Magic Kingdom No Longer to be Dry

c-one

Well-Known Member
You know, I kind of resent it when people imply that drinking equals a "loss of innocence" or a blow against families. I've been drinking alcohol for a very long time -- since before I was legal to do so, I'll admit, arrest me now officer -- and I've turned into quite the upstanding citizen! I've managed not to alienate my family, haven't screamed obscenities at small children, haven't vandalized anything... and on the rare occasions in which I did go overboard, it's always been either at home or in a dive bar at which that sort of thing is accepted. (Both of these places, I should mention, have drinks that cost about one-third of what WDW is charging.)

I understand this is not what Walt wanted for his park, but Walt was not a perfect man and not every decision he made was the correct one -- especially, you know, for a theme park that exists nearly 50 years after he died.

And people who are offended by even the slightest whiff of alcohol on another person should consider spending less time thinking about other people and more time paying attention to their own family on vacation.
 

JiminyandTink

Well-Known Member
I agree with many that this should have little to no affect on the MK experience... but I was definitely surprised, I didn't see this coming.
 

Todd L

Well-Known Member
And some people act badly even without any booze at all! The horror!
Youre absolutley Right...I saw a lady in a scooter curse out the entire staff at the Crystal Palace becasue she didnt like the wait for a Table....in front of my kids...with her kids standing right there!!

Always amazed at what people are willing to do to gain an Inch or a second over the next guy....
 

Todd L

Well-Known Member
I should also say that Ive always been impressed by the way Disney handles people who are out of control. Drunk, Rowdy or just plain Old stupid...Id Guess that they are more than prepared to handle any situation that might arise.
 

disneyeater

Active Member
This is an issue near and dear to me so I have a comment.
First I am not apposed to a person having a little wine or beer at dinner. I am concerned greatly about what this says about Disney management. That Disney Management has now "Jumped the Shark". They have have few if any good new ideas and are having to resort to this in a desperate attempt to slow the decay at MK. For way to long management believed MK was like the Roman Empire, "Too big to Fail". What Walt did to make his parks successful was to be in good ways diffrent from everyone else. His park was themed, clean, and most of all built for the entire family. Now MK has a risk of losing it's number 1 spot. You do not get to be number 1 by being just like every one else. That has never worked for any nation. My fear is that the same "Jumped the Shark" management will see this as a quick fix and open it up the rest of the way for all of MK. Then MK will be one step closer to being "Like Everyone Else" and lose it's positive differance. We say that open drunkenness will not come to MK under this plan and it may not. But it is already at EPCOT (it is easy to find drunks there) and if let go will be at MK. MK will no longer be the CLEAN FAMILY PARK. With that I believe it will lose it's #1 status for sure. The answer is not to run to the quick fix but replace the unimaginitive management that did nothing for decades. That is the real crime!

I must be the luckiest guy in the world. All these years I thought Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios were CLEAN FAMILY PARKS....but I guess I have just been lucky to not see or notice all the drunks running around everywhere.
 

Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
A SINGLE FANCY, EXPENSIVE RESTAURANT IS SELLING DRINKS. THERE IS LITERALLY NO WAY THIS WILL RESULT IN DRUNKS OVERTAKING THE PARK. DON'T PANIC.

Absolutely, and if this is a success, which I'm sure it will be, just how long do you think it will be before every restaurant in MK will be selling beer and wine. As quickly as you can blink, there will be one more, then two and so on. Who knows...I guess we will find out.
 
Hi all, This my last post on the subject as I have read many good comments:

1 People do not need hard drinks to act badly. Absolutly TRUE. They can do that all on there own.

2 Some hard drinking in one expensive place will not cause drunks on main street. True if it stays that way.

3 Other good parks in Orlando do it so MK should be like them. It is not about being like them but being better.
The other parks have never been #1 for 4 decades in a row. People look for a leader, then happen to visit the others. To try to imitate them is to take lessons from the losers.

4 There are fewer children in the world who can attend MK. True at this price level. The vacation must a dream trip. People all over the world come to Orlando and pay the Disney like price over time.

5 Nothing bad could ever happen to MK. NOT TRUE! MK was neglected for a decade. Other Orlando parks are rightfully eating into the success that MK has been. Disney management has already done the first quick fix of sending in the Electric Parade, then FLE redifined many times. They correctly now believe that is not enough so they a reaching for more. A Disney quick fix for a park in trouble is to allow drinking. They did it at all the other Disney Orlando parks and Paris.

If Disney management holds the line here on this issue and start working on there parks like they did in California then they may continue to hold #1 for many more decades. If they see this as opening the gates to doing it everywhere (quick fix) then MK could be unworthy of the price and time needed and people pick somewhere else.

I realy do believe Disney crossed a line on this one.
 

Glasgow

Well-Known Member
My favorite part about this thread is now that a polarizing topic has surfaced, all of a sudden nearly everyone is an expert in theme park management, and knows what will and what won't happen. Have you done the due diligence, market research, accounting models, risk management, etc? No. Almost everyone's opinion is based on their view on alcohol, which lets be honest, almost everyone partakes in. There is no way that MK mgmt would allow the distribution of alcohol as pervasively as Epcot due to the risk to the MK brand. And even if .. a very big IF .. it did become an issue (ie. guest complaints, public intoxication, etc.) it would be addressed, I'm sure. You can be sure that alcohol is now being served in hopes of improving the dining quality at MK and tapping into that unfulfilled market.
 

c-one

Well-Known Member
Absolutely, and if this is a success, which I'm sure it will be, just how long do you think it will be before every restaurant in MK will be selling beer and wine. As quickly as you can blink, there will be one more, then two and so on. Who knows...I guess we will find out.
I'm actually not convinced that that's the case. IF THEY DO, no one is going to get riotously drunk drinking $8 beers in 12 ounce glasses at MK's nice restaurants. IF THEY EXPAND IT TO CARTS, it still won't be a crisis, because people don't go the world's most expensive theme park just to get shwastey-pants.*

*Except maybe Epcot for Food and Wine Festival, but those are just drunk yuppie winos and they're nothing to fear.
 

flynnibus

Premium Member
people keep tossing out these prices as barriers to drinking more...

$7-$10 isn't expensive for beers honestly. In urban areas, not uncommon for a beer to be $6-$7 at a club. At a sporting event? forget it..

I mean, I enjoy my $4.25 bottled beer at our local townie bar.. but I don't have any delusions that when I head into DC that I expect a sub-$5 beer everywhere.
 
It is true that I have never been a manager of any park. I have lived in central Florida all my life and had the privliege of some travel. I was at MK Orlando the first year it opened complete with paper tickets in a book. I have lost count of all the times I have been there. I know that people the world over save money and finance the cost of having the memorable grand family vacation in Orlando Florida USA. This is not a local destination but a world one. By the way the Orlando Airport (MCO) is top notch. A world class airport. I am just back from Rio on business and can tell you that they are doing a poor job of getting ready for the kind of crouds that Orlando does well every day. So yes I suppose I am a arm chair quarterback. Perhaps I do put to much stock in MK and the other players here in Orlando. Just saying that dispite negelect (yes it has been neglected) MK is still the leader among other very good players. Just hate to see a good thing get spoiled.
 

Rogue21

Well-Known Member
Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy.
Benjamin Franklin
Granted, some may get a little happier than others, but we are accountable for our own actions. How many $8 beers JimBob has with his chateaubriand is not going to make my vacation list of worries. If a child I am traveling with sees a drunkard stumbling around World Showcase or tripping onto Peter Pan's Flight, well, there's a perfect example for a conversation on bad behavior. If I am traveling with adults, a more knowing conversation about bad behavior might ensue.
 

Glasgow

Well-Known Member
It is true that I have never been a manager of any park. I have lived in central Florida all my life and had the privliege of some travel. I was at MK Orlando the first year it opened complete with paper tickets in a book. I have lost count of all the times I have been there. I know that people the world over save money and finance the cost of having the memorable grand family vacation in Orlando Florida USA. This is not a local destination but a world one. By the way the Orlando Airport (MCO) is top notch. A world class airport. I am just back from Rio on business and can tell you that they are doing a poor job of getting ready for the kind of crouds that Orlando does well every day. So yes I suppose I am a arm chair quarterback. Perhaps I do put to much stock in MK and the other players here in Orlando. Just saying that dispite negelect (yes it has been neglected) MK is still the leader among other very good players. Just hate to see a good thing get spoiled.

You are absolutely correct - I think we're all saying the same thing essentially. It would be okay to have alcohol in the park as long as it does not detract from or alter the classic MK experience in any way. The problem is, the presence of potent potables often causes people to misplace their better judgement .. if it previously existed at all, that is. So what we're really talking about is the ability to people to behave maturely and respect others .. which we all know is an issue at times. I really think the utmost care will be taken with this pivotal decision though .. well, I hope, anyway.
 

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