What Happened to EPCOT?

[alvernon90]

Replies that state only: "Nope. Never seen it" are pointless.

Telling them their answers are pointless...is pointless.

Perhaps it belongs in another thread called "What Happened to DISBoards," but I can't help but think that the problem is the rise of the smartphone. Since people began posting to the boards from phones, I have noticed an increase in posts that are so short they're almost pointless and an enormous increase in posts so full of typos and bad autocorrects that they are indecipherable gibberish. I assume it's because people are using their phones to post on the boards while they are in Epcot and are completely hammered.

 

[anniemae]

We have not seen that kind of behavior, but we usually go to epcot during the day and are gone after dinner time. I think the ws tends to attract adults in the evening due to the alcohol served (think of the well-known "drink around the world") and the expensive restaurants. I have always heard that after dark, and during the f&w it can get a little rowdy. Plus don't they offer an "after hours" wind down? all those things will attract the more adult crowd.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I agree totally with the OP.....the last few years there are more and more problems with drunks....(not some folks having a few drinks, no problem with folks enjoying a few drinks. I do as well...I am referring to drunks).....rude, noisy, actually bouncing off others as they pass....

AKK

 

[BigMommaMouse]

I've had some disappointing experiences with over-served guests at IllumiNations times, too.

It is very disappointing that so many people think that they must be drunk in order to have a good time, and that being drunk is an excuse for bad behavior.

So much so we are not doing IllumiNations this year.

We go to EPCOT almost every night while at the World and unfortunately I have witnessed the same thing the OP has noted especially during F & W and even more so on the weekends. If possible, I'll never go to EPCOT at night during F&W again. My wife and I will have a couple drinks and we don't mind people having a good time but over the last few years we've seen way too many drunk people (young & older) at the Park. I agree Disney needs to get this back under control.

We will never again go on the weekend during the F&W.

 

[pampam]

Wow, OP, I'm sorry you and your family had to witness all of this. I hope it was not all in one trip. I personally have not seen anything like you have described, but I can see how it would sour you on Epcot.

I'm not sure how Disney could handle this. They want to sell the liquour because of the high markup, and because of the transportation system Disney has, those drinking likely were not driving. Still, their behavior is affecting others and is working against the family theme park ethic. When the atmosphere of Pleasure Island deteriorated, they changed it. I expect in time something will be done to discourage this type of activity at Epcot.

 

[izzylovesmickey]

We've seen it but luckily not where it was totally out of control. My adult kids still laugh about the guy they saw during Christmas time that was so drunk he couldn't find the straw in his drink with his mouth. He was quiet at least! DD drank around the world for her 21st birthday but I stayed sober and ran herd on the group of them. I don't think they offended anyone-sure hope not!

 

[Satchmo128]

I used to work as a server in a restaurant and this just makes me think of the liability that would have fallen on me/the restaurant if someone was over-served alcohol and then drove and injured/killed someone after getting in their car. We definitely had the ability to cut people off after 2-3 drinks (or we could use our judgement based on their level of coherence) no questions asked by management. I know that many people visiting WDW parks are staying on-site and won't be driving, by the number of cars in every parking lot at WDW leads me to believe that there is still a very real danger that something could happen on the roads around WDW because someone shouldn't be behind the wheel.

And, as someone whose uncle was killed by a drunk driver, this entire issue is especially close to home for me.

Makes me sad that people are acting this way.....and makes me even more sad that Disney isn't doing anything about it.

 

[JimmyV]

Jimmy, I've seen you use this rationale on several different topics including selfie sticks. Just because people state that they haven't seen something occur at WDW why do you assume they are implying that it doesn't happen.

I disagree. The implication is often very evident.

 

[ArwenMarie]

OP, I agree. I don't like being in World Showcase after a certain time anymore, especially if my kids are with us. I imagine the heat and humidity and dehydration doesn't help either.

Unfortunately, like many things in life, something bad will probably have to happen before they step up and change things.

 

[epcotty]

We haven't seen it maybe because we go there on weekdays, but I don't doubt it at all. That truly is sad, they do need to do more obviously

 

[old lady]

I blame Eisner for the changing he did to the park.

 

[si-am]

I disagree. The implication is often very evident.

I disagree with this. If someone who had never been to Epcot read the OP, they may think that every night the park is full of obnoxious intoxicated people. However, reading "I've never seen this" actually CAN be helpful because it shows that it's not a constant problem, and could be more of an isolated incident.

 

[GaryDis]

I disagree. The implication is often very evident.

I think the implication is that it's not ubiquitous, not that it's zero.

Other readers, seeing how many people saying "yes, I've observed the problem" and "no, I haven't", will reach a conclusion for themselves as to how serious a problem it might be. It won't be a statistically valid conclusion, but in the absence of more reliable data, it's useful and reasonable.

 

[Planogirl]

The families lining up for the Frozen stuff and some of the Food & Wine attendees might make for an interesting mix.

 

[midnightlouise]

The last few times we've been have been during food and wine, and sadly the most recent trip had us there on a Saturday night lol. It was way too crowded, and there were too many people there whose decision-making abilities were suspect. It was quite a bit more rowdy than when we'd gone 2 years previously, so we'll never go back again on a Saturday during F&W unless it's just DH and me. Sorry that happened to you, OP. I'd have been upset as well.

 

[Jennasis]

I must be blissfully oblivious, because I haven't seen any remotely obnoxious drunk behavior in Epcot and we've been plenty during F&W. I am POSITIVE it happens. I just haven't had the misfortune of being subjected to it. I don't think seeing morons drunk and puking in the bushes or cavorting about like apes and making donkey's butts out of themselves would affect my enjoyment of the park though. Hopefully I'll never have to find out!

 

[mousefan73]

How can college kids even afford to get that wasted at Epcot!?

Even with our good income, more than 2 drinks is too much money

 

[AngiTN]

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

How can college kids even afford to get that wasted at Epcot!?

Even with our good income, more than 2 drinks is too much money

I had the same thoughts. Not just about college kids but about anyone

 

[samsteele]

I agree with the OP. So much so that I have yet to stay for Illuminations during F&W. By 7:30 pm, even on weekdays, you can feel a change in the air at WS. The crowds get heavier. Drinks in both hands become obvious. And some guests get surly. Trying to navigate through the crowds becomes a real challenge. Sometimes because other guests have had way too much to drink and walk straight at you - often shoulder to shoulder with their drinking buddies. By 7:30 pm, I start for the buses. I do my best to avoid F&W completely on the weekends. IMO, this is a completely different atmosphere from Epcot After Dark in January and February. During those months, "the lights are on" and its much more of a fun, fantasy world with an adult spin. Not so during F&W when after dark it's edgier and nasty. Of course, in the Winter it is colder and crowds are much lower so there's that.

I love F&W but not after dark.

 

[SeilerBird]

Wow, you go to a place that serves alcohol and people are acting like morons. How shocking. It's why I don't drink.