Refillable mug from Dolphin good at other resorts?

[livsea2]

If we get a refillable mug at Dolphin can we use it at other "Disney owned resorts". We are moving to Wilderness Lodge after our Dolphin stay.

 

[CarolMN]

Sorry, no.

 

[jwfla422]

The mug is very different at S/D, it is like a thermal coffee mug with photos of the Swan and Dolphin resorts on it. As a matter a fact I thought all of the refillables were only good at that specific resort since it has the logo of that specific hotel?

If you're at the Dolphin for 3 or 4 days and drink a lot, it's still worth it! If you fill it 2-3 times a day, still cheaper than buying 9+ drinks, right?

 

[livsea2]

Are good at all the Disney properties. I thought the Dolphin/Swan would not be , but I thought I'd ask. Thanks!

 

[Trekker]

Originally posted by livsea2
Are good at all the Disney properties. I thought the Dolphin/Swan would not be , but I thought I'd ask. Thanks!

Where did you get this information? This is absolutly wrong. Disney's refillable mugs are good at the resort you purchased it (or a sister resort IE: All Stars).

According to Disney Management the Mug is good for the length of your stay. But many have had CMs tell them they can bring them back to the same resort in the future.

 

[epcotfan]

Trekker is right. Mugs are only good for the resort you purchased them at (unless sister resorts) and for length of stay only. Meaning if you were at the Contemporary for 3 nights and then switched to the Beach Club you would have to purchase mugs for each hotel you stayed at. Mugs have hotel logos on them.

 

[livsea2]

I didn't know. I read these reviews on wdwig. They make it seem like it is permitted. But only at the Disney run resorts.


We stayed at the All Star Sports. We used mugs from Coronado Springs, Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, All Star Movies & All Star Sports mugs from 1997 with the 25th anniversary logo. We had no problems whatsoever. We even filled them with the food court employees right near us. It saved us a bundle of money and made it much more affordable to eat at the Food Court. (Sue P., 8/00)

We stayed at Coronado Springs in June and had refillable mugs with us from Dixie Landings. We were not allowed to use our mugs in the Pepper Market. We were told that the Pepper Market was not Disney run and therefore we could not use our mugs there. Sandy Canetti (6/00)

 

[Geoff_M]

livsea2,

Don't take it personally. "The Great Mug Debate" often erupts here and takes on the tone of a heated theological debate. I'll try and summarize the camps and their views...

1) The Official Policy Group
The official policy, anytime anyone writes WDW, is "one mug, one resort (excluding sisters), one visit". Signs are also appearing in food courts around WDW that state this. Members of this group (me inclued), know that in practice food court CMs rarely enforce this policy and often contradict this policy when asked about it by guests (sometimes even when the official policy is posted on a sign only a few feet away). They feel the CMs simply have thrown in the towel and don't have the resources to police the soft drink lines. This is why you may see someone using a 7-11 Big Gulp cup unmolested by CMs who witness the obvious abuse.

This group adheres to... the official policy.

2) The "But the CM told me..." Group
This group was told by a CM when they purchased their mugs that the mugs were (pick one or both):
a) Good for life.
b) Good at any resort.
They feel that official policy, or not, what the CM told them is what matters. They say either WDW unfairly changed the rules on them after they bought the mugs, or they wouldn't have bought the mugs if the CM hadn't given them bad information. They generally feel like a "wronged" party, and advocate continued use of their old mugs until actively prevented from doing so by CMs. The fact that most of them have long since recouped the costs of their mugs in savings from free re-fills doesn't impact their feelings.

Whether or not the current official policy is a change from the past is another side debate. Some recall the policy has been consistent, but enforcement has steadily dropped off, others claim the original policy was "for life".

3) The "I give WDW a ton of my hard earned money" Group
This group, the smallest of the three, feels that it's no skin off of Disney's back if they reuse the mugs again, and again... policy or not. They cite things like the high prices of everything at WDW, the rumor that Coke gives WDW syrup for free, etc. etc. as their basis for their actions. They may also borrow mugs from friends, or buy them off of eBay, or use their Big Gulp mugs for their trips to WDW.

 

[Lewisc]

Geoff--Great post. You should keep it and repost for the next mug thread.

I look at the mug as an extra souvenir which I use at home. If you get enough refills the mug is "free". The (few) times I only used it 2 or 3 times I figured I still made out OK. I can understand people who transfer resorts using the mugs but I do have a problem understanding people who purchase used mugs on E-Bay. Seems like a lot of work and scheming to save a few dollars.

People on a strict budget would do better buying a case of soda on the way from the airport and avoid eating meals in the resort food courts.

 

[livsea2]

I didn't know I stepped on such a hot button issue. Thanks for the clairification. I have a mug from a past CBR stay. I would not bring it and use it again. However if Disney really doesn't allow them to be used at other resorts why would someone buy one for a short stay. Many people move from resort to resort during one visit to enjoy different experiences as I am. This is why they advertise the free transfer of your luggage. A cheap plastic mug doesn't have much souvenir value. I for one will not buy one unless they tell me I can use it at any resort I am staying. Disney of course, I don't expect to use it at Dolphin since that's owned by Starwood not Disney.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by livsea2
I didn't know I stepped on such a hot button issue.

Don't worry about it. This is just one of those issues that tend to come up over and over again and for some reason seem to degenerate into name calling. The result is a locked thread. Some people say you shouldn't discuss religion or politics with strangers if you want to avoid a big fight. On the DIS, the same thing can be said about refilllable mugs, smoking/non smoking, parking at the monorail resorts and room occupancy. (I probably missed a few).

if Disney really doesn't allow them to be used at other resorts why would someone buy one for a short stay.

At $2 (or more) for a soda or cup of coffee, you only need to buy 5 drinks before (as lewisc says) the mug is "free". I also consider the mugs as nice souvenirs and actually use them at home. In fact, I am enjoying a cup of coffee in one of mine as I type. The mugs are dishwasher safe and do a good job of keeping my coffee hot and my soda cold. JMHO. YMMV.

 

[DMRick]

I for one will not buy one unless they tell me I can use it at any resort I am staying.

Well that will be easy to be told. Just ask any CM at the food court check outs, and you'll be told you can use it at any resorts. That was a new one for me this year. I was used to being told that I could continue to bring the mug back, but this year was the first I over heard several times, people being told they can use them at any Disney resort. I did question both the CM and the food court manager (POR and AllStar Sports), and they seem to believe as food court managers they could make up the rules (I reported the full conversation a while back in a trip report).
I have my own opinion...and I do fit above in one of the above "groups". My opinion is I'll do as the food court manager tells me I can do (I always ask). I did notice this last trip that the sign saying good for length of visit was taken down at POR, and replaced with a sign above the drinks that just gives the price. I looked all over the food court (I had planned on taking a picture), and the sign was gone.
Since most people are told erroneous info (according to letters people have gotten back from Dis headquarters when asked (although one person was told that some food court managers have different rules), and a lot of people visiting are not on this board to see the arguments against the use, the mugs continue to be used over and over on later trips. I have no problem using my mug over and and over, since I always ask the food court manager...and so far I've always gotten a positive answer.
NYS has rules about going through red lights, but sometimes a cop will flag me through...I consider this similar...Dis has rules, and sometimes food court managers have made different decisions than Dis has. Dis realizes this, and seems to accept it.

 

[Geoff_M]

A cheap plastic mug doesn't have much souvenir value.

I suppose that's in the eye of the beholder. I think they're pretty nice souvenirs. We have sets from WL and PO and they've held up nicely at our house over the last couple of years.

 

[Geoff_M]

On the DIS, the same thing can be said about refilllable mugs, smoking/non smoking, parking at the monorail resorts and room occupancy. (I probably missed a few).

Add:
Mis-representing (AKA "Lying") your child's age to avoid higher admission costs.
Tatics to circumvent minimum ride heigths.
Taking meals into the park.
Whether or not the Poly "smells funny"?
On-site vs. Off-site.
All-Star Resorts vs. Off-site.
Does the S/D have the Disney "feel"?
Should they lower prices when they cut hours?
etc.
etc.

 

[Lewisc]

On the DIS, the same thing can be said about refilllable mugs, smoking/non smoking, parking at the monorail resorts and room occupancy. (I probably missed a few).

Also using pools at resorts you're not a guest of. Also I'm a guest of _______Is there any problem if 12 of my friends who are staying offsite join me (as my guest) in the pool or (if applicable) conceirage lounge.

Amazing how many people think if enough posters "give them permission" then it's OK.

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by livsea2
Are good at all the Disney properties. I thought the Dolphin/Swan would not be , but I thought I'd ask. Thanks!

No, the mugs are not good at all the Disney resorts. They are good only for the resort purchased at or sister resort a nd only for your length of stay.

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by livsea2
I didn't know. I read these reviews on wdwig. They make it seem like it is permitted. But only at the Disney run resorts.


We stayed at the All Star Sports. We used mugs from Coronado Springs, Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, All Star Movies & All Star Sports mugs from 1997 with the 25th anniversary logo. We had no problems whatsoever. We even filled them with the food court employees right near us. It saved us a bundle of money and made it much more affordable to eat at the Food Court. (Sue P., 8/00)

And this kind of abuse is what is going to make Disney take the mug program away.

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by livsea2
I didn't know I stepped on such a hot button issue. Thanks for the clairification. I have a mug from a past CBR stay. I would not bring it and use it again. However if Disney really doesn't allow them to be used at other resorts why would someone buy one for a short stay. Many people move from resort to resort during one visit to enjoy different experiences as I am. This is why they advertise the free transfer of your luggage. A cheap plastic mug doesn't have much souvenir value. I for one will not buy one unless they tell me I can use it at any resort I am staying. Disney of course, I don't expect to use it at Dolphin since that's owned by Starwood not Disney.

The mug program wasn't meant for people to buy them for a short stay. If you are looking to save a few bucks but aren't staying long then of course you don't need to buy it. It is a great deal for me no matter what length of my trip as it is a cheap souvenier. I like the travel mug from the WL and everytime I use it, it reminds me of the nice stay I had at the WL. No one is forced to buy the mug. If one doesn't think it a good deal then don't buy it it.