Are refillable mugs from about 2 years ago still allowed?

[Seabean]

Our next trip is likely in Jan 2025. Are the refillable mugs we bought in ‘21 or ‘22 (not sure) still allowed to be used for refills?

 

[buzzrelly]

Our next trip is likely in Jan 2025. Are the refillable mugs we bought in ‘21 or ‘22 (not sure) still allowed to be used for refills?

Unfortunately, no. The mugs have an RFID reader that's good for 14 days from date of purchase.

 

[Seabean]

Wait, were they ever usable from one year to the next? (I thought they were)

 

[kanerf]

Wait, were they ever usable from one year to the next? (I thought they were)

Nope, not as long as I have been getting them.

 

[bookgirl]

Wait, were they ever usable from one year to the next? (I thought they were)

They never were but before the chips people would literally reuse cups for years. Most of the cast members turned a blind eye because it wasn’t worth the fight. Managers were however a bit more strict.

I never did it, but there’s a certain mindset that can justify anything.

 

[VGCgroupie]

So does the chip just make the machine not dispense?

Side note: When I was at Aulani I saw a ton of people using mugs that were not the same as what was currently being sold.

 

[Seabean]

So what you all are saying is that they never were intended to be endless refills for the life of the cup? Even before the introduction of the chips? (We genuinely believed this to be the case, from whoever told us)

And piggybacking on the question above - does the machine just not dispense? Or is the cashier supposed to check it?

 

[Stitch'sCousin]

At WDW, if you don’t have a cup with a chip that is activated for your current visit, the machine will not dispense a drink. Once activated, the cups are good for 14 days. There is also a waiting period of a few minutes between each refill to discourage people from refilling the same cup multiple times in a row and transferring the drinks to another larger container. The cashier will not be checking your drink refill.

 

[scrappinginontario]

So what you all are saying is that they never were intended to be endless refills for the life of the cup? Even before the introduction of the chips? (We genuinely believed this to be the case, from whoever told us)

And piggybacking on the question above - does the machine just not dispense? Or is the cashier supposed to check it?

Drinks will not dispense without a current, active RFID.

Mugs were never intended to be life of cup. It was always written that it was for current stay but many brought them back and refilled anyways thus the introduction of RFID.

A new mug must be purchased for each trip. We bring ours home and donate to a local thrift store for others to enjoy some Disney in their home!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Just to be clear, I thought that if you were trying to save plastic, you could reuse your mug-however, you still had to pay as if you were buying a new one (but a few, very "green" people still might want to). That the CMs could somehow reactivate the chip as long as you paid. Is that true or not?

 

[Stitch'sCousin]

The general consensus is usually that an old mug can’t be reactivated; however, the first person in the comments section (Tim, August 2, 2024) from the link https://wdwprepschool.com/disney-refillable-mug/ says “You CAN reactivate old mugs for the same fee of buying a new one. Currently at AK Lodge for a week with an old one I bought about 3 years ago” while another person further down (Stacey, December13, 2023) says “We are currently staying at All Star Movies and the young man at the register told us our daughter can reactivate a mug from a previous stay for the full price of a new mug.” Based on these comments, if you are trying to reduce plastic use, it wouldn’t hurt to bring your old mugs with you and see if you are able to get them reactivated. Worst case senario is you can’t and have to get a new one.

 

[StarStruck393]

Drinks will not dispense without a current, active RFID.

Are the RFID enabled dispensers only at the hotels (I feel like I remember these at the food court at Port Orleans Riverside a decade ago)? Because I don't recall seeing any at the parks recently, including one self serve machine that definitely does not have it.

 

[Seabean]

Tbh, I think most of the time Ive gone for a refill is at a coffee dispenser, not soda/pop. (like at WL Roaring Forks). Do these tend to not have a chip sensor?

 

[Lewisc]

Maybeb 25 years ago signage said mugs could be reused on later trips. I remember the signs in the late 90s.

Length of current stay had light white lettering, has been printed on the mugs for at least 20 years.

The machines will dispense ice water in any cup, no chip required

 

[VGCgroupie]

Maybeb 25 years ago signage said mugs could be reused on later trips. I remember the signs in the late 90s.

Length of current stay had light white lettering, has been printed on the mugs for at least 20 years.

The machines will dispense ice water in any cup, no chip required

I was surprised how often I just wanted water and not the sodas. For me the water alone was worth it.

 

[CarolynFH]

Are the RFID enabled dispensers only at the hotels (I feel like I remember these at the food court at Port Orleans Riverside a decade ago)? Because I don't recall seeing any at the parks recently, including one self serve machine that definitely does not have it.

The refillable mugs are not usable at the parks, only at the resorts. In the park, you have to pay separately for fountain drinks.

 

[Lewisc]

I was surprised how often I just wanted water and not the sodas. For me the water alone was worth it.

It's not worth buying a mug for just water. The machines will dispense water and ice in anything.

 

[VGCgroupie]

It's not worth buying a mug for just water. The machines will dispense water and ice in anything.

We bought it for coffee mostly but also sodas. Ended up getting a ton water.

 

[StarStruck393]

The refillable mugs are not usable at the parks, only at the resorts. In the park, you have to pay separately for fountain drinks.

Makes sense, though on the flipside I'm not sure how much use we'd get out of that since we spend so little time at the hotel (and very rarely eat there, though I guess you could theoretically fill up before you leave and once you get back). But if you're spending more time at the hotel (pool, games, etc.) it can make more sense.

 

[Pyxie]

So does the chip just make the machine not dispense?

Side note: When I was at Aulani I saw a ton of people using mugs that were not the same as what was currently being sold.

It is different at Aulani. The cups do not have the RFID chips, and AFAIK, you are allowed to bring them back to use on future stays. I'm not positive if that's the official rule or not, but I would guess Aulani probably gets fewer repeat visitors (outside of the DVC owners there) than WDW does.