Magic Kingdom No Longer Dry Park Will Serve Wine Beer

[Alby]

I am Italian, so I take a more relaxed view on wine at dinner than some people here.

Nevertheless, for those who say that they have never seen drunks in Epcot, I would like to quote a Cast Member working at the beer cart in Canada, quoted in the Mousejunkies 2 book (p.325):

" It can get scary. We get these big giys coming through, and if they start in Mexico and end in Canada they can be really drunk. (...) I've been physically threatened, yelled at... We just call security but it's not fun."

 

[guppy1013]

Personally, I HATE the sight of ill fitting clothing. Spandex should only be made in small. And I HATE kids with autograph books! They take up too much time and those mascot hands not meant to hold a pen. And I HATE Duffy the Bear! Who is that guy??? DON'T GET ME STARTED ABOUT TAKING AWAY MR. TOADY.

Elect me to run Disney Parks, I promise to infringe on the rights of everyone doing something I personally hate instead of creating an enjoyable experience for a wide range of people. I will govern with an iron fist and YOU WILL HAVE FUN WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

No one NEEDS alcohol to have fun. If people need alcohol to have a good time, they have a serious problem. If they're that desperate for alcohol, they can go countless other places at WDW to get their alcohol fix.

Personally, I HATE the sight of ill fitting clothing. Spandex should only be made in small. And I HATE kids with autograph books! They take up too much time and those mascot hands not meant to hold a pen. And I HATE Duffy the Bear! Who is that guy??? DON'T GET ME STARTED ABOUT TAKING AWAY MR. TOADY.

Elect me to run Disney Parks, I promise to infringe on the rights of everyone doing something I personally hate instead of creating an enjoyable experience for a wide range of people. I will govern with an iron fist and YOU WILL HAVE FUN WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT.

 

[jennylyn_b]

We go to Disney twice a year and spend 24-28 days there between them. We go for flower and garden in May and F&W in Oct. We have never not once seen anyone drunk. We have seen a few giggly tipsy ppl but not fall down drunk. Everyone has a different definition of drunk I guess. I am surprised by them serving at BOG but I'm looking forward to it actually. Things change, change is afterall the only constant thing in life.


Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

 

[Ccann]

I think my complaint would be Not that they start selling drinks a BOG, or any TS for that , but if the drinks are taken outside. Yes the other 3 gates sell it, but when I think of the other parks I think there are more things to do for the adults. MK for me is for the young and innocence at heart. Like I said I would be fine if they had it at TS I just don't want to see carts of Beer. But the problem with all of this is now they are opening the gate of progress with Beer and Wine it won't be that easy to say no when more and more people demand the carts. That is my only beef. If Disney could really restrict it to TS great.

But I agree with some posters about hostile people already, you throw in there a happy drunk with a sober hostile dad and a fight breaks out or visa versa. There are already too many people at MK. That won't change! The decision has already been made, the only way for MK to keep it at this one Resturant is if there are enough people to boycot drinking at Dinner I just don't see it happening!

If there are drunken fools then let the CMs handle it, who knows maybe the good thing to come out of this is Disney will have to hire more staff and security more jobs in this bad economy?

 

[Missyrose]

I'm not saying that they shouldn't ever drink! Personally I HATE the smell of alcohol and don't see the big appeal. I think it's sad we have a society that encourages alcohol consumption, often to the extreme. Surely Magic Kingdom doesn't need to have alcohol, it's popular enough already! It's hardly been keeping the crowds away because they can't get an alcoholic drink, has it?

We're not talking about a full bar. I highly doubt the offerings of beer and wine will make BOG smell like alcohol. I've also never "smelled" alcohol at any of the Disney parks (including in the World Showcase during Food and Wine).

And as for being sad about our society, I actually think Disney's change is more about attracting Europeans and South Americans (where the attitude toward alcohol is much more relaxed) than feeding some American alcoholic beast.

No one NEEDS alcohol to have fun. If people need alcohol to have a good time, they have a serious problem. If they're that desperate for alcohol, they can go countless other places at WDW to get their alcohol fix.

Who during this discussion has said that Disney is offering alcohol at this ONE restaurant because people need alcohol to have fun? As you've previously said, you don't drink. So how can you possibly judge someone who would enjoy a beer or a glass of wine during what is sure to be an expensive meal?

 

[mom2rtk]

A Cote Rotie or Chateauneuf du Pape if you are sticking strictly to reds. A rose' from Bandol would work nicely as well. Still, Belgian beer is never a bad choice with frites.

Yeah. I wasn't really serious. I was poking fun of them treating this as a fine dining experience begging for wine when they chose fries (yes, I know they are frites) as the side for their steak.

 

[declansdad]

My point was with all those places selling beer and liquor, you have to see it and smell it. If you don't, you are not paying attention. I've been at Epcot and seen people drunk and really obnoxious. I don't have anything against drinking in moderation but when you become obnoxious, that's when it's going too far. I remember one time we were in line at Norway and a group of guys came in and were jumping the line rails (there was not much of a line) because they didn't want to walk all the way through. They ended up ahead of us and were laughing that they got away with it. They were obviously drunk. Of course, the cm's did nothing.

If you are serving beer and wine in a restaurant with food, people tend not to overdo. It's when you are selling it at outside stands that it gets out of control.

I have been at all the WDW parks and heve seem plenty of obnoxious people, including MK where there has been no alcohol.

The only way you would be able to smell the beer being served at WS would be if you were standing next to the taps. The place isn't some huge beer garden with beer being sloshed all over the place. I have been to WDW 7 times since 2004 and I have yet to see an out-of control bunch of drunkards. Have I seen people who were drinking, of course but not these out of control spring break type of parties that some people claim to have witnessed.

 

[Nancyg56]

I don't understand the hysteria. We are not discussing a beer garden opening up in front of the Castle. A glass of wine or a glass of beer with dinner is not going to create a crowd of belligerent drunks vomiting their way through Fantasyland.

I respect that there are people who choose not to drink at all. I respect that there are people who choose not to drink in front of their kids. I understand that we all have values that do not mirror every other person who visits the parks. I do not understand that those who feel that MK should remain dry insist that those of us who don't mind the introduction of alcohol into the parks are a group who cannot control their desire for alcohol for even a few hours.

It is okay to express dismay that a 40 year old tradition is passing. It is not okay to disparage those who are happy to see it go.

 

[declansdad]

Very disappointing news. Coming from where a family where no one drinks alcohol, I just don't see the need to have alcohol at MK. If you need alcohol to "have fun" something is VERY wrong!

Why do people feel that if people have a drink with their meal it equates to needing to have alcohol to have fun?

 

[Missyrose]

Why do people feel that if people have a drink with their meal it equates to needing to have alcohol to have fun?

I have no idea and it seems to be the only response the anti-alcohol people seem to want to make on this issue. Very frustrating.

 

[momofkids]

Personally, I think alcohol in the TS restaurants at MK might be a good thing. I have seen more obnoxious people in that park than in the others. The crowds and whining children get to many people. Having a glass of wine with dinner might help mellow some of them out a bit. I have no problem with them adding it to all of the TS restaurants either.

Honestly, Disney has to appeal to the markets that keep the park making money. I am pretty sure Walt wouldn't want a park that was losing money either. The experience that Disney creates is expensive to maintain. I see allowing alcohol at TS restaurants as something to widen the appeal of the park to the foreign markets.

Many people are complaining about the corporate decisions that are about making money in the parks. Trust me, they would close the parks if they didn't keep making money. The whole point of the parks is actually to make money.

 

[ttintagel]

I don't understand the hysteria.

And I don't understand calling any negative reaction "hysteria."

 

[ttintagel]

Exactly! Walt was a keen and shrewd businessman doing whatever he had to do to make money. He went after the "family park" idea because it was a niche not being filled at that time in history. He did nothing out of the goodness of his heart!

If the absolute only thing Walt cared about was money, there were plenty of easier options available to him than the way he made his. Ask any Wall Street robber baron.

 

[disneyfan2kids]

I don't understand the hysteria. We are not discussing a beer garden opening up in front of the Castle. A glass of wine or a glass of beer with dinner is not going to create a crowd of belligerent drunks vomiting their way through Fantasyland.

This made me

 

[Jennasis]

Honestly? No big deal.

 

[JoshuaShaw]

Disappointed, but ultimately ambivalent. I doubt this will cause any noticeable changes to my visits, but it does seem like the precedent that will ultimately cause more and more MK restaurants to sell alcohol. Whether or not that's good or bad, well that's a whole other debate altogether.

As for the "Walt was a businessman, he'd do anything" arguments...well, yes and no. Sure, he was in business to make money, not out of an obliged sense of altruism, but he wasn't some shrewd tycoon who would do anything to make a buck. In fact, he was kind of an irresponsible businessman because he would constantly spend more money than he should have for the sake of the final product. The animation studios were constantly in the red because he'd dump all the profits into their next movie to ensure the highest possible product. It wasn't until after Disneyland became a hit that the studio was back in the black. And while Disneyland was built to be profitable, the spark that lit Walt's imagination was the desire to have a place for families to enjoy together.

 

[keishashadow]

Walt will roll over in his grave.......

why? The magic all started in disneyland. He came back from his work at the World's Fair determined to set up a VIP Lounge of sorts at DL, which turned out to be the 33 Club. Yes, it's private but they serve alcohol and did so with his blessing.

WDW servers turn the tables over very quickly. I don't see it to be the norm for a guest to be over-served while eating a rushed dinner.

I'd hate to see the MK go the route of Epcot, due to it's more crowded area, but if they restrict alcohol to a few TS venues (and leave a few 'dry' for those who object for whatever reason) it's a fair compromise and allows WDW to make some extra revenue to keep the parks humming.

 

[Magpie]

Ahhh that ship sailed long ago when they took a couple cheap pre-built carnival rides and slapped a little Disney paint on them and called them new ie-Aladdin's carpets and Triceratop Spin.

Oh, in that case, the ship sailed the moment the park opened with Dumbo. I mean, really? It's nothing but a lame carnival ride with elephants. What was Walt thinking????

Also, beer is sold *everywhere* at Universal, even in the line for Forbidden Journey when it's hot (I've seen the cart, but it's never been manned b/c the line hasn't been long enough for it when we've been), and I have never once seen anything *near* aggression at Universal. Nor have I ever heard of it on the Uni forum here.

The people who go to MK are often the same that go to Universal...why would they behave themselves at Universal, surrounded by beer all day long, compared to one single place serving beer and wine at MK?

Whoa - don't you know Universal is the Dark Side? It's nothing but extreme roller coasters and roaming packs of drunken teenagers. You'll be up to your ankles in litter, the team members are surly, there's nothing for young children to do, and the only thing worth seeing is Harry Potter land - except the only ride there will make you so sick you'll barely have the strength to crawl back onto your Mears bus for transport back to civilization, AKA your Disney resort.

Seriously, though, you make a good point. I'd go further and say that comparing serving beer/wine in BOG to the F&W festival is red herring. To be accurate, you need to compare serving beer/wine in BOG to serving beer/wine in the Yak & Yeti at Animal Kingdom.

When was the last time you heard anyone complaining about smelling drunkards in Animal Kingdom? And heck, that park even has a full service bar in Africa! It's the Dawa Bar, near Tusker's Buffet.

 

[MoonFaerie]

As I sit here drinking my glass of wine, color me disappointed as well. There are so few alcohol-free places in this world (aside from certain countries!). Even though our kids are aware of alcohol, it was always nice to know that the Magic Kingdom was alcohol-free. I predict that it won't take long for more restaurants in MK to add booze to their menu.

And not because "the world will end," but having recently moved from a neighborhood with loads of bars, it was just nice to know that at MK there was absolutely no chance of running into someone who is intoxicated. I know it wouldn't be a completely common occurrence it was just nice to know there was one untouched haven. And as for "just" beer & wine, it's just as easy to get drunk by thinking it's not as potent.

They sure didn't keep me out of MK despite the fact that I had a couple Lapu Lapu at Kona before heading over to MK for Wishes...