Alcohol at Be Our Guest

[Magpie]

The move is a simple comprimise of ethics by the new disney management! They have decided to change a 4 decade policy for a reason. That reason is a simple one ($$$$$$$). The park has survived and thrived for 40 years without alcohol, why change now? I am not gonna buy into the whole theme of the restaurant theory. Quite a few other establishments at the MK are just as well suited to alcohol, liberty tree tavern, diamond horseshoe revue, caseys hotdogs, etc. However for some reason disney did not choose to sell for 40 years at these places. Lets be realistic here, it is simply a money grab and will spread further into the park over the next 5 to 10 years.

Actually, we can't know exactly why the decision was made to offer wine and beer with a fine French meal. However, I believe it probably came down from Imagineering, not the bean counters. Someone involved in the design of this restaurant suggested that French meals are always served with wine (and my daughter can attest to this, having recently been in Paris), so why not - in the interests of authenticity - offer wine and beer with dinner?

At which point a whole bunch of other people said, "My gosh, you're right! That's a great idea!" While yet another group of people said, "Alright, but let's put restrictions on it. A two drink limit, and no carry-out. That will preserve the alcohol-free atmosphere of the Magic Kingdom."

And, then, the decision having been made, the Imagineers set out to discuss with the Chefs which authentically French wines and beers would go best with the menu.

What positive will come out of this? (besides disney making a ton of dough).

That is an ENORMOUS positive. It's what corporations survive on. Any "tons of dough" Disney makes will benefit us all in terms of more development and expansion of the parks.

I don't know about you, but I personally WANT Disney to make money. Lots of money!

Maybe if they make enough, someday they'll build a Canadian Disney World.

Doesn't anyone find it the least bit disheartening that they are gonna peddle alcohol in the new fantasyland? This is a place that is primarily built for kids or am I mistaken in thinking that?

Yes, you are mistaken. Disneyland was originally built for Families, not children. There was a deliberate effort to draw in parents from the very beginning. In the decades that followed, the Disney corporation then expanded their marketing efforts to appeal to Teenagers, Honeymooners, the Elderly, Single Adults, Gay Couples and more.

New Fantasyland hasn't opened fully yet, but it's clear that Disney is trying to appeal to as broad a base as possible. That's why they backed off the whole Princess/Fairy focus they'd originally envisioned and decided to go with the Dwarves Mine Ride instead. People were upset with what they perceived as too narrow a focus on little girls, so Disney changed their plans to accommodate boys as well.

And, by serving a small amount of incredibly expensive wine or beer with dinner in BOG, Disney is continuing the practice of catering to a wide variety of people. The BOG may now become a popular romantic dining destination.

Please don't tell me that no one will drink enough to get intoxicated either,they are selling whole bottles of wine.

There will be a two drink limit. If you buy the whole bottle, then you'll most likely have to collect it at the front of the park as you leave, or have it delivered to your hotel room.

And if someone is determined to get intoxicated at the park, they can stroll over to the Contemporary and do so quite easily there, then return.

How many drunken sots have you spotted stumbling around Animal Kingdom, which actually has a full service bar in the Africa section?

I'm quite sure the monitoring will be lax at best especially during busy times.

I doubt that. Disney's cast members are very professional and well trained. "Lax" is not a word that ever comes to MY mind with regards to Disney dining.

Let's look at the thing for what it is and quit calling it something else. I drink alcohol,however I don't need to drink at the magic kingdom, neither would I drink at a childs birthday party a kindergarten graduation etc. It is a bad example IMO.

Would you crash a child's birthday party as a single adult? No? Would you celebrate your honeymoon at a kindergarten graduation? No? Would you visit Walt Disney World without a young child in tow? Yes?

Then I'm sorry, it's your examples that are bad. There is NO relationship between the Magic Kingdom and a child's birthday party or kindergarten graduation. The Magic Kingdom is for families, singles, couples and everyone else. It is not solely for children.

And besides, no one's suggesting Disney should sell alcohol to children!

 

[DVCPAT]

And you do not see that things changed?

If MK opened in the 70s serving alcohol, do you think it would be the same place today?

 

[declansdad]

If MK opened in the 70s serving alcohol, do you think it would be the same place today?

If you mean would it still be the most popular theme park in the world, yes I do.

 

[JimmyV]

If MK opened in the 70s serving alcohol, do you think it would be the same place today?

I don't see that as the operative question. When the MK opened, there were no TS restaurants anywhere near what CRT has become, or what BoG will be. So it is tough to compare. Had there been a modest sized, white table cloth French restaurant serving $28 entrees (or the 1971 equivalent, factoring in inflation), and that restaurant served alcohol with no take away option, no 20 oz "to go" cups, and a per person limit on consumption, then, yes, I think the MK would be exactly the same place as it is today. I don't know if you visited the MK when it opened, but it (and most of what was then WDW) was a culinary waste land, and there wasn't any place in the MK where serving fine wine made any sense.

Embedded in your question is the notion that the MK would be a very different place if plastic cups of beer flowed freely around the park and people could drink at will. That is not what is going to happen now, so one cannot do a comparison. You seem to ignore, (or refuse to acknowldege) that the wine sales at BoG will be in a very controlled environment, and that the precious little children who will dine there will not witness any social or cultural behavior that they do not already see at the California Grill, or Le Cellier, which people crawl all over themselves to get into. Had I the time or inclination, I would search the posts of all the naysayers here and I'll bet I will find plenty of posts where said posters have recommended Biergarten as having the "best atmosphere" in Epcot, or Le Cellier as being a "must-do". California Grill and Biergarten practically celebrate wine and beer consupmtion respectively. Where is the outrage? Have you taken your children to either the California Grill, Biergarten or Le Cellier? If so, did you ruin them?

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I would guess that they are changing because all the market research they do showed their was a demand for a table service restaurant at MK that served alcohol.

My word we actualy agree on somthing!

I am sure they did their homework in studies and surveys.


I am still very much againist this for all the reasons I have stated before.

This is far from over, as the real test will be in the next week or so, when direct contact from groups, stock holders, of which are many conservative American groups and individuals againist it! Is there enough of this action to stop it.

Remember the last few years how Disney as ancounced something, like hyerion project in DTD or Avator in the AK, and the public reaction beat it back. It could happen here.

The end could come in the form of that 1st or 2nd U tube video on some drunk doing something stupid (ho yes, you dont think it will stay just at BOG do you???) and you know someone will see it and tape it and run to put it online!...that will really put a new look about the MK out to the new families and visitors. Remember this is the MK not HS or AK...this is the rock WDW and Disney in general is built on, this is the MK. It will be like the killing or at least wounding the goose that is laying the golden eggs for Disney........thier Icon is their wholesome image, a nast U TUBE video could tarnish that and then you may see attendance issues.


So all you folks bragging about this is a done deal...........puffed up chests and all, you may want to think about it.



AKK

 

[KellyNY]

If MK opened in the 70s serving alcohol, do you think it would be the same place today?

Epcot opened in 70s.

 

[mdsoccermom]

Epcot opened in 70s.

Epcot opened in 1982.

 

[KellyNY]

My wordwe actualy agre on somthing!

I am sure they did their homework in studies and surveys.


I am still very much againist this for all the reasons I have stated before.

This is fair from over, as the real test will be in the next week or so, when direct contact from groups, stock holder, of which are many conservative American groups and individuals againist it! Is there enough of this action to stop it.

Remeber the last few years how Disney as accounced something, like hyerion project in DTD or Avator in the AK, and the public reaction beat it back. It could happen here.

The end could come in the form of that 1st or 2nd U tube video on some drunk doing something stupid (ho yes, you dont think it will stay just at BOG do you???)...that will really put a new look about the MK out to the new families and visitors. Remember this is the MK not HS or AK...this is the rock WDW and Disney in general is built on, this is the MK. It will be like the killing or at least wounding the goose that is laying the golden eggs for Disney........thier Icon is their wholesome image, a nast U TUBE video could tarnish that and then you may see attendance issues.


So all you folks bragging about this is a done deal...........puffed up chests and all, you may want to think about it.



AKK

We got it, it is MK, so what? Yes it will be sold(most likely) eventually all over the park just like it is sold at other parks, so what? You preaching end of days when it is clearly not a case based on other 3 parks. Maybe this is why they do not see it as a problem, because it is not a problem.

 

[KellyNY]

Epcot opened in 1982.

Yep, I figured I made a mistake after posting that. But I guess it was not a problem since 1982, so what the problem in 2012.

 

[buffettgirl]

My word we actualy agree on somthing!

I am sure they did their homework in studies and surveys.


I am still very much againist this for all the reasons I have stated before.

This is far from over, as the real test will be in the next week or so, when direct contact from groups, stock holders, of which are many conservative American groups and individuals againist it! Is there enough of this action to stop it.

Remember the last few years how Disney as ancounced something, like hyerion project in DTD or Avator in the AK, and the public reaction beat it back. It could happen here.

The end could come in the form of that 1st or 2nd U tube video on some drunk doing something stupid (ho yes, you dont think it will stay just at BOG do you???) and you know someone will see it and tape it and run to put it online!...that will really put a new look about the MK out to the new families and visitors. Remember this is the MK not HS or AK...this is the rock WDW and Disney in general is built on, this is the MK. It will be like the killing or at least wounding the goose that is laying the golden eggs for Disney........thier Icon is their wholesome image, a nast U TUBE video could tarnish that and then you may see attendance issues.


So all you folks bragging about this is a done deal...........puffed up chests and all, you may want to think about it.



AKK

Might I suggest you do a youtube search and see for yourself that such videos already exist, and they haven't kept people away. Nor have all the other videos which exist of drunk people all over other disney parks, not just MK.

 

[Carlyzmom]

I'm OK with it. It will be nice to have a glass of wine with my dinner!

 

[JimmyV]

Maybe this is why they do not see it as a problem, because it is not a problem.

In the end, this is the single most important thing to consider. This was not a decision made in a vacuum. There is a 30 year history at Epcot, a 23 year history at DHS and a 14 year history at AK that the folks in the board room can reflect back on to ascertain what the overall impact is of alcohol sales at its parks. Do you think they did this blindfolded. A lot of people who know a lot more about this than we do concluded that alcohol sales were not negatively impacting the Disney magic at any of these parks. Otherwise, they would have halted sales there, and would not have decided to go in this direction at BoG. You all are seeing a problem. The people who have their very corporate existence riding on the perceived reputation of their brand do not. I choose to follow their lead, not yours.

 

[Tanyabeth8]

Remember all the news stories "Disney characters sue over catching genital crabs after having to share outfits", "family sues after Tigger caught inappropriately fondling mom and daughter", Tigger caught on video punching kid"??? I don't think a little beer and wine are going to taint the "pure" (yes that's sarcasm) name of the Magic Kingdom.

 

[declansdad]

My word we actualy agree on somthing!

I am sure they did their homework in studies and surveys.


I am still very much againist this for all the reasons I have stated before.

This is far from over, as the real test will be in the next week or so, when direct contact from groups, stock holders, of which are many conservative American groups and individuals againist it! Is there enough of this action to stop it.

Remember the last few years how Disney as ancounced something, like hyerion project in DTD or Avator in the AK, and the public reaction beat it back. It could happen here.

The end could come in the form of that 1st or 2nd U tube video on some drunk doing something stupid (ho yes, you dont think it will stay just at BOG do you???) and you know someone will see it and tape it and run to put it online!...that will really put a new look about the MK out to the new families and visitors. Remember this is the MK not HS or AK...this is the rock WDW and Disney in general is built on, this is the MK. It will be like the killing or at least wounding the goose that is laying the golden eggs for Disney........thier Icon is their wholesome image, a nast U TUBE video could tarnish that and then you may see attendance issues.


So all you folks bragging about this is a done deal...........puffed up chests and all, you may want to think about it.



AKK

While we agree on the reason I don't agree with the other things you posted. There is no reason for a stockholder to be against this as it will be seen as somewhat of a revenue generator. Now if it does have a long-term effect stockholders may be upset.

As for conservative groups, aren't they all ready boycotting Disney? What legitimate reason could they have for complaining about one restaurant serving a limited amount of alcohol.

 

[buffettgirl]

While we agree on the reason I don't agree with the other things you posted. There is no reason for a stockholder to be against this as it will be seen as somewhat of a revenue generator. Now if it does have a long-term effect stockholders may be upset.

As for conservative groups, aren't they all ready boycotting Disney? What legitimate reason could they have for complaining about one restaurant serving a limited amount of alcohol.

I'm a stockholder. I'm for it.

(and I have the $1.80 dividend check to prove it....LOL)

 

[Pygoplites]

Thanks to this thread, I've figured out my MNSSHP costume...I'm going as Carrie Nation! (Google it if you're unfamiliar.) I have a feeling the axe won't make it through security, however.

 

[EvilQueenT]

the one constant of disney is that it has always changed. we've been going since oct 1972 and a million things have changed since then. i think people are forgetting that guests often park hop so it isn't like people don't do say go to epcot/dhs/ak and have a few drinks then head over to mk or have lunch/dinner or just a break from the heat at one of the lounges or pool side bars then head back into the mk. i think after all the omg moments have passed people will notice that absolutely nothing has changed in how people act inside the park. as it is now there is really no difference between the 4 parks in how guests act...some are nice...some are rude as heck. i promise we've survived parents not supervising their children, tour groups plowing through the parks, and enforcement of our fast pass times...everyone will survive this change too.

 

[jedijill]

Thanks to this thread, I've figured out my MNSSHP costume...I'm going as Carrie Nation! (Google it if you're unfamiliar.) I have a feeling the axe won't make it through security, however.

That's too funny! One of the first thoughts I had when this controversy erupted was that the "Suffragettes" on Main St could change their cause to Prohibition!

Jill in CO

 

[jekajekalynn]

For some reason, I am REALLY am looking forward to the newest season of Boardwalk Empire now.

 

[gwmort]

That's too funny! One of the first thoughts I had when this controversy erupted was that the "Suffragettes" on Main St could change their cause to Prohibition!

Jill in CO

This is brilliant