Coke freestyle machines—is it really progress?

Mousefan mom

Mouseketeer
Joined
May 21, 2015
we just did a split stay Poly and BC. Loved both resorts, but let’s talk quick service and mug refills!! The Poly (Captain Cook’s) still had the old fountain machines, which were efficient and effective with crowd management. BC market place now has 2 Freestyle machines—which a CM remarked when we picked up our mugs they were fortunate to have...problems were they took forever, Very long lines to get too, adults struggling with the difficult touch screens and kids taking forever to make a choice...needless to say very cumbersome and not at all quick! How are these at other resorts? I get the impression this is the wave of the future—but all of us waiting 10 mins to get a quick service drink at Beach we’re questioning if this is an “enhancement “
 
Assuming you mean "coke" not "come". I like using them in restaurants here but agree that with crowds at Disney they don't seem like a good idea.
 
We just got home from BC and I agree, the Freestyle machines were a nightmare. The dozens of choices are one thing, but the major problem seemed to be the fact that the touch screen didn't seem to respond to any selection unless you pressed it 10 times. It was beyond frustrating. I love those machines and haven't had that issue with them anywhere else. We tried them at French Quarter once and I don't recall having a problem there.
 


I agree, it does take much longer to use the free-style machines. While I enjoy all those selections esp since I’m not a pop drinker, all those flavoured waters are a bonus to me. I think if WDW is putting these in all the resorts they need a bank of them, not just 1 or 2. And install a separate ice machine. If all you want is ice it’s ridiculous to have to wait in a long line.
 
Ha ha, yes I meant Coke—it will let me edit post, but not the title!

You should be able to edit the title unless they've changed some settings on the boards. I remember being able to do so when I wrote TR's awhile back.
 


I agree, it does take much longer to use the free-style machines. While I enjoy all those selections esp since I’m not a pop drinker, all those flavoured waters are a bonus to me. I think if WDW is putting these in all the resorts they need a bank of them, not just 1 or 2. And install a separate ice machine. If all you want is ice it’s ridiculous to have to wait in a long line.
So so agree! I wanted ice for my cold brew and had to wait in that each morning!
 
I do not like the free style machines. We had to use them at US and and there was always a line. I can only think how long a line could be at Disney with them. In addition, I think the coke products takes poorly out of these machines.
 
Maybe part of the problem at the BC is how many machines they have?

At the POFQ we've been to last year, there were a handful of machines and barely any queues.
 
I agree with the freestyle machines’ problems, but I think they’ve been compounded at BC because the touch screen on the right machine in particular didn’t seem to work correctly. We were at BC at the beginning of the month and the touch screen was so frustrating. We then moved to GF and at least there the screens were working properly.

I like all the options, but sometimes it’s too much of a good thing with, as you said, some taking a long time to make a selection or just enjoying the novelty of the machines.

The old style fountains make it possible for more than one person to fill a cup at a time if their selections are different which helps, also.
 
I think the drinks taste different using the Coke Freestyle machines, so I’m not a big fan. We stayed at the YC and did notice a backup at the machines at times. I’ll be honest, my boys like to experiment with all the different flavors and usually do if I’m not there telling them to choose one and hurry up. Even though my boys are big fans, we started refilling our mugs at Hurricane Hannah’s because the old style machines are still there and we can drink Coke with no funky taste.
 
Since the Freestyle machine uses one nozzle for the syrup, there is some cross contamination. I have gotten several cups of ice water over the past 18 months from various fast food places and the water has come out a faint color and tasted like a highly diluted soda flavor. Once I speak up, they generally give me a bottled water and apologize.

For your best results, always choose water first and let it "rinse" off some of the sticky residue by the nozzle. Then fill your cup with your soda.

If you are really brave, wet a wad of paper napkins and clean the nozzle yourself. If they are white napkins, you will be impressed by the colors!!
 
I don't like it either. I don't know why but the Cherry Coke from those freestyle machines never seems to taste right!
I'm glad to see your comment. I don't think I've ever had a Coke or Cherry Coke from a Freestyle machine that tasted right and wondered if I was just imagining things. When it comes to taste, I prefer to use a normal bag-in-box soda dispenser over a Freestyle machine.
 
We have to tell the manager about things like this so the soda machine tech or other trained person can do a possible "reboot" and a target pressure/accuracy calibration on the machine.

I agree with the freestyle machines’ problems, but I think they’ve been compounded at BC because the touch screen on the right machine in particular didn’t seem to work correctly. We were at BC at the beginning of the month and the touch screen was so frustrating. We then moved to GF and at least there the screens were working properly.

.
 
Hey, @Lynne M, there’s a thread on the Restaurant forum that could use your help. ;)

I have to admit that those Freestyle machines blow my mind with all the choices. I’m not great at making decisions under pressure, and a line of people waiting to fill their mugs behind me would make my head explode. :lmao:Good thing I avoid full sugar soda.
 
I hate these machines anywhere. They use them at our movie theaters and they cause horrible lines
 
Yeah, this is one "upgrade" we could live without. I didn't care for the taste of Coke Zero out of the old fountains anyway and I've never had it out of a freestyle machine where it didn't end up tasting really odd. I guess I'll have to stick with bottled Coke and use my refillable mug for hot chocolate (yum!) and coffee.
 

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