Why can't plastic straws be given at the Animal Kingdom Lodge?

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I know that when you eat in the Animal Kingdom, there are no plastic straws there for the safety of the animals. However I have always wondered why can't they give straws when you eat at Boma & I assume it's the same for Jiko & their counter service location, in the Animal Kingdom Lodge? I know they told us it's because of the Animals in the Savana, but what are the chances of something happening to them if plastic straws were given out in their restaurants at the Resort?

 

[debster812]

It's probably because people litter, things blow away, and could get to the Savannah. Easier all the way around just to NOT have them. And safer too for the animals.

 

[Allison]

Why? You already answered the question-safety of the animals.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

You make some good points, but what I don't get is why would people who eat at Boma or Jiko need to litter for? It's not like they would need to take their drinks out of the restaurant, unlike at their counter service location where people can walk out with drinks all the time & chances are they might be the ones who litter & ruin it for everyone else. Don't get me wrong it's great they try to keep the animals safe, however just saying what I think.

 

[bicker]

.. what I don't get is why would people who eat at Boma or Jiko need to litter for?

This is one of those questions of the ages. Why do people violate rules, act selfishly, exploit loop-holes, abuse generosity, etc.? I don't think there will ever be a satisfactory answer to that question.

 

[AJKMOM]

I would think there is no way to guarentee if someone at Jiko or Boma was given a straw, they wouldn't take it out of the restaurant if they wanted. There are always families eating, and probably wanting to take leftovers out of the restaurant.

Hate to generalize, but not everyone who stays in that resort understands English, or even understands the importance of keeping the wildlife safe.

Certainly, no one who works there would want to count straws or frisk the customers so no straws left the premises. Easier not to have straws any where near the animals who would most likely eat them.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

They also don't allow any of the park ballons to be brought into the Animal Kingdom Lodge. For the same resons.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I asked once and they said it was because birds could pick them up and drop them near the animals.

Was going to ask if the birds couldn't also pick them up at the Magic Kingdom and drop them near the animals, but why bother?

 

[Quinn222]

They would also end up in the resort trash and could blow from there or perhaps be picked up by a bird from there.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

Since they don't give them at the counter service, people could just go to Boma and pick up a supply of straws during their meal and take them to their room for later use. From here, they could get out into the Savannah fairly easily.

 

[bicker]

It is very common to ban drinking straws on the grounds of zoological parks, like Animal Kingdom Lodge:

Toledo - http://www.toledozoo.org/admission/admission_hours.html
Detroit - http://www.detroitzoo.org/Visitors/Detroit_Zoo/Visitor_Info/
New Bedford MA - http://www.bpzoo.org/visit.html
Tulsa - http://www.tulsazoo.org/general.asp?id=137

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) It is not worth the risk that a straw will get out into the animal areas.
2) Besides, straws aren't all that important.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Actually, I vaguelly remember that it seems as if POR (Dixie Landings at the time) briefly experimented with not giving out straws, because of all the littering and the wildlife (I think they were mainly worried about ducks). I remember going to DxlLandings right after they reinstituted giving out straws, and seeing so many straws littering the grounds. Does anyone else remember anything about this?

 

[DaisyD]

We bring our own straws when we go to AK. We'd do the same if staying at AKL.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

'''''

 

[SuperDuperBounce]

I think we beat the straw question to death but what about children? Couldn't disgruntled parents drop their kids into a savannah so they get eaten by Giraffes or Zebras or those big rodent looking things?

 

[goodfaerie]

I think we beat the straw question to death but what about children? Couldn't disgruntled parents drop their kids into a savannah so they get eaten by Giraffes or Zebras or those big rodent looking things?

 

[Aquagirl]

I am not positive, but I don't think that straws are allowed in any zoo or aquarium accredited by the AZA for safety of the animals. Straws can block digestive tracts and plastics can be a source of poisonous chemicals.

 

[bicker]

Aquagirl is correct. It's not because the animals would eat the plastic -- it is because the plastic is plyable enough to go down throats, but doesn't get disgested.