Disney to eliminate plastic straws, hotel in-room plastics and plastic shopping bags

[Colleen27]

They already offer refillable mugs. Hopefully they will offer different form factors if you want a smaller one that is more portable.

There are plenty of solutions that already exists once this policy goes into effect. There are companies that make hiking cups that totally collapse and fit in your pocket for example.

And they all involve getting back in those nice, long bag-check lines. "Graduating" to travelling without a bag when my kids got older was something I really looked forward too... I don't want to go back to hauling a backpack so that I can have a drink with a lid and straw and not have to tack a few buck onto any souvenir purchases I buy.

Couldn't you just use paper straws, like at Animal Kingdom? I'm sure Disney will be providing those, versus eliminating straws entirely.

At home, I use a refillable soda cup with a metal straw, and more and more places are becoming accepting of refilling it instead of getting a new plastic cup/lid/straw every time. But I don't want to carry that times four, plus the straw cleaner, around the theme parks all day.

For that matter... how do you manage at Animal Kingdom? They've never had straws, AFAIK.

That's something I really dislike but grudgingly accept at AK because of the immediate need for it to protect animal health, but honestly, the ways we "cope" are not environmentally productive... Depending on the time of day, I buy coffee, bottled water/soda/juice, or beer/mixed drinks instead of soda. So instead of a paper cup & plastic straw getting tossed, it is a plastic cup or bottle.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

My mouth/lip area is 100% wrinkle free. No issues from a decade of straw drinking. Myth.

My lips are wrinkle free after a decade of smoking. Does that mean it’s only a myth that smoking causes wrinkles?

 

[Colleen27]

I agree. But, I'm still glad that at least some of the waste will be eliminated, even if it's for the wrong reasons.

But will it? Or will people change their habits to generate MORE waste by buying their drinks bottled instead of in cups so that they don't have to worry about spills or drinking an iced beverage without a straw? Because that's what I see as our most likely means of adapting - instead of fountain sodas and free iced water, we'll opt for bottled drinks and the amount of plastic waste we generate will actually increase.

They can do what pretty much every German Christmas market does (Playmobil Funpark does the same).
Your beverage comes in a reusable container. When purchasing you are charged a deposit (here that ranges from 2-5 euro most places). When you're done, go up to any other stand, or the same one, turn it in and get the deposit back. It'll get washed and reused.
Easy peasy. Convient and far better for the environment.

I don't see waiting in line twice for every beverage - once to purchase, once to get the deposit back - being an easy sell at WDW.

For all those opposed to the changes being proposed, aren't you concerned about the impact all this plastic has, not only on the environment, but on our health as well? I wish we'd totally do away with ALL plastic used in food prep and storage because it really does have adverse effects on our health.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2873021/

Of course I am. But if we're going to take action, shouldn't that action be logical and likely to accomplish the goals? I don't think the straws/lids measure specifically is likely to do that. There's an obvious substitution effect that is likely to come into play - those who don't want to carry around cups without lids and those who don't drink cold/iced beverages without a straw are likely to switch to bottled drinks. That increases the amount of plastic waste, not reduces it.

And while I'm very concerned about plastics in my day to day life, I'll freely admit that I put some of those concerns on hold out of convenience/desire for comfort when I'm traveling. At home, when I have my car or bike with me all the time, it is no big deal to carry reusable cups and straws for my whole family, to keep reusable bags in the back, etc. But on vacation, especially a Disney vacation where everything I carry will be searched every time I enter a park, lugging those things around is a more significant inconvenience. Going "bag free" was something I REALLY looked forward to as my youngest got older. I don't want to go back to being the family pack mule so we can have straws with our drinks and not pay extra on every souvenir purchase for reusable bags that will rot in a closet once we get home.

 

[Imzadi]

So I guess we can now add "dish soap and sponge" to our Disney packing list.

You can use the newly provided shampoo dispensers to pump out enough to wash your glasses. Soap is soap. Shampoo is even designed to wash out grease & oils.

 

[Colleen27]

It's reasonable to expect the cups will be replaced by cups. People just don't have faith that Disney housekeeping will have time to adequately clean them. So I guess we can now add "dish soap and sponge" to our Disney packing list.

Pro-tip: Moisten a sponge, work some dish soap into it, and then leave it in a sunny spot to dry completely. Voila, pre-soaped sponge that packs without mess and "activates" as soon as you get it wet again.

I hadn’t even thought about how people who really want straws would have to bring multiple for a trip to the park, unless we’re packing the straw cleaner and washing it in a public bathroom sink.

And speaking from experience - unless you're using a collapsible/foldable straw, they don't fit in bathroom sinks so washing or even rinsing them that way is really awkward. You can't get them under the faucet without the other end dragging on the bottom/side of the sink. At the resorts, the mug wash stations would work for cleaning them, but I'm not sure how someone who wants to clean it between uses could easily do so in the parks.

 

[AustinTink]

My lips are wrinkle free after a decade of smoking. Does that mean it’s only a myth that smoking causes wrinkles?

I think wrinkles are strongly based in genetics. My mom was a lifelong smoker and had almost no wrinkles when she died at 84.

 

[AustinTink]

Pro-tip: Moisten a sponge, work some dish soap into it, and then leave it in a sunny spot to dry completely. Voila, pre-soaped sponge that packs without mess and "activates" as soon as you get it wet again.

Great tip!

 

[mnrose]

Actually, most dentists will tell you that drinking soda or juice (or anything with sugar or acidity) with a straw is better for your teeth because it limits the amount of fluid that comes into contact with your teeth. Otherwise, they are washed in the full force of each drink. This can be detrimental over time.

Any dentist will also tell you that drinking water INSTEAD of soda or juice is better for your teeth. And, when you do, you can drink it any old way you want, and it makes no difference. Plus, again, they sell reusable straws on Amazon and in your local Target store (and probably others). Bring all you want.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

But will it? Or will people change their habits to generate MORE waste by buying their drinks bottled instead of in cups so that they don't have to worry about spills or drinking an iced beverage without a straw? Because that's what I see as our most likely means of adapting - instead of fountain sodas and free iced water, we'll opt for bottled drinks and the amount of plastic waste we generate will actually increase.



I don't see waiting in line twice for every beverage - once to purchase, once to get the deposit back - being an easy sell at WDW.



Of course I am. But if we're going to take action, shouldn't that action be logical and likely to accomplish the goals? I don't think the straws/lids measure specifically is likely to do that. There's an obvious substitution effect that is likely to come into play - those who don't want to carry around cups without lids and those who don't drink cold/iced beverages without a straw are likely to switch to bottled drinks. That increases the amount of plastic waste, not reduces it.

And while I'm very concerned about plastics in my day to day life, I'll freely admit that I put some of those concerns on hold out of convenience/desire for comfort when I'm traveling. At home, when I have my car or bike with me all the time, it is no big deal to carry reusable cups and straws for my whole family, to keep reusable bags in the back, etc. But on vacation, especially a Disney vacation where everything I carry will be searched every time I enter a park, lugging those things around is a more significant inconvenience. Going "bag free" was something I REALLY looked forward to as my youngest got older. I don't want to go back to being the family pack mule so we can have straws with our drinks and not pay extra on every souvenir purchase for reusable bags that will rot in a closet once we get home.

Yes I'd be one of those that opted for a bottle of coke over a cup of it with no straw/lide.
Can you imagine how sticky the floors will be from soda sloshing?
Also with no straw I want no ice and every time I ask for no ice now I always end up with it so if I were to ask for no ice with no straws and got ice I'd be wasting the drink because I'd require that they fix the mistake instead of just saying oh and grabbing a straw.
And I would not consider it reasonable for me to have tpack straws.
Like I've said in previous posts I'm not opposed to change but they did not say a replacement was coming as far as the straws go.
They used the word transition when talking about rooms and reduce when talking about bags but eliminate when talking about straws.
If paper straws are offered then at least using a straw is still an option.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Pro-tip: Moisten a sponge, work some dish soap into it, and then leave it in a sunny spot to dry completely. Voila, pre-soaped sponge that packs without mess and "activates" as soon as you get it wet again.

Brilliant - I am definitely going to try that!

 

[Southernmiss]

Some on this thread are making a very good case why we in 1st world countries need to curb our consumption of plastics to help our planet.

Take a step back and read some of the selfish complaints over plastic bags and straws!

It's amazing what items you can put in your pockets to avoid bag check-reusable bags fold very small and fit in your hand. There are lanyards for reusable bottles with built in straws.

 

[TheDisneyNurse]

Saw the news and thought it was awesome! We’re gonna test some paper straws on our DNephew to see if they’ll do. If they don’t work out, we’ll bring in a cup with a built in straw and wash it as needed.

I don’t understand the praise of the disney shampoo and conditioner. It has the consistency of water and it turns my hair to straw.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Some on this thread are making a very good case why we in 1st world countries need to curb our consumption of plastics to help our planet.

Take a step back and read some of the selfish complaints over plastic bags and straws!

It's amazing what items you can put in your pockets to avoid bag check-reusable bags fold very small and fit in your hand. There are lanyards for reusable bottles with built in straws.

My sister was in a very poor part of Africa on a mission to create a well for the kids at school this past April and they just toss all of their trash all over the place including lots of plastic.
3rd world countries are no better than 1st world countries hen it comes to these types of things.
At least we have recycling options.

 

[Southernmiss]

My sister was in a very poor part of Africa on a mission to create a well for the kids at school this past April and they just toss all of their trash all over the place including lots of plastic.
3rd world countries are no better than 1st world countries hen it comes to these types of things.
At least we have recycling options.

Exactly. Just because someone else throws their plastics around, doesn't mean we should.

We know we can do better and Disney is at least trying.


And still some say 'they better...give me an acceptable alternative or else...'

 

[EveDallas]

Any dentist will also tell you that drinking water INSTEAD of soda or juice is better for your teeth. And, when you do, you can drink it any old way you want, and it makes no difference. Plus, again, they sell reusable straws on Amazon and in your local Target store (and probably others). Bring all you want.

Pretty sure we all knew water is better for you But thanks for educating us.

 

[EveDallas]

Any dentist will also tell you that drinking water INSTEAD of soda or juice is better for your teeth. And, when you do, you can drink it any old way you want, and it makes no difference. Plus, again, they sell reusable straws on Amazon and in your local Target store (and probably others). Bring all you want.

Nah, I'll just spend my money at Universal. Where I can not only get a straw, but an actual Do Not Disturb sign for my room.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Exactly. Just because someone else throws their plastics around, doesn't mean we should.

We know we can do better and Disney is at least trying.


And still some say 'they better...give me an acceptable alternative or else...'

Lol yep that's me....
And how I took your post was look at these poor countries they don't even have these conveniences so we should be taking after them.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Nah, I'll just spend my money at Universal. Where I can not only get a straw, but an actual Do Not Disturb sign for my room.

Now that Disney has done it you don't think Universal will?

 

[TipsyTraveler]

My sister was in a very poor part of Africa on a mission to create a well for the kids at school this past April and they just toss all of their trash all over the place including lots of plastic.
3rd world countries are no better than 1st world countries hen it comes to these types of things.
At least we have recycling options.

When I was in Kenya and Tanzania, the countries ranked #1 and #2 for having the highest air quality on the planet, there was a huge focus on sustainability. Smoking is illegal just about everywhere, so no butts on the street washing into the water systems. Our meals were packed in stainless steel containers and served on ceramic plates with real silverware that were washed and reused. Filtered water was carried into the bush in reusable thermoses, our tents were stocked with refillable glass water bottles, and the sodas were in glass bottles as well. For showering purposes, my DH and I were allotted 2 1/2 gallons of water each, daily. Shockingly, it was more water than we knew what to do with when it’s coming from a low-flow faucet and you’re really making efforts to conserve. There are a number of initiatives in place to upcycle litter/ocean trash into consumer goods. Plastic bags are illegal. Significant amounts of money are funneled into conserving species and preserving wild habitats.

I have no doubts that my environmental footprint was smaller during my time there than it is at home. “First-world” ways aren’t always better.

 

[Planogirl]

Why not just bring the kind of straw you want? Most of us bring bags anyway. If you don't bring a bag then that makes it harder of course.

I see the possibility of no lids as a bigger problem. I'm a klutz and might sometimes send my drink flying.