Resort Mug a bad idea for me....

[CWIPPERMAN]

Well, the first stop once we got checked into All Star Movies last week was a trip to the food court for our "refillable mugs". I had read everything ahead of time about what a great deal these were. For $10.00, you could get "all you could drink" during your stay. Now, first off, these are just my observations, and my experience, but for me it turned out to be a very bad investment. I will try to give some of the reasons why, so here goes.

The number one factor for why the mugs didn't work out for us was that it was very inconvenient. We were very close to the food court (room 9704, which is about 100 yards from the enterance to the food court), but the mugs were never with us when we passed the food courts. Obviously when we were heading for the parks, we didn't want to carry the mugs with us because we'd then have to haul them around the parks all day. And of course when we slowly trapsed back to the hotel at the end of the day, the last thing we wanted when we hit the room, was to make a trip back up to the food court. I know it was a short walk... but be realistic! By the end of the day if you feel like walking 5 extra feet, then you're a better person than I. Most of the time when we ate in the food court, we "grabbed" something on the way out of the hotel to the parks.... so we left the mugs in the room.

The second issue was the size of the mugs. I'm the type of person that goes to the local Quicktrip (a convenience store chain), and buys the 64 ounce super gulp. The mugs probably hold 16 ounces of fluid. For me, the few times I did walk up and re-fill them, it was practically empty by the time I made it back to the room. They had two types of mugs for sale, one had a closeable lid, and the other was more the "coffee travel mug" design. I selected the "coffee travel mug" design. Well, the lid on those is recessed, and by the time you leave the cup empty enough so that the lid won't be submerged, the cup could only be filled about 2/3 of the way.

Another factor that made the cups a bad deal for us was that there was no juice at the "drink bar". This is FLORIDA.... where's the ORANGE JUICE???? At home, we always drink orange juice or "Sunny Delight" in the morning. We're not coffee drinkers. We ended up paying $2.89 for a large Orange Juice (and that's one for each of us.... over $6.00 with tax) every morning. I would have been willing to pay more for the cup if OJ was included.

The other biggest factor was that we drank water all the time. The few times I went up to the food court and filled my mug with coke, I was getting Ice Water for my girlfriend. It is so hot around there that if you don't drink a lot of water, you will feel miserable, so we were always getting cups of water in the parks (which you can get for free if you ask), or from the food court when we ate.

Now, here's a possible solution. What about a "World Wide" cup? If I had a cup or mug that I could get refilled in the parks too, then I would carry it with me. Hell, I'd pay $20.00 for something like that. Instead of drinking free cups of water in the parks (don't get me wrong, we bought our fair share of cokes, and bottled water), we would have carried our mugs with us. Maybe if they did this, they could make the cups "length of stay" instead of "forever refillable" (I know there is debate on whether the resort mugs can be refilled on subsequent trips). I saw at the water parks they had "bar codes" on the mugs, and unattended machines where you just walked up, scanned your cup, and filled it up - so I know the technology exists.

Anyway, the moral of this is that I could have saved $20.00 on two mugs, and been better off. So, before you automatically head up to the food court and buy your mug... decide if it will be a good deal for you.

(I do have to mention it was humorous to see the "morning migration" of folks heading to the food court with 5 or 6 mugs crammed in their hands.)

 

[Jeanny]

I was also thinking about having to carry the mugs around all day after filling them up at the drink station. I drink tea in the morning and then water the rest of the time....

What I was thinking of doing was filling the mugs up on the way to the World, then strap it to my backpack for the day and then refilling them on the way back... IF we weren't too tired to stop on the way back---yeah right!!

We're staying at the Poly, no idea which longhouse until we get there, but with my luck it will be the furthest away from the drink stations!!

 

[MrsPete]

These refillable mugs are a great money-maker for Disney! Consider:

Fountain drinks cost literally pennies. Yes, they sell them for $2 each, but they're making a ton of money. The point: they can afford to "give" you free refills after you buy a $10 mug. One person cannot possibly drink $10 of fountain drinks in one week.

They're counting on you buying FOOD because you're getting your drink "for free." You know the logic . . . let's go get a hamburger at the food court (instead of making a sandwich in the room) because we can get a drink for free. Or . . . since you're running to the food court for a drink refill, pick up some cookies too.

You mentioned the size of the mugs. I think some of them are as small as 12 ounces -- add a little bit of ice, and you have a child-sized drink. No thanks.

But if you're not going to get the refill mugs, what will you drink? Your own brought-from-home drinks, of course! At home I can buy Coke or Pepsi products for .20 each any day. I can buy individual good quality chocolate milks or orange juice for .50 each. A cooler with ice will keep them cold for free. Yes, it takes 10 minutes per day to change the ice, but this is REAL SAVINGS, folks!

 

[beansmom]

I don't drink anything but water but I love the mugs. It's a nice little reminder that I can use everyday of my trip.

 

[DMRick]

(I do have to mention it was humorous to see the "morning migration" of folks heading to the food court with 5 or 6 mugs crammed in their hands.)

Well, that could be one of us. First one out of the shower makes the food court trip (I'd love to see orange juice too..but that's not one of the coke sponsors drinks!), and gets us all coffee or hot chocolate. That free up space in the room, and that person has to wait for the rest of us anyway..might as well be doing something.

We almost always end the night with a snack at the food court..so we swing by the room, and pick up the mugs, drop off the backpack, and head out. Often we put on suits for a late night swim on the way back form the "drink" getting. We've been doing this since grands were 2 or 3..it's always a treat, and settles them for bed.

We also spend time at the resort a couple of days a visit, so we put the mugs to good use then too.

You are right however, it has to be what works for you! By the way, I doubt they'll ever come out with a World wide mug for the amount you mentioned..imagine if everyone paid $20 and got to drink all they wanted for a week, no matter where they were? Costly, I'm sure.

 

[Grog]

(I'd love to see orange juice too..but that's not one of the coke sponsors drinks!),

I think Minute Maid is owned by coke, but I still doubt we will see free OJ any time soon as it's not as cheap as carbonated drinks.

 

[CWIPPERMAN]

I certainly agree.... but we are in Florida! Isn't it called the "Sunshine State" because of all of the oranges grown there? You would certainly think that the Walt Disney Company could get an orange grove or two.

(For those of you that can't tell... I'm trying to be humorous... If I was serious, I'd say we needed "all you can drink BEER"!!!)

 

[jgates]

We purchased Swan/Dolphin mugs from Tubbi's on our trip. We figured that by the time we used them a few times eating Pizza there and my ds went a couple of times for soda in the evening (his legs were the longest and we were at the Swan), we did recover our costs (especially vs. the mini bar soda cost!), although we didn't realize for a few nights that club level left soda out we could get there too.

However, we also then went home with our beautiful mugs. I keep my coffee in one every day on my desk at work and most of my customers pick it up and look at the beautiful pictures on it and ask me where it is. ?Drumming up future business for S/D? - Maybe!

 

[Sammy]

I agree that the mugs might not be the best idea for you based on where your room might be located or what you are drinking. For my family of 2 adults and 3 kids under 13, I feel like we really got our $$'s worth out of ours. DH and oldest DD would go to the food court at POR (then DxL) with the 5 mugs and get coffee & hot chocolate every day (we were pretty close in bldg 27). We would then get another round of drinks each evening when we returned, sometimes filling again if were hanging out by the pool for an evening swim. In between, on several days, the kids went in and out of the food court several times to fill their mugs. If you compare just 10 drinks/day for the 9-day trip, cost of mugs was $50, but if drinks bought individually at $2.00 each, it would have cost us $180. Of course, if we bought our drinks from home, it would have cost even less, but I didn't want to worry about that....!!

Plus, we each got a great souvenier!

 

[ilovefh]

Hey I think that might have been my family you saw carrying all those mugs We've found they are a good deal for us since I drink a lot!! We did the same thing while I was growing up....dad would get up and shower then get himself and my mom some coffee while the rest of us gor ready then they'd have another cup of coffee at breakfast while I drank the cherry frozen things they used to have at the drink station at Dixie Landings. It really worked out for us.....however, we got new mugs every year and now we have a TON of mugs. I just went to visit my parents for a week and they sent me home with about 10 mugs....we went every year since 1983, I know the mugs didnt come out that early but I think we have at least 40 mugs

 

[travelitis]

The mugs have never seemed like a good idea for our family. I can't possibly drink $10 of soda in one week unless you're talking about overpriced $2 sodas. I'd rather have a drink that is properly proportioned by the manufacturer than a fountain drink any day. We're happy to save money carring our own Mt. Dew and Dr. Pepper, neither of which are probably even available anywhere at WDW. We throw a small soft sided cooler in the stroller, and it's no inconvenience whatsoever. If you don't have a stroller, though, it would be like hauling an extra camera bag. I think I'd still carry in one bottle then refill it with water and have a cooler in my car for when I park hop or stash it in a locker.

 

[Barb D]

We've never gotten the mugs before for the same reason. I go to WalMart and stock up on 16oz bottles of Diet Coke and a styrofoam ice chest, which only costs a couple of dollars. Much cheaper this way, and I can carry the (closeable) bottles with me.

I may actually buy a mug this trip since we're having a once-in-a-lifetame stay at the Contemporary. But it would be more for the souvenir mug than for the free drinks.

Does anyone know if they have the travel-style mugs at the Contemporary?

 

[skiwee1]

I bring my own diet pepsi and still buy the mug. They are good when you are hanging out by the pool which we tend to do a lot while at WDW. They also make great souveniers even if you never filled them with soda!

 

[jwwi]

I agree with you, I have never been a fan of refill mugs from the resorts. Nice souvenir, good beverage holder but I can't understand the long walk to the food court each am. Just another idea-we brought a large cooler from Target in FL. Add DIET PEPSI-which can't be found on Disney gounds,Beer, juice, 1/2 gal milk, hard lemonade, and ice daily. Now you have the makings for a light breakfast with cereal(don't forget inexpensive bowls) and granola bars or bagels. You would save money over cold breakfast in food court, and can take the soda/beverages down to pool close to your room. I have found the mugs sold in the parks to be more unique, especially if you are there at a holiday period. They do add cost to your drink in the park, and you do have to carry it that day, but then you have a great mug for your room to put fresh ice and drink in. I use these mugs at home after my trip, and we have a cute pooh halloween, dalmation christmas, and 100year mug. Just another thought for a souvenir.

 

[Tiffany]

We usually buy one per trip and view it as a cheap reminder of our trip. I use them as travel coffee mugs for my commute to work everyday. It let's me start each day with a touch of Disney. $10 is not going to impact our vacation budget one way or another.

 

[Luv2Roam]

At CSR, we stayed in Castias 4. And I agree whole heartedly about being too tired to care at the end of the day to walk down to get a *free* soft drink refill.
DH did it a couple times, same as I. And a few times times we bought a drink out of the Coke machine down the hall.
I would say we didn't get as much of our money's worth at CSR. But probably still came out ahead. And I use my mugs even here at home.
At ASMo we were in the Toy Story building and the short walk to the food court did not bother us a bit.
At POR, we took our mugs with us afte grabbing something on the way to the bus depot, and stored them during the day in a locker, along with a backpack. So then we just grabbed refills on the way to the room too. Worked out fine.
But the I agree the refill options are limited. I think guests first think they have more options than they do. I have seen guests asking CM's for their free milk refills. Uhhhh.......
But for coffee, tea and pop, it's not a bad deal. I still with the program, making sure to buy that first thing!

 

[dizfamily]

We stayed at the ASMusic in 1997. There you have to go through the main building to get to the bus stops anyway. We were with another family, so there were 4 adults and 2 kids to get ready each morning. Us girls were usually ready first, so we went to the main building, filled up the mugs and picked up a little breakfast to bring back to the room. Then when we went to the bus stop, we filled the mugs again. We had a stroller, so a place to keep the mugs wasn't a problem. Then we filled them up when we got back from the parks walking through the building again. So at least 3 times we filled the mugs each day. So 3 times a day times 5 days is at least 15 times we filled the up. I think when we went the mugs were only $8. could be wrong about that, though. so it was a good deal for us then. Stayed at POR this past March. We were at the FURTHEST building from the main building. So it wasn't convenient at all to go to the main building. We ended up getting a little cooler and drinks to keep in the room instead. Luckily we had only bought 1 mug that trip. That time it was a waste of money.