Refillable Mug Policy

Cynderella

Cynderella

Well-Known Member
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:
 
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Gail Hayden

Gail Hayden

New Member
celticdog said:
Must we continue to beat this dead horse. The new policy is simple and stated in bold letters on the side of the mug "Free refills until the end of your stay". I have gone back and looked at all of my old mugs, none have any type of "unlimited/lifetime use" written on them. I didn't get anything in writing claiming to give me a lifetime of free drinks.

For those who still have old mugs, the question then becomes of ethics. Do you wish to cheat the system or do you wish to comply? If you want dirty looks from other guests, then use any old mug you like.
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Wow, that pretty much says it all. :)
 
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M

Merlin

Account Suspended
Gail Hayden said:
I believe granfathering is only good with written policy. While Disney may be responsible for the conduct of their CMs, the CMs are still not in a position to make or change policy and all too often they cite regs. and they are totally wrong if you read the written policy, basically, I don't trust anything a CM tells me.

Yes, I do know about the bank accounts and do read the Regulations that are presented at the time of opening the account. I was probably NOT the best analogy I could use, but, since I was "told" that it was free for life and since the person telling me was a rep. of the bank it should hold regardless of the regulations or change in policy and just to add, this account was opened over 30 years ago. Things have changed over the years.
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Wow! I've never met anyone who actually did READ their bank disclosure!! :lol: You're absolutely right that the written policy would override anything a guest was verbally told. In fact, that's something that would occasionally come up when I was in banking. Customers would claim they were told something by a CSR or a bank teller, and if it was incorrect, we had to go with what was on the disclosure that they agreed to when they opened the account.

I do believe, though, that the mug situation is different. Clearly, there's a lot of people who understood the policy (at the beginning) to be that the mugs were good for life. I'm not talking about the people who think it's okay because of how much money they spend on other stuff. Or those who are prone to "work the system" to their advantage. I'm talking about those who sincerely recall this being the case. I would count myself among those people, and I'm actually very much like you, Gail, when it comes to rules. I don't think Disney is doing anything wrong, or ripping people off, by having a new policy on mugs that are purchased now. However, when I bought my mug, we WERE told it was free for life. To me, "for life" literally means "for life". If this were one isolated event with one CM who was giving out incorrect information, that would be one thing. But it's clear that quite a few guests were given this information, even if it was incorrect, and many mugs were sold based on that information. Even if Disney never intended this to be the message, they are responsible for not communicating the policy better to their CMs....and to their guests.
 
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Gail Hayden

Gail Hayden

New Member
Merlin said:
Wow! I've never met anyone who actually did READ their bank disclosure!! :lol: You're absolutely right that the written policy would override anything a guest was verbally told. In fact, that's something that would occasionally come up when I was in banking. Customers would claim they were told something by a CSR or a bank teller, and if it was incorrect, we had to go with what was on the disclosure that they agreed to when they opened the account.

I do believe, though, that the mug situation is different. Clearly, there's a lot of people who understood the policy (at the beginning) to be that the mugs were good for life. I'm not talking about the people who think it's okay because of how much money they spend on other stuff. Or those who are prone to "work the system" to their advantage. I'm talking about those who sincerely recall this being the case. I would count myself among those people, and I'm actually very much like you, Gail, when it comes to rules. I don't think Disney is doing anything wrong, or ripping people off, by having a new policy on mugs that are purchased now. However, when I bought my mug, we WERE told it was free for life. To me, "for life" literally means "for life". If this were one isolated event with one CM who was giving out incorrect information, that would be one thing. But it's clear that quite a few guests were given this information, even if it was incorrect, and many mugs were sold based on that information. Even if Disney never intended this to be the message, they are responsible for not communicating the policy better to their CMs....and to their guests.
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Yep, I read just about everything. Drove them crazy when we closed on the mortgage. LOL

I have no doubt you were told what you were told, never disputed that in the least.
You need to do what you feel is correct and I do understand that you were told that it was good for life. I also agree Disney "suits" should have trained their CMs better (and still should). I think if I were in your situation I would have written Disney to get a clear idea of what is now the policy and what they expect those told "good for life" should do now. BUT, that is just me.
:)
 
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PurpleDragon

PurpleDragon

Well-Known Member
Gail Hayden said:
You need to do what you feel is correct and I do understand that you were told that it was good for life. I also agree Disney "suits" should have trained their CMs better (and still should). I think if I were in your situation I would have written Disney to get a clear idea of what is now the policy and what they expect those told "good for life" should do now. BUT, that is just me.
:)
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Couldn't agree with you more Gail!! I personally have only remembered to bring my old mugs back maybe 3 times in the 20+ years I have been visiting the parks:hammer: , so I pretty much end up buying a new mug everytime anyway.

I think people on this board who do return each visit with old mugs, should maybe write or e-mail WDW management and find out the policy on the whole "For life" mug issue. Both sides have good arguements on this issue which makes it all the more interesting. I would like to know exactly what Disney has to say about the CM's promising the older mugs were good for life and if that promise has any grounds to be upheld.
 
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HauntedPirate

HauntedPirate

Park nostalgist
Premium Member
I think their only recourse (if they choose to do something about it) is to post that "All refillable mugs are good only for the length of your stay, regardless of when purchased." That ends all debate right there.
 
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PurpleDragon

PurpleDragon

Well-Known Member
HauntedPirate said:
I think their only recourse (if they choose to do something about it) is to post that "All refillable mugs are good only for the length of your stay, regardless of when purchased." That ends all debate right there.
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Yes but I'm curious about what management has to say about the CM's promising liftetime use of the mugs over the years. Not so much if they will allow it, but what their response to it in general as to why the CMs said this in the first place and weather they encouraged it or if it was something the CM's chose to do on their own.
 
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crazygirley

crazygirley

New Member
Anyone know the rules about using ASMusic mugs at ASSports or ASMovies? I'm just asking because we are going to be staying at ASMusic in January (and yes, plan on purchasing a clean, new ASMusic mug) and plan on eating at ASMovies most of the time, since we perfer the seating at ASMovies over the seating at ASSports or ASMusic. Whew, that was a mouthfull!
 
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PurpleDragon

PurpleDragon

Well-Known Member
crazygirley said:
Anyone know the rules about using ASMusic mugs at ASSports or ASMovies? I'm just asking because we are going to be staying at ASMusic in January (and yes, plan on purchasing a clean, new ASMusic mug) and plan on eating at ASMovies most of the time, since we perfer the seating at ASMovies over the seating at ASSports or ASMusic. Whew, that was a mouthfull!
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Thats an iffy question. I would assume you could since they treat all 3 All-STar resorts as one anyway. But I would really recommend asking the CM at the counter when you purchase your mug. :)
 
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Gail Hayden

Gail Hayden

New Member
crazygirley said:
Anyone know the rules about using ASMusic mugs at ASSports or ASMovies? I'm just asking because we are going to be staying at ASMusic in January (and yes, plan on purchasing a clean, new ASMusic mug) and plan on eating at ASMovies most of the time, since we perfer the seating at ASMovies over the seating at ASSports or ASMusic. Whew, that was a mouthfull!
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Yes, you can use them at any All Stars resort. From Deb's website: Mugs from one resort cannot be used at another resort's food court. The one exception is that an All Star mug can be used at any of the three All Star Resorts' food courts. http://allearsnet.com/btp/aa081604.htm#ques2
 
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Cynderella

Cynderella

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
AEfx said:
Well, I think the law would disagree on that one. :)

When you purchase something that includes a benefit like this, there is an implied contract. Those people that bought the mugs before the limitation of "same visit only" bought it with good faith that it was refillable for the life of the mug.

When Disney changed the contract, the existing ones are not nullified. It would only apply to mugs purchased after the contract was changed. There was no "Rules subject to change" or any other legal mumbo-jumbo on those old mugs. In fact, one could argue that it is not only "right", but their obligation. You can't start a contract with someone and change the rules mid-way unless the contract specificly states so.

In some of your analogies, I'm sure you know that when you open a bank account, etc., you fill out a ton of paperwork, and somewhere in there is a stipulation that fees/etc. change at any time. When you get your drivers license, you agree not to break the law - it does not specify the "law as it is right now when you get your license and shall forever be the rules for you". Disney made no such stipulations with the original mugs.

In the end, this issue is not about repeat visitors bringing back mugs. It's really about selling mugs on eBay. Which is why I bet you will find distribution changed for the Halloween/Christmas parties next year - I'm sure Disney noticed the sets of 4 tickets being resold on eBay for a thousand bucks. I do appriciate your opinion, Gail, but in my eyes life is not as cut and dry as you make it.

AEfx
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Very Well Said!!! :)
 
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M

Merlin

Account Suspended
Timeline....


1994: WDW introduces refillable mugs at most resorts on property. All CMs are excluded from communication meetings and are left to speculate as to the policy.

1995: Recognizing that most resort guests who purchased mugs the previous year neglect to bring them back a second year, Disney expands the refillable mug offer to all resort hotels that offer food courts. CMs, still in the dark about the policy, institute a "Mug Policy of the Week" program in their underground newsletter.

1996: Wise to the fact that many guests start remembering to bring their mugs back on subsequent trips, Disney posts an official policy that the mugs are good "for the length of this visit only". CMs who previously stated the mugs were "good for life" are moved into the witness protection program and given jobs as non-speaking characters in the theme parks.

1997: "Refillable Mug Policy" discussion thread begins.

1998: Disney amends mug policy to make it clearer to guests. Under the new policy, CMs are instructed to stand in front of the big huge sign that states, "For the length of your stay" thus blocking it from guests' view until after the sale has been made.

1999: State of Florida passes a law that WDW Resort mugs cannot be used "throughout the state" as some guests claim they "were told".

2000: "Refillable Mug Policy" discussion thread breaks the coveted 10-page barrier.

2001: Acting on information they claim they "were told" by WDW CM's, thousands of Americans are seen at gas stations across the country demanding free refills of their gas tanks.

2002: U.S. Supreme Court throws out the famous "Because I spend so much here already" legal case against Disney in which guests demand a bunch of free stuff for nothing.

2003: "Refillable Mug Policy" discussion thread approaches 20 pages.

2004: Disney introduces the "Refillable Shot Glass" marketing strategy, which replaces the refillable mugs, now deemed illegal on Disney property. Under the new policy, guests purchase a shot glass for $50 and it is "good for this visit only". Also under the new policy, "visit" is defined as one trip to the soft drink dispenser.

2005: The Internet crashes world wide. The cause is traced back to a discussion thread on www.wdwmagic.com which exceeds the memory storage of even the largest computers.

2006: Disney severs it's relationship with Coke and stops selling soft drinks. Refillable mugs become the most common item on eBay, selling at an average price of .02 cents per mug.

2007: NASA sends astronauts to Mars and back using it's new refillable rocket.
 
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Ringo8n24

Ringo8n24

Active Member
Merlin, that was great! Very creative, but I could seeing it becoming truth the way this thread has gone. This is one of the most lenghty threads I have ever seen with way lots of straying. Geez... :lol:
 
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R

rosebud's mom

Active Member
This is the thread that will not end......yes it goes on and on my friend.

Can't we give this topic a decent burial now ? That is unless someone decides that they should put Harry Potter images on the refillable mugs.
:lookaroun :zipit: :lookaroun
 
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