Refillable Mug Question

[Debbie]

Originally posted by skiwee1
It is so funny that those that choose not to follow rules, ie, pool hopping, mug reuse, more then 5 to a room, and so on always try to make the ones that DO FOLLOW THE RULES feel badly. Fortunately I'm quite confident that I do the right thing and will not be made to feel that I do wrong simply by following the rules.

Hmmmm. And I feel the exact opposite. I feel that the #1 people always intimate that the #2's are horrible, evil, stealing, immoral people. I've even read where someone never goes over the speed limit, not even by 1 mph, and, somehow, that makes them somehow better able to determine the morality of the mugs.

But, at least it took to the end of page 3 before someone chose to make it a moral issue. So, I'm saying thanks to Geoff again for making the choices clear to the opening post.

And, for maryliz:

Go, go go people, go fill up your mugs.
Fill them up quickly, before you get bugged.
Fill them up slowly, enjoy what you drink.
Do with them whatever YOUR humble mind thinks!

 

[DMRick]

It is so funny that those that choose not to follow rules, ie, pool hopping, mug reuse, more then 5 to a room, and so on always try to make the ones that DO FOLLOW THE RULES feel badly.

I don't pool hop, because I was told I can't (although if I asked and they said yes, I would), I don't put 5 in a room because I was told I can't, I DO reuse my mugs, because becasue I was told I can...I've yet to come in contact with a CM, etc, who says I can't..and in fact they encourage us to, and that's how I found out about the re-use. I woudl have never thought to bring them back, if it hasn't been suggeted as a way to encourage me to buy the mugs. I do see the signs, and if I purchased a mug today, I would go by what the signs say..unless the CM or food court manager told me not too : )

If the Big Gulp people got permission, then I have no problem with them using it..although I haven't ever seen on these boards where someone posted they asked about those and were told to fill 'em up...that to me is the difference. But on the other hand..it's not up to me to police them..there is almost always someone at the fountains..I'll leave it up to them to decide.

I would never try to make you feel bad because you are doing what is right for you..and I would expect the same curtesy. Someone mentioned morals, and I took that to be an insult, since I was given permission. I have very good morals. If I hadn't been told I could re-use the mugs when I purchased it, and if I hadn't asked, then maybe my morals could be attacked..but that's not the case.

skiwee1 wrote:

But I say I KNOW BETTER because I feel I KNOW the rule and choose to follow IT. That is my OPINION.

You know the "rule", and if you decided the "rule" on a sign is better followed than a CM, that's fine for you. I have no problem with you making that decision for yourself. Apparently, it's just signage, not a "rule" or the law, or the CM's and food court managers would be fired or at least told to stop telling us something different. I have no problem with however you wish to use or not use your mugs...at least this is the first mug thread, where someone on the "I won't bring back my mug" side actually admits they were told it's OK to reuse the mug LOL!

I prob ought to be slapped up the side of the head for the time I went into the men's room (sign was right on the door) which was empty, rather than wait for the long ladies room line. I asked the CM, and she watched out for me.

 

[Geoff_M]

Perhaps it's time to a a moment and try and pull this thread out of the downward spiral.

Ironically, the issue of "morality" wasn't introduced by an "official policy" person, but by baloo722 taking skiwee1 out of context.

Here's baloo722's post:

"there was an older CM who volunteered that the mugs were a great buy as they were good for life. I pointed out to him that the sign above the soda machine behind his head stated otherwise. He didn't care. He laughed and waived his hand at me and told me I could use them forever. I know better. .... it is so obvious that the system isn't meant for that type of abuse. "

THIS, my friends, is the problem...."I KNOW BETTER"...she just made general of the "self-appointed brigade, paratroopers division".

Here's what skiwee1 posted:

I pointed out to him that the sign above the soda machine behind his head stated otherwise. He didn't care. He laughed and waived his hand at me and told me I could use them forever. I know better. He was just being nice. Nothing is good forever. I go by the rules that are posted on the soda machine and menus. I am one of thoes people that would not take something for free as it is so obvious that the system isn't meant for that type of abuse.

The misuse of the context is that the "I know better" comment was referring to the comment from the CM that the mugs were "good for life". The fact that CM's openly refuse to follow the policy today does not mean the mugs are "good for life". That's a logical fact... it's not being a moralist or an attempt to police or bully others. How can you honestly tell people they are "good for life" when we start to see added signage and the newest mug re-designs seem to foreshadow that management may be getting ready to start enforcing the policy???

As for the "it is so obvious that the system isn't meant for that type of abuse" comment... You can argue about whether it's "abuse", but from the signage, written replies from Disney, and now the re-design of some of the mugs to include the non-vauge "good for current stay only" lingo, that the people at Disney that control the mug program at the top of the WDW food chain consider the reuse of the mugs as against their wishes. Our historical experience is that once the "mis-use" reaches a certain point, often times such programs are oten discountinued.

It was interesting to see people take the bait and then baloo722 flipped over to the "holier than thou" thread on the Debate board and tell people over there to come here for a good laugh at the "HTT" people here.

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by >>^..^<<
The BEST comment I've seen on the mug thread was actually not a comment at all... it was the BIG PHOTOGRAPH of the Refillable Mug Rules at Wilderness Lodge that states the refill policy in black and white.

I can't believe guests can read this but think it does not appy to them because some nameless CM once told them once that refills were for life.

The big issue here is money ~ those who will spend it and those who will not.

>>^..^<<

I stand corrected, the second best comment was to buy some bottles of soda.

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by >>^..^<<
skiwee1

On another thread today you wrote about no one having a problem paying under two bucks for a sandpail and spade at BC.

After this thread ~ I am rethinking that!

>>^..^<<

I agree! Two bucks might break someone's bank!

 

[DMRick]

How can you honestly tell people they are "good for life"

I don't know..how can they? And why do they continue to do so? Cause their bosses (the food court managers) allow it and encourage it. I guess I figure my old mugs are grandfathered in..just like my right to practice my profession, which now insists on licensing (I was grandfathered..never did have to get a license). I don't care if you decide to not refill your mugs, and I assume you don't care if I do. When I replace these, I'll go by the nowaday rules (unless, as stated earlier, I'm still told it's fine to bring them back)..you go by the sign, I'll go by the person..but for now, I'll go by what was told when I purchased them..before the signs : )
I get a kick out of re-using the mugs from a long ago trip, that were purchased because of urging from a CM : )

As far as this post being posted on another board..how silly is that!!

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by DMRick
I don't pool hop, because I was told I can't (although if I asked and they said yes, I would), I don't put 5 in a room because I was told I can't, I DO reuse my mugs, because becasue I was told I can...I've yet to come in contact with a CM, etc, who says I can't..and in fact they encourage us to, and that's how I found out about the re-use. I woudl have never thought to bring them back, if it hasn't been suggeted as a way to encourage me to buy the mugs. I do see the signs, and if I purchased a mug today, I would go by what the signs say..unless the CM or food court manager told me not too : )

If the Big Gulp people got permission, then I have no problem with them using it..although I haven't ever seen on these boards where someone posted they asked about those and were told to fill 'em up...that to me is the difference. But on the other hand..it's not up to me to police them..there is almost always someone at the fountains..I'll leave it up to them to decide.

I would never try to make you feel bad because you are doing what is right for you..and I would expect the same curtesy. Someone mentioned morals, and I took that to be an insult, since I was given permission. I have very good morals. If I hadn't been told I could re-use the mugs when I purchased it, and if I hadn't asked, then maybe my morals could be attacked..but that's not the case.

skiwee1 wrote:


You know the "rule", and if you decided the "rule" on a sign is better followed than a CM, that's fine for you. I have no problem with you making that decision for yourself. Apparently, it's just signage, not a "rule" or the law, or the CM's and food court managers would be fired or at least told to stop telling us something different. I have no problem with however you wish to use or not use your mugs...at least this is the first mug thread, where someone on the "I won't bring back my mug" side actually admits they were told it's OK to reuse the mug LOL!

I prob ought to be slapped up the side of the head for the time I went into the men's room (sign was right on the door) which was empty, rather than wait for the long ladies room line. I asked the CM, and she watched out for me.

I guess I don't take everything a CM says to me as correct. Another example: I bought my 3 y/o an AP voucher. When we went to WDW, we ended up at Guest Services at MK to turn in the voucher for a real AP. The CM looked at DD and asked if we really wanted to turn in the voucher. She said that DD could easily pass for under 3 and therefore wouldn't need the AP. She went on to say that since the voucher was good forever that I could keep it and activate it when DD looked like she was 3 or older. This coming from a WDW sanctioned CM. Do you honestly think Disney execs want their CMs saying this? Does a CM telling me this make it okay to steal from WDW? Even though right behind the CM was a sign giving prices for tickets ages 3 and older! So I chose to go with the obvious which was the sign stating the rules. I didn't get a mouse's behind what the CM said. I knew better! That isn't any different IMO then reusing the mugs just because a CM told you to. As far as me having problem with others reusing mugs I don't say anything to them as I'm not the Disney police but I certainly think it is wrong. That is my opinion and I stand by it. If you ask me I will tell you but I would never go up to someone and tell them what I REALLY think! I don't have to live with those people nor they with me. I realize Disney is expensive and some cannot afford it but it isn't mandatory to buy the mug in the first place. It isn't mandatory to even to to WDW. The last time I looked it wasnt Disney, Death, and Taxes.

 

[Geoff_M]

DMRick,

No, I don't care if you refill you mug with the permission of the CMs on duty. And I don't think your mortal soul is in peril for doing so. I think we can all agree that this is a "problem" that Disney has brought on themselves and only they have the power to change. Like someone else said, for the most part, Disney now offers their resort guests free soft drinks.

Will your mugs continue to be grandfathered? Who knows! Only time will tell. But I think we're starting to see tell-tale signs of possible change.

In the mean time... what the correct answer everytime a poor newbie DIS'er pops on here and asks "Is it OK to re-use my mugs I bought when we where there a couple of years ago?" I think a perfectly proper response is to give them the policy. I also don't think it's a problem to tell them that the CMs are likely to give them the "OK" if they ask to re-use them. The only thing I have an issue with is telling them "sure, they're good for life" and then try to say that signs don't mean what they say or that Disney doesn't wish that their policy to followed. baloo722, if that makes me a HTT "bully", then so be it.

 

[peachgirl]

I realize I'm adding to the count but I have to ask...


How on earth are you people able to come up with nearly 70 different things to say about a penny's worth of soft drinks???????

 

[Geoff_M]

peachgirl,

Apparently you haven't heard... Everybody knows Disney gets their Coke syrup for free!!!

 

[>>^..^<<]

Peachgirl - surely you have more business sense than that?

it's pennies per drink... per person... per day... per year...

The Mug Men alone are drinking 2.5 billions worth

>>^..^<<

 

[DMRick]

Geoff:

In the mean time... what the correct answer when a newbie DIS'er pops on here and asks "Is it OK to re-use my mugs I bought

I think the correct answer is that the policy now is such and such, and in the past has been such and such. Might be best to ask when you are there. I agree with your entire post, so no argument from me.

Ski:

As far as me having problem with others reusing mugs I don't say anything to them as I'm not the Disney police but I certainly think it is wrong. That is my opinion and I stand by it.

And you're welcome to your opinion. You can't change mine, since I do ask, and don't feel it's wrong. The signage was not there when I bought my mug (although it's there now, and STILL the CMs and food court managers are sayign it's fine), and we'll see where Disney goes with it.

Obviously if I thought it was wrong to do I wouldn't..and sometimes CM's have said things that bothered me (such as..we won't charge since she looks to be under 3)..but this isn't one of them. It's not like one morally deprived CM says the mugs are fine to bring back...it's the Food Court Managers as well as the suits when approached in person, and all the CM's I have ever encountered in the food courts. In this case, I see no reason to not believe Disney knows people are being told to bring back the mugs. Has nothing to do with the paltry amount the mugs cost for me..everything to do with the kick I get from bringing them back (and told it was alright), and the past memories.

 

[DMRick]

How on earth are you people able to come up with nearly 70 different things to say about a penny's worth of soft drinks???????

We don't..we just keep saying the same things over and over, thinking that maybe the other person will really read what we wrote, and agree to disagree, instead of inferring it's a bad bad thing to do : )

 

[Geoff_M]

DMRick,

Thanks...

I see no reason to not believe Disney knows people are being told to bring back the mugs.

I wouldn't be so sure about that. Undoubtly they know they're being reused against their wishes, but I wouldn't be so sure they're completely aware of the extent of the CM's behavior. As one poster here reported, they change their tune to guests when the "big wigs" (above local management) are about. The CMs can also often feign ignorance since in places like WL, the design hasn't changed for a long time.

 

[DMRick]

As one poster here reported, they change their tune to guests when the "big wigs" (above local management) are about.

Actually it was one of the "big wigs" I talked to at POR, when there was a bunch of them having a meeting about renovations..I got to say a lot fo him, in fact LOL! And when you call, and wade through the red tape of transfers and watch the phone bill go up, you are told what the signage says now, and you are also told it is not enforced. So maybe there are plans down the road somewhere to do so, but for not it's as in the past..

 

[packy]

Geoff_M

If Disney really wanted to adopt a clear policy, they would put the year on the mug, a single year not 2003-2004 as someone stated on one mug. The policy sign would be very simple, something like 'You can only use a [fill in the resort name] resort refillable mug with the year [fill in the year] for free refills at this restaurant'. The remarkable thing about Disney is their attention to detail - do you really think that they couldn't figure this out if they wanted to? I think they want you to use your mugs again so that you make multiple trips to the food courts and snack bars where you will probably buy something else while you are there - why do you think 7-Eleven has refillable coffee mugs? Also, they probably don't want to have to constantly print new mugs with new years running the risk of running out of mugs or having to throw away all of the mugs with year dates that they didn't sell. If Disney didn't have refillable mugs a great many people would just stock soda or ice tea in their room and use the glasses and ice in the hotels and skip the extra visits to the snack bar for drinks. I think they know exactly what they are doing and, that is, to allow you to reuse you mug on a subsequent visit to the same hotel.

 

[peachgirl]

I wouldn't be so sure they're completely aware of the extent of the CM's behavior.

This is a joke, right?


Disney knows all and sees all where the CM's are concerned. Very, very little gets passed them. The one thing you can be sure of is that the CM's aren't running amuck making their own rules about anything, then straightening up and flying right when the suits are around.

Disney doesn't work that way.


That's not to say that there isn't a crazed CM out there now and then who takes it upon themselves to allow a guest to do something they shouldn't. That's very rare and if that CM makes a habit of it, they won't be a CM for very long.

Note that I did not once mention anything about the mug issue! I refuse to be a party to this madness!!!

 

[DMRick]

Note that I did not once mention anything about the mug issue! I refuse to be a party to this madness!!!

Welcome to the party..you posted and now you are one of us LOL!!

 

[packy]

Peachgirl - like your post but you don't get away that easy. You just couldn't resist - as such, you are now part of the collective.

 

[MrsPete]

Don't forget, there's a "Type 4" personality too. We realize that $10 (price of a mug) will buy four or five 12-packs of soda on sale at Eckerds. We bring our own canned sodas and save big bucks without any debate about right and wrong mug usage.