EPCOT... UGH!!! DOUBLE UGH!!!!!!!!!!!

[Boski]

I'm not saying it didn't happen to you nor am I saying it is acceptable behaviour. What I am saying is that for me, personally, I wouldn't leave Epcot because I saw drunk behaviour. And you still didn't tell me how you know my age from your post that I quoted you on.

You must be one of those who just turned 21 right? Thats how old you look in all your pictures

 

[CarolynU]

Oh my - you never ask a lady her age.

 

[LiveYourLife]

I am headed to Epcot right now. To day drink. I'm going to live on the edge and get the extra shot with my Grey Goose slushie. Heck, I might even have two!

See you there!!!!

 

[smallworldnh]

Some would say that being loud is being rude to others, depending on where, when, and how loud. There was a thread about loud talking on Soarin' a while back that discussed this.

Sadly, there are a lot people at WDW who don't need to drink to be loud or rude so alcohol is not an issue with me either. IMO, Epcot is the "best" park to be able to get an adult beverage if you so desire since World Showcase is a bit more adult oriented than the rest of the world. I personally love and have to have the Grand Marnier slushie and that grapefruit beer in Germany and I rarely drink unless it's a special occasion!

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

I was at Epcot during the last F&W Festival. I am a solo older traveller. One Saturday early evening I was knocked flying in the Mexico Pavilion as I was exiting the boat ride by a drunken guy wearing one of those sombrero's they sell in the carts. He was staggering all over the place. I just managed to stop myself actually falling over. I then went outside and as walking I came across two more groups holding drinks who were starting to argue, so the language was reflecting that and it felt loud and quite intimidating. I passed them quickly but then another guy and his girlfriend who were arm in arm with drinks in their hands were weaving from side to side and also bumped in to me as I was attempting to try and walk around them.
At this point I'm afraid that I stopped enjoying myself and just left and drove to Disney Springs which definitely had a far more pleasant vibe for me. I was actually able to get an ice cream sundae and walk around without feeling as if at any minute I could have been knocked over. One persons pleasure is another persons nightmare I'm afraid. I don't mind people drinking at all. In fact I love a glass of wine before or with a meal, or a cocktail or two, but everything in moderation is my motto.

Yes but...how many other times were you almost run down, bumped into, knocked over, cut off, or otherwise jostled in the parks during your stay by completely sober people trying to commando from ride to ride pushing their strollers in front of them like battering rams and dragging their kids behind them like sleds? How many angry exchanges did you hear pass among members of melting-down families? Or, God forbid, were at some point stuck in line in front of a tour group? As every Disney parks vet knows, those things happen all the time in (pick a Disney park.) I'd love to have a nickel for every time some zombie parent torpedoed me with a stroller at DL or MK. I think alcohol here is being scapegoated for people simply being people in a theme park.

 

[jrt1176]

Yes, and I kind of said that below what you quoted...

But, to me, being somewhat loud in the open air of WS and talking during a ride are completely different.

Some would say that being loud is being rude to others, depending on where, when, and how loud. There was a thread about loud talking on Soarin' a while back that discussed this.

 

[addicted2disney]

I just love how people decide that the way they vacation is the only proper way to vacation and everyone else are out-of-control hooligans. My friends and I can be giggling uncontrollably while walking through the World Showcase completely sober and I'm sure plenty of you would lump us into the drunken group simply because we're a group of adults having fun at Disney World without any kids.

But last time I checked, my ticket costs just as much as yours, so I would hope I'd get to decide how I get to enjoy my time in the parks.

It's not like people are bringing flasks into the park, they are grabbing a margarita at La Cava or a beer from Germany or a Grey Goose slushy from France. Magic Kingdom is the only dry(ish) park, adults are allowed to imbibe on vacation.

Enjoy your vacation and don't let what anyone else is doing affect you.

MMMMMMMM!!!! I LOVE the Grey Goose Slushies in France!!!

 

[addicted2disney]

I agree with the OP- to an extent. I have no issue with responsible enjoyment of beverages, however the last time we were in Epcot there was a lot less "responsibility" on display than I expected at WDW. And yes, the drunks most definitely affected our visit as they were having very lewd and very loud conversations around other guests. Our party had to leave the area due to the obscene conversations taking place. Not just for the kids, but *I* don't even want to hear that nonsense. I also saw several groups of college age people, clearly past their buzz limit, staggering around WS and bumping into other guests. This was this past January, not even F&W.

If WDW is going to CATER TO FAMILIES by putting Frozen Ever After and character Meet and Greets in WS then they need to get a handle on the drunks in Epcot.

Which is why Frozen Ever After doesn't belong in World Showcase... And character meet and greets aren't ONLY for small children.

 

[CarolynU]

I'm sorry I must have missed it, when were you knocked to the ground by a drunk? You claim you were knocked flying(?) by a guy getting out of the boat ride. I'm trying to picture how that happened as you are in a very small space when exiting the boat. And I can tell you I sometimes have trouble getting out of the boat when sober, so how are you sure he was drunk. It could be that he was simply clutsy like me and bumped into you.

I also admit to trying to cut around people walking in the park, but if they bump into me as I pass them that is on me. It is not like they can see you coming around them, there are no rear view mirrors like on the highway. I'm also amazed by how many people can judge who is and isn't drunk my a 5 second interaction with them. Are they drunk or clutsy or silly or boisterous by nature?

I think too the odds of getting knocked over by an over-excited child or adult are probably higher than getting knocked over by a drunk.

In fact I didn't say that the guy was getting out of the boat. I said that I was getting out of the boat, along with the little children who had also ridden. In fact if we are talking semantics I had got out of the boat already as had the children. The drunken guy in the sombrero was heading towards us from the market place, swaying from side to side and lurching around. He bumped straight into me first and I toppled over, but managed to steady myself, and sort of fell to one side. He then collided with the little children who were about 3 and 4 years old and had been behind me. He was a large guy and them being tiny it was down to their dad to try and scoop them up, before they fell which he did and then he put the kids out of harms way and pushed the guy out of the way. This guy then stumbled back towards the stalls bumping into others as he did so. Several people were watching him.
True he could have had a medical condition, true he could be clumsy, true there are probably a million other reasons than being drunk that could have contributed to this behaviour, but in my opinion unlikely, but obviously in yours not so.

 

[DrunkJam]

I'm sorry I must have missed it, when were you knocked to the ground by a drunk? You claim you were knocked flying(?) by a guy getting out of the boat ride. I'm trying to picture how that happened as you are in a very small space when exiting the boat. And I can tell you I sometimes have trouble getting out of the boat when sober, so how are you sure he was drunk. It could be that he was simply clutsy like me and bumped into you.

I also admit to trying to cut around people walking in the park, but if they bump into me as I pass them that is on me. It is not like they can see you coming around them, there are no rear view mirrors like on the highway. I'm also amazed by how many people can judge who is and isn't drunk my a 5 second interaction with them. Are they drunk or clutsy or silly or boisterous by nature?

I think too the odds of getting knocked over by an over-excited child or adult are probably higher than getting knocked over by a drunk.

This is very true. My mum has Mobility issues, including Menieres disease, she is often mistaken for drunk, as she has also had a stroke, so she is very wobbly and slurry. She has never been to WDW but, she does get abused in the street for appearing drunk in public, in the morning etc. Obviously, there is level of drunken behaviour which is unacceptable the same with ANY kind of behaviour, but, snap judgements can be very unfair

 

[Mflowers92]

I find that a lot of the complaints about various behavoirs are not things exclusive to drinking, especially in a theme park. Loud obnoxious behavior? Try any sports teams that take a trip to Disney or any large groups who are just having fun. Bumping into people? Everyone who is staring off in wonder at the sights and not looking where they're going OR stroller warriors trying to pave the way to their next attraction. Loud arguments? How about all the parents yelling at their crying children that they WILL have fun because they paid so much for this vacation.

Puking and public indecency is one thing, but being loud, bumping into people... That's all just par for the course in a theme park to me.

 

[TeresaWen]

I enjoy my wine in France or Germany.

I think I am spoiled by the availability of wine during the festival. I was forced to branch out and try new things in July

Had my first ever slushy in France, it was not my last! Very much looking forward to this yearly festival. And interacting with groups of 20 something year olds having fun keeps me feeling young!

 

[CarolynU]

Yes but...how many other times were you almost run down, bumped into, knocked over, cut off, or otherwise jostled in the parks during your stay by completely sober people trying to commando from ride to ride pushing their strollers in front of them like battering rams and dragging their kids behind them like sleds? How many angry exchanges did you hear pass among members of melting-down families? Or, God forbid, we're at some point stuck in line in front of a tour group? As every Disney parks vet knows, those things happen all the time in (pick a Disney park.) I'd love to have a nickel for every time some zombie parent torpedoed me with a stroller at DL or MK. I think alcohol here is being scapegoated for people simply being people in a theme park.

I'm a Disney vet too having made my first visit in 1981 and holding an AP for most of the years since then. I must just be lucky because in all that time I have never nearly been knocked over prior to that last trip. Bumped into yes, had the odd stroller pushed into my ankles yes. Always managed to avoid the tour groups, and yep have seen family meltdowns. I am also old enough to remember the days when whilst sitting outside France and my husband and I both wanting a glass of wine they wouldn't serve my husband a glass for him and one for me as I was sitting on a bench just outside and not visible! So I'm not at all averse to drinking, but I don't think anyone can argue that times have changed and I don't mind that until I truly felt that I would be happier leaving Epcot that evening, which I did and I was. Drinking is absolutely no problem. Rolling around drunk is. Now again I'm not even saying that this is how the majority behave, but some do, and that is unacceptable behaviour anywhere not just at Epcot.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

I'm a Disney vet too having made my first visit in 1981 and holding an AP for most of the years since then. I must just be lucky because in all that time I have never nearly been knocked over prior to that last trip. Bumped into yes, had the odd stroller pushed into my ankles yes. Always managed to avoid the tour groups, and yep have seen family meltdowns. I am also old enough to remember the days when whilst sitting outside France and my husband and I both wanting a glass of wine they wouldn't serve my husband a glass for him and one for me as I was sitting on a bench just outside and not visible! So I'm not at all averse to drinking, but I don't think anyone can argue that times have changed and I don't mind that until I truly felt that I would be happier leaving Epcot that evening, which I did and I was. Drinking is absolutely no problem. Rolling around drunk is. Now again I'm not even saying that this is how the majority behave, but some do, and that is unacceptable behaviour anywhere not just at Epcot.

You're talking about behavior, not drinking. So am I.

 

[Disneymom1126]

Obviously Disney should address anyone who gets belligerent/unable to care for themself-drunk, but Food and Wine is certainly something that is targeted to adults. If you don't want to see alcohol at Disney or young adults drinking and enjoying their time, it's probably a good idea to avoid food and wine and avoid world showcase on the weekends. In general it's busier on the weekends during food and wine, so for crowds alone it's better to go to Epcot during the week in the fall...

Then again, I live in a college town and work at the University, so my guess is anything happening on a weekend at Epcot is tame compared to the weekends here....

 

[Jennasis]

If you see objectionable/rowdy behavior in the park, be it from an intoxicated individual/group or even from a sober person, report it to a CM.

 

[CarolynU]

This is very true. My mum has Mobility issues, including Menieres disease, she is often mistaken for drunk, as she has also had a stroke, so she is very wobbly and slurry. She has never been to WDW but, she does get abused in the street for appearing drunk in public, in the morning etc. Obviously, there is level of drunken behaviour which is unacceptable the same with ANY kind of behaviour, but, snap judgements can be very unfair

I know all about Menieres disease because my sister has it along with vertigo, and drop attacks. It is a ghastly condition. She too has been mistaken for being drunk. In fact at one time I had to catch her young baby when she was about to collapse to the floor. I am fully conversant with this. I have another family member who has had a stroke with all the implications of that. To be honest you would have had to be there to appreciate the full picture, and if people want to be constantly questioning of the situation and my assessment of it that is fine. There is nothing more that I can add.

 

[hsmamato2]

In the 30+ trips I've had to Disney I have never once seen unruly drunks at Epcot. I'm sure there are, but either I'm just lucky or obliviously enjoying MY OWN vacation. I don't drink...but I'm not sanctimonious about it or anything, I just don't like the way alcohol tastes and I don't like to feel "altered", and I don't have a problem if others want to drink.

Epcot continues to be our favorite park. Sorry it's lost its "muchness" for you.

this is me exactly. Last F&W, we met up with quite a few 'altered' people.... most were just overly friendly and happy to talk(and drink) but no one really got crazy IMHO....

 

[megster1123]

I have been there with children and saw a young man puking in a bush. The kids pointed him out and I simply told them that he was laughing at that tree. Yes it does happen quite often, and I am not a prude, but I do support the intent of the original poster. In simple Irish wisdom, a man needs to know his limits.

Just curious, why didn't you tell your children the truth? That the man had a bit too much to drink and it made him sick?

 

[megster1123]

I'm still skeptical that in an interaction that happens in a split second any of us can judge drunk vs not drunk. Drinking doesn't always equal drunk, don't forget. As I said I'm clutsy enough that I have had trouble exiting the boat ride in Mexico and stumbled a bit. Could easily be what happened to the other poster.

Have you never been plowed into by a person that is stumbling, sloppy and reeks of alcohol? It's happened to me at concerts, tailgates...when you can basically smell them before they even knock into you it's pretty clear that they're hammered.