Why Buying a Refillable Mug at Disney's Fort Wilderness Is Pointless

For decades, refillable mugs have been a favorite souvenir for many Disney fans. The current incarnation are 16 oz. insulated coffee mugs that are sold for about $23 at Disney hotels in the primary Counter Service location. Those on the Disney Dining Plan also receive a mug as part of their package.

Purple Flip Top

Guests are entitled to unlimited free refills on fountain drinks, coffee, and tea from participating beverage locations at Disney resort hotels (both the one they’re staying at as well as others on property) for their length of stay up to 14 days. Each mug features an RFID barcode, which enables the mug to deactivate when the designated time is complete.

So with all that going for them, how could we say that there’s no reason to use one at one of Disney World’s most popular — and oldest locations? Well, it’s all about distance.

Disney World Resort Refillable Mug

The Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground has been a staple at Walt Disney World since (nearly) the very beginning. See, the campground was always planned for the Vacation Kingdom, primarily to serve as a cost-effective alternative to the Contemporary and Polynesian Village Resorts, and was advertised in promotional materials from the start. However, construction delays pushed the campground back slightly, with Fort Wilderness opening on November 19th, 1971, about 6 weeks after the rest of Walt Disney World.

Fort Wilderness campsite ©Disney

Today, Fort Wilderness features over 800 campsites and over 400 cabins spread around the sprawling property… which brings to the refillable mug issue. Mugs can be refilled at the campground at the Meadows Pool Snack Bar and the Trail’s End Restaurant, both of which can be a long trek from some of the campsites and cabins.

If you do not rent a golf cart, you more than likely have to hop on a bus just to get your morning coffee. And the bus for the Trails End Restaurant takes you in the opposite direction of the buses that you need to board for DHS, EPCOT, and DAK. So, unless you are hoping on a boat to Magic Kingdom right after getting your morning drink, it just ends up being a hassle.

Also, if you plan to stay at the parks late, you will find Trail’s End Restaurant locked once you arrive. It’s open until about 9:45 PM most nights. So you won’t be able to hop in and snag a drink then either.

Trail’s End Restaurant

On top of all that, there’s almost certainly no returning the mug to the campsite after morning coffee before heading out to one of Walt Disney World’s theme parks. So then you are lugging a cup you can’t refill in the parks around all day long.

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground

If you’re posting up at Fort Wilderness during your next Walt Disney World vacation, be sure to consider these factors when planning to pick up Disney World’s latest refillable mug. Stay tuned to DFB for more tips on visiting the “Most Magical Place on Earth.”

REMINDER: Disney World Confirms NEW Rule at Fort Wilderness Resort

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