It’s hard not to compare Disney World and Universal Orlando to each other, especially with Epic Universe. We think this feature that Universal has might get a point up on Disney.
Both parks have refillable cups, but there is a pretty stark difference between the two.
Let’s start with the basics. Both parks have refillable mugs, but they are not the same.
Universal Orlando allows you to fill up the mugs all over the parks. Almost anywhere that offers fountain soda will let you refill your mug, even in a Coca-Cola Freestyle machine!
You can refill in Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and yes, even Epic Universe. Unfortunately, though, you can’t fill up your cup in the resorts! That includes the brand new Stella Nova, Terra Luna, and Helios Grand, too.
Disney World is almost the opposite. They call their refillable mugs “resort mugs,” and that’s exactly what they are. They give you access to the fountain drinks at any resort. It doesn’t have to be your own resort, but it does need to be at one of them.
While it’s up to you to decide which of these locations works better for you, guests typically spend more time within the theme parks versus the resorts during their vacations. Being able to fill up a cup inside the park is more convenient than just at the resort, which you’ll be at in the morning and night.
Both theme parks manage their prices differently as well. At Universal, you pay around $19 for the cup and get refills throughout the day, refilling about every 10 minutes. You can bring your cup back to all the parks, time and again, and get it reactivated for the day.
At Disney, you can purchase your mug for about $23 and get free refills at hotels for 14 days, even if your stay is longer. It’s nice not having to worry about paying every time, but you’ll need to reactivate them if you want to use your cup again.
We love that Universal’s cups are forever! They have an easy handle we can clip onto our backpacks, and whenever we need a quick drink, we can fill it up before hopping on the next ride. It’s also so nice to be able to refill drinks in the parks at a discount!
That’s how we feel about the refillable cup policy, but you tell us: which park does a refillable cup policy better? Tell us in the comments, and be sure to keep following AllEars for all of the theme park news you love.
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We like that both Disney and Universal offers refillable cups. But I wish Disney would offer the parks refillable cup also. So Universal is hands down better at this offer. Come on Disney get with the program!
You forgot the most important use of universal refillable mugs. Icee’s are included!!!
Also, Universal is still delivering packages to your room!
I didn’t know there was such a thing at Disney. We were in Orlando 3 years ago in California, and it’s not on display anywhere, and they don’t display it. On the other hand, at Universal it is on display and we were told it is, and the cup looks great – we liked the one in Orlando better, but the refill doesn’t cost money, it’s free, with a 15-minute difference between one refill
I prefer the refill cup at universal better as you can buy the cup and refill it all day and than recharge it daily for a low price that gets all day refills verses Disney if a local to their parks doesn’t stay at the resorts with them than you gotta buy a drink for bout 6 bucks depends on pricing at the time each time you want a soda or you can bring your own water bottle and get free ice if your able to in certain location or ask for free ice water to put into your water bottle to stay hydrated during the day or full up from the water fountains they have in the parks or Disney springs area. But I do prefer universal over Disney for that factor of the refill cups inside the parks
Seeing both offers written out, neither one is that great! Paying $19 is cheaper for the mug, but by the time you finish reusing it, you would be paying for another mug (or two). $23 is expensive for a mug, but having free refills is ordeal. Except having to go back to a resort is a waste of time. I have bought the mug at Disney because it saves money at breakfast or supper time. Drinks in the hotel cafeteria start at $5, so saving $10-$15 a day is ideal. They both need to allow free refills anywhere in the park. More mugs will be purchased and they’ll have happier visitors!
At Universal once you buy the cup for the Park the day you buy it you haver refills all day every 10 min- including frozen icy drinks…on day two, or next trip bring the same cup back and pay the refill cost ( usually about 9.99) and you again have refills all day every Park for Universal every 10 min … I am an Annual Paa Holder so we do this every time
You forget, no drink fills available on Harry Potter land. A big section of 2 universal parks. And a total pain