Ahoy there Renee, and welcome aboard planDisney!
I must admit, I'm not the popcorn bucket connoisseur in the family - I'm just married to one - but with that comes a vast array of experiences and years of research into the ins and outs of popcorn at Disney Destinations. I'm glad to hear that
what I published previously about popcorn buckets on board was useful, but after noticing that
so many folks seem to ask about
bringing previously-purchased popcorn buckets onto their voyage and
wondering whether they'll be refilled at the discounted price, I took the opportunity to check with three different sources for their insight:
- Officially, Disney Cruise Line's written policy available to Cast Members and Crew alike is currently the following: "Popcorn buckets and Beer Mugs purchased on previous cruises may be brought onboard. However, they may not be refilled." The Disney Cruise Line Representative working shoreside clearly stated that guests should make a purchase for a new popcorn bucket each time they embark on a new voyage to be eligible for the refill pricing.
- According to the Crew Members on board the Disney Wish, they have noticed that despite this policy guests who may have cruised often as Castaway Club members still do bring older popcorn buckets on board; sometimes the popcorn buckets available to purchase on the ships may the same design as those found in the theme parks. Currently however, I've observed that Crew Members may be instructed to ask guests for a receipt or confirmation that you've purchased the popcorn bucket on board in order to provide a refill. (Ultimately Disney Cruise Line offerings and policies are always subject to change without prior notice and may be at the discretion of the onboard Food & Beverage leadership on your voyage.)
- Similarly, the Cast Members who sell popcorn at Walt Disney World Resort say they contend with guests who attempt to bring in older popcorn buckets and may or may not provide refills if the popcorn bucket is not consistent with their current stay.
It's important to note that the policy still does officially state that you can indeed bring your popcorn bucket with you as you embark, and it's been great to see the various creative ways that fellow seafarers use these as accessories for photos or even a handy sand-free space to store belongings while you're on the beaches of
Disney Castaway Cay. I hope this helps, Renee - come back to planDisney again for any other bits of nautical knowledge and let us know your
4-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral went!
May your buckets be useful and your breezes balmy,
Prince