Validating Beverage System to Begin at Disney Resort Hotels

[Figment!]

The Walt Disney World resort has begun to implement new validating soft drink beverage systems at its Resort Hotels.

Guests use the new beverage system by pushing their cup or mug against a lever arm located below the soft drink dispenser.

The new dispensers will only provide the selected soft drink if:
1) You are using a disposable cup recently purchased from the food court.
2) You are using a refillable mug purchased during your stay at the resort.

If neither of these types of vessels are used, the new dispenser will provide water instead of the selected soft drink.

The first deployment has been at the End Zone Food Court in Disney's All-Star Sports hotel and will reportedly be rolled-out to all Disney-owned resort hotels by the end of the year.

The new beverage systems are reportedly made by ValidFill. The company describes their technology as RFID based and is capable of storing such information as Cup Size (in Ounces), Date Purchased, Location Purchased, and Time of Last Use into refillable mugs or in a tag that can be placed on disposable cups.

[Strmchsr]

A "hot" topic here on Intercot and across Disney fanboards for years has been the refillable mugs. We all know that you purchase the mugs and they are for length of stay only. However, I, like I'm sure many of you, have seen guests bringing back mugs from years past and even filling up from the soda fountain with mugs not even related to Disney. All of this cheating the system has caused Disney to finally do what was long rumored - they have installed digital machines.

The machines are already in AS Sports (which, given the number of teenagers and sports teams staying here makes sense. They, unfortunately, tend to be the least likely to follow the rules) and are rumored to be going into the other All Stars and Pop soon. If the trial runs are successful at the values, they'll probably go in at least at the moderates. I haven't heard anything about the deluxe resorts.

I've seen pics of the machines installed at Sports, so this isn't a rumor. I have no idea exactly how the machines work, and it seems other guests are confused, too (though one of my CM friends did note the satisfaction he's gotten from seeing the look on the faces of people carrying in huge bladder buckets that have nothing to do with the refillable mugs and finding they can no longer get "free" drinks). The basic way I'm told the system works is the refillable mug has a chip in it that expires after x amount of time (probably the day after you check out or something). The machine will dispense a set amount of soda for a certain time, then nothing for 5 min or so. I guess this is to prevent people from buying 1 mug and then filling up a bunch more by holding the sensor near the machine. It sounds complicated, so we'll have to see if Disney simplifies things, sticks with it, or scraps the idea. Given how they've gone overboard on squeezing out every penny from guests recently I doubt we'll see them scrap the idea.

Now, I'm not saying this to stir up trouble, so please everyone keep the comments civil, but I wanted to give ya'll heading to the values soon (especially Sports) a heads up.

[DisneyMom12]

I have noticed a lot of the new mugs selling on ebay. I would love to see the faces on those people when they try to use the mugs lol.

Personally it does not affect me, as I buy a new mug every time I go. I can't say I blame them. The nerve people have bringing non Disney mugs.

[brivers222]

I kinda like it... that is until it doesnt dispense my beverage into my resort mug... then i will put on my angry eyes!

[MNNHFLTX]

Well, it's not April 1st, so it can't be a joke, right?

I almost hate to bring this up, but this sounds like it will affect all the people who have "lifetime" cups.

[sportsguy2315]

I almost hate to bring this up, but this sounds like it will affect all the people who have "lifetime" cups.

I was literally thinking of the ethics behind a "lifetime" mug today. Guess that solves the problem. Still, technology is not always perfect so I'm nervous to see how this would work.

[GBBT]

My DW brought this up.What about the disposable cups?? Will they be able to reuse them? She said they could clean them out and reuse them.

[magicofdisney]

It's interesting that they chose to begin this "test drive" with the value resorts.

[nfrustaci]

LOL often wondered about those lifetime cups. i always thought it was funny to see the blue holiday mugs being used in the summer. I also wondered why a cast member never made a peep about it. i always buy a new mug. it is usually my one and only souvineir that i purchase. i have no room in my home for all the other wonderful things i see there. so i usually just get the mug and use it unitl it looks cruddy.

[Cara121078]

I kinda like it... that is until it doesnt dispense my beverage into my resort mug... then i will put on my angry eyes!

[GBBT]

Ours were free last year and they are made cheap now.One was dropped and the corner broke.Years past you couldn't destroy them no matter how many times they were dropped,etc.

[MOJoe]

My thought about this is - Why? Doesn't a cup of soda cost just a few cents? I guess that "resort mug revunue stream" must be worth a bundle.

[GBBT]

My thought about this is - Why? Doesn't a cup of soda cost just a few cents? I guess that "resort mug revunue stream" must be worth a bundle.

Kroger is having a 4 day sale ending Wed. A 6 pack bottles(16.9 0Z each) for $1.98. 33 cents a bottle. Yep,mugs keep going up every year.

[wdwaggie]

I for one support this idea. It seems that there are always going to be those people out there who are too cheap to follow the rules and it seems to always end up being some type of control put into place that affects everyone else for their lack of proper up-bringing.

[Tink1]

I make a grocery run since I hate having to walk to the food court after going back to the room to get my mug. But the most important factor is... they do not have diet pepsi.

Not the least bit surprised by this though. Little by little they are closing all the loop holes.

Nanc

[nfrustaci]

i have to admit that i did fill my mug once at the poly after breakfast at ohana. we were touring the outside of the resort and before heading to the parks we stopped at the bathroom on the 1st floor. they have a fast service area adjacent to the bathrooms and i just happend upon it and thought to my self i could use a glass of water and well thats when it happend...... i filled my mug with (whispering) soda and then my husbands mug too. i felt really bad but thought well once isn't going to send me to hell. i only did this last year and we have been going every year for the past 12 years and have always bought the mug but have never used it outside of our hotel. ALL CONFESSIONS ARE WELCOMED AND U WILL NOT BE JUDGED !!!! PROMISE

[JPL]

I am glad they are finally doing something if for no other reason to end the monthly debate about the Mugs once and for all

[joonyer]

So will this system, once implemented thoroughout WDW, put an end to the (almost) endless threads here about mug use?

More likely, it will just start a whole new debate.

Or will angry consumers cause WDW to change their minds?

[Madame Leona]

It's interesting that they chose to begin this "test drive" with the value resorts.

I think it makes sense to test it at the values. Since there is only CS, they are probably used more often than the resorts that have TS.

The selfish part of me hopes that they won't install them at POP until after my stay in Aug. I'm an honest person and always buy the mugs but I don't want to have to deal with any glitches they may have in the system

[joonyer]

My DW brought this up.What about the disposable cups?? Will they be able to reuse them? She said they could clean them out and reuse them.

RFID chip technology. when you buy the drink, the chip will be activated for a set period of time, probably an hour or two at most. After that, no more free refills in the disposable cups. Refillable mugs can be programmed for longer.