There are resort drink refills, but park ....?

[Easto]

I may be way off base here, but this is how I understand it.

You can purchase a refill mug and for $17 you get free refills for your stay. However these are only good for refills at the RESORTS. You can't bring this mug into a park and get it filled there.

Is this correct?

Is there any sort of drink refill option for parks?

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

You are correct. There is no drink refill option in the parks. I'm kind of surprised they haven't tried to tap that market yet, though it may be because they don't want to encourage drinks on rides. I would need a bigger cup than the resort mug if I was using it in-park - it is perfect for coffee, but not for cold drinks.

-Signed, the person who is always drinking something and doesn't want to stop for refills

 

[Tomh]

Yup OP, you have it right. I too am surprised that they don't offer a $30 cup with free refills property wide for length of stay. Perhaps that is something that we will see in the future. Then again, it might be a nightmare dealing with people carrying those cups everywhere, spilled drinks in ride cars and queue lines to constantly clean up. Maybe Disney is smarter than we are lol.

 

[minnie mum]

The refillable mug can only be used at resorts.

In the parks, when you purchase a fountain drink, free refils are standard at TS restaurants. You can also get your own refils at a few CS restaurants like BOG and ( I think) Backlot Express. Probably a couple of others, but its not standard.

 

[Gracie09]

you can get a refillable cup at the waterparks though

 

[disnut8]

I'm kind of surprised they haven't tried to tap that market yet ......

They did try it. My husband's aunt (while on a trip with me so first hand knowledge) got a refillable mug from Animal Kingdom and it was a nice big mug. However, since the Cast Member had to refill the mug for the aunt, the Cast Member could not refill the mug but rather had to fill a paper cup (a large one) and then hand that over for the aunt to pour into the mug.

With resort mugs, the person who bought the mug is refilling it (presumably). At the parks, the mug cannot be refilled by a Cast Member since that Cast Member has no idea where that mug has been since the original purchase. Not to gross anyone out but the mug could have been dropped into a toilet, wiped off and now is being presented for a refill of a beverage.

Now, can the technology be improved so RFID coding is in place and there can be a set of dispensers throughout the parks for this choice? Yes. However, how many people could see a refillable beverage dispenser and then think "free soda!"? Quite a few.

Park guests and resort guests are two different sets of individuals with this.

 

[LATJLP]

Isn't the refillable mug only for refills at YOUR resort? I know people used to take the cups to other resorts (we did this one year doing the Christmas decor hop and got hot chocolate and coffee to enjoy). But I thought these new cups had a chip to not allow you to use it only where you are staying?

 

[I M Fearless]

The cups are able to be refilled at any resort. Although Disney do not advertise this or do anything to encourage it. I don't think they necessarily forbid it either, the cups are advertised as length of stay, and if you do a split stay you are able to use them at subsequent resorts, I have even had cups reactivated after two weeks, on one extremely long trip (18 days)

We have been known to take them with coffee to MK rope drop, stop off at lunchtime at contempo cafe for a cupcake, grab a soda and a refill to go, then head to Typhoon Lagoon from CR for the afternoon.

This all being said, for the added hassle of carting around a few "not quite dry" cups for the day, it is hardly worth the effort. As I said, we generally only take them if we are going to a water park, and hence will be buying a locker that day.

I don't think people generally abuse the privilege of having the cups. People decanting huge amounts of soda seems to have stopped thanks to rapid fill. I think with fair use Disney don't mind where you use them. As I said, most people simply don't want the hassle of carting them around, after all you're on vacation, treat yourself to a Dole Whip Float instead.

 

[IrishNYC]

I think a big part of it is the abundance of free-flowing, aka: free-spilling, soda making a sticky mess everywhere. People are a lot more careful and frugal with $3 sodas than with unlimited refills...and Disney makes more money, of course.

On the other hand, if I have unlimited soda available to me, I'd choose that over water 75% of the time, which being on the go all day at Disney doesn't make for a good choice. I bet they avoid a lot of dehydrated guests by not offering unlimited refills.

Isn't the refillable mug only for refills at YOUR resort? I know people used to take the cups to other resorts (we did this one year doing the Christmas decor hop and got hot chocolate and coffee to enjoy). But I thought these new cups had a chip to not allow you to use it only where you are staying?

It's for any resort.

 

[I M Fearless]

It almost makes sense for Disney to encourage guests to stop off at other resorts, how many times have you visited a different resort and come back thinking about booking next years trip at that resort? It's largely the dining that attracts guests into deluxe resorts if they are not already staying in them. For Disney this is no accident, having O'Hana, 1900 Park Fare or Cali Grill at those resorts is a sure fire way of promoting those hotels for future stays.

 

[matheke]

This all being said, for the added hassle of carting around a few "not quite dry" cups for the day, it is hardly worth the effort. As I said, we generally only take them if we are going to a water park, and hence will be buying a locker that day.

Just bring a gallon sizes ziplock bag with you. 2 mugs fit nicely inside and you end up with very little mess.