Resort Free-Refill Mugs

[Nik's Mom]

I know when we bought our first set of mugs in early 2001, they told us the mugs could be brought back on future trips. For us, that wasn't an issue because we usually stay at a different hotel each trip. But on our last 2 trips, the mugs now say they can only be used on the current trip.
The mugs aren't that expensive, and they are a nice souvineer. We have a nice collection going...

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

The mugs aren't that expensive, and they are a nice souvineer. We have a nice collection going...

Exactly.

 

[farmman]

When I got our free-refill mugs in the late 80’s they were free-refill for life time, has this changed?

 

[DreaminDisney]

When I got are free-refill mugs in the late 80’s they were free-refill for life time has this changed?

I believe so

 

[*Fantasia*]

I was at French Quarter in June, July and August of this year. Can you imagine how many mugs I would have had if I had to buy the mugs over and over again?! You can only fit so many of the same mugs in the cup board! And that goes the same on our Polynesian stay. We were there in June and August of this year. Yes, I brought the mugs with me. The times were just 2 weeks apart, but that's not the point. Don't flame me.

Honestly... how many here has over 20 mugs from the same resort? Let's say 2x a year at WL for the past 5 years and there's 4 of ya.

4mugs X 2 a year= 8. 8 X 5 years =40!! 40 mugs!! And can you imagine if you split your stays. That would be 80 mugs in 5 years! or 16 every year! How many souviniers do you need from the same resort with the same designs?

 

[DisneyWisher]

We no longer buy mugs. To me they just aren't worth it. My daughters (were teens at the time) would just grab a soda from the cooler we used on the ride there. This past May we bought two 12 packs for $3 each at the Hess station that you pass as you leave MK. Thats 25 cents a can. Even if I let the girls drink 4 cans a day (That never happens) thats still only $1 a day per person. If you are a hot cocoa, Hot tea, or coffee drinker then I recommend the mugs but personally 4 mugs at $13 each just isn't worth it. Plus if we were watching a DVD no one wants to walk to refill the mugs.

 

[skiwee1]

Honestly... how many here has over 20 mugs from the same resort? Let's say 2x a year at WL for the past 5 years and there's 4 of ya.
?

Well......... we go to the Poly at least twice a year staying 12 days each time. We have been going to the Poly for the last 4 years. That is a minimum of 8 trips. I buy a mug for me and for DD EACH time. So that is 16 Poly mugs. Really 24 mugs if I count my mom's that she palmed off on me! We also have 2 WL mugs, and 9 CBR mugs. I should say we HAD these mugs. I have kept a couple from each resort but tossed the majority of the Poly and CBR mugs away. I love the WL mugs because they fit in the car cup holder. When we go back in Sept and June we will buy 4 more Poly mugs! No one says you have to keep all the mugs. You don't even have to buy the mug. It is up to the individual to decide if that mug is worth the ONE trip you are taking. If so then great. If not then don't buy it.

 

[jarestel]

There are signs posted stating the mugs are good at the point of purchase for the length of your stay. That's the current official policy.

However, I don't think mugs work for my crew at all. I think Coca Cola is the finest, most refreshing soft drink on the face of the earth, but at home I have one coke a day. On vacation, I don't have any desire to drink 5 cokes and coffees a day just to get my money's worth on the mugs. Besides, hauling the mugs to the refill station is a royal pain. We prefer buying water, juice, and soda at the grocery store over lugging the mugs around whenever we want a drink. We can stock the fridge in the room with days worth of drinks for the cost of 1 mug.

Of course, for heavy soda and coffee drinkers, maybe the inconvenience of the mugs is worth it financially.

 

[Jennasis]

I don't understand why some people think that a one time purchase of $13 entitles you to a "lifetime" of free refills because you don't feel you should have to buy a new mug on return trips??? How is that ethical at all? I understand the notion that if the mug design doesn't change, Disney won't notice and you don't want to have "40 mugs". Or that Disney makes SO much money that a few cents worth of Coke doesn't matter...what a load of pucky

My suggestion to all of you return muggers....bring your old mugs back with you on your next trip. Go up to the cashier and pay her the $13 and simply explain that you don't need a new cup since you have SO many already, and you just want to refill your current one. See what happens then.

I am amazed by people sometimes. It reminds me of when I was a cashier at Kmart back when I was a teen. People would quibble with me over a $0.10 price difference on an item if it rung up wrong. I was tempted to keep a couple of rolls of dimes in my pocket and just hand them one rather than go through the hassle of voiding the itme or sale. I finally made management give us cashiers the ability to simply give the customers whatever price they claimed an itme was without having to call for a price check...saved us time and headaches.

My point is this; Why would anyone be entitled to a lifetime of free refills (except for those who purchased mugs when that was the policy) when the policy CLEARLY states that it is good for that resort for that stay? Is it Disney's fault YOU chose to resort hop? There are drawbacks to everything. One of the drawbacks of switching resorts is that you'll need to buy a new mug!

 

[VSL]

Me and my BF only drink water..

 

[Jennasis]

I should have mentioned, that since I only go every 4-5 years, I look forward to purchasing my new mug each time. I do understand that $13 a person, times several people, SEVERAL times a year CAN be expensive. But then again it would be even more expensive if you had to purchase individual drinks every time someone in your group got thirsty right?

 

[luvdzny]

I do understand that $13 a person, times several people, SEVERAL times a year CAN be expensive. But then again it would be even more expensive if you had to purchase individual drinks every time someone in your group got thirsty right?

I agree!!!! When you go to a fast food restaurant that has free refills do you bring your cup back from the last time you were there? The money we save every year on individual drinks for each family member by purchasing NEW mugs each trip is quite a bit. I have one whole cabinet in my kitchen packed full of WDW resort mugs, but I continue to buy them each trip. It is well worth the money to buy mugs each trip.

 

[farmman]

Just looked at our mugs, it states, enjoy a lifetime of refreshment, at the bottom of the mug. Underneath the handle of the mug it states, lifetime refills participating resorts only

 

[Serendip]

I, unfortunately, have seen many people use outdated mugs which I think is being really cheap and stealing. They do change mugs once in a while. Back at WL, they changed the mugs about three years ago to eliminate the larger size. Yet, still, every time I stay I see people bringing in the old larger size mugs which you know they've been using for years. It's just not right.


If you buy a mug, it might not change next year but bringing them back to re-use will eventually have them stop the service altogether. That would be shame.

 

[Serendip]

Just looked at our mugs, it states, enjoy a lifetime of refreshment, at the bottom of the mug. Underneath the handle of the mug it states, lifetime refills participating resorts only

I think Farmman wrote this on them himself (probably with crayon). I've never seen it on any mug.

 

[farmman]

When I got our free-refill mugs in the late 80’s they were free-refill for life-time.

 

[NCombs]

There are signs posted stating the mugs are good at the point of purchase for the length of your stay. That's the current official policy.

It's not just on the signs, it is printed ON THE MUG.

Like another poster mentioned, I don't see how the Disney policy is any different than getting free refills at a fast food restaurant when you are there eating a meal. You don't take your cup back 2 weeks later and expect a free refill. You make another purchase. The $$ spent are irrelevant and don't justify violating the terms of sale.

 

[NCombs]

Just looked at our mugs, it states, enjoy a lifetime of refreshment, at the bottom of the mug. Underneath the handle of the mug it states, lifetime refills participating resorts only

Hmmmm....there probably aren't any "participating" resorts anymore.

 

[farmman]

So next month if we take our cups to the resort we got them they will no longer honor life-time cups?

 

[UrsulasShadow]

So next month if we take our cups to the resort we got them they will no longer honor life-time cups?

Considering Disney will always honor past deals, such as unused tickets and the like, I'm sure that if they sold a mug with the intention of it being worth a lifetime of refills, THEY WILL HONOR THAT! And if the resort was participating at the time the mug was sold, and still exists, and still sells the beverages the cup was intended for, then of course the original agreement should be honored.

I love these threads...it brings out the "holy roller" in everybody!