If you’re a FuelRod user, you may know the program has gone through a lot of changes.

FuelRods are portable chargers for your electronics. They comes in a little kit with plenty of cables to match most Apple iOS or Android devices. You charge your phone up and when the FuelRod dies, you can swap it out at any FuelRod station. Sounds simple, right?

Well, Disney’s FuelRod program has had its ups and downs. When they first rolled out in the parks, the kits had a one-time purchase fee of $30. Then you had unlimited swaps in the parks (fun fact: there’s also FuelRod stations in airports, malls, and other theme parks).

It was a convenient way to make sure your phone was always charged for those pictures in front of Cinderella Castle.

Have you ever gotten a @FuelRodPower from Disney? pic.twitter.com/8CQg8K4EC1

— AJ Wolfe (@DisneyFoodBlog) January 29, 2021

Then came a dark day. FuelRod implemented a $3 swap fee as of November 1st, 2019. On top of the $30 purchase fee, you now had to pay $3 every time you wanted to swap your FuelRod out for a new one. People got angry. Someone even filed a lawsuit! The Los Angeles law firm claimed it was false advertising for Disney to sell the FuelRods on the premise of free swapping and then charge $3 for each exchange.

Okay, so FuelRod lifted the charge. Swapping was free again! Then, in July 2020, a different solution was implemented. Those who purchased their FuelRods before October 26th, 2019 were granted Founders Status. These customers filled out a questionnaire to verify their status, then entered their email each time they swapped to waive the fee. Anyone who purchased a FuelRod after October 26th, 2019 still had to pay the $3.

Of course, that wasn’t the end. The FuelRod program seems to have changed again. This time it’s good news! Currently, in Disney World, the FuelRod stations are no longer asking for your email in order to swap — which means they’re no longer checking if the user has Founders Status. In other words, swapping is currently free for everyone again! The screen goes directly from the buy or swap option…

…to prompting you to insert your empty FuelRod. No purchase necessary!

For now, after you purchase your FuelRod for $30, you have unlimited free swaps. Perhaps the FuelRod saga has a happy ending, after all. We’ll keep you posted here at DFB with more Disney park news, so stay tuned!

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Have you purchased a FuelRod? Let us know in the comments!

The post FuelRods in Disney World: How It Started and How It’s Going first appeared on the disney food blog.