No more unlimited refills on resort mugs?

[eecteacher82]

My only issue with this is the 5 minutes between refills. Usually when we stay onsite and get a dining plan with mugs, we will fill them and drink them real quick and do another fill-up before walking to the room, much of the them there is only a minute or two between fill-ups. This is the only issue I have with the new program (although as a passholder, it would be great if there was an option for a yearly mug or an option to buy refills, instead of a new mug each trip).

 

[Michellynn]

I see no issue with the change and in fact think Disney is doing the right thing.

I purchase a new mug with each vacation visit AND never expected to do otherwise. Not a big deal. Plus, it is sort of a souvenir tradition that is somewhat sentimental for me with each mug as a tangible representation of one of my magical vacations and dollars well spent.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

I see no issue with the change and in fact think Disney is doing the right thing.

I purchase a new mug with each vacation visit AND never expected to do otherwise. Not a big deal. Plus, it is sort of a souvenir tradition that is somewhat sentimental for me with each mug as a tangible representation of one of my magical vacations and dollars well spent.

My thoughts exactly!

 

[carly chloe]

I can see why they are doing it too. Some people have abused it for everybody. To have to drink that much soda in a 5 minute time period also- they might be doing you a favor.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Not to be petty but its actually less than that for soda. We own a restaurant and I know for sure its like .08 per refill. Its likely less for Disney because Im sure they buy at a much large quantity than we do!

Disney actually gets the Coke syrup for fee, so they are only paying for water, CO2 and electricity.

They are not limiting how many times you fill it. It is still unlimited refills. The only stipulation is that there will be a 5 minute lock out from when you completely fill the cup. This means that if you want to mix 1/2 coke and 1/2 diet you still can, but once the dispeser has totalled up the correct amount of ounces for your specific cup, you will then be unable to start a refill until your 5 minutes is up. Your mug will work for the entire duration of your stay.

You will have a minute or so to fill your cup.

To have to drink that much soda in a 5 minute time period also- they might be doing you a favor.

Exactly!

 

[Reddog1134]

Disney actually gets the Coke syrup for fee, so they are only paying for water, CO2 and electricity.

Urban legend.

 

[webshark3]

Urban legend.

McDonald's doesn't pay either. In fact, Coke only makes money from the American Dental Association and toothpaste companies. (is there a emoticon for a evil laugh?)

 

[chloelovesdisney]

My only issue with this is the 5 minutes between refills. Usually when we stay onsite and get a dining plan with mugs, we will fill them and drink them real quick and do another fill-up before walking to the room, much of the them there is only a minute or two between fill-ups. This is the only issue I have with the new program (although as a passholder, it would be great if there was an option for a yearly mug or an option to buy refills, instead of a new mug each trip).

Ditto. I also like to have a quick drink, then refill the mug and take it to the pool or a stroll around the grounds.

 

[PrincessAli]

I doubt that this new refill policy will affect us this year--BUT--just wondering how it might work in this case. We will be at WDW from August 25 until Sept 16th. During this years trip we'll be at POP CENTURY , then a few days at SHADES OF GREEN and then PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE. We will be purchasing new mugs at Pop--of course they can not be used at SOG, so what happens when we check into PO Riverside? Any ideas?? Its basically one trip--just divided .with three seperate reservations.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I doubt that this new refill policy will affect us this year--BUT--just wondering how it might work in this case. We will be at WDW from August 25 until Sept 16th. During this years trip we'll be at POP CENTURY , then a few days at SHADES OF GREEN and then PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE. We will be purchasing new mugs at Pop--of course they can not be used at SOG, so what happens when we check into PO Riverside? Any ideas?? Its basically one trip--just divided .with three seperate reservations.

Technically, it's three separate trips. Just like you did Pop Century and went home, then returned to SOG and went home, and then returned to POR and went home. But your going home only lasts as long as it takes to empty your room and get to the new one.

If you purchased a package for each of those three stays, you would have to purchase at least a one day ticket for each of the stays. You couldn't buy one longer ticket for the first part and use it for the other stays. And tickets cost a lot more than mugs.

If you try to use an unchipped vessel or one that has expired, you will get ice water.

 

[goofyernmost]

The only annoying (and it's only slightly so) part of this will involve our morning coffee run.

We, occasionally, buy 2 mugs when we go.....largely for use for morning coffee (and/or evening hot chocolate, depending on the time of year). However, when I go down, I typically bring one Disney mug, and our 2 travel mugs. I use the Disney mug to fill the travel mugs. Now I'll have to either just bring the 2 Disney mugs down, then bring them up and transfer in the room...or carry 4 mugs down (2 Disney, 2 travel) so I can transfer the coffee to travel mugs and bring with us to the parks.

I'd gladly use the resort mugs, only...if they kept anything hot for more than 10 minutes.

It's nitpicking, to be sure, and I'll deal with the inconvenience...because I know it's one of the few legit uses in a slew of what Disney considers illegitimate ones. Still...it may just prompt me to use our in room coffee pot (or to bring our own) a lot more often.

So If I did the math correctly, you think that you should get 4 free drinks when you only purchased two. Yes, I know they were supposedly for you and you had unlimited drinks available, but how often do you figure that people are filling one paid for mug and three old ones for 4 different people. Someone mentioned on some board (maybe this one) the they think that they should be able to go into a buffet breakfast at Disney and not be required to pay for it. After all, they just purchased one last year. Although they were kidding, it is really the same thing, just more extreme.

I have only stayed on site once in all my years of traveling to WDW. I bought one mug while I was there and used it once in the morning and once in the evening. Frankly the two hundred mile walk to the food court was simply not worth the effort. When Disney naively came up with this program, I think they thought that this is what was going to happen. Talk about grossly underestimating the greed of the American public.

Before too long, if this new innovation doesn't work, you will see the refillable mug in museum under the heading of...this used to be until it was milked dry.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Disney doesn't want to ever tell a guest no. So they come up with ways to engineer out all the ways they can be cheated. When they start to microchip the curbs at the MK for the parade, you'll see.

 

[triplejen]

So If I did the math correctly, you think that you should get 4 free drinks when you only purchased two. Yes, I know they were supposedly for you and you had unlimited drinks available, but how often do you figure that people are filling one paid for mug and three old ones for 4 different people.

You did the math incorrectly. That poster quite clearly explained that they purchase 2 mugs for 2 people, but that they prefer to use their personal travel mugs to actually drink out of as the Disney mugs aren't as effective at keeping their drinks hot.

They pay for 2 mugs. They fill 2 mugs with coffee. They then pour the contents of those mugs into different mugs for actually carrying/drinking from. The Disney mugs are left behind, empty. The contents of those 2 mugs are consumed by the 2 people that paid for them, just out of new containers.

 

[Kayleejade]

Wow, I'm pretty sure there is more in life to worry about than cups and if a company is getting duped by people reusing them.

Disney changing cups should not make anybody happy or sad (unless you like or dislike the design). It is their business, they can change the policy or products to earn a larger profit at any time. Why any person who is simply a customer should care about other customers actions is beyond me.

Does my family reuse mugs? No, but at the same time I have no skin in Disney making a profit if someone else does reuse. Matter of fact, how can you enjoy your vacation if you spend time sitting by the fountain getting upset about others? Did Disney offer you a discount for being the mug police? Do you get upset when someone uses 5 packs of sugar because you only use 3?

Americans need to stop worrying about everyone elses actions and concentrate on their own hypocrisy.

 

[triplejen]

I will not be a fan of the chips because I am sure the 70 second fill allotment will create problems at some point, as will the 5 minute time-out between fills.

The Web site explains that the window for filling your drink is 70 seconds from start of fill. You can draw from multiple dispensers, but after 70 seconds the mug will be considered full, regardless of how many ounces were actually poured.

I can't tell you how many mornings I have had the frustrating experience of going to one hot chocolate dispenser, only to have it sputter out a few drops of hot chocolate because the dispenser was empty - or to have it spit out some barely brown hot water, because the mix was not set up properly.

When that happens I always then walk to the other side of the drink island to the other hot chocolate dispenser, and hope that it isn't empty too. In the mornings, however, there are usually one or two people ahead of me at whatever dispenser I choose.

I imagine now what will happen is I will go to the first dispenser, and the sputter will start my mug clock ticking. Then I'll make my way over to the other dispenser, wait my turn behind the couple of people ahead of me, and then approach to fill my mug, only to find out that more than 70 seconds have elapsed and I now have to wait another 5 minutes before I can begin filling my cup (for the FIRST time).

Aside from hot chocolate in the morning the only time I even use the mugs is to grab a quick drink on my way back to the room (if I happen to have it with me) on my way back from the parks. In that case, I am generally hot enough that I will quickly drink at least half the contents of the mug, then refill it to carry it back to the room. This is something I would do in about 30 seconds. It will be an annoying PITA to have to stand around waiting for my time to be up just to refill it and continue my way back to the room.

I buy mugs on every trip. I don't re-use them on subsequent WDW trips -- I just like drinking out of them, and enjoy them as souvenirs. I drink out of one of the dozen or so in my cupboard every single day. There is one to the left of my keyboard as I am typing this, in fact. But I don't think I will like hanging on to the mugs once they have chips inside, however. I don't know what it will do to the outside finish of the mug, how it will work in my dishwasher, or what it might end up leeching into my drinks after long-term home use. Yuck.

Essentially for me, a legitimate user (and repeat purchaser) of these mugs, the changes will diminish the functionality of the mugs in what are honestly the only three ways I actually use them. I am not a fan of the change.

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

No company in their right mind would ever say..."here, buy this mug for $12.00 and we will continue to fill it for life."

Actually, Ikea did do this... And it wasn't even 12.00 for the initial mug.

 

[Wadecool]

Disney doesn't want to ever tell a guest no. So they come up with ways to engineer out all the ways they can be cheated. When they start to microchip the curbs at the MK for the parade, you'll see.

Now you're talking!

 

[mmmagique]

I keep reading about all of these people gulping down a full mug and then re-filling. As one who has never had nor seen one of these, do you mind if I ask how much they hold? I'm picturing big-gulp type mugs that one of my friends gets (and uses often!) from a gas station. (they must hold at least 32 ounces!)

Is this what we are discussing? Or are the mugs smaller, say...18 ounces or even less?

 

[smitch425]

I keep reading about all of these people gulping down a full mug and then re-filling. As one who has never had nor seen one of these, do you mind if I ask how much they hold? I'm picturing big-gulp type mugs that one of my friends gets (and uses often!) from a gas station. (they must hold at least 32 ounces!)

Is this what we are discussing? Or are the mugs smaller, say...18 ounces or even less?

I think it's 12 ozs., but not 100% sure. It is definitely not more than 12, though.

 

[carlton the bear]

Wow, I'm pretty sure there is more in life to worry about than cups and if a company is getting duped by people reusing them.

Disney changing cups should not make anybody happy or sad (unless you like or dislike the design). It is their business, they can change the policy or products to earn a larger profit at any time. Why any person who is simply a customer should care about other customers actions is beyond me.

Does my family reuse mugs? No, but at the same time I have no skin in Disney making a profit if someone else does reuse. Matter of fact, how can you enjoy your vacation if you spend time sitting by the fountain getting upset about others? Did Disney offer you a discount for being the mug police? Do you get upset when someone uses 5 packs of sugar because you only use 3?

Americans need to stop worrying about everyone elses actions and concentrate on their own hypocrisy.

Actually, if you are a member of the mug police (to be a member you need to use the words cheat or steal at least once on your Disboards posts) you do not get a discount, but you do get the following perk: Disney allows you to be for 1 day a pool hopper checker at the resort of your choice. You stand by the pool entrance, and check everybody's key card to make sure they are a guest of the hotel. If you catch anyone you get to escort them out, and if you are lucky you not only catch a pool hopper, but you catch one with a mug that he bought in 1999 which they thought were good for life. I understand that the mug police guard can report the violator to Homeland Security, if they feel that the offender will be a repeat violator.