Self Serve Paper Cup Refill Question

[jahow7]

There has been a lot of discussion regarding the use or improper use of refillable mugs, but I don't recall seeing any comments pertaining to refills on paper cups at self service locations at many of the hotels. Unless I am wrong Disney does not allow refills for guests using paper cups. My observation is that there is far greater "abuse" of refills with paper cups than there is with the mugs. Just stand at any of the self service areas and you cannot help but notice guests going back for refills without paying again, guests filling up half a cup with coke for example, drinking half of it, and then filling it up to the top again with the same brand or another brand.
If anone could clarify what the Disney policy is regarding paper cups it would be informative.

 

[Buzz & Woody]

this is really just my guess, since we always buy the mugs, but I'm sure that if the cups were refillable Disney would sell a lot LESS mugs. I am pretty sure that the menu boards don't say "Free Refills". I'm guessing that refills are a no-no

 

[AllNamesTaken]

I bought coffee in the POR food court yesterday and specifically asked if I could refill. She said "for today only". So apparently it is OK to refill for 1 day. I have no idea how they could enforce this but that is what she told me.

 

[tinawv]

My family and I stayed at POP Century last September, and we saw several people using the paper cups from their hotel room. They weren't even trying to hide it. I wanted to say something, but never got up enough nerve to do so.

 

[scjo68]

Good question. We've always done mugs, so I guess I've never thought about it. But, honestly, unless there was a sign that said "no refills for disposble cups", I would probably assume you could refill just for that meal. You can usually get refills at any fast-food place that has self-service drinks, Burger King, Target. Even Chick-fil-a has free refills for that visit (but they fill them for you). I don't know if this is true, but I knew someone who was in upper management in Chick-fil-a, and he said that, for each drink, the cup cost more than the soda inside it cost them. So refilling a cup that has already been purchased isn't that expensive.
I'm not suggesting breaking the rules. Like I said, I wouldn't refill if I knew you weren't supposed to. And I'm only talking about topping off during the current meal, not returning later with the same paper cup, dragging it around all week.

 

[Sammie]

We were told as long as you are still in the food area you are welcome to refill, but you can't leave and come back and refill. Pretty much like all fast food places that have a beverage island. Refills while dining.

Of course I am sure it is abused too.

 

[Von Drake]

With all respect, soft drinks by the cup cost 'mils' (fractions of cents) .
Think about Coca Cola: How many thousands of cups are served at WDW?

Consider this: Tea bags and coffee at cost about three cents each per cup, including sweeteners, cream, etc.

The margins on food court beverages are so high that it costs WDW more to police infractions than it does to let them go.

 

[lovetoscrap]

I have always thought that it was like McDonalds or other Fast food places. You can refill as often as you want for that ONE visit. I am sure it is majorly abused though. But the thought of using the same paper cup for an entire day is

I have bought the mugs so I haven't thought much about it I guess.

 

[bicker]

it costs WDW more to police infractions than it does to let them go.

That's exactly it: Disney relies on the integrity of their guests to voluntarily comply with regard to many things. Generally, when folks ask nicely, and treat something like this (when granted) as a bonus from Disney rather than expecting it, Disney CMs are pretty good about granting such requests, however, it always requires a polite request, and an acceptance of a denial if applicable.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

Our experience with the paper cups is they don't last all that long before they start to leak. They aren't meant to have something in them for long periods of time. I wouldn't think people could do too many refills until it fell apart.

 

[NC State]

On my last trip, we would get behind people walking to get breakfast with empty cups with lids, I would watch them refill their cups with soda/tea.

 

[Allison]

We were told as long as you are still in the food area you are welcome to refill, but you can't leave and come back and refill. Pretty much like all fast food places that have a beverage island. Refills while dining.

Of course I am sure it is abused too.

This is what I think also.

 

[epcotfan]

We were told as long as you are still in the food area you are welcome to refill, but you can't leave and come back and refill. Pretty much like all fast food places that have a beverage island. Refills while dining.

Of course I am sure it is abused too.

I was under that impression as well.

 

[GEM]

I think, to most people, a self-serve drink station indicates free refills while you're actually there dining. (I'm not talking about someone buying a cup of coke at lunch and coming back that night after dinner to refill it!) I never really stopped to think about what Disney's policy actually is, but I can certainly see why people would be under that impression. That's the way it works everywhere else, so that's what they're used to.

 

[bell.of.the.ball]

Many business (ie Disney) do not even pay for the soda at all. They pay for the cups. It is advertising for the soda company..

 

[nyker]

I am wondering how many of the guests actually take old mugs back to Disney on subsequent trips to use as refillers? I would think this is against their policy but can't really see how they can stop that practice.

 

[bicker]

They don't really try very hard -- they know they can rely on the integrity of the vast majority of guests to honor the posted signs.