8 restaurants in MK Serving Alcohol. Should a kid oriented park have that?

[hopeful4fl]

I drink alcohol and actually enjoy it. That said, people react differently to Alcohol and I dread to think about drunks acting like idiots being exposed to kids at the MK. This is a 180 from what Walt's vision for the park was. Plaza, CP and Horseshoe are the latest.

Am I being too cynical and/or sentimental about this? Profit over principles seems to be the mantra for all corporations now, but man...... I LOVE Disney but a little less with each money grab instance I come across.

When it was just BOG serving alcohol, and it being tough to get into, it would be a rarity for someone to get plastered. Now with alcohol almost everywhere in MK, chances are we will see some untoward instance.

Am I alone in feeling this way or being WAY too pessimistic? Just looking for opinions and thoughts.

 

[FCDub]

No problem in my eyes.

 

[maxiesmom]

Alcohol is still not going to be "almost everywhere" at the Magic Kingdom. So yes, you are way to pessimistic. A few table service restaurants serving alcohol will not make for a bunch of drunks running amok.

 

[sbd78]

Since they're only offering it at restaurants that require reservations, I don't think it will cause too many drunken issues. I would imagine it will mostly be people ordering an alcoholic beverage with their dinner. Most people don't stay at TS restaurants long enough to get plastered. Plus, all the other parks serve alcohol everywhere and I've never witnessed a problem.

 

[MickeyPretzels]

Not an issue.

HS and AK sell liquor from kiosks. No problem.

It wasn't just BOG but also Skipper Canteen. They've been selling it for years. No problem.

MK isn't kid-oriented, it's for everyone. "Walt's vision" was for a different time and a different set of problems, and nobody knows what he would say now because he has been dead for 50 years.

 

[ShadeDK]

As you probably already know, your question is going to generate a lot of strong opinions on both sides. You’re not alone, but plenty of people disagree with you as well. I side with overly pessimistic, but you’ll get the whole spectrum here. I’ll throw out a few thoughts:

1) Alcohol was already “in” the parks - whether people going to one of the many bars or lounges or restaurants around MK and then going into the park, OR bringing it into the park themselves (covertly but happens more than you might think).

2) Anyone who wants to get plastered in the parks for the prices they charge for alcohol has already shown incredibly poor judgment.

3) If someone does want to have a few, there are many better places than MK to go to do that at the resorts and other parks. MK remains the least friendly to that sort of thing.

4) Disney itself has contributed to the problem by adding alcohol to the dining plan - which necessitates options that MK has lacked up to now.

5) There are a few who will disagree that MK is a “kids park” - rather it’s a park for everyone. Plenty of adults, solos, childless couples, etc that enjoy MK. Given shifting demographics, Disney could do worse than paying attention to its guests’ preferences.

6) There is behavior and conduct in the park no child should see - and a lot of it has nothing to do with alcohol. That’s not an excuse to get sloppy drunk, but it’s also arbitrary to ban alcohol on that basis.

Just my $0.02.

 

[Hopefully]

OP. I totally disagree with you. “Walt’s Vision”was more than a decade ago. MK is NOT a “kid oriented park”. It is for everyone. Alcohol is only served at sit down TS Restaurants. You are exaggerating the impact. I think you are being too pessimistic, cynical and sentimental

 

[Jadyreen1282]

It's not "a kid oriented park". It's an all inclusive park for young and old alike. Which is why Solo's go and older couples go and, well some kids go...I think.

 

[a1tinkfans]

To each his/her own. We would have liked a cocktail at our meal at MK, but it was not served.
We made up for it on our monorail crawl n shopping spree ..
It’s all good to me.

 

[hereforthechurros]

It would be quite the waste of money to spend your time getting drunk at MK.

I have no worries about this. As an adult it’s a wonderful treat to have a cold beer with lunch or wine with dinner after dealing with heat and crowds all day.

 

[sbd78]

2) Anyone who wants to get plastered in the parks for the prices they charge for alcohol has already shown incredibly poor judgment.

This is very true.

 

[hopeful4fl]

Thanks for everyone's feedback. Valid viewpoints from most.
I think some may have mis-interpreted the kids oriented sentence with "kids only". Of all the parks, the one that has a definite inclination towards attractions for kids is MK. That is the go to park for families with kids. I have gone there with kids, just adults and solo.
Am I being pessimistic and cynical? I guess I am. However, it is based on a pattern (at least for I) of a downtrend. I love Disney for what the vision was and not necessarily for where management is taking it. I may be in the minority here, but that is fine.
Loved (and 100%) agree with the comment on people acting cray without alcohol too.

 

[Antaniasmom]

I understand the kid thing...I do not drink more than 2 drinks a year now but did my fair share of drinking in my 20s. That being said, if I had gone to Disney then and there was alcohol, I would not have been getting wasted there, that's for sure.

I don't worry much about it when we're there because Disney security is the best if something should happen (seen stories on internet about Disney jail). I have yet out of 3 trips last 3 years to see someone sloppy drunk and we are in parks from 830 am to 12am.

 

[ellbell]

I have been to magic kingdom 4 times, not once has been with a child. I love a drink with dinner. I'm bringing my 7 year old I February and he doesn't care if we go to MK and feels AK is the park for him, because of his personality I tend to agree. I think the option of having alcohol with a meal is a great addition. Since it is only served at table service restaurants at MK I would think that the servers would notice if people are drinking an excessive amount since they bring it to the table. Personally I think if someone is going to go and drink that much they would choose someplace cheaper or sneak their own into the park.

 

[DWillowBay]

Alcohol is not a problem. An adult who is unable or unwilling to drink responsibly is a problem. I am SURE that Disney has a plan for those who are unable or unwilling to manage themselves. I am not worried.

 

[bumbershoot]

MK isn't kid-oriented, it's for everyone. "Walt's vision" was for a different time and a different set of problems, and nobody knows what he would say now because he has been dead for 50 years.

Agreed.

That is the go to park for families with kids.

Well that’s their own mistake lol.

I’ve always felt AK was more fun for kids.

 

[Moliphino]

1) Alcohol was already “in” the parks - whether people going to one of the many bars or lounges or restaurants around MK and then going into the park, OR bringing it into the park themselves (covertly but happens more than you might think).

Yup. I've been to MK after spending a few hours at Trader Sam's. It'd be pretty hard to come close to that with just beer/wine at a meal.

 

[Tattylou]

I enjoy a drink or 2 with dinner on vacation. I think it is fine.

 

[Pumbaa_]

As this is a policy discussion not a restaurant discussion this post is close