Funny, but by raising the price on the AP, they got the money you weren't spending in the park anyway.
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Rapid Fill Mug Program Fails (at more ways than you might think)
- Thread starter The Visionary Soul
- Start date
RustySpork
Oscar Mayer Memer
Sadly true, yes.
ford91exploder
Resident Curmudgeon
ford91exploder
Resident Curmudgeon
My bank account thanks me every august since I stopped renewing my Premier Passport (AP valid in both WDW and DL)
RustySpork
Oscar Mayer Memer
I had high hopes for Flower and Garden today based on the hype and how great Food and Wine was but it is such a huge joke this year. I went down to Epcot this morning hoping to enjoy it but left so disappointed, probably won't renew either after that. The flowers are all wilted. There's no real color anywhere in the park, just different showings of the exact same flowers. The food is all over priced (as is the merchandise), and it's just one big sea of seemingly annoyed people. It was not at all like this in years past, I've been comparing my old photos and there was so much color everywhere last year. I even looked at MDE thinking about going to another park, noped out and went home based on the wait times. I didn't even eat in the park, and I had my F&W trays at the ready!
ford91exploder
Resident Curmudgeon
That's really disappointing to hear as Flower and Garden had always been my favorite festival because of the riot of color and the creative garden demos and the butterfly house. If I were a guest who has been there before I'd be annoyed too
ford91exploder
Resident Curmudgeon
Exactly pathetic is it not, Interesting though is a 'resort fee' which included a cup and 'free' soda might make some of the sting go away - but I can't see Disney making the highest margin item on property 'free'.
GoofGoof
Premium Member
So you are saying they should make the resort fee $18 per person and give you one mug per person in your room. This way they take the highest margin item on property and force every hotel guest to buy one
that's genious...you're hired.
Laketravis
Well-Known Member
So you are saying they should make the resort fee $18 per person and give you one mug per person in your room. This way they take the highest margin item on property and force every hotel guest to buy one
And then suggest that they increase the resort fee to $25 before including the mug and ford91explorer gets promoted.
Can you get friggin' soda in Club Cool?
RustySpork
Oscar Mayer Memer
You should read my comment one more time.
Edit: My sarcasm detector might need to be rebooted this morning.
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ford91exploder
Resident Curmudgeon
So you are saying they should make the resort fee $18 per person and give you one mug per person in your room. This way they take the highest margin item on property and force every hotel guest to buy one
Not quite what I meant, I think the idea of a resort fee is an abomination but if Disney does it the inclusion of a 'length of stay' mug for each person named on reservation would make some of the sting go away
RustySpork
Oscar Mayer Memer
They already include the mug with DDP, that's all the charity people are going to get from TWDC.
ford91exploder
Resident Curmudgeon
They already include the mug with DDP, that's all the charity people are going to get from TWDC.
Too true my friend
I think you're being a bit too harsh on them. After all, you can still watch free movies on the beach, breathe all the air you want at no extra charge, and they still don't charge for ice water at the CS locations.They already include the mug with DDP, that's all the charity people are going to get from TWDC.
You are correct - the mug pricing at Disney has reached the point where someone may start to manufacture a "mug skimmer" which could be placed in the machines and allow evil doers to clone mugs for unlimited soda!!!
Seriously, I have been following this and my two cents is that the RFID cups are a solution in search of a problem. While theft may be an issue the actual dollar amount lost is in the noise when compared to the overall costs of running a resort or even just the food court areas. It probably looked like a good idea when it was just a cell on an Excel spreadsheet but then no one who has to actually make guests happy seems to be involved in the development of the solution. For those who say the situation is different at a Disney food court than a MacDonald's or Burger King - they are correct - none of Burger King's customers have spent a significant amount of money for a room at Burger King where they become a captive clientele. If Disney wants to recover the loss from the soda theft they could simply build it into the room rate ( or as an idea for a different discussion - make it one of the many benefits of the coming "resort fee"). I realize any corporation wants every penny from your pocket but the good ones don't make you feel as if they are shaking you down for it.
I think Universal's in park solution works well as a benefit for guests - buy a cup, pay a daily charge and get unlimited soda. To me in the park would make sense but not limiting it in a hotel dining area.
Just so you don't think I am totally against everything Disney does - we still have the original Aladdin mugs ( unlimited lifetime refills ) with the POFQ Sea Monster on them which are more souvenirs now than actual cups. I have been tempted to return and see how they would be honored today but it is more trouble than it's worth since we have stopped staying on site for a while.
Jon81uk
Well-Known Member
I assume you know that Universal use the same RapidFill technology in their resort food courts (well Cabana Bay and Saphire Falls) with pricing similar to Disney ($8.99/11.99/13.99 for 1/2/3 days then $17.99 for length of stay).
GoofGoof
Premium Member
They should be illegal. There was a bill that died in the House last year that would have made them illegal. I doubt it will gain any traction under the current administration since they favor less regulation. Part of the consumer protections recently enacted for airline passengers have already been repealed.
I wasn't aware of the Universal Food Court use - although I am not surprised. As I mentioned we have transitioned to off site lodging for our visits both to Disney and Universal. I can see the advantages of the Universal in park approach to everyone. I unable to see any advantage for guests in the Disney resort only method.
Jon81uk
Well-Known Member
As far as I know (I haven't stayed on-site at Universal yet) they in-park and the resort mugs at Uni are not interchangeable. Your resort mug is same as Disney, only valid in the resort quick service (and at freestyle machine by the pool bar) and the theme park mug is only for the theme park, but can as you say be reactivated each visit.