No more unlimited refills on resort mugs?

[TisBit]

The only thing I would really worry about is people not knowing what to do with this high tech drinking system, and having to wait in a long line to fill up my mug.

As far as the split stay thing goes, if I paid 40 bucks for my family of 3 to have a mug for my two night stay at a value resort, and then I go check into a deluxe resort, only to be told that I have to pay another 40 bucks, I would say "no thankyou we will drink water". I know it is only 40 bucks, but it is the principle. I shouldn't be penalized for enjoying two Disney resorts. I would have to imagine that the mugs say, "refills at your resort", so people don't purchase the mug with the thought that they can have unlimited refills in the parks all day long. (which I know some people do because I have worked at Disney (MK), and had people ask me where they can refill their mug). Of course I guess that means you can't use your mug at other resorts, but how many people a day really spend hours on Disney transpertation to go to other resorts CS to fill up their mugs? What I am saying is if someone is spending two weeks at Disney, but at different Disney Resorts, they should be able to use their mugs at both resorts. Disney can do what they want, but there is no way I would come home with 6 mugs for my family of 3 because I choose to do a split stay rather then spending all 7 nights at one resort. I will go without the mug, thank you.

and for DVC owners, split stays are not always choices. Imagine having to change rooms a couple times because it wasn't available for the whole week, you could be killed in an avalanche of mugs...LOL

But, as I said before, I highly doubt this will happen. The mugs will be activated for a specific time period, that is embedded in the chip, not recorded in the machine...as long as the chip is not expired, it should work at ANY drink station that reads them. It would be more expensive and problematic to limit them to specific resorts, so I dont' see WDW going that route.

 

[Brian Noble]

It would be more expensive and problematic to limit them to specific resorts

No it wouldn't. According to ValidFill's web site, the chip records the following:

Cup Type (Hot or Cold)
Cup Size (in Ounces)
Company
Location
Date Purchased
Location Purchased
Number of Times Used
Number of Refills Remaining (Date or Specific #)
Time of Last Use

It would not be hard to use the "Location" field to encode Resort, and program the dispensers to only dispense to that Resort's mugs. Whether they do that or not---assuming the system is eventually adopted---is anyone's guess. My guess is: "probably". But, for a DVCer with a split stay, it should not be a problem, as they could be given a new mug, exchange mugs, or have their mug reprogrammed when they check into a second or later segment, assuming they have the dining plan for that segment.

 

[goofyernmost]

I am finding it amusing that all these arguments are building a very good case for Disney to just drop the perk completely. You folks do know how to make things complicated. Sadly, it is that kind of creative thinking that the exec's at Disney hadn't thought about themselves before they instituted this. They felt it would be for whatever resort you were staying in...simple...and for the duration of your stay...simple.

Now with hordes of people returning with mugs because they heard somewhere that they can use them for life, they have a problem that no one had anticipated.

I'm not even saying that at one point they didn't run a special promotion that entitled the buyer for a lifetime, it still would have been for that particular resort, not every resort and every person that ever paid 14.00 for a mug.

Maybe they should make the mugs out of some biodegradable material that will completely dissolve within 6 months of the first usage. Another problem solved. I could end up looking the same for souvenir purposes, but leak like a sieve whenever you put any liquid in it.

 

[PrincessAli]

I will not complain if I do have to purchase additional mugs--I am sort of a self-taught artist. Thanks to the 'Learn to Draw' Disney character books. My art room, has my creations all over the walls, and the old mugs are used for water cups, and pencil holders. Old pop corn buckets are used for brushes, rags, and other drawing or painting tools. This trip I'll be looking for a Learn to Draw book for Rapunzel. Has anyone seen it as yet?

 

[d1gitman]

they should sell soda cards, let you use any type of container you like and charge by the OZ. how's that for simplifying.

we did refill mugs in 05 and didn't like it, too much bother.

reality for DW and myself is that we are grossed out by people refilling their own cups...i'd rather see disposable cups and new ones for each 'refill'. i don't want somebodies slobbered up cup near the fountain where i have to up my cup.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I would have to imagine that the mugs say, "refills at your resort", so people don't purchase the mug with the thought that they can have unlimited refills in the parks all day long. (which I know some people do because I have worked at Disney (MK), and had people ask me where they can refill their mug).

The more I think about that I guess that's one reason why the mugs say what they currently do.

Although I have seen some guests use the resort mugs at Earl of Sandwich and the McDonald's in Downtown Disney before it closed. Not that I am defending what those guests did because maybe they assumed the mugs were good all over WDW and didn't read the part where it said good at their resort, however I think the chances of that being true is very slim.

 

[vellamint]

Maybe someone already suggested this, but it would be nice if Disney could come up with some sort of a program for AP holders or frequent visitors. We try to go about 4 - 5times a year and I really don't want to purchase 8 or 10 mugs of the same design. What would you think about some sort of fee to bring back and use your old mug??

The water parks used to charge I think $5 (this is a few years ago) for a sticker that you could attached to your old water park mug......maybe they could do that?

(sidenote...Universal used to allow you to bring back any Universal soda cup and purchase a discounted refill......I wonder if they still do)

 

[Deb & Bill]

The water parks used to charge I think $5 (this is a few years ago) for a sticker that you could attached to your old water park mug......maybe they could do that?

(sidenote...Universal used to allow you to bring back any Universal soda cup and purchase a discounted refill......I wonder if they still do)

But that is only one day. I don't think a lot of guests would want to pay $5 a day for a sticker.

 

[juliebug1997]

But that is only one day. I don't think a lot of guests would want to pay $5 a day for a sticker.

The mugs are also a lot bigger.

I don't think that WDW would charge $5 a day. The current mugs are $15 (at least I think that's what I saw). I'd pay $10 for a sticker for my whole stay. Of course, our track record on remembering cups that we have for the movies like this is pretty abominable. We'd probably have to end up having to buy new mugs.

 

[stardebby]

You know everytime I have stayed at the Pop I have seen people with mugs from previous years. If this is such a huge issue why are they not told by CM's that they need to purchase a new mug. I mean there are CM's everywhere at the food court they have to see that people are using older mugs.

 

[Deb & Bill]

You know everytime I have stayed at the Pop I have seen people with mugs from previous years. If this is such a huge issue why are they not told by CM's that they need to purchase a new mug. I mean there are CM's everywhere at the food court they have to see that people are using older mugs.

Because Disney doesn't like to tell guests "No". It's easier to engineer out all the problems and tell the guest that's how the equipment/program works.

 

[wcpamotm]

I have an old DIXIE LANDING mug from 1995 and although it is much larger than the mugs of today--it holds the same amount of soda as the newer ones.

Adding on a bit more...

We have Wilderness Lodge-specific mugs, in both the full-figured and commuter styles, along with a refillable mug purchased this year.

The full-figured mug holds about 3 ounces more than the current one.

The commuter-styled mug holds the same as the current one.

 

[macraven]

The water parks used to charge I think $5 (this is a few years ago) for a sticker that you could attached to your old water park mug......maybe they could do that?

(sidenote...Universal used to allow you to bring back any Universal soda cup and purchase a discounted refill......I wonder if they still do)

they do.
you buy any type, style of UO mugs and it is valid for life.
refills are 79 cents this year.
last year it was .69 cents.

darn inflation!

my one mug from there i bought in 1996.
i still use it.
they replaced the plastic straw for me last year as it was so dog earred..
btw, i do see disney mugs being used at uo.
nothing is said.



back to disney, i always get two mugs and i vacation there solo.

i love having a couple of coffees before i start my day.
it's not the best coffee at the resort but it does have caffeine.

i'm not sure how i will like this delayed wait period for beverages.

i usually have to pour out quite a bit of coffee as it foams up on top.

i read somewhere on this thread that you could have a 70 second time period before it shuts off.

that means i will be wasting my money getting two more mugs this fall if that time limit will be strictly adhered by.

rats............and i'm not speaking mickey here.....



soda, i'm not big on.
coffee, i'm addicted.

 

[carlton the bear]

I am finding it amusing that all these arguments are building a very good case for Disney to just drop the perk completely.

What "perk"? At $ 13.99 before tax Disney is not giving anyone a "perk", they are probably making an obscene profit of $ 13.00 per mug. This mug program has been in place since the md 90's, and there is no way that WDW is running an unprofitable program for 15+ years.The new system is intended to drive profits further, which Disney has every right to do. What will be intersting to see is what this new program does to future mug sales. Anyone willing to predict what WDW will do if mug sales "tank", and they in fact see a drop in their profits?

 

[smidgy]

true, true, as a bartender, I know tha "mark up " on soda is ridiculous.. everywhere I ever tended bar, it was MY opinion that "give the designated driver free soda" all night long.
it costs only pennies

 

[Cafeen]

The "70 second" rule is per mug, not per person. So just because you have 2 mugs, doesn't mean you have to fill both within the allotted time.

The technology (mostly the software) behind this interests me greatly though, as there are a lot of unknowns right now. I'm probably imagining it a bit more robust than the final implementation, but still.

As I'm envisioning this, the system should be configurable by the customer. This means that the "70 second rule", "5 minute rule", and maximum pour should all be able to be adjusted, but are listed as defaults in the programming. Of course, they could have hard-coded the values in, but I just can't see any decent programmer doing that. In fact, thinking deeper, the maximum pour has to be configured, as different customers may very well have different sized containers. Even within a single system, the customer is likely to have different size-options for their customers.

(Note: The use of customer in the above relates to Disney as ValidFill's customer, except that last one at the very very end, that's us .)

It also presents some interesting possibilities. The least of which is the idea to reuse old (or even non-Disney) mugs for a smaller fee than the new mug. This can save Disney money (less spent on inventory and waste) as well as give a nod to the environmental sensibilities of consumers. Couple this with the fact that the data stored per ID can be increased infinitely (well, almost infinitely, the database servers would have some limit), and they can start tying reservation numbers to the mugs which can then open up all sorts of neat stuff. (Example. If my resort reservation is now tied to the mug, and I have charging privs, perhaps I can refill at a park self-service location for $1. Good deal all around, both for Disney as well as the consumer. Other similar ideas are flitting through my head on this.)

Guess I'm just suggesting not to get too hung up on the fine details, as they may very well not be the true case when/if it gets fully implemented. Of course, it may also be my inner designer/programmer coming out to play (which it does a lot, you should hear me when I try and navigate the Disney website).

In the end, I'm really excited about this... and I don't even use my mug ><.

 

[macraven]

The "70 second" rule is per mug, not per person. So just because you have 2 mugs, doesn't mean you have to fill both within the allotted time.



.

i probably misworded what i posted.

didn't mean to give anyone the impression i was going to fill two mugs during that 70 second time period.
i buy two mugs each trip.


my concern is that when you run the coffee in your mug, you get a lot of foam on the top. i have no idea why it get so foamy for me when i use the lever. i stop for a few seconds to try to prevent all that foam.

you have to carefully pour that top foam out.

doing that, you do lose some coffee out of your mug.



once that is done, i can finish filling my disney mug.

i have never timed how long it takes to get coffee and the foam out.
but, i know it takes longer than when people just do a fill up on soda.


i get up in the morning, throw any type of clothing on, and get my two mugs of coffee. (i do not function well without coffee in the morning.)
return to the room, drink coffee and watch a bit of tv until i get dressed and ready for the day.


i hope someone starts a thread on how smooth the new set up will be.

then i won't have to second guess about the new system.

 

[kaytieeldr]

What "perk"? At $ 13.99 before tax Disney is not giving anyone a "perk", they are probably making an obscene profit of $ 13.00 per mug. This mug program has been in place since the md 90's, and there is no way that WDW is running an unprofitable program for 15+ years.The new system is intended to drive profits further, which Disney has every right to do. What will be intersting to see is what this new program does to future mug sales. Anyone willing to predict what WDW will do if mug sales "tank", and they in fact see a drop in their profits?

I don't see mug sales tanking; people who were going to buy mugs anyway still will (the directions and 'rules' for use seem pretty simple), and at least some people who like the concept or convenience of refillable mugs but who brought back old ones or other containers will now buy new mugs.

----

Right now, people worried about coffee, tea, hot chocolate probably shouldn't be. It appears this is just affecting soda dispensers.

 

[kaligal]

I've been trying to keep up, but may have missed it...

How will the things work for people who don't buy mugs? Or will everyone have to buy a mug?

 

[BrerRabbit1114]

As far as bringing your own food, plenty of parks that don't allow that already. I'm surprised that Disney allows it. I wouldn't have a problem with them changing that too.

I meant buying food at a local super market and storing it at your resort room, not in the parks. I definately wouldn't allow guests to bring food into the park, that would be annoying.