Open Alchohol and Consumption on Disney Transportation?

[scrappinginontario]

My 5yo DD and I just returned from an amazing 10 day visit to our favourite place - WDW!!!

One thing that surprised me and was a 'first' on my 30+ trips to WDW was the open alcohol being consumed on Disney transportation. Call me old fashioned but I was shocked!

The first occurrence was at 11:30am (yes, I checked my watch more than once) when the lady across from us consumed a beer that was open when she boarded the bus. It was in a holder but the label was still clearly visible. I was so surprised! Eating and drinking is not supposed to happen on the buses to the best of my understanding but this took it up a notch.

The second occurrence was on the monorail heading from Magic Kingdom to the Contemporary. When we boarded our car there was a family there with 2 children and this time both parents were openly drinking cans of beer. The mother's was in a holder but the father was openly holding it in his hand and consuming it.

Is this now a common occurrence at WDW or did I happen to catch a couple of rare exceptions? I wonder if it is more prevalent during the Food and Wine Festival? I know that I chose to leave Epcot before park closing on the Saturday night based on recommendations from other guests I had spoken with on the bus. A couple of families mentioned that on Friday and Saturday nights of the festival it is not unusual for there to be a number of inebriated guests on the bus at park closing. I just decided to try and avoid this and we had no problems at all when we left a little early.

My daughter was oblivious to the whole thing, it's just this mommy that was surprised by what she saw! Am I just old fashioned (happily old fashioned) or does this surprise you too?

 

[smscrapbooks]

I am old fashioned too and I guess we'll find out when we go visit in 8 days. At one point I thought Disney didn't serve any alcohol in their parks except for Epcot. Has that changed? My husband's side of the family has a sad history of alcohol addiction. We are teaching the kids that alcohol is bad for them.

 

[kmb584]

I am old fashioned too and I guess we'll find out when we go visit in 8 days. At one point I thought Disney didn't serve any alcohol in their parks except for Epcot. Has that changed? My husband's side of the family has a sad history of alcohol addiction. We are teaching the kids that alcohol is bad for them.

It's served in all 4 parks, but in MK it's only at Be Our Guest during dinner hours.

 

[maxiesmom]

I am old fashioned too and I guess we'll find out when we go visit in 8 days. At one point I thought Disney didn't serve any alcohol in their parks except for Epcot. Has that changed? My husband's side of the family has a sad history of alcohol addiction. We are teaching the kids that alcohol is bad for them.

The only park that never served alcohol is the Magic Kingdom. And now you can get it at the Be our Guest restaurant, but you cannot buy it and carry it around.

I have to say that in many trips to WDW, with my most recent one last year, I have never seen alcohol being consumed on Disney transportation. So yes, I am quite surprised you ran into it twice during the same trip.

 

[Airship Ariadne]

You really aren't supposed to be drinking ANYTHING on either the bus OR the monorail, alcohol or not...so technically, the alcohol part of it isn't the only thing not right in each situation.

 

[scrapquitler]

My 5yo DD and I just returned from an amazing 10 day visit to our favourite place - WDW!!!

One thing that surprised me and was a 'first' on my 30+ trips to WDW was the open alcohol being consumed on Disney transportation. Call me old fashioned but I was shocked!

The first occurrence was at 11:30am (yes, I checked my watch more than once) when the lady across from us consumed a beer that was open when she boarded the bus. It was in a holder but the label was still clearly visible. I was so surprised! Eating and drinking is not supposed to happen on the buses to the best of my understanding but this took it up a notch.

The second occurrence was on the monorail heading from Magic Kingdom to the Contemporary. When we boarded our car there was a family there with 2 children and this time both parents were openly drinking cans of beer. The mother's was in a holder but the father was openly holding it in his hand and consuming it.

Is this now a common occurrence at WDW or did I happen to catch a couple of rare exceptions? I wonder if it is more prevalent during the Food and Wine Festival? I know that I chose to leave Epcot before park closing on the Saturday night based on recommendations from other guests I had spoken with on the bus. A couple of families mentioned that on Friday and Saturday nights of the festival it is not unusual for there to be a number of inebriated guests on the bus at park closing. I just decided to try and avoid this and we had no problems at all when we left a little early.

My daughter was oblivious to the whole thing, it's just this mommy that was surprised by what she saw! Am I just old fashioned (happily old fashioned) or does this surprise you too?

I probably wouldn't have even noticed, and if I did, I probably wouldn't have thought much of it. And 11:30AM doesn't phase me at all.

I'm not at all familiar with the alcohol laws in Florida, so I don't know if it would be any kind of violation or not. I know that in Vermont if you are in a bar or somewhere that serves alcohol, you are not allowed to leave the premises with it. So you could for example, take your bottled beer out onto the restaurant or bars deck, but you could not take it out the front door onto the sidewalk. I guess that Disney transportation is all 'on the premises' except when the buses are on the roads outside -- so maybe a Disney violation and not a state of Florida violation..it would be interesting to find out.

I AM surprised to hear that food and beverages are prohibited on the Disney transportation because the last time we were there, we stayed on site, and every morning it seemed like almost everyone had their resort mug and was drinking from it on the bus. And I saw lots of people eating and drinking on he monorail. I really had no idea that it's prohibited.

 

[MaleficentEvilSister]

I AM surprised to hear that food and beverages are prohibited on the Disney transportation because the last time we were there, we stayed on site, and every morning it seemed like almost everyone had their resort mug and was drinking from it on the bus. And I saw lots of people eating and drinking on he monorail. I really had no idea that it's prohibited.

Not only did we notice the resort mugs, we apparently were breaking the rule as well because we would fill our mugs with coffee to sip on the ride to the parks.

 

[Airship Ariadne]

I AM surprised to hear that food and beverages are prohibited on the Disney transportation because the last time we were there, we stayed on site, and every morning it seemed like almost everyone had their resort mug and was drinking from it on the bus. And I saw lots of people eating and drinking on he monorail. I really had no idea that it's prohibited.

There are signs (ok, at the moment I can't quite remember them for certain on the monorail, but am fairly there were some. I do remember them on the buses though).

Of course, that doesn't mean people disregard them, and I honestly would prefer the driver be more interested in driving than enforcing those rules.

 

[maxiesmom]

It is in the announcement when you board the bus too. No eating or drinking is allowed. I too would rather the bus driver focus on driving then on enforcing the no food or drink rule.

 

[Airship Ariadne]

It is in the announcement when you board the bus too. No eating or drinking is allowed. I too would rather the bus driver focus on driving then on enforcing the no food or drink rule.

I was thinking there was...but it has been too long since I was there (a problem that will soon be cured!) so I wasn't sure my memory on that was accurate.

 

[jerseygal]

My 5yo DD and I just returned from an amazing 10 day visit to our favourite place - WDW!!!

One thing that surprised me and was a 'first' on my 30+ trips to WDW was the open alcohol being consumed on Disney transportation. Call me old fashioned but I was shocked!

The first occurrence was at 11:30am (yes, I checked my watch more than once) when the lady across from us consumed a beer that was open when she boarded the bus. It was in a holder but the label was still clearly visible. I was so surprised! Eating and drinking is not supposed to happen on the buses to the best of my understanding but this took it up a notch.

The second occurrence was on the monorail heading from Magic Kingdom to the Contemporary. When we boarded our car there was a family there with 2 children and this time both parents were openly drinking cans of beer. The mother's was in a holder but the father was openly holding it in his hand and consuming it.

Is this now a common occurrence at WDW or did I happen to catch a couple of rare exceptions? I wonder if it is more prevalent during the Food and Wine Festival? I know that I chose to leave Epcot before park closing on the Saturday night based on recommendations from other guests I had spoken with on the bus. A couple of families mentioned that on Friday and Saturday nights of the festival it is not unusual for there to be a number of inebriated guests on the bus at park closing. I just decided to try and avoid this and we had no problems at all when we left a little early.

My daughter was oblivious to the whole thing, it's just this mommy that was surprised by what she saw! Am I just old fashioned (happily old fashioned) or does this surprise you too?

Totally inappropriate on Disney Transportation, IMO! I would think that there are local ordinances which govern "OPEN CONTAINER AND CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL" in public like this! Gee.....If "college" towns have ordinances like that which pertain to off campus housing, than you sure bet that family friendly places like Disney Transportation SHOULD!
I think if it were me, for curiosity sake, I would have asked the bus driver when I was departing..

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Totally inappropriate on Disney Transportation, IMO! I would think that there are local ordinances which govern "OPEN CONTAINER AND CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL" in public like this! Gee.....If "college" towns have ordinances like that which pertain to off campus housing, than you sure bet that family friendly places like Disney Transportation SHOULD!
I think if it were me, for curiosity sake, I would have asked the bus driver when I was departing..

Surprisingly---it isn't illegal.
http://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2012/316.1936

OP--I have never seen this in all of my visits to WDW. Weird.

 

[North of Mouse]

Surprisingly---it isn't illegal.
http://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2012/316.1936

OP--I have never seen this in all of my visits to WDW. Weird.

It may not violate FL's law, but I'm almost certain it violates Disney's law (private property and transportation). They can regulate it on their property.

 

[Sparkly]

Well, as long as they aren't slopping the beer everywhere or offering it to underage guests, what's the problem?

 

[happymommy]

I have seen folks drinking coffee on the buses, but once I also had a driver ask folks to finish their coffee or toss it (in carry out cups, not the refillable mugs) before boarding. Most drivers let it slide.

Beer on the bus or monorail is just tacky.

They won't let you openly enter or leave a park with an open container of alcohol.

 

[Disneylover99]

And one never really knows what someone is drinking in their Disney mug no matter if it's morning, noon or night.

I don't care as long as they're neat and discreet.

 

[Jing]

If the rules about drinks are only enforced at employee discretion, then alcohol is just another drink. I'm not sure if there is a distinct rule about alcohol, since it is one big property and the theory behind using Disney transportation is that you are not going to drive. As long as folks are not overtly intoxicated, I don't mind, but then I'm also the type that believes everywhere can be Vegas with the right attitude!

 

[Disneylover99]

everywhere can be Vegas with the right attitude!

And the right amount of self-control.

 

[ajwolfe]

And one never really knows what someone is drinking in their Disney mug no matter if it's morning, noon or night.

I don't care as long as they're neat and discreet.

Agreed!!

 

[SamSam]

And one never really knows what someone is drinking in their Disney mug no matter if it's morning, noon or night.

I don't care as long as they're neat and discreet.

Agree! Who cares as long as people are being discreet! Really, I don't care what other people do as long as it doesn't interfere with my experience. Way more to worry about in real life!