Remember When The World Was Going To End...

[JimmyV]

because alcohol was going to be served in the Magic Kingdom? (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2992185&highlight=beer+wine+magic+kingdom)

Walt was going to spin in his grave. Guests would be hurling in the bushes. Drunken behavior was going to be evident throughout the park and the MK would become "just like Epcot". Well, Be Our Guest has been open for three months now, and alcohol has been served there since opening day. Is the Apocalypse truly upon us? Did the world spin off its access? Has anyone witnessed a material change in demeanor or decorum at the MK? For those of you who have been since November, would you say that the folks who predicted doom overreacted? Or did the folks in favor of the change underappreciate the difference that this would make?

 

[LSUfan4444]

 

[WDSearcher]

Overreaction.

Not only are the drunken masses not stumbling out of BOG on a nightly basis (or ... really ... at all), apparently wine and beer sales haven't even come close to meeting the the predictions that had been made by the F&B folks.

 

[Sandy Fisher]

Truly never worried that horrible things would happen. However, I've been at World Showcase during Food & Wine when lots of 20-somethings are drinking their way around the world and it's not exactly pretty !!

 

[Dano1182]

WHere is Alcohol served in Magic Kingdom?
What is available?

 

[LSUfan4444]

WHere is Alcohol served in Magic Kingdom?
What is available?

beer and wine is served with dinner at Be Our Guest and cannot be taken (legally) out of the restaurant.

 

[doggydoc]

Truly never worried that horrible things would happen. However, I've been at World Showcase during Food & Wine when lots of 20-somethings are drinking their way around the world and it's not exactly pretty !!

As long as they keep things limited the way they do now I don't see a problem developing. I would hate to see things degenerate to World Showcase levels though. It's not just F & W. DD12 and I were there in early Sept. last year and the drunken crowds made her so nervous we had to leave.

 

[JimmyV]

apparently wine and beer sales haven't even come close to meeting the the predictions that had been made by the F&B folks.

Interesting. I wonder if diners just don't feel "right" ordering beer and wine there. With so many higher end restaurants on property that serve beer and wine at dinner, you would think that Disney would have had a fairly easy way of accurately predicting sales.

 

[grimley1968]

As long as they keep things limited the way they do now I don't see a problem developing. I would hate to see things degenerate to World Showcase levels though. It's not just F & W. DD12 and I were there in early Sept. last year and the drunken crowds made her so nervous we had to leave.

As long as it's only beer and wine, and as long as guests are not allowed to carry their drinks outside BoG, it should be fine.

My family (with me, DW, and 13 & 9 YO DD's) get a little uncomfortable at times during the F&W Festival at EPCOT (our fall break is during this period). This past October we all had to get out of the way of a guy who had a lit cigar in one hand and a drink in the other. He was so drunk he could barely walk straight and his companions weren't much better off. He almost walked into DD9 with his cigar hand. I stepped between them to prevent any collisions. But the drunk guy walked on, oblivious. It's too crowded for CMs to effectively monitor the situation. Unfortunately, the WS has become an area that is not as family-friendly as it used to be, due in most part to F&W Festival, IMO. If drinks could only be consumed inside EPCOT restaurants and not sold in those booths in the middle of the walkways for people to carry around their drinks, things would be much better. As it is, I've become a non-fan of F&W. At least BoG plays by that last rule (beverages have to be consumed with the meal in the restaurant), and that should limit out of control drinking.

 

[ThreeBeans]

I'd never noticed particular problems with drunken debauchery at EPCOT, either. Maybe I wasn't looking hard enough?

 

[dalayney]

I'd never noticed particular problems with drunken debauchery at EPCOT, either. Maybe I wasn't looking hard enough?

You know, I live in wisconsin for cryin' out loud. I was going on vacation, trying to get away from all the drunken debauchery.


(although, 10 days at disney, no driving, being on vacation and all? I just might have myself a lil drinky drinky.... )

 

[MichiganDVC]

No, F&W does not have to limit alcohol consumption to inside restaurants. The whole point is the kiosks!
And frankly, if drunken gentlemen are your biggest concern, don't take your pre-teens to Epcot WS at night. F&W is mainly for adults and I think it's ok that there are some places, some times, in WDW where the focus is less 8-years old and more 28 years old.

 

[fbb]

I haven't been yet.

BoG's day of reckoning is coming.

 

[disnut8]

I'd never noticed particular problems with drunken debauchery at EPCOT, either. Maybe I wasn't looking hard enough?

I haven't noticed either and when we are at Disney World, we are at World Showcase every single night. I think the term "debauchery" is relative. To some, one drink means that person is "drunk". One loud laugh from a person with a wine glass in hand means that person is "drunk". And I really hate to tell people this but *gasp* Disney World serves beer and wine all over the Studios (there's even a *ohmygosh* full service bar there) and Animal Kingdom (*faints*, there's ALSO a full service bar there too!).

 

[Missyrose]

As long as they keep things limited the way they do now I don't see a problem developing. I would hate to see things degenerate to World Showcase levels though. It's not just F & W. DD12 and I were there in early Sept. last year and the drunken crowds made her so nervous we had to leave.

I'm genuinely curious, what were the "drunken crowds" doing that made your daughter nervous enough that you had to leave Epcot?

 

[princessallegra]

I'm genuinely curious, what were the "drunken crowds" doing that made your daughter nervous enough that you had to leave Epcot?

It can get very rowdy. We witnessed a LOT of drink spilling, loud groups of 10-15 people in matching drinking shirts with trays of drinks each. We didn't see anyone get sick but it was very boozey and I can see people not wanting to be around tons of loud unruly drunks spilling drinks. We are not prudes by any means but it's no fun to be around that, for us.

Eta: This is mainly nights I speak of, with weekends being worse. The Sunday we were there during the day it was really bad though. Lots of people drunk by noon.

 

[Lorilais_mommie]

I think it has to do with the feeling you get with enter MK..

I feel like a kid again and want to see my kids enjoying being kids..

At Epcot.. It's a different feeling... It's more about the experience..
Being in each part of the park. And each country..

Also I think lots of people view MK as a "kids" park
And Epcot as more of an adult park

 

[SiAmCrAzY]

Unfortunately, the WS has become an area that is not as family-friendly as it used to be, due in most part to F&W Festival, IMO. If drinks could only be consumed inside EPCOT restaurants and not sold in those booths in the middle of the walkways for people to carry around their drinks, things would be much better.

This is the scariest suggestion I have ever read on the DIS.

Taking the free range Wine out of F&W in hopes that you will never again encounter a rude drunk person, is like removing all of the sugar from the Magic Kingdom in hopes that we will never again see another kid hurl.
It simply will not work.
The location of the consumption is irrelevant. People who are rude & drunk in public will be that way regardless of whether they tank up inside La Cava or out. Lucky for us, that most of the people who frequent F&W are food and wine enthusiasts, not raging alcoholics. I am sorry you ran into a moron, but lets not hastily suggest punishments for the majority, based on actions of the minority.

Even though I read many articles and arguments about the BOG alcoholgate before I went. When I finally got there, I honestly forgot that they even served alcohol lol I was there to try the food. Based on sales, maybe I am not the only one.

 

[Fire14]

I know alcohol is served in all parks. But I never seem to notice the drunkeness I see in Epcot WS anyplace else. I think there is just something about "drinking around the World" and the adult feeling that part of park seems to bring out.

 

[WDSearcher]

Interesting. I wonder if diners just don't feel "right" ordering beer and wine there. With so many higher end restaurants on property that serve beer and wine at dinner, you would think that Disney would have had a fairly easy way of accurately predicting sales.

I think that might have something to do with it. And the fact that it's in a "fairy tale" setting. All the other restaurants that serve alcohol at WDW are "real world" in comparison. Having all the trappings of a fairy tale castle may make people feel as though it's more "kid-friendly" than other places, and so having that extra drink doesn't feel appropriate. Kind of like the difference between having a beer with the family at Chili's vs. having drinks when the family is at CiCis. (Do they serve beer at CiCis?)