Water Bottle - Water Refills from Soda Fountains Free?

[DJ!]

I just want to check to see if there is a fee or if this is behavior that would cause any problems. If I am dining at a CS restaurant that has self serve beverages, am I allowed to fill my water bottle with ice and water without incurring a charge for a beverage? I am not a big soda drinker, but I drink water pretty much all day long. TIA

 

[_auroraborealis_]

There are only a handful of CS restaurants with self-serve beverages.

Regulation is that a fresh cup needs to be used. I don't think you're supposed to use your own bottle. I doubt they care about the water so much.

 

[dgthree]

I remember being able to fill my water bottle at Sunshine Seasons in Epcot and at the Pop Century food court. Otherwise, you may have to ask for a cup (or two) of ice water.

 

[amberpi]

Worst case, just ask for a few cups of ice water to fill your bottles. They'll definitely do that!

 

[kastoney]

We always just fill our with cups of water from either quick or table service places and have no issue.

 

[DJ!]

Thank you all for the answers. I am just trying to anticipate all the weirdness that might come our way.

 

[Clare Voince]

On my last trip, I packed my water bottle with ice from the machine in the hotel and then refilled from fountains as needed. It stayed cold until my mid-day break.

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

i recall the water tasting 'funky' to me when we were there, is it more filtered if we ask at a counter vs water fountains?

 

[marcyleecorgan]

i recall the water tasting 'funky' to me when we were there, is it more filtered if we ask at a counter vs water fountains?

No, it's all the same water. Bring water bottle filters if the taste of the FL water gets to you.

OP, the only issue you will encounter is that you will need to ask for a cup of ice water, they will not touch your bottle or fill it from the dispensers directly. Food safety concerns! They don't care what you do with that cup of water, but they can't handle your personal container, nor let it potentially cross-contaminate anything else. (I say potentially because that's the mentality of food safety... "just in case")

 

[sharonabe]

i recall the water tasting 'funky' to me when we were there, is it more filtered if we ask at a counter vs water fountains?

it's all the same water. Bring water bottle filters if the taste of the FL water gets to you.

I disagree with you. The water in the water fountains is NOT the same as the water from a QS place. The QS is filtered and definitely tastes better than the water fountains.

Still, we use the Brita sport bottles to take care of any taste issues. Some bring the flavored packets to add to their water.

 

[jdisnut]

I understand Disney's rationale, but I still find it frustrating that Cast Members will not refill our bottle with water and will instead insist on giving us a new water cup. We try to be environmentally conscious, which is why we bring our own water bottles to the park. The whole point is that we don't want to waste paper cups, but Cast Members are not allowed to take our bottles and fill them.

Like I said, i get it, but it's annoying.

 

[DLgal]

I understand Disney's rationale, but I still find it frustrating that Cast Members will not refill our bottle with water and will instead insist on giving us a new water cup. We try to be environmentally conscious, which is why we bring our own water bottles to the park. The whole point is that we don't want to waste paper cups, but Cast Members are not allowed to take our bottles and fill them.

Like I said, i get it, but it's annoying.

That's not the castmembers decision though. As food service workers,they are not permitted to handle personal food or drink containers. Imagine you have a communicable disease or virus. They can then potentially spread that to others by simply touching your bottle.

In my experience, if you have a wide mouth bottle with a completely removable lid, you are permitted to refill with ice and water at the self service beverage machines. The ice and water do not require the RFID chip cups. I have done it many many times and have seen others it as well.

Don't try to refill something like a Dasani bottle,though. That's kinda gross. I have seen castmembers discourage that,and suggest a cup to use to then fill those up.

 

[amberpi]

Thank you all for the answers. I am just trying to anticipate all the weirdness that might come our way.

I'm pretty "weird" and "quirky" and one of the best parts of WDW, is that a ton of other people are going to be way weirder than I could ever understand, and I have pretty darn good manners so - winning. You'll be fine with your water.

FWIW, I always thought that the CS water was filtered as well, while the water fountains weren't, but of course, I have no reason to know that for an absolute. The water fountains taste bad to me, but that could well be because the water isn't ice cold, and that is the difference.

 

[AngiTN]

No, it's all the same water. Bring water bottle filters if the taste of the FL water gets to you.

I disagree with you. The water in the water fountains is NOT the same as the water from a QS place. The QS is filtered and definitely tastes better than the water fountains.

Correct, the water from the soda machine is filtered. It is not the same as from the tap or from a water fountain. Neither of those are filtered. But the water that is used to mix with the lemonade from the soda machine is.