Refillable Mugs.... Disclaimer

[Karate Kid]

Well then, there's always The Other Karate Kid:

http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0005476/

If she tells me to drop the mug, I'm droppin' the mug!

That would require a whole different karate Kid pose, if you know what I mean...

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Well then, there's always The Other Karate Kid:

http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0005476/

If she tells me to drop the mug, I'm droppin' the mug!

Did you see "Million Dollar Baby"? She could crush the original AKA "ol' baldy" with one hand!

 

[Geoff_M]

I don't think the philosophy goes into detail as such though. If the company wanted to, or yourself, wanted to re-write the philosophy with a whole bunch of do's and don'ts, by all means I would agree with you. You're arguing the pronunciation of 'tomato'. There is no answer, as the person who made up the word isn't alive to tell you so.

Not once in my Traditions seminar was I told that I must beware stingy guests and only to allow perks as a means to make magic. Nope, I could get out all of old crap and I'm pretty sure somewhere in there it says 'do what ever you can to create Disney Magic'. With an open ended policy like that, who are you to dictate what is 'right' and what is 'wrong' for a CM to do for you, or the family next to you while on a visit?

Take a deep breath for a second... I'm not dictating anything. I'm merely pointing out a fact... if you promise something to a customer that you cannot deliver, there is the possibility of a backlash if the promise is broken. You are quite possibly right that you will be able to will your CBR mugs and your great-great-grandkids can continue to enjoy the bottomless Coke that they offer, but I do think that it's within the realm of possibility that things could change. When the Orlando Sentinel wrote that Disney would soon install barcode controlled Coke dispensers like the ones at the water parks, there were more than a few people here that said they felt "cheated" by Disney and some were going to demand their money back for the mugs on their next visit because the CM that sold them the mugs said they were would offer "Free re-fills for life"!

That story never came to pass, but based with the added verbage on the mugs and the added signage, there appears to be groups within the WDW hierarchy that want more control over their dispensing of soft drinks. For now, they appear to be in the minority, but that could change. For that matter WDW could have a change of mind and decide to increase food service revenues by discontinuing the mug program all together.

Will any of this come to pass? Perhaps not... But if faced with two ways to answer "Yes" to the "Can I re-use this mug?" question, why pick the one ("Sure, they're good for life!") that may jump up and create PR problems down the road?

Your argument is based on speculation...and unless you get confirmation from Eisner...or the head of Disey World Food and Beverage Services would suffice...I think you're outgunned.

One thing I've learned in the business world... change is constant. That isn't speculation. WDW has made many changes to the way it does business in recent years that haven't sat well with many of the their long time patrons. There are few sacred cows left. For your your Park Hopper analogy, it had always been stated officially that they never expired... not so for the mugs. Also, voiding unused PH passes would trigger lawsuits quicker than you can say "Jiminy Cricket"

Unless you become a board member of the Disney Company Philosophy steering committee...I think your 'right' and 'wrongs' mean very little.

Tell that to the people what were hot when the news reported that the barcode dispensers were going to be installed.

Oh and sorry, to answer your question. No one is debating the fact that lying is completely different than expecting a company (who prides themselves in exceeding expectations) to honour a statement made at the point of sale during a tmie when policy was such.

Where have I said that anyone has "lied" about any of this?

 

[Muziqal]

Did you see "Million Dollar Baby"? She could crush the original AKA "ol' baldy" with one hand!

Maybe that's why she dropped the K.K. franchise name like the moldy cheese it is, and went for a new name - long live Mo Cuishle! Well...sort of...

and oh goodness Geoff, I only have 5 minutes before I go home...don't have time to get into all of that now. But I still think it's similar to the ticket situation...their policy on honouring prices paid at the time the ticket was bought is quite similar to honouring mug refills to people who bought the mugs when the policy was open ended.

Change is a funny thing...and I'm not opposed to it by any means. At the end of the day, Disney is a company and must make money to be viable. But at what expense? Sacrificing company philosophy and comprimising the values of the man who dreamed the dream? Comes down to the money grubbers and the legacy, doesn't it? Who will be the victor? Good vs. Evil...an age old battle.

Learn what you want in the business world, but I think Disney is successful because of the values Walt instilled in the co. philosophy. Move away from that (and no it's not our decision) and I think there wouldn't be as many people left to sell soda to? Surely company values and ethics still mean something in this world, don't they?

Point of fact present day - I can refill my mug bought in '97 because of an open ended policy Disney implemented. I can use a day on my park hopper from 97 at the gate today even though I paid considerably less. A CM would say 'yes' if I asked him/her for either as it is the company's philosophy to do so. Any other argument is fallable as it can not be proven to contradict the above.

 

[DisneyWisher]

If they do pay for the soday syrup, at the volume they consume, Disney is paying around a nickel per soft drink refill. I don't think someone bringing their old mug back is hurting the stock. Plus think of the environment, you can save a lot of landfill space by reusing that old mug. LOL

I don't think it even cost that much. Try this. Go grab your old mug, fill it with ice and pour a 12 oz can of coke or whatever you drink into, fills it up Huh? Without ice a mug is 16 oz. We started staying at Disney's resorts back in May'96 (never looked back). Right after check-in we would head to the food court to buy our mugs($5.99 a the time). Because we had annual passes and thanks to All-Stars we were able to go about 4 times a year. We had a lot of mugs. We never took them back because I always forgot to pack them. I think we took them back once or twice. About 3 years ago I stopped buying the mugs because they were a waste of money in my opinion (especially since they are only good at the resort and how much are you there to refill them anyway). My daughters were 17, 15, and 7 at the time. Since we always had canned sodas and a cooler for the drive to Disney the girls would just grab a cold coke from there. I can buy a case of coke for about $6. Even if everyone drank 4 cans a day and we are usually only there for 3 nights at a time. Thats basically 48 cans or about $12. If I bought the mugs it would be about $48 plus tax. Not worth it in my opinion.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

I know that many companies that purchase mass quantities of soda, like Disney, do get huge breaks on syrup prices. Specifically, at McDonalds, they break even on their burgers because they are more expensive to produce. They are used as loss leader, to get customers in the doors, to buy the sodas and fries, where cost is close to zero, and profit margins are huge!

 

[LakeAriel]

OK ,so my VWL mug from 2003 says nothing about expiring with the visit! The AKL one I bought in 2004 does. When I return to VWL later this month my mugs are coming with me. I was told I could use them anytime I came. You would think they would be happy you were back! So there!

 

[Muziqal]

OK ,so my VWL mug from 2003 says nothing about expiring with the visit! The AKL one I bought in 2004 does. When I return to VWL later this month my mugs are coming with me. I was told I could use them anytime I came. You would think they would be happy you were back! So there!

Good job! Power to the people! May you use your mug as you should. Bottoms up!

I feel like I'm inciting a revolution..a revolution against the Dis MUG POLICE!! Die coppers...die...

pfft...and my Mom used to say I'd never do anything worth while with my life...

 

[Sammie]

Thanks...

On a site note, while I understand Disney's philosophy of "GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO EXCEED EVERY GUEST'S EXPECTATIONS", there's a right way and a wrong way to do it. A CM winking and telling a guest something like "Normally they're only good for one visit, but you can go ahead..." is a lot different than a cashier telling a guest considering a mug purchase that "They're good for life!" (as many here have reported being told). The former gives the guest a "perk" while acknowledging the policy while the later builds an expectation. If that expectation isn't met, hard feelings are a likely result. CMs shouldn't be telling people the mugs are good forever... it's not a promise they can deliver on. CMs should limit such comments to what they can personally influence... the here and now.

Thank you Geoff and I do get it actually as obviously you do.

My point is I would never put a CM on the spot to have to answer a question that I already know the answer to. If you email Disney and ask what the policy is you will get the same thing that is printed on the mug. To ask the CM this is a no win situation for the CM. And my reference to asking a minimum wage CM versus a manager is the CM making minium wage truly does not care, regardless of policy. The manager does.

It only bothers me because I don't understand why some know the policy and choose to ignore it. I don't buy the old mug/unlimted refills excuse as that no longer applies. I wish tickets cost what they did in '71 but they don't. The lost revenue is passed on to everyone, including those that know and abide by the new policy. That part bothers me, and it's the reason mugs cost more now. This is the reason it is not heavily enforced. Disney is not losing money, they pass that cost onto everyone else in food prices, mug prices etc.

I don't go to Disney and enforce thier policies for them. I don't glare at anyone that reuses an old mug. But I am entitled to my opinion as much as anyone else on these forums and at least I don't call anyone names because they disagree with me. Basically I enjoy the debate.

If Disney truly does not care and supported the theory of unlimited refills for life, why did they put the new policy on all the mugs?

I do have friends that work for Disney, and I do know they pay for their soda. I know that lost revenue is passed on to the customer and I do know people who work for Disney in Food and Beverage management that state that no one remembers a policy stating the mugs were good for life. Bascially most state that they actually never even considered that people would make the effort to bring them back so they did not feel a policy was needed at the time. The new policy is a direct result of abuse though. My opinons are based on these facts.

I think the most amusing fact of the mug discussion is if you call CRO and ask do they have any discounts for a certain date, everyone on these forums will repeatedly state, "call again" and state that half the time the CM does not even know what they are talking about. Someone posted the other day they could not believe how little the CMs at Disney do know. A CM they spoke to did not know what restaurants were included on the dining plan. There are many examples on these board stating how one CM will tell you one thing and you can ask another and get a different answer and everyone will support that theory.

The only expection is the CM that has mug info, they are never wrong.

 

[DMRick]

And my reference to asking a minimum wage CM versus a manager is the CM making minium wage truly does not care, regardless of policy.
*********
Actually that is not always true. We do ask the manager at the food courts (all our mugs are the older ones except POP) and they have always said , sure, we stand by what you were told. For mugs bought now, under the new policy, the manager at POP told us the CM's will not tell you anymore they are good for life, as the newer mugs are not. Of course someone just posted a CM did say that at POP, but I have talked with CM's and the food court manager and they now say (or are suppose to say) good for the current stay. The managers at Music and Sports last time we were there have repeatedly said the old may be used the new are for current stays. All that said, they have also said they have no plans to stop someone. It's been a few years since I talked in depth to a suit who was going over some plans in the POR food court. He said they just don't worry about it, since so few actually bring them back. I did talk to him at that time about the "free" soda, and he said that while they are not paying for it, they are also advertising (such as the big coke glass and other icons) at the All Stars and other places, in exchange, and deal only in Coke soft drink products..and that they could be getting money for that instead, so there actually is (or was at that time) a cost involved...advertising in exchange for syrup. I too think these threads are amusing, since no one will ever change how they feel, just because someone says they should obey the "rules". We really are a small amount of people on this board, and really, there are a ton of mugs sold each hour at Disney and a very small % brings them back. Disney just doesn't seem to care at this time.

 

[Sammie]

And my reference to asking a minimum wage CM versus a manager is the CM making minium wage truly does not care, regardless of policy.
*********
Actually that is not always true. We do ask the manager at the food courts (all our mugs are the older ones except POP) and they have always said , sure, we stand by what you were told. For mugs bought now, under the new policy, the manager at POP told us the CM's will not tell you anymore they are good for life, as the newer mugs are not. Of course someone just posted a CM did say that at POP, but I have talked with CM's and the food court manager and they now say (or are suppose to say) good for the current stay. The managers at Music and Sports last time we were there have repeatedly said the old may be used the new are for current stays. All that said, they have also said they have no plans to stop someone. It's been a few years since I talked in depth to a suit who was going over some plans in the POR food court. He said they just don't worry about it, since so few actually bring them back. I did talk to him at that time about the "free" soda, and he said that while they are not paying for it, they are also advertising (such as the big coke glass and other icons) at the All Stars and other places, in exchange, and deal only in Coke soft drink products..and that they could be getting money for that instead, so there actually is (or was at that time) a cost involved...advertising in exchange for syrup. I too think these threads are amusing, since no one will ever change how they feel, just because someone says they should obey the "rules". We really are a small amount of people on this board, and really, there are a ton of mugs sold each hour at Disney and a very small % brings them back. Disney just doesn't seem to care at this time.

Thanks Rick for sharing your take. I posted to your theft thread, so sorry to hear about that.

 

[bethd1321]

My family and I stayed at WL last July 4th, and bought the mugs. However, on a trip to the Roarin' Fork to refill, we asked the CM working the register why some people had bigger and different mugs. He responded that those people were using old mugs from previous trips and that Disney allows this. We assumed that was true and had planned on bringing our mugs back this year. There was no disclaimer on our cups and we assumed everyone did this. Until reading these boards, I had no idea how many people got fired up over this. C'mon!!!!

 

[roger_ramjet]

I'm getting deja vu reading about these stupid bloody mugs.

 

[chobie]

And my reference to asking a minimum wage CM versus a manager is the CM making minium wage truly does not care, regardless of policy. The manager does.

Maybe then they should pay them more, since paying higher wages insures employees will care about policies that prevent loss of profits.