Another money grab...

[gharter]

The few times I've walked into that restaurant, I've never seen it close to full (maybe it is at other times). I think its reasonable to use part of the area as a lounge and see if you can move more traffic through.
I think Disney is well past the debate of alcohol at the parks, and rehashing that decision here doesn't benefit anyone.
Those who are for it , will be, those against, are not going to change and those who don't care, aren't going to care.
Like many things in like, if I don't like something, I can avoid it or ignore it or live with it. I'm not in a position to change it. All I can control is my response to it.

 

[dachsie]

Ok...well from my original post I have not been condescending, as has been suggested . I have never said that alcohol doesn't belong in the parks . Never meant to pass any judgements on those who responsibly drink at WDW. What I have said , and it is just my opinion , never meant to be presented as fact , is that the continued trend of Disney making more places to buy alcohol has the very real potential to create problems that they don't want . That no one wants . This was not meant to offend anyone or to tell or suggest how anyone spend their money and time on their vacation . I respect all of your opinions even if we disagree on some of them . Some people have totally and completely misunderstood my intentions and tone for some reason and for that I apologize for not making my opinion clearer .

Bottom line is, until something happens, Disney will probably continue down this path. If something happens and they are liable, things will change. Not much you can do about it until then. I don't mind alcohol in the parks. I plan to try a few places in my upcoming trip. My choice this time. In previous trips I have not purchased any. Again, my choice. But I am also the type who will not over imbibe to the point I don't know what's going on around me. Enjoy your trip and don't worry about what anyone else it doing as long as they don't interfere with you. That's the best thing you can do.

 

[Cramden]

I don't mind alcohol in the parks. I plan to try a few places in my upcoming trip. My choice this time. In previous trips I have not purchased any. Again, my choice. But I am also the type who will not over imbibe to the point I don't know what's going on around me. Enjoy your trip and don't worry about what anyone else it doing as long as they don't interfere with you. That's the best thing you can do.

Agree 100%. I'm solo this trip and plan to partake in some adult beverages at 3 of the 4 parks. I work my a$$ off when not on vacation so when I'm away I like to let a bit loose. I'm not loud or obnoxious but I do like to have fun and plan to do so on this trip. I'm thankful there are some quality options to enjoy in the Parks Like Nomad, Baseline Taphouse and Tutto Italia and welcome them adding more.

If anyone see's me in September say Hi and I'll buy you a drink.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

My life got infinitely happier when I stopped caring about what other people were doing all the time. Maybe it’s a lesson you should learn as well.

And yet, here you are.

Why?

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Or, if you feel that strongly about it, no longer frequent the parks. Disney is a business. If the addition of this bar actually hurts their profit margin, they'll change their stance. Just a thought. No more important than yours.

This kind of goes both ways though, doesn't it?

If folks want to drink MORE than what is offered at WDW, they ALSO have plenty of other places they can go to drink, no?

But agree with the rest of your post. If this helps WDW, they will keep it. If folks don't spend money there, they will likely close it, as they closed Pleasure Island.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

You can’t tip toe around life just because a select few can’t control themselves. Maybe we should remove all food with any sugar or fat content from the parks because the obesity rates in America are horrific.

See, I actually WOULD like to see WDW offer more healthy food items. When they changed how they marketed Mickey (and other character) foods to kids, (towards healthier options) I thought that was a step in a positive direction.

I was sad when I didn't see Mickey Milk one trip.

For the life of me, I can't understand why anyone would want to eat certain foods, like the craze of frying candy bars. To me, that just sounds nasty. One WDW restaurant used to offer a fried- Danish-style pastry- to kids.

And I'm happy they no longer offer it. Why not serve Mickey-shaped cut watermelon instead?

I'm also happy that a great many healthy quick serve places have opened up in my area recently. Food CAN taste good AND be reasonably healthy. I think WDW could stand to catch up.

As a hypothetical- supposing it was legal- would WDW cross a line if they marketed alcohol to appeal to kids? Beer in a Mickey cup? Elsa's Frozen drinks? Darth Vader's vodka?

Would that cross a line?

 

[mickeyluv'r]

It really seems like you had a bad experience with a drunk friend or relative and now you're taking it out on an entire message board of people being pretty darn rational.

I'm sorry your experience has affected you to a point where you start projecting onto strangers on the internet.

Ouch.

There's a very large group of folks who have had bad experiences where alcohol is concerned.
Have you ever heard of M.A.D.D.?

I'm actually not against WDW having some alcohol, but c'mon, are you really saying M.A.D.D. hasn't helped to save lives by reforming drunk driving laws?

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Funny, I don't see anyone posting about rampant obesity every time Disney offers some new and gargantuan dessert that clearly has multiple days worth of sugar in a partial serving.

Actually, I do. (Well at least the asking for more healthy choices part.)

I'm happy when I see healthy choices offered.

Maybe two yeas back, I was eager to see the Frozen-character desserts offered at HS. But when we saw them, we were so very let down. They all had like an inch of frosting on top that was super-full of food coloring. ICK! It was such a missed opportunity, IMO.

For years, my favorite dessert in the Norway bakery was a dark chocolate cup full of fresh mixed berries. Oh my gosh, it was delicious! And reasonably healthy.

I'm also excited to see the new Aventura food court at Universal, as an example. (Also the Hyppo fruit bars in St Augustine. They are AMAZINGLY delicious!)

 

[Cramden]

Actually, I do. (Well at least the asking for more healthy choices part.)

I'm happy when I see healthy choices offered.

Maybe two yeas back, I was eager to see the Frozen-character desserts offered at HS. But when we saw them, we were so very let down. They all had like an inch of frosting on top that was super-full of food coloring. ICK! It was such a missed opportunity, IMO.

For years, my favorite dessert in the Norway bakery was a dark chocolate cup full of fresh mixed berries. Oh my gosh, it was delicious! And reasonably healthy.

I'm also excited to see the new Aventura food court at Universal, as an example. (Also the Hyppo fruit bars in St Augustine. They are AMAZINGLY delicious!)

Fresh fruit and chocolate? Sign me up! That said I try to be pretty disciplined most of the time so when on vacation I can enjoy what I want guilt free. I'll still search out something moderately healthy but will not stress about it if I decide to grab an order of Poutine. Plus I'm walking an an average of 10 miles a day to help burn those extra calories.

Back to the original topic most all successful businesses try to grab our money. If not they won't be in business very long.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

it isn't Disney's responsibility that someone may have boorish relatives. or that some people don't have self-control.

Actually, it is.

Er, that's why they have security.

I don't want to be assaulted at WDW.

I seriously don't think it would be good publicity of WDW had a riot.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Fresh fruit and chocolate? Sign me up! That said I try to be pretty disciplined most of the time so when on vacation I can enjoy what I want guilt free. I'll still search out something moderately healthy but will not stress about it if I decide to grab an order of Poutine. Plus I'm walking an an average of 10 miles a day to help burn those extra calories.

Back to the original topic most all successful businesses try to grab our money. If not they won't be in business very long.

True, but there are boundaries to acceptable business practices.

Bernie Madoff's style of doing business, for example, crossed a line. Then there was that whole business with shady loans a few years back.

As I recall, people were harmed by those businesses. Luckily, businesses generally have to follow certain laws.

We, as citizens, have some responsibility to decide where we think those lines should be drawn when it comes to grabbing our money. Disney does have to secure our safety in the parks, for example.

 

[Farro]

Ouch.

There's a very large group of folks who have had bad experiences where alcohol is concerned.
Have you ever heard of M.A.D.D.?

I'm actually not against WDW having some alcohol, but c'mon, are you really saying M.A.D.D. hasn't helped to save lives by reforming drunk driving laws?

 

[TeresaWen]

Ouch.

There's a very large group of folks who have had bad experiences where alcohol is concerned.
Have you ever heard of M.A.D.D.?

I'm actually not against WDW having some alcohol, but c'mon, are you really saying M.A.D.D. hasn't helped to save lives by reforming drunk driving laws?

Which is why having a drink on vacation is so wonderful. No driving! It is great to enjoy a beer with dinner, enjoy a margarita while strolling around, or relaxing over a glass of wine at a café table. Then let Disney or Uber get us back. What better lesson for children for those so very worried about how badly they will be impacted by the site of an adult having a drink.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

As a hypothetical- supposing it was legal- would WDW cross a line if they marketed alcohol to appeal to kids? Beer in a Mickey cup? Elsa's Frozen drinks? Darth Vader's vodka?

I bought a Groot cup at the Liberty Inn in June. There were several beverages offered to fill it, one of which was a bourbon spiked frozen Coke. However, if you ordered that, they would not serve it inside the cup. You had to take the cup and the drink separately. Once you got outside, you could pour the drink into the cup. If you just wanted your Groot filled with Diet Coke, the restaurant would do that. so the truth is that they are being exceedingly cautious in order NOT to be seen as marketing alcohol to kids.

Actually it is not Disney's business to anticipate whether someone will or won't have self-control. That is why they have security. There are also multiple instances of assault or other security issues where alcohol wasn't involved at all. That is what sometimes happens when there are so many people in one place.

"Disney shouldn't sell alcohol because some people have bad experiences with alcohol" sounds good, but there are a lot of things people have bad experiences with. They can't let tons of people in and provide a bad-experience-free product at the same time.

MADD is about drunk driving, which is a crime...not about ordering a cocktail in a theme park.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

With Disney adding alcohol to the DDP, they have to make it readily available in most places. If they didn't, the complaint on here would be "why am I paying for alcohol on the DDP if you can't get it anywhere?"

 

[HopperFan]

DISCLAIMER: I have not read through entire thread and this are just a few quotes from beginning ...

As far as MONEY GRAB = no. Alcohol is totally optional. A money grab is Disney now deciding (without financial need) to start charging for parking at their hotels.

I guess it should come as no surprise at this point that Disney has added yet another lounge . This time at Restaurantasaurus at AK . It has become ridiculous how many places alcohol is available in the parks . This is a blatant attempt yet again by Disney to take advantage of almost any revenue generating stream regardless of its potential consequences . Look , I know the arguments on Disney's side , "they're a business , they need to keep profits up"..."alcohol isn't a problem at Disney"...why shouldn't I be able to enjoy an adult beverage if I want to as long as I'm responsible about it ?" These are all valid arguments to a point . There is a time and place for almost everything and I believe that EP is the perfect place for an abundance of bars,lounges,beer and wine stands . I also believe that HS is also another place this fits though on a much smaller scale . Hey,I even believe that AK & MK can and should serve alcohol at all of their TS restaurants . DS another perfect fit for as many bars ,lounges,and stands as they want . I just feel that as Disney continues to make alcohol more easily accessible in their parks more and more problems will inevitably follow and eventually make the parks less and less family friendly .

I ate my lunch in the AK Lounge last week. It is not a lounge during the day. It is at night. It is very small, I believe there were 5 tables and certainly minimal floor space. What it has that most of AK does not is AIR CONDITIONING. The restaurant, I am sure, is not full or very busy in the evenings and it is a good use of space, possibly generates more food sales as well. Maybe they will add some appetizers at night. I'd buy in to that along with the lounge.

Less family friendly?? Look around, most those people drinking have young kids with them .......... coincidence? probably not. We are a family, we are all adults, we are drinking age ........... and we rarely drink in the parks except maybe a beer here and there or a fancy drink in the evening. I have never seen a drunk person at any park but Epcot and that was during Food & Wine - at night. I didn't even see drunk people there during New Years Eve. Honestly I'd rather deal with a drunk person (which is rare) than an angry screaming parent aka family adult (which happens multiple times a day).

I know,but they shouldn't expand its availability outside of TS restaurants

I know...but they shouldn't be .

Well aware of that but I don't believe they should be there . Should be limited to TS restaurants at AK & MK ...just my opinion .

I hate turkey legs. The people who eat them look like slobs, drop meat and fat all over the ground when they aren't hunkered over trash cans, chew on them like the are cannibals and it totally grosses me out. I wish they would ban them. They are dirty, they promote poor manners to children and it's classless. Just my opinion.

Not trying to be sarcastic but rather share that just because I find something disgusting and counter to the clean detailed park that Disney presents (just like you are offended by alcohol) doesn't mean they should stop selling them. Clearly lots of folks are paying big bucks for the 50 cent legs and Disney is making money. Disney has every right and guests have every right to buy adult drinks. And Disney shouldn't say only folks who are already paying big bucks for TS should be allowed to get an alcoholic drink, especially since it is included with the QS meals. Just because it's not for you, doesn't mean there is anything at all wrong with it.

Not trying to villianize it...as I said there is atime and place .

And in most folks mind WDW is the perfect time and place. Not only is it our vacation, our time to relax, our time to not report to work but if you stay on property Disney also provides the DDBD ... Disney Designated Bus Driver. One of the top perks of Disney.

I believe that more and easier accessibility will lead to more problems and the trend at WDW as far as alcohol availability is concerned is that more is better .

Makes no sense. There is already alcohol easily available at 3 parks. Providing a tiny bar in air conditioning in a hot park is not bringing in more. It is offering a new location of what is already there.

Pleasure Island ...any one remember why , supposedly, Pleasure Island had to go ?

Supposition on your part.

Love WDW...will stop going when this becomes a problem . For now just trying to say that this is not a good thing ...not in the long run . And this isn't one lounge ...a year ago approximately they opened one at HS (Tap House?) . This has been a growing trend that really needs to stop ...just my opinion .

Have you been? It's great. Has some nice food offerings, nice seating inside and out, great spot to take a load off your feet with a cold drink an excellent nibbles. Once SWL opens it will likely be packed all the time from folks looking for a break. Smart move on Disney's part.

I understand your point and agree with a lot of what you're saying , however more , more , more is not going to be good for anyone . I can see alcohol carts in the future at MK . Hope I'm wrong but...

In three parks, nothing is creating more. It is there at TS, QS and walkups already. This changes none of that. Adding a location does not expand the offer that exists or cause people to drink more.

Regarding MK ............ I don't think we will ever see at the carts but I would not be surprised to see it served at QS locations .... My reasoning is that the QS plan now includes an alcoholic drink and if guests can not get that with their meal, the DDP is now diminished in value at the MK. It will depend on guest feedback.

Interesting is that I received a survey yesterday about Food & Beverage and they clearing were fishing for info on what alcoholic drinks I bought.

.
.

In the end, this is a personal issue for you (and that is okay) but not a Disney issue .... so as I say many times over the years ........... once a luxury optional vacation destination no longer makes you happy, it's time to move on to somewhere else.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Oh my goodness, I did a quick search, and this popped up!

A FL congressman's wife was arrested this past April at WDW for "disorderly intoxication."


http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news.../os-darren-soto-wife-arrested-0402-story.html

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Which is why having a drink on vacation is so wonderful. No driving!

While Disney makes it easy, there's still going to be exceptions, like this one:
A police deputy was arrested at WDW, after crashing his car because he was DUI. (7/12/17)


Not drunk driving, but still a curious incident involving WDW +alcohol:
Soccer player Alex Morgan was kicked out of Epcot for disorderly conduct. The article doesn't ay if she was arrested or not, only that she regrets the incident. (10/4/17)

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Oh my goodness, I did a quick search, and this popped up!

A FL congressman's wife was arrested this past April at WDW for "disorderly intoxication."


http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news.../os-darren-soto-wife-arrested-0402-story.html

Ok...so one arrest relating to public intoxication. That has nothing to do with Disney adding one more location to purchase alcohol. It has everything to do with that individuals lack of self-control. As others have pointed out, anyone that is determined to be drunk can find ways around it even where alcohol isn’t readily available for purchase.

In recent months there have also been arrests on WDW property for:
- a YouTuber trying to film while going through security
- a bus driver that attempted to lure a 15-year old girl to one of the parks
- a cast member that was arrested for being part of a child porn ring
- a guest staying at a Disney resort was arrested for credit card fraud

A simple google search will reveal all manner of awful things. While we would all like to think of WDW as being inside a safe bubble, there are still real world issues and various offences and crimes that take place on property on a daily basis.

That is why Disney employs great security staff.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

are we now going to find all news articles regarding people arrested for being intoxicated at WDW? Where there are people, there's always going to be somebody who does something stupid. Alcohol or no alcohol. There was a lawsuit after some woman went nuts waiting in line for the teacups at MK and assaulted another woman she thought cut the line. maybe pull that one up too.