Change to Refillable Mug System?

[DizneyRox]

the waterparks use codes for days of the week, and they reuse the same codes...not that I know first hand or anything after trying it once, I went home and peeled off all my old stickers so I wouldn't be tempted to cheat the system again.

So it's confirmed then...

Really, I see this as a cat and mouse game, people will find ways around the system regardless of what they do. If they go with some sort of code, people will just buy one code and share it.

If they want to stop this from happening, they need to pony up and pay someone to monitor each machine. Those CMs will pay for themselves and probably be cheaper than trying to build some IT infrastructure to handle this. They are doing all this work to prevent hurting people's feelings by kleeping them honest, AND they are the ones breaking the rules to begin with!

Or, if just get rid of them and have people buy a drink when they are thirsty. I don't really see why they are hanging on to this notion of all you can drink for a set price. Sure, a few people will complain, but then it will be business as usual and everyone will forget they even had an all you can drink buffet.

Raise the price of the mugs if they aren't making enough money. Everyone else seems to bo OK with punishing the ones who are honest becuase of the action of those that are dishonest.

[Ian]

Or, if just get rid of them and have people buy a drink when they are thirsty. I don't really see why they are hanging on to this notion of all you can drink for a set price.

Really??? I'll tell you why ... because they're making a fortune off it!

Those mugs probably cost around $1 to produce in China somewhere (if that). Based on the favorable terms Disney gets from Coke for fountain soda, I'd guess that one fill-up of one of those mugs costs somewhere around half a cent.

You do the math!

[DizneyRox]

But if they charged people $1.89 (I don't know current prices, I drink water in WDW) every time they got thirsty, you don't think they would make more?

That's where I'm going, then they don't have to worry about ordering too many Refillable mugs, they don't need to worry about people using old mugs, they don't have to spend countless IT hours to build a system that will only hurt those that are playing by the rules anyway...

If they are spending money to "fix" a problem, then it stands to reason they aren't making as much as they want/need. Spend the $7.47 an hour to have someone stand guard of the machines or put them behind the counter and give the CMs a little more responsibility to dole out drinks. Actually, give the CM cleaning up the spilled catsup and refilling the forks an extra quarter and tell them to slap the guests refilling "illegal" cups! DONE! That system won't break down the next time someone trips over a cable in the Utilifdors....

[big blue and hairy]

If they are spending money to "fix" a problem, then it stands to reason they aren't making as much as they want/need.....

IF being the most important word. I will beleive this change is coming when I see it.

[Mickey'sGirl]

I would love a bar code or card system. My issues are green rather than caring what other people are doing .... We carry our stainless steel water bottles around Disney and refill them, because I will not contribute to the plastic water bottle epidemic. It would be fabulous to be able to the same thing with pop, and reduce so much of the cup waste.

[Buttercup]

But if they charged people $1.89 (I don't know current prices, I drink water in WDW) every time they got thirsty, you don't think they would make more?

No, simply because, people like me just wouldn't buy pop as often if it was $1.89 (or whatever) each time. That would get too expensive! I'll bring my own cup and fill it at a water fountain for free if I'm thirsty.

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

I know this isn't the same scale, but when we were at Williamsburg, they had an employee fill our mugs when we needed it.

They were great, we'd go into a refill location, and someone would see us, and grab us out of the line and refill our drink.

So, it can be done

[Renfairwedding]

1 - Old mugs... last time at POP I saw ten year old mugs being used. I also saw people just walking up with there own cups and mugs and enjoying a hot or cold drink.

2 - How about a imbedded chip the reads if the mug is valid before fillng?

3 - Fountain soda is cheap per gallon and in all not to much of a loss to Disneys bottom line.

I know how to solve this problem...
FREE CUPS AND DRINKS JUST FOR STAYING ON A WDW RESORT!!!! (Root Beer)

[caryrae]

2 - How about a embedded chip the reads if the mug is valid before filling?

Then what do you do with the old mugs that were good for free refills forever?

[PopPhan]

Then what do you do with the old mugs that were good for free refills forever?

I guess Forever isn't as long as it once was!

I know this isn't the same scale, but when we were at Williamsburg, they had an employee fill our mugs when we needed it.

They were great, we'd go into a refill location, and someone would see us, and grab us out of the line and refill our drink.

So, it can be done

That would mean adding staff, and staffing is already a problem. They would be better off removing all refill stations and make you go to a counter/kiosk to have staff there refill it.

[big blue and hairy]

I just have troulbe believing that this is nearly as big a deal to Disney as it is to a lot of posters. To keep people from using old mugs, they would have to do one of two things that would cost them money. Add employees (who's job it would be to cause possible confrontations, not a DIsney thing), retro-fit all of the soda fountains, which would cost a lot of money, and might get people to buy mugs, or might just upset the people who bring back mugs and make them not drink as much, in which case Disney just lost money and good will. I just don't see it happening.

[Renfairwedding]

Then what do you do with the old mugs that were good for free refills forever?

Trade them in for a pre-programed forever mug.

[Strmchsr]

I know how to solve this problem...FREE CUPS AND DRINKS JUST FOR STAYING ON A WDW RESORT!!!! (Root Beer)

I actually think that's the best idea on how to handle this. They could add in a $15 charge or however they want to handle it to each room and market the "free" fountain drinks as a perk for resort guests. Problem solved. No monitoring involved. No worrying about "rules". I'm not saying I want to pay more for my room, but most folks would never notice the extra charge. Even if they did $5/person they would still probably come out ahead. They wouldn't have to give resort mugs, necessarily, but something could be done and folks would lap it up. It's kind of like the DDP. So many folks like the "convenience" of pre-paying for their food they never do the math to see if its actually a good deal.

[Scar]

I actually think that's the best idea on how to handle this. They could add in a $15 charge or however they want to handle it to each room and market the "free" fountain drinks as a perk for resort guests. Problem solved.

Except that wouldn't be fair to people like me who do not drink soda, and I especially don't want to contribute my $ to something I believe is bad for peoples health.

[Scar]

(Too late to edit last post)

Now, if everyone wants to pay extra so I can drink free beer all week, that I would go for.

[joonyer]

Except that wouldn't be fair to people like me who do not drink soda, and I especially don't want to contribute my $ to something I believe is bad for peoples health.

So just include coffee, tea and bottled water, OJ and whatever other beverages. Disney would still make profit.

[crltkcagle]

hmmm thats an idea.

[Donald's Girl]

Since so many comments seem to try to prove how Disney is so greedy and only looking for a profit look at the bottom of any of your refillable mugs.

No, they are not made in China for a dollar or something. They are made by Whirley Products in Warren, PA, a company which employs, and gives opportunity, to many developmentally disabled adults.

[Renfairwedding]

Since so many comments seem to try to prove how Disney is so greedy and only looking for a profit look at the bottom of any of your refillable mugs.

No, they are not made in China for a dollar or something. They are made by Whirley Products in Warren, PA, a company which employs, and gives opportunity, to many developmentally disabled adults.

Sure Now they will be blamed paying cut rate prices using under paid disabled people and being greedy...

Please... JUST KIDDING!!!!!!!!!!!

[Daisy'sMom]

I don't care what system they bring in as long as people don't keep abusing it. I get so darn mad when I see people using cups from two years ago. Rules are rules and if get rid of the refillable stations, it's our own fault. I have two kitchen cabinets filled with disney cups and that's where they are put and stay when we get home.