What Happened to EPCOT?

[crostorfer]

We love EPCOT, we spend a good majority of our time in the WS thanks to FP+, because it's the only place I don't feel I need to try to schedule our fun. The only time I ever feel this way is during F&W. Like many others, we did our first F&W Saturday last year. I had no idea about the "drinking teams". I wasn't shocked by the fact that people wanted to drink around the world, I was shocked by the fact that it has become a team sport, with t-shirts, cheerleaders, and flags like the tour groups use.

I've said this before on a different thread and got chastised for it, but I'll say it again. I have no problem with fun, I like to throw back a few libations myself. I just found those drinking teams more annoying than competition cheerleaders and foreign tour groups. They were loud, obnoxious, vomiting in the rest rooms and over the guard rails, and several people were in seriously bad shape back by the American Adventure,(the mid way point around the world). As in, non-functional, can't get off of the bench drunk. If I wouldn't have had my, (then) 11 year old with me, it wouldn't have bothered me. I just didn't think it was a good environment to have my kiddo in.

ETA: We weren't there on Saturday evening either. This was Saturday, from 11am-2pm.

 

[Rgonzalez79]

Thanks everyone for the feedback and sharing your experience (agreeing with me or not). I sincerely hope that those who haven't seen or noticed this behavior never do, it sucks and can ruin a park day in some cases .

Now, what realistically can Disney do to get some level of control over this situation?

There's way too much profit in alcohol sales so that won't stop, training staff to notice when someone's goose is cooked might be tough with such large crowds but I think it would be a step in the right direction (especially with the drinking teams that I haven't personally seen).

I forgot who posted the question but I did call Disney customer service each time to make them aware of the issue and our concerns. This didn't happen all in one trip so they've had a few calls from us.

 

[baldy6060]

We love Epcot. Probably my favorite park and we always stay from open to close. I'm not doubting these things happen but I can honestly say I've never witnessed it myself. The worst I've seen is a puddle of puke on the way out of WS near Mexico and that could've belonged to anybody. I hope I don't ever see it. If they are able to get drunk enough at Epcot that they are passing out and puking they need to share the wealth cuz booze ain't cheap in Disney World!

 

[Julylady]

Count me as another person who will no longer go to Epcot on weekends during Food and Wine.

In July we did the Pirates and pals party at the Contemporary. Afterwards we stayed and talked a bit before catching the boat back to Ft Wilderness. At the marina, we watched as three twenty somethings stumbled to the dock. They were very drunk and thought everything was just hilarious. When the boat came (one of those little schooner types), two of them had to be helped on by the CM because they were to tipsy to step on to the boat. But then the real fun started. As soon as we pulled away from the dock, the motion of the boat started getting to them. All of a sudden, things weren't so funny anymore. One girl started vomiting and wasn't able to get to the side of the boat. And then both girls started crying loudly. The guy with them sobered up fast and tried to distance himself from them (or from the pool of vomit). He actually moved to another seat and acted like he wasn't with them. As we were docking, I heard the driver radioing that our boat was off service (for cleanup). He asked us to let the sick person disboard first and then apologized to everyone else as we got off.

It was pretty disgusting, but a real object lesson for my 13 year old niece.

 

[maxiesmom]

Count me as another person who will no longer go to Epcot on weekends during Food and Wine.

In July we did the Pirates and pals party at the Contemporary. Afterwards we stayed and talked a bit before catching the boat back to Ft Wilderness. At the marina, we watched as three twenty somethings stumbled to the dock. They were very drunk and thought everything was just hilarious. When the boat came (one of those little schooner types), two of them had to be helped on by the CM because they were to tipsy to step on to the boat. But then the real fun started. As soon as we pulled away from the dock, the motion of the boat started getting to them. All of a sudden, things weren't so funny anymore. One girl started vomiting and wasn't able to get to the side of the boat. And then both girls started crying loudly. The guy with them sobered up fast and tried to distance himself from them (or from the pool of vomit). He actually moved to another seat and acted like he wasn't with them. As we were docking, I heard the driver radioing that our boat was off service (for cleanup). He asked us to let the sick person disboard first and then apologized to everyone else as we got off.

It was pretty disgusting, but a real object lesson for my 13 year old niece.

I'm not sure how the food and wine festival had anything to do with the bad behavior you were witness to. It actually shows that such behavior is not created by the food and wine festival and can be run into anytime anywhere.

 

[Fizban]

I'm not sure how the food and wine festival had anything to do with the bad behavior you were witness to. It actually shows that such behavior is not created by the food and wine festival and can be run into anytime anywhere.

I think the point that JulyLady was trying to make was that yes there are other recognized instances of over indulging at the world these days. I also agree that when you market something as a XX and wine you are advertising a party (could be puppies and wine or worms and wine and people will still show up for the wine). I enjoy a good margarita myself, but lets not try to sugar coat that Disney is marketing the drinking side of things in epcot and they even broke Uncle Walt's rule of no booze in MK.

 

[nooneshome]

In the 15+ WDW trips I can't remember one time where we saw someone drunk and making a fool out of themselves. I guess we have been lucky. I have seen people making a fool out of themselves many times but they seemed sober.

One night I did hear the couple in the next room get into a pretty serious argument.

I guess that is why up until recently there was no alcohol at MK.

 

[AngiTN]

I forgot who posted the question but I did call Disney customer service each time to make them aware of the issue and our concerns. This didn't happen all in one trip so they've had a few calls from us.

I thought you'd had the misfortune of seeing all that on one trip. Not that seeing it at all is good I am relived to know it was over multiple trips. Maybe it's not quite as prevalent as it appeared since that is over multiple trips. With the numbers of guests at a park on a given night there is bound to be at least one acting a fool, from alcohol or just because they are an idiot, or both.

 

[MatzoBelle]

Alcohol-oriented events attract alcohol abusers and addicts in denial. All in the name of "fun."

 

[Rgonzalez79]

I thought you'd had the misfortune of seeing all that on one trip. Not that seeing it at all is good I am relived to know it was over multiple trips. Maybe it's not quite as prevalent as it appeared since that is over multiple trips. With the numbers of guests at a park on a given night there is bound to be at least one acting a fool, from alcohol or just because they are an idiot, or both.

Oh man if it was all in one trip my wife might have cancelled our annual passes. These incidents that I highlighted were in our last couple of visits to the park though so there wasn't much time between (we just joined the annual pass brigade this year). I don't doubt that these folks are in the minority and are not running rampant throughout the park, but that minority does appear to be growing and that's where my concern is.

 

[nessz79]

We've experienced this only occasionally (and we go every time we go to Disney, at least once a year), but it's usually during Food & Wine. We've decided we don't care about F&W any more. Overpriced for tiny portions and people thinking it's an excuse to act ridiculous. We aren't prudes. We drink and don't mind our tweens seeing people drink responsibly. I can't stand obnoxious or rude behavior in any form, and it's more frequent during those times, so we don't go then.

Other than that, it's pretty rare. I just explain to my kids that people can be rude everywhere and shrug it off as much as possible.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Thanks everyone for the feedback and sharing your experience (agreeing with me or not). I sincerely hope that those who haven't seen or noticed this behavior never do, it sucks and can ruin a park day in some cases .

Now, what realistically can Disney do to get some level of control over this situation?

There's way too much profit in alcohol sales so that won't stop, training staff to notice when someone's goose is cooked might be tough with such large crowds but I think it would be a step in the right direction (especially with the drinking teams that I haven't personally seen).

I forgot who posted the question but I did call Disney customer service each time to make them aware of the issue and our concerns. This didn't happen all in one trip so they've had a few calls from us.

They just need to have more security walking around (not CMs, security). I don't even know how they can cut people off if people are wandering from place to place unless they look very bad. It's not like a bar where a bartender would have an idea how many people had. But in any case, more security is the answer.

 

[crostorfer]

They just need to have more security walking around (not CMs, security). I don't even know how they can cut people off if people are wandering from place to place unless they look very bad. It's not like a bar where a bartender would have an idea how many people had. But in any case, more security is the answer.

I've never seen them cut someone off at F&W, but I did have a CM refuse to serve a girl at F&G. That girl was three sheets to the wind, and blurted out that she had already had a lot to drink. That may be the threshold right there. If you walk up to a booth and declare you are drunk, that is when they won't serve you. This could easily be worked around though, just have someone else buy their drink for them.

 

[larryz]

Not everyone is the same, I've seen people complete Drinks Around the World, get a buzz, and enjoy themselves without becoming a nuisance to other guests. But if this is what EPCOT is about these days, if this is what Disney is allowing the city of tomorrow to become (an outdoor bar with no means of crowd control) then....well there's not much we can do is there?

Is it just me who feels this way? Anyone else out there not enjoy this park as much as they used to because of this?

Maybe WE are a bit at fault for this -- the DISBoards tends to glorify the "Drink Around the World" experience...

 

[THEDISNEYTHREE]

We have seen a really gross puking incident in Epcot on the weekend during Food and Wine.

 

[MartDM]

I've only seen this sort of behavior on a Saturday at F&WF (where whole groups have matching t-shirts illustrating their intent to get hammered?? Adults, not college kids!), but nothing as dramatic as what you describe. That said, we are aware it is a possibility at Epcot, so we are always prepared to relocate if World Showcase gets a little sloppy later in the evening.

 

[Robo]

Maybe WE are a bit at fault for this -- the DISBoards tends to glorify the "Drink Around the World" experience...

Haven't you read the "Worst advice you got" thread?

From reading it, the situation appears that nobody should follow the advice given on this board, anyway,
so that can't be it.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

This has been a growing problem for years now. But Disney seems to be that mythical frog put in cold water that won't jump out as it is brought to a boil. I've long since given up on going to World Showcase on Food and Wine weekends. The crowds and the booths taking up space have always hindered getting around WS. But now that there are more and more incidents of drunkenness, well there are better places to be at WDW those evenings. Even on the dis here, we have lets go around the world drunk threads.

 

[flicx]

Perhaps if they used the magic band technology to actually track the number of drinks a guest has had. Making sure to have the actual guest who is drinking the alcohol scan their band they could control it. Of course the financial losses on Disney's part make this scenario highly unlikely!

 

[Bullseye]

For the record, as I'm one who said I've never seen it, I never said it didn't happen. OP asked who had seen something similar and felt the same way. The answer is we haven't seen it so we don't feel the same way
I had the same thoughts. Not just about college kids but about anyone

This is what I'm saying, why would you need to go into a long drawn out explanation about something you haven't experienced. The question was asked, you answered it. You're not trying to make a point...you're just answering the question without implying anything .

Alcohol-oriented events attract alcohol abusers and addicts in denial. All in the name of "fun."

Yes you get the the bad with the good. Some folks don't know how to turn it off after a few cocktails, others can't handle their liquor. I've seen some drunken behavior at Epcot on a couple of occasions, but nothing like the OP describes. I've seen people being rowdy and boisterous but not to the point that it bothered me.

Like a lot of things though, I think it depends who the beholder is. One person might see a group drinking and laughing and speaking loudly and think "Good for them, they're having a great time " while someone else might see the same thing and think "What a bunch of jerks, someone should do something about them "

I love the fact that you can enjoy various wines, beers, and liquors from around the world at Epcot. It one of the reasons it's my favorite place in all of WDW. Like ArwenMarie said, probably more security in some respect would be the answer.