No more free drinks at All Star Sports Resort

[puntagordabob]

Wow, the Brazilians have an Organized Mug Exchange? Departing groups sell their mugs at a discount to the next groups arriving?

Disney should give them all free soda for life for being so ingenious! :ROFLOL:

:ROFLOL::ROFLOL::ROFLOL:

How much you wanna bet the actual tour companies get most of those mugs for free from those who dont want to take them home or buy them back cheaply...then resell them to the Next group... wow.... clever but also sad!

 

[Brian Noble]

but some users are apparently getting angry and breaking the arms on purpose.

Wow. Just, wow.

 

[flavious27]

I'm hearing reports from a second WDW hotel about the durability of the ValidFill "arms" on the dispenser, and the news is not good.

Apparently people are trying to use old mugs and when nothing happens, they try again--harder. That stress alone will cause fatigue on the material, but some users are apparently getting angry and breaking the arms on purpose.

This may also be happening with valid mugs trying to refill quickly before the wait period elapses.

Brazilians were mentioned specifically to me as breaking the delicate arms. Seems the problem is compounded because many tour group participants are selling their mugs to incoming (new) tour groups... and there is anger when the mugs don't function after the two-week limit is reached.

That is hilarious, well it looks disney will have to determine how profitable this would be if they have to keep replacing broken handles.

 

[wilkeliza]

They probably factored in an annual maintenance fee so I can't imagine replacing broken handles in the beginning would be a huge factor to axing the system.

I find it interesting that so many people are up in arms about this when the system has been in place in other places for some time now.

Also to people that are using the argument that I can down x amount of soda when its hot out it isn't a great idea to suck down large amounts of soda when you are hot. Soda can actually make dehydration worse because it is a diuretic. The best thing for you if you feel overheated is water which is still unlimited and free.

 

[Kamikaze]

Also to people that are using the argument that I can down x amount of soda when its hot out it isn't a great idea to suck down large amounts of soda when you are hot. Soda can actually make dehydration worse because it is a diuretic. The best thing for you if you feel overheated is water which is still unlimited and free.

That argument is at best debatable, and at worst false. Don't try to pass it as a fact. Nor does it have anything to do with this thread.

 

[Dwarful]

We buy new mugs only when we are staying at the value resorts....simply because we find the mugs a pain in the neck to use at Yacht & Boardwalk. If we eat a meal in the food court at the values which we will do a few times per trip (9 -14 day stays) my husband esp. could down two mugs worth of drinks in that 5 minute time frame. I doubt this will cut down on mug abusers as we have seen lots of people at the water parks scan one barcode and then fill up different mugs or other nond-disney plastic cups. They tend to hover around the beverage stations and jam up the line. I'd rather see more drink stations throughout all of the resorts..esp. the larger moderate & deluxe resorts.

 

[Dwarful]

I also have to wonder if they are doing this because people have been buying the $5 park mugs which are the same size and shape as the resort mugs...just park designs. We saw quite a few people doing this on our last trip in June. I did buy one mug at each park to add to our collection...which meant we came home from that trip with 8 new mugs.

 

[TinkerBelle8878]

I hope at some point those resold mugs from the Brazil tour groups are washed.

But other than that, I don't drink that much soda to warrant buying a mug. I don't like fountain soda either. Its too syruppy and its never the right consistency. If I wanted, I'd buy from a soda machine at the resort, which actually is cheaper the way I figured it for the amount I drink. Its what, $2.25 for a little bottle that's 12oz?

I can't see spending anything over $5.00 on an ugly mug for this stuff. Or like being told how often it can be filled up. As previous posters have mentioned it will either be a guest relations nightmare, a maintenance nightmare, or maybe people will just say forget it if its not already paid for in a package.

 

[flynnibus]

That is hilarious, well it looks disney will have to determine how profitable this would be if they have to keep replacing broken handles.

One of the advantages of being the big fish is you can write the contract to your advantage. The little guy is the one clammering for the business, not Disney. I wouldn't be suprised if Disney wrote it into the contract that the vendor is responsible for all upkeep and maintenance of the hardware and software. For the pilot that is a no brainer.. but Disney is powerful enough to force that kind of leverage on a little guy.. and they might be happy to do it simply so they can put on their website 'we do Disney' and then they sell to so many other customers.

Common practice.

Disney would be more concerned with the impact of lack of high availability/reliability... cost they can force on the little guy. Customers without service.. Disney needs to avoid.

 

[patricia27]

I'm hearing reports from a second WDW hotel about the durability of the ValidFill "arms" on the dispenser, and the news is not good.

Apparently people are trying to use old mugs and when nothing happens, they try again--harder. That stress alone will cause fatigue on the material, but some users are apparently getting angry and breaking the arms on purpose.

This may also be happening with valid mugs trying to refill quickly before the wait period elapses.

Brazilians were mentioned specifically to me as breaking the delicate arms. Seems the problem is compounded because many tour group participants are selling their mugs to incoming (new) tour groups... and there is anger when the mugs don't function after the two-week limit is reached.

That is so funny to hear about mugs being sold on !!!!
For me Disney is just being MEAN!! When you hear that they pay little or nothing for the syrup that makes up the drinks ,and will make a good profit on the food, does it matter if guests get a free drink!! Too much soda is bad for you anyway especially in the heat--they`ll be charging for water next!!

 

[Fractal514]

That is so funny to hear about mugs being sold on !!!!
For me Disney is just being MEAN!! When you hear that they pay little or nothing for the syrup that makes up the drinks ,and will make a good profit on the food, does it matter if guests get a free drink!! Too much soda is bad for you anyway especially in the heat--they`ll be charging for water next!!

Yes it does matter. It matters because some guests follow the rules and pay for what they take, and some guests do not follow the rules and steal it. Is it petty theft, sure, but it is still wrong when others are paying full price.

Ya know, I really don't get this argument that just because it's cheap it shouldn't matter if folks steal it. Would you tell your kid it's ok to steal if they pocketed some bazooka gum while walking through a convenience store?

Hell, by that logic folks shouldn't have to pay for park admissions, I mean after all, it isn't like that one guests sneaking in is actually going to cost Disney anything, I mean they are such meanies.

 

[puntagordabob]

Also to people that are using the argument that I can down x amount of soda when its hot out it isn't a great idea to suck down large amounts of soda when you are hot. Soda can actually make dehydration worse because it is a diuretic. The best thing for you if you feel overheated is water which is still unlimited and free.

I think most of us drink a lot of water out and about during our time in the parks.....but when I personally return to the resort drinking diet soda quenches my thirst while at the same time getting my second wind to go out and start again.

Of course I fail to see how your point has anything to do with this conversation....

 

[puntagordabob]

Ya know, I really don't get this argument that just because it's cheap it shouldn't matter if folks steal it. Would you tell your kid it's ok to steal if they pocketed some bazooka gum while walking through a convenience store?
.

I am not sure if the poster you are responding to was intending this.... but your two posts made me think that if the soda is so cheap why doesnt Disney wrap this into all room packages (cash and DVC) and I do not mean by use of the dining plan either. Disney could also offer a yearly cup to passholders, dvc members, and to anyone who wants it (make it $50 or something).... a high % of people would buy it and still use it about the same..but their perception would be "Ill come back later and use it so its a deal" and we all know most will not.

 

[docdebbi]

Yes it does matter. It matters because some guests follow the rules and pay for what they take, and some guests do not follow the rules and steal it. Is it petty theft, sure, but it is still wrong when others are paying full price.

Ya know, I really don't get this argument that just because it's cheap it shouldn't matter if folks steal it. Would you tell your kid it's ok to steal if they pocketed some bazooka gum while walking through a convenience store?

Hell, by that logic folks shouldn't have to pay for park admissions, I mean after all, it isn't like that one guests sneaking in is actually going to cost Disney anything, I mean they are such meanies.

i couldn't agree more.

i have been following this thread for awhile and cannot believe the number of people who believe it is ok to "re-use mugs"- read as- take a drink they haven't paid for. morality and ethics in our society have surely decreased.

it does not matter how big or how small,

STEALIING IS STEALING!

taking something that you do not own is stealing. if you have not paid for it, you do not own it.

(as an aside, disney is not losing 5 cents worth of supplies, it is losing $2.25 in lost revenue for what you should have paid for it- but that's not the main point here, because even five cents is- oh yeah- STEALING!)

 

[flynnibus]

For me Disney is just being MEAN!! When you hear that they pay little or nothing for the syrup that makes up the drinks ,and will make a good profit on the food, does it matter if guests get a free drink!!

I guess you find the owner of this site MEAN too for trying to charge you for something that doesn't actually cost him more to offer to you directly?

Are you upset all restaurants just don't provide you with free drinks to start with? I mean after all.. the stuff is so cheap right? :brick:

 

[ToTBellHop]

That argument is at best debatable, and at worst false. Don't try to pass it as a fact. Nor does it have anything to do with this thread.

Actually, that argument is proven fact. There is no debate. You don't seem to have knowledge of human physiology, but caffeine is a potent diuretic, so yes, it is absolute fact that drinking a Coke will dehydrate you. Don't try to claim something is false when you clearly have no idea what you are talking about.

 

[njDizFan]

Actually, that argument is proven fact. There is no debate. You don't seem to have knowledge of human physiology, but caffeine is a potent diuretic, so yes, it is absolute fact that drinking a Coke will dehydrate you. Don't try to claim something is false when you clearly have no idea what you are talking about.

no I'm sorry that rumor has been debunked

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/health/nutrition/04real.html

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/caffeinated-drinks/AN01661

http://advance.uconn.edu/2002/020722/02072207.htm

for just a few references

 

[Master Yoda]

Actually, that argument is proven fact. There is no debate. You don't seem to have knowledge of human physiology, but caffeine is a potent diuretic, so yes, it is absolute fact that drinking a Coke will dehydrate you. Don't try to claim something is false when you clearly have no idea what you are talking about.

Actually it is not. Caffeine is a mild diuretic but that is essentially where the truth ends. The amount of fluid that is taken in by drinking the average caffeinated beverage (soda, coffee, etc) exceeds the diuretic potency of the caffeine in it. Essentially you take in more liquid than the caffeine is capable of expelling. The only real risk of dehydration from caffeine comes from taking an excessive amount energy shots that contain a large amount of caffeine and little liquid. However, you would more than likely experience a cardiac event before you reach a level of caffeine that would cause dehydration.

http://www.caring4cancer.com/go/cancer/nutrition/questions/do-caffeinated-beverages-cause-dehydration.htm

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/health/nutrition/04real.html

http://www.brighthub.com/health/diet-nutrition/articles/22963.aspx

 

[Brewer]

Like several I've followed this for a while - not read everything so please excuse me.

Why can't Disney take the refillable mugs out of the equation completley?

Would it be as simple as to add unlimited refils onto the room card and each time you want to refil you insert your card like obtaining a fast pass which will then allow you to dispense the beverage. It proves you are staying on site and cannot be transferred to anyone else.

I'm sure it would be easy for the tills to produce a bar coded slip to insert for your quick service meals.

I'm sure it would be cheaper also for Disney?

 

[Master Yoda]

Like several I've followed this for a while - not read everything so please excuse me.

Why can't Disney take the refillable mugs out of the equation completley?

Would it be as simple as to add unlimited refils onto the room card and each time you want to refil you insert your card like obtaining a fast pass which will then allow you to dispense the beverage. It proves you are staying on site and cannot be transferred to anyone else.

I'm sure it would be easy for the tills to produce a bar coded slip to insert for your quick service meals.

I'm sure it would be cheaper also for Disney?

The RFID technology is much less expensive, more reliable and easier to use. As long as you have the proper cup the machines work like any other soda fountain. The problem comes in when someone is trying to use an unauthorized cup as the machine simple does not turn on. This causes the guest to "push harder" and make the machines work.