latest change for Disney dining

[cymbaldiva]

Thanks for the heads up OP!

I have to say this change doesn't really surprise me though; I didn't think that you got free refills on milk or juice anyway.

 

[aubriee]

Thanks for the heads up OP!

I have to say this change doesn't really surprise me though; I didn't think that you got free refills on milk or juice anyway.

I'm an adult, but try to limit my sodas down there. I frequently order chocolate milk as my beverage. This past May I was told at the Pepper Market that refills would not be included, but a few days later at Cape May, I got free refills with no problem. I guess because Cape May was a buffet.

 

[Cafeen]

It's actually atypical for restaurants that don't include a beverage to include free refills of anything but coffee, soft-drinks (sodas, lemonades, iced/sweet teas), and water. Most of the restaurants that I patronize around here have explicit wording on their menus that juices and milk cannot get free refills (or the opposite, where only those above explicitly state they get the free refills). Buffets and fixed-price AYCEs are usually different in that the beverage is included in the price and they do not even have a charge for a separate one.

At least that's the way I see it. Honestly, I'm surprised that refills were given in the first place, never would have thought they were ><.

 

[havoc315]

It's actually atypical for restaurants that don't include a beverage to include free refills of anything but coffee, soft-drinks (sodas, lemonades, iced/sweet teas), and water. Most of the restaurants that I patronize around here have explicit wording on their menus that juices and milk cannot get free refills (or the opposite, where only those above explicitly state they get the free refills). Buffets and fixed-price AYCEs are usually different in that the beverage is included in the price and they do not even have a charge for a separate one.

At least that's the way I see it. Honestly, I'm surprised that refills were given in the first place, never would have thought they were ><.

Seems even refills on soft drinks is a newer trend in restaurants.

That said -- I'm not surprised that Disney would offer refills on juices and milk. After all, Disney is supposedly a place built for families and children. So to say, "mom and dad can have refills on their coffee and soft drinks... but the little growing child can't have a refill on their glass of milk" --

I understand that type of refill policy is common. I don't blame Disney for having a similar refill policy. But I can also understand that from a public relations perspective.... for a child-focused business... to refill the adult beverages, but not refill the kid's beverages... can look at bit Grinchy.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

I'll bet that every restaurant continues to be different....

In 2008, I thought it was weird that the waiter at Tutto Italia had to point out that coffee was not included with the dining plan... I don't mean expresso or cappucino... just plain ol' coffee.

At other restaurants, we have received many refills. It was really hot one day and we strolled into Restaurant Marrakesh. I must have had a gallon of their mint iced tea! Good thing they were not charging for refills!

If I'm paying big bucks for a dinner, I don't want to be nickel and dimed to death for every little extra. Years ago, I was at a restaurant (not Disney) where the entrees were very expensive... and the waitress had to warn me that blue cheese dressing on my salad would cost extra. Is blue cheese dressing really that more expensive? When I'm paying a lot of money for a meal, that kind of stuff gets on my nerves.

 

[catne]

I'll bet that every restaurant continues to be different....

In 2008, I thought it was weird that the waiter at Tutto Italia had to point out that coffee was not included with the dining plan... I don't mean expresso or cappucino... just plain ol' coffee.
At other restaurants, we have received many refills. It was really hot one day and we strolled into Restaurant Marrakesh. I must have had a gallon of their mint iced tea! Good thing they were not charging for refills!

If I'm paying big bucks for a dinner, I don't want to be nickel and dimed to death for every little extra. Years ago, I was at a restaurant (not Disney) where the entrees were very expensive... and the waitress had to warn me that blue cheese dressing on my salad would cost extra. Is blue cheese dressing really that more expensive? When I'm paying a lot of money for a meal, that kind of stuff gets on my nerves.

This...we were told the same thing at Tutto in 2010...and all 3 times we've been to Via Napoli (Fall 2010, Jan 2011 and Feb 2011) we have been told dining plan is fountain drinks (Coke products) or fountain water only...no Italian sodas, no bottled water and no coffee or tea (of any kind.) We did get refills on the sodas.One of the times, we ordered cocktails and then my son also ordered a coke (in addition to the cocktail) The waiter told him he would be charged cash for the coke...and wanted to argue until we insisted he check with a manager because coke was son's drink that came with his dining plan, cocktail was what we were paying for cash. Yak & Yeti has twice told us we get one (large) soda fountain Coca-cola product, but refills would be at our expense. But we've also gotten free refills at Yak & Yeti, so definitely inconsistent

 

[honeymo78]

It may be important to note that Tutto, Via Napoli, and Yak & Yeti are all non Disney owned restaurants and are more likely to apply a different set of rules than the other restaurants.

 

[bicker]

Good point... I wonder if we can assume that those restaurants would be reasonably good predictors of changes that Disney would be likely to make in the future.

 

[aubriee]

It's actually atypical for restaurants that don't include a beverage to include free refills of anything but coffee, soft-drinks (sodas, lemonades, iced/sweet teas), and water. Most of the restaurants that I patronize around here have explicit wording on their menus that juices and milk cannot get free refills (or the opposite, where only those above explicitly state they get the free refills).

At least that's the way I see it. Honestly, I'm surprised that refills were given in the first place, never would have thought they were ><.

Seems even refills on soft drinks is a newer trend in restaurants.

It may be a southern thing, but I've always gotten refills on chocolate milk and juices around here. In fact, it wasn't until I got to WDW that I found out some restuarants don't. Up until the day he died, I can't recall ever seeing my dad drink anything but milk. He just never drank tea or sodas. Every restaurant we ever went to as a kid gave him free refills.

 

[verdi73]

How quickly we forget that at one point restaurants charged you for a refill for coke products. The only thing that was free refills was tea and coffee. And I am not talking about Disney restaurants, but in general. Why do you think they charge so much for tea and coke?

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

How quickly we forget that at one point restaurants charged you for a refill for coke products. The only thing that was free refills was tea and coffee. And I am not talking about Disney restaurants, but in general. Why do you think they charge so much for tea and coke?

I've never been charged for a refill for coke. And if I ever do, I will stop eating at that establishment. But you are right about the prices of tea and coke, some places are high, others resonable.

 

[bicker]

I think I must be as old as verdi73; I do remember being charged for soda refills (not at WDW - this was long before we could afford to vacation there). I remember the novelty when the trend started towards free soft drink refills. I remember our family feeling like we were getting away with something.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

We were recently told that children no longer get free refills on milk or juice. They get the same refills adults do. Please remember that we are following the rules if you are charged for a refill.

Have a magical day!

Thank you mom2of2 for the heads up.
I have never heard of and would never expect free refills on milk or juice.
I never would even have thought to ask for a free refill.
I would fully expect to pay for refills of milk and soda.
So people's outrage seems outrageous to me.
But you are the one who has to deal with the outrage, and for that I am truly sorry.

 

[catne]

I think I must be as old as verdi73; I do remember being charged for soda refills (not at WDW - this was long before we could afford to vacation there). I remember the novelty when the trend started towards free soft drink refills. I remember our family feeling like we were getting away with something.

YEP! Agree 100%...when I was a kid they charged for every coke you ordered. AND they were much, much smaller servings too (back when a bottle of coke was the glass 6 oz. bottles...the serving at the lunch counter was also 6 oz. You were charged for every glass you ordered.

 

[Tricia1972]

Thanks for sharing this mom2of2

I agree with Nala, this really belongs on the main board because it's not a change limited to just those using the dining plan.

 

[Josh'sDad1974]

I'm only 36 and I remember when you didn't get refills on soft drinks. Mom & Dad made us all drink tea or water because they didn't have to pay extra for refills.

 

[singastory]

I'm only 36 and I remember when you didn't get refills on soft drinks. Mom & Dad made us all drink tea or water because they didn't have to pay extra for refills.

I'm only 23 and can still remember restaurants charging by the glass. Part of me wishes they would go back to this method, I'm not sure anyone needs unlimited refills of soda. Just my two cents though.

 

[Disney st8 of mind]

I wonder how this will affect Tusker House breakfast. Last year it seems like they gave us all unlimited amounts of their "specialty juice" plus me and my husband both ordered coffee?

 

[Shagley]

I wonder how this will affect Tusker House breakfast. Last year it seems like they gave us all unlimited amounts of their "specialty juice" plus me and my husband both ordered coffee?

I don't think Tusker House or any of the other buffets will be affected, since you pay one price for all you can eat and drink.

 

[Lavaluma]

I'm 33 and remember having to pay for refills as a kid too.
Even now, there are places that don't give refills on soda or tea. I've learned to never expect free refills, read the menu and ask when I travel out of state or go to a new restaurant. I've had to pay for refills on soda in New York City as many times as I've gotten free refills. Also, traveling in Europe, I don't remember ever getting free refills and Coke was very expensive there.