Yet another mug question thread!

[sbkline]

But this one should be pretty simple to answer. My question simply is, is there a "refill" button on the registers that the CM can push to charge you for a cheaper refill as opposed to a full price drink if you bring in a previous year's mug? The reason I ask is because I know when I worked at Mickey Dee's years ago, if people brought in their McDonald's coffee mugs, rather than charge them full price for a cup of coffee, we charged them a quarter for a coffee refill. I know that the free refill deal is only supposed to be for the length of that stay only, but for those who may not want to purchase a new mug and who would prefer to just bring last year's mug back, does Disney policy allow for a discounted price to refill last year's mug? In other words, instead of paying at the register for a medium coke, do they have a "mug refill" button that they push to charge you a cheaper price to fill up your mug?

I asked this question once before, but I don't think I got an answer. Or if I did, I have since forgotten.

And lest anyone misunderstand and accuse me of trying to break or get around the rules, I am fully aware that the FREE refill deal is only for mugs purchased on this trip, and I am not attempting to argue for or against sneaking a free refill on last year's mug. I'm simply asking if Disney policy allows for CHEAPER (not free) refills on a previous year's mug.

 

[tigsmom]

I understand what you are saying ,but I have never had to go thru the cashier to use my refillable mug (unless you count the first time when you buy it). At all of the hotels I've stayed in the beverage station is set apart from the cashier with the exception of the Boardwalk bakery and they give you a paper cup from behind the counter (since they have to do the filling they cannot use your plastic mug - unsanitary).

The last time we visited we were at the WL and the mugs had the printed "for use this trip only blah, blah, blah) right on them. Haven't seen any of the new ones.

 

[sbkline]

I understand what you are saying ,but I have never had to go thru the cashier to use my refillable mug (unless you count the first time when you buy it). At all of the hotels I've stayed in the beverage station is set apart from the cashier with the exception of the Boardwalk bakery and they give you a paper cup from behind the counter (since they have to do the filling they cannot use your plastic mug - unsanitary).

The last time we visited we were at the WL and the mugs had the printed "for use this trip only blah, blah, blah) right on them. Haven't seen any of the new ones.

I know you don't HAVE to go through the cashier to use your mug...which is why it is so easy and common to violate the policy against using a previous year's mug to get free refills. But my question is, for those people who choose to obey the rules, does Disney allow you to pay for a refill at the register in a previous year's mug?

 

[betteratmk]

Not that I'm aware of, this has been brought up before as an alternative but I don't think Disney jumped on this. It would be confusing for the staff to have to ask for every mug they saw and time consuming.:shrug:

 

[lilclerk]

Not that I have ever heard of, but I would definitely use that option. Especially if they're not bringing back resort-specific mugs.

 

[DizneyPryncess]

I understand what you are saying ,but I have never had to go thru the cashier to use my refillable mug (unless you count the first time when you buy it). At all of the hotels I've stayed in the beverage station is set apart from the cashier with the exception of the Boardwalk bakery and they give you a paper cup from behind the counter (since they have to do the filling they cannot use your plastic mug - unsanitary).

The last time we visited we were at the WL and the mugs had the printed "for use this trip only blah, blah, blah) right on them. Haven't seen any of the new ones.

I've only ever used the Boardwalk Bakery for my mug refills, since that's where I stayed and I was so confused as to why they wouldn't refill my mug! They would only give us paper cups. That makes a lot of sense. :animwink:

I just wanted to add that I'd use this option too if it existed - good idea.

 

[elizs77]

Oh, how I miss the resort specific mugs! But that's another thread...

I could see where that would be a decent idea, but Disney really wants you to throw your money away on a mug!! So, it's better for them financially to get you to buy a new mug every year. There's no way to know if you go multiple times that you're using an older but same year mug, and there's absolutely no way to know if you're at the right resort. We just go straight up to the machines and fill them up. No questions asked.

Just as an FYI, they do change the mugs every year, BTW. This is this year's mug:

​

Last year's mug looked like this:

 

[Monty]

I am fairly sure they don't have a "refill" button, but the cashes could certainly be programmed with it.

 

[NewfieFan]

My father asked (he's the cheapest person alive) and they said no, you had to buy a new mug every time.

You know, it could be done... maybe invent some little tag that could be clipped on the mug handle - this would let the cashiers know the individual did pay again to use their mug on this trip. They could change the color of the tag or have a date printed on it to keep people from abusing the system. I think this could really work!

 

[tigsmom]

I've only ever used the Boardwalk Bakery for my mug refills, since that's where I stayed and I was so confused as to why they wouldn't refill my mug! They would only give us paper cups. That makes a lot of sense. :animwink:

I just wanted to add that I'd use this option too if it existed - good idea.

If you fill them at the bar near the pool they will use your plastic mug though :shrug:

 

[tigsmom]

Oh, how I miss the resort specific mugs! But that's another thread...

I could see where that would be a decent idea, but Disney really wants you to throw your money away on a mug!! So, it's better for them financially to get you to buy a new mug every year. There's no way to know if you go multiple times that you're using an older but same year mug, and there's absolutely no way to know if you're at the right resort. We just go straight up to the machines and fill them up. No questions asked.

Just as an FYI, they do change the mugs every year, BTW. This is this year's mug:

​

Last year's mug looked like this:

That is a recent thing because we do buy new mugs every trip and I many of the same design from all of our trips to the WL . :lol:

 

[elizs77]

Maybe I should say that they change them with every change of theme? :shrug:

Still missing the resort specific mugs.....

I've thought before that if they really wanted to track this stuff hard core, they could do some kind of code system like the one that they have at the water parks. Those mugs have a bar code that you have to scan, and the fountain will only come on if it's a legit code for that day. They could always develop some bar code system of tracking cups based on your days of stay. Then, if you came the same year, you could pay some kind of fee upfront for refills w/o buying the new mug.

 

[Dwarful]

We stayed at Boardwalk on this last trip and really the refill mug was such a pain in the neck because you had to get in line and wait to get your 'refill'. I'd much rather have drink stations where you scan like at the water parks. I really like the idea of a 'refill price' for older mugs. Other parks do this, so I am sure WDW could if they wanted to.

BTW, normally we buy at least one new park mug or cup as well. This trip we didn't because everything was exactly the same...same popcorn buckets at all 4 parks.

 

[DisneyRunner]

There is a new variation to this years mug that is starting to appear at the resorts. For a picture of the new mug browse thread 2009Refillable Mug v2.0 in News and Rumours.

 

[mickey7879]

I guess I haven't bought one for a while! I still thought every resort had their own mugs. We've never brought previous trip mugs and used them before but have been temped. Never wanted to get caught and dh likes to follow the rules (I'm more of a rebel!) I definitely will be buying one this year. Only wish they would include milk for refills and I'd buy one for our ds 2.

 

[drossjr]

i have seen people up until this year using old mugs from like the late 90's when they were larger and were specific to the resorts. Seems like stealing to me. If you can afford a WDW trip you should obey the rules and buy a new mug or pay per drink.

not a good lesson to teach your kids!

 

[CleveRocks]

To answer the OP's question ...

... regardless of what is possible and what could be done in the future, at the present time there is no such thing as ANY mechanism or policy by which beverage refillers should or can go through the cash registers for any reason. No button for them to push, no permission to get, no inventory to count, etc.