Refillable mugs worth it?

[pixiewytch]

Hi, we are staying at pop for four nights. I see all this hooplah about refillable mugs but will we really get our money's worth? For the three days we are there we will be at the parks all day, probably only spending time at the resort in the evening and early in the morning before we leave.

What about my four year old? Do they have kid sized ones or are they all the same? I'm just not so sure I want to give him free reign at the slushie or soda machine with a huge mug, you know? Has anyone just bought one or two and shared them instead of buying one for their child?

I would just like some input on this one.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

All the Mugs are the same size.

Since there are no fridges at Pop (unless you signed up for the swap or pay $10 a day), the refillable mug may be an option.

I don't see a problem with getting one or two and sharing them between you guys, especially if you like the slushies.

We get because A) I looooooove fountain pop (it's strange but true) and B) I think it's a pretty cool (and useful) souviener.

 

[cantondisneyfamily]

All mugs are the same size, if your only at the resort for a short stay then buying them may not be a good idea. You could only buy one and share the mug no one ever checks when you refill them. It is nice to have the mugs back home after your trip so you can be reminded of your trip. We have mugs from Wilderness lodge, CBR, POP, OKW, Blizzard beach and use them at home all the time. Have Fun

 

[pixiewytch]

I would definitely like to have at least one for a souvenir. DH loves to have his fully leaded coffee in the morning and I share DS's sweet tooth so maybe we'll get two, one for DH and one for DS and I to share the slushie treats.

 

[Gina]

Well, I am betting that for one thing, that "all day in the parks" thing is quickly going to change with a 4 year old in tow. We have "nap time" built into every day at WDW, and we're 3 adults and a 10 year old. Even if it's not a nap, it's relax/unwind/take-it-easy time, and it's critical to our enjoyment of the rest of the day.

For us, the mugs have always proven to be a great value. It's a must for my coffee in the morning, and hot chocolate at night, and a cherry Coke or two in the middle of the day when we go back to rest. Plus, it's a great souvenier! Even being on the dining plan for our upcoming trip, with drinks included, we figured out that we'd still definitely get our money's worth with the mugs.

BTW, you're really not supposed to share mugs, but I doubt that's enforced. Go with your conscience.

-gina-

 

[powellrj]

The only time I think they are worth it is if you don't have a car or a grocery stop. For the price of a mug, you can buy a couple of 12 packs of soda at the store and get ice in the machine and just have sodas in your room.

I was surprised how little soda they held. My kids are older, but they would have it gone before they made it back to the room. When we got home I measured how much they held and found that they only held 12oz. Once you add ice, they hold less that a can of soda.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

A soda at Disney costs $2.50, so as long as you drink four or five drinks you'd come out ahead / even cost-wise. My trip is twelve days, so there's no question that I'm buying one. They do make a good souvenier.

 

[goofy4tink]

If you think you will use the mug about 5-6 times, then it is really worth it. Now...when we were at POP, we used them every morning. We usually returned to the resort mid-day for a quick swim, and would use them then also. A late night snack and a soda..used them again. I would say that we used ours, during our 5 night stay, about 14 times each. Even if I only used it a few times though, I would get one...I love mine at home. My dd, 13, looks forward to having chocolate milk after school in hers!!! The only resorts that I don't like them at are the deluxes. It's hard to get refills since there are no true food courts. Yes, there are spots you can get refills at but it's just not as easy as it is at the values and moderates.
And, if you use a backpack for the parks, you can just rinse your mug out after breafast and stick it in your back pack. I have seen people do this and then pour any leftover soda from lunch/diiner into the refill. mug to sip as they amble through the parks.

 

[Terk-1]

I think it's a great deal. I will usually fill mine in the early morning before I head to the parks, then will rinse it out and throw it in a zip-lock bag in my backpack. Will fill it up again on my way back to my room and usually once more before heading to bed. Most of the mugs are one size. We've shared mugs before, where my sister will fill it with coffee in the morning, then will rinse it out and I will fill it with lemonade in the afternoon.

 

[BluOrchid2]

BTW, you're really not supposed to share mugs, but I doubt that's enforced.

Really? Where did you ever see that? Or were you told that?

 

[hansel1]

In january POR sold two types of mugs: One with a large bottom and one with a bottom that fits inside a cupholder of a car. We purchases one of each and they both held the same amount.

As for the value of the mugs:

We beleive we got more than our money's worth. We could have bought canned drinks for our minifridge, but then we would have also had to buy juice, coffee and hot chocolate (january).

We mainly used our mugs for hot chocolate and different beverages, so we probably used them 10-12 times for our 7 day trip. Our cost per drink average was pretty good, plus we had souvenirs to take home.

 

[Cool-Beans]

If you are going to eat in the food court a lot, or refill it a bunch of times, it is a good deal. If you plan to bring it back (in spite of the policy that you aren't supposed to) it is a good deal.

I had to crack up when I bought my first mug last month...it does NOT say anywhere on it that it can't be brought back. And the guy who sold it to me didn't say anything except, "You know you can get free refills with this?" No wonder so many people don't know the Official Disney Policy regarding refillable mugs!

Did find out later on that they'll wash your mug for you...or just give you a clean one for your dirty one! That was very cool.

 

[pixiewytch]

Well, I am betting that for one thing, that "all day in the parks" thing is quickly going to change with a 4 year old in tow. We have "nap time" built into every day at WDW, and we're 3 adults and a 10 year old. Even if it's not a nap, it's relax/unwind/take-it-easy time, and it's critical to our enjoyment of the rest of the day.

For us, the mugs have always proven to be a great value. It's a must for my coffee in the morning, and hot chocolate at night, and a cherry Coke or two in the middle of the day when we go back to rest. Plus, it's a great souvenier! Even being on the dining plan for our upcoming trip, with drinks included, we figured out that we'd still definitely get our money's worth with the mugs.

BTW, you're really not supposed to share mugs, but I doubt that's enforced. Go with your conscience.

-gina-

Nah, we live two hours away from the park and my four year old has already been on several day trips to the parks without the luxury of taking a break at a resort. I'm not ruling it out but since we aren't staying at a monorail resort where it's a hop, skip, and a jump away I'm not so sure that we will find time to make it back mid day. We shall see.

 

[Evil Queen]

I normally get my youngest DS 1. I wasn't going to this trip, due to free dining and I drive, so I bring my own cooler with drinks for the room.

But, then I learned of the frozen sodas at POP. I told DS10, I may split the cost of one with him for the frozen sodas. But have also heard the machine has been known to be down many times.

It's a fairly cheap souvie, and he uses them at home.

So for us, yes, it's worth it in the end.

 

[LakeAriel]

I bought them my first trip but only find it worth it if you are near the food court or carry backpacks/supplies to the parks.
Reason: On our way to the bus would be a great time to get a drink but we don't carry the mugs to the parks. As a result we also don't have them when we return from the park, another great time for a refill. There is so much walking in the parks few wish to schlep back to food courts for soda after reaching the room. I would wait till day two of your trip and get a feel for the location of your room and how much energy you have a fter a day in the parks. Like many said longer visits and trips without park trips are the best time to buy them.

 

[Aimeedyan]

IMO, they are only worth it if you plan to eat in the food court or are near the food court a lot. So for us, no - they aren't worth it. I have no desire to trek to the food court (which can be a trek depending upon your room location) just to get a mugful of coke and we try everything we can to NOT dine at our resort foodcourt. The mug is too bulky for carrying around the parks so the only time we use them is at the resort.

It just depends on the kind of WDW guest you are. Some people spend tons of time at their hotel, go back every afternoon and lay at the pool, eat 2 meals a day there, etc. We avoid that and just use the room to sleep and shower (when we stay value). The last trip we bought them was at Caribbean Beach and it really became a waste of money since the walk was so long.

It is much cheaper for us to stash drinks in the room.

 

[goofy4tink]

If you are going to eat in the food court a lot, or refill it a bunch of times, it is a good deal. If you plan to bring it back (in spite of the policy that you aren't supposed to) it is a good deal.

I had to crack up when I bought my first mug last month...it does NOT say anywhere on it that it can't be brought back. And the guy who sold it to me didn't say anything except, "You know you can get free refills with this?" No wonder so many people don't know the Official Disney Policy regarding refillable mugs!

Did find out later on that they'll wash your mug for you...or just give you a clean one for your dirty one! That was very cool.

Where did you get your last mug at? I haven't seen a mug without the 'free refills until the end of your stay' and 'refills only at location purchased' statements on them for several years now. That statement is on every single mug I have purchased in the past 3 years! It is right underneath the handle. Also, what is this about them washing your mug for you? Or giving you a clean one to replace a dirty one? There are hot water spigots at the beverage station expressly for rinsing out cups...why in heaven's name would they give you a new one to replace a dirty one?? I just don't want anyone to get some incorrect info here.

 

[AKLRULZ]

Love 'em and they make for great souveniers, too. We've got them from every resort and we've had to pack away some!

 

[MassMom94]

The only time I think they are worth it is if you don't have a car or a grocery stop. For the price of a mug, you can buy a couple of 12 packs of soda at the store and get ice in the machine and just have sodas in your room.

I was surprised how little soda they held. My kids are older, but they would have it gone before they made it back to the room. When we got home I measured how much they held and found that they only held 12oz. Once you add ice, they hold less that a can of soda.

One thing I like about the mugs is the portion control...I would rather my kids drink only 12 oz of soda (or less) rather than those 16 - 20 ounce sizes.

And then there's the kid wow factor. DH suggested buying sodas at the Winn Dixie (we rented a car this last trip), and the kids said, "but what about mugs? Can't we get those?" Yes, it is a bit of an extravagance, but not much of one for all the enjoyment they get out of it. DH and I buy one more for coffee.

 

[Allison]

It is definitely worth it for me. I drink a lot of Diet Coke so I definitely get a lot of value out of it. The only time I haven't gotten one is when we stayed concierge at the Poly and I could get a can from the lounge whenever I needed it.