latest change for Disney dining

[disneymath]

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.

I agree. (FWIW, I'm 34 and Canadian.)

I specifically remember a place in Europe that served soda in Pepsi-branded glasses with a line marked near the top of the glass (the line was part of the design, not added by the restaurant). No one's soda went above that line.

 

[carrie6466]

I remember, as a kid, paying for refills even in such fine establishments as McDonald's and Burger King! On everything except water. Then, the advertisements started "free refills" and that's where you went, so everyone went that way (mostly) and it became a trend. Notice I'm not saying how old I am, but you can figure it out if you try hard enough LOL

In the next town over there is a restaurant that my parents frequent. It's a small-family owned Italian restaurant. It's really good. And they still charge on refills of everything but water or coffee. They are always busy, always. They don't take reservations and they never have an empty table. The food is good, what can I say ?

 

[bumbershoot]

...I didn't think that you got free refills on milk or juice anyway.

I wouldn't have thought so either.

I've never been charged for a refill for coke.

Ah, but the question is...with you in Georgia with CocaCola there, have you ever been charged for a refill of *Pepsi*?

 

[sandym718]

I too remember no free refills on pop (sorry, we call it pop here!! LOL). But I barely remember it, and then I do remember how "Free Refills" was a big advertising thing!! Never would have thought about that without seeing this thread.

Easy solution to the no refills on milk/juice thing ...have them get water! That's what we do anywhere we dine out. The kids almost always order chocolate milk (a dining-out treat, at home it's white milk). But they get one. If they drink it all, they get water. I can't imagine drinking multiple glasses of milk AND eating a meal, so filling! Juice of course isn't as filling, but too much of that isn't good either.

 

[threedisprincesses]

In Feb of 2010 a long time CM told me that DW gets all coke products for free. This would make sense as to why they are so willing to hand over as much soda as people could drink.
I agree that this is bad PR for a place that is so family oriented. : (

 

[NoraG]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to be that no one (adults and children) will be given refills on juice or milk. This is not an attack on families or children. While children may typically order more milk and juice than adults, plenty of adults drink both. And no one is saying a child (or adult) cannot order another glass of milk, but the family will need to pay for it. Otherwise, the child can drink water and get another glass of milk at the next meal. If you want an all you can drink, go to a buffet or expect milk/juice prices to rise to cover those costs at non-buffet restaurants.

I don't mean this to offend anyone, just offering my opinion here. For those that still get free refills, that's great. Please enjoy them!

 

[LisaTC]

Where I'm from, customarily, you don't get refills for free for juice, milk and specialty type drinks (fresh lemonade, etc) but definitely on soda, tea, coffee. Having worked in a restaurant, I think it costs about 5cents for a serving of pop (yes, we call it pop here, too!) So, if a restaurant is charging $2.00 for a coke, pepsi, whatever, they are making about $1.95! Milk is pricier as is juice, I guess it wouldn't dawn on me to ask for one for DD. Besides, if she orders choc milk, she gets too full for her meal.

I remember the days when it was a big deal to go to a restaurant that had the bottomless coffee cup and you had to pay for refills on other beverages and frankly, I'm not that OLD!

 

[BoardWalkBelle]

yes most restaurants..speaking non disney give free refills on tea, soda and water but not milk or OJ..even Ohana dinner imcludes free beverages tea, soda , coffee but milk and oj are NOT included in the price.
and yes i remeber when there were no free refills in restaurants.does anyone know when the free refills in restaurants started??

 

[BoardWalkBelle]

i also note that different resturants charge different prices for sodas..i was at Chevys and noticed they charge 3.00 for their sodas!!! even disney chrages less than that.

 

[squirrel]

I know when my niece had juice/milk she rarely ever finished it. I never expected a refill, but often the server just would bring another one.

I believe that it only happened at the buffet/family type restaurants.

 

[YCFAN]

My DS(10) and I will be at Kona for breakfast on July 24th, will not be on a dining plan and will be ordering pancakes and some of the best juice I've ever tasted!! I will happily pay OOP for that delightful stuff!!!!

 

[bangzoom6877]

I'm 34 and I remember clearly when restaurants didn't give free refills on anything but coffee or tea. And the drinks were served in much smaller glasses. So, everyone just drank their small serving of soda and then drank water afterwards, or we waited to drink the soda with the meal. That's it...we didn't order a second one...and I rarely order a second one now either.

Hey, anyone remember how much smaller the drink sizes were even at McDonald's back in the 1980s? The smallest size now, I think was the largest size back then!

I am not at all surprised about milk and juice not having free refills. I never thought they were even available. I don't know of a single place here (NYC) that gives free refills on those. It also doesn't affect us because after one glass of juice or milk, my kids know they have to drink water. Call us mean, but we don't allow a second cup of milk or juice.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

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.

Not everyone is getting unlimited refills on sugary soda. I am an iced tea drinker and really appreciate my unlimited refills.

I am still saddened that McDonalds was shamed into doing away with their super-sized drinks because the nutrition police were blaming them for childhood obesity. So now I go elsewhere for my big tea!

 

[disfan07]

In Feb of 2010 a long time CM told me that DW gets all coke products for free. This would make sense as to why they are so willing to hand over as much soda as people could drink.
I agree that this is bad PR for a place that is so family oriented. : (

HOW on earth is this bad PR? OMG Disney doesn't give free refills on milk and juice!!! How terrible fo them. Seriously? I think people need to come back to reality with their expectations.

I've NEVER seen a place that does free refills for milk or juice. I didn't even realize Disney did this. I wouldn't expect it.

I think the only people who will be disappointed are the ones who expect it adn I think they are ones who need to change their expectations.

 

[cluvsdisney]

It never occurred to me that any restaurant would give free refills on milk & juice since it's a more costly beverage. Beverages like coffee, tea, soda, lemonade & iced tea can be made on premises for pennies a serving so it's just a good will thing to offer free refills.

 

[bicker]

HOW on earth is this bad PR? OMG Disney doesn't give free refills on milk and juice!!! How terrible fo them. Seriously? I think people need to come back to reality with their expectations.

It is a good question, whether people are actually disinclined toward Disney as a result of something like this, or rather simply and disappointed and mis-expressing that disappointment dissatisfaction. I agree with you that the vast majority of guests will not see this in the negative light that would constitute "bad PR".

 

[djp0630]

I think I've only ever gotten another chocolate milk for my child once. I wouldn't think that it would be free. I would love if milk had free refills at breakfast places around here - since I drink milk and always finish it and want more. Oh well! I agree my kids don't eat their meals if they down their entire milk!

 

[5westbrooks]

[Ah, but the question is...with you in Georgia with CocaCola there, have you ever been charged for a refill of *Pepsi*? [/QUOTE]




Wouldn't have bought the Pepsi to begin with

 

[BBG-BLT]

Never knew my kids could get a refill of milk or juice.

I'm so a day late and a dollar short

 

[DisneyMim]

Disfan 07 IMHO this is the best post.