With so much to see, do, and explore, it’s easy to get caught up in the magic and excitement of Walt Disney World. But let’s be honest, drinks prices can really add up, especially with all the walking and heat. In 2024, we’ve got your back with our money-saving and budgeting tips, including this one for using refillable mugs during your onsite stay. Whether you’re a seasoned Disney veteran or a first-time visitor, resort mugs stretch your vacation budget and help you to enjoy more of the magic, without breaking the bank. So, grab a drink and let’s unlock the budgeting impact of the resort refillable mug.
Refillable Resort Mugs
Disney Resort refillable mugs are plastic microwave and dishwasher safe mugs you can buy in Disney accommodations. They have a built-in microchip which is activated at the time of purchase to give you free drinks refills for 14 days or the length of your stay. (If you are staying onsite longer than 14 days you need to let the cashiers know and they will refresh your chip).
You can use your mug at any of the 25+ Disney resorts during your stay and refills are unlimited. (There is a wait of 60 seconds between refills). You can refill your mug at a hotel without being a guest of that hotel as long as your cup is valid.
What drinks are included?
Drinks vary slightly from resort to resort, and some of the deluxe resorts have Coke Freestyle machines for refills. Disney resort mugs include unlimited resort refills of:
- Tea (includes some herbal variations like chamomile and green tea)
- Coffee, including deaf.
- Hot chocolate
- Coca Cola
- Sprite
- Fanta
- Water
- Rootbeer
What size are resort mugs?
Disney World Resort Mugs hold 16ozs. If you’re anything like us, that just didn’t work out in our head, so we did some googling and testing. 16fl oz is 454.609ml, so a Disney Resort Mug will hold just shy of ½ a litre of fluid. They are bigger than a single 330ml can of coke here in the UK. It’s bigger than a bottle of smoothie or juice you can pick-up in the shop with a meal deal, but less than your standard grab and go bottle of pop or water which is around 500ml.
Who can buy a resort mug?
Anyone can buy a Disney resort mug. If you are dining in a quick-service restaurant and want to pick one up, you can. They are designed with resort guests in mind. However, offsite guests planning to regularly eat in resorts during their stay may also benefit from purchasing a mug to use.
Where do I buy a resort refillable mug?
Refillable resort mugs can be bought in all quick-service locations at any Disney hotel. There is currently a selection of four mugs to choose from.
Resort Mug Savings
Resort mugs are included with most dining plans. You can explore the value and benefits below. For pay as you dine guests the resort mug is a great option to reduce drinks costs.
How much are mugs?
The resort refillable mug is listed at $21.99, which is $23.41 with tax. That works out to £18.40 in the UK. This means that there are some great savings to be had from a resort refillable mug and you only need to use it a few times to start making savings. As always, let’s do the maths.
Cost per refill
| Number of refills | Cost of refill in £ | Cost to refill in $ (including tax) |
| 1 | £18.40 | $23.41 |
| 2 | £9.20 | $11.70 |
| 3 | £6.13 | $7.80 |
| 4 | £4.60 | $5.85 |
| 5 | £3.68 | $4.68 |
| 6 | £3.06 | $3.90 |
| 7 | £2.62 | $3.34 |
| 8 | £2.30 | $2.92 |
| 9 | £2.04 | $2.60 |
| 10 | £1.80 | $2.34 |
| 11 | £1.67 | $2.13 |
| 12 | £1.53 | $1.95 |
| 13 | £1.41 | $1.80 |
| 14 | £1.31 | $1.67 |
Resort Drink Cost Comparisons
The cost of buying your drinks on a pay as you go basis in resort:
- Joffrey’s Regular Coffee = $3.79 = $4.03 with tax = £3.17
- Twining Hot Tea = $3.79 = $4.03 with tax = £3.17
- Bottle of Coke Zero (20 oz) = $4.99 = $5.31 with tax = £4.18
- Bottle of Sprite (20 oz) = $4.99 = $5.31 with tax = £4.18
- Assorted Fountain Beverage = $4.49 = $4.78 with tax = £3.76
The assorted fountain beverage drink option gives you access to the same drinks as a mug. If you are going to have more than 7 fountain drinks, the resort mug will cost you less.
Buying bottles of soda, will give you 4 oz (113ml) more drink with each purchase. Bear in mind though, resort mug refills are unlimited refills, so if you have a drink with dinner and want more there is no additional cost. If you are going to buy 5 or more bottled soft drinks for consumption with a meal or for on the way to a park, the resort mug will cost you less.
If you are a fan of nice cup of tea or filtered coffee with your meal, the resort mug will work out cheaper if you drink more than 8 mugs full during your stay.
Is it worth buying a refillable mug?
Definitely. At one refill a day for a two-week holiday, the mug would give you the cheapest drink you can buy in any Disney resort after your 7th drink. (Other than free water). For Brits enjoying a two-week stay in the magic, this mug is going to save you money on drinks if you use it only once a day.
There are so many ways to use your mug throughout your holiday to get value both at your resort and at resorts around Disney. This mug is a great way to help minimise the costs and keep you hydrated during your Disney World trip.
Benefits of a resort refillable mug
If you still aren’t sure whether a resort refillable mug is worth buying during your trip, lets take a look at the benefits of using a resort mug.
1: Savings in resort
Use it with your meals to save on the cost of a drink if you are paying as you go and don’t have a dining plan.
If you have a dining plan, get a bottle with your dinner if you are dining in resort and use your mug for a drink. That way you can save money by taking your bottle of drink to the park with you to stay hydrated.
Aside from fruit juices, most fountain drinks are the same as the drinks sold in bottles. Ordering an Americano or a cup of tea would get you exactly the same drink in a paper cup as you could have in your resort mug.
It can even work out cheaper than buying drinks at Walmart. If you factor in the cost of getting to the supermarket with the cost of the drinks and the amount you might need to buy to keep everyone happy, this option is budget and time friendly. Buying some bottles to take to the park though is a great money saving option to further reduce drinks costs in the parks.
2: Savings if you aren’t using a dining plan
Anyone can purchase a resort mug. If you intend on mainly eating quick service meals while in Disney World, a resort mug will bring you savings. You can eat at any hotel with a quick service offering, including The Grand Floridian. Take your cup and have free drinks with your quick service meals.
3: Savings in the parks
Using our strategy below, you can grab drinks on the way to the park and get a refill before you go in. If you are having table service or quick service meals in resort restaurants you can also use your cup to have a coffee before or after. Sitting overlooking resort gardens, the Seven Seas Lagoon, or Boardwalk with a drink in hand is all possible for free with the resort mug. It’s a great way to find peace and relax on a budget.
4: Branded drinks
Fountain drinks at Disney resorts are branded and so is the tea and coffee, adding value and some quality assurance to your mug purchase. If you like the brands at home, then you know you will enjoy the product.
5: A decent cup of tea
There’s nothing worse than a terrible cup of tea, so if you go for the mug, rest assured you’ll get a decent cup of tea. You do not need to pack your tea bags in the case.
Twinings tea, a British tea company who understand that a cup of “tea is more than a drink”, supply the teabags. Knowing that your cup of tea will be good is important to us, especially when away from home for a fortnight.
It is also comforting, to those of us who like to do the maths when budgeting, to know that the same teabags you are drinking In Disney are sold in Tesco in a box of 80 for a cost around £5.
6: Eco-friendly
You are going to be using a lot of one-use plastic during a Disney holiday, so why not do your bit to reduce that. Reducing the need to buy bottles of drink by using a refillable mug is something everyone should consider when staying in a Disney resort. The mugs also last beyond the duration of your holiday. See it as more of an investment in a new drinks cup to reduce one use plastic, even if you only use it in the garden at home.
7: It’s a souvenir to take home
Keep the magic going when you get home. As you purchase the cup you can pack it up and take it home. Use it as a work mug, a garden mug, a camping mug, there are so many ways you can continue to use this cup at home, providing even more value for money. A ceramic mug to bring home in the suitcase would cost $20, and you have to consider the transportation risks.
8: Hydration
It’s important to stay hydrated in the Floridian heat and when you are walking long distances. The refillable mug provides a cost-effective way to do this, with drinks choices. Being able to use the in other resorts also means that when you are out and about at parks, like Magic Kingdom, you can pop in and get a drink
9: Choice
Everyone can drink what they like. Choose from the fountain options and fill your cup. It’s simple and it allows everyone to have what they like at no extra cost to your budget. It also encourages people to try new drinks.
Resort mug negatives
Buying a resort mug is not all positive. There are some negatives to consider before you make the purchase.
Washing stations
Disney have washing stations where you can rinse your cup out with water. For us, when using a cup for 14 days you need to do more than give it a quick rinse. If you are going to be buying a cup, pop a small amount of washing-up liquid and a dish cloth in your suitcase so you can wash your cups properly. It’s a money saving tip that is necessity when you invest in resort mugs.
Tea and coffee is free in resort rooms
It’s an unnecessary cost if you just want free tea and coffee in your resort. You do not need to purchase a mug to enjoy Twinings tea and Joffreys coffee when you stay in Disney accommodation. Your room has these branded tea and coffee products, a coffee maker, and reusable cups so you can enjoy complimentary drinks in your room and on the go.
Do you enjoy soft drinks?
If you don’t drink soft drinks, this is not the investment for you. Not only is tea and coffee free in your resort rooms, cups of water are available for free around the parks. You can also refill your water bottle for free in the resorts at various locations, including the quick-service locations. If you don’t like soft drinks, or only have the odd one here and there, avoid the resort refillable mug. You need to be drinking at least one soft drink a day for the resort refillable mug to be worth the cost.
There’s more walking involved
Refilling your mug will involve a walk to the quick service dining locations. This is the only place you can get a refill for your mug in resorts, which can be quite a way from your accommodation. However, if you take your mug with you on the way out and incorporate a walk through these locations a couple of times a day you will get value for money. If you have issues with walking a mug may not provide as much value for you.
Strategies for maximising the value of your mug
Using your resort mug around the resort for drinks by the pool, drinks with meals, and drinks in your room is the obvious way to get the most value out of your mug. Taking your mug with you to the parks and out around resort is a way to get even more value from your mug.
Resort Routine
Always grab a refill on your way in and out of resort. When you are starting your day, everyone will have a drink to take with them. If you head back to the resort during the day, grab a drink. Repeat this every time you are in and out. Incorporating it into your routine at the hotel will help you maximise value outside of mealtime usage.
Take your mug to the parks
Take your mug with you if you are heading to one of these parks:
- Magic Kingdom
- EPCOT
- Hollywood Studios.
Here’s our strategy to get more value from your mug at each of these parks.
Magic Kingdom
Arriving at the Ticket and Transportation Centre to head to Magic Kingdom, you can choose either the Monorail or the Ferry Boat. If everyone has drunk their drink, take the monorail and hop off at the Polynesian Resort or The Grand Floridian. Not only will you get to see the beautiful resorts, but you can also refill your drink and hop back on the monorail before entering the Magic Kingdom.
Eating a meal at Gasparilla Island Grill at The Grand Floridian or Capt Cook’s at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort on the way to Magic Kingdom is another way to maximise cup value and your time. Having a quick service meal on the way into the park, using your resort mug, will save you money. Also providing a new dining experience, it is a great way to include budget Disney meals everyone will enjoy into park hopping days. You also get a break from the heat and the busy park quick-service dining options.
When leaving Magic Kingdom you can also grab a drink. Hop off at the first stop, The Contemporary, to grab a drink from the refill stations in Contempo Cafe. Yes, it will add time on to your journey, but if you need drinks, it will save money. You could also choose to eat a meal in this quick-service restaurant.
Heading out of Magic Kingdom for a rest and some food at one of the quick-service restaurants at the resorts on the monorail loop is a good way to re-energise. Re-hydrate using your mug and enjoy the views, scents, and experiences each resort has to offer before heading back into Magic Kingdom or park hopping. It’s usually quieter and ideal if you need a little time away from the overwhelm, hustle and bustle of the parks.
EPCOT and Hollywood Studios
When you head to EPCOT you can head to the Boardwalk from the back entrance gate, where you will find Disney’s Yacht Club Resort and Disney’s Beach Club Resort, both of which have Coke Freestyle machines where you can refill your resort mugs. Only a 5-minute walk away from EPCOT, you can save yourself money by getting a drink here using your resort mug.
You can also park hop using the sky liner from the back gate, which will stop at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Club Resort and Disney’s Riviera Resort. Although it is a walk to the quick-service facilities at Caribbean Beach Club, it is not far to the quick-service dining offering in Disney’s Riviera Resort. Here you can get a refill between Hollywood Studios and EPCOT if you are park hopping. You can also find this beautiful Rapunzel Mural which is Instagram picture perfect.
Grabbing a free refill while park hopping is a perfect way to use your mug to save money on drinks between parks. It is also a hack for beating the heat, as you can spend time sitting in the air conditioning while having a drink, and a snack if you fancy, before heading to another park.
Combining refillable mugs with Disney dining
Disney Dining Plans usually include the resort refillable mug, unless you have the free dining plan at the value resorts, which does not. Using your mug in conjunction with dining, no matter the experience will add value and save you money. Use your cup for budget-friendly hydration options when heading out to eat in different Disney resorts.
Quick-service options in different resorts
Choosing to eat at different resorts for quick-service meals is a way to experience variety and different restaurants on a budget. Investing in a resort mug and taking this with you to these resorts means you only need to pay for your quick-service food as you can use the mugs for your drinks. You can have any meal in a quick-service restaurant, and with different resorts located closer to different theme parks, you can incorporate eating meals at these resorts on the way to and from parks to save money.
Character and table-service dining in resorts
You cannot use your resort mug for drinks at character dining and table-service dining experiences in resorts. We do however encourage you to take the mug with you. Have a drink and enjoy the views different resorts have to offer by getting a drink before you dine. You can also grab a coffee for free after your meal with your mug and find somewhere to sit in resort to people-watch and relax for a while. Knowing you can have a drink before your meal for free while you wait for members of your party if there is a group of you will save money. Having a drink after will also save you money as you do not need to spend as much on drinks during your meal because you are thirsty after time in the parks.
Best Places to Refill
Deluxe Resorts like The Grand Floridian and The Beach Club have Coke Freestyle machines, which offer flavoured coke, sprite and many other options. Grabbing a refill in these locations offers different choices for you to try at no extra cost.
More varieties of tea can be found in moderate and deluxe resorts too. You can grab a peppermint tea as a free refill in The Polynesian. There are also flavoured milks to add to your coffees, so you can have vanilla lattes.
FAQs
Can you share Disney resort mugs?
No. The mugs are designed to be individual, however Disney wouldn’t necessarily know if you were filling one to share. It’s not something we would advise you to do, as they work out good value per person.
Can you bring your old mug?
It depends on how long it has been. There is a chance that the RFID chip located inside your mug may no longer work. Also, you would still have to pay the full price for another mug, so it isn’t really worth the luggage allowance.
Can I put my mug in the dishwasher or microwave?
Yes, you can. These mugs are both dishwasher and microwave safe. We have found that they can taint with flavour a little, so wouldn’t advise you popping a cuppa soup in it when you get home, even though the mug would be fine.
Conclusion
The Disney resort refillable mug is an easily accessible way to save money and keep hydrated during your time in Disney resorts. Available to all guests, the mugs are a great way to help you keep your soft drinks budget under control.