Disney to eliminate plastic straws, hotel in-room plastics and plastic shopping bags

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

It's reasonable to expect the in-room drinking vessels will be paper/cardoard, much more so than glass.

When you opt for a bottle instead of a cup, it's extremely unlikely that you need to worry about ice in your drink. Do you ever buy a bottle of soda anywhere that the server or vendor hand-inserted ice cubes small enough to fit the narrow neck opening?

The "straw hysteria" article from the Sentinel stated that Universal and Sea World have already eliminated plastic straws. What are they using now? Nothing?
.

I'd be happy with paper cups in the room but I fear it will be glass.

I'd only be opting for the bottle if I don't have a straw and heck the straw part wouldn't bother me if Disney didn't put ice in the cups.
I know I don't have to worry about ice in the bottles hence why I'd opt for them if no alternative straw is offered.
Um no I've never heard of a vendor opening your bottle and inserting small ice cubes.....

I have no idea what Sea World switched to. Haven't been since 2014. Do you know?

 

[EveDallas]

The "straw hysteria" article from the Sentinel stated that Universal and Sea World have already eliminated plastic straws. What are they using now? Nothing?

I have friends at Universal right now who say they're still using straws. They definitely were when I was there 2 months ago. Sea World is apparently using paper straws.

 

[superme80]

Couple of things, I have always been told that straws are a primarily American thing. Can those on the other side of the pond weigh on straw use on your country? I was told ice in drinks is also an American thing and that's why we like our straws. Again, anyone over seas have any insight?

And second...show of hands...how many of you "must have straws" folks use them at home? I use straws all the time at restaurants but never at home. Fountain drinks only (never with water). Odd. If I can survive at home without a straw I will survive at Disney without one (or I'll bring my own).

I use them at home. I bought 2 packs of reusable straws. My husband used disposable straws to take to work.

 

[G719]

Busch gardens and water country in Williamsburg switched to paper straws this summer.

 

[Bella Paige]

Not all people are upstanding individuals. I would not use open reusable shampoo in a hotel just like I wouldn't buy an open gallon of milk at the grocery store. People are gross.

I cannot imagine someone paying $100+ per night just to tamper with the shampoo and conditioner bottles, especially since they are locked in the dispenser.
Using the individual bottles really doesn't guarantee that no one has tampered with them since the housekeeping carts filled with supplies are often left unattended in hallways.

 

[Bella Paige]

I’d love to see how this would be received in th US... ...

The Biergarten by our house serves beer this way in the summer and it's much preferred over plastic cups.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Here is an interesting article to read about plastic. https://www.dailywire.com/news/33611/walsh-walsh-america-responsible-almost-none-matt-walsh

From the Daily Wire’s Facebook page:

“Our goal is simple: unmask leftists in the media for who they are, destroy their credibility with the American public, and devastate their funding bases.”

Hardly an objective source, the author of that piece even less so.

 

[mnrose]

Pretty sure we all knew water is better for you But thanks for educating us.

I'm sure you do. But defending polluting the planet because it causes less cavities when you drink things which destroy your teeth doesn't seem all that sensible to me. Especially when there is a very good alternative that allows you to drink sugary drinks AND not use throw away plastic straws....e.g., a reusable straw. I happen to think we all have an obligation to do what we can to be a good steward of our planet. No one is perfect, of course, but every little bit helps. And, giving up plastic things when there are excellent alternatives seems like a no brainer.

 

[mnrose]

What was the point of your post? This thread is about lids/straws, not the healthiest drink for you. The pp you quoted pointed out a positive reason to use a straw....they were not trying to persuade ppl. to drink sugary or acidic beverages, just that for when ppl. do there's a pro to using a straw. I don't understand the point of wasting time/space on a thread to promote your thoughts on what ppl. should be drinking....so odd.

To you, apparently. It struck me as odd to defend straws by arguing that they cause less cavities when drinking things which by their very nature cause cavities. My dentist recommend having NONE of those things, and if you do, to brush your teeth immediately after. She has never said "use a straw." Sorry it struck me as odd.

 

[EveDallas]

I'm sure you do. But defending polluting the planet because it causes less cavities when you drink things which destroy your teeth doesn't seem all that sensible to me. Especially when there is a very good alternative that allows you to drink sugary drinks AND not use throw away plastic straws....e.g., a reusable straw. I happen to think we all have an obligation to do what we can to be a good steward of our planet. No one is perfect, of course, but every little bit helps. And, giving up plastic things when there are excellent alternatives seems like a no brainer.

"Defending polluting" OMG. That's a real stretch. You asked why an adult would use a straw, and I answered. I don't think I ever said "yeah, let's all throw garbage everywhere we go!!"

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

My dentist recommend having NONE of those things, and if you do, to brush your teeth immediately after.

Hmm..that's interesting because I've been told over and over because soda, coffee, orange juice, etc are acidic brushing your teeth immediately after is the very very last thing you should be doing. You should wait approximately 30mins after (time recommended I'm sure varies point being not immediately after). The acid makes your enamel weaker and so brushing immediately after is the worst you could do for your enamel.

 

[Minniefan2296]

I cannot imagine someone paying $100+ per night just to tamper with the shampoo and conditioner bottles, especially since they are locked in the dispenser.
Using the individual bottles really doesn't guarantee that no one has tampered with them since the housekeeping carts filled with supplies are often left unattended in hallways.

The dispensers are not tamper proof.

 

[Colleen27]

I'd be happy with paper cups in the room but I fear it will be glass.

I suspect this will be something that ends up varying based on resort level, with the deluxes getting glass and the rest getting paper. And I'm okay with that. I think plastic and foam cups are the most pointless way we use plastics because the waxed paper ones are just as good unless you plan on leaving liquid in them for days (literally - I've done extensive research, aka kids leaving them in the back cupholders, and it takes about 3 days to develop leaks). But of course, in hotels those single-use cups come wrapped in plastic regardless of whether the cups themselves are paper, plastic or foam...

 

[LSUmiss]

I do find it quite amusing how things went on my last visit to our local Disney store. This was my first visit since the change to no bags. I was buying a $3 plate off the clearance table. They tried to sell me a reusable bag for another dollar or two. I just laughed and said I didn't need the plate that bad and turned to leave. Suddenly the plate was in a plastic bag and they were taking my money.

I wasn't trying to be difficult. I just don't need more reusable bags and didn't feel like paying more for for what I was buying.

I suspect that’s how things will go too to some extent at wdw. I bet they will have plastic bags if it’s a choice between making a sale or not. CMs will probably be advised to offer the reusable bag first & see what happens.

 

[LSUmiss]

But will it? Or will people change their habits to generate MORE waste by buying their drinks bottled instead of in cups so that they don't have to worry about spills or drinking an iced beverage without a straw? Because that's what I see as our most likely means of adapting - instead of fountain sodas and free iced water, we'll opt for bottled drinks and the amount of plastic waste we generate will actually increase.



I don't see waiting in line twice for every beverage - once to purchase, once to get the deposit back - being an easy sell at WDW.



Of course I am. But if we're going to take action, shouldn't that action be logical and likely to accomplish the goals? I don't think the straws/lids measure specifically is likely to do that. There's an obvious substitution effect that is likely to come into play - those who don't want to carry around cups without lids and those who don't drink cold/iced beverages without a straw are likely to switch to bottled drinks. That increases the amount of plastic waste, not reduces it.

And while I'm very concerned about plastics in my day to day life, I'll freely admit that I put some of those concerns on hold out of convenience/desire for comfort when I'm traveling. At home, when I have my car or bike with me all the time, it is no big deal to carry reusable cups and straws for my whole family, to keep reusable bags in the back, etc. But on vacation, especially a Disney vacation where everything I carry will be searched every time I enter a park, lugging those things around is a more significant inconvenience. Going "bag free" was something I REALLY looked forward to as my youngest got older. I don't want to go back to being the family pack mule so we can have straws with our drinks and not pay extra on every souvenir purchase for reusable bags that will rot in a closet once we get home.

That’s a good point about more waste. I prefer fountain drinks but expect them to have a straw & lid. However, I don’t care about that enough to bother bringing my own straws or having reusable ones that need to be cleaned in the park. So, when making a beverage selection now, I’ll actially choose the bottled drink now b/c the other will now be a hassle (to me).

 

[LSUmiss]

Pro-tip: Moisten a sponge, work some dish soap into it, and then leave it in a sunny spot to dry completely. Voila, pre-soaped sponge that packs without mess and "activates" as soon as you get it wet again.



And speaking from experience - unless you're using a collapsible/foldable straw, they don't fit in bathroom sinks so washing or even rinsing them that way is really awkward. You can't get them under the faucet without the other end dragging on the bottom/side of the sink. At the resorts, the mug wash stations would work for cleaning them, but I'm not sure how someone who wants to clean it between uses could easily do so in the parks.

And like the freaking women’s bathrooms aren’t crowded enough at busy times, now mom will be in there washing the whole families reusable straws.

 

[LSUmiss]

Some on this thread are making a very good case why we in 1st world countries need to curb our consumption of plastics to help our planet.

Take a step back and read some of the selfish complaints over plastic bags and straws!

It's amazing what items you can put in your pockets to avoid bag check-reusable bags fold very small and fit in your hand. There are lanyards for reusable bottles with built in straws.

Going to a theme park for a luxury vacation could be considered selfish too, but I guess it’s more justified if we at least reuse our straws?

 

[LSUmiss]

Well, when I'm at home I don't worry about things flying into my drink. When I'm out and about, I don't carry open cups around.

And I’m not about “surviving” on vacation.

 

[LSUmiss]

No kidding. It all sounds so entitled.

Hmmm...I was actually thinking most of the posts sound self-righteous. It’s a wonder there is any pollution at all since there are apparently so many already conscientious ppl out there.

 

[lifesavacation]

Hmmm...I was actually thinking most of the post sound self-righteous. It’s a wonder there is any pollution at all since there are apparently so many already conscientious ppl out there.

I’ll humbly accept your self-righteous label. I strongly believe in protecting our environment, and I guess I do judge all these excuses for why one must have a straw on vacation as entitled and quite frankly uneducated when there are suitable alternatives.