Walt Disney World has been making solid strides in rebuilding trust with fans. Let’s be honest—it’s been a rocky few years with rising prices and cut-back perks, but lately, things are starting to look up. From better discounts to the return of free overnight parking at resort hotels, the vibe is beginning to feel a little more like the Disney we know and love.
New Perks That Are Actually Helpful
In recent months, Disney has rolled out some updates that have genuinely helped families feel more welcome and less financially drained. For starters, free parking is back at the resorts. This used to be a given, but for a while, Disney charged guests to park at their own hotel. That’s thankfully a thing of the past now.
Then there are the room and ticket discounts—up to 30% off select resorts during specific dates, which can add up for families planning longer stays. And during the hotter parts of the year, Disney offers free admission to one of its water parks on your check-in day if you’re staying at a Disney resort. That’s a nice bonus for families who arrive early and want to cool off without using a park ticket.
It feels like Disney is starting to say, “Hey, we hear you.” But one perk still hasn’t caught up with the times—the refillable resort mug.
Why This Rule Still Makes No Sense
Let’s break it down: guests staying at Disney resorts can purchase a refillable mug for around $23. You get 14 days of unlimited refills—but only at the resorts. You can’t use them inside the parks at all. Not one quick-service location in Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, or anywhere else accepts them.
So what’s the point? Guests end up carrying around these mugs for no reason unless they’re taking long mid-day breaks back at the resort, which isn’t super common for many families trying to make the most of their park day.
And here’s the kicker—the mugs only hold 16 ounces. In Florida heat, that’s barely enough to quench your thirst before refilling again. If Disney is going to sell it as a perk, it should feel like one.
How Disney Could Fix This (Without Much Effort)
There are three easy solutions Disney could put in place tomorrow that would instantly improve this:
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Add a few park refill stations for mug users. Even just one in each park would go a long way.
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Offer a larger cup size—20 or 24 ounces would make carrying it around more worthwhile.
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Let guests get discounted park refills, like $1–$1.50, if they already bought the mug.
With just a few adjustments, Disney could turn this “perk” into something fans get excited about again. And with all the goodwill they’re working hard to build, now’s the perfect time to make that change.
