Refill Mugs - Are 2008 still good??

[dizzknee3]

Wow. Honestly, I'd find it tiring to think like that, especially on vacation. It was during the YOAMD, so I did just consider myself lucky.

What about the free birthday cupcakes? We didn't pay for those (mine in December, DNiece in May, DS in June). Not everyone gets them, or so I've read here on the DIS (posted by many a PO'd DISer). How do you feel about that?

What I'm getting at is not everything is as black and white as people like to think it is. There's usually a grey area. Looks like this is one of them.

That being said, I'm excited to buy a new mug in...25 days!!!! Correction...24 days!!!!!

As far as I know there is no posted policy on birthday cupcakes.

 

[maxiesmom]

I do believe that Disney likely includes in the cost analysis of their mugs the "recovery fee" for the alleged crimes.

And every single retail establishment figures in a "recovery fee" because of people shoplifting. It is in the higher cost of each and every item. Does that make it right to shoplift? Would that make it ok for a sales person to give you a free item?

People can try and rationalize this all they want. But taking something you didn't purchase is stealing, plain and simple. If Disney wanted to have the mugs good for life (like they used to be!) they wouldn't bother posting a sign which clearly states it is good for during the visit you purchase it only. They would have a sign stating that the mouse wants you to bring it back on return visits.

 

[CleveRocks]

And if I were the CM this kind of response to the "pixie dust" I sent your way would make me sorry I ever offered it to you.

Try to do something nice for someone and they question your authority to offer it. I would find it insulting that you assumed that I could be offering something that I had no authority to offer. By the time you had interrogated me enough to figure out that, yes I do have the authority to offer you this gift the magic would have long since faded...

Then that's the risk I run for my own personal clear conscience. My choice.

 

[nwhitehead1214]

If you further read my post I said that recovery fees do not make it right. My point was that it is also illegal theft to use Disney Licensed Trademark characters without their permission but I see lots of people also doing this and this is also theft. It is called trademark dilution. Be careful throwing stones in glass houses, that's all. Don't think that you are not paying for legal costs. BTW did anyone get express written consent to utilize Disney's Mickey Very Merry Christmas Party logo in their blogs. If so, how much did that cost? Not only is this theft in the form of trademark dilution-- it is also violative of Copyright laws. I am not saying either is right. Both are wrong, but Disney spends millions more policing intellectual property rights and that is directly reflected in your vacation costs.

 

[CleveRocks]

Wow. Honestly, I'd find it tiring to think like that, especially on vacation. It was during the YOAMD, so I did just consider myself lucky.

What about the free birthday cupcakes? We didn't pay for those (mine in December, DNiece in May, DS in June). Not everyone gets them, or so I've read here on the DIS (posted by many a PO'd DISer). How do you feel about that?

What I'm getting at is not everything is as black and white as people like to think it is. There's usually a grey area. Looks like this is one of them.

That being said, I'm excited to buy a new mug in...25 days!!!! Correction...24 days!!!!!

Disney gives some CMs discretion to spread magic and give some things out for free. If it's like that, then it's my lucky day. But if it's the equivalent of a movie usher letting someone in the back door for free, then I'm not cool with that.

But if Disney, as a policy, spreads pixie dust from time to time, then that's great, and it's one of the things that makes Disney, well ... Disney! The fact that they don't do it the same to every person at every moment is exactly what makes "pixie dust" such a great thing ... you never know when to expect it, so it's such a grand gift when it happens. I'd just be uncomfortable if it's not from "Disney" but rather from a rogue employee who's doing something unauthorized. Just a matter of my own personal comfort level.

I'm not trying to tell other people what they should do. I'm just saying my own personal view. Of course not everything is black and white. Very little in life is.


Very interesting scenario, though, and I'm glad you brought it up for discussion!

 

[A&Bmama]

Then that's the risk I run for my own personal clear conscience. My choice.

Then power to ya. (though my choice would be different)

 

[Suellen]

Argh... I typed something and then clicked when I should have clacked and lost it all!

so here goes again!

Oh. My. Gosh.

If you think it is stealing don't do it.

If you can refill without a guilty feeling then refill away.

If you feel the need to run around screaming "She is stealing soda in a mug from last year!" then you should see your doctor. Seriously.

It costs on average less than .02 for a cup of soda. I am sure it costs Disney even less than that. I am sure that those of us who pay for a mug are already covering the cost of the "stolen" soda.

FWIW I have an old mug and a new mug here and it no longer says anything about one location.

Old Mug reads:
Free refills until the end of your stay.
Refills only at location purchased.

New Mug reads:
Free refills available at our Resort Beverage Islands until the end of the stay in which the mug was purchased.

Notice it says IslandS ~ S, plural.

Food for thought.

 

[jenseib]

LOL...I honestly could care less if someone brings an old mug...I just think its interesting that people have a double standard when it comes to breaking one rule and not the other...lol

to me...when someone knowingly breaks a rule its wrong, regardless if it is "stealing" by taking goods that they didn't pay for or "stealing money" by bringing your own food instead of paying for it in the park when the rule is not to bring food in the park.

Either way...I'll probably take my kiddos snack to the park, and I have 2 mugs that my cousin bought on her last trip and never used and I'll use them while I am there

If on either accounts a CM stops me and says "you can't do that" I will stop doing it...no big deal....but if some puffed up guest stops me...he or she is likely to find my freshly filled soda atop their head

Amen! I totally agree. Yes Disney says no food in parks, and NO coolers as well. So you are taking money away from them by not buying heir food. I could care less what others do. We bring snacks for my little one into the parks. I will be buying a new mug for myself, but using an old one for DD. She won't use it much. And if you want to get technical, we usually share a drink, so I could just go fill mine up, and go back and dump in any of her cups, and go back and refill again. DH can buy a new one if he choses ,or use qan old mug, I could care less, but if some guest questions me, especially rudely, they better hope they have a rain hat on~

 

[nwhitehead1214]

Amen! I totally agree. Yes Disney says no food in parks, and NO coolers as well. So you are taking money away from them by not buying heir food. I could care less what others do. We bring snacks for my little one into the parks. I will be buying a new mug for myself, but using an old one for DD. She won't use it much. And if you want to get technical, we usually share a drink, so I could just go fill mine up, and go back and dump in any of her cups, and go back and refill again. DH can buy a new one if he choses ,or use qan old mug, I could care less, but if some guest questions me, especially rudely, they better hope they have a rain hat on~

I really think that is a great point. No more Cheerios in the park parents. You are stealing from Disney as you should be buying food in the park. This really is a slippery slope. Stop using Disney character without express permission. The list goes on an on which goes to my original point the Disney BOD takes this into consideration when pricing your balloons, Fantasmic light up thingy, your mug prices, etc. Just can't stand the hypocrisy.

 

[Suellen]

A little off topic but where are the rules that say no food in the park?

I mean if I buy a small thing of cheerios for my kiddos at the food court can I not bring them in the park? We don't usually bring food from home to the park...but I also never saw this rule.

 

[kmvand1]

Wow. Honestly, I'd find it tiring to think like that, especially on vacation. It was during the YOAMD, so I did just consider myself lucky.

What about the free birthday cupcakes? We didn't pay for those (mine in December, DNiece in May, DS in June). Not everyone gets them, or so I've read here on the DIS (posted by many a PO'd DISer). How do you feel about that?

What I'm getting at is not everything is as black and white as people like to think it is. There's usually a grey area. Looks like this is one of them.

That being said, I'm excited to buy a new mug in...25 days!!!! Correction...24 days!!!!!

I agree - I think some people have too much time on their hands.

 

[BreezysMom]

I can practically hear tires screaching while reading this thread...

 

[jenseib]

A little off topic but where are the rules that say no food in the park?

I mean if I buy a small thing of cheerios for my kiddos at the food court can I not bring them in the park? We don't usually bring food from home to the park...but I also never saw this rule.

I have read it from a link that posted on here awhile back. I would have no clue where to find it now, but the link was to rules and it stated dress code and no food or coolers. Also I saw a picture of a sign on here again) that is posted in front of the parks that has these same type of rules. This was probably a year ago. It was a thread on a lady being refused entrance becuase of her clothing and then the debate went on and these links and pics were posted.

 

[A&Bmama]

Argh... I typed something and then clicked when I should have clacked and lost it all!

so here goes again!

Oh. My. Gosh.

If you think it is stealing don't do it.

If you can refill without a guilty feeling then refill away.

If you feel the need to run around screaming "She is stealing soda in a mug from last year!" then you should see your doctor. Seriously.

It costs on average less than .02 for a cup of soda. I am sure it costs Disney even less than that. I am sure that those of us who pay for a mug are already covering the cost of the "stolen" soda.

FWIW I have an old mug and a new mug here and it no longer says anything about one location.

Old Mug reads:
Free refills until the end of your stay.
Refills only at location purchased.

New Mug reads:
Free refills available at our Resort Beverage Islands until the end of the stay in which the mug was purchased.

Notice it says IslandS ~ S, plural.

Food for thought.

I agree with everything you said! Dinsey's costs for the mass produced mugs would be quite low as well, probably less than $1.00 each. The refill beverages are also low cost. So it ends up being a win/win. While we might "save" money by buying a mug, Disney doesn't "lose" money. For someone to actually reuse a mug so much that Disney actually lost money on it they would have to be a very loyal Disney resort guest indeed. IMHO this is why Disney doesn't stop guests from reuing old mugs. Also, most people have a finite number of dollars they are willing to spend on a vacation if they don't spend it on a mug, they will in all probability spend it on something else during their stay. Disney still gets your dollars, you get a better experience, win/win.

I do think they need to bring the "written policy" and the "common practice" in line with each other since it creates too many hard feelings. Here's some ideas:

a) Make the mugs lifetime again
b) charge a smaller fee to reactivate old mugs during new visits (maybe $5)
c) enforce the written policy

 

[mathgeek]

FWIW I have an old mug and a new mug here and it no longer says anything about one location.

Old Mug reads:
Free refills until the end of your stay.
Refills only at location purchased.

New Mug reads:
Free refills available at our Resort Beverage Islands until the end of the stay in which the mug was purchased.

Notice it says IslandS ~ S, plural.

Food for thought.

The new "What will you celebrate?" mug that I bought last week now reads differently as I posted in an earlier thread:

"Refills available at no additional charge at Resort Beverage Islands located in the resort that this mug was purchased through the end of your resort stay."

So it looks as if Disney is now saying the mugs can only be used where they were purchased.

I only buy the mugs as souvenirs to use at home anyway, and the new mugs were too cute to pass up!

 

[creativeamanda]

LOL, I can't believe we're having this argument again.

I personally wouldn't bring back my mugs. But it's none of my business if someone else does. That should be left up to Disney.

 

[Suellen]

I was tempted to bring my old ones to use so the new ones could just go straight in the suitcase and still be new when we get home.... definately WON'T do that now...

But really who is to say I didn't buy a new one but like my old one better to carry around?

 

[Deb & Bill]

...I do think they need to bring the "written policy" and the "common practice" in line with each other since it creates too many hard feelings. Here's some ideas:

a) Make the mugs lifetime again
...

When were they lifetime to begin with? I know they weren't in 1997.

 

[maxiesmom]

A little off topic but where are the rules that say no food in the park?

I mean if I buy a small thing of cheerios for my kiddos at the food court can I not bring them in the park? We don't usually bring food from home to the park...but I also never saw this rule.

That is actually an old rule. Now Disney states that you can bring food into the parks, as long as you obey a few rules. No rolling coolers allowed, no glass jars (except for babyfood) and no alcohol.

And even if Disney hadn't changed their policy on food in the parks, so what? You don't want to follow one rule, so feel free to break them all? That is silly.

 

[A&Bmama]

When were they lifetime to begin with? I know they weren't in 1997.

I have read on the dis in several different spots that when the mugs were first introduced the were "lifetime". When was this? I don't know. Maybe this is incorrect and they were never "lifetime". If so, please ignore the word "again" in my post.