new blog: The Rapid Fill Mug program debuts at Walt Disney World

[rock_doctor]

Someone on another thread said that they still had some "forever" mugs, and that a couple of them have language on them stating it. They are going to get pics of them this weekend and upload.

Really? i have two from the first year (from the contemporary, they are white thermos brand with a purple lid and handle with the standard mickey mouse image) and another one (also from the contemporary, gray aladdin with the space theme design) from the following year and there is no text on the mugs. My suspicion is there is no mug with "forever" written on it and that in turn allows Disney to deny their existence. if they do give you a pic or they post it, please link that thread in this one. It would be the first time it has been posted to the web.

 

[HubbDave]

I am going to write "Good forever" on a mug in Sharpie and see if that works

 

[rock_doctor]

I am going to write "Good forever" on a mug in Sharpie and see if that works

How about... "Good Forever, Walt said it was ok...honest!"

 

[SusanWasHere]

My mom and dad got cups during the Year of a Million Dreams. At that time, I really didn't know anything about refillable mugs (I was somewhat new to DVC and the boards). I rem specifically my dad telling me that the cup would be good forever when I thought they were nuts for spending that much $ on a cup (of course now the price is much more). And on a totally separate note, my Aunt stayed at the Pop at the same time as us a few years ago and brought a bunch of Pop mugs with her and let us use them bc they were "forever mugs". These are all senior citizens I am referring to and none of them are internet savy, so they were def told by cast members or read signs that told them the cups they bought were good for the lifetime of the mug! They should be honored!

 

[SkaGoat]

they were def told by cast members or read signs that told them the cups they bought were good for the lifetime of the mug!

one could argue that since they have changed the dispenser the "lifetime" of the mug is now over.

Just like any product you buy that has a "Lifetime" Warranty. It's lifetime of the product, not your lifetime.

 

[Allison]

My mom and dad got cups during the Year of a Million Dreams. At that time, I really didn't know anything about refillable mugs (I was somewhat new to DVC and the boards). I rem specifically my dad telling me that the cup would be good forever when I thought they were nuts for spending that much $ on a cup (of course now the price is much more). And on a totally separate note, my Aunt stayed at the Pop at the same time as us a few years ago and brought a bunch of Pop mugs with her and let us use them bc they were "forever mugs". These are all senior citizens I am referring to and none of them are internet savy, so they were def told by cast members or read signs that told them the cups they bought were good for the lifetime of the mug! They should be honored!

I was there during the Year of a Million Dreams and every year since 2004. I have purchased mugs every trip and none said they were forever mugs and there was no signage to that effect. In fact, the wording made it clear they were for use for one trip.

As far as castmembers giving out incorrect information, how can Disney possibly honor that? Especially if it was years ago. Castmembers have also told people they could use an extra day on a ticket to park hop. That isn't true and Disney isn't going to honor it because am employee made an incorrect statement.

 

[Tekneek]

Since the wait time for refill appears to be 2 minutes, it would seem that Disney agrees that 5 minutes was excessive. 2 minutes is a reasonable wait that deters those attempting to circumvent the rules, but not so much that legit customers are inconvenienced.

 

[doconeill]

I was there during the Year of a Million Dreams and every year since 2004. I have purchased mugs every trip and none said they were forever mugs and there was no signage to that effect. In fact, the wording made it clear they were for use for one trip.

We're talking further back than 2004...like 1999-2000, or whenever the refillable mug program started.

We have a 2003 All Stars mug. No language on the mug, but I know we weren't under any impression we could bring them back on future trips.

 

[DisneyKevin]

were they "Forever" mugs, or "Lifetime" mugs? One could argue that those old mugs lifetime is now over.

Like people, unless the mug falls apart or leaks, I'd still say it has some "lifetime" left.

 

[Allison]

We're talking further back than 2004...like 1999-2000, or whenever the refillable mug program started.

We have a 2003 All Stars mug. No language on the mug, but I know we weren't under any impression we could bring them back on future trips.

I realize that. The op I quoted was talking more recently.

 

[doconeill]

I realize that. The op I quoted was talking more recently.

Yes. I'm certain there was no "forever" mugs during YOAMD, and the dad was either mistaken or working on the "word of mouth" that Disney was not stopping old mug use. Don't need to be on the Internet for that. In fact, CMs _may_ have even told them at one point.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

If you haven't seen it already, Craig and Shaun from the show did a great informational segment about the new mugs. You can find it here:

http://youtu.be/BviUT_0yc9E

 

[SusanWasHere]

Yes. I'm certain there was no "forever" mugs during YOAMD, and the dad was either mistaken or working on the "word of mouth" that Disney was not stopping old mug use. Don't need to be on the Internet for that. In fact, CMs _may_ have even told them at one point.

Nope. I can absolutely guarantee you that my father didn't know anything about Disney or hear it through someone else. So it must have been a CM that told him bc even at that point, I personally didn't know what all this refillable mug stuff was or about the mug program. Trust me, I know my dad. No one at the Beach Club pool told him anything about mugs, it was def a Disney CM. I was there moments after they bought them and he was telling me all about how he could use it forever. My dad didn't like spending $2 on something, so I was shocked he paid what he did for a "cup", until I heard about how he could bring it back and then I realized he was being "smart". And the 2 cups are still in great shape - they would have many years of usage left. (and to be honest, I don't even care about this situation bc my family doesn't drink soda and never ever brought the cups to the parks. Once in a blue moon we would get an iced tea to drink by the pool. I just know what people were told and that should be honored. They could say all mugs are gone tomorrow and everyone needs to buy a paper cup and I wouldn't care at all LOL)

 

[SusanWasHere]

Like people, unless the mug falls apart or leaks, I'd still say it has some "lifetime" left.

I totally agree

 

[HubbDave]

I wonder if/when the coffee and hot chocolate machines get changed

 

[rock_doctor]

 

[andrewilley]

When I was speaking with a senior F&B manager at Port Orleans, I was told that the refill return delay time is set to 2.5 minutes, which would be calculated from the moment when you first place the mug onto the sensor.

Also, the facility to part-fill with several different drinks (e.g. 50/50 of Lemonade and Fruit Punch) is limited to uses within 70 seconds, with total flow limited to the maximum capacity of the mug (again, timed from the moment you first put the mug on the sensor).

I did discuss the really old pre-2000 resort-specific "perpetual mugs", and was told that these would be dealt with on a "case-by-case" basis so presumably situations will handled at management discretion. I got the impression that the people at the top organising the system would rather like to downplay these, and would like to convince guests that they were never really sold that way at all...... so if anyone has an old photo of that signage (I remember it, but don't have a picture) that would be really helpful and I can forward it.

Andre

 

[rotlex]

Honestly. I have 10+ Disney trips in just the past 7 years, and buy mugs every time. So no, we don't try to "cheat" the system. With that said, after reading this and watching the recent DIS youtube spot on this new mug system, I can't help but think how absolutely ridiculous this is going to be. Were talking soft drinks here people. You know, soda, I'm sure coffee etc.? The things I get free at just about every major hotel chain I stay at. OK, it's usually just coffee, juice and some type of free breakfast, but you get my point.

Does Disney really need to go to these lengths to make sure people aren't "stealing" drinks from them? Especially resort guests that are paying ridiculously over inflated room rates? I can totally see the RFID mug thing. Really. I can see the limiting it to length of stay thing. I cannot see having to wait x amount of minutes between refills, or only getting "16 ounces per shot" etc. when I'm spending upwards of $18 for a mug I can't even take with me an get refills on in the theme parks. Really. Every year, and we LOVE Disney, it just gets harder and harder to give them my hard earned money.

Lastly, regarding the lifetime mugs? If I owned one, and I have a friend that does, yeah, I'd be first in line to complain. Lifetime is lifetime. Not "Until we move to a new system".

Just ridiculous that anyone would think this new system is needed at all.

 

[doconeill]

It's Disney's resorts. They can do what they want.

Apparently Disney considered it (or was convinced) it was a big enough problem to bring in the technology and deal with the fallout.

 

[SusanWasHere]

Every year, and we LOVE Disney, it just gets harder and harder to give them my hard earned money.

I so agree with you on this. I rem Pete asking a lot of times about when will Disney price themselves out? For me, it's already started. We just got back from staying 2 weeks in a DVC and the first day a local friend came and picked us up and took us to Publix. Not the one right nearby, a cheaper one a little ways out. We spent $80. We bought lunch meat, bread, eggs, butter, mayo, milk, ice tea, cranberry juice, fruits, cheese, frozen waffles, syrup, etc. We stayed in a studio, but I have a hot plate and frying pan in my Owner's Locker. We ate most meals in our room. We went out to eat here and there table service (Kona 2x, Biergarten (for lunch, which has gone up about $8), Brown Derby (lunch, split Cobb salad), Trails End, and Cape May Cafe. We also did some counter service, but not much. That $80 went a long way over two weeks and I will continue to vacation this way. It's kind of scary when we arrived our first day we got a salad, sandwich (which came with potato chips), and 2 drinks and it was $26! From a food court. The lunch buffets are going up, probably bc Disney realized people don't want to pay dinner prices. We had and ADR at Yachtsman and were going to split the Porterhouse, which last summer was less than $50. Thank God I checked the price the night before and saw it went up to $65!!!!!! That ADR was canceled right away. And with the new system coming up and not wanting to plan my life away, I am seriously considering no more AP bc being DVC, I want to have a relaxing vacation and go on a whim. This new system feeds into the overplanning and stress of running to be somewhere "on time". Not for me. It's a shame. But they won't be getting as much of my money as they used to. Publix will. And resorts I can trade into LOL