"RapidFill" RFID mugs getting rolled out...

[Tekneek]

I do wish they would make them reprogrammable for future visits. That would be a much greener solution, and they could offer a discount for future visits.

Indeed. The technology allows for such things. If you can add a day during your current stay, then you could add a day in 6 months, or in 6 years. It would work the same way.

A time limit between refills is a non-starter for me. Unlimited refills is unlimited refills. Not refills, within certain time limits. Limitations on the number of refills, during a meal, for those not buying a mug is also bizarre. I don't know of any restaurants in America that don't do unlimited refills of soda fountain drinks, especially when it is self-serve.

 

[OKW Lover]

A time limit between refills is a non-starter for me. Unlimited refills is unlimited refills. Not refills, within certain time limits. Limitations on the number of refills, during a meal, for those not buying a mug is also bizarre. I don't know of any restaurants in America that don't do unlimited refills of soda fountain drinks, especially when it is self-serve.

I suspect they do this so people can't fill multiple (non-rfid) cups from the single mug.

 

[Tekneek]

I suspect they do this so people can't fill multiple (non-rfid) cups from the single mug.

Unfortunate that they presume their guests are cheaters. I hope they don't implement that part. 5 minutes is way too long. If somebody is filling other containers, a minute or two is sufficient to make them obvious and allow a CM to intervene. 5 minutes is arbitrary, and probably some number that was pulled out of thin air.

In the past, I've come in and filled a mug (then promptly finished it) and then filled up again for the walk back to the room. Especially if you put ice in these things, they don't hold very much liquid. Having to stand around for 3 or 4 minutes is just going to cause a traffic jam.

 

[FireDancer]

I suspect they do this so people can't fill multiple (non-rfid) cups from the single mug.

This is exactly what it is. Unfortunately you have people who re-use mugs and those same people will try to find a way to game this system too.

 

[Tekneek]

This is exactly what it is. Unfortunately you have people trying to re-use mugs and those same people will try to find a way to game this system too.

So, if they have to wait 5 minutes, they won't do it? But if they only had to wait 1, 2, 3, or 4 minutes, they would just keep filling other containers?

 

[FireDancer]

So, if they have to wait 5 minutes, they won't do it? But if they only had to wait 1, 2, 3, or 4 minutes, they would just keep filling other containers?

I imagine in testing they settled on 5 minutes because it was long enough to make it inconvenient for the scammers but not so long that it is inconvenient for someone who is drinking their beverage with their meal.

You can't stop all the dishonest people out there but you can take care of the low hanging fruit which is probably what they are aiming for.

 

[Tekneek]

I imagine in testing they settled on 5 minutes because it was long enough to make it inconvenient for the scammers but not so long that it is inconvenient for someone who is drinking their beverage with their meal.

I would expect that standing there for even 1 minute, next to a container that you just emptied your mug into, would be rather uncomfortable. Let alone 2 or 3. 5 minutes just seems excessive. I'll see how it works when I go down later this year. Maybe it is just right, but I am certain I have refilled my mug more than once in a 5 minute interval when out for a walk.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Interesting.

If the mug is a different design, maybe I'll buy one for my September trip and check it out.

The 5 minute limit isn't an issue for me - I'm a slow drinker so it would be more than 5 minutes before I refilled the cup anyway.

On the June 2013 trip where we stayed at ASMu, I saw people filling up coffee cups with sodas 2 mornings at breakfast (same 2 families both times). The cups were the decorative kind sold in the gift shops. This will put a stop to that for sure.

 

[doconeill]

Interesting.

If the mug is a different design, maybe I'll buy one for my September trip and check it out.

The 5 minute limit isn't an issue for me - I'm a slow drinker so it would be more than 5 minutes before I refilled the cup anyway.

On the June 2013 trip where we stayed at ASMu, I saw people filling up coffee cups with sodas 2 mornings at breakfast (same 2 families both times). The cups were the decorative kind sold in the gift shops. This will put a stop to that for sure.

I'm something of the opposite...I'm a fast drinker, and 16oz, which includes ice, is nothing. The only time I don't drink fast is when I get distracted and completely forget about it...like my morning tea at work, getting cold...CRAP.

But if I'm passing by the station on my way somewhere, I might want to slam one down and get one for the road...especially if it is completely out of my way to get to in the first place, like it is in most places...

 

[Tekneek]

I'm something of the opposite...I'm a fast drinker, and 16oz, which includes ice, is nothing. The only time I don't drink fast is when I get distracted and completely forget about it...like my morning tea at work, getting cold...CRAP.

But if I'm passing by the station on my way somewhere, I might want to slam one down and get one for the road...especially if it is completely out of my way to get to in the first place, like it is in most places...

This is how I most commonly used the mug.

I would go out for a walk in the morning, fill it and down it, then fill it again and drink on the way back. I would then repeat it that night when we were back at the resort. Waiting for 5 minutes seems absurd, when any intelligent system would be able to tell that I wasn't up to something nefarious. They should build in some behavior analysis into the system, which identifies potential abusers and rate limits them instead of doing it to everyone all the time. Disney surely could afford to do this smarter.

 

[dlrp]

Will this stop me mixing drinks ?

Or will it only put the 5 minute block after its dispenses a whole measure by volume?

 

[Tekneek]

Will this stop me mixing drinks ?

Or will it only put the 5 minute block after its dispenses a whole measure by volume?

I don't think it will be able to know the volume, as it seems unlikely that it is connected to the volume dispensed. Given the 5 minute arbitrary limitation, seems more likely that they've made the assumption that guests fill one selection to the capacity of the cup, or it is considered one active filling session so long as your cup stays within a certain proximity of the dispenser. If it is the latter, you'd kick in the 5-minute timer if you pulled it away to look inside the cup.

This will be a huge problem for kids trying to fill their own drinks, who routinely pause during the filling to (1) mix varieties of drinks or (2) look inside to see how much more it will take to fill the cup. I will be supremely irritated if we have to wait 5 minutes to finish filling a mug because one of my children wanted to look in the cup before they were finished. I really hope this is implemented in a sensible way and not as arbitrary and ham-fisted as it appears to be.

 

[smitch425]

I don't think it will be able to know the volume, as it seems unlikely that it is connected to the volume dispensed. Given the 5 minute arbitrary limitation, seems more likely that they've made the assumption that guests fill one selection to the capacity of the cup, or it is considered one active filling session so long as your cup stays within a certain proximity of the dispenser. If it is the latter, you'd kick in the 5-minute timer if you pulled it away to look inside the cup.

This will be a huge problem for kids trying to fill their own drinks, who routinely pause during the filling to (1) mix varieties of drinks or (2) look inside to see how much more it will take to fill the cup. I will be supremely irritated if we have to wait 5 minutes to finish filling a mug because one of my children wanted to look in the cup before they were finished. I really hope this is implemented in a sensible way and not as arbitrary and ham-fisted as it appears to be.

The testing period at ASSpo allowed mixing of drinks as well as stoping and starting the same drink, so it is definitely volume based. When using no ice in the cup, it would fill to the top.

 

[Tekneek]

The testing period at ASSpo allowed mixing of drinks as well as stoping and starting the same drink, so it is definitely volume based. When using no ice in the cup, it would fill to the top.

So, how does it know when it is full? If I partially fill it, then drink it, does it count the previously dispensed amount? Is it trying to measure the dispensing on a revolving 5 minute counter? Does it account for the loss of liquid in the carbonation "fizz" at the top or is that measured along with it?

I don't have any knowledge of the testing period and, admittedly, am making some assumptions based on the available information that makes the system seem quite unintelligent.

 

[doconeill]

So, how does it know when it is full? If I partially fill it, then drink it, does it count the previously dispensed amount? Is it trying to measure the dispensing on a revolving 5 minute counter? Does it account for the loss of liquid in the carbonation "fizz" at the top or is that measured along with it?

I don't have any knowledge of the testing period and, admittedly, am making some assumptions based on the available information that makes the system seem quite unintelligent.

I believe you had a certain amount of time to dispense _up to_ 16oz of liquid before the lockout. Not sure how long.

We are also assuming the mechanics have not changed since the test. They are not up and running yet but it sounds like they will be in place pretty quickly at the All Stars.

 

[smitch425]

So, how does it know when it is full? If I partially fill it, then drink it, does it count the previously dispensed amount? Is it trying to measure the dispensing on a revolving 5 minute counter? Does it account for the loss of liquid in the carbonation "fizz" at the top or is that measured along with it?

I don't have any knowledge of the testing period and, admittedly, am making some assumptions based on the available information that makes the system seem quite unintelligent.

There are several YouTube videos showing how the machines work. If you drink some of your drink midway through filling, it will still give you only the amount that was originally left in the cup. It is a very simple system to use, and highly intelligent.

 

[thehowells]

smitch, that was exactly what i was wondering, i'll have to look it up
/youtube, is there anything it can't do?
//swoon
///slashies

 

[Tekneek]

There are several YouTube videos showing how the machines work. If you drink some of your drink midway through filling, it will still give you only the amount that was originally left in the cup. It is a very simple system to use, and highly intelligent.

I'm pleased that it is more intelligent than first presumed.

"Highly intelligent" is a misnomer, since that would involve behavioral analysis built in and not arbitrary hard-coded limitations. A "highly intelligent" system would track volume dispensing to all IDs, and the time limit between, in order to algorithmically detect likely abusers and not lock legitimate users out of the system. The fact that there are hard-coded limitations is a sign of a "dumb" system, even if more intelligent than first presumed.

 

[DisneyKevin]

Havent read the entire thread, so this may be redundant...

The Royal Caribbean ships have the Coke Freestyle machines.

You purchase a cup with a chip and you can get refills at any of the machines.

You can fill your cup and wait for the "fizz" to go down and top it off to full, but after a certain amount of time, you enter a waiting time of 15 minutes until your next refill.

The machine will tell you that 9 minutes and 41 seconds to your next refill.

It can be annoying.

 

[Tekneek]

You can fill your cup and wait for the "fizz" to go down and top it off to full, but after a certain amount of time, you enter a waiting time of 15 minutes until your next refill.

Wow. What size container are we talking about here? That is outrageous.