MK New Beak and Barrel - Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge

[Tony the Tigger]

Nothing about my reaction to what happened was or is unreasonable, so I’m not sure what you’re getting at with your final sentence. It’s Disney’s arbitrary policy that caused the problem, not my response to it.

It’s not at all unreasonable to be miffed at the situation.

I would just caution you in the sense that, “you don’t know what you don’t know.“

@plutofan15 raises some interesting points about what may or may not be legit behind the scenes reasons. There are all kinds of oddball things that happen when opening or making improvements to a business. They are no longer in control of Reedy Creek.

If the Walt Disney company opened this venue as a separate business entity, which it may well have done, separate from the other venues you have mentioned, they may have done the bare minimum just to get the doors opened. They may be following up as we speak to get more specific licenses to do specific things, such as sell certain types of merchandise.

As you know, I own a Record Store. If I wanted to put a vending machine in my Record Store at the time, I opened it, the opening would have been delayed because the permitting required to have a vending machine takes longer than what is required to simply sell merchandise. So I would have put the minimum on the paperwork to get the door opened, and then pursued separate licensing for the vending machine concurrently.

If I decided I wanted to start selling toothpaste and other dental products in my Record Store, I would be in violation of my license and the classification of my business with both the state and the federal government. I would have to file to change the terms of my original agreement.

The questionnaires you have to fill out ask some silly questions. And alcohol is very well regulated.

So while you may be absolutely correct that this is an arbitrary decision, there may also be a valid and temporary reason, apart from what other venues within the same business are doing.

Counting all the parts (inventory) to make that drink is also a valid reason.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

If I decided I wanted to start selling toothpaste and other dental products in my Record Store, I would be in violation of my license and the classification of my business with both the state and the federal government.

Records and toothpaste would both be classified as general merchandise I beleive.

The idea that there is some legal reason they can’t sell the mug separately is ridiculous.

 

[LittleBuford]

It’s not at all unreasonable to be miffed at the situation.

I would just caution you in the sense that, “you don’t know what you don’t know.“

@plutofan15 raises some interesting points about what may or may not be legit behind the scenes reasons. There are all kinds of oddball things that happen when opening or making improvements to a business. They are no longer in control of Reedy Creek.

If the Walt Disney company opened this venue as a separate business entity, which it may well have done, separate from the other venues you have mentioned, they may have done the bare minimum just to get the doors opened. They may be following up as we speak to get more specific licenses to do specific things, such as sell certain types of merchandise.

As you know, I own a Record Store. If I wanted to put a vending machine in my Record Store at the time, I opened it, the opening would have been delayed because the permitting required to have a vending machine takes longer than what is required to simply sell merchandise. So I would have put the minimum on the paperwork to get the door opened, and then pursued separate licensing for the vending machine concurrently.

If I decided I wanted to start selling toothpaste and other dental products in my Record Store, I would be in violation of my license and the classification of my business with both the state and the federal government. I would have to file to change the terms of my original agreement.

The questionnaires you have to fill out ask some silly questions. And alcohol is very well regulated.

So while you may be absolutely correct that this is an arbitrary decision, there may also be a valid and temporary reason, apart from what other venues within the same business are doing.

Counting all the parts (inventory) to make that drink is also a valid reason.

I personally don’t think there’s any reason good enough to justify such a policy, especially in a place as (normally) accommodating and inclusive as Disney, and especially when the policy in question amounts to pushing alcohol onto adult guests who don’t or can’t drink. To be clear, I had already admitted defeat by the time the server was good enough to plead my case with her manager: after being told they could make no exceptions, I had agreed to purchase the mug with the drink, making clear that I would not be consuming a drop of it. I guess at that point, the manager realised the absurdity of the situation I had been cornered into and thought better of it. Presumably, they would not have relented at all had there really been some pressing reason or legal requirement preventing them from doing so. All of which left me wondering why they didn’t just agree to sell it to me without the rum in the first place.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Why wouldn’t they just offer all drinks (including NA) be served in the mug for an extra charge?

This is like asking for a refillable mug at a resort but only being allowed to get it if they first fill it with classic coke - even though many guests can’t or don’t want to drink classic coke. It’s ridiculous as a policy.

 

[jah4955]

I personally don’t think there’s any reason good enough to justify such a policy, especially in a place as (normally) accommodating and inclusive as Disney, and especially when the policy in question amounts to pushing alcohol onto adult guests who don’t or can’t drink. To be clear, I had already admitted defeat by the time the server was good enough to plead my case with her manager: after being told they could make no exceptions, I had agreed to purchase the mug with the drink, making clear that I would not be consuming a drop of it. I guess at that point, the manager realised the absurdity of the situation I had been cornered into and thought better of it. Presumably, they would not have relented at all had there really been some pressing reason or legal requirement preventing them from doing so. All of which left me wondering why they didn’t just agree to sell it to me without the rum in the first place.

Arrrg they assume we all be Pirates: "Weez want tha rum!!!!"
But I have to believe/hope they'll be making numerous "tweaks" in the coming months....

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Arrrg they assume we all be Pirates: "Weez want tha rum!!!!"
But I have to believe/hope they'll be making numerous "tweaks" in the coming months....

If only we lived in a world where they would only allow redheads to serve in this bar.

 

[lazyboy97o]

It’s not at all unreasonable to be miffed at the situation.

I would just caution you in the sense that, “you don’t know what you don’t know.“

@plutofan15 raises some interesting points about what may or may not be legit behind the scenes reasons. There are all kinds of oddball things that happen when opening or making improvements to a business. They are no longer in control of Reedy Creek.

If the Walt Disney company opened this venue as a separate business entity, which it may well have done, separate from the other venues you have mentioned, they may have done the bare minimum just to get the doors opened. They may be following up as we speak to get more specific licenses to do specific things, such as sell certain types of merchandise.

As you know, I own a Record Store. If I wanted to put a vending machine in my Record Store at the time, I opened it, the opening would have been delayed because the permitting required to have a vending machine takes longer than what is required to simply sell merchandise. So I would have put the minimum on the paperwork to get the door opened, and then pursued separate licensing for the vending machine concurrently.

If I decided I wanted to start selling toothpaste and other dental products in my Record Store, I would be in violation of my license and the classification of my business with both the state and the federal government. I would have to file to change the terms of my original agreement.

The questionnaires you have to fill out ask some silly questions. And alcohol is very well regulated.

So while you may be absolutely correct that this is an arbitrary decision, there may also be a valid and temporary reason, apart from what other venues within the same business are doing.

Counting all the parts (inventory) to make that drink is also a valid reason.

This venue is literally right next door to a store that could handle the sale of the mug as a standalone item.

 

[MisterPenguin]

A bigger issue we ran into is that they won’t sell you the skull mug unless you get it with the rum, even if you’re willing to pay full price for it. That’s absolutely bonkers and really exclusionary if you don’t drink or can’t drink. In the end, the server spoke to her manager and made an exception for me, but you shouldn’t be forced to plead your way out of purchasing alcohol, especially in a Disney theme park.

Is there a restroom in B&B? Cause I'm thinking that if don't want to drink what's in the mug you bought, there's a porcelain container who would delight in it.

 

[Chi84]

This venue is literally right next door to a store that could handle the sale of the mug as a standalone item.

Then we wouldn't be talking about it here. It's meant to be an enticement to go to the bar and order the expensive drink. I personally would be in favor of offering both alcoholic and nonalcoholic versions of the drink in the mug. Maybe they will do that later if enough people request it.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

I’m not sure why you’re not willing to simply agree that the policy is absurd, exclusionary, and, well, really un-Disney.

Because he doesn’t and it isn’t?

Disney is selling a drink and cup combination. They don’t need to to cater to idiosyncratic nonsense, nor do their servers need to deal with it. You want the cup you order the drink, don’t want to drink it…throw it out. Or wait a week and order it on eBay.

 

[LittleBuford]

Because he doesn’t and it isn’t?

Disney is selling a drink and cup combination. They don’t need to to cater to idiosyncratic nonsense, nor do their servers need to deal with it. You want the cup you order the drink, don’t want to drink it…throw it out. Or wait a week and order it on eBay.

You should apply for a job there—they’d love you!

 

[𝐌𝖆𝖓 𝖎𝖓 𝐖𝖊𝖇]

Then we wouldn't be talking about it here. It's meant to be an enticement to go to the bar and order the expensive drink. I personally would be in favor of offering both alcoholic and nonalcoholic versions of the drink in the mug. Maybe they will do that later if enough people request it.

I can see a scenario in which a non-alcoholic version is in a different mug. Collect them all!

 

[DisneyHead123]

Forcing teetotalers and recovering alcoholics to sit there with an alcoholic drink they have no intention of consuming when they’re willing to pay full price for the mug is not a reasonable policy by any sensible standard, much less by Disney standards.

At least the management at Oga’s realises this.

Yeah, it’s definitely not a good look as it gives the impression they’re pushing alcohol on people. Disney should not be that friend going “Aaaaw, c’mon, I already made you a drink! I’ll just leave it right here.” Not to mention the illogic of it is just annoying and borders on some kind of Kafka-eque take on bureaucracy. “You must order the drink, and take the drink to the bathroom and throw it out for the free mug. There is no skipping the taking of the drink to the bathroom”. I’m sorry but - what???

I’m still thinking this is probably just confusion among CMs as this is the first and only lounge at MK. Probably someone said “Remember, only X drink goes into the pirate mug”, and they were just eager to please and took it a little too literally.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

I personally don’t think there’s any reason good enough to justify such a policy, especially in a place as (normally) accommodating and inclusive as Disney, and especially when the policy in question amounts to pushing alcohol onto adult guests who don’t or can’t drink. To be clear, I had already admitted defeat by the time the server was good enough to plead my case with her manager: after being told they could make no exceptions, I had agreed to purchase the mug with the drink, making clear that I would not be consuming a drop of it. I guess at that point, the manager realised the absurdity of the situation I had been cornered into and thought better of it. Presumably, they would not have relented at all had there really been some pressing reason or legal requirement preventing them from doing so. All of which left me wondering why they didn’t just agree to sell it to me without the rum in the first place.

But here’s the thing…it’s their policy not yours, and your opinion about it doesn’t matter. It’s their policy because they want the service to be simple, quick and without a ton of “can I have x in the cup instead of the actual drink.” They don’t want their servers to have to deal with every BS Karen wanting to change what the drink is suppose to be, wasting their time, and other customers time. This is especially important in timed setting.

No one is forcing anyone to drink alcohol. No one is forcing anyone to even buy alcohol. If you want a special cup/drink you order it. If you don’t, it’s not incumbent on Disney to change its rules/policy to cater to every customers different taste. Disney could have offered the cup with every single drink…but they chose not to. You are left with a simple choice, get the cup and drink the drink it comes with, get the cup and spill out the drink, or you don’t get the special cup. What’s moronic is bothering the staff who didn’t set the policy, don’t likely have the power to change the company policy, and trying to say your opinion matters more than the company they work for.

 

[LittleBuford]

It’s their policy because they want the service to be simple, quick and without a ton of “can I have x in the cup instead of the actual drink.” They don’t want their servers to have to deal with every BS Karen wanting to change what the drink is suppose to be, wasting their time, and other customers time. This is especially important in timed setting.

The cup you buy comes in a box; it is not the same as the cup you drink out of. What I asked for would actually have saved them time (since they wouldn’t have to serve me an actual drink) and increased their profit margin (since I was letting them keep the rum I’d paid for).

But I don’t think anything I say will placate you. You’ve come in guns blazing, determined to defend something that ought not to have happened.

 

[Agent H]

But here’s the thing…it’s their policy not yours, and your opinion about it doesn’t matter. It’s their policy because they want the service to be simple, quick and without a ton of “can I have x in the cup instead of the actual drink.” They don’t want their servers to have to deal with every BS Karen wanting to change what the drink is suppose to be, wasting their time, and other customers time. This is especially important in timed setting.

No one is forcing anyone to drink alcohol. No one is forcing anyone to even buy alcohol. If you want a special cup/drink you order it. If you don’t, it’s not incumbent on Disney to change its rules/policy to cater to every customers different taste. Disney could have offered the cup with every single drink…but they chose not to. You are left with a simple choice, get the cup and drink the drink it comes with, get the cup and spill out the drink, or you don’t get the special cup. What’s moronic is bothering the staff who didn’t set the policy, don’t likely have the power to change the company policy, and trying to say your opinion matters more than the company they work for.

there’s a line between annoying Karen behavior and requesting to not be served alcohol. Remember It’s most likely cheaper for Disney to save that serving of the drink for someone else. ( I don’t think the cast member deserves any major blame. They were most likely new and slightly confused. I work in a restaurant. This sort of thing happens a lot whenever new menu items are introduced major changes are made to operations or new employees are hired. I can only imagine what it’s like in a brand new location)

 

[Chi84]

The cup you buy comes in a box; it is not the same as the cup you drink out of. What I asked for would actually have saved them time (since they wouldn’t have to serve me an actual drink) and increased their profit margin (since I was letting them keep the rum I’d paid for).

But I don’t think anything I say will placate you. You’ve come in guns blazing, determined to defend something that ought not to have happened.

Wouldn’t they have people making reservations just to buy the mug?

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

This reminds me of an issue I had at a bucees…. I used a hot coffee cup for an iced coffee and was told I couldn’t do that. That I had to use a cold cup to make an iced coffee.

The employee made me throw out the coffee I made (so the product and the actual cup) and make a new iced coffee with a “cold cup.”

This of course cost the company money - and both cups were the same size and held the same amount of coffee.

 

[LittleBuford]

Wouldn’t they have people making reservations just to buy the mug?

Is that any worse than people making reservations to buy the mug with rum? Maybe I’m misunderstanding your question.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Wouldn’t they have people making reservations just to buy the mug?

Is that a problem?