Resort Mug Question

[stemikger]

I am probably going to ruffle a few feathers with this one, but here goes.

I was at Pop Century last year and bought three mugs. Great deal we drank coffee and soda all week.

Now I am going back a year later, I would like to do that again, but do I need three more mugs. I don't use the ones I have.

IMHO I think if you are loyal to a resort and visit two years in a row - that Disney should let you bring your mugs from the year before. Kind of like a loyal customer perk.

I mentioned this to my wife that I wanted to bring the mugs from last year and try to use them and she gave me this horrified look and said You can't do that. How cheap are you. Just buy new ones. It will be extremely embarrassing if someone stops you.

Oh well, I am a pretty honest guy, but more then that I don't want to be embarrassed if someone questions me on it. Which I doubt that will happen. I'm sure the mugs are the same as last year. But in any event, I think Disney should do that for any person who visits the same resort a year later.

Tell me your thoughts on this. And yes, feel free to flame me I can take it.

By the way, I am buying new mugs. But I wish I didn't have to.

 

[lovethattink]

There is a sign where you buy the mugs that say it is good at that resort for your length of stay.

With that said, I have seen everything. At the Contemporary, I've seen people refill using a Pop Century mug. At POR I've seen people refill using very old mugs. I have not seen anyone questioned or told not to do that by a CM. I have seen other guests confront those guests.

I even know of a person who bought a lost mug at Property Control who uses that mug at any resort, year after year.

I guess it really goes to what's in your heart. Do you feel you are stealing from Disney if you don't buy a new resort mug? Those who bought their mugs years ago when they were told it was refillable for life would say no.

I just wish they would come up with some sort of sticker or soda package like they do on the cruise ships. One that would be good at any resort and any park. One that would be available for purchase for any guest, and have a special one for AP's.

 

[n2mm]

This is such a hot topic and I usually don't even visit them, but I thought you were pretty brave to even post. This seems to be an issue that folks feel strongly about. I personally would rather spend my energy planning my next trip. There's the official policy, the older "grandfather" policy, and so many other "official" "unofficial" policies. No one can tell you which way to go. But WE always take our old mugs with us. We only take the mug for the resort we are staying at. We have stayed at Pop 3 visits now and we have returned with our mugs in hand each time. I really don't care what any non-Disney person says, because it's really not an issue until Disney makes it an issue. When the mug police tell me I can't do this, then I will abide. We often chat with the food court managers on many trips (usually pin trading) we never try to hide the fact that we have a "opening day" mug for Pop. Since managment doesn't seem to have an issue with it then I don't either. With over 50 mugs packed away, there are not many we don't have. Granted we are heading to BC next month for a short 6 day trip and do not have mugs, but will not take anything because we think we will stick to bottle water that trip since it's July (and we have a frig) and we plan to eat all of our meals out.

Hold on to your hat, because it's going to be a bumpy ride!!

 

[NCombs]

Okay, here are my thoughts.

I respect that you have an idea that you think Disney should follow. But, the fact is they don't. Disney is a company selling a product (many products) and they get to set the terms of the sale. You or anyone else do not get to decide what those terms are.

Disney says mugs are good for length of stay at the resort they were purchased at. I don't see the big debate. The terms are very clear.

I don't see people here saying they decided they spent so much money at the grocery store or at Wal-mart or any other place of business that they should be able to walk out with something of their choosing free. What is the difference? They are all selling a product and so is Disney.

Just because we think we should be able to do something and just because we know we can get away with it doesn't make it the right thing to do. I know when I go back next year, my old mugs aren't to be used for the trip. I will buy new ones. Those are the rules.

This is my opinion and what I will do for my family. I'm not telling anyone else what to do but just giving my thoughts on what I think.

 

[Emmaline Lola]

My extended family was staying at All Star Sports last year and we bought 6 refillable mugs for our family. One for each adult including my DH, who was only staying a night or 2 w/ us (he had to work , but was able to meet up w/ us during the week for some meals).

My nephew who was 4 at the time, doesn't drink soda, and my mom would buy milk for him at the food court w/ his meal. Well, my mom had a kid's reusable mug from the Macaroni Grille Restaurant that we had eaten at that week and would pour the milk purchased from the foodcourt into that plastic cup to make it easier to drink for him. We NEVER put any "free" drinks into that cup only milk that we bought there.

So after a meal I was rinsing out the milk cup at the sink by the soda machines and the CM there says "That is NOT a Disney cup, you cannot use it!" I was mortified! I said I was only rinsing it out, and we had milk in it. I felt like such a heel!

But it goes to show you, sometimes the CM are watching!

Just my little story

 

[dcgrumpy]

I just noticed something last week. I bought mugs at POR this past October. Printed on the mugs next to the handle it says "Free refills until the end of your stay. Refills only at location purrchased."

 

[flminivanmama]

I mentioned this to my wife that I wanted to bring the mugs from last year and try to use them and she gave me this horrified look and said You can't do that.

haha I had to check your location to make sure my dh hadn't registered LOL LOL

my dh also thinks we should take our old mugs (especially since when some were purchased we were told they were "for life") and I keep telling him we can't...

 

[bicker]

IMHO I think if you are loyal to a resort and visit two years in a row - that Disney should let you bring your mugs from the year before. Kind of like a loyal customer perk.

Two things:

First, there is no problem with you "thinking" what you wish. However, a company offering a "perk" isn't a unilateral decision on the part of the customer. Rather, it is most often a unilateral decision on the part of the company, or, perhaps, as a quid pro quo, part of an agreement between customer and company.

Second, there was a very interesting article on CNN last week, that talked a bit about loyalty, from a business standpoint. It equated "loyal customers" with those customers "who generate the highest sales [revenue]" and contrasted the concept of a "loyal customer" with its antithesis, the "bargain-hunter shopper". Loyalty, in business, is defined as the willingness of a customer to pay a premium (extra money) for something, and therefore paying less for something or getting something for free is the opposite of loyalty -- again, from a business standpoint.

I mentioned this to my wife that I wanted to bring the mugs from last year and try to use them and she gave me this horrified look and said You can't do that. How cheap are you. Just buy new ones. It will be extremely embarrassing if someone stops you.

While I can understand her sentiment, and she's clearly right about the embarrassment, I don't think "cheapness" matters. There is more than enough documenatary evidence that the offer Disney makes is for free refills for the current visit only. It's just a matter of right-and-wrong, not generous-versus-cheap, IMHO.