The End of Refillable Mugs in Disney World?

[Minnie Lor]

Interesting info and feed back. I buy a mug when I stay at Pop. The "Everything Pop" counter service is convenient to and from the bus. I can't imagine buying one at the other resorts because the beverage station is pretty far out of the way. I used to get apple juice in the morning but Pop has dropped the juice. Then I rinse and refil with diet coke. I usually finish it just before entering a park. I hook it to my bag with a carabiner clip. When I get back to the resort, I rinse and refil 1-2x's before heading to the room. My stays at Pop are 7-8 days so it makes sense for me.

 

[MM32830]

I am sure that Disney has oodles of info on us. I just wonder how much of it is correct information I always hear people on the boards complaining about how Disney doesn't have their Name, address, email phone etc correct in their system. If this can't be kept up to date after people updating it , some of them regularly who knows what information they have listed as mine is actually correct. Just a random thought there.

The most valuable data collected rarely tracks individuals. It's always aggregate data that is important. Data *trends* is much more important than individual data. So whether Disney can't get names or addresses doesn't really factor into the quality of the type of data that is important when tracking trends.



________________
Armand

 

[FireDancer]

Frank is BOSS!

They can see wherever I go, I don't mind. If I don't want them to see I'll ditch the RFID chip and put it in a locker, with the kids.

No worries Don, just put the RFID card under your tin foil hat and no one will find you. That's my plan.

The most valuable data collected rarely tracks individuals. It's always aggregate data that is important. Data *trends* is much more important than individual data. So whether Disney can't get names or addresses doesn't really factor into the quality of the type of data that is important when tracking trends.

Armand

Yeppers...just ask the Google. Although I wouldn't say an individual isn't tracked, they are. It is just that their identity is anonymized and then pooled with all the other individual anonymized data to create that aggregation.

 

[MM32830]

Maybe we won't have to discuss refillable mugs in the future since they may not exist.

I just went back and read the abstract in the patent application and it states:

The vending machine may be a beverage dispenser that dispenses a drink with a user obtaining a disposable container near the dispenser and presenting their token to a token reader.

So, it seems that if you have an RFID tag (be it stored in a card or bracelet) then you won't need a refillable mug since the abstract makes note of a "disposable" container.

This certainly would make sense since the controlling device would no longer be a barcode on the mug but actually the RFID tag that you carry.




___________________
Armand

 

[k5jm]

No worries Don, just put the RFID card under your tin foil hat and no one will find you. That's my plan.

 

[LoriABil]

This may have already been addressed(I am browsing the boards while on the road, but using a "disposable" cup is not very green. Don't get me wrong, I'm not an "environmental wacko," but with all this "Friends for Change" stuff, it makes Disney look a little hypocritical. That's why I doubt they'd get rid of the mugs.

Now I will sit back and wait to eat my words. Yum!

 

[fakereadhed]

This may have already been addressed(I am browsing the boards while on the road, but using a "disposable" cup is not very green. Don't get me wrong, I'm not an "environmental wacko," but with all this "Friends for Change" stuff, it makes Disney look a little hypocritical. That's why I doubt they'd get rid of the mugs.

Now I will sit back and wait to eat my words. Yum!

You are so right! I think to be green we should just stick our heads directly under the drink dispenser.

This is like when you go to the grocery store and they ask paper or plastic. Neither is green, but if your reusable bags are at home what are you gonna do?

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

This is like when you go to the grocery store and they ask paper or plastic. Neither is green, but if your reusable bags are at home what are you gonna do?

I don't think I've been asked if I want paper or plastic since 1990. I am so bad about remembering to bring our reusable bags to the store.

One thing someone mentioned earlier that reminded me of something was about being able to use the plastic mugs in the parks too. We were at Six Flags a few years ago and we bought a mug that we could refill all day for like a dollar each additional refill. It was great on a hot Texas summer day. We actually saved money on the purchase. Disney should try the same concept. If they don't want to monitor the "refill stations" in the parks and at the resorts, they could use the patented system to monitor it. I think it would be great! Also, they could sell different varieties of the mugs with maybe characters, resorts, parks, etc ... and just put the year on them. Then, I WOULD buy a new mug. It would be a great keepsake and actually get utilized while at WDW as a whole and not just at the resorts.

Personally, I think Disney got lazy with the mugs. Since they haven't changed them in a few years. At least put 2010 on them. "What will you celebrate?" I'll celebrate when this promotion is over!!!!!!!

Jennifer

 

[orangecats2]

I'm not making a comment about right or wrong. I just want to relay some information I heard the last time I went to WDW. It was 9/09 on the DME. The bus driver stated that when you bought a refillable mug at your resort it was good for life!!! Now I don't know if that was his opinion, based on gossip he had heard or actually something he was told to say by someone in charge but I thought it was the most interesting thing I heard the whole week.

 

[TrekBoy85]

One of the most amazing things to me about the whole Disney company is how they collect data. They know exactly what is going on, and everything has a purpose (for better or for worse).

When Disney is referring to changes they've made "due to guest demand" what they really mean is "due to our very detailed research". This whole idea about RFID tags relating to mugs is just an extension of that. They want to know as much about all of their guests as possible (whether or not this is good is debatable..and I don't really want to deabte it ), including how much soda each consumes. This allows them to personalize not just the guest experience, but their marketing as well.

I agree with Kevin when it comes to Disney not currently perceiving this as an issue. Maybe if they implement this technology, Disney will determine this is actually an issue...maybe they'll simply verify that the mugs are a cash cow, even if people are using them again and again. Bottom line is, they're studying it now, and will in the future.

In any case, Disney's ability to collect and analyze data about their guests is un-rivaled...no other company I have ever known has as much data on their customers as Disney does. Again, while their access to this much info is debatable as a good or bad thing, knowing so much about their guests is what allows them to fine tune some of the magical details we all love (as well as add extra money to the bank).

 

[k5jm]

One of the most amazing things to me about the whole Disney company is how they collect data. They know exactly what is going on, and everything has a purpose (for better or for worse).

When Disney is referring to changes they've made "due to guest demand" what they really mean is "due to our very detailed research". This whole idea about RFID tags relating to mugs is just an extension of that. They want to know as much about all of their guests as possible (whether or not this is good is debatable..and I don't really want to deabte it ), including how much soda each consumes. This allows them to personalize not just the guest experience, but their marketing as well.

I agree with Kevin when it comes to Disney not currently perceiving this as an issue. Maybe if they implement this technology, Disney will determine this is actually an issue...maybe they'll simply verify that the mugs are a cash cow, even if people are using them again and again. Bottom line is, they're studying it now, and will in the future.

In any case, Disney's ability to collect and analyze data about their guests is un-rivaled...no other company I have ever known has as much data on their customers as Disney does. Again, while their access to this much info is debatable as a good or bad thing, knowing so much about their guests is what allows them to fine tune some of the magical details we all love (as well as add extra money to the bank).

I was also wondering if Disney is going to start enforcing some of their rules about transportation being for use by resort guests with RFID tags. The Buses here in Houston use RFID cards for Bus fares now.

 

[k5jm]

I may have to invent the RFID blocking lanyard, similar to the RFID blocking wallet

http://www.amazon.com/Travelon-Blocking-Billfold-Travel-Wallets/dp/B001F6J5ZO

 

[k5jm]

Duplicate post removed.

 

[dpuck1998]

I don't think I've been asked if I want paper or plastic since 1990. I am so bad about remembering to bring our reusable bags to the store.

One thing someone mentioned earlier that reminded me of something was about being able to use the plastic mugs in the parks too. We were at Six Flags a few years ago and we bought a mug that we could refill all day for like a dollar each additional refill. It was great on a hot Texas summer day. We actually saved money on the purchase. Disney should try the same concept. If they don't want to monitor the "refill stations" in the parks and at the resorts, they could use the patented system to monitor it. I think it would be great! Also, they could sell different varieties of the mugs with maybe characters, resorts, parks, etc ... and just put the year on them. Then, I WOULD buy a new mug. It would be a great keepsake and actually get utilized while at WDW as a whole and not just at the resorts.

Personally, I think Disney got lazy with the mugs. Since they haven't changed them in a few years. At least put 2010 on them. "What will you celebrate?" I'll celebrate when this promotion is over!!!!!!!

Jennifer

For me, this is why I don't buy mugs anymore. I love the bringing them home and using them more than I do using them while I'm at the resort. When they went to a "homogenized" mug, I stopped buying them.

 

[jeanigor]

One thing someone mentioned earlier that reminded me of something was about being able to use the plastic mugs in the parks too. We were at Six Flags a few years ago and we bought a mug that we could refill all day for like a dollar each additional refill. It was great on a hot Texas summer day. We actually saved money on the purchase. Disney should try the same concept. If they don't want to monitor the "refill stations" in the parks and at the resorts, they could use the patented system to monitor it. I think it would be great! Also, they could sell different varieties of the mugs with maybe characters, resorts, parks, etc ... and just put the year on them. Then, I WOULD buy a new mug. It would be a great keepsake and actually get utilized while at WDW as a whole and not just at the resorts.

Jennifer

They run promos like this at Cedar Point and I find it helpful to stay hydrated in the blazing summer sun. Except Cedar Point drink vessels rarely have handles and are a royal pain to carry.

I think it would be interesting to say the least:
On an individual level, for the waitstaff to know that I only drink Diet Coke--without me having to say anything. (Cue the Jetsons' themesong. I wanna be Elroy.)
On a larger scale, that on EMH mornings at MK, 52.6% of guests head for Fantasyland. Forty-three percent of the guests don't have ketchup with their fries. And that the conversion rate for a merchandise location is only 15%.

 

[tlcoke]

I don't think I've been asked if I want paper or plastic since 1990. I am so bad about remembering to bring our reusable bags to the store.

One thing someone mentioned earlier that reminded me of something was about being able to use the plastic mugs in the parks too. We were at Six Flags a few years ago and we bought a mug that we could refill all day for like a dollar each additional refill. It was great on a hot Texas summer day. We actually saved money on the purchase. Disney should try the same concept. If they don't want to monitor the "refill stations" in the parks and at the resorts, they could use the patented system to monitor it. I think it would be great! Also, they could sell different varieties of the mugs with maybe characters, resorts, parks, etc ... and just put the year on them. Then, I WOULD buy a new mug. It would be a great keepsake and actually get utilized while at WDW as a whole and not just at the resorts.

Personally, I think Disney got lazy with the mugs. Since they haven't changed them in a few years. At least put 2010 on them. "What will you celebrate?" I'll celebrate when this promotion is over!!!!!!!

Jennifer

They run promos like this at Cedar Point and I find it helpful to stay hydrated in the blazing summer sun. Except Cedar Point drink vessels rarely have handles and are a royal pain to carry.

I think it would be interesting to say the least:
On an individual level, for the waitstaff to know that I only drink Diet Coke--without me having to say anything. (Cue the Jetsons' themesong. I wanna be Elroy.)
On a larger scale, that on EMH mornings at MK, 52.6% of guests head for Fantasyland. Forty-three percent of the guests don't have ketchup with their fries. And that the conversion rate for a merchandise location is only 15%.

Holiday World/Splashing Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana offers FREE Unlimited Soft drinks to guests of their theme parks. They have dispensing stations set up around the parks for customer's to get a soft drink anytime they want.

Next to french fries, fountain soft drinks have the highest profit margin for any food service business.

 

[jcb]

For me, this is why I don't buy mugs anymore. I love the bringing them home and using them more than I do using them while I'm at the resort. When they went to a "homogenized" mug, I stopped buying them.

I completely agree. I still have the mugs from my first onsite stay at Caribbean Beach (over 20 years ago) and then from Wilderness Lodge (8 years ago) but have no desire to keep (or buy) any of the homogenized mugs.

Its saddening to see what was a neat idea go ordinary.

 

[Brendonsmom]

I agree with the last post. I would love characters that interact and shows where they are able to have more audience particpation. I have never bought a mug so don't care about that aspect. I also don't see the big deal in them knowing where I am throughout the day. After all, I am at THEIR park to enjoy THEIR offerings. Why not allow them to make it more personalized for me so that I might enjoy it more and want to return more often?

 

[doconeill]

I was wondering, how did I miss this thread? Now I see it is a couple years old...

I thought it was interesting though, reading about how Disney was filing a patent, that basically equated to what was tested at at All-Star Sports, but didn't that come from an outside vendor? Did Disney get the patent and license it to the vendor?

What became of that test? Is it still going on?

Anyways, the NextGen stuff regarding RFID, wristbands, etc. seems to be coming sooner rather than later - this could just be one more "feature" added on.