Refillable Mug Policy

[Cynderella]

Hi everyone. I did a search for this but nothing really answered my question. And if there was a thread already Im sorry but I couldnt find it. My question is...I have several Mugs from different resorts and for years I have brought them back to the resort and used them again and again...I heard a rumor or read it somewhere but I forget....that now you have to buy a new mug everytime you go and that they have this policy written on the new mugs now. I havent been down since Nov 03 and we stayed at Ft. Wilderness and didnt have mugs but I know in the past I had brought ones back and had no problem. I was just wondering if anyone has been down recently and noticed a change at all. Thanks in advance for any info! :wave:

 

[Gail Hayden]

Well, up to this point, I've never awarded reputation points (Wasn't exactly too sure how to do it). But after reading your posts, I had to do it for you. What you said makes perfect sense. It's sad that not everyone will probably "get it". I've never understood the concept that just because a company makes "plenty of money", that it somehow makes it justifiable to just help ourselves to a little extra. To me, this is akin to stealing office supplies and thinking it's okay because you feel your company doesn't pay you enough salary. If I "spend thousands of dollars" at Disney, it's because I was willing to pay the price that Disney was charging for stuff. It doesn't give me the right to say, "Well, since I've spent so much, I'll just take a little extra for free. After all, Disney owes me!"

Having said that, I also feel that it goes both ways. If Disney once sold these mugs with the deal that you could use them "for life" (and it is my understanding that this was the case at one time), then they also need to stand behind the offer they made. Even if they later did some accounting and realized they should limit their use to length of stay, the original agreement should still stand for the guests who were savvy enough to purchased those mugs when that offer was made.

First, thank you for the positive points!!! I am relatively new here, but I sense points from you are not easy to earn. Hence, I am very flattered.

Secondly, while you make very valid points about the lifetime use, it was never stated that it was lifetime use except by CMs and we all know how information can vary from one CM to the other. Also, how can you prove that you did buy them before the written rules were actually put into place?
This seems like a nightmare waiting to happen.

 

[Gail Hayden]

I see people take the paper cups and use them for the week. I'll tell you this, with the thousands and thousands of dollars that I've spent over the years, I don't think if I use my refillable cup more than one visit, It's a travesty. I do bring them back and reuse them. You don't even know they are different. I wouldn't bring ones that were blatently different back but the ones I do bring back are the same exact cups they have now. I would never even bring them to another hotel, which I see all the time!!! I'm not cheap by any means, I just think they are still making plenty of money off of me and that my cup of soda should be a thank you!

Define, please, making plenty of money off you? That is a prime example of the "entitlement mentality" that has taken hold in this country. If you were forced to go there and spend money, then perhaps a thank you in the form of refilling a previously purchased mug would be appropriate. You made the choice to go and spend money, they are not bound to thank you in anyway other than what you spend money for.
I have purchaed them exactly twice. Once at AKL and once at OKW. I have never brought them back, but, I do use them over and over and over, at home and work. They are a very inexpensive souvineer.

 

[AEfx]

At $2.29 for a large drink, they pay for themselves pretty quickly. And, IMHO they're a great souvenir. I take great pride in drinking Pepsi out of my mug from the Coke Kingdom.

LMAO...I almost spit out what was in my mouth - I am sitting here at work sipping Diet Pepsi out of my Pop Century mug as I read that.

Here's my deal with the mugs (don't shoot me). I have been going every 2-3 months to WDW this year (I just got back from my last trip a week ago, and my next is the 2nd week of January) and some of them are solo and some are with friends. I usually buy a new mug every other trip (since they get used at home a lot and beat up at work). I don't feel like I'm cheating anyone, especially since my trips are usually short (4-5 days) and I still buy tons of drinks in the parks/etc. Disney gets plenty of my money - I only use the resort one in the morning and when I return late at night, so I still buy at least 2-3 drinks throughout the day. And they get the Coke for free, as someone pointed out in another thread.

There is nobody checking for anything at the beverage counters - I saw people constantly filling up regular bottles and other stuff. However, if you want to keep your nose totally clean, I suppose you could buy one every single trip and have every family member carry a copy of the reciept in case they are asked.

AEfx

 

[Gail Hayden]

I guess I'm not a perfect Disney guest. But I have to tell you, when they were down after 9/11 and they had empty parks, I still went and spent my money. Any I never said Disney OWES me, I just stated with all the money i've spent over the years a couple of free soda's didn't make me feel bad. I would love to be as righteous as some of you but if I can save money on a mug once in awhile, I will. I still buy my mugs at the miniature golf courses and the parks and the hotels, when I haven't stayed there before so I think they've made plenty on me with soda's. So don't try to put the people down who bring their cups back because there are thousands who do. And if that's the worse thing I've done in my life, I think God will forgive me. And when I'm told I can't use it, I won't but until then, I will still bring down the mugs.

The way I see it, FOR ME, is that it is theft. There are no little thefts and no big thefts, IMHO (and, again for me) theft is theft. If there is a stated rule that they are good for the length of my stay then, by my definition, any use after that at Disney is theft.
I am definitely NOT righteous, I break the speed limit daily, but, if you can do it, go for it. As to God's forgiving you, I pass absolutely no judgement on that, ain't my job.

 

[nibblesandbits]

I have been viewing this thread for a while. I'm not advocating either side. I can see the passion on both sides regarding this subject and I believe this subject was brought up before.

Here is my opinion. If Disney is really that concerned or losing money, why don't they change the design of the mug every year? It would be more noticable if someone is abusing Disney's policy.

a realible source on another thread stated Disney don't pay to use Coke's products. So, all Disney pays for it the cost of the mug. That is a huge mark-up and profit margin.

Maybe Disney should lower the cost of the mug and change the design every year, then less people would be inclined to reuse the mugs.

I'm hearing two sides: 1) Visitors are taking advantage of Disney 2) Disney is taking advantage of the visitors. Sounds like they are taking advantage of each other? Fix the system to make it fair to everyone.

I agree...I am not advocating either side either, b/c personally I can understand both sides of the issue and where they are coming from. I believe that if it was a REALLY big problem, Disney would try to do something to curb it. ie, change the mug design every year (or maybe even every six months for those who take vacations down there more than once a year). That way there would be no discrepancy and we wouldn't have to worry if the mugs could be reused at other visits or not. That would just stop this whole mess.

Having said that, I also feel that it goes both ways. If Disney once sold these mugs with the deal that you could use them "for life" (and it is my understanding that this was the case at one time), then they also need to stand behind the offer they made. Even if they later did some accounting and realized they should limit their use to length of stay, the original agreement should still stand for the guests who were savvy enough to purchased those mugs when that offer was made.

I also agree with this statement as well. IF (and that's only an "if" b/c I don't know what the policy was beforehand) at one time these mugs were available to be used "for life" and then realized that it was costing them money, in my opinion they cannot take back that stance on mugs for people who have already purchased said mugs. That is a "verbal" agreement and from what I understand is supposed to be held up b/c it was promised to these customers. Now if they wanted to change the policy and now have people only use these new mugs during their stay, then they should be able to enforce that rule, however they should still allow those with the older mugs to get their free refils b/c it has already been promised to them. That is the way I understand it anyway. (Not to say that this wouldn't be a huge nightmare, but again it's better than the system that they have now where things are just up in the air.)

(Did all this make sense :veryconfu ?)

 

[AEfx]

I am definitely NOT righteous, I break the speed limit daily, but, if you can do it, go for it. As to God's forgiving you, I pass absolutely no judgement on that, ain't my job.

I would think God would be much more receptive to someone drinking some free coke from a fountain that Disney doesn't even pay for in the first place than someone speeding in a car and potentially killing someone because of poor driving habits. Would be comparing a strawberry to a watermellon, but that's just me...

AEfx

 

[Gail Hayden]

I have been viewing this thread for a while. I'm not advocating either side. I can see the passion on both sides regarding this subject and I believe this subject was brought up before.

Here is my opinion. If Disney is really that concerned or losing money, why don't they change the design of the mug every year? It would be more noticable if someone is abusing Disney's policy.

a realible source on another thread stated Disney don't pay to use Coke's products. So, all Disney pays for it the cost of the mug. That is a huge mark-up and profit margin.

Maybe Disney should lower the cost of the mug and change the design every year, then less people would be inclined to reuse the mugs.

I'm hearing two sides: 1) Visitors are taking advantage of Disney 2) Disney is taking advantage of the visitors. Sounds like they are taking advantage of each other? Fix the system to make it fair to everyone.

Yes, they most certainly do pay for the Coke products. What they make on the items is not important. The tee shirts they sell probably cost 2.00 each, so, does that mean I should not have to pay what is marked on them because they are making a HUGE profit on them.

They system is fine, the guests are the ones that test it (which is truly human nature). I could really appreciate someone saying that " I intend to use the mug because I want to and no one stops me" rather than the silly justifications I have seen used, both here and in other places.

This is a very heated subject, right up there on people passing their over 3 year old children off as under three so they don't have to pay for them. The justifications for that are even more amazing.

 

[nibblesandbits]

They system is fine, the guests are the ones that test it (which is truly human nature).

Obviously, the system is not fine if people keep testing it. If it was fine, we wouldn't be having this conversation in the first place.

 

[Gail Hayden]

I would think God would be much more receptive to someone drinking some free coke from a fountain that Disney doesn't even pay for in the first place than someone speeding in a car and potentially killing someone because of poor driving habits. Would be comparing a strawberry to a watermellon, but that's just me...

AEfx

I have excellent driving habits, I just drive fast. In all my years of driving I have had NO accidents, have not caused any and only drive fast when conditions permit and only to keep up with traffic.

As to your comparison, they are both fruit, just one is bigger than the other, but, still fruit.

Disney, btw, does pay for the products they use.

I break the man made speed limit, but, I do not steal. BIG difference, however, neither is justifiable.

 

[Gail Hayden]

Obviously, the system is not fine if people keep testing it. If it was fine, we wouldn't be having this conversation in the first place.

Good point! BUT, people always test every system that is put into place anywhere.
Personally, I could give a fig what others do, I have a full time job taking care of myself.

 

[Hurricane]

I was told by the CM who used to run the smokehouse tour and architecture tour of the WL that the mugs were good for life and even encouraged us to bring them back on our next trip. Also, he was on his best behavior because he was alerted that my mother who was on the tour was a travel professional. Though it is not in writing, the moment that Disney gave something away for (nearly) free is SEARED in my memory. What happened to these tours, are they running again? I know they were discontinued after September the 11th.

 

[Gail Hayden]

I was told by the CM who used to run the smokehouse tour and architecture tour of the WL that the mugs were good for life and even encouraged us to bring them back on our next trip. Also, he was on his best behavior because he was alerted that my mother who was on the tour was a travel professional. Though it is not in writing, the moment that Disney gave something away for (nearly) free is SEARED in my memory. What happened to these tours, are they running again? I know they were discontinued after September the 11th.

I don't dispute what you were told, what I do dispute is the validity of what the CM said. How many times have you been told something by one CM only to have it totally contradicted by another. Unless it is in writing signed by someone in authority, it is useless in the grand scheme of things. CMs routinely tell folks things that are blatenly against the rules.
As to the tours, have no idea.

 

[imagineer99]

Final word:

Just do what you want. I will continue to reuse the mugs. This converstatin won't deter me.

If that makes me a bad person, I really don't care...

 

[Sledge]

I would think God would be much more receptive to someone drinking some free coke from a fountain that Disney doesn't even pay for in the first place than someone speeding in a car and potentially killing someone because of poor driving habits.

I don't know about y'all but getting hit by a speeding car tends to ruin the flow of my good day.

If you speed then you should have no problem reusing the mugs next trip.

Check this out:

Speeding vs. Refilling you mug(assuming you're not supposed to)

-Caught Speeding = ticket = fine
Caught Refilling mug with coke = "sir/mam, I'm sorry but you can't do that" = uh? Nothing!

-You get caught speeding enough and you will have your drivers license taken away.
You get caught refilling your mug after getting a warning you don't even get your mug taken away.

-You get caught speeding WAY too many times and you could possibly end up doing a few days in prison.
You get caught refilling WAY too many times the worst that will happen is a manager will say "Sir/mam, you have been warned numerous times. If you keep doing it I'm going to have to charge you for another mug."

-Speeding can kill people.
Refilling your mug with coke can kill people... but only if you leave a little puddle of spilt soda on the ground to slip on.

-Speeding is illegal.
Refilling your mug when they originally told you it was refillable everytime you came, isn't illegal...yet. (I hear they are trying to pass a new law.)

-Speeding will get people honking and giving you the finger.
Refilling your mug will get you a... middle finger from Mickey Mouse? No one will really care.

- If you speed and kill someone you have to live with that forever.
If you refill your mug when it's "against the rules" you will have to live with it... four minutes.

Which is worse?

If you can speed then refilling up your mug should be nothing. You can't just pick and choose the "rights-and-wrongs" that you like. If you think it is ok for you to break a certain rule/law then you shouldn't argue that other laws/rules shouldn't be broken. You have to agree to follow all the rules/laws even if you don't like them in order to be able to tell someone what is right and wrong. You are acting very sanctimonious. Sure, I admit I do some things that are illegal but I mainly follow the rules/laws, but I don't go preaching to people when they do something that I don't do or agree with. (I speed so don't consider this a "you're bad, you speed!" it's just making a point.)

Splendid! Now that this issue is solved let's go bash SGE and cause some more controversy!

(Also, just thought I'd let you know in case you aren't aware. When we say "coke" we mean Coca-Cola not crack.)

 

[wdwmagic]

Yes, they most certainly do pay for the Coke products. What they make on the items is not important.

I have been told a different story to this. While I have no way of confirming it, I've been told by a couple of Disney souces that as part of Coca Cola's partnership with WDW, CocaCola provide all of the soda fountain hardware, and mixing syrup for the beverages with no charge to Disney. In exchange for providing the beverages free of charge, CocaCola receive extensive advertising in all Disney parks and resorts, and have exclusive control over what soft drinks are provided to the millions of guests who visit WDW each month. Disney do however pay for any cups that are used to serve the drinks.

 

[Gail Hayden]

I don't know about y'all but getting hit by a speeding car tends to ruin the flow of my good day.

If you speed then you should have no problem reusing the mugs next trip.

Check this out:

Speeding vs. Refilling you mug(assuming you're not supposed to)

-Caught Speeding = ticket = fine
Caught Refilling mug with coke = "sir/mam, I'm sorry but you can't do that" = uh? Nothing!

-You get caught speeding enough and you will have your drivers license taken away.
You get caught refilling your mug after getting a warning you don't even get your mug taken away.

-You get caught speeding WAY too many times and you could possibly end up doing a few days in prison.
You get caught refilling WAY too many times the worst that will happen is a manager will say "Sir/mam, you have been warned numerous times. If you keep doing it I'm going to have to charge you for another mug."

-Speeding can kill people.
Refilling your mug with coke can kill people... but only if you leave a little puddle of spilt soda on the ground to slip on.

-Speeding is illegal.
Refilling your mug when they originally told you it was refillable everytime you came, isn't illegal...yet. (I hear they are trying to pass a new law.)

-Speeding will get people honking and giving you the finger.
Refilling your mug will get you a... middle finger from Mickey Mouse? No one will really care.

- If you speed and kill someone you have to live with that forever.
If you refill your mug when it's "against the rules" you will have to live with it... four minutes.

Which is worse?

If you can speed then refilling up your mug should be nothing. You can't just pick and choose the "rights-and-wrongs" that you like. If you think it is ok for you to break a certain rule/law then you shouldn't argue that other laws/rules shouldn't be broken. You have to agree to follow all the rules/laws even if you don't like them in order to be able to tell someone what is right and wrong. You are acting very sanctimonious. Sure, I admit I do some things that are illegal but I mainly follow the rules/laws, but I don't go preaching to people when they do something that I don't do or agree with. (I speed so don't consider this a "you're bad, you speed!" it's just making a point.)

Splendid! Now that this issue is solved let's go bash SGE and cause some more controversy!

(Also, just thought I'd let you know in case you aren't aware. When we say "coke" we mean Coca-Cola not crack.)

If I sped where people crossed streets, then I could totally agree with your post. I don't. I speed (within the allowance for over the speed limit in my state, which is 12 mph) on the highways and people still pass me.
If you speed then you should have no problem reusing the mugs next trip.
How, logically, does that follow? One has nothing to do with the other. It was an example showing that I am not all that righteous. Follwing your logic because I speed it should be ok to steal. Ah, no, I don't do that.
One is a man made law, one is God's law. Which, in you opinion, is a worse law to break?

I don't set myself apart from anyone else and if you actually READ and comprehended what I said previously, you would realize that I was stating what I felt for ME not anyone else.

We call it Coke here also.

 

[Gail Hayden]

I have been told a different story to this. While I have no way of confirming it, I've been told by a couple of Disney souces that as part of Coca Cola's partnership with WDW, CocaCola provide all of the soda fountain hardware, and mixing syrup for the beverages with no charge to Disney. In exchange for providing the beverages free of charge, CocaCola receive extensive advertising in all Disney parks and resorts, and have exclusive control over what soft drinks are provided to the millions of guests who visit WDW each month. Disney do however pay for any cups that are used to serve the drinks.

What Coke provides for Disney at no charge is the Ice Station exhibit in Epcot.
They have signed an exclusive contract with Disney, that is all, just like Universal has signed an exclusive contract with Pepsi.
The only advertising you see for Coke at Disney is the actual product and logo when ordering beverages.

 

[wdwmagic]

What Coke provides for Disney at no charge is the Ice Station exhibit in Epcot.
They have signed an exclusive contract with Disney, that is all, just like Universal has signed an exclusive contract with Pepsi.
The only advertising you see for Coke at Disney is the actual product and logo when ordering beverages.

CocaCola is all over the place at WDW. They have:

- their own attraction, Ice Station Cool

- cool-down spots at Epcot and MK

- their name on the American Adventure (including a mention in the pre-performance spiel)

- sponsors of the Great Movie Ride (inlcuding logos on the outside neon signs)

- fairly extensive mentions in Animal Kingdom's Asia themeing,

- logos in park maps

- logos on the cups at all locations

They are sure doing something favorable for Disney to give them this amount of exposure!

 

[Gail Hayden]

CocaCola is all over the place at WDW. They have their own attraction, Ice Station Cool, they have those cool-down spots at Epcot and MK, along with their name on the American Adventure (including a mention in the pre-performance spiel), fairly extensive mentions in Animal Kingdom's Asia themeing, logos in park maps, and logos on the cups at all locations. They are sure doing something favorable for Disney to give them this amount of exposure!

Good point! I am sure this is an instance of one hand washing the other and I am sure the discount on the product is hefty, but, it is not free. McDonalds, for instance, is comparable. They pay for their Coke products also, but, at a HUGE discount.

 

[wdwmagic]

Good point! I am sure this is an instance of one hand washing the other and I am sure the discount on the product is hefty, but, it is not free. McDonalds, for instance, is comparable. They pay for their Coke products also, but, at a HUGE discount.

It depends how you define "free". I think it's very possible that in exchange for the extensive advertising that Coca-Cola gets from it's heavy presence at WDW, that the drinks and vending hardware are provided in exchange. So it could be viewed as Disney selling CocaCola advertising space, but rather than recieving cash, Disney receive unlimited soft beverages in return. I am sure this kind of arrangement suits both parties very well, should this be the case.