Corkage fee at Disney restaurants?

[DisneyFansInLINY]

My husband asked me a question that really has me stumped. I did a search on here and found outdated info. So does anyone know if Disney allows you to bring your own wine to their restaurants and charge a corkage fee? More specifically, could you purchase a bottle at an Epcot showcase shop and bring it to an Epcot restaurant to drink? Thanks in advance.

 

[eva]

Interesting question. I have no idea about the corkage fee. It may vary at each restaurant. I do know that you can not bring a bottle of wine into the park from outside. Oh, and you will need to drink the entire bottle. You are not suppose to leave the parks with open alcohol. But going from a shop in EPCOT to a restaurant in the same park should be fine as long as the restaurant is fine with it. I would think if it is allowed the corkage fee would be similar to DCL, $15 to $20.

 

[amberpi]

I'm only 85% sure on this, but I think when you purchase bottled alcohol at Epcot they send it up to the front of the park for you. Otherwise, it'd be FAR cheaper to buy a bottle and then split it among friends outside the Italy pavillion than buying it by the glass, right? I know they sure spend a ton of time wrapping up those bottles so it seems darn near impossible to get into them! I'll be watching this thread as it might be something we consider if it's allowed.

 

[minnie mum]

This is from the Disney Mom's Panel:

Erin, Great job on your 2nd year on the panel! Important question: We love vino, but aren't fans of paying restaurant prices for wine. Are you allowed to BYOB to any (all?) of the WDW restaurants? If so, is there a corkage fee? Thanks in advance.
- Asked by Bret on 4/14/2009
Answered by
Erin F., NY
Category
Table Service

Thanks for the kind words. They're going to have to claw the keyboard out of my hands to get me off the Moms Panel

I had never considered bringing my own wine to a WDW restaurant, but I have learned that this is sometimes possible. Disney does not allow alcohol in any form to be brought into the theme parks, so BYOB at the in-park restaurants is a no-no.

At the restaurants in the resorts, BYOB is not the norm, but the individual restaurant managers have the discretion to allow it. If you are allowed to BYOB, there is a corkage fee of $20-25, depending on the location. After reading several articles and making a few phone calls, I've learned that it is considered poor etiquette to bring a bottle of wine to a restaurant where it is possible to purchase a similar vintage or other similarly priced bottle. It is also poor form to bring in a bottle that is priced cheaper than the least expensive wine at the restaurant.

In general, Disney seems to be amenable to the idea of a guest bringing a unique or special wine of their own to a restaurant, but discourages guests from bringing a standard bottle they might buy at the supermarket.

At Disney, Victoria & Alberts appears to be the most open to guests bringing a memorable bottle of wine with them to celebrate a special event. California Grill, with it's extensive in-house wine selection, seems to be the least keen on BYOB. Again, this is all up to the discretion of the restaurant management.

Additionally, other rules may come into play when wine is being served for a large gathering such as a corporate event or wedding. Always, contact the venue in advance if you are considering bringing your own beverages for a large party or event.

Note that the corkage fee given here is from 2009- I'm sure it is much higher now. Seems to me you'd be much better off just ordering off the restaurant's wine list.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

My husband asked me a question that really has me stumped. I did a search on here and found outdated info. So does anyone know if Disney allows you to bring your own wine to their restaurants and charge a corkage fee? More specifically, could you purchase a bottle at an Epcot showcase shop and bring it to an Epcot restaurant to drink? Thanks in advance.

I would recommend making arrangements with the restaurant manager ahead of time.

If you have a good reason, such as celebrating an anniversary with a particular wine that's not on the restaurant's wine list, I imagine that the manager would be agreeable to it. There would be a corkage fee, and you'd want to make sure that your server's tip reflects the wine service.

If someone just wants to shave a few dollars off the restaurant bill by bringing in a bottle of Two Buck Chuck and hoping that, even with a corkage fee, it will still be less than the cost of the cheapest wine on the wine list, then I would recommend against it. It would be similar to someone asking the California Grill to serve a meal carried in from McDonald's.

As far as buying wine at a wine shop in Epcot World Showcase, and then bringing it to an Epcot World Showcase restaurant, I guess I don't see the point. What would the reason be? Because you don't like the restaurant's own wine list? Or to save money? World Showcase restaurants, and WDW restaurants in general, have good wine lists, appropriate to the cuisine of each restaurant. In some cases, some of the same wines are in a country's shop and restaurant.

 

[PAcpl]

Disney World has something like 300 wine sommeliers on site across the parks and resorts. One of the first things I noticed when DW and I started going to Disney is that they cater to the guests that do not have children too! Then we realized that's just Disney, they don't miss a beat! So you are probably better off just looking at wine lists at restaurants and go from there. You can view an example of a wine menu below. It is from The California Grill which has a wonderful wine list:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/me...aliforniaGrill/california-grill-menu-wine.pdf

Also you can NOT buy any alcohol in the parks and take it with you. They will not even allow you to ship it back to your resort. The ONLY option is to have it shipped to either the front of the park or the back of the park (International Gateway). So if you are looking to do this plan on doing it earlier in your park day so your spirits will be waiting for you when you leave.

Have fun!!

PS - If you do want to do a little outside the box alcohol buying you can always give these guys a call. I have yet to use them but I have read good things.

http://www.beerrun.biz/

 

[happymommy]

Wow things must have changed. I recall buying some wine in France at Epcot and taking it out with me - unopened. That must have been a while ago.

I do know if you're drinking any alcohol you do have to finish it before exiting the park. I didn't know you cannot take the alcohol (unopened bottle) with you.

We have bought a bottle of champagne at the gift shop at the Yacht Club one night on New Years Eve and took it with us on our Illuminations cruise on Breathless - our captain said it wasn't supposed to be allowed but we had it with us so he let us drink on the ride. Borrowed a couple of glasses from the bar then returned them afterwards!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Also you can NOT buy any alcohol in the parks and take it with you. They will not even allow you to ship it back to your resort. The ONLY option is to have it shipped to either the front of the park or the back of the park (International Gateway). So if you are looking to do this plan on doing it earlier in your park day so your spirits will be waiting for you when you leave.

When did this change? I've bought bottles of wine at the wine shop in the Food & Wine Festival Center as recently as October 2011. There was never a problem carrying the unopened, well-packaged bottle out the International Gateway or to the main parking lot.

At Disney California Adventure a few years ago, the wine had to be picked up at the front of the park, outside the entrance gate. But that's never been the case for me at Epcot.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

I bought about $100 worth of sake from the Japan Pavilion and I left with it in September 2011 and January 2012. I didn't have to pick it up or have it sent to the front. My family also bought almost $200 of sake and carried it around the park with them last November... So either the policy changed or not all alcohol is shipped to the front.

 

[PAcpl]

When did this change? I've bought bottles of wine at the wine shop in the Food & Wine Festival Center as recently as October 2011. There was never a problem carrying the unopened, well-packaged bottle out the International Gateway or to the main parking lot.

At Disney California Adventure a few years ago, the wine had to be picked up at the front of the park, outside the entrance gate. But that's never been the case for me at Epcot.

Horace - Maybe it is different for wine? We were in Epcot this past May and I picked up a couple of bottles of Don Julio in Mexico and I couldn't leave with them. I asked if I could ship them to my resort and the CM said no. The only way to physically get the Tequila out of there was to ship it to the International Gateway.

I also tried to buy a bottle of Lemoncello at Italy a couple of years ago and they told me I couldn't walk it back to the Boardwalk where we were staying.

With those two experiences I assumed it was any alcohol. Maybe wine is different. I know I have bought a bottle of wine in DTD and I was able to bring it back to my resort. But that was Downtown.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Horace - Maybe it is different for wine?

Or maybe it's just typical Disney inconsistency.

At the wine shop at the Food & Wine Festival Center, they always offer to send the wine to a pickup location outside the park entrance. But when I tell them I'm leaving the park immediately after buying the wine, they let me carry it out.

 

[DVCismyhappyplace]

Or maybe it's just typical Disney inconsistency.

At the wine shop at the Food & Wine Festival Center, they always offer to send the wine to a pickup location outside the park entrance. But when I tell them I'm leaving the park immediately after buying the wine, they let me carry it out.

I've never had a problem carrying wine out with me (or Tequila either). When we were there in January, we were staying at the Beach Club and DH and I made several "wine stops" in Epcot to pick up a bottle to enjoy later in our room. We were at Bay Lake in May and had no problem bringing back a bottle of champagne.

In both cases, they asked if we wanted it shipped to the gate and in both cases we declined because it was our last stop of the day.

 

[BriarRosie]

Horace - Maybe it is different for wine? We were in Epcot this past May and I picked up a couple of bottles of Don Julio in Mexico and I couldn't leave with them. I asked if I could ship them to my resort and the CM said no. The only way to physically get the Tequila out of there was to ship it to the International Gateway.

I also tried to buy a bottle of Lemoncello at Italy a couple of years ago and they told me I couldn't walk it back to the Boardwalk where we were staying.

With those two experiences I assumed it was any alcohol. Maybe wine is different. I know I have bought a bottle of wine in DTD and I was able to bring it back to my resort. But that was Downtown.

I have had personal experience buying wine from the France wine shop and being able to carry it with me back through the International Gateway. I haven't tried to purchase tequila or limoncello, though.

 

[DisneyFansInLINY]

I have always purchased and carried my wine. I have never been told I was not allowed to. However, one time I was cut off in Italy because apparently I was too intoxicated lol. But that is a different story!