ValidFill at Resorts

neoshinok

neoshinok

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Hi everyone, first time posting, please be gentle.

I decided to share an encounter I had today. While at work at a retail center, which shall remain nameless, I spoke to a gentleman who works for a company called ValidFill. The company specializes in RFID cups and drink dispensers which monitor usage of the embedded cups. He told me they have begun the first implimentation of this technology at Disney resorts, citing The All-Star Sports resort as the first to be added. Although never practicing 'mug-hopping' first hand, I've read plenty about the apparent abuse of the mug system at the Disney resorts. I can only assume this is Disney's first effort in preventative measure against this abuse. What I'm wondering is if the RFID system will prevent an unauthorized mug from being filled, or simply track its use or overuse. In any case, I found this to be interesting, and hope some of you will too.
 
Pioneer Hall

Pioneer Hall

Well-Known Member
lazyboy97o said:
I believe a similar system has already been in use at the water parks for a number of years.
Click to expand...

They use a bar code scanner.

It has been rumored that this would eventually come to the resorts, but that rumor is about as old as they come too. Disney has a lot of number savvy people who's sole job at some point was to decide if implementing this technology was worth what it currently costs them in "unauthorized" soda machine use. If they saw that this would help their bottom line enough then it would already be implemented. Ethics of the situation completely aside...Disney knows what happens and I am sure that they have completely evaluated the situation time and time again.
 
DABIGCHEEZ

DABIGCHEEZ

Well-Known Member
So you mean I will need to buy a new mug each year and can no longer bring mine from previous years??? :lookaroun

Hey... someone was going to ask sooner or later!! :p
 
El Grupo

El Grupo

Well-Known Member
DisneyInsider said:
They use a bar code scanner.

It has been rumored that this would eventually come to the resorts, but that rumor is about as old as they come too. Disney has a lot of number savvy people who's sole job at some point was to decide if implementing this technology was worth what it currently costs them in "unauthorized" soda machine use. If they saw that this would help their bottom line enough then it would already be implemented. Ethics of the situation completely aside...Disney knows what happens and I am sure that they have completely evaluated the situation time and time again.
Click to expand...

Very good point. If Disney cannot realistically project a net profit from such a system, I don't believe they will roll it out.
 
Fractal514

Fractal514

Well-Known Member
Cost wise... Couldn't they just have a card swipe on the machine, and ask guests to use their room keys?

How much could that cost?
 
Pioneer Hall

Pioneer Hall

Well-Known Member
Fractal514 said:
Cost wise... Couldn't they just have a card swipe on the machine, and ask guests to use their room keys?

How much could that cost?
Click to expand...

I don't think it's an issue of actual cost, but savings realized. Even if it costs Disney $100 dollars to implement the system, they won't do it if they are only losing $95 on reused mugs. Even if the policy is in place, there is no reason to implement something until you can determine that the cost of that implementation is actually going to save you enough money.

We know that Disney spends very little on keeping their fountain soda machines stocked, and that the profit margin on a soda (and mug) is HUGE. I would venture to guess that Disney doesn't spend as much time worrying about it as some people on this forum.
 
ArtieJim

ArtieJim

Well-Known Member
Sounds like you'd actually be locked into only using it at your resort during your stay. Even if you stay more than once a year.
 
disneydata

disneydata

Well-Known Member
neoshinok said:
Hi everyone, first time posting, please be gentle.

I decided to share an encounter I had today. While at work at a retail center, which shall remain nameless, I spoke to a gentleman who works for a company called ValidFill. The company specializes in RFID cups and drink dispensers which monitor usage of the embedded cups. He told me they have begun the first implimentation of this technology at Disney resorts, citing The All-Star Sports resort as the first to be added. Although never practicing 'mug-hopping' first hand, I've read plenty about the apparent abuse of the mug system at the Disney resorts. I can only assume this is Disney's first effort in preventative measure against this abuse. What I'm wondering is if the RFID system will prevent an unauthorized mug from being filled, or simply track its use or overuse. In any case, I found this to be interesting, and hope some of you will too.
Click to expand...
I can confirm this is not in place at the All-Star Sports resort.
 
NoChesterHester

NoChesterHester

Well-Known Member
DisneyInsider said:
I don't think it's an issue of actual cost, but savings realized. Even if it costs Disney $100 dollars to implement the system, they won't do it if they are only losing $95 on reused mugs. Even if the policy is in place, there is no reason to implement something until you can determine that the cost of that implementation is actually going to save you enough money.

We know that Disney spends very little on keeping their fountain soda machines stocked, and that the profit margin on a soda (and mug) is HUGE. I would venture to guess that Disney doesn't spend as much time worrying about it as some people on this forum.
Click to expand...

^^Bingo^^^

Profit on soda is in the hundreds of precent. Soda syrup and carbonated water is very cheap and of all cost savings measures to worry about this has to be pretty far down the list.
 
GrumpyFan

GrumpyFan

Well-Known Member
It will be interesting to see if this gets rolled out, and what kind of restrictions they put on it, if any. Seems like it would be a waste, considering what they charge for sodas and the refillable mugs. I cant really see where they would be able to realize a whole lot more profit. But, I guess in these days of penny pinching every one counts, and when you consider the volume that Disney turns, it's potentially a LOT of pennies.
 
GrumpyFan

GrumpyFan

Well-Known Member
After posting, I went and checked out the website for ValidFill and was reading about some of their products. One of the markets they push for is Theme Parks, which got me to thinking that perhaps Disney is looking at this in another way. It's kind of wishful thinking but using this system, they could be thinking about rolling this out to the whole resort in order allow wider usage options for refillable mugs. For example, they could have 3 different pricing and usage options for the mugs. 1) Standard, use only allowed at resort purchased. 2) Plus, usage allowed at purchased resort plus other resorts on property. 3) Premium, usage allowed all over property, including filling stations in the parks.

With the restrictive function enabled, it would mean they could put drink stations pretty much anywhere, and only guests who had purchased a cup would be able to use them. It would also mean restaurants where they fill your drink for you, like many in MK, would now require fewer cast members. So, there is some cost savings to be recognized if they implement it.

What I would really like to see with or without the ValidFill, is wide implementation of the CocaCola Freestyle drink stations.
 
cowanfamily

cowanfamily

Well-Known Member
GrumpyFan said:
After posting, I went and checked out the website for ValidFill and was reading about some of their products. One of the markets they push for is Theme Parks, which got me to thinking that perhaps Disney is looking at this in another way. It's kind of wishful thinking but using this system, they could be thinking about rolling this out to the whole resort in order allow wider usage options for refillable mugs. For example, they could have 3 different pricing and usage options for the mugs. 1) Standard, use only allowed at resort purchased. 2) Plus, usage allowed at purchased resort plus other resorts on property. 3) Premium, usage allowed all over property, including filling stations in the parks.

With the restrictive function enabled, it would mean they could put drink stations pretty much anywhere, and only guests who had purchased a cup would be able to use them. It would also mean restaurants where they fill your drink for you, like many in MK, would now require fewer cast members. So, there is some cost savings to be recognized if they implement it.

What I would really like to see with or without the ValidFill, is wide implementation of the CocaCola Freestyle drink stations.
Click to expand...


This would be nice!



OP: Welcome to the boards!
 
thehowiet

thehowiet

Wilson King of Prussia
GrumpyFan said:
After posting, I went and checked out the website for ValidFill and was reading about some of their products. One of the markets they push for is Theme Parks, which got me to thinking that perhaps Disney is looking at this in another way. It's kind of wishful thinking but using this system, they could be thinking about rolling this out to the whole resort in order allow wider usage options for refillable mugs. For example, they could have 3 different pricing and usage options for the mugs. 1) Standard, use only allowed at resort purchased. 2) Plus, usage allowed at purchased resort plus other resorts on property. 3) Premium, usage allowed all over property, including filling stations in the parks.

With the restrictive function enabled, it would mean they could put drink stations pretty much anywhere, and only guests who had purchased a cup would be able to use them. It would also mean restaurants where they fill your drink for you, like many in MK, would now require fewer cast members. So, there is some cost savings to be recognized if they implement it.
Click to expand...

This makes a lot of sense and I could definitely see this happening. Good call, GrumpyFan!
 
Master Yoda

Master Yoda

Pro Star Wars geek.
Premium Member
DisneyInsider said:
I don't think it's an issue of actual cost, but savings realized. Even if it costs Disney $100 dollars to implement the system, they won't do it if they are only losing $95 on reused mugs. Even if the policy is in place, there is no reason to implement something until you can determine that the cost of that implementation is actually going to save you enough money.

We know that Disney spends very little on keeping their fountain soda machines stocked, and that the profit margin on a soda (and mug) is HUGE. I would venture to guess that Disney doesn't spend as much time worrying about it as some people on this forum.
Click to expand...
While quite true but I wonder if has finally reached a tipping point. Like you said it is all a numbers game. The second a system like saves Disney money they will implement it. I do not spend much time in the resort food courts and I have been seeing quite a bit of flat out stealing. Forget bringing back a an old resort mug, I have seen numerous people with the 44oz cups from HESS, Racetrack, etc. If I am seeing instances like that on nearly every visit I can only imagine how often it is happening.
 

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