new blog: Disney Testing New Resort Mug Technology

[sayhello]

I really hate the idea of the cup in the parks that is your GPS, entry, etc. If I had a dollar for every cup I accidentally left somewhere, I'd have a fortune. I don't want something that important imbedded in something I can't shove in a purse pocket.

Sayhello

 

[ADP]

The one thing I'm curious to see out of all of this is how much more popular the dining plan(s) will become. If everyone staying at a Disney resort is forced to buy a new mug it may make the dining plan (regular or quick service) look more attractive cost-wise (I believe mugs will come with all dining plans). If the dining plan becomes more popular because of this mug technology now ADRs could be on the upswing again. A total snowball affect.

 

[Golf4food]

Perhaps those complaining about waiting between giant mugs of soda because they are hot and thirsty could try, you know, drinking something that actually quenches thirst, like water, instead of things that don't help at all, like sugary soda (or alcohol)... just a thought.

 

[disneyholic family]

The one thing I'm curious to see out of all of this is how much more popular the dining plan(s) will become. If everyone staying at a Disney resort is forced to buy a new mug it may make the dining plan (regular or quick service) look more attractive cost-wise (I believe mugs will come with all dining plans). If the dining plan becomes more popular because of this mug technology now ADRs could be on the upswing again. A total snowball affect.

people are going to pay $50/day/person just to get a mug?

 

[Nanu57v]

Well, I think the concept is good, but I'm sure will require much tweaking. I remember my last trip being in a hurry and being frustrated that the two people ahead of me in line both had non-Disney mugs.

I do think the chip should work for all Disney resorts though, not just the resort you are staying at. So if I'm 2 days at Poly and 2 days at BCV, my mug should work all 4 days. Or if I have my mugs with me at GF while my kids are a tea party with Alice, I should be able to refill my mug.

The universal chip thing is very 1984.

 

[ADP]

people are going to pay $50/day/person just to get a mug?

I guess when you start adding up the cost of drinks for a family of 4 at a resort without a mug you quickly realize the $14 mug refill per person maybe a better deal. If that's included in a dining plan you really start thinking twice about the dining plan. Then again, if you get a drink with your dining plan meal the mug may not make as much sense either. The mug would only be used when you didn't have a meal at the resort. You're right. It probably wouldn't drive anyone to the regular dining plan, but maybe the QS plan.

Shhh...<whispers>
Let's say you had a favorite mug you used to bring to WDW every trip and suddenly it stopped working. You now had to purchase a new one for a family of 4. $14 X 4 = $56 + tax. The quick service plan may look a bit more attractive. Just sayin.

 

[topolino]

If they're going to use chips instead of mugs, they can cut costs and be more green by eliminating the mugs entirely.

I'm sure this was their end plan - being environmentally friendly and saving their guests a few bucks.

I don't understand one of these comments. How is the use of a refillable mug not environmentally friendly or "green"? I'm not trying to be a wiseguy, I really don't understand.

 

[kaligal]

Perhaps those complaining about waiting between giant mugs of soda because they are hot and thirsty could try, you know, drinking something that actually quenches thirst, like water, instead of things that don't help at all, like sugary soda (or alcohol)... just a thought.

They aren't giant. If they were giant, people wouldn't suck it down quite so quickly. With a very small amount of ice, you could add 12 oz of pop. If I'm very thirsty, I could easily drink the pop in less than 5 minutes and want more. I would likely burp, but I could do it.

In fact, their small size is half the reason I won't buy them. By the time I got back to my room, I'd often have no pop left.

Is water better for you? Sure. But pop "actually quenches thirst", too. I don't know of a place that refills the mugs with alcohol. But I do know an alcoholic who refuses to go to Disney World that might consider it if such a feature existed!

 

[kaligal]

I don't understand one of these comments. How is the use of a refillable mug not environmentally friendly or "green"? I'm not trying to be a wiseguy, I really don't understand.

Paper breaks down faster than plastic. Way faster. Heck, you leave a paper cup full of water sitting on the counter for a few hours and it sometimes is already breaking down! Get rid of the plastic mugs and use the paper cups - more green.

The "Chip with no mug" also works out better as far as the Pain in the *** aspect. There is no stupid mug to leave sitting in the car all day, getting icky and needing to be washed out. People who take the bus won't have to carry the stupid thing around a park all day until they get back. It wouldn't have to be taken into the hotel room and washed in the stupid little sink. No soap necessary.

I never buy the mug, but I probably would pay the $14 or whatever just for the pop if I didn't have the hassle of the dumb mug itself.

 

[topolino]

They aren't giant. If they were giant, people wouldn't suck it down quite so quickly. With a very small amount of ice, you could add 12 oz of pop. If I'm very thirsty, I could easily drink the pop in less than 5 minutes and want more. I would likely burp, but I could do it.

In fact, their small size is half the reason I won't buy them. By the time I got back to my room, I'd often have no pop left.

Is water better for you? Sure. But pop "actually quenches thirst", too. I don't know of a place that refills the mugs with alcohol. But I do know an alcoholic who refuses to go to Disney World that might consider it if such a feature existed!

I agree with this, those mugs aren't big at all and they hold even less pop if you add even a moderate amount of ice. Many times I've filled, drank, and was ready for a refill immediately. I'm not sure if anyone has noticed, but it gets hot in Florida! When one gets hot, they naturally get thirsty too.

And yes, water is better for you and I drink a ton of it. But when I'm on vacation especially, I don't guilt myself out of enjoying a pop or two each day.

 

[LMO429]

When I went to the Keys to the Kingdom Tour the Cast Member guide said that all coke/coke related fountain sodas are given to disneyworld for free. I personally never use the resort mugs nor could i care less about free refills, who uses them and the whole mug debate...however based on how much disney is cutting back recently (monorails, etc) the least they could do is throw everyone a free mug for staying on property. to monitor mug refills like the police especially when the liquid going in it is free seems so petty on disney part to me at this point. How much does that plastic mug cost in the first place prob less than a dollar. Doesn't disney have other areas where they would want to monitor/improve upon.

 

[disneyholic family]

I guess when you start adding up the cost of drinks for a family of 4 at a resort without a mug you quickly realize the $14 mug refill per person maybe a better deal. If that's included in a dining plan you really start thinking twice about the dining plan. Then again, if you get a drink with your dining plan meal the mug may not make as much sense either. The mug would only be used when you didn't have a meal at the resort. You're right. It probably wouldn't drive anyone to the regular dining plan, but maybe the QS plan.

Shhh...<whispers>
Let's say you had a favorite mug you used to bring to WDW every trip and suddenly it stopped working. You now had to purchase a new one for a family of 4. $14 X 4 = $56 + tax. The quick service plan may look a bit more attractive. Just sayin.

i'm the person who buys it each trip and ends up using only that one time right when i buy it....i'm always too lazy to walk all the way to the food court (so i keep bottles of water in the room)....and we never eat in the food court, so i don't use it at a meal...

it's already included in the quick service plan, and next year they're adding it to the regular dining plan...

 

[WaltD4Me]

Disney isn't doing this because of the cost of the pop syrup. They are doing this because of the $60 they lose when a family of four comes back with mugs from their last trip and doesn't buy new mugs.

 

[disneyholic family]

Disney isn't doing this because of the cost of the pop syrup. They are doing this because of the $60 they lose when a family of four comes back with mugs from their last trip and doesn't buy new mugs.

well maybe Aaron is right - since the mug will be included in all the dining plans next year, they won't make the $60 if the family is on the dining plan..
but maybe the mug will be further inducement to take the plan...

 

[LMO429]

Disney isn't doing this because of the cost of the pop syrup. They are doing this because of the $60 they lose when a family of four comes back with mugs from their last trip and doesn't buy new mugs.

I'm sure there is no way to know how often this really happens..I would think very little and even if it does happen frequently I think disney can throw a family of 4 a bone ,,,60 dollars is not much in the grand scheme of things. just my opinion

 

[ADP]

Disney isn't doing this because of the cost of the pop syrup. They are doing this because of the $60 they lose when a family of four comes back with mugs from their last trip and doesn't buy new mugs.

Very true. I also believe (I don't have anything to back this up) that Coke pays Disney to use their product on Disney property. It strengthens Coke's position and marketing in the general public. Plus, it's great advertising for Coke.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I'm sure there is no way to know how often this really happens..I would think very little and even if it does happen frequently I think disney can throw a family of 4 a bone ,,,60 dollars is not much in the grand scheme of things. just my opinion

I totally agree with you, I'm just saying the cost of the pop syrup isn't the issue.

 

[WaltD4Me]

well maybe Aaron is right - since the mug will be included in all the dining plans next year, they won't make the $60 if the family is on the dining plan..
but maybe the mug will be further inducement to take the plan...

It also might deter SOME people. One of the reasons I never considered the QSP is that I don't drink pop. I've never bought a refillable mug, so I'd almost be losing money on the QSP. I know that I'm a small minority though.

 

[EKW]

If they're going to use chips instead of mugs, they can cut costs and be more green by eliminating the mugs entirely.

I'm sure this was their end plan - being environmentally friendly and saving their guests a few bucks.

How is this being green? Mugs get saved and taken home. Regular cups get tossed. How will it save their guests money? Are you saying that any cup now gets unlimited refills? That's not what the post says. If they do eliminate mugs, they are increasing the use of disposable cups and pocketing the cost of the mug. Interesting way to save guests money and protect the environment.

 

[EKW]

Disney isn't doing this because of the cost of the pop syrup. They are doing this because of the $60 they lose when a family of four comes back with mugs from their last trip and doesn't buy new mugs.

You have your issues confused. They are not "losing" $60. They are losing maybe a buck...the cost of the soda. The cost of the mug is sunk cost...done and gone. If you want to phrase this appropriately, they are "losing" the opportunity to rip off their customers for another $55.

My question is, how many people really do this? The vast majority of visitors are like my family...they go maybe once every 5 or 10 years. The most frequent guests...locals...wouldn't be using the resort. I cannot believe that, at the cost of this technology, the issue is a few mugs.

Here's my guess...families buy a large cup of soda and because it is so incredibly overpriced, they share it. Maybe they even keep it and bring it back during their trip. If so, then Disney is breaking even or maybe losing a few cents on the soda. Still, how often does this happen? I've never seen it.