"Rapid Fill" Mugs coming to WDW Resorts

[Wizzard419]

Either that or simply place a fountain behind the counter to fill the paper cups and prohibiting refills.

At the same time they may really start pushing the refill cups to the point that paper ones are almost unknown.

[rusafee1183]

I don't mind this change at all.

Normally, when I go to WDW, I stay for two weeks. I'll usually buy a refillable mug when I get there, and refill it each morning/evening before and after spending the day in the parks (I don't bother taking it to the parks with me, I just use it as a cheaper method of having something to drink while at the hotel). To me, this new system won't make any difference to how I use the current system.

Honestly, I'm actually surprised it's taken them this long to implement this kind of system. Every single time I've visited the refill stations at the hotel to refill my mug, there's been someone there with an older mug from several years ago getting themselves a free drink (I've also seen people filling non-Disney mugs there*), and every time it's annoyed me. I recall reading some forum threads around various sites at the time they did the trial at the All-Star resorts in which people were complaining they'd no longer be able to use their older cups, as if they're somehow entitled to free drinks for life because they bought a cup ten years ago**. To me, that's just taking advantage of the system, and is - technically - stealing. It actually makes me slightly happy that they're finally implementing a system to stop this. Would it really hurt to buy a $14 (IIRC) mug once per trip? It's not that expensive (Seriously - I worked it out last trip. It'd cost many times that for the number of individual drinks I put in the cup during my two week stay).

Anyway, I'm done with my mini-rant now. I'm off to hide before people start throwing things at me for suggesting people actually pay for drinks

* Yep. A few times I've seen people filling Universal mugs at the Pop Century refill stations.

** I know there was an offer of "lifetime" refills at one point, but that's not been the case for many years now, and 99.9% of the people refilling older mugs aren't using the mugs that had the "lifetime" refills.

I agree with you here. Maybe if people didn't abuse the system so much in the past, the proces wouldn't be astronomical now. If everyone had been consistantly paying for beverages, the system change wouldn't need to be so extreme.

[Wizzard419]

Considering the profit margins on soda, I am guessing they are not suffering from abuse but by making it a daily charge it keeps them from leaving money on the table.

[Amy]

Considering the profit margins on soda, I am guessing they are not suffering from abuse but by making it a daily charge it keeps them from leaving money on the table.

I would have to agree with you on that one. I wonder if Disney might not even pay at all for the soda because Coke gets such exposure in the parks.

[Wizzard419]

In the past they might have, they may also get the syrups for free, but they may also just get a deep volume discount (like fast food chains get) since they buy the sodas, bottled water, and fruit juices from them.

[Amy]

In the past they might have, they may also get the syrups for free, but they may also just get a deep volume discount (like fast food chains get) since they buy the sodas, bottled water, and fruit juices from them.

Yeah, deep discount probably makes more sense. I wonder if Disney is the largest customer of Coca Cola?

[Wizzard419]

It would probably be McDonalds or possibly a grocery store chain, though Disney would probably be the largest single location consumer (which is also why they have bottling plants near DLR).

[cy1229]

So is the new RFID mug going to be what's included in the dining plan, if the old refillable mugs are going away (they're not "free" -- believe me, you're paying for that mug!)? On our last trip, we had the refillable mugs, but to be honest, I think we filled them only once, some maybe twice, a day. They came with our plan so we got them, but then having 9 people and only 3 colors necessitated marking the mugs and lids with a permanent marker.

Wouldn't a paper cup with the RFID sticker almost double the cost of the cup? I've been told that the cup costs 5x more than the soda inside it (Amy, I can tell you're from Michigan because you called it "pop" ). I know they're making a chunk-o-change on the soda, but I wonder how much of that pm they'd be willing to sacrifice for paper cups with stickers, or if it would be more economical long-term to have soda dispensed in paper cups by a CM.

[Amy]

So is the new RFID mug going to be what's included in the dining plan, if the old refillable mugs are going away (they're not "free" -- believe me, you're paying for that mug!)? On our last trip, we had the refillable mugs, but to be honest, I think we filled them only once, some maybe twice, a day. They came with our plan so we got them, but then having 9 people and only 3 colors necessitated marking the mugs and lids with a permanent marker.

Wouldn't a paper cup with the RFID sticker almost double the cost of the cup? I've been told that the cup costs 5x more than the soda inside it (Amy, I can tell you're from Michigan because you called it "pop" ). I know they're making a chunk-o-change on the soda, but I wonder how much of that pm they'd be willing to sacrifice for paper cups with stickers, or if it would be more economical long-term to have soda dispensed in paper cups by a CM.

Yup, it's pop here! And fancy schmancy soda everywhere else
They had the paper cups with the RFID stickers when we were there during the testing period. I'm guessing most people will go with the mug so Disney probably won't have very much into the paper cups. I'm trying to remember what the refill policy on those were ~ I believe it was the original fill and then two refills within a certain time frame. The RFID system just had some bugs while we were there so I'm inclined to think we will skip the mug in favor of just plain H2O, although F1gment really needs her coffee in the morning, so she might have to get a mug for that.

[cy1229]

So is the new RFID mug going to be what's included in the dining plan, if the old refillable mugs are going away (they're not "free" -- believe me, you're paying for that mug!)? On our last trip, we had the refillable mugs, but to be honest, I think we filled them only once, some maybe twice, a day. They came with our plan so we got them, but then having 9 people and only 3 colors necessitated marking the mugs and lids with a permanent marker.

Wouldn't a paper cup with the RFID sticker almost double the cost of the cup? I've been told that the cup costs 5x more than the soda inside it (Amy, I can tell you're from Michigan because you called it "pop" ). I know they're making a chunk-o-change on the soda, but I wonder how much of that pm they'd be willing to sacrifice for paper cups with stickers, or if it would be more economical long-term to have soda dispensed in paper cups by a CM.

Yup, it's pop here! And fancy schmancy soda everywhere else
They had the paper cups with the RFID stickers when we were there during the testing period. I'm guessing most people will go with the mug so Disney probably won't have very much into the paper cups. I'm trying to remember what the refill policy on those were ~ I believe it was the original fill and then two refills within a certain time frame. The RFID system just had some bugs while we were there so I'm inclined to think we will skip the mug in favor of just plain H2O, although F1gment really needs her coffee in the morning, so she might have to get a mug for that.

I'm with F1gment. Don't talk to me until I've had a cup of coffee.

[Wizzard419]

If every ticket (not just hotel/AP) at WDW were replaced with the wristbands, they could keep the same cups and just put the drink purchase on the band. As long as it would be in a location where everyone would normally have them on their person.

[junebug1233]

I can't believe it is even a factor for consideration whether or not Disney is losing money from the endless amount of pop people steal. It's the principle. People refill old mugs and random cups endlessly, I see it all of the time. It makes me sick. I am so glad they are doing something to prevent this.
Also, the price difference isn't much. It goes up from 15.49 (I believe, correct me if I am wrong) to 17.99 for only 4 days or more. If you stay less days, you get a discount, which is better than before!
For these reasons, I am totally on board.

[Wizzard419]

What was the price for the refill mugs before the system?

[Amy]

What was the price for the refill mugs before the system?

I could only find the most recent pricing which is $15.49. So as junebug1233 pointed out, it will be a cheaper option for those staying less than the 4 days once the new system is in place.
We didn't see very many people trying to use old mugs or personal cups the last time we were there, but that might have been due to the RFID system already having been in place. If someone tried to use a mug that wasn't current, the soda dispensers simply didn't work. They were free to get ice and water though.

[rusafee1183]

I was wondering how that would work for ice and water. We like to fill bottles at the stations with water to freeze in the room. Glad they aren't keeping water under lock and key now too.