Refillable Mugs

[drgnfly30]

Don't flame me BUT... I was reading a review of Pop Century on Allears (I think) & I recall them saying that they saw guests using mugs from other resorts without a problem. Has anyone tried this? Let it be known that I have no problem purchasing additional mugs but I'm always looking for new ways to save Disney bucks!

Christine

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by drgnfly30
Don't flame me BUT... I was reading a review of Pop Century on Allears (I think) & I recall them saying that they saw guests using mugs from other resorts without a problem. Has anyone tried this? Let it be known that I have no problem purchasing additional mugs but I'm always looking for new ways to save Disney bucks!

Christine

The rule is the mug is good for the lenghth of your stay in the resort where you buy it.

Previous posts indicate the CURRENT policy is free soda for all. Guests are filling old mugs, 7-11 mugs and even bread bags. If you want to follow the rules get a new souvenir mug from the resort. If you want to save money just bring whatever mug you want.

 

[K & D Mickey]

What we do is bring an old resort mug... and buy one mug at resort the time of our stay. And use the new mug to refill the already purchased one.
It is just usually ends up being 1 extra drink a day if not maybe 2 at night if wanting to share some hot chocolate before bed.....

* go to disney during winter months.*

 

[disneyfan551]

We just returned from our trip at Pop last week, and I was very upset when I saw people doing this. Originally, I had no intentions of buying this mug, as we would have sodas in the room. Well, we bought the mug, and we still had our own drinks too. The mug was a GREAT deal and I am VERY glad we got it!

My overall opinion is that what comes around goes around...

 

[DMRick]

and I was very upset when I saw people doing this.

Why would you let that upset you? It's really up to Disney to decide when and if this is one of the "rules" they will enforce. I wouldn't let it ruin my vacation..especially if I had no idea what these people were told. They may have asked the manager that day and been told it's alright.

Disney has lots of rules they have decided not to enforce at this time...why ruin your vacation, or allow yourself to be upset over something that is their responsiblity, not yours?

We'll be at POR next week. I will ask (again) the food court manager, if I should still go by what I was told last time I bought my mugs (bring em on back) and if HE says yes, you'll see me there refilling them. I only go by what I'm told at the resort at the time I ask. If at some time, they decide this is a rule they want to enforce, then my mugs will stay home. I don't believe that the CM's can still be saying this (they were still saying it in January at Pop Century), and not be corrected by Disney if Disney was ready to enforce their signs. Disney knows exactly what their CM's are saying. I know the "official" rule..I know lots of Disney "official" rules. But as with any rules, it's up to the "owner" to decide when they want to put them into place.

 

[disneyfan551]

Oh, don't get me wrong, it didn't ruin my vacation! It's just one of those things, when I am appalled at the things that people do. Even my best friend was taking her cup and filling it up several times to pour into her son's lg. water bottle. Did I approve? No. Was it my business? No. No comment was ever made.

I would not say anything to a guest, and I know most Disney employees wouldn't either. I just don't understand people sometimes.

 

[DMRick]

Now you are talking about two different things. Reusing a mug with permission, and using your mug to fill another container (although I'll pour my drink from my mug into a "sealed" bottle.

I just don't understand people sometimes.[/QUOT]

I'm not sure what there is to understand. Disney CM's are still telling people to bring em back (and since I'm still hearing it for myself, I'm sure lots are still being told that. Disney knows what goes on in their "World". They know what is being said. Apparently they have decided to not enforce this yet. It's not a matter of CM's letting me reuse it. It's CM"s and food court managers encouraging people to buy, by telling them to bring em back.

You say what comes around goes around?

Gee, if they say when people buy them (still..even after the signs went up) to bring them back, are you insinuating people will have bad stuff happen to them for listening to the CM's and food court managers? You know what? I only pay for a regular room....but if they offer me an upgrade (gee, I wonder if they should only give me what I paid for), I'll take that too. It's up to Disney, not Diser's to decide what rules they want to enforce. Disney decided to enforce no pool hopping, after allowing it "legally" for years. Even when the signs first went up, if you asked and they weren't busy, you could swim anywhere. Now they decided to have those rules be enforced, and I respect them. Of course if you have company and ask if your company can join you, they always say yes (I'm sure there are exceptions)..but it's up to Disney. Lots of rules at Disney..and Disney decides when and if to enforce them.

I certainly wouldn't let anything like someone reusing a mug put any type of a damper on my vacation. If they decide they want to enforce the rule and stop telling people to bring em back, then that's what they'll do..but it's their decision..no mug patrolling for me. (By the way..although they still keep telling people they can use them in any resort, I was never told that personally, so I did buy them for each resort we stay at)...but I've heard others being told to use them anywhere, so no skin off my nose if I see a POR mug being used at Pop.

So for the original OP..just ask at the resort you are at (food court manager), if you can reuse them...that's what we do, just in case Disney has decided to stop telling people to bring em back.

 

[TINKTWINS]

I purchased 5 new refillies in April, even though I had them from a trip 2 years ago. I bring home so much Disney paraphenalia, that I had not intention of bringing cups down with me only to have to lug them back home.
I look at it this way, they make plenty off the sale of new cups from the hundreds of people who buy them, I saw the shelves being restocked every time I was in the food court. Im sure its pennies on the dollar for soda refills these days, besides more than likely, you will buy a snack or food to go with that "free Drink". If they had issues with the refills, they wouldnt be located where they are and there would be "Soda monitors".

Every night we went down there, all 10 off us in our "Grand Gathering" for soda and tea, we also had banna splits, cake, pizza, bignets ect. Think about it, its a ritualistic kinda thing, a mind trick, ooooohhhh free stuff, but there is really nothing for free is there?????

 

[briananddeb]

I've been reading the "mug" postings, and the "using the USPS boxes for other than proper use for eBay" postings, and I guess I agree with the fellow that said "there's no such thing as a free lunch". When people mis-use mugs or breadbags or whatever for beverages, it isn't free. The cost is simply passed on to those of us who abide by the rules under which we bought them.

And please don't say that the CMs do not say anything. They aren't paid enough to engage in customer confrontations. And please don't say that the cost of sodas is so high that anything goes. We all know what sodas at WDW cost before we go there.

This is my first post, and I never dreamed that it would be a negative one. But I really hate to be charged for other peoples' cheating. If you know what is right, do it and set a good example for our children. Thanks.

 

[hulabird]

People should mind their own business and just watch what THEY do. As others have said, it is up to Disney to enforce the rules, not any of us. I personally buy the mugs every trip because I like getting new ones and I hate having to pack extra things. We use our mugs so often that even at 10.99 or whatever it is now, we save money. We drink alot so we are the ones coming out ahead. If others are using their old mugs, it has nothing to do with me and I won't flame them for it. It is true that some CM's tell people they are good for a lifetime. People jump to conclusions without all the facts too.

My DH and I went to Vegas last year and we jumped on a bus on the strip because we were way too tired to walk, we ended up getting on at the rear bus doors because we almost missed the bus, when we got on the bus was super crowded and I could not get to the front to pay our 1.25 each, my DH said "just pay as we get off" I had the money in my hand, but then as some people were passing us, they made outloud snide remarks like "some people PAY to get on the bus" and gave us all sorts of horrible dirty looks, I felt like a criminal for a lousy $2.50! When we got off the bus we paid and apologized to the driver who had no problem with what we did. But all those other people jumped to conclusions without the facts. It is rude and it is judging others.

Ok, off my soap box now...thank you! LOL

 

[DMRick]

And please don't say that the CMs do not say anything.

But the CM's DO say something. When they want to encourage you to buy..they STILL say, bring em on back for your future trips. See that's the rub..they encourage you to bring them back for refills.

I don't appreciate being called a cheater. That's not the type of board this is, where you call other people names, just because you don't agree with them. Disney sets the rules, not you..and at this time, they are still having their cm's encourage the sale of the mugs. Why, you say do they keep telling us to bring them back? To sell the mugs, knowing full well, the bigger percentage won't bring them back.

Too bad your first post couldn't have waited until you knew more about what Disney CM's say when you buy (or look like you are thinking of buying) the mugs. A lot of us have agreed to disagree, but seldom does someone decide they have the right to call another person a cheater, without knowing what they were told at Disney.

 

[corrinna]

I was at All Star Sports last month and I saw not only old mugs, but mugs from other resorts there being refilled. I personally didn't really care that people were doing this. Think about all the other ways disney gets your $$$, hotel, tickets, parking, souvineers, food, etc. I even bet Disney doesn't even pay for the soda.... Coca Cola probably pays them to serve their products, just like Coke pays our school district big money to have their machines and no others in all our school buildings.

I personally bought mugs this last trip because we spent a lot of time at the pool, so it was convenient. I will probably buy new mugs next trip too, b/c I will want one that says pop century and like others have said, I will not want to lug my old ones from home......

 

[DMRick]

I personally didn't really care that people were doing this.

I'll only bring back my old ones (we come 4 times a year) as long as Disney says I can. As soon as they decide they won't push the refill when you purchase them, then we'll leave ours home and pick up our soda at Walmart.
I understand that even if Disney trades Coke for advertising it's still costing them money, so I would never use them without asking if they still allow it, and when they tell the CM's to stop telling us to bring em back, I'll stop.

 

[hulabird]

I agree with DMRick---


Plus, if it were such a big problem for Disney, such as if they thought they were losing big money, THEY would do something about it, you can be sure of that. If THEY aren't worried about it, why should the self appointed mug police on this board have something to say about it?

 

[CheapMom]

briananddeb- Welcome to the DIS!
Now allow me to inaugurate you by disagreeing with your statement. As for what DMRick just said - ditto- I don't like being called a cheater and when I bought my mugs we were told we could bring them back, also.
And as for the CMs not being paid enough to confront customers about stealing- I am sure if I tried to walk out of the gift shop with an armload of merchandise they would say something about it.

 

[DMRick]

and the "using the USPS boxes for other than proper use for eBay" postings, and

One other thing..one has nothing to do with the other. The USPO has NEVER indicated you could use these boxes for anything other than their original use..shipping Priority mail. Your Postal worker is not suppose to take an inside out box..and most do not. The person at the other end is very likely to be charged the higher postage, due when they get the item.
Disney makes and enforces their rules. No money changes hands at the PO for the boxes..they are given for one reason..to ship Priority. If the PO decided to change this or decided not to enforce it because of a change of heart (fat chance) and told me, that I was welcome to use them on my next package, at no extra cost, then I would help myself.

The cost is simply passed on to those of us who abide by the rules under which we bought them.

Couldn't have said it better myself...I AM going by the rules given me when I bought my mugs. Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[disney4us2002]

I like the mugs and purchase them as souvenirs anyway. But I am curious as to where this policy of "one time use" exists? I know I read it on allears but I don't remember ever seeing it posted in Disney by the soda fountains or elsewhere. If it is posted, then I would agree that re-using is a no-no regardless of whether the policy is enforced or CM's tell guests otherwise.

I suppose if they wanted to enforce the policy they could issue the sticker like we got at Blizzard Beach. You had to scan the sticker to work the machine. I never tried it but my dh said it was a bit of a pain.

 

[nowellsl]

We just got back from POFQ a few days ago and my DD and I had the most fun seeing what all kinds of mugs and containers were being used in the food court! It was almost like a game and we saw many, many different mugs! We did buy the mugs because we really like them and have quite a collection - that's the first thing we do after check-in on every trip - go buy a refillable mug! I told her about all the posts on this board concerning these mugs (including the bread bag story) she thought it was hilarious! I know a lot of people have strong opinions on what is right and what is wrong but I don't think it's my place to judge them on it - ultimately everyone has to live with their own choices!

 

[DMRick]

If it is posted, then I would agree that re-using is a no-no regardless of whether the policy is enforced or CM's tell guests otherwise.

It is on the machines and the newer mugs, and on a mug brochure in the rooms...for the length of stay in which the mug was purchased. But it's not enforced and it seems they are still encouraging you to buy them, on the premise you are welcome to bring them back. Most people have been told (and still being told), either when looking at the mugs or going through the register, that you are welcome to bring them back on future trips. I have also been in line when people were told they may use them at all the participating resorts. I wasn't told that when I bought mine, so we only use them at the resorts we bought them at.

I make it a point, ever since reading about it on these boards, and inquiring of Disney to ask the food court manager our first day in a resort..they have always told me that they are reuseable. The official policy at Disney is now one time use, and if you write and they write you back, they tell you that in their form letter, but my letter was followed up with a phone call from guest services, telling me they are aware that many are going by the past policy, and they leave it up to each food court manager..which is why I seek him out and ask. It seems to bother some on this board, much more than it bothers Disney. For me, it's like a upgrade on a room. I paid for one room, but when I get there, the CM may offer me a better room. Disney's "official" policy on that, is that you get the room you pay for. But as with the mugs, they leave the actual decision up to the resort manager. Maybe they like to spread good Karma, and that is what I go by..the managers decision and not the Disboard posters. So if you were never told you "be sure to bring 'em back" on your next visit, I can see it would make you uncomfortable and so for you, you may not want to.

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by DMRick
Your Postal worker is not suppose to take an inside out box..and most do not. The person at the other end is very likely to be charged the higher postage, due when they get the item.

I've gotten a few shipments with inside out boxes. The vendors are creative. UPS doesn't seem to have any trouble when the vendor uses an inside out FEDX box for example.