More Booze in the MK!

[SaintsManiac]

I think "money grab" might be the most overused phrase on these boards. Disney is a business. Selling is what they are supposed to do.

 

[Keels]

I said this on another thread, but I think at the end of the day - WDW NEEDS to make extra cash. We've seen it with the new offerings - and it seems like it's mostly been put on Food & Beverage to make up whatever cash-flow deficiency that the Florida parks are suffering from. That's why we're seeing things like more dessert parties, the Tiana parade "cruise", special dining events, more "food-based" festivals at Epcot, etc. And after throwing everything they had against the wall, the giant pink Heffalump in the room was the alcohol sales at BoG since inception.

I think that the powers-that-be tried their best to avoid alcohol altogether at MK, but if they need the money desperately, they had to find a happy medium - and this is what they came up with.

I think it will also help hiring for the restaurants at MK, as now more seasoned servers will be interested in taking those shifts since checks per table now have the possibility of being $20-40 higher for a party of four, thus more opportunity for gratuity.

Disney (and Florida theme parks in general) have also hit a wall in hiring - the Central Florida workforce just cannot support the needs that the theme parks have, on top of the rest of the facilities that cater to tourists in that part of the region. However, just a little boost of money-making potential might lure experience servers to work at Disney and will allow Disney to reallocate staffing of, say, College Program and other seasonal/temp employees to the departments that woefully need staffing assistance.

There are obviously a lot of factors at play, and I'm sure that the people in charge of this decision wouldn't have made it if it didn't solve a lot of problems the parks are facing that we don't know about.

 

[declansdad]

Take what you want from it!

No I'm asking is that what you are saying?

 

[DVCcurious]

While I'm not a WWWD guy, but the reason WDW is in Florida and not Saint Louis is because of alcohol.

Thank God for that!

St Louis + January + outdoor rides =

 

[Missyrose]

and maybe families with children(which is the where the bulk of revenue comes) will choose to go elsewhere.

Is MK the only park that people with children visit? Because I could have sworn I saw kids at the other three parks that have alcohol throughout them. And are you already avoiding MK because people can drink at BOG?

 

[BigAlsGal]

Thank God for that!

St Louis + January + outdoor rides =

I know! Lord could you imagine Disney in St Louis?!? I mean given..it would be closer to me but I can't even fathom Disney World in the Midwest. Bleh! Would definitely NEED alcohol if that were the case.

 

[desertbloom]

no one is going to be wasted after 2 drinks.

HA! You haven't seen me drink.....lololol. I would be that inappropriate drunk person on It's a Small World who won't stop laughing.

 

[DizDad513]

Thumbs down from our family and I believe a mistake by Disney. MK and alcohol do Not mix regardless what others are saying. Keep alcohol confined to DS and Epcot. Disney trying to increase their bottom line may well hurt business, and maybe families with children(which is the where the bulk of revenue comes) will choose to go elsewhere. If we wanted our kids to be around people drinking we would vacay on Bourbon Street. Not a prude by any means but not the proper setting. IMO.

My family (with young children), has absolutely no problem going to any other theme park where alcohol is served, including the other 3 parks, 2 water parks and DS. I honestly don't know any family, out of our group of friends, that would avoid going to MK because they are serving alcohol. If anything, I can name some families that WOULD consider going (and staying for dinner) now that the policy is changing. If we can go with our kids to other theme parks, cruises, ball games, and even church festivals where beer/wine/alcohol is served without incident, I'm confident we will be able to do the same at MK.

 

[lancermom]

Thumbs down from our family and I believe a mistake by Disney. MK and alcohol do Not mix regardless what others are saying. Keep alcohol confined to DS and Epcot. Disney trying to increase their bottom line may well hurt business, and maybe families with children(which is the where the bulk of revenue comes) will choose to go elsewhere. If we wanted our kids to be around people drinking we would vacay on Bourbon Street. Not a prude by any means but not the proper setting. IMO.

My children have been going on vacations to destinations where people drink since they were little. They have been to Europe, cruises, all-inclusives and Disney. They have grown up seeing their parents drink at dinner and on vacation. They've been to sporting events and family gatherings where alcohol was freely consumed. As a result, they have learned that it's for adults, but at the same time not some sort of exotic, taboo activity only to be done while hidden away. It's not a mystery to them.

Not only do more and more people travel to Disney without children, there are many families for whom wine at dinner is the norm. I fail to see how having that option at the Magic Kingdom is equal to visiting Bourbon St. (kind of a dramatic comparison, don't you think?

However, if families are so afraid of their children seeing alcohol that they will start going elsewhere, great. Fewer people, shorter lines.

 

[LilyWDW]

Doesn't bug me at all and I don't even drink.

 

[Jennasis]

Disney smacks of desperation lately with all their add-ons, "premium" so-forths and now this. They clearly and rather embarassingly are desperate for cash. They look like my FB friends hawking Thirty One, Scentsy, and so on. I just kind of smile and say "oh that's nice..best of luck with that."

 

[crostorfer]

Yeah but that requires a certain amount of sobriety to navigate the transportation system (Or drive - ) and get past security check-in.

NYE will take on a whole new life and think about what they can upcharge for the Wishes Dessert Party now?

Next up will be selling beer at Casey's... who doesn't want a beer with their hot dog?

The only way I would go back to the Wishes Dessertt Party is if they had alcohol freely flowing, so I'm all for this idea. I'd like to see an adults only Wishes party with dessert and wine or cordial pairings. Perhaps a specialty cocktail only available for the party.

 

[Farro]

Disney smacks of desperation lately with all their add-ons, "premium" so-forths and now this. They clearly and rather embarassingly are desperate for cash. They look like my FB friends hawking Thirty One, Scentsy, and so on. I just kind of smile and say "oh that's nice..best of luck with that."

So people keep saying that, yet (almost) all of these events and add-ons seem to sell out, book up and are pretty popular.
Someone must want them and Disney will keep the ones that work and re-tool the ones that don't.

Give the people what they (think) they want...

This is all totally aimed at visitors like us it seems, since it's mostly those that go quite frequently who seem to be the most upset at changes - we go once every few years or so, if that. Let me cram it all in! Now I most likely won't do most of the add-ons, but I'm happily spending money on the Halloween Party, would love an after hours at AK if they would offer it, or Future World! Future World after hours event would be awesome...

 

[adisneyaunt]

Fine by me. Will enjoy a libation with our meal. And why not...

 

[Barbanellie]

I have a question for all those quoting Walt, and saying that wasn't his vision and etc: What would Walt think of the parks being (pretty much) smoke free?

Times change, we evolve, things that were outrageous before become commonplace (women working outside the home, dads taking time off to be with their children...), things that used to be commonplace become outrageous (beating your child for poor behavior, forbidding married women from working...)

At the end of the day, if I'm at WDW, I'm happy, and I don't give a hoot what the other people have had to eat or to drink around me.

 

[whiporee]

I have a question for all those quoting Walt, and saying that wasn't his vision and etc: What would Walt think of the parks being (pretty much) smoke free?

Times change, we evolve, things that were outrageous before become commonplace (women working outside the home, dads taking time off to be with their children...), things that used to be commonplace become outrageous (beating your child for poor behavior, forbidding married women from working...)

At the end of the day, if I'm at WDW, I'm happy, and I don't give a hoot what the other people have had to eat or to drink around me.

... until they're a little drunker than normal and getting extra aggressive or loud or whatever in the MK-unique crowd that is around the parades and fireworks shows.

As for your question, my guess is that Walt would be fine with the lack of smoking because it would be easier to keep the place clean. And that he wouldn't have a problem with it being banned (or relegated to small areas) because that's commonplace now, and expected in almost any public gathering. I'd even go so far as to say that he would have been on the forefront of banning smoking because of the family atmosphere.

I know people like to lament the family-ness of the MK, but it is why the place was built. That it's morphed into something more than that is a testament to it, but all you have to do is look around and it's easy to see MK was built for kids and families. Adults can enjoy it, too, but they are not and have never been the focus of the place. You can make a case that any of the other three parks aren't built with kids in mind, but MK darn sure was and continues to be. It has a high percentage of all-age friendly rides compared to the other parks, and has more actual rides than the other parks. It has large areas and CMs dedicated to stroller control. Hell, its centerpiece is a castle and a merry-go-round.

I'm not saying that only kids or families should be allowed. I'm not saying adults can't have fun and favorite times there. But if you look at the MK, it was clearly built to be a place for families and kids, and I don't see the fault with that remaining its focus. Of course, I have kids, so it's an easy stance for me to take. And if parents wish that it remained a safer place for kids (and by that I mean less chance of drunken jerks causing disturbances), I don't see that as them condemning people who drink. But almost any other amusement park in the world is open for people to have a beer (and occasionally get drunk and drunker) while they stroll around; I don't see the harm in wishing that at least this place wasn't one of them.

 

[Allison]

I am not understanding why people keep bringing up "families" and equating that to people who don't drink alcohol. That logic doesn't compute for me. These exact same families at the Magic Kingdom are at their resort later in the day having a drink by the pool or ordering a margarita at the Mexican restaurant in Epcot on another day.

Let's also remember the word family does not include having someone under the age of 18 in it as part of its definition.

 

[Barbanellie]

And that he wouldn't have a problem with it being banned (or relegated to small areas) because that's commonplace now, and expected in almost any public gathering

Well, that's pretty much my point. I think having a drink with dinner is now commonplace, and therefore isn't out of place in any sit-down restaurant in the US, whether it is in WDW or not.

 

[Missyrose]

And if parents wish that it remained a safer place for kids

Do you feel unsafe at Applebee's or Ruby Tuesdays or TGIFriday's at home? Because (whisper) those places serve way more alcohol than any MK restaurant will have. And at much cheaper prices, prices that make it a lot easier to actually get drunk than Disney's $12 beers and $18 wine.

 

[DatFan]

Do you not visit AK, Epcot, Hollywood Studios or Disney Springs on your visits to Disney? Would you never consider a cruise? What about a vacation to the beach where others may have alcohol?

I'm just curious how difficult it is to find a vacation spot where you wouldn't be around alcohol. That could be a challenge.

My children have been going on vacations to destinations where people drink since they were little. They have been to Europe, cruises, all-inclusives and Disney. They have grown up seeing their parents drink at dinner and on vacation. They've been to sporting events and family gatherings where alcohol was freely consumed. As a result, they have learned that it's for adults, but at the same time not some sort of exotic, taboo activity only to be done while hidden away. It's not a mystery to them.

Not only do more and more people travel to Disney without children, there are many families for whom wine at dinner is the norm. I fail to see how having that option at the Magic Kingdom is equal to visiting Bourbon St. (kind of a dramatic comparison, don't you think?

However, if families are so afraid of their children seeing alcohol that they will start going elsewhere, great. Fewer people, shorter lines.

In general, people that drink will agree with alcohol being served in MK. And people who do not drink will disapprove(notice I said in general). And most revenue from these parks come from parents with children well under 18(feel free to quote and argue this if so desired). My only point is that IF there is any place that should be alcohol free, anywhere...it should be MK. It's the park that more than any other at DW is themed and frequented by young kids. That said it will not stop me and my family from spending thousands each year at Disney.