"RapidFill" RFID refillable mugs coming back resort wide...

[snarlingcoyote]

So how MUCH equals one fill up every X minutes now? I don't use ice in my soft drinks. Many people from other countries don't use ice in their soft drinks either. So are we limited to Y amount every X minutes or an unlimited pour but of one turn at the spigot, so to speak?

 

[doconeill]

So how MUCH equals one fill up every X minutes now? I don't use ice in my soft drinks. Many people from other countries don't use ice in their soft drinks either. So are we limited to Y amount every X minutes or an unlimited pour but of one turn at the spigot, so to speak?

It is, I believe, a 16oz max pour per 5 minutes.

Someone mentioned four pours per hour on the mugs. Did that really apply to the refillable mugs, or only the "single use" cups? I thought it was only the cups.

 

[smitch425]

It is, I believe, a 16oz max pour per 5 minutes.

Someone mentioned four pours per hour on the mugs. Did that really apply to the refillable mugs, or only the "single use" cups? I thought it was only the cups.

4 fills per hour is for the paper cups. The time limit was a part of initial testing, but I haven't seen anything mentioned in regards to a time limit (other than the one hour limit) once the program starts resort wide. Has anyone read anything about the mugs in the last few days?

 

[luvdisney00]

There was this idea a long time ago that if you remove one olive from the salad served on an airplane, you could save a lot of money. The reason is not just because of the cost of olives. Those are insignificant by themselves. It's the other effects like the weight savings which translate into fuel savings, and those translate into more savings up the supply chain. So, I'm sure some bean counter at Disney looked at the numbers and thought this was a good idea. He or she gets to save the company a few ten (or hundred) thousand dollars a year in "ill-gotten" soft drinks. However, the domino effect doesn't just apply to savings projections. It applies to customer perception, too. How will they monetize the losses when people decide enough is enough and say to themselves, "To heck with this. If I wanted to be nickled and dimed, I'll stay off property!" Or maybe, "To heck with this, I'll bring my own soda from outside." (BTW, this is precisely what I did.) How are they going to calculate when a family decides to put off Disney this year due to yet another ratcheting up in cost and down in convenience? This little annoyance may be the straw that breaks the camel's back; maybe something else will down the line and this just added to it?

So yes, we are all free not to buy the product. I already don't since I feel the dining plans are worthless and so is the mug, even without the additional restrictions of use. Adding a RFID chip that will deny people service when they feel morally entitled won't help matters. It's a bad idea, but it's uncertain if Disney will realize it.

I agree completely! I am off to 6 flags NJ today and I will be bringing my 3 refillable cups. I bought them last week (3/32.99) with unlimited beverages the day of purchase. On subsequent visits it is 3.99 for a bracelet that again gives unlimited refills (good for 1 year). Is it a better value cup for cup? I don't know, but I feel like it's a better value so I am happy about it. There is nothing magical abut waiting for the machine for your refill time to be up.

 

[maxiesmom]

How will they monetize the losses when people decide enough is enough and say to themselves, "To heck with this. If I wanted to be nickled and dimed, I'll stay off property!" Or maybe, "To heck with this, I'll bring my own soda from outside." (BTW, this is precisely what I did.) How are they going to calculate when a family decides to put off Disney this year due to yet another ratcheting up in cost and down in convenience? This little annoyance may be the straw that breaks the camel's back; maybe something else will down the line and this just added to it?

I think Disney are the ones in the best position to know what the system is costing them, and how much money they were losing on pop theft. They are also the ones who can best judge how many people will be turned off by the new system. They have all the numbers and figures and the facts of the matter. We don't. They are the ones who ran the test and have all the data.

I honestly don't think too many people guzzle pop at such a rate that waiting a few minutes for a refill will turn them off of the whole system. I drink way more pop than I should, and the waiting period doesn't bother me at all If I drink my pop fast I will just get some water to hold me over the 5 minutes I can't get more pop. Not a big deal.

 

[BeerMe]

I want refillable beer mugs!

 

[doconeill]

I want refillable beer mugs!

Only after the RFID chip can also detect blood alcohol levels too...

 

[kmac2384]

During the test you could get 4 refills an hour. And they had to be at least 5 minutes apart. However you could get as much water as you wanted as often as you wanted it. I think we are going off of how the test worked.

I get that some people don't like having to wait 5 minutes for a pop refill. Or that you can only get 4 refills an hour. What I can't think of is how else they can keep guests from just buying one mug, and using it for the whole family. Because we all know if the didn't put time limits on it, that is exactly what they would do.

And please don't say they shouldn't quibble over pop. It is an item they charge for, they have the right to make sure people pay for it instead of stealing it.

That mug costs .75 cents to make and the corn syrup and bubbles are about $.10 (I've been in the business, I know what it costs.) Now, I understand the " give someone an inch and they take a mile" concept but the soda is good at resorts only. Its not like guests are even physically able to abuse it in the park which is where we spend 90% of the Vacation. Now I don't know about you guys but I get coffee in the morning before the park and a coke at night after the park. I don't even drink a liters worth of soda in the week.

If they save all this money will this make beverages cheaper? Dining plan cheaper? Park tickets cheaper? No it won't. It will just save them a few pennies. But we as guests will not see any financial break. Disney will continue to make money, and raise prices to protect costs. Disney is getting theirs at the end of the day and if we insist on going there, then we agree to the terms as well.

However if they want to "Big Brother" my beverage consumption, knock themselves out. It makes no difference in my day. Putting a chip in my cup will cost them money, not save it.

 

[kmac2384]

I want refillable beer mugs!

Heck yeah!!! Beer Me, great idea. You and I can start that request! I'd also like to point out that the only park I ever need a drink in, is the one with the least amount of alcohol.

 

[maxiesmom]

T

If they save all this money will this make beverages cheaper? Dining plan cheaper? Park tickets cheaper? No it won't. It will just save them a few pennies. But we as guests will not see any financial break. Disney will continue to make money, and raise prices to protect costs. Disney is getting theirs at the end of the day and if we insist on going there, then we agree to the terms as well.

However if they want to "Big Brother" my beverage consumption, knock themselves out. It makes no difference in my day. Putting a chip in my cup will cost them money, not save it.

And you know this as a fact how?????

You don't. None of us do. You may dislike the new system, you may think it is stupid or a giant pain in the rear. But none of us know how much money Disney was losing on pop theft, nor do any of us know how much the new system is costing them. Can we not stop claiming we know the new system will cost them more money than it will gain them, when the truth is, none of us knows?

 

[JACKNAG]

Some one has to pay for the $200 million dollar Lone Ranger right off

 

[Jonathan Swift]

And you know this as a fact how?????

You don't. None of us do. You may dislike the new system, you may think it is stupid or a giant pain in the rear. But none of us know how much money Disney was losing on pop theft, nor do any of us know how much the new system is costing them. Can we not stop claiming we know the new system will cost them more money than it will gain them, when the truth is, none of us knows?

You make it sound like soda is some rare element. It's soda. Most of it is water. The prices are pretty well known in the industry. If anything, Coca Cola may be giving Disney a break not to lose such a lucrative contract vs. the mom-and-pop restaurant.

 

[kmac2384]

You make it sound like soda is some rare element. It's soda. Most of it is water. The prices are pretty well known in the industry. If anything, Coca Cola may be giving Disney a break not to lose such a lucrative contract vs. the mom-and-pop restaurant.

Exactly. I'm sure Disney is one of cokes largest accounts. Im also not going to get irate over coke but, I assure you Disney is doing this for their bottom line, not so the almighty dollar goes farther for us. By the way I not only know this because I understand basic math but because I have friends (several in fact) that work for the mouse. I'm not for or against this idea. I am actually just entertained by the idea of soda abuse and that it is so bad that they need to spend time on souvenir mugs. Oh well...mak-ing m-o-n-e-y

 

[cathy jane]

I figure Disney will no longer be in the position of having their CM having to monitor or watch guests pour illegal sodas. I think guests who have always followed the rules will not even notice and guests who broke the rules will no longer be able to get away with it. And CM's won't have to be the bad guys.

 

[castlecouture2011]

I figure Disney will no longer be in the position of having their CM having to monitor or watch guests pour illegal sodas. I think guests who have always followed the rules will not even notice and guests who broke the rules will no longer be able to get away with it. And CM's won't have to be the bad guys.

Honestly it's really hard for CMs to be the bad guys in this situation at all. I worked in a resort on my CP and I know many of the QSR resort locations have tons of college kids working there...it's hard for a 20 year old to try and enforce rules because there's always the fear that it will come back to haunt us and we'll get in trouble, and besides that sometimes guests are just MEAN. I had a grown man with his children make me cry once when I was working an extra parade shift. I was always way more scared to "be the bad guy" after that. And even when I did see people with old mugs (which was ALL the time), even if we explained the rules it's not like we could follow them to make sure the rules were enforced. People who don't mind cheating just wait five minutes until you aren't looking and do it anyway.

Not all guests are courteous and listen to CMs just because they are CMs, unfortunately.

 

[huhwhat]

I am not so sure I want RF in my cup...who knows the possible health issues....I can see it now RFID chips cause of cancer

 

[darnheather]

I am not so sure I want RF in my cup...who knows the possible health issues....I can see it now RFID chips cause of cancer

So drink bottled water and blame it on the plastic.

 

[kmac2384]

Honestly it's really hard for CMs to be the bad guys in this situation at all. I worked in a resort on my CP and I know many of the QSR resort locations have tons of college kids working there...it's hard for a 20 year old to try and enforce rules because there's always the fear that it will come back to haunt us and we'll get in trouble, and besides that sometimes guests are just MEAN. I had a grown man with his children make me cry once when I was working an extra parade shift. I was always way more scared to "be the bad guy" after that. And even when I did see people with old mugs (which was ALL the time), even if we explained the rules it's not like we could follow them to make sure the rules were enforced. People who don't mind cheating just wait five minutes until you aren't looking and do it anyway.

Not all guests are courteous and listen to CMs just because they are CMs, unfortunately.

People are mean! And CP or not no one should be yelled at to the point of tears. ( That particular moment is when I tell a customer to get out, no one will EVER treat my staff that way, I know Disney doesn't have the same philosophy.) The customer/ guest is not always right. It is also very uncomfortable for most people to confront situations like that. In that respect the microchip will help eliminate a scene.

Totally unrelated but- as a CP I am sure you remember those handicap guest access cards. Well, we were waiting in a character line and a make a wish family came in. In the meantime this woman and handicap child cuts over to the CM and shows the card. The CM states that they must wait in line for meet and greets. Well, this woman throws a fit and asks why the make a wish kid gets to cut ( UM HELLO YOU MORON). I was so angry I couldn't keep my mouth shut and I chewed this lady a new one because the CM was so nice and patient. I felt so bad for the MAW family and CM. Anyway, that's my rant for today but I totally feel for you guys!

 

[doconeill]

I am not so sure I want RF in my cup...who knows the possible health issues....I can see it now RFID chips cause of cancer

I'm just going to assume you are joking...but in case you aren't joking...

The embedded RFID chip in the mugs and the sticker on the cups are passive devices. They don't emit ANYTHING unless they are placed within a magnetic field of sufficient strength to induce a current through the chip, and then they send a weak radio signal.

The magnetic field is in the dispenser.

The only health issues regarding RFID in this case would be if you stuck your head in the dispenser where the cup goes, and leave it there for, oh...several years. In that time, you've probably got a lot of other health problems to deal with. Like starvation.

If you're worried about the health effects of RFID devices, stay away from MagicBands. But also stay away from cell phones. ALL cell phones. They are far more powerful than the MagicBands...

 

[kmac2384]

I'm just going to assume you are joking...but in case you aren't joking...

The embedded RFID chip in the mugs and the sticker on the cups are passive devices. They don't emit ANYTHING unless they are placed within a magnetic field of sufficient strength to induce a current through the chip, and then they send a weak radio signal.

The magnetic field is in the dispenser.

The only health issues regarding RFID in this case would be if you stuck your head in the dispenser where the cup goes, and leave it there for, oh...several years. In that time, you've probably got a lot of other health problems to deal with. Like starvation.

...

LMAO, I know a few people who's head I would like to put in the dispenser. Hahaha.