71jason
Well-Known Member
Actually, while I have no problem with alcohol in MK, I really am disappointed in the new facial hair policy. It still made sense in light of Walt's original intent, unlike the booze ban.
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Magic Kingdom No Longer to be Dry
- Thread starter SyracuseOrange
- Start date
Actually, while I have no problem with alcohol in MK, I really am disappointed in the new facial hair policy. It still made sense in light of Walt's original intent, unlike the booze ban.
EvilQueen-T
Well-Known Member
don't have to imagine...bringing alcohol into the park is as easy as bringing in baby formula. been there done that and the dole whip gets along just fine with captain morgan.
PirateFrank
Well-Known Member
Um, idiots make appearances in the magic kingdom every day....the availability of alcohol with an expensive dinner in one restaurant in the mk isn't going to bring about something that's already occuring.
bubbles1812
Well-Known Member
... Do you know Walt personally? Cause it seems you do and I'd like to get in on that... I have a few questions for him, like if his body really is frozen underneath the MK so he can be brought back to life when it becomes possible
Walt is dead. I hate to break it to you but he is and he's been dead 50 years. Our world is a totally different culture compared to when he was alive. Times change, visions change. Walt wasn't the same person he was in the 20s as when he was in the 50s and 60s. Who is to say he wouldn't have supported this move when it thematically makes sense with the restaurant? I respect his words and his vision but I also recognize things change too.
Walt did say he wanted his park to be a place where all family members, young and old alike could enjoy themselves. However, it has never been a place where families can do absolutely "everything" together including the rides. What is more is that he didn't just want families to be able to come and enjoy the park, he wanted a place where everyone could, including "adults." What's more...um, it's not like families still can't enjoy the restaurant together...it's not like kids are banned because mom and dad can get a drink now. Also, it doesn't make people losers if they enjoy Universal as well. Universal has many things to offer. You don't have to like it, but many many people do. It is not a crime to like both.
My my, aren't we high and mighty claiming you "get" the Magic Kingdom more than others because the majority aren't against alcohol in one, count it, one restaurant. I don't always agree with everyone on here but I'd say anyone on this site "gets" the MK. We are all Disney super fans at the end of the day so what you posted, sorry, but that's ridiculous.
Dude...people don't always know the policy, especially since alcohol is allowed at the other parks. Also, as far as I can tell, I haven't seen any vacations ruined just because dad could get a beer when the family was at Epcot
I can respect that you are upset about BOG. It's your opinion and everyone is entitled to their own. I even understand where people are coming from with this even if I don't agree. But the tone of your post was...not exactly conducive to persuading people you are in the right.
Animaniac93-98
Well-Known Member
I did some reading elsewhere online and it appears that because TDL/TDS have alchohol too only 2 of the 11 Disney parks globally do not serve "booze" of any kind on a regular basis, if we include Club 33 (MK and HKDL).
Is this true? If so, it would only underscore how limited in scope this "tradition" is upheld.
Is this true? If so, it would only underscore how limited in scope this "tradition" is upheld.
GoofGoof
Premium Member
Not a direct quote from Walt, but this blog sums up Walt's reasons for not wanting alcohol. Pretty fair assessment of both sides of the argument and he managed to not call anyone losers. Pretty good read.
http://seeyarealsoon.com/2012/09/14/ginandtonicplease/
BrightImagine
Well-Known Member
Thank you so much GoofGoof for the link - this article is the most balanced opinion I've read since the news came out. Walt was avoiding dads and other adults disappearing into bars instead of joining in the fun with their families. It had nothing to do with whether a glass of wine was available at dinner.
I find this a far more convincing argument than citing how many years Walt's been dead for (yuck.) I'd rather continue to believe that Walt's spirit lives on through his company. And I don't think he has been done any disservice by this change.
englanddg
One Little Spark...
He pretty much summed up what I was thinking as well. That's why I was digging for a quote where Walt actually said it. Or, did he insist upon it when opening DisneyLand (he wasn't alive to see the end result of Magic Kingdom, so the "Walt said" argument falls flat there too, unless Roy said it)...because he wanted to shut down any ideas his park operations teams might have about tossing in high profit venues, as that's how all amusement options in his day BEFORE DisneyLand operated.
I doubt it was a puritanical belief that booze is bad that motivated Disney. More, how does it impact the story. How does it bring families together.
I took my daughter (7) to Jikos this past trip, and I chose to have a glass of merlot with my Duck. She wanted to feel "fancy" as well, so I asked for an extra wine glass and we poured her soda into it. It became one of her favorite things to do at meals. We had great fun playing "grand lady" at every table service we ate at, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It became a lasting memory that we played with the whole trip, and will stay with us forever. This is what Walt was aiming for.
Does that mean she'll grow up to be an alcoholic? I doubt it. A true alcoholic, functional or not, probably isn't having just one glass of wine or two or even three, he's having the whole bottle and half another.
Does that mean that by witnessing me drinking wine, or the presence of it break the illusion? No, I doubt that too. Especially for a location themed on a scene that literally has singing beer steins and dancing wine bottles.
Magic Kingdom sorely lacks when it comes to Fine Dine, as their closest option is Royal Table. They have no Signature Options at all. I do Royal Table twice every trip (which is annual), and many times I'd have liked to pair my entree with a glass of wine.
I understand why it shocks and upsets people, but I agree with the blog GoofGoof posted...I don't think this is outside of the scope of Walt's vision in any way.
Beer Carts, no way...but I would like them to expand the policy to Royal Table (I guess some would see that as the dreaded booze creep, but here's the difference between, say Crystal Palace, and Royal Table, it's not a buffet, it's a fine dine table service experience You're not eating a choice cut of lamb at Crystal Palace, you're eating industrially prepared cafeteria flank steak).
TalkingHead
Well-Known Member
So by your logic, nearly every restaurant isn't a FAMILY place because they serve alcohol?
Yes, when I think of "adult" places, Olive Garden immediately springs to mind...
jensenrick
Well-Known Member
Oh, that will be a wonderful addition. IMHO, champagne is the drink for celebrating special occasions, as people at WDW often do.
AEfx
Well-Known Member
It's funny that you mention Universal. I can just see the meeting...
"Well, we certainly can't compete with Universal when it comes to new, exciting, large scale attractions - what else do they have that we don't? Booze you say? Well let's get that over to the MK ASAP - let them drink and imagine that the small-scale rides we are building and meet and greets are much more impressive! Hey, now let's get back to the real topic - how do we spend our bonuses this year. Anyone else buying a new sport boat?"
draybook
Well-Known Member
That's why I choose to live dangerously and read the menu that is provided to me by the servers.
tomman710
Well-Known Member
I think people are upset over the wrong reasons.
This is no different than the napkins, cups, LoW, Splash cuts, etc ... this is not a decision to enhance guest experience (even though it's sold however) ... it's simply a money making decision and you can file it with the rest of those things under "Things That Were Part of the Magic That Got Cut/Sold/Changed To Make TDO More Profits [i.e. Increase Management Bonus])
I don't care, like I said earlier it's stupid to only have it one in one location (tradition is already broke) and sure it be cool to keep tradition BUT .... my only concern is will the added revenue be used? Is this simply a way for TDO to increase their bonuses or is this adding another revenue stream to help subsidize improvements?
This is no different than the napkins, cups, LoW, Splash cuts, etc ... this is not a decision to enhance guest experience (even though it's sold however) ... it's simply a money making decision and you can file it with the rest of those things under "Things That Were Part of the Magic That Got Cut/Sold/Changed To Make TDO More Profits [i.e. Increase Management Bonus])
I don't care, like I said earlier it's stupid to only have it one in one location (tradition is already broke) and sure it be cool to keep tradition BUT .... my only concern is will the added revenue be used? Is this simply a way for TDO to increase their bonuses or is this adding another revenue stream to help subsidize improvements?
PirateFrank
Well-Known Member
What an absolutely fabulous idea!
I'm going to do the same thing!!!
I'm going to call Disney today, inform them that I am a DVC owner at Bay Lake and my entire family are premium Annual Pass holders. Additionally, I will inform them that I vacation at WDW multiple times a year. (all of which are 100% true)
Then I'm going to tell them that as a paying customer/guest, I fully and unequivocally support their decision to serve alcohol at the Be Our Guest Restaurant. Moreover, if successful, I encourage them to consider expanding the sale of alcohol throughout the remainder of the Magic Kingdom. Such a move will result in my returning to WDW for longer stays and more frequently.
Thanks for the great idea!
llrain
Well-Known Member
Thanks for that little article from that guy, he actually put it in much better persepective than any of the folks here who just kept shouting back at us that "who care, walts dead" or " Its not the vision anymore" or "How do you know what Walt wanted". More intellect in that guys aritcle than
anyone from here could dream up. Including myself.
anyone from here could dream up. Including myself.
PirateFrank
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure how you can even remotely come to the conclusion that I was being either mean or nasty. Also, you might think I'm being sarcastic, but I am not.
To put it plainly, I fully support the decision of TDO to repeal the prohibition of alcohol in the magic kingdom and I do hope that they will expand this to other locations throughout the park. If people are going to take it upon themselves to call Guest Relations and speak out against this change, I feel it's important that I call them as well, to register my support for the change so that Guest Relations has *both* sides of the guest reaction.
G00fyDad
Well-Known Member
I think that there are some here who honestly feel that it should not be in the MK because Walt would not have wanted it there. But there are some that are against it also because they have been to EPCOT during the F&WF and have seen the idiots staggering around drunk from time to time. Heck, I have even seen two drunk fights on two separate trips. One in the France pavilion and one in Germany. However, with the stringent rules WDW is applying here with BoG it is far more likely that the average WDW visitor will never even know that alcohol is being served. The server is not going to allow someone to get sauced sitting at the table and that is the ONLY place in BoG that you will be able to get the alcohol. That's a pretty week argument if that is where people expect some to get drunk and then walk through MK. They would have an easier time by monorailing over to EPCOT, getting slammed, then coming back to MK.
And I could call them and tell them the same (save for the fact I'm an owner at AKL), and that I don't approve of the decision. Kind of a zero sum gain then.....