Why is only The Magic Kingdom Dry?

[rabbitroger]

Please don't turn this into a debate over prohibition vs drinking. This isn't a complaint that Magic Kingdom doesn't serve alcohol or a complaint that the other parks do.

What i am wondering is why out of the 4 parks, 26 hotels, 2 waterparks, etc. Magic Kingdom is the only dry spot. whereas other locations such as World Showcase not only provide alcohol but heavily feature it with speciality cocktails, tequila bars & margarita stands.

 

[larryz]

The leading speculation is that it's because Walt wanted the MK to remain a "family-oriented" venue.

Totally believe that. And don't get me started on Club 33 at DLR...

Also believe that WDW understands that when the kids are away, the adults can play -- reference the occasional private party events at which alcohol is served.

 

[Cherinva]

I heard from a CM that Walt wanted his kingdom to be family friendly so no alcohol was to be allowed.

 

[NotUrsula]

Because Walt died before the other parks were built.

Seriously, that's the short answer. He was often quoted as saying that he felt that the presence of drunks ruined most "carnival" experiences for families, and that was the reason why he wanted his theme parks dry. (He was NOT a teetotaler by any means, nor did he feel anyone else should be, he just thought that drinking tended to get out of hand at "amusement" parks and that he didn't want that marring the experience at his.)

Had he lived to see the construction of the other parks he almost surely would have insisted on keeping alcohol severely restricted there as well.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

It was indeed Walt for DL and MK at WDW. These are family parks and Walt didn't want the family atmosphere hurt by possible drunks.

Thankfully Disney has followed his wishes.

Lots of others place to have a drink if you want one!

AKK

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

~Here is why MK is dry or so they say.....

~Married to the Mouse ~Chapter One

That night, the Disney entourage attended a big dinner party with the politicians, businessmen, and local bankers involved in the project. It was there the offending remark was made. "Any man who thinks he can design an attraction that is going to be a success in this city and not serve beer or liquor, ought to have his head examined," said the head of the city's leading business. Hearing the remark, the mayor gasped, "Oh, my god." He turned to Adm. Fowler, who sat next to him, and apologized, saying, "I just can't control that guy."

But the damage was done. Walt hated being challenged, especially in public. Upon returning from the dinner party to his hotel suite, he asked Card Walker, another Disney vice president, "What time can we have the plane in the morning?" Surprised, Walker responded, "But you know we've got—" He tried to say they had legal papers to sign the next day, but Walt cut him off. "It's all finished," said Walt. "We're not coming. Forget about it."2 Afterwards, local bankers made three trips to California trying to change Walt's mind, all unsuccessful. August (Gussie) Busch, Jr.'s insulting remark had killed the deal—Disney World would not be in St. Louis.

As this incident shows, urban economic development involves an element of serendipity. A city's growth—its increase in population, employment, and tax base—can be planned, but only so much. Local development efforts are subject to chance events and the influence of human conduct, for good and ill. So it was that night in St. Louis in November 1963. Were it not for Gussie Busch's boorish behavior, a Disney "River Front Square" might shoulder the banks of the Mississippi, next to Busch Stadium, its entertainment drawn from the themes of old St. Louis and New Orleans, Louis and Clark, and the Louisiana Purchase. The events that evening changed the history of two cities. For the beer baron was like the guilty party in a broken engagement: in repulsing the Disney fiancée, he enabled another city to win her. The failure of the first relationship facilitated the second one.

As everyone knows, it was Orlando that "won" Walt Disney World.

 

[larryz]

~Here is why MK is dry or so they say.....

~Married to the Mouse ~Chapter One

And the irony -- DIS went on to build parks all over the world, buy multiple film production houses, radio stations, book publishers, ABC, and ESPN, and became a global entertainment company. Anheuser-Busch, as we all know, went on to become a subsidiary of a Belgian conglomerate.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

And the irony -- DIS went on to build parks all over the world, buy multiple film production houses, radio stations, book publishers, ABC, and ESPN, and became a global entertainment company. Anheuser-Busch,as we all know, went on to become a subsidiary of a Belgian conglomerate.

~Hi larryz! Great post, I totally agree! Walt placed emphasis on providing an experience that incorporated cutting edge technology, impeccable customer service, and pure imagination that could not be matched. Disney showed the world to how to have "the time of your life" without the booze and that's saying something.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

~Here is why MK is dry or so they say.....

~Married to the Mouse ~Chapter One

That is the reason DW was not built in St Louis............Walt was actually upset that Bud was trying t force beer into the DW to be built there.

The part of keeping the Mk dry started with DL back in 55, long before this meeting.

AKK

 

[DznyCrzy11]

Because Walt died before the other parks were built.

Seriously, that's the short answer. He was often quoted as saying that he felt that the presence of drunks ruined most "carnival" experiences for families, and that was the reason why he wanted his theme parks dry. (He was NOT a teetotaler by any means, nor did he feel anyone else should be, he just thought that drinking tended to get out of hand at "amusement" parks and that he didn't want that marring the experience at his.)

Had he lived to see the construction of the other parks he almost surely would have insisted on keeping alcohol severely restricted there as well.

The only park Walt Disney lived to see constructed was Disney Land. He was able to purchase the land in Florida and make the plans for MK and EPCOT, he did not live to see his plans become reality, but yes he had said when drawing the plans that MK was to remain "dry". Construction on the MK started 5 years after Walt died.

 

[mesaboy2]

The only park Walt Disney lived to see constructed was Disney Land. He was able to purchase the land in Florida and make the plans for MK and EPCOT, he did not live to see his plans become reality, but yes he had said when drawing the plans that MK was to remain "dry". Construction on the MK started 5 years after Walt died.

Well, not quite. MK opened October 1, 1971. He died in December 1966. That was some Phineas & Ferb-fast construction (which included a time machine) if so.

 

[DznyCrzy11]

Well, not quite. MK opened October 1, 1971. He died in December 1966. That was some Phineas & Ferb-fast construction (which included a time machine) if so.

Sorry to burst your bubble but construction on MK began one year AFTER Walt's death and almost did not happen but his brother Roy Disney said they had to press on because this is what Walt wanted.

 

[mesaboy2]

Sorry to burst your bubble but construction on MK began one year AFTER Walt's death and almost did not happen but his brother Roy Disney said they had to press on because this is what Walt wanted.

So was it one year or five years? :

 

[DznyCrzy11]

Well, not quite. MK opened October 1, 1971. He died in December 1966. That was some Phineas & Ferb-fast construction (which included a time machine) if so.

That would be record construction time!

 

[DznyCrzy11]

So was it one year or five years? :

Construction started a year after Walt died and it opened in '71 which was 5 years after he died.

 

[TDC Nala]

That's how Walt wanted it. So that's how it is.

Although I heard that Disneyland Paris, when it opened, was also dry. If that is true then they were expanding on what Walt wanted, long after he died. The dry park didn't last long in Europe though.

Had he lived to see the construction of the other parks he almost surely would have insisted on keeping alcohol severely restricted there as well.

Can't get on board with this one though. Walt intended Epcot to be a place where people actually lived, I'm sure he didn't intend for them to be teetoatlers.

 

[DisneyFive]

Sorry to burst your bubble but construction on MK began one year AFTER Walt's death and almost did not happen but his brother Roy Disney said they had to press on because this is what Walt wanted.

I'm confused. What Mesaboy was pointing out is that in your first comment you say that they didn't START construction until 5 years after Walt's death. Being that the park opened about 5 years after he died, that just isn't possible. Your follow-up posts are more accurate with the construction starting soon after his death.

Oh, and DRDISNEYMD, thanks for that quote from "Married to the Mouse" I never knew that Disney was considering St. Louis before Orlando!!! Wild.

Dan

 

[DisneyFive]

Can't get on board with this one though. Walt intended Epcot to be a place where people actually lived, I'm sure he didn't intend for them to be teetoatlers.

Agreed.

Yeah, Walt had some great ideas, but when they show the old footage of him explaining what he wanted Epcot to be, I think it was very far fetched. I just couldn't see it working out. Would have been a very miopic little town.

The current EPCOT is FAR, FAR different than what Walt was imagining.

Dan

 

[North of Mouse]

Mesaboy2 - 1
DznyCrzy11-0

 

[kaligal]

Because Walt died before the other parks were built.

Seriously, that's the short answer. He was often quoted as saying that he felt that the presence of drunks ruined most "carnival" experiences for families, and that was the reason why he wanted his theme parks dry. (He was NOT a teetotaler by any means, nor did he feel anyone else should be, he just thought that drinking tended to get out of hand at "amusement" parks and that he didn't want that marring the experience at his.)

Had he lived to see the construction of the other parks he almost surely would have insisted on keeping alcohol severely restricted there as well.

Yup.

Many people don't want to be going about a fun, family day and encounter a group of obnoxious drunks. Walt got that.