How much has the cost of mugs increased over the years at WDW?

[Iheartfall]

I just checked out the price and in all honesty it seems like a rip off (Or at least way too high). I could buy a whole lot of waters and sports drinks for almost $20 per person.

 

[Marionnette]

I just checked out the price and in all honesty it seems like a rip off (Or at least way too high). I could buy a whole lot of waters and sports drinks for almost $20 per person.

Current pricing for the new RFID mugs:

• $8.99 for 1 day
• $11.99 for 2 days
• $14.99 for 3 days
• $17.99 for length of stay (currently set at 14 consecutive days, but may be able to be manually extended by a Cast Member)

In addition to the tiered pricing, you will now be able to refill your mug at any resort during the length of your stay. For some people, the change is a good thing. For others, it's not such a great deal.

No one is holding a gun to your head and making you purchase one. If you feel that the price is a rip off, feel free to purchase your own beverages and bring them with you. Disney will not stop you.

ETA: The cost of a refillable mug in 2005 was about $12 and it was good for the duration of your stay at that particular resort. In 2011, they were about $15 each, with the same restrictions. So, it has risen $3/mug over the past 2 years and $6/mug over the past 8 years.

 

[lauradis]

All this over nasty soda

 

[kydisneyfans]

I am considering eliminating the mugs from our budget too.

It's nearly $80 with tax for drinks, plus we have to walk to the food court to get them.

I think a trip to Publix or Target is in order, can probably get all the drinks we need for the week for about $25. If there is not fridge in the room yet, a Styrofoam cooler and ice does the same thing.

 

[ssawka]

We will not be buying the mugs again. Not while they will still give you water for free. We'll just bring the single use Crystal Light packets. You can use them in the parks too since all of the CS restaurants will give you water for free.

For coffee, we are DVC, so we will bring our own to brew in the room. If I need a caffeine fix in the park, I'll just hit Starbucks.

 

[sweetdana]

I think the cost is pretty good considering a pop is over 3$ if you only got one in the am on your way on a 6 day trip them the mug is free. And there is a drop lower price for fewer days too so on a short trip if works too.

A mug sov would be 10-12$ now you might not realistically buy 4 for a family of 4, but still it is nice. We use ours all the time. Camping morning commute, outside water cups ect

Though I am not eager to wait for hiccups/ refills ect. I am sure they must have had enough peeps refilling old mugs (or 2 liters) to justify. I hope transition is smooth and issues get bugs out quickly. I think by rolling it out slowly they are doing the best with bugs they can. I hope this continues, and pain of legit buyers is minimized. I also hope they use judgment not a line in the sand, and don't add to places like the sandwich shop on the BW/ beaches and cream since you hand them the mug, or even use judgement if a place is not used much.

I don't think the 1-2-3$ cost increase will change too many buyers. I hope it works smoothly, and doesn't change anyone who would have bought them.

 

[IMALOVNDISNEY]

Current pricing for the new RFID mugs:

• $8.99 for 1 day
• $11.99 for 2 days
• $14.99 for 3 days
• $17.99 for length of stay (currently set at 14 consecutive days, but may be able to be manually extended by a Cast Member)

In addition to the tiered pricing, you will now be able to refill your mug at any resort during the length of your stay. For some people, the change is a good thing. For others, it's not such a great deal.

No one is holding a gun to your head and making you purchase one. If you feel that the price is a rip off, feel free to purchase your own beverages and bring them with you. Disney will not stop you.

ETA: The cost of a refillable mug in 2005 was about $12 and it was good for the duration of your stay at that particular resort. In 2011, they were about $15 each, with the same restrictions. So, it has risen $3/mug over the past 2 years and $6/mug over the past 8 years.

In 2000 they were $9.99 and could be used in any resort for "A LIFETIME".
and stayed at that price for the next 3 years.
The water park mugs were advertised the same way.
They constantly change the rules concerning the mugs. It's crazy. I saw a post from another board they are now putting bar codes on all of the All Star Resort mugs(like the water parks) and the codes will limit you the time frame for your refilling them(ex. every 10 min), just an example. I'm not sure the time frame.

I have no problem paying for a new mug each time we go, no problem with it being good for the duration of our stay, no problem with a bar code. The mugs should be one flat fee no matter what your length of stay is. And you should be able to refill the mug when you want.
I'm sure the reasoning for all the changes is because of all the Guests that steal from Disney by filling up other non Disney mugs, Solo cups, sports bottles. You name it I've seen it. So, because of this theft those of us that play by the rules end up loosing. By rights our family could still use the mugs we purchased in 2000 because we purchased them under the rules of "a lifetime of usage". But, we don't. Again, we play by the rules. Now that my rambling is done. When we go back, we will be buying the mugs again. It's a tradition and will be yet another souvenir.

 

[ReneeQ]

The first refillable mug I ever bought was at All Star Music in Sept. 1997. I am 99% sure it was $7.99. It had the All Star Music logo on it, but they said it was good at all the All Star Resorts (maybe AS Movies wasn't even open yet?), and that it was good forever. I did reuse that mug in 10/98 at All Star Sports and again in 5/99 at All Star Movies. In 1999 we bought DVC, so haven't stayed anywhere but DVC resorts since.

So, even if it really was good forever, it was ONLY good at an All Stars, and I don't stay there anymore. Not to mention I probably haven't had that mug for over 10 years now. I'm not sure, but I think it cracked and I threw it away.

 

[IMALOVNDISNEY]

So, even if it really was good forever, it was ONLY good at an All Stars, and I don't stay there anymore. Not to mention I probably haven't had that mug for over 10 years now. I'm not sure, but I think it cracked and I threw it away.

We do still have our original mug along with every other mug we have ever gotten over the years. We no longer use those mugs either. They are decoration in our Disney themed computer room. As I stated "we play by the rules"
The point was what the rules were at the time, "a lifetime". And could be used at any resort. We stayed at Caribbean Beach twice using those mugs. We were told both times they were ok to use.
The topic was the price increase over the years. I got a little off topic. I'm one that have no problem purchasing the mugs. As I said, they also become yet another souvenir

 

[ssawka]

I think considering the mugs a souvenir is fine as long as Disney changes the design once in a while, but recently they have not been. Also, it would be nice if they would simply allow you to reactivate the cups on subsequent trips. Disney claims to be "green", yet they want you to buy the same plastic mugs over and over again.

 

[pampam]

Do we still buy the mug in the food court or do we get the mugs from the front desk when we check in? I will not be on the food plan, so will have to buy our mugs seperately.

 

[tzeitel]

Totally worth it to me. I don't drink coffee or alcohol, Diet Coke is all the drink I need (with some water thrown in ). We are staying for 10 nights (first time not on the DDP in a long time) and I drink DC at least twice a day. So for less than $1 a pop lmao I am ok with the same old design on my mug.

We are not renting a car and will not take a cab to Publix or WM just to get some sodas - I am bringing snacks and breakfast foods with us though.
I do use our old mugs at home. Granted the last time we stayed at Pop we left ours behind since we had the same ones from the previous trip.

I have super old mugs from when Disney used to do holiday and resort specific mugs - have Mother's day, Christmas, Halloween, Easter, Earth Day, Beach Club, Boardwalk and a bunch more.

 

[ceemys]

I used our mugs for coffee versus soda. My daughter drinks tea and my youngest hot chocolate. We bought the mugs every trip. I really don't like the nickel and diming. Not sure what I will do if I make it next year.

 

[ssawka]

CONSPIRACY THEORY: Did you think the timing of the refrigerator removal and the start of the Rapid Refill Mug program is just a coincidence, or was it planned that way?

 

[Lewisc]

I'd be more interested in comparing the increasing cost of mugs against the increasing costs of soda and coffee. How many cups of coffee will it take to break even.

Disney is replacing the fridges due to safety issues. We could put on our tin hats if Disney wasn't replacing the fridges. Disney has ice machines. You don't need a fridge for soda. Keep your sodas in a cooler with ice or just put some cubes in a cup.

 

[BeerMe]

CONSPIRACY THEORY: Did you think the timing of the refrigerator removal and the start of the Rapid Refill Mug program is just a coincidence, or was it planned that way?

I love a good conspiracy theory!

 

[ssawka]

I'd be more interested in comparing the increasing cost of mugs against the increasing costs of soda and coffee. How many cups of coffee will it take to break even.

Disney is replacing the fridges due to safety issues. We could put on our tin hats if Disney wasn't replacing the fridges. Disney has ice machines. You don't need a fridge for soda. Keep your sodas in a cooler with ice or just put some cubes in a cup.

If Disney says there are safety issues with the refrigerators, then I believe them. However, I cannot get past the fact that it will take them 4 months to replace them. Fortunately, it does not affect us since we are DVC.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

We purchase 2, one for DH and one for myself. I looked at the cost per day (10 day trip) before I bought them in May and it made our daily cup of coffee a little over $1. Any refills of lemonade or sweet tea while at the pool were iciing on the cake. However, if I did short trips I would not buy one, and we don't buy them for the kids at all.

 

[ceemys]

So, currently if you purchase the DDP, you get a free mug per person. I wonder if you would have to pay an extra charge to get the free refills. That would be totally messed up!

 

[BeerMe]

This is just another way Disney is encouraging people to use DDP - that and the incredible prices at character buffets.