$$ it rakes in sellng a few pennys worth of product for $2.50. They also know that while we're at our resort, the enticement of a free refill will get people to go into the food courts and such and they know our nature: we will more then likely spend money on something that is highly overpriced. BUT, I got my free soda !!

If they really are changing the existing mug plan I guess I just don't understand the logic.

 

[manning]

Knviking- I think you hit on something Disney may not have thought about. You notice were the drink machines are at. The milk and meat counter aren't in the back of the grocery store by accident. Now if Disney could figure out how to put those machines next to the pizza and hamburgers. Come to think about it, the cashier can now be the policeman. Walk through, show your mug and be on your way. Buy something, stop and pay. Maybe those machines are in the wrong place.

 

[Caskbill]

We were at Typhoon Lagoon just last week, and the self-serve, scanned mugs were there. To use, you push a button, hold your cup up to the UPC code scanner. (Basically an opening in the front of the machine). When the green light goes on, you push the button for the flavor of drink you want. Presto, a refill.

The technology is already there and in use. To simply put these same machines into the resorts is no big deal.

I imagine the codes could be simple. Your mug works at your resort only.

If it really got out of hand, with people using one mug as the 'master', to get refills and then fill all their other mugs, then I suppose Disney could go the next step. Seralized Bar codes, where once you get a refill, you can't get another for some length of time, maybe 15 minutes or so. That would certainly stop people from filling up a half-dozen cups from one single mug. That technology wouldn't really be much different than the fast pass system now in use where you can't get a 2nd fast pass until after an elapsed time.

As for LOS mugs, refillable for lifetime. Isn't that an oxymoron? It's either good for LOS, or it's good for lifetime.

Anyway, it looks like all the old mugs might still be refillable. Just not for free. My guess is that a LOS sticker to put on the mug might be the way it'll work.

 

[disrailfan]

Originally posted by DebbieB
I heard the bottled water company has the same deal. It definitely is a cash cow for Disney or any food establishment, soda is cheap and they sell it for a big profit.

DebbieB, did you know that the Water that is sold at wdw is actually bottled and distributed by Coca Cola?

Another interesting twist!

 

[disrailfan]

Originally posted by Caskbill
If it really got out of hand, with people using one mug as the 'master', to get refills and then fill all their other mugs, then I suppose Disney could go the next step. Seralized Bar codes, where once you get a refill, you can't get another for some length of time, maybe 15 minutes or so. That would certainly stop people from filling up a half-dozen cups from one single mug. That technology wouldn't really be much different than the fast pass system now in use where you can't get a 2nd fast pass until after an elapsed time.

Oh my Fast Passes for refillable mugs now there is an idea! haha!

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by disrailfan


DebbieB, did you know that the Water that is sold at wdw is actually bottled and distributed by Coca Cola?

Another interesting twist!

I know Dasani water is Coke, which we usually buy at the store (6 bottles for $2.50). They sell Zepheryllis at Disney (1 bottle for $2.50), is it also Coke?

 

[Zimbubba]

Why is it so hard for people to understand. There never has been an established policy that these mugfs can be used "forever." It has been something people have made up. Cast members say sure, do it. Why not? It doesn't effect them. Reusing mugs after the visit when they were purchased is theft.

I know this will be popular.

 

[BIERMUGG]

Its not the idea of missing out on a couple of cups of free soda, but it was a unique perk that when we brought the mug we were told it was for life. At VB last summer the mugs said " Summer 2001" it was a very easy way to identify the mugs as seasonal and for 2001.

We do not drink a lot of soda so it is no big deal for my family, it was kind of neat to know it was there and not every place had it. The thing that gets me when they keep discontinuing the small things even if we did not use them a lot, Tthe place starts to lose a little bit of the Magic that made WDW so special to us in the first place.

George

 

[Muushka]

My sentiments exactly, BIERMUGG.

 

[KNWVIKING]

Zimbubba....

I don't know what Disney's official policy was for my mugs. All I can go by is what the CM's told me when I bought them- LIFETIME. If I was told LOS, I wouldn't have bought them because I probably only refill a few times a trip. We just bought mugs at VB, again we were told lifetime. Even the mug has no date on it,not even a VB logo. But the lid does say Coca Cola on it.

By all means I have gotten my monies worth out of my mugs plus I have a cool sovinere(sp), but it's disheartening when the rules keep changing. I shouldn't need to ask for a signed contract from a CM just to buy a mug.

 

[Lesley]

Pam, to answer your question about what appeal refillable mugs have for DVCers...

For us it was really kind of a souvenir thing....but one we could really get our money's worth out of. Now that we have a cabinet full of these mugs, I probably won't be buying more. Even with our upcoming stay at POR I don't think I'll buy a mug....we can keep drinks in our room. Of course it might be worth it for morning coffee and a few refills.

I do feel its a bit extreme to be calling folks who were told their refillable mug was refillable for multiple visits theives....they are following the rules as they were told them. Refillable mugs don't exactly come with a fine print contract that owners are required to sign...And how fair is it that someone can stay a month on one mug, yet another person can't use their mug for 2 or 3 weekend stays?

And I do believe we once had posts somewhere from someone in the know who definitively stated that WDW does get its Coke products free....advertising isn't cheap.
I can't imagine the few folks (in relative terms to how many visitors WDW gets...particularly considering that most folks are one time only) who are willing to haul mugs back for multiple trips are really putting that big of a dent in the bottom line. Of course some bean counter could probably show me evidence that it is....but at what cost to that wonderful feeling that you're being treated as an honored guest instead of feeling like there's a mouse with his hand in your pocket the whole trip?

Yikes, this is beginning to sound like a rumors board post...sorry!

 

[Carl]

I was one of the people who insisted that anyone who thought refillable mugs were for repeat trips was completely in error. So, last February at the Boardwalk bakery I was purchasing a mug and the person told me that I could bring it back anytime I was on the Boardwalk. I said, "You don't mean on future trips, do you?" They insisted that "YES, Anytime that you come back!" So, I had to eat my words. Now, that I have decided to bring it back, I guess that it will NOT be true anymore. Yep, that figures, with my luck. But, that makes the persons who have told us this in no uncertain terms into liers.