Free Cups of Hot Water?

[llqool]

I know they will give you free cups of ice water, but will they give you free cups of hot water? Leaving next week, and bringing packets of Via with me....I was thinking this could be the way to ensure a good cup of coffee in the parks!

I ask b/c I seem to remember that my mom-in-law, who has to have sugar free hot chocolate, brought her own packs with her one time and she said they wouldn't give her hot water?

 

[DCbride]

I am not sure everywhere, but at the AK I asked for a cup of hot water to heat a bottle and they had me give them the bottle and they heated it for me then dumped out the water.

At the resorts you could get hot water in your refillable mug.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Most places do not have hot water taps like at resorts.
2) CM's usually will not take the chance at microwaving water cups. *

* Yes, it sounds wrong, but if you microwave water improperly, the water can "geyser" (almost like a explosion) when you remove it from the microwave. Several CM's have been burned this way, so most refuse to do it. That is why at home when we microwave water, we stick a wooden chopstick (our preferred) or metal spoon into the cup during the microwave cycle.

 

[3pletprincesses]

3 years ago I got several cups of hot water at Epcot and MK to make my triplets formula. Some places charged something like a dime per cup to cover the cost of the cup. can't say for the AK and HS

 

[Pugmalion1]

1) Most places do not have hot water taps like at resorts.
2) CM's usually will not take the chance at microwaving water cups. *

* Yes, it sounds wrong, but if you microwave water improperly, the water can "geyser" (almost like a explosion) when you remove it from the microwave. Several CM's have been burned this way, so most refuse to do it. That is why at home when we microwave water, we stick a wooden chopstick (our preferred) or metal spoon into the cup during the microwave cycle.

A metal spoon? While some microwaves may be able to handle some types of metal, or even some reactive metals in some quantity, as a general rule of thumb, you should never put metal in the microwave. It could act as a receptor for the microwaves and cause damage to the cooking vessel or the microwave. At the very least, it's a bad idea. At the worst, it's a fire hazard.

 

[cglaura]

I've been able to get hot water at any place that sells hot tea. No charge. I usually use my refill mug in the a.m. but I like a bunch of cups during the day and decaf at night, so the coffee packs/sticks work great. I think I bleed coffee! You can get single serve powder creamer now too. Not really great if you use 1/2&1/2, but if you usually use powdered creamer then good to go.

The water is (obviously) hot hot hot. I usually ask for a cup of hot water and a cup of ice to cool down the coffee I make. Which usually gets me odd looks I just honestly say, I'm making my own coffee to go with the [insert yummy treat here I am buying]. The only place that just couldn't understand was this young girl in the bakery in France. She just couldn't understand why I wanted her to fill a cup of ice with hot water. It took a bit of explaining and we both had a good laugh when she what I was trying to do.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

A metal spoon? While some microwaves may be able to handle some types of metal, or even some reactive metals in some quantity, as a general rule of thumb, you should never put metal in the microwave. It could act as a receptor for the microwaves and cause damage to the cooking vessel or the microwave. At the very least, it's a bad idea. At the worst, it's a fire hazard.

1) Actually, there is no problem with putting metal into a microwave.
2) The problem is the percentage of metal to hydro-bearing substances.
3) And WHERE the metal is placed in relationship to the food.
4) As long as there is matter to absorb the energy, metal might be OK.
4) The USDA even has a blurb on how to use aluminum foil in a microwave.
5) And, most people would say that is a non-no.
6) See USDA http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Microwave_Ovens_and_Food_Safety/index.asp#12

EDIT:
We don't use metal spoons all the time, but definitely on occasion.
In fact, in industry, we purposely insert metal into microwave devices, based upon the effect we are trying to accomplish.

 

[Pugmalion1]

1) Actually, there is no probloem with putting metal into a microwave.
2) The problem is the percentage of metal to hydro-bearing substances.
3) And WHERE the metal is placed in relationship to the food.
4) As long as there is matter to absorb the energy, metal might be OK.
4) The USDA even has a blurb on how to use aluminum foil in a microwave.
5) And, most people would say that is a non-no.
6) Also, metal is a not a receptor of microwaves.
7) Only substances that absrob microwaves are receptors.
8) See USDA http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Microwave_Ovens_and_Food_Safety/index.asp#12

Well, not so much a receptor, but an antenna. Regardless, of the possible proper ways to use metal in a microwave, it is in general a poor idea where other non-metal substances are available. In more cases than not, putting a metal utensil or vessel in a microwave leads to conduction, and where there is conduction there is possibility of ignition.

Whether it can be done is a moot point when there are safer alternatives.

 

[Tara922c]

When I was in wdw with dd when she was 7 months old, I was told that they will not give out cups of hot water. We were at a CS in MK, I think it was Ponochios, and dd needed a bottle, and she would not drink her bottle unless it was hot. I was in tears at that point because poor dd was having stomach issues that day, the parade was going on, and there was no way I could get to baby care quickly. I asked to buy a cup of hot water, and was told again, that they wouldn't do it. Another CM asked me what was wrong, and when i told her, she got me a cup of hot water asap! I had asked for hot water at other places that day with no problem. My conclusion, they don't have to give you hot water for free, but they might. Depends on the day, and the CM.

 

[eeyore81]

We were at HS in September. The person standing next to us in line at Pizza Planet asked for a cup of hot water for a bottle and they gave it to her. She did not ask the cashier, she asked one of the people placing the food on the trays.

 

[Bete]

for food it might be easier to get that free cup of hot water.

Also,there may not be an easy way to put on the receipt an order for hot water. There may not be an option for it. I do think it might be easier to ask non cashiers for this hot water.

I agree it has to be easier to get hot water from a place that sells tea. Worse to worse, you get the hot tea and pay for it and you don't use the tea bag.

 

[llqool]

Yeah, I definitely would only try to get hot water from a place that sells hot beverages and thus has the foam/heavy paper cups (b/c the cold water cups would definitely NOT work!)

And I think that in the past, I have asked the CMs who put the items on the trays for my ice water cup (b/c I often forget to ask for it when I order). So maybe that is the route to go.

Oh well, worst comes to worst, I carry my Via packets back to the resort and use them in my refillable mug. They are light and not a big pain to carry around "just in case".

 

[llqool]

An update....just got back and we had a few chilly days down there where I was craving something hot to drink. I brought in several Starbucks Via packets and was able to get free cups of hot water from places that sold hot drinks (including Sunshine Seasons, Pinnochio Village Haus, and the French Bakery in EPCOT)

It probably did help that I was purchasing food at the same time, but there was at least one time (in MK) where I got a cup of hot H2O w/out buying something from there.