From time to time, this blog changes its perspective on things at Walt Disney World. We’ve warmed to certain attractions and experiences over time, while souring on others after the honeymoon phase wore off.
In other cases, Disney has made changes that have materially altered the equation. They’ve responded to guest feedback and strengthened an offering or, on other occasions, made cutbacks that weakened it. Unpopular things have gotten better, whereas popular ones have gotten worse. Jollywood Nights comes to mind as an easy example of the former, with Be Our Guest illustrative of the latter.
One such change occurred last year and was made not directly by Walt Disney World or Disneyland, but by a third party that works with the parks. One year ago to the week, we shared that We’re Finally Endorsing Something That We Used to Hate: FuelRods. Fast-forward another year, and that product has evolved even further.
For those who are unfamiliar with FuelRods, they are portable chargers that can be purchased at kiosks throughout Walt Disney World or Disneyland (along with airports, convention centers, etc.) parks and used to recharge your iPhone or other device on the go.
The ‘twist’ with FuelRods is that when you’re done using them, you can trade out your depleted FuelRod for a fully-charged one at the many kiosks throughout Walt Disney World and Disneyland. The appeal is thus the ‘unlimited’ charge the FuelRods offer by virtue of swapping them out. When put that way, it’s easy to see the appeal of FuelRods.
The latest development is that FuelRod has installed its new Generation 2 kiosks at Walt Disney World. As the first of its kind, this Gen. 2 kiosk is part of a beta test program designed to enhance user experience, expand charging capabilities, and improve field reliability.
The Generation 2 kiosk has been engineered from the ground up to deliver a more efficient and versatile experience. This new model offers additional charging options beyond the regular FuelRod. With faster transaction processing, enhanced usability, and improved reliability, the Gen. 2 kiosk aims to minimize service interruptions and provide seamless support in high-traffic locations.
Alongside the Gen. 2 kiosk launch, FuelRod has introduced an exciting new product: FuelRod MAX10 wireless power bank. With MagSafe compatibility, wireless charging capabilities, and a high-capacity 10,000 mAh battery, the FuelRod MAX10 provides even more flexibility and power on the go. This powerful addition is perfect for travelers, busy families, and anyone looking to keep their devices charged while navigating a bustling theme park.
The FuelRod MAX10 is the bigger and maybe better version of the tried and true swappable stick.
Note that although the Gen. 2 kiosk beta test rolled out at Walt Disney World, the same has not yet happened (at least last I checked about a week ago) at Disneyland. FuelRod had previously indicated that they’d be rolling out Gen. 2 kiosks and the FuelRod MAX10 device across the country in 2025. With only one month left in the year, the upgrade will either happen very soon at Disneyland, or be delayed.
Here are the highlights of the FuelRod MAX10:
- READY TO USE: The FuelRod MAX10 comes fully charged, complete with adapters and cables for most smart devices. Easily swap for a fresh, fully charged unit at any FuelRod Kiosk nationwide. Rechargeable via USB-C, it fits comfortably in your pocket, making it an ideal companion for any trip or staying charged on the go!
- WIRELESS CHARGING: Enjoy the freedom of wireless charging with the MAX10. No cables, no mess—just effortless charging for your devices. (Magsafe compatible)
- HIGH CAPACITY: With a 10,000mAh capacity, the MAX10 provides extended power, perfect for charging phones, tablets, and other devices on the go. Plus, charge two devices at once for ultimate convenience on the go.
- SWAPPABLE NATIONWIDE: Running low on power? SWAP your depleted FuelRod MAX10 for a fully charged one at any Gen. 2 FuelRod Kiosk nationwide* —over and over again! Find kiosks at airports, theme parks, and more. Download our app to easily locate the nearest kiosk!
- MULTI-DEVICE & PASS-THROUGH CHARGING: Power up two devices at once with dual USB-C ports, while still recharging the MAX10 itself. Keep your phone, tablet, or earbuds charging—all without waiting for one to finish first.
The asterisk on nationwide is because, as best we can tell, FuelRod is still in the process of rolling out the new kiosks. Based on what they’ve shared online, these have rolled out at Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World, and a couple of major hub airports.
It’s possible that they’ve been deployed beyond those locations, I don’t purport to be a FuelRod expert, nor do I pay attention all that closely. Honestly, I’m not even sure how long the Gen. 2 kiosks had been out at Walt Disney World before I realized something was different. I’m mindlessly going through the motions when making swaps.
The new FuelRod MAX10 is the more interesting change here than the Gen. 2 kiosk, at least from my perspective.
In the interest of full disclosure, we have not upgraded to the FuelRod MAX10. In fact, after briefly checking out a friend’s power bank, we opted against buying the FuelRod MAX10. Part of this was the cost–it’s currently $80 plus tax at Walt Disney World. Another part is that it’s not yet supported at Disneyland, our home park.
Size is the main sticking point for us, though. We just bought the Anker Zolo Power Bank 20,000mAh 45W Battery Pack with Dual Built-in USB-C Cables for our non-Disney travels when that went on sale for its lowest price ever. It’s very similar in size to the FuelRod MAX10 and, honestly, it’s a bit bulkier and heavier than expected. We opted against taking it on a recent trip because of that, and are still debating whether to return it.
Speaking of deals, all FuelRod products are on sale on Amazon for Black Friday. This now includes the FuelRod MAX10, which just debuted on Amazon and has a clippable coupon for $15 off! (Or $20 less than the cost at Walt Disney World.)
It’s a similar story with the FuelRod 2-Pack, which is $44.99 as a part of a Prime-exclusive promo (if you’re seeing $59.99, check the “other sellers on Amazon” and select Amazon as the seller–I’m not sure why it’s defaulting to a more expensive third party). That makes is $5 more than 1 FuelRod at WDW.
Then there’s the FuelRod 3-Pack on sale for 25% off that’s an even better deal on a per unit basis–it just comes down to whether you need three of them. I’d say that’s the smart move for families, but solo travelers or couples should be fine with two.
We are pretty happy with 2 sticks as opposed to 3, but honestly, if I were buying today and could get the “bonus” FuelRod for only ~$10 more, I absolutely would.
There have been times we’ve traveled with friends or family and having 3 FuelRods would’ve been nice. Overkill most of the time, but useful enough on occasion that I would’ve bought it.
Whatever you do end up buying (if anything), do it from Amazon. FuelRods are more expensive at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and the airports that I’ve checked. (Weirdly, I’ve never looked at the prices at Universal…but I assume it’s likewise more expensive. It’d be weird if that were the one place that didn’t have a ‘convenience tax’ for some reason.)
As noted above, we currently have two traditional FuelRods (from last year’s product update), and these suit us really well for the parks. There are times when we split up to do different things, and having two of the chargers allows us to each have one. It also means that we pretty much always have one that’s charging or in-use and another that’s spent or close to it.
At this point, there’s sufficient FuelRod kiosk coverage in the parks that we don’t feel the need to have a higher capacity power bank. There is almost always an opportunity to swap out devices when we need, and without really going out of our way.
Since FuelRods exist as both devices and services, you really need to determine how to view the product itself and the unlimited swaps feature. Think of it kind of like a buffet–do you load up your plate with everything at once or go up repeatedly and graze the ‘freshest’ items.
Personally, I’m doing the latter. No point in getting a bunch of things all at once and letting them get cold when I could just as easily keep going up for more. It’s a similar story with FuelRods. I’m paying for the luxury of unlimited charges–to avoid carrying my better but heavier brick.
Obviously, there’s a balance to this. That’s precisely why we didn’t like FuelRods initially. Because the device was too low capacity, swapping was necessary too regularly, and charging was slow. But last year’s upgrade solved–or at least sufficiently mitigated–all of those issues.
Honestly, the FuelRod MAX10 would be a much more compelling product in a world where those upgrades weren’t made. If the legacy stick was still slow and low capacity–and kiosks weren’t as abundant, and swaps weren’t as easy–I’d actually be more inclined to give the FuelRod MAX10 a try.
But to the immense credit of the FuelRod team, they’ve improved their core product and service so much that I’m left wondering “what’s the point?” when it comes to the FuelRod MAX10. There’s undoubtedly a use case for this, but it just isn’t us. At least, not right now. For us, the latest generation FuelRod sticks are perfect.
Ultimately, the second generation of FuelRods have exceeded my expectations and are now our go-to batteries for Walt Disney World and Disneyland. The capacity is sufficient, swapping is simple, and it’s more convenient for us than using traditional chargers as we have been for years. Especially now that we have a baby and are often “distracted” when getting back to our hotel for the night–sometimes plugging in everything slips through the cracks.
Given the strong performance of the second generation stick, the FuelRod MAX10 brick strikes me as overkill for us right now. I’m open to changing my mind in the future if: 1) a truly scorching hot deal that’s too good to pass up comes along, or; 2) our circumstances change and we feel the bigger battery is better for us. Already, we have ‘mixed use’ Disney and non-Disney trips, and the traditional FuelRods barely cut it for the non-Disney portions.
Beyond our personal circumstances, I’m also just happy to see the FuelRod team continue to iterate on its products and services, making the user experience better and more reliable, while offering a wider range of devices. I’m really glad that I’ve come around to Team FuelRod, but it’s not as if my perspective evolved–the product did.
If you’re a Walt Disney World or Disneyland first-timer or infrequent visitor, the calculus is different for you. If you’re judging the device itself, FuelRods are still not an objectively good product. These chargers are still well behind the competition and I’d never recommend them for daily at-home use or for non-Disney travel.
Where FuelRods excel is as a service. The standard sticks are a serviceable product, while the service is spectacular–especially considering that it’s an unlimited buffet that you’re paying for once, up front, and get to enjoy forever. It’s the free unlimited swapping that holds almost all of the appeal, so if you can take advantage of that somewhat regularly, we highly recommend FuelRods. But this superlative service is also why the FuelRod MAX10 is a tougher sell for us–even at the Black Friday sale price.
If it doesn’t seem like the FuelRod service is right for you, we’d instead recommend purchasing one of the Anker devices on our list of the Best Backup Batteries for Disney. There’s a wide range of quick and high-capacity portable chargers on that list, most of which are faster and cheaper than FuelRods. For what it’s worth, you probably will need a portable charger in the parks. Everything from Mobile Order to checking wait times to finding showtimes to Lightning Lane Multi-Pass at Walt Disney World and Disneyland are serious battery drains.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
What do you think of FuelRods? Excited about the Gen. 2 kiosk upgrade or the new FuelRod MAX10 device that offers higher capacity and wireless charging? Think the device/service is a no-brainer given the current Black Friday sale? Will you give FuelRods a chance at Walt Disney World or Disneyland? Or have you already been using them for years?! Do you agree or disagree with our take? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!