Refillable Amenities Replacing Individual Bottles at Disney Resorts

As recently reported, Disney plans to significantly reduce its plastic waste over the next few years. One of the ways it plans to achieve this is by switching over to refillable in-room amenities (shampoo, body wash, conditioner, etc.), instead of using smaller individual, single-use bottles. Disney projects this effort will reduce plastics in in Disney hotel and cruise ship guest rooms by 80 percent.

resort-amenities-wall-mounted-18-01.jpg

Wall-mounted dispensers like the ones pictured above have been placed in Walt Disney World’s value resorts for some time now. (The photo above was taken recently at the All-Star Music Resort.) But we hear reports now that similar set-ups have been spotted in some moderate resorts, too, specifically Port Orleans French Quarter and Caribbean Beach Resorts.

As you can see from the photo, these larger dispensers are locked in place, to reduce the chance of tampering with the bottles. For those fans of the H2O+ bath products (yours truly included!), it seems that Disney is continuing to provide this high-end line of lotions, soaps and shampoos.

Unfortunately, we’ve already had reports of guests finding empty dispensers when they’ve checked into their rooms — perhaps housekeeping isn’t yet used to checking the product levels routinely.

One thing’s for sure — we’ll miss taking home our partially used individual bottles and using them once back in our day-to-day routine! Just one whiff of that sea marine shampoo takes us back to happy times, lounging around our resort, or getting ready for a busy day in the parks.

Have you seen these new refillable amenities during your recent visit to the World? What do you think of this change? Leave a comment below!





Trending Now



Debra Martin Koma wrote about food, travel and lifestyle issues for a number of local and national publications before she fell in love with Walt Disney World on her first visit — when she was 34! She's returned to her Laughing Place more times than she can count in the ensuing years, and enthusiastically shares her passion with readers of AllEars.Net and AllEars®. Deb also co-authored (along with Deb Wills) PassPorter's Open Mouse for Walt Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line, a travel guide designed for all travelers to Walt Disney World who may require special attention, from special diets to mobility issues.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

41 Replies to “Refillable Amenities Replacing Individual Bottles at Disney Resorts”

  1. We had them at our stay at Riverside back in June. When we went to shower for the first time we noticed that we had 2 shampoos and a conditioner-no shower gel! Housekeeping came quickly though after we made a phone call and changed it out. I do miss the little bottles, but I think this is better for the environment since it cuts down on plastic use.

  2. I have always enjoyed bringing home the small bottles but definitely have enough. My favorite treat to myself is now the large bottle of the Sea Salt lotion when I travel to a Disney destination. If the Disney community could embrace this change, it will definitely help the world at large since Disney has so many rooms at so many sites.

  3. Stayed at Riverside this past week and loved this change! The tiny bottles are always a challenge to open and close when your hands are wet anyway! Happy to see this positive change to help the environment!

  4. We stayed at Port Orleans Riverside last week and they used these dispensers. I LOVE the smell of the Sea Marine shampoo as it reminds me of Disney World and Disney Cruise Line. I was sad not to have a bottle to bring home with me, but I understand the need to reduce plastics.

  5. If the savings are what they say they are, then one cannot fault them, too much. I prefer the minerature bottles. With what the rooms cost per night, one would think that a little luxury is forthcoming.

  6. Stayed at Art of animation last week of June 2019 and we did not have this set up yet. We had individual bottles with covers on them.

  7. I bring travel sizes of my favorite stuff with me and don’t use the stuff Disney provides. We were at POFQ last Christmas and the new tie down ones were there then. What is to prevent people from filling up their own bottles and taking it home? Not sure this solves a problem or creates new ones. In the meantime, I will continue to take my own with me.

  8. I just got back from Pop Century after a 9-day stay. The new setup was in the bathroom and were always EMPTY during my entire trip. Thank goodness I don’t rely on Disney supplying this stuff. I always use my own.

  9. I will bring my own from now on then. Sounds unsanitary. This idea is as bad as the cardboard straws that make every drink taste like cardboard and then dissolve in your drink.

  10. This ranks up there with one of Disney’s big errors. So many things can go wrong. They claim they are saving landfill space but they still give little bottles of lotion etc. it doesn’t make sense.

  11. We recently cruised on the Disney Fantasy, and they have switched to the H2O products in refillable, frosted-glass bottles, with metal dispensers.

    I have absolutely no problem with this. Like moving toward unbleached napkins and paper straws, I applaud every step Disney takes to reduce its environmental impact.

  12. These are impossible for the disabled to use. I liked the small bottles that I could hold in my hand since I have to sit on a seat of the shower, (I bring my own stool). The refillable bottles are not even close to that area, and since I cannot stand up, or walk, I cannot get to them. One more thing that Disney does that is not handicapped accessible.

  13. We are fine with these dispensers. As far as sanitation goes, think of everything you use outside your house. The forks at a restaurant were in thousands of other mouths before yours. The towels dried the private parts of thousands also. I can go on and on. Just don’t worry about it.

  14. This is one of the worst ideas so far. So unsanitary, it’s insulting. Especially with the prices we have to pay. We don’t know if someone tampers with it. And I’m sure it’s more work for the housekeeping staff

  15. For $500+ a night at MABY hotels, particularly DVC properties, this is abhorrent. Refilling , not replacing. They’re a hazard because of the location in the wall if you’re in the bath, disabled or bathing a child.

  16. Does anyone else remember when they did this years ago? Then they ended up going back to the bottles. I wonder how long it will take this time.

  17. It seems those bottles are everywhere now. I think it’s Disney’s way of saving money, not the environment. Nothing is tamper-proof. As much as I love the scent of the products, I will not use them. Bringing my own from home.

  18. We had these at OKW in March and they worked fine. They are similar to setups we have seen used at moderate and high end non-Disney hotels over the past few years.

    I am very glad to see less waste, and as long as house(mouse)keeping does their job, there is nothing unsanitary about this change.

  19. During our recent stay the week of February 12, Disney installed these in Animal Kingdom Lodge Jamboree House. Not a fan, I do not like using the body wash. Seemed very hard to rinse off. I agree it does not seem sanitary.

  20. I always buy a special scent just for Disney from Bath and Bodyworks, it’s one of my traditions, so I don’t care about Disney changing their products and dispensers, I won’t use them, lol! I always have plenty of my stuff left and can relieve my trip for a lot longer than with the little trial sized products Disney provides ?

  21. Terrible idea. I love taking home a few bottles as souvenirs. I also hate taking a shower with just shower gel and no bar soap.

  22. I hate the refillable bottles. It’s unsanitary and it’s inconvenient. I think it’s ridiculous that as much as Disney charges they have chosen this route as a way to make changes. What if some odd guest tampers with the contents? It is incredibly unsafe in this day and age to assume that just because it’s Disney World someone crazy wouldn’t do something unsafe or unkind for someone else to have to deal with. I’ll bring my own…

    1. I agree! Totally unsanitary, especially since they’re not changing the bottles, but refilling them. Sorry, these are PERSONAL HYGIENE items. Key word, personal. What is housekeeping doing with the pump tubes when they refill them? Just gross.

  23. Our conditioner bottle did not work, but was never fixed. It seemed that the shampoo & body wash were switched. We just used what we brought with us. Will always bring our own.

  24. Recently tried out the product. The shampoo and conditioner are not too bad, but it did resort to my conditioner in the end. It just didn’t work the same on my tangles and dry hair.
    I hated the smell of the body wash! I longed for the wash I brought from which; which conveniently, disappeared from our hotel room.
    But I didn’t let it spoil my vacation I to the magic. I’ll just know better for our next trip and will come better prepared!

  25. It makes me sad that a company like Disney would resort to the unhygenic use of refillable bottles. Why not use an individual container that is made from recycled plastic! Stop cheaping out Disney! When you charge what you do per night you can spend a few pennies on an environmentally friendly container!

  26. Just a mention; the frame holding the bottles does not lock to prevent tampering. I’ve seen people on forums holding the bottles in their hands after a simple push of the knob thought to be a lock.

  27. I had them at Caribbean Beach last month-did not like them at all! The dispense top is very sharp and was rotating a bit much when wet. I’m concerned about the cleanness around the top of the bottle and all around it! It’s not senitary. Not a warm welcome when you check in your room and find empty or dirty bottles – we always loved to take some magic home. Besides the gifts and our wonderful memories we loved those shampoo and lotion tubes. Once home the scent reminded us of DISNEY – our trip and it keeps reminding us to plan another one again. Specially on the cruise ship those make you feel so welcome and home!!!I hope DISNEY will have a change of Hearts again!

  28. We were at Coronado Springs in June and one of the bottles was damaged and empty. I let the front desk know, but the situation was never handled. I appreciate the need to reduce plastic waste, but after a day in the parks, some body wash is rather necessary!

  29. We recently stayed in Port Orleans Riverside (July 2018) and they had them there too! Still individual bottles at Saratoga Springs!

  30. I haven’t been yet to see them, but they do pose a concern for me. Having an ocd I am concerned about the cleanliness behind the bottles, how does mousekeeping clean the nozzles, are they cleaned every time they clean a room? If people are reporting that the bottles have been empty, does this mean they are failing to clean the area properly? Of course, I combat the problem by bring my own bathing supplies, but there is always that what if. I too will miss the individual bottles. I loved being able to take it home and relive my wonderful trip.

  31. What is to stop people from bringing their own bottles and refilling them to take home? I’m sure Disney has thought of that, even if it say “oh well, can’t win them all”.