Refillable mugs 2025

[CastAStone]

I wanted to post just some updates in one place on refillable mugs for Aulani, since there’s been so many questions about it.

There are currently 2 types of mugs for sale, large mugs and small mugs.

Large mugs are 22oz (US) to the brim, 19oz (~560ml) with the lid.

These are insulated and should keep a drink cold (or warm) for a while, and have nice yeti-like lids (no magnetic closure though) and are generally very nice.

They have rubber bottoms but no handle.

They are hand wash only.

Mickey, Stitch, or Moana.

$38




Small mugs (WDW style) are 14oz (US) to the brim. The lid reduces the available space to 13oz (~385ml). Some sources online say 16oz but they’re wrong.

Currently available in blue green and pink, all the same design.

These have a handle. They are dishwasher safe.

These are insulated plastic so it will keep ice for a meal but not for an afternoon.

$25

 

[CastAStone]

No RFID on any machine, so refills are truly unlimited. That said, they’re supposed to be one per person, not one per party, so please don’t cheat the system because if they do decide they have to install RFID chips it will mean huge gaps between refills even during meals.

They are neither advertised as length of stay nor for forever. The signs simply say they are limited to Aulani mugs.

Ulu cafe has 2 different machines with slightly different offerings, including different flavors of Fuse tea (Raspberry and Unsweetened). Freestyle machines are indeed gone. Opens at 6:30 AM.



Ulu also has 2 kinds of ice. The pictured machines dispense “chewy ice” while the water machines dispense a flat ice cube. Both have very high surface area ratios (aka will melt fast).

 

[CastAStone]

The second station is in the Lava shack alcove. It was only open 8-8 during my visit.

A little hard to see but the options are Coke Zero, Sprite, Minute Maid Lemonade, Fuze Raspberry tea, Diet Coke, and Coca-Cola.

The ice is cube-ish, and different from both options at Ulu Cafe.

 

[that1jeff]

Just checked out today. Was going to share this same info!

A few things to add...

All freestyle machines are gone at Ulu Cafe as well as at the Lava Shack and behind Ama Ama.

Machine behind Ama Ama is an ice and water station only.

Although the Freestyle machines were cool, I'm kinda happy to see them gone. I felt they were not an appropriate application for Aulani and the unlimited refill for the masses. Too much "choice paralysis" and since it could only serve one person at a time, the area would get crowded and a line would form. Also, sometimes the Freestyle machines would be a bit laggy and the touch screens wouldn't work, further lengthening wait times. With the new machines, you have less choices and they can serve 2 people at a time. And no laggy touch screen. Much faster.

 

[WinterSolider]

For what it's worth, we've been machine-washing the metal mugs for a couple of years with no apparent ill effects.

 

[J-Dog]

Just checked out today. Was going to share this same info!

A few things to add...

All freestyle machines are gone at Ulu Cafe as well as at the Lava Shack and behind Ama Ama.

Machine behind Ama Ama is an ice and water station only.

Although the Freestyle machines were cool, I'm kinda happy to see them gone. I felt they were not an appropriate application for Aulani and the unlimited refill for the masses. Too much "choice paralysis" and since it could only serve one person at a time, the area would get crowded and a line would form. Also, sometimes the Freestyle machines would be a bit laggy and the touch screens wouldn't work, further lengthening wait times. With the new machines, you have less choices and they can serve 2 people at a time. And no laggy touch screen. Much faster.

View attachment 957796
View attachment 957795
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Is there only 1 pop machine at Ulu now? Or still 2?

 

[that1jeff]

Is there only 1 pop machine at Ulu now? Or still 2?

There are 2 machines at Ulu.
The second unit (not pictured) is just to the left of the ice machine and is identical to the unit on the right (which is pictured).

 

[CastAStone]

There are 2 machines at Ulu.
The second unit (not pictured) is just to the left of the ice machine and is identical to the unit on the right (which is pictured).

I have pictures of both in post 2

 

[LilyJC]

I reeaaaally hope they still have the tervis-style Stitch and Moana mugs in June!! Not for soda refills but for my personal collection!

 

[WillGan]

I wanted to post just some updates in one place on refillable mugs for Aulani, since there’s been so many questions about it.

There are currently 2 types of mugs for sale, large mugs and small mugs.

Large mugs are 22oz (US) to the brim, 19oz (~560ml) with the lid.

These are insulated and should keep a drink cold (or warm) for a while, and have nice yeti-like lids (no magnetic closure though) and are generally very nice.

They have rubber bottoms but no handle.

They are hand wash only.

Mickey, Stitch, or Moana.

$38

View attachment 957784


Small mugs (WDW style) are 14oz (US) to the brim. The lid reduces the available space to 13oz (~385ml). Some sources online say 16oz but they’re wrong.

Currently available in blue green and pink, all the same design.

These have a handle. They are dishwasher safe.

These are insulated plastic so it will keep ice for a meal but not for an afternoon.

$25
View attachment 957788
View attachment 957852

eBay is the best place to buy them

 

[TikiRob]

eBay is the best place to buy them

Is the suggestion to buy them and refill them there? Is free refills designed for the life of the cup vs. length of stay?

 

[that1jeff]

Is the suggestion to buy them and refill them there? Is free refills designed for the life of the cup vs. length of stay?

This was a continued topic of debate/confusion amongst my family. Whether or not the refillable mugs are for "life of the cup vs. length of stay." We could not find anything specifying one way or another. As @CastAStone stated in post #2, "They are neither advertised as length of stay nor for forever. The signs simply say they are limited to Aulani mugs."

Here's what I'll say, when we bought our mugs, the CM at the register literally told us, "Whenever you come back to Aulani, bring back your mugs and you don't have to buy another one." So I'm going to personally run with that until instructed otherwise.

 

[jimmymc]

Here's what I'll say, when we bought our mugs, the CM at the register literally told us, "Whenever you come back to Aulani, bring back your mugs and you don't have to buy another one." So I'm going to personally run with that until instructed otherwise.

I like that thinking.

 

[Bucketfoot]

No freestyle makes it a no-go for me. As it means that Coke Zero with no additional flavor options is the only diet soda choice.

 

[JoeHawai’i]

I like that thinking.

We’ve been going to Aulani twice a year for 10+ years and still use the same mugs over and over. We’ve purchased the Moana and Stitch metal ones too so we can have a soda cup (plastic) and a coffee cup (stainless).

 

[CastAStone]

No freestyle makes it a no-go for me. As it means that Coke Zero with no additional flavor options is the only diet soda choice.

Diet Coke and Coke Zero both, but yes.

 

[Jack_Sparrow_NJ]

At Aulani. People are filling up anything that will hold liquid. Old mugs, new mugs, water bottles.