Refillable Mug Question

[DjDisney]

After just getting back from the WL I actually saw a couple using thier mugs from the ASR .. No one actually watchs you refill them . its just up to you if you want to risk it. I have been there 2 years in a row and used the same ones over it was the same mug.. have fun it is a great place to stay I love it!

 

[Lewisc]

I am in category 1. I use the mugs at home. Even if the policy changed I think I'd still buy new mugs. Each free refill lowers the effective cost of the souvenir mug. Probably the cheapest souvenir of my trip. I've gone so far as to buy a mug at the end of a stay (maybe 2 refills) just so I'd have the mug.

BTW the signage is pretty clear. Present tense. Singular form. Purchase mug "your entire stay" not stays.

Some of the people (certainly no one posting here) who think they are in category 2 are really in category 3. Sorry but the signage really is pretty clear.

The failure of Disney to DO anything to enforce the rule, even to the point of ignoring 7-11 mugs, certainly gives people the right to look to category 3 (Disney has chosen, by default to offer free drinks to their guests).

I think CM's (and Disney) have decided it isn't worth it to either confront guests (call them theives) or ending self-service refills.

 

[HunnyPots]

But our CBR mugs, purchased in June, have the "unlimited refills until the end of your stay" policy printed on the mug. They also have "2003-2004" printed on them, as well.

 

[Geoff_M]

Don't know if this helps...

Thanks for the info, but I doubt it will make a bit of difference. Some people will point out that the statement wasn't vetted by Disney legal staff because you could argue that "stay" could mean "current" or "future" ones. And even though Disney has taken the effort to erect signs, post notices on dispensers, and now has started printing the policy on the mugs.... most CM's will still not act to enforce the policy and still openly tell people that it's OK to re-use them.

 

[bubbleprincessmom]

Okay heres what happened to us. We were staying at ASMu last Feb and had purchased their mugs. On the second day we went to Fantasmic and got hot chocolate in a mug and it was the SAME mug as I had purchased at the food court. My son got a Fantasmic themed mug and my daughter was given the ASMu mug, should we have locked that one away not to be used again? Of course it got used. On the fourth day of an eight day stay my daughter was injured by a group of cheerleaders (DON'T even get me started on them! this group needs MUCH more supervision! we were troubled by them the entire time we were there....okay I said not to start)anyway to help make my daughter "feel better" (she was burned by one of them) Disney saw that it would be easier to move us to another resort than move 5000 cheerleaders. We were moved to the Animal Kingdom lodge (now THATS what I call an upgrade) while checking in I mentioned that I had already purchased the mugs at the ASMu and would I need to repurchase theirs. The CM told me of course not feel free to use the ones we already had. Would I take it back on a future trip?, no, the kids love them as keepsakes and I would hate for Disney to drop the program for abuse and have to pay per drink. Of course Disney has to set a policy and stick with it, change the mugs every year make sure no other venue sells them (it was a whole lot cheaper for that mug of chocolate!) etc, so it may be more cost effective to just look the other way.

 

[maryliz]

I'm a number 2 !!! Glad to see this hasn't become a debate about morals

Mary Liz

 

[Disneymoon04]

***Sorry to go off topic but... ***

bubbleprincessmom -
do you mind me asking WHEN in Feb you were there? We're going next Feb and that's one of my main concerns - cheerleaders/sports teams.

 

[lwestwise]

We were just there the begining of June and were told that the "big wig" have told them that they are only good for the stay when purchased, but the employees said they would not abide by that rule unless the "big wigs" were there. The also honor the WL at FW, now, unless the "big wigs" are there, of course.
Hope this helps.

 

[robinb]

Originally posted by HunnyPots
But our CBR mugs, purchased in June, have the "unlimited refills until the end of your stay" policy printed on the mug. They also have "2003-2004" printed on them, as well.

That doesn't hold true for all resort mugs. My Beach Club and AKL mugs purchased in June & July of this year do have have the policy or the dates on them. Personally, I think the dates would be pretty cool .

 

[DMRick]

I'm a 2..although I do recognize the signage has changed (several times) since I bought them. No signage when I first bought them..and just the usual CM telling me good forever. But even though some of the signage has changed, each trip I hear the CM's at the register telling the customer they can be brought back. It was just last year that I heard for the first time, at POR, a customer being told they were good everywhere. I posted at that time, that the bigwigs were there talking about the future of POR, and I asked..and they said they really didn't care one way or another.

I did see last Fall, a sign at AllStar Sports saying length of current trip, both on the wall and over the drinks. However, when I went to take a picture in April..both were gone. By the elevators was an old sign..and it just mentioned they were refillable..that was the sign they used to have in the cafeteria.

To feel guilt free each visit (although it's only on this board that any thought that I should feel guilty comes up..and actually those against it think I SHOULD feel guilty..but I don't...since I know what I was told. I do ask the food court manager. If they OK it, it's good enough for me. So far none have said no, but if they did, I would buy a new mug. I would feel guilty if I refilled non resort mugs, and paper cups..since I was never told that was OK.

If Disney is now putting on the mugs the date and the statement when the mugs can be used, it looks like the old mugs will eventually die out, and we'll all go by what I consider "the new rules". Looks like that's how Disney is handling it..but so far, it seems the old mugs are grandfathered in.

 

[Geoff_M]

lwestwise,

You've encapsulated the situation perfectly with the report from the CM(s) you talked to. The policy is there, it exists, management wants it enforced, but the front line troops realize they cannot effectively do it... so they don't. I can't blame them. The re-fill centers are often self standing and there's no CM stationed there. To stop someone, either a cashier or a food server would have to leave their station, walk around, and then ask the person to not use the mug. That slows things down, they look like a "bad guy", and so they basically say "Look, we're not supposed to let you do that... but we're not gonna stop you."

Changing mug designs or printing the policy on the mugs will have minimal effect in this environment. Until management decides that the cost of the lost product is greater than the cost of the solution (extra CMs, bar code scanners, etc.) then I doubt it will change. It sort of reminds me of a situation I heard from an FBI agent in the mid-80's. The guy specialized in computer crimes (still kinda new back then). He talked about how easy it was to rip-off American Express at one time. All you had to do was make a bogus lost traveler's check claim at one of their claims centers late at night. At that time, American Express didn't run their mainframe computers 24 hours a day. So there was no way to confirm that the "lost" checks were valid, AmEx would issue "new" checks on the spot and the scam was complete. AmEx knew they were being ripped off, but decided that the cost of keeping the system up around the clock was more than the amount of the bogus claims.

 

[goofy4tink]

My grandmother would have said that if it stopped 1/2 the people from doing it, then the policy worked!! Now, when we were at DxL in '99 we bought 3 mugs. One for my dd who only drank hot chocolate out of it...once a day!! We go back in '01, to POR. I take the mugs with me. Big pain in the behind to pack!! What do I do when I get there?? Yep, buy new ones because I like the new style that fits in my car's cup holder!!! Now, we have 6 of the blasted things. And will I buy them at the Polynesian next month? You bet your bippy!! And Geoff_M...so what would 'Jacob, a fine example of a family man' do with his sons(and ddil's) and the mug question??

 

[Debbie]

Originally posted by goofy4tink
...so what would 'Jacob, a fine example of a family man' do with his sons(and ddil's) and the mug question??

Hmmm. Share the mugs, saving the most colourful for Joseph? Drink the bitter w(h)ine at France? (My FAVOURITE musical, btw!)

 

[BrerMom]

Originally posted by goofy4tink
And Geoff_M...so what would 'Jacob, a fine example of a family man' do with his sons(and ddil's) and the mug question??

Why, hide them in Benjamin's luggage, of course!

 

[Dopey's twin Dippy]

hi. we stay at the all stars every years. last year i did bring our mugs with us. we have 3 from music, 1 from movies. I feel there is nothing wrong withthat. I dont agree on people that i see with 7 -11 cups, or actually one day every on was laughing because there was a guy filling up the GIANT THING that almost looked like a huge tank with a hose. THat was a bit RIDICULOUS. But no one says anything to anybody. By the way I am addicted to DIET COKE, which doesnt quench your thirst at all. AT home free refills at papa ginos or burger king i abosolutely love. lol. im sure they make their money back. I would be the first to stop if asked though, cause its our fav. place on earth.lol

 

[>>^..^<<]

I have a question for the DIS'ers that were told by a CM

"Yes ~ resorts are refillable for life"

Had that CM said "No ~ this is a per trip thing" would you have followed that rule or would you have asked another CM, then another CM, then another CM ~ until you recieved the answer you wanted?

I am obviously in the Category 1 group ~ however, having said that ~ more power to the Mug People ~ it can't be a picnic packing those things, rinsing them out constantly, long walks to refill them and waiting to do so, just to save a few bucks ~ at least all the effort is justifiable when you don't have to keep paying.

>>^..^<<

 

[~Sparkly~Zoe]

Does the swan have one? I know the Dolphin does.

 

[wendyq]

Yipee, going with whole family in 13 days for a week.
Just got my final itinerary from DU travel and in some of the "tips" that were included it says that the mugs at Boardwalk Inn are $3.25 and "no free refills". I haven't read this anywhere else and was wondering if this is true or outdated material.

Just as an observation and in no way being judgmental, I can't see stressing over reusing "mugs" and saving a few bucks when you consider how much the whole trip is costing! But, then again, I spend too much money anyway. Guess I could take a few tips from some "savers".

Pixie dust to all!

 

[DMRick]

The re-fill centers are often self standing and there's no CM stationed there.

At the All Stars there has always been at least one person at the refill bar at all times cleaning up and restocking butter, tea, hot chocolate, etc. It would be very easy to tell someone no..but the problem here isn't that someone would now say no..it's the CM's that ALL say yes.

Had that CM said "No ~ this is a per trip thing" would you have followed that rule or would you have asked another CM, then another CM, then another CM ~ until you recieved the answer you wanted?

I didn't start out asking them..they offered it to me. It's not something I would have thought could be brought back. The thought never crossed my mind, until we were already purchasing them, and the gal said to be sure and bring them back on furure trips. We were told that years ago at All Stars and more recently at POR. I have also heard people being told that (as well as "Good at all resorts") much more recently..and have seen how surprised they have been. Because of the mug police on these boards we now always ask (albeit just the once at the begining of our trip)...and apparently, as I said earlier..we figure we are grandfathered in, since the food court managers have no problem with it. Policies do change and it just appear that mugs sold now, are for length of trip.

For those of you never told to bring them back, I could see why you might feel uncomfortable..but for those of us who have been told to bring 'em on back..well, no bad feelings for me. Just like some people take advantage of a free room upgrade that they aren't paying for, because the CM offers it..I take advantage of a free cup refill offered to me by a CM. Both seem to be CM decisions made, and both make us happy: )

 

[Disneymoon04]

Originally posted by DMRick
Just like some people take advantage of a free room upgrade that they aren't paying for, because the CM offers it..I take advantage of a free cup refill offered to me by a CM. Both seem to be CM decisions made, and both make us happy: )

That's an excellent point... how is it really any different? I doubt anyone refuses free room upgrades or accepts the offer but only if they pay for it... but please correct me if I'm wrong.