No more free drinks at All Star Sports Resort

[Unplugged]

The only people this should confuse are those trying to cheat the system (ether intentionally or unintentionally). If you buy a new RFID mug, the mug is scanned at the register so it's unique RFID chip is registered and associated with your reservation.

With this system, you should be able to use the same mug again on a later vacation as long as you have the cashier register it again by paying again. (Note, same mug, new fee). This is really just a "soda subscription" if you think about it. Hey, wonder if you can get an Annual Soda Pass along with your Annual Pass tix? :lol:

The BIG question may be in the simplicity. That is, I know a lot of resort hoppers. I am NOT talking about people who simply visit other resorts, I'm talking about people who go and stay at 2 or 3 different resorts in 1 trip. Example: If you stay on WDW property at Wilderness Lodge for 3 days, then Caribbean Beach for 4, will the system ensure your "mug" will work during all 7 days and at each one during your stay? Or will the dreaded simple system expect you to pay twice for the same mug?

Now to retire to my secret lair and start working on my RFID scanning mug that will emulate other mug's RFID chips allowing my mug to appear as anyone's mug I choose. By gaining free soda, I will rule the world! Waaaahahahahahahaha!

 

[devoy1701]

The policy certainly at one stage was mugs for life - certainly in 1996 when we got ours. That's been confirmed to us over the years by numerous management CMs and even other guests who in our case are still using the Dixie Landings mugs which were for life.

So to my question...does this bother you? And if so are you going to bring it up when you go back? And if so, I wonder how they will handle...

I agree with Slappy....seems like a huge effort to keep a few people from stealing some soft drinks that Disney themselves don't even pay for. There are other things that I think should be addressed first...but that is the MBA mentality of TDO...

 

[draybook]

I still see people confused by the finger scanners every trip I take to WDW. If they fuss enough the CM just scans their pass and lets them through.

I guarantee if it gets to the point where a CM has to continually help guests with the soda machines or explain how they work over and over they will be removed.

If people can't figure out how to place two fingers onto a machine or how to place a cup into slot or space, then they shouldn't be released into the general public.

 

[Tigger1988]

If people can't figure out how to place two fingers onto a machine or how to place a cup into slot or space, then they shouldn't be released into the general public.

Have you seen some of the people visiting WDW? Most of them are idiots, they also can't figure out how Fastpass works or that you can't stand/sit in the street during parades.

 

[KevinYee]

Disney does pay for the syrup, says my Coke executive friend (and former coworker at Disneyland)

 

[Neverland]

Ahhhhh, okay, the title is misleading. It makes it sound as though they are getting rid of mugs altogether, and you only get one drink, like at quick service places in the parks. They've had scan-able mugs at the water parks for some time. Don't know why it took so long to implement them into food courts.

 

[Kamikaze]

Ahhhhh, okay, the title is misleading. It makes it sound as though they are getting rid of mugs altogether, and you only get one drink, like at quick service places in the parks. They've had the scan-able mugs at the water parks for some time. Don't know why it took so long to implement them into food courts.

This isn't barcode based. This is RFID. Somewhat similar, but a lot more flexible. I'm sure they will roll out the tech to the water parks eventually as well.

 

[Kamikaze]

I guarantee if it gets to the point where a CM has to continually help guests with the soda machines or explain how they work over and over they will be removed.

If you watch the demos from the validfill site (in the other thread) its pretty braindead easy.

 

[devoy1701]

Disney does pay for the syrup, says my Coke executive friend (and former coworker at Disneyland)

I will give your coca-cola executive friend more clout than my Coca-Cola Enterprises friend who works in Accts Payable. Thanks for clearing that up.

 

[stuart]

So to my question...does this bother you? And if so are you going to bring it up when you go back? And if so, I wonder how they will handle...

I agree with Slappy....seems like a huge effort to keep a few people from stealing some soft drinks that Disney themselves don't even pay for. There are other things that I think should be addressed first...but that is the MBA mentality of TDO...

Slightly, as we are then buying something that was intended for life. However, people will also have bought things intended as 'for life' such as walk around the world tiles which have been damaged and replaced without the inscription. I dare say there are some who will be up in arms about it but it really isnt the end of the world. Another family who travel with us often also have the same mugs and met a few families over the years with our mugs (red and white / brear rabbit) and the original yellow/black ones. There are also yellow/green ones which were still under the mug for life rules.

This thread comes up every so often and I remember it did so around this time last year, just before we went, and by chance one day a manager was in the food court and said 'wow, dixie landings cups, not seen them in a while' the CM she was with asked what mugs they were and the manager explained that 'these mugs were bought back when this resort was called dixie landings, and at that time the mugs were sold as 'unlimited refills for this and all future stays at this resort'.

We'll buy the new mugs if they do bring in the RFID ones but until then, we shall use the mugs we have.

That said, those who do use mugs that were bought on another stay, or hotel, park or from non-disney are ripping the system a bit. Then again, this is disney who went for non-resort specific mugs and with the same design over a couple years making it harder to tell what stay the mugs were actually bought on, opening up the system to be taken advantage of

 

[juniorthomas]

Seems a bit Big Brother-y, but I guess it would save some money. They can indeed quantify how much would be saved by limiting how much can be redeemed and preventing repeat visitors from taking advantage of it.

And don't they get a fairly generous deal from Coca-Cola as it is, or is that all just a rumor?

 

[disneyny]

I am also another rule follower and don't understand why people are upset. You go to Disney you buy a mug and you get to use it while you are there. Is it a good deal? You decide or you decide to purchase individual drinks. You can't seriously expect to buy a mug one time and be able to use it every trip to get free refills in this day and age. $12.00 for a lifetime of drinks- that just isn't how things work anymore. I do understand what some are saying about the original resort specific mugs being for life so I get their point but that has not been the case for a very long time now and people should not be surprised at this. Do you know anywhere that will let you buy a $12.00 cup and use it for life?

 

[Thrill]

I'm just amazed that a one-time use cup with a freakin' microchip in it to limit the amount of beverage one can get at a time or a visit is more cost effective than letting those few evil scofflaws get away with free Coke. More a comment on technology than ethics.

I don't think RFID tags are that expensive, but then again, neither is soda. Still, Disney isn't doing it to save money, they're doing it to take in more. If I can buy a refillable mug and use it on a second trip, Disney misses out on money. They don't mind the loss of soda, but the possibility of selling more mugs is what they're going for. At least that's what I think.

It also makes me wonder if it wouldn't be cheaper to just block off the dispensers and hire some soft drink stewards to refill people's beverages and tell them when their mugs are not valid to use.

Short term, maybe, long term, no. The tags themselves aren't that expensive, to my knowledge. The initial cost of the machines might be expensive, though.

According to Wikipedia, a passive RFID tag (which I think is what Disney is using) costs a twentieth of a cent. That may as well be nothing.

 

[juniorthomas]

So to my question...does this bother you? And if so are you going to bring it up when you go back? And if so, I wonder how they will handle...

I agree with Slappy....seems like a huge effort to keep a few people from stealing some soft drinks that Disney themselves don't even pay for. There are other things that I think should be addressed first...but that is the MBA mentality of TDO...

It could be an effort to curb how often kids can drink soda. It's likely not, but they could at least claim it to try to grab some quick PR.

 

[juniorthomas]

As one who follows the rules and has never brought a mug from a past visit to get free refills, I say Great. I'm glad Disney found a way to stop people from abusing the system. Once it's in place and people use it one time, they will understand how it works. If people can understand how to work all their technological gadgets they use daily, they certainly will be able to figure out how to use a soda machine.

I'm guessing most hotel guests don't feel the same way as you do though. Which is a shame, because stealing soda shouldn't be a priority for people visiting Disney.

 

[devoy1701]

I'm guessing most hotel guests don't feel the same way as you do though. Which is a shame, because stealing soda shouldn't be a priority for people visiting Disney.

People stealing soda or not buying a new mug > efficiently working monorail

Seems to be TDO's priority right now... :lol:

 

[juniorthomas]

I still see people confused by the finger scanners every trip I take to WDW. If they fuss enough the CM just scans their pass and lets them through.

I guarantee if it gets to the point where a CM has to continually help guests with the soda machines or explain how they work over and over they will be removed.

I feel sorry for the CM who gets soda fountain duty

 

[powlessfamily4]

I do not have a problem with the new system. I have a lot mugs right now and none of them are lifetime refillable. The reason I have so many mugs is that I feel they are worth the money you pay for them. They are not just a free beverage, but also a great souvenir. I know not everyone feels that way. I do however feel if you purchase an item that is sold as lifetime refillable, then that is what should be honored.

 

[KevinYee]

I will give your coca-cola executive friend more clout than my Coca-Cola Enterprises friend who works in Accts Payable. Thanks for clearing that up.

Someone who CURRENTLY works in accounts payable at CCE ought to know, actually - my friend's info is about ten years old... maybe the deal changed? For the record, it was a persistent rumor/legend even 20 years ago that Disney didn't pay, but they really did. At least back then.

 

[worldfanatic]

I don't think this has anything to do with saving money on syrup.
Which would be negligible for Disney.

I think it's more about making those people who are honest and properly pay for their drinks feel better.

I don't drink soda at WDW, but I can imagine it would be really annoying to pay for a coke, and then look over and see some cheap idiot using cups from 3 years past.
It would very slightly take a bit of Magic away from the Disney World trip.
And seeing this happen over and over again would further erode the Magic.

I think Disney's making this move with those guests in mind. I like it.