Free Ice Water No More?

[Hannathy]

There's a big difference between straight tap water and bottled water at WDW. Their tap water is horrible. Hard enough to use it to brush your teeth. If you ask for ice water at a counter service or restaurant, it typically is filtered.

I agree but as I keep saying that wasn't what I was commenting on.

 

[shepd]

Yup, I won't ever drink water from the water fountains at WDW. Let's just say, some cultures have no idea what the real purpose of drinking fountains are.

Well... while they know what it's for and shouldn't be doing ridiculous things like that with one, in Europe, it's considered rude to have anything but bottled water with your meal--tap water is a definite no (and if you want it non-carbonated, you need to ask for it flat). I would not be surprised if the same contempt applied to water fountains.

I'd have definitely called any family doing something that disgusting out on it!

Guess I'll have to wipe the fountains with hand sanitizer before I use them, ugh!!!

 

[JanaDee]

Well... while they know what it's for and shouldn't be doing ridiculous things like that with one, in Europe, it's considered rude to have anything but bottled water with your meal--tap water is a definite no (and if you want it non-carbonated, you need to ask for it flat). I would not be surprised if the same contempt applied to water fountains.

I'd have definitely called any family doing something that disgusting out on it!

Guess I'll have to wipe the fountains with hand sanitizer before I use them, ugh!!!

Wiping it isn't going to do any good. The water is recirculated.

 

[CAS239]

In line for Seven Dwarfs right now and a CM just came by with a cart full of free small cups of water with ice to hand out

 

[JanaDee]

In line for Seven Dwarfs right now and a CM just came by with a cart full of free small cups of water with ice to hand out

The queue is uncovered?

 

[FLchick415]

The queue is uncovered?

Part of it is, yes, but in the part that's uncovered, there are trees and high powered fans.

 

[CAS239]

The queue is uncovered?

Part of it. The very beginning when you walk in there's a short winding path that is uncovered. But like PP said, it's full of trees and fans that are blowing. Then when you walk further where the interactive games are it's covered

 

[atp]

Wiping it isn't going to do any good. The water is recirculated.

It is not, whatever goes down the drain is not reused for drinking. Unless you mean it in the sense that all water is reused.

Still extremely gross to use it as a baby bidet, but the water is no dirtier than the water that comes out of the faucet.

 

[KimK2006]

At Disney, people seem to like to just walk into the restaurant and ask for water - without purchasing anything else.

Would be like being at the mall and just ordering free water at the food court, etc., but at disney it happens all the time.

But, you have "purchased" your ticket to get in the park. I am a water drinker, so, I am happy it is "free"!

 

[DisneyWisher]

In line for Seven Dwarfs right now and a CM just came by with a cart full of free small cups of water with ice to hand out

That's great. In 1991 I went with DH to Universal, we were in line for Earthquake. We that going through the doorway we were going right in. Wrong it was to an uncovered line. No free water but they were selling watered down melted ice sodas and melting ice cream.

 

[o0quirkygirl0o]

Wiping it isn't going to do any good. The water is recirculated.

The water is most definitely NOT recirculated. Besides the health implications of drinking water that has fallen away from someone mouth, they are also open air and birds can poo or pee on them. Once the water goes down the drain it goes straight to the pipes and into a water treatment plant.

Don't believe me? Pour a coke down the drinking fountain. Is the water coke flavored now? No. It certainly is not. Not even a little.

 

[delmar411]

Yes, but that is when you purchase food.

At Disney, people seem to like to just walk into the restaurant and ask for water - without purchasing anything else.

Would be like being at the mall and just ordering free water at the food court, etc., but at disney it happens all the time.

It is policy not rudeness. They give free ice water to keep people from dropping like flies. In fact the 'rules' are to simply walk to the counter and ask for a cup and they either have them setup already to hand out or they just fill one up really quick. No need to wait in the line to order it at a register. Heck multiple times when I was really thirsty I've asked at table services and been given a to go cup of ice water without as much as a sigh or eye roll.

Disney hands out water for free in hot lines as well so I guess they didn't get the memo to only hand it out to those holding park bought food.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

It is policy not rudeness. They give free ice water to keep people from dropping like flies. In fact the 'rules' are to simply walk to the counter and ask for a cup and they either have them setup already to hand out or they just fill one up really quick. No need to wait in the line to order it at a register. Heck multiple times when I was really thirsty I've asked at table services and been given a to go cup of ice water without as much as a sigh or eye roll.

Disney hands out water for free in hot lines as well so I guess they didn't get the memo to only hand it out to those holding park bought food.

agree completely - Disney does not want people dropping from the heat. They gladly give you the free water (or ice or ice water). We ask for it all of the time without buying anything (we do eat in the parks but go ask for water much more often than that - don't wait to hydrate!) In fact we have "favorite" places to get it (some places have more metallic tasting water).

 

[cmwade77]

Yes, but that is when you purchase food.

At Disney, people seem to like to just walk into the restaurant and ask for water - without purchasing anything else.

Would be like being at the mall and just ordering free water at the food court, etc., but at disney it happens all the time.

I am not positive about Florida laws, but I do know that California laws dictate that theme parks must give free cups of water upon request anywhere that sells fountain drinks to go that has a non-carbonated water supply. And that is without needing to purchase anything at the restaurant.

When I was a kid, Disneyland would not give free cups, but they were forced to change this policy, due to the unique nature of a theme park.

I would imagine that Florida law is similar in this respect. Now there are even some states (Arizona for example) where the law says you cannot deny someone a glass of water, which applies to restaurants, businesses and even when you are at home or a hotel, in other words everywhere. And you are not allowed to deny them because they didn't buy anything either.

A cup of water doesn't really cost that much either.

 

[garada3]

agree completely - Disney does not want people dropping from the heat. They gladly give you the free water (or ice or ice water). We ask for it all of the time without buying anything (we do eat in the parks but go ask for water much more often than that - don't wait to hydrate!) In fact we have "favorite" places to get it (some places have more metallic tasting water).

Care to share your "favorite" locations?

Thanks!

 

[Savikins]

Apparently all he needs to do to get the cup filled is sit in the front row on Pirates of the Carribbean.

So true! I was at MK last week for the 24 hour event, and my friend and I were riding in the front row of Pirates and we got SOAKED. We rode Splash and didn't get nearly as soggy.

 

[bwmetts]

I have had a few places where I have asked for ice water but they said they did'nt have a water, they did give me a cup of ice but pointed to a fountain that was just a few steps away.

Same thing here.... was at MK a couple weeks ago, near Cosmic Rays, asked for ice water... was advised I could get a cup of ice and shown the water fountain (which I was aware of). I appreciated the ice and for the size of the cup the refreshment lasted longer than if it the cup included water!!

 

[Sparkly]

We got a cup of ice water with no problem at Backlot Express. We also had a chat with one of the CMs working there (it was 2pm and empty)

 

[jmail048]

I was there a few weeks ago and never had a problem getting any. Never was turned down

 

[Alice Royal]

I think the confusion here stems from the fact that there are different types of QS locations throughout the parks. I experienced this recently.

If the location is an indoor, fast-food style restaurant where people line up to order food at a set of stations, there will always be free water offered as the fountain beverage stations have a water source. I've seen QS CMs doing that--filling up the small water cups--for ages as if it was their only task on the job that day.

If you walk up to a food cart outside, there's a chance that the cart will not have fountain soda and therefore not a water source either. They do, however, have ice, and that is why you will be offered a cup of ice and directed to the nearest water fountain to fill it. This happened to me at one of the popcorn spots in HS the other day. They served some slushies as well but no fountain soda. Luckily the water fountain was only a few steps away.

Under no circumstances should a CM outright refuse you a cup of water or ice...I'm 99% sure that this was part of a change in Florida law and thus they are required to do so. Just know in advance that it is those outdoor carts that will not have water on hand outright.