New Refillable Mug Program -- Resort Wide

[Tesabat]

When we were at WL - small foodcourt. We saw people being told they could not refill their mugs with other resort mugs...however, we were told that if you returned to WL with a WL mug, you could refill it.

When at POR, the very first day, we saw people drinking from all kinds of mugs. It was totally unmonitored. And the drink stations were insane. The poor CM's were fighting a losing battle trying to keep that place clean...it was wild. The drink options were more plentiful for us non-soda drinkers though! When we purchased our POR mugs, the CM told us they were good there and at POFQ anytime we stayed there.

I think a barcode sticker with the scanner is a great idea - my concern is also the lines and will they further limit options to just soda and coffee (instead of Hi-C drinks, lemonade and iced tea).

And, one good thing is we will have a clear policy that they will hopefully share with the CM's!! I never even knew that you really weren't supposed to bring your mugs back until I read it on the Internet as that's what we were told at two different resorts!

 

[dcedwards]

I agree that we shouldn't get excited and send nasty emails to Disney since they haven't actually introduced the program. But, we do have direct information from a manager at the resort. That means the program is close to being introduced.

In light of this, I do think that it is good to send emails to Disney expressing concern over the recent information that we have heard. In the end it may help them as they formulate the actual program. They might take our concerns into account and look for ways to avoid lines, unhappy customers and overwhelmed CMs. Sometimes corporations as large as Disney design policies and neglect to look at all sides -- even though they say they do. Since many of them don't actually "experience" the same situations we do, they can't possibly anticipate all the pitfalls. This way they can base the final program on input from those who visit the resorts frequently. And, I think that would be a good thing.

 

[manning]

How about this for an idea. Take the machines out of the dining area and put them into the food court area. The cashier becomes the policeman. If you only have a mug, just show it and keep going. If you buying, then stop and pay. It also would be like the milk in the back of the grocery store. You would force the people closer to the food, hoping for impulse buying. A lot of people just may decide to have a pizza with that free drink.

When you stop to think about it. Why would anyone want to buy a mug for free drinks when with the setup now, you just buy a drink with/without a meal and just keep going back for refills with that cup. Disney solves one problem, now how to solve the other?? Come to think of it, I had a cousin do that with coffee at Dixie Landing. She would save the cup and go back the next morning for more coffee. Disney, looks like you just can't win. Anyone for color coded cups? Oh boy!

Who says life is simple? And the beat goes on.

 

[manning]

This E-mail just received today from Disney

Thank you for contacting WALT DISNEY WORLD!

Please know that the "Souvenir Mug" program at Disney Resorts allow you to refill beverages (including hot coffee & tea) at your Resort for the length of your current stay. However, this program is for your Resort only. It is not extended to refills at other Disney Resorts or Theme Parks. At this time there has not been a "scanning policy announced".

If you have questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact us.

Please include your full name, E-Mail address, and reservation number if
applicable on all correspondence.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Zuleika Soto

On Line Guest Service
WALT DISNEY WORLD Reservations
P O Box 10,100
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0100

 

[lrodk]

Apparantly they're testing the bar-coded mugs at Typhoon Lagoon first, and they will be self-serve. Could this be a prelude to what we'll be seeing at the resorts? Click on the link below for the story as it appears in today's Orlando Sentinal.

http://orlandosentinel.com/business/nationworld/orl-cfbcfbinsider17061702jun17.story

 

[BrianD]

Personally, I wouldn't have a problem with the new policy, just so long as it wouldn't cause you to have to stand in a line.

 

[JulesMom]

Is Disney going to take away all the perks of staying on site?

There is no way I will stand in line to get a refill. You have to stand in line at Beaches & Cream-what a waste of time.

And as little as the mugs are now, the drink is gone by the time we get to the room

 

[dcedwards]

The only problem I see with testing it at Typhoon Lagoon is that the amount of people seen in a concentrated period of time doesn't equal that seen at say the All Stars or PORiverside during a rush breakfast time or evening meal time.

While it may work great there, I could see that there may be problems at the resorts that they wouldn't encounter at places like Typhoon Lagoon -- especially isnce it is the least popular of the water parks, meaning less people, I think. Hopefully they will take this into consideration.

I still haven't heard back from Disney regarding my email on this issue. That is a little strange as typically they are very good about sending a confirmation email. Perhaps they have been getting more emails than usual. Will have to wait and see.

Thanks IrodK for the link. It was interesting.

 

[DVC Grandpa]

Our first experience with the refillable mugs was in 1996 when the sales pitch included free refills at Dixie Landings year after year. We started with two although over the years we forgot the mugs and now have six. Undoable we have paid for those mugs over and over again since each length of stay was from fourteen to twenty-one days. To purchase one for a short stay might be questionable, unless they continue to allow to be used at the original resort trip after trip. After all, how often does one have an occasion to use the mug if you opt to eat at other than the “home” resort? My vote would be that the mugs only be allowed free refill at the resort at which the mug was purchased, (as originally explained to me). If a free replacement bar code is required for each stay, so be it.

 

[The_Disney_God]

Go to the supermarket and buy a 6 back of soda or a liter of soda and enjoy it in the room.

 

[RuthAnne123]

In July we will visit WDW for the first time and I had been trying to figure out if the mugs were worth the cost at all since we are splitting our stay.

I must admit ( I know this is a greenhorn way of looking at it) that I would prefer to buy a "length of stay mug." Otherwise it seems like a waste of money to me. Am I wrong?

I can understand people with split stays using a mug from a different resort for various reasons. In our case it will come to almost 80.00(Canadian) to buy two different resort mugs during our week long stay.

I think Disney could stop a lot of people from breaking the rules by simply selling length of stay mugs that are good at any resort.

I think people are cheating sometimes because they don't want to pay twice for mugs.

Right now I am leaning towards not buying mugs at all with the policy being what it is. I'll just go to the grocery store.

Rooth

 

[ducklite]

Back in 1997 I bought a refillable mug at PO. It was length of stay only. They enforced this by putting a little yellow dot sticker on teh mug when you purchased it. You needed to ahve that sticker on the mug when you refilled it. If it fell off, you needed to go to the register with your receipt and room ID, and they would give you a new one.

They were VERY specific about this when I purchased the mug on Thanksgiving day, 1997. I still have the receipt. I remember it well, because my little yellow dot fell off and I had to dig out the receipt to get another. They had a CM by the drink island monitoring and spot checking, and she wouldn't let me refill because I didn't have my little yellow dot.

So because of this I am 100% certain that at least at POFQ in Novemeber of 1997 they sold the mugs on the condition that it was length of stay only. They also enforced it.

Anne

 

[Jillpie]

I still don't understand how they can possibly go back on their promise that this purchase (I bought 4 mugs four yrs. ago at POR) was good for a lifetime. I can just imagine what they have up against them when people bring in their old mugs.

 

[CamColt]

We were told those stickers mean that you actually paid for the mug and didnt just grab one and start filling it up . Dont you just love CMs and their info?

 

[cindyfan]

We usually do 2 things to satisfy our thirst.....
We buy one of those $4 styrofoam coolers at the store along with bottled water and soda for the parks. Fill the cooler with ice to keep the bottles cold for the parks.
While we are at the resort, we use the refillable mugs. We have about 8 from various resorts. and always seem to forget to take them back when staying at the same resort. But we still felt we got more than our money's worth. We would continuously fill them while at the pool, etc.
BUT....to wait in line....forget it! That in itself would make us just buy more bottled water and soda from the store!

For the price of soda....vs....the price of the mug.....it would be crazy to "police" the use of the mugs...IMHO! I really don't see how they feel people abuse it?? It is just such a simple perk and for them to make such a big deal about it???!!!
But if they do....just one more cut-back to make people want to stay off-sight.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

I can't understand how it would be "classless" to bring your old resort mug back with you. I have been told over and over that the mugs are good at my resort forever. This is not one misinformed CM, but many CMs over the years. I have always thought of it as a way to reward guests who stay at the same resort every year.

With all the perks of staying onsite being taken away, I am almost relieved that this will be our last WDW trip. I'm sure many will find this a bad attitude, but I really don't care.

 

[dcedwards]

Has anyone emailed Disney and gotten a reply back about this refillable mug program change or enforcement...however, one looks at it....

Just curious.

 

[BrianD]

I think this whole mug policy change is getting blown way out of proportion. First of all it is not currently in effect at the resorts. It is a rumor that's going around that Disney is trying the bar-coded refillable mugs at one of the waterparks. So it has been suggested that this could become the standard for all the resorts should this test at the water park be successful. Well, from what I read about the way this thing works is that there is a scanner right there at the vending soda fountain that you would scan your mug with when you go to fill it up. If this is the case then that should not cause lines to be any longer than they already are to refill your mug. Also, if some of you folks are considering not staying on sight anymore because your mug is no longer good for life, then you need to lighten up. Even the idea of having a mug that can be refilled for the length of the stay still sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Here is the sign that was in all rooms at the All-Stars in March of 2001: http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/floridia...ort+Pictures/All-Star+Resorts&.src=ph&.view=t

At that time, it said "free unlimited refills for the length of your stay". So, the policy really wouldn't be changing.

 

[shawnob]

From what a I have just read on this, some people don't want to wait in line. What do you do when you want to go on a ride, flash your pearly whights, wink your eye and head to the front of the line and hop on the rides?
I also agree, show some class, buy a new mug, or don't get anything to drink.
If you really need that free drink, then you could always head over to the Coke station at EPCOT, but then again, ya might just have to wait in a line there also