the beer mug program?

[DreamBound23]

Man, I wish they had a Margarita Mug!

I'm voting for the Margarita Mug too!!!

 

[BeccaBelle]

That's a lovely justification. What else may I justify due to the high cost of a Disney cruise?

The point is the OP asked if it was cheating, and it is. If you can rationalize lugging a beer mug around to get an extra 6oz of beer, I'm not stopping you.

You can justify whatever you like. That's up to you.

From previous posters, its obvious Disney will honor any mug from previous cruises. I bet they have instructed the bartenders to do so. Why? The very thing I was talking about - profit.

If 22 ounces of beer turns a 30-percent profit (it's probably much, much higher, but this is just an example) and selling 22 ounces of beer for the price of 16 turns a 20 percent profit - Disney isn't going to turn that down. Chances are, if you've got a beer mug, you're going to buy a decent amount of beer. If Disney stopped honoring past mugs, they'd likely sell less beer. Profit margin goes up, but overall profits goes down. That's bad business.

DCL is very likely talking out both sides of its mouth on this issue - telling consumers one thing, while telling CMs something different.

And just for the record, I've never bought a beer mug and don't really plan on it. I just thought this was an interesting topic.

 

[hezzie]

I think the beer mug debate gets confused with the resort mug debate!

Resort mugs - you pay once for the mug and then get FREE refills!
Beer mugs - you pay for the mug and then get a discount on refills, but you still pay for each refill!

Let's face it, if you are purchasing the beer mug, you are obviously planning to consume your fair share of beer and then some! So a discount for each refill is still a profit for the mouse!

Also, you cannot overlook the fact that reusing the mug is better on the environment!!

 

[Buckeye Goofy]

You can justify whatever you like. That's up to you.

From previous posters, its obvious Disney will honor any mug from previous cruises. I bet they have instructed the bartenders to do so. Why? The very thing I was talking about - profit.

If 22 ounces of beer turns a 30-percent profit (it's probably much, much higher, but this is just an example) and selling 22 ounces of beer for the price of 16 turns a 20 percent profit - Disney isn't going to turn that down. Chances are, if you've got a beer mug, you're going to buy a decent amount of beer. If Disney stopped honoring past mugs, they'd likely sell less beer. Profit margin goes up, but overall profits goes down. That's bad business.

DCL is very likely talking out both sides of its mouth on this issue - telling consumers one thing, while telling CMs something different.

And just for the record, I've never bought a beer mug and don't really plan on it. I just thought this was an interesting topic.

I'm well aware of liquor costs, and as you suspect, you are far off the mark, the margin on alcohol is much higher; but that is wholly irrelevant to what a person is entitled to. I'm also quite aware of the business decisions in whether to enforce or ignore policy, as I noted in my first post regarding turning a blind-eye That doesn't change the fact that Disney says that you are not entitled to reuse on another cruise, so if the OP asks if it is cheating, the correct answer is 'yes'.

If you are OK with cheating the system, OK by me, but lets stop pretending it isn't what it is. Isn't the OP entitled to know what the truth of the matter, so he/she can make an informed decision and not one based on someone else's justifications of the matter?

 

[BeccaBelle]

I'm well aware of liquor costs, and as you suspect, you are far off the mark, the margin on alcohol is much higher; but that is wholly irrelevant to what a person is entitled to. I'm also quite aware of the business decisions in whether to enforce or ignore policy, as I noted in my first post regarding turning a blind-eye That doesn't change the fact that Disney says that you are not entitled to reuse on another cruise, so if the OP asks if it is cheating, the correct answer is 'yes'.

If you are OK with cheating the system, OK by me, but lets stop pretending it isn't what it is. Isn't the OP entitled to know what the truth of the matter, so he/she can make an informed decision and not one based on someone else's justifications of the matter?

Who is cheating who though?

If you use a mug from a past cruise knowing that Disney will honor it (despite it being against the rules) then you're cheating Disney. Right?

But what about the flip-side of that coin. Say I have a mug and I send an email to Disney asking if I can get it refilled for the 16-ounce price on an upcoming cruise. According to information on this thread, the answer from Disney is going to be "No, you have to buy another mug to get the discount" even though the folks running the cruise line know that's not the case. That also seems dishonest to me.

At that point, you have to make a decision. "Am I going to be the one being taken advantage of, or vice versa?"

 

[Buckeye Goofy]

I know I'm not going to get a ticket for doing 40mph in a 35, but that doesn't change the fact that I am speeding.

 

[BeccaBelle]

I know I'm not going to get a ticket for doing 40mph in a 35, but that doesn't change the fact that I am speeding.

That's true, but it's not quite the same kind of situation. Ask any judge, prosecutor or police officer and they will likely all tell you up front, "While it's true that going 40 in a 35 mph zone is considered illegal, you're probably never going to get a ticket for that."

That doesn't appear to be what Disney is doing in this case. They are saying one thing, while doing another. I'll admit a person using a mug from a previous cruise for a discount is a little disingenuous because it's against DCL's written rules.

But at the same time, don't you think it's equally disingenuous for DCL to tell consumer's that they have to purchase a new mug each cruise while allowing the practice of offering the discount to others?

 

[su_kraft]

Who is cheating who though?

If you use a mug from a past cruise knowing that Disney will honor it (despite it being against the rules) then you're cheating Disney. Right?

But what about the flip-side of that coin. Say I have a mug and I send an email to Disney asking if I can get it refilled for the 16-ounce price on an upcoming cruise. According to information on this thread, the answer from Disney is going to be "No, you have to buy another mug to get the discount" even though the folks running the cruise line know that's not the case. That also seems dishonest to me.

At that point, you have to make a decision. "Am I going to be the one being taken advantage of, or vice versa?"

No, its simple really. You just make a decision - I going to follow the rules or I am not.

You want to know who is cheating who? Really? If you break the rule you are cheating. Period. You ask "Am I going to be the one being taken advantage of, or vice versa?" Well, if you break the rules you are taking advantage of everyone that is following them. So, I guess in your eyes you have to cheat because if you don't someone is going to take advantage of you. I really don't get that logic, but hey, its your decision to cheat Disney out of their rightful profit before Sally or Dick or Jane down the hall cheat Disney and therefore take advantage of you.

Disney isn't cheating you out of anything. And they are not taking advantage of you. They have a product that is for sale. It is a mug that you can use to get a reduced price beer during the cruise you purchase it. It is a decision that you make - to get a souvenir beer mug or not. They are not forcing you to buy it. They didn't twist your arm. They put a price on it, list the terms of the deal and sell it to you and then sell you discounted beer during that cruise.

If you want to worry about others cheating YOU out of something then STOP telling people it is OK to cheat. Less people cheating, less a chance of you feeling cheated.

This is turning into an ethical debate and it doesn't need to. OP asked if bringing a mug from a past cruise was cheating. The correct answer is yes.

The only question I think remains if you are going to do the right thing and follow the rules or not.

 

[BeccaBelle]

No, its simple really. You just make a decision - I going to follow the rules or I am not.

You want to know who is cheating who? Really? If you break the rule you are cheating. Period. You ask "Am I going to be the one being taken advantage of, or vice versa?" Well, if you break the rules you are taking advantage of everyone that is following them. So, I guess in your eyes you have to cheat because if you don't someone is going to take advantage of you. I really don't get that logic, but hey, its your decision to cheat Disney out of their rightful profit before Sally or Dick or Jane down the hall cheat Disney and therefore take advantage of you.

Disney isn't cheating you out of anything. And they are not taking advantage of you. They have a product that is for sale. It is a mug that you can use to get a reduced price beer during the cruise you purchase it. It is a decision that you make - to get a souvenir beer mug or not. They are not forcing you to buy it. They didn't twist your arm. They put a price on it, list the terms of the deal and sell it to you and then sell you discounted beer during that cruise.

If you want to worry about others cheating YOU out of something then STOP telling people it is OK to cheat. Less people cheating, less a chance of you feeling cheated.

This is turning into an ethical debate and it doesn't need to. OP asked if bringing a mug from a past cruise was cheating. The correct answer is yes.

The only question I think remains if you are going to do the right thing and follow the rules or not.

Like I said earlier, I don't have a mug - probably not going to buy one.

And just for the record, I've never said what someone should or should not do with their own mug. I ever said it is disingenuous for someone to use a mug from a past cruise for the discount.

I'll ask you though, isn't it equally disingenuous for Disney to tell folks they have to buy a new mug while continuing to allow the use of old mugs as a sort of "unwritten" rule?

 

[su_kraft]

Like I said earlier, I don't have a mug - probably not going to buy one.

And just for the record, I've never said what someone should or should not do with their own mug. I ever said it is disingenuous for someone to use a mug from a past cruise for the discount.

I'll ask you though, isn't it equally disingenuous for Disney to tell folks they have to buy a new mug while continuing to allow the use of old mugs as a sort of "unwritten" rule?

For the record, our home has 3 mugs. Would have been 4, but we took one of the ones we bought to use on the WBTA and gave it to someone in our FE group.

I think that Disney is trying to put the policy out there. I am sure that from a shore side customer service aspect they keep telling people that the mugs are not refillable.

Ship side, they are the kinder, gentler side of customer service. No one wants to be the mug police as a PP stated. Especially the cast member that is counting on tips (the 15% that is auto added or any additional that they may get at the end of the cruise).

Two separate entities really - shore side vs on board. And I doubt that you would ver hear a member of management say "Don't fill that they brought it from home". I would have to guess, however, that if you pulled Shawn aside (Food and Beverage management on the Magic as of October 2010) and asked him, he would tell you that the mugs are for use during the cruise you purchased it. Would he stop Benjamin from filling it? Nope - not because he doesn't want the rule followed, but rather because he is smart enough to know that people are going to cheat and there is nothing that he can do short of being the mug police - and as stated before, no one wants that job. Shawn would rather be out on my verandah doing a champagne sabrage for me and my guests, or conducting a wine tasting, or helping to set up special tastings for a group... Anything but the "mug police" - 'cause frankly, that would suck.

So, I will continue to pre-order my mug(s), if they are going to continue them, and use it for that cruise only. (Oh - and I will also hope for a Margarita or Drink of the Day mug!!). At a minimum, I will know that I did the right thing. Oh, and I will continue to tell people that Disney stated that the mugs are for the same cruise you buy them on and that yes indeed it is cheating to wrap up the one you bought on your last cruise and reuse it.

 

[motherofallfans]

a PP said that the policy had changed. If when I bought a mug the policy was 'bring it back for your next (and subsequent) cruise(s)' then it stands to reason that that mug would be grandfathered in with the old policy.
I consider myself to be a very ethical person (to a fault even) but if I was told the mug I was purchasing was good on future cruises, then I would expect that to be true. If I paid for a no-expiry option on my MYW ticket then Disney dropped that option, I would still expect them to honour the product they sold me.

PS Using the mugs is no more environmentally friendly than not because you get a new clean mug each time anyway. If you actually wanted to keep "your" mug, you might have to not use it.

 

[makaylee]

Man, I wish they had a Margarita Mug!

I know right!

 

[Robin"D"]

there is a spark in the air about Beer/mugs...
do you all know that you can carry you own on board?

Robin & Angel "D"

 

[e_s_jones]

Ethics aside (for the moment), the DCL web site says if you don't want to carry the mug, you can use a beer mug token. Do you get that also with the mug purchase, or is that an either/or choice you must make?

And is draft beer available at dinner in the main dining rooms? Can you use the mug discount?

 

[mammacaryn]

Ethics aside (for the moment), the DCL web site says if you don't want to carry the mug, you can use a beer mug token. Do you get that also with the mug purchase, or is that an either/or choice you must make?

And is draft beer available at dinner in the main dining rooms? Can you use the mug discount?

The "token" is actually a laminated paper that says BEER MUG I think on it. When you turn in your mug for the night or whatever, they give it to you. You give them that ticket when you are ready for your next beer.

Yes you can order draft with your mug if you like in the dining rooms. Tends to hold things up though since they have to go to one of the bars to get it for you.

 

[su_kraft]

Ethics aside (for the moment), the DCL web site says if you don't want to carry the mug, you can use a beer mug token. Do you get that also with the mug purchase, or is that an either/or choice you must make?

And is draft beer available at dinner in the main dining rooms? Can you use the mug discount?

You get the mug, and after you finish your beer you can turn it in at any bar for either a token or a clean mug (which you have to carry around). You also get a clean mug with every refill. Yes, they will fill the mug in the dining rooms at the discounted price.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

a PP said that the policy had changed. If when I bought a mug the policy was 'bring it back for your next (and subsequent) cruise(s)' then it stands to reason that that mug would be grandfathered in with the old policy.
I consider myself to be a very ethical person (to a fault even) but if I was told the mug I was purchasing was good on future cruises, then I would expect that to be true. If I paid for a no-expiry option on my MYW ticket then Disney dropped that option, I would still expect them to honour the product they sold me.

PS Using the mugs is no more environmentally friendly than not because you get a new clean mug each time anyway. If you actually wanted to keep "your" mug, you might have to not use it.

My feelings exactly and this is how the mugs have always been sold to me!!

Rob

 

[ljm23]

We were on the second Dream sailing and my husband brought his mug ( I know, I know, technically not allowed, get over it already). They did fill it for him, and no-one ever mentioned it, but I see now that technically they don't even have that program on the Dream. Not sure if we even received a discount for it come to think of it.
I know he was not happy with the limited number of taps available on board. He feels the beer in the cans has a funny aftertaste.
Hope they add the program to Dream.

 

[mammacaryn]

We were on the second Dream sailing and my husband brought his mug ( I know, I know, technically not allowed, get over it already). They did fill it for him, and no-one ever mentioned it, but I see now that technically they don't even have that program on the Dream. Not sure if we even received a discount for it come to think of it.
I know he was not happy with the limited number of taps available on board. He feels the beer in the cans has a funny aftertaste.
Hope they add the program to Dream.

Did they still have a clean mug to exchange out? I mean, since technically it isn't an active program and all. The way DCL is with the soda machines I can't see that they would just let you use the same mug over and over.....

 

[ljm23]

Did they still have a clean mug to exchange out? I mean, since technically it isn't an active program and all. The way DCL is with the soda machines I can't see that they would just let you use the same mug over and over.....

No, they did not have the mugs as far as we know. We asked for a new one once, and the bartender went looking for one but didn't find any and just washed our mug for us