Question re Refillable Mugs

[dan40]

A colleague of mine brought up a good point. If you purchase a refillable mug on one trip, what is to prevent you from bringing your mug back on a subsequent trip and using it again without spending the money to get a new mug? Is this a newly discovered loophole?

 

[maxiesmom]

Nope. There is a chip in the bottom of your mug. It is only active for so long.

 

[dan40]

So, a person brings back his mug from a prior trip and starts filling it up with whatever he wants in it... how does a chip prevent you from getting what you want to fill it up with?

 

[ErinsMommy]

So, a person brings back his mug from a prior trip and starts filling it up with whatever he wants in it... how does a chip prevent you from getting what you want to fill it up with?

The 'computer' wont read the chip after a certain period of time and allow the machine to dispense the drink. Just like you can't stand there and refill your mugs time after time. I think its a 15 minute wait between refills.

 

[ncc1701]

The chip has an expiration date. The soda machines read the chip so if your chip is expired
you wouldn't any of those beverages. Not sure if the coffee /ice tea dispensers have been updated to have that technology.

 

[dan40]

So there's some sort of RF reader in the machine that reads the chip in the mug?

 

[dan40]

The chip has an expiration date. The soda machines read the chip so if your chip is expired
you wouldn't any of those beverages. Not sure if the coffee /ice tea dispensers have been updated to have that technology.

I would be curious to know if trying to fill up an old mug, it would cause the dispensing machine not to dispense.

 

[ncc1701]

So there's some sort of RF reader in the machine that reads the chip in the mug?

Yes it notes the expiration date on the display

 

[dan40]

Wow... Imagineers thought of everything.

 

[WEDWDW]

Not sure if the coffee /ice tea dispensers have been updated to have that technology.

They have not-still on the "Honor System".

 

[dan40]

They have not-still on the "Honor System".

I'm sure there are people every day who are aware of this and take advantage of the system without too much guilt. Anything they can get for "free" at Walt Disney World is a bonus.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

People used to do it all the time.
But for a good few years now they have had chips in the cups which makes it so you can't do it.
Although as PP's have pointed out they still just "trust" people with the coffee/tea

 

[dan40]

Do CMs have any way of checking what the expiry date is on the chip? Like, if you bring your old mug and take it to a quick service cashier can the cashier wave it over a device to tell you if it's still active or not? If not, then the guest could say, "Well, can you give me another mug with a chip that works?" and voila, new mug with new chip date and unlimited refreshments. Free.

 

[lullwater]

The CM's often tell me that if the old mug doesn't work, bring it back with the receipt and they will program a new mug that has the expiration date of the old mug.

 

[DisBuckMan]

Do CMs have any way of checking what the expiry date is on the chip? Like, if you bring your old mug and take it to a quick service cashier can the cashier wave it over a device to tell you if it's still active or not? If not, then the guest could say, "Well, can you give me another mug with a chip that works?" and voila, new mug with new chip date and unlimited refreshments. Free.

Yeah, it doesn't work anything like that.

Here's the Cliff's Notes version:
When you purchase a mug, it is activated for a certain period of time. Some say it is for length of stay, but more often, it's for 14 days. Some have reported longer, but the ones who have reported longer have had longer "length of stays" than 14 days.
When you go to use your mug at the resort fountain drink dispenser, the valid, non-expired chip activates the machine to dispense whichever soda you choose. If you put a mug on the machine with an expired chip, the machine will not activate to dispense.

They can tell whether the chip is active or not. If your mug quits working, you can provide the receipt where you purchased it during your current stay, and they'll give you another one.

 

[dan40]

Well, it's nice to know there is no loophole, and that the entire refillable mug program is solid.

Thanks to all who responded! Now I can go back to my colleague and tell him it isn't possible!

Cheers!
Dan

 

[PolyRob]

I will add, the chip also knows how frequently you refill soda. The mugs have 16 stamped on the bottom, but I believe they only hold about 12 unless you fill it up to the point where it will spill when the lid goes on. I have filled my mug, taken a huge gulp and attempted to refill it again for convenience. The machine will make a strange sound and a deep voice will say something like "please wait for next refill" and the screen displays how many minutes and seconds you have to wait. Its no more than 2 minutes.

 

[HopperFan]

Well, it's nice to know there is no loophole, and that the entire refillable mug program is solid.

Thanks to all who responded! Now I can go back to my colleague and tell him it isn't possible!

Cheers!
Dan

Oh and the cups you get when you buy a soda fountain drink, also have chips and you can only get so many refills within a couple hours.

 

[Beer Me]

People used to do it all the time.
But for a good few years now they have had chips in the cups which makes it so you can't do it.
Although as PP's have pointed out they still just "trust" people with the coffee/tea

I know it's not a popular idea around here but they should just make the coffee complimentary to guests. I just found out the GF apparently has coffee in the lobby all day. Why not at the other hotels?

 

[Nancyg56]

Well, it's nice to know there is no loophole, and that the entire refillable mug program is solid.

Thanks to all who responded! Now I can go back to my colleague and tell him it isn't possible!

Cheers!
Dan

It is not solid, and for the life of me, I cannot figure out why that is. My DD and her family were at the Poly in July. They were on the DDP so they had mugs included. They brought them the first few times, but no RFID chip was needed for any beverage, and so they refilled their water bottles to bring with them. They liked that better because they could bring a bottle to the pool or to the park, and then toss it in the recycle instead of hauling a mug back and forth.

I often wonder why a company that has the resources to make attractions that are amazing does not manage a mug program that they invested in. I am on the same page as @Beer Me. Offer complimentary beverages and call it a day.

The on again off again RFID mug issue sends mixed messages to guests, and while I do not condone taking what is not paid for, it really can encourage folks to do just that.