When FuelRods made their way into Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts it almost seemed like a deal that was too good to be true. For $30, guests could purchase a fuel rod and then get unlimited swaps from those kiosks when a FuelRod died. In an era with an increasing need for cell phone usage for FastPasses, mobile ordering, and virtual queues, these soon became fairly popular in Disney Parks. Then in November 2019, it was announced that there would be a $3 charge per swap. As the news spread, users of FuelRods were outraged as the unlimited swaps were no longer unlimited. A lawsuit was filed based on misleading marketing and a breach of contract. Within days, there was an about-face and Disney released a statement saying that guests would be able to “continue to swap their FuelRod portable chargers using FuelRod’s owned and operated kiosks at Walt Disney World and Disneyland for no additional cost.”
While the FuelRods continued to be offered at the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts and the problem was solved in the short run, the lawsuit continued to move forward. Now, it has been resolved and the resolution has led to the creation of a “Founders status”. This status is eligible for anyone who has purchased a FuelRod before October 26, 2019. These users can verify their purchase and then be able to continue to swap out their FuelRod for free. However, they won’t just be swapping out their FuelRod moving forward. They will be given a QR code upon verification that will need to be scanned when FuelRods are swapped. If FuelRod decides to charge for swaps, this will allow Founders status members to continue to swap their FuelRods for free.
To get Founders status verified, FuelRod customers should do the following:
- Fill out the Founders Questionnaire on the FuelRod website.
- Download the FuelRod App on iOS or Android.
- Set up an account using the same address as used on the Questionnaire.
It should be noted that you will need the following for the questionnaire:
- Name
- Email (gives you several chances to get this right)
- Last four digits of the credit card used for FuelRod purchase (also get multiple options here)
- Month and year of FuelRod purchase
- General location of FuelRod purchase
- Photograph of FuelRod confirming ownership
If you already are a user of the FuelRod app, you should be receiving an email that will help you verify your Founders status. If you have any questions regarding the process or need assistance, call (844) 383-5763, or email support@fuel-rod.com. If you have questions about litigation, reach out to James Rosemergy (jrosemergy@careydanis.com), who represented the plaintiff in this lawsuit.
For those who did pay for a swap, the charges will be automatically refunded. This agreement applies to the current generation of FuelRod only. At this time, FuelRod has not made any announcements regarding future generations of FuelRods. In fact, the company has agreed to not introduce a new version of FuelRod for at least two years.
What do you think about this new Founders status for FuelRod owners? Are you going to be a part of this? Do you think this is a fair resolution? Share your thoughts in the comments below or with DAPS MAGIC on Facebook or Twitter!
