Alcohol at Be Our Guest

[gwmort]

Just curious what were the top 5 before this one came about?

I'm guessing tipping, pool hopping, and parade etiquette would rank up there.

 

[flicx]

I'm guessing tipping, pool hopping, and parade etiquette would rank up there.

Yes I would say that is a real good group of guesses. Refillable mugs is usally another fun one too!

 

[reiella]

Because he was attempting to create a new kind of park. Not a carnival atmosphere, but somewhere families could bring their children.

His concern was that offering alcohol would bring in single adults whose only desire would be getting drunk. The wrong sort, in other words. And that kind of adult party atmosphere would drive away the families he was trying to appeal to.

He'd identified his market and was trying to make sure that he'd created a park that would attract them, and only them.

Since then, the Disney corporation has broadened their market appeal considerably.

I'd also suppose that since then, other [non-Disney] parks have shown an ability to be family friendly with alcohol being sold. In contrast to the Pirates Worlds of yesteryear.

 

[The Mayor]

Just curious what were the top 5 before this one came about?

In no particular order:

Pool Hopping
Parking at the Contemporary all day while at MK
Using refillable mugs from 2001 in 2012 from a different resort
ADR's not actually being a real "reservation"
All sorts of issues with sharing...fridges...Photopass...etc.

 

[flicx]

In no particular order:

Pool Hopping
Parking at the Contemporary all day while at MK
Using refillable mugs from 2001 in 2012 from a different resort
ADR's not actually being a real "reservation"
All sorts of issues with sharing...fridges...Photopass...etc.

Very interesting, Thanks

 

[Tanyabeth8]

He didnt want DL to have a carnival atomsphere...........he didnt want the drunks around or as just posted riff raft....he wanted a clean family park .........

And being the heavy smoker that Walt was, he'd probably also be outraged by no smoking in resort rooms and designated smoking areas in the parks which would be miserable for us non-smokers.

 

[Magpie]

I'd also suppose that since then, other [non-Disney] parks have shown an ability to be family friendly with alcohol being sold. In contrast to the Pirates Worlds of yesteryear.

Not just non-Disney parks - Disney ones, too. Animal Kingdom and Disney Studios are perfect examples of family friendly parks in which you can purchase alcohol.

Also, every other Disney theme park world-wide.

In no particular order:

Pool Hopping
Parking at the Contemporary all day while at MK
Using refillable mugs from 2001 in 2012 from a different resort
ADR's not actually being a real "reservation"
All sorts of issues with sharing...fridges...Photopass...etc.

And...
Healthy school aged children in strollers
Pulling your child out of school for a Disney trip
Every ill behaved guest is special needs and shouldn't be blamed
Blowing bubbles while waiting in line

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

In no particular order:

Pool Hopping
Parking at the Contemporary all day while at MK
Using refillable mugs from 2001 in 2012 from a different resort
ADR's not actually being a real "reservation"
All sorts of issues with sharing...fridges...Photopass...etc.

Oh, and don't forget those people with "hidden" handicaps running over innocent people with their ECVs, and parents with their SUV sized double-strollers!! And, one of my favorites...instead of a park hopper, can I use two day's of my pass at two different parks on the same day?

 

[ironz]

WTH? Citation,

Because he was attempting to create a new kind of park. Not a carnival atmosphere, but somewhere families could bring their children.

His concern was that offering alcohol would bring in single adults whose only desire would be getting drunk. The wrong sort, in other words. And that kind of adult party atmosphere would drive away the families he was trying to appeal to.

He'd identified his market and was trying to make sure that he'd created a park that would attract them, and only them.

Since then, the Disney corporation has broadened their market appeal considerably.

WTH? Citation, please, on the single adults. Because I suppose married adults who have a drink are ok?

 

[Dalamara]

Aaaaand single adults, like me, are automatically drunks? Lol never had an alcoholic drink in my life, and don't plan to, but I do love going to,Disney!

 

[Rip]

Disneyland opened in 1955, not at the start of "the hippie era".



This is exactly what WD wanted to avoid. The carnival atmosphere. And MK will not be like a carnival no matter if they put in a bar on Main St.

A bar on Main Street would be awesome.

And you'd have to wait in line 2 hours for a drink.

 

[bookgirl2632]

A bar on Main Street would be awesome.

And you'd have to wait in line 2 hours for a drink.

But the queue area would be fantastically themed!

 

[Magpie]

WTH? Citation,

WTH? Citation, please, on the single adults. Because I suppose married adults who have a drink are ok?

Aaaaand single adults, like me, are automatically drunks? Lol never had an alcoholic drink in my life, and don't plan to, but I do love going to,Disney!

Sigh... listen to his quote again. I didn't mean unmarried adults, I meant adults without kids, whose primary goal was getting drunk and having a good time with other adults. Single as in alone and without kids in tow, not families.

I certainly didn't mean to imply that single adults are lushes while married adults aren't.

To quote Walt: "No liquor, no beer, nothing. Because that brings in a rowdy element. That brings people that we don't want."

Disneyland was originally marketed to ONLY the classic nuclear family unit - mom, dad, kids. Not singles. Since its inception, Disney has broadened its marketing to include a much broader segment of society. So now they try to appeal to honeymooners, older people, singles, and even the "rowdy element" (drinking around the world at EPCOT). Personally, I think that's a good thing.

 

[cchron]

The thought of strolling around MK on a hot day with a cold beer in my hand is truly magical

 

[ncc1701]

Why should I complain, I like others like this idea. I will be emailing to say thanks for it though!

As wiill I, also adding I'd like to have a Sam Adams lager with my meal at Columbia Harbor House

 

[Rip]

But the queue area would be fantastically themed!

Very true!

 

[EEs*Mommy]

Ok am I missing something I've never noticed an out of control drunk at wdw. I agree with the statement that Walt would have added it years ago if he were still alive. After all didn't the man drink scotch? And didn't his daughter report him having a few a feeling good the day DL opened? It is really not that serious people.

 

[BGK]

It's hard to say because frankly people drank a LOT more casually in his day, than they do now. And the middle class particularly liked their hard liquor and spirits.

Just take a look at any cookbook published in the 1950's! Some of those "garden party punches" were enough to make you go blind.

As a man of his time, Walt would very likely have had a liquor cabinet in his office. He may have enjoyed a gin and scotch or a martini at lunch. One of his daughters used the word "tipsy" to describe him on the evening of Disneyland's grand opening.

A Shiraz? At the time, most likely not, but if he was still around today, then quite possibly yes. The culture of drinking has shifted considerably, with wine becoming more popular, while scotch has become more of a "niche" taste.

I don't think there's ever been a better time to be a drinker in this country. The selection and availability of stunning wines, craft beers, and small-batch liquors, even in a jerkwater town like mine, is amazing. Yet, never have we drunk less per capita. If you want to read stories of really booze-drenched times, read David McCullough's John Adams biography. Though reserved for his time, the good Mr. Adams drank oceans of hard cider from daybreak onward.

The decent by-the-glass list at Be Our Guest shows, if nothing else, that some thought has gone into the actual cuisine of the restaurant, instead of making it another princess-picture-pushing outlet. Even if I never order that wine, I'll certainly give the place a try now.

 

[ironz]

Sigh... listen to his quote again. I didn't mean unmarried adults, I meant adults without kids, whose primary goal was getting drunk and having a good time with other adults. Single as in alone and without kids in tow, not families.

I certainly didn't mean to imply that single adults are lushes while married adults aren't.

To quote Walt: "No liquor, no beer, nothing. Because that brings in a rowdy element. That brings people that we don't want."

Disneyland was originally marketed to ONLY the classic nuclear family unit - mom, dad, kids. Not singles. Since its inception, Disney has broadened its marketing to include a much broader segment of society. So now they try to appeal to honeymooners, older people, singles, and even the "rowdy element" (drinking around the world at EPCOT). Personally, I think that's a good thing.

Still not seeing where he indicated anything about single people nor adults without children. And I'm sure the Disney company has just 'hated' this single woman's 30+ WDW visits and 5 or so DL visits, though they seem to take my money quite readily. If you want to go down a path of 1950s marketing, of which I am not sure that he ONLY marketed to the nuclear family (again, citation please), then we better check to make sure there was marketing, if any, to people of color --the 50s being what they were.
Which is what makes all these arguments about what Walt would have wanted, before his death, in 2012. NO ONE KNOWS!!!

 

[TeresaWen]

A couple of questions for those of you against this:

1) Since EPCOT is full of falling down drunk people, do you confine your Disney vacation to just the MK so you can avoid this? I believe AK and HS also serve drinks. While I have never seen anyone falling over drunk I am sure there are people walking around under the influence in all three other parks.

2) Since you do not want your children exposed to drinking, do you avoid all establishments that serve alcohol - including Applebees?

3) Those of you who claim to know what Walt wants over 40 years later - are some of you the same folks who slammed me when I used this argument a few months back? I know now how silly it is to claim to know what someone I never met, who has been dead for quite a while, and was a true visionary would want today.

4) Why do some of you feel that having a drink and enjoying your family are mutually exclusive? Do you really feel that wine is anti-family?