YETI, Stanley, or Hydro Flask… what’s your go-to hydration vessel?
We all have an emotional-support water bottle (right? ?), and walking around in the Florida heat can make you thirsty. So, what is the best container to carry around your beverage of choice in Disney World? A lot of folks swear by Disney’s Refillable Resort Mugs–but we have news for you. They actually might not be all they’re cracked up to be.
Let’s start with the basics. A Refillable Resort Mug, also called a Rapid-Fill Mug, is a 16oz insulated coffee mug that can be purchased for $21.99. Guests can use it at their resort (or at any other participating Disney resort) for the length of their stay, up to 14 days.
For one flat fee, guests can fill up on all the soda and coffee their heart desires. So, what’s the catch?
You might be surprised to hear this, but you actually can’t use these mugs to fill up when you’re in the parks! If you’re hoping to beat the heat with an ice-cold Coke, you’re going to have to pay for it separately. Unless you’re filling up that mug with water, there really isn’t much use in bringing it to the park with you.
What about at the resorts? Well, yes, you can fill up plenty at the resorts, but that’s not always as convenient as you might think. A lot of Disney’s hotels are really spread out, which means you could have a LONG walk to get to a refill station. And, at 16 ounces, they aren’t exactly big enough to stock up on your drink.
Okay, so when are these mugs a good idea? Well, if you’re a big fan of loading up on coffee in the morning (and would prefer not to make it in your room), you might be able to get good use out of one. If your family likes to get breakfast at the resort’s quick-service location, this could be a selling point.
Similarly, if you’re going to want to get a Diet Coke on the way to and from the parks every day, getting one of these mugs could work out well for you.
Lastly, if you plan on spending a fair amount of time at your hotel, and expect to dine in its quick-service location frequently, you could end up saving some money by purchasing one of these mugs.
Overall, purchasing a Refillable Resort Mug isn’t for everyone, so make sure to figure out what your trip will look like before investing in one! As always, stay tuned to AllEars for all the latest Disney tips and tricks.
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Do you use Refillable Resort Mugs when you go to Disney World? Let us know in the comments below!
I buy one and use it to fill my Reduce mug for the week. I fill my big mug with ice and the refillable with just soda and when poured into the Reduce it fills it just fine.
I buy one and use it to fill up my screw top miir water bottle that stays cold for a while. Fill and dump, repeat during quick serve meals at the hotel and then we take home the cup as a souvenir. I figure if we fill it at least ten times, it’s worth it.
Yes we each buy one. Fill one with coffee to start the day and then one with lots of ice and water, then use a clip to hook it on the belt or backpack.. and we always take a ride on the monorail to see all the resorts are decorated.
While it may not be the best deal, I do buy one for trips longer than 2 days becaus I drink enough to pay for itself and then some. If you aren’t doing coffee, hot cocoa, or soda everyday than no, skip this. But if you have a soda and or coffee daily from quick serve then with their prices go for it. Here is my hack. Since it is unlimited refills with a slight wait between fills. I will fill my the cup then pit it into my generic yeti . This takes three to four refillable cups. I do step out of the way if someone is waiting for the machine. I fill my water bottle with ice then fill my refillable mug with Powerade or vitamin water for the parks. Then once my water bottle is full I rinse the refillable mug and fill with my morning beverage or choose coffee hot cocoa coke etc and head for transportation ! Once I finish the beverage in the refillable mug I wipe it out with a napkin and put it on a caribeener hook on my scooter or hang it off of my park bag. If I get a drink with a meal I pit the rest in the mug to drink or I can fill with the free water cups . I like to have it when I return to my home resort so I don’t have to go back to the room then back to the food court especially since Pop
Century busses let you off near the food court. And if taking the skyliner you can stop at the beverage station by petals bar. However warning this is often out of ice towards the end of the day and sometimes out of some drinks so for me it is worth it but I can see where it’s not for everyone. They should have a full
Station at the Caribbean beach skyliner hub!
I always buy one, fill up in morning, go to parks, maybe buy a drink there and pour in my mug, refill back at resort as needed. I don’t like the metal mugs or even drink out of a pop can because I don’t like the metal taste. I use my park mug at home until they wear out
Are these leak proof? As in if I took it on a ride attached to my bag, would it spill?
They are not leak proof. I’ve never found them to be the kind of mug you would want to carry around with you. Unless you have strollers with cupholders I don’t really see a use for them outside of the resort. They are a better bargain at smaller, compact resorts where going to the quick service spots is more manageable.
I’ve always thought that these would be SO MUCH BETTER if we could use them in the resorts!!
We stay for 2 weeks usually so easily pay for themselves.
I’m a “load up on coffee” kind of person, and I use the mugs at home until they’re so faded, they’re unrecognizable. So for me, the $21.95 is totally worth it. However, like another commenter, I believe that Universal’s refillable mug is SUCH a better deal!
Universals is a much better offering than Disneys (again)
They’re certainly not the value they used to be. The challenge we always had was that we didn’t use them enough to make the price point worthwhile.
we have always gotten the refillable mugs and they more then pay for themselves. coffee at resort for breakfast, rinse out then filled with ice tea or root beer or cola take it on bus to park, come back from park for mid day break fill up at resort drink some while relaxing, sometimes topped off take back to park or leave in room to drink when getting back at the end of the day, do it all over again for 7-10 days we usually used to stay.
I bought a Wilderness Lodge mug years ago for far less and then proceeded to use
it for years until they completely changed the look of the mugs. For me, it was
a bargain! Like so many things, not anymore…