Magic Kingdom No Longer to be Dry

[maryszhi]

I only object on the grounds of tradition. Otherwise I have no problem with it.

i kind of agree, however, its kind of like how disneyland serves alcohol in club 33. so its technically not dry either.

 

[NEL]

I guess I'm alone in being disgusted by this. I like to have a drink as much as anyone, but this isn't something I want in the Magic Kingdom. As for people saying there won't be any drunks floating around the park, have you ever been to Epcot?

Whatever. It's just a matter of time now until they're serving beer at all stands and quick service restaurants in the park as well.

Nope, you are not alone. I feel the same way.

 

[rkelly42]

I do not see a problem with this, to serve beer and wine in a sit down restaurant where they can control how much you have to drink seems pretty harmless. As long as they do not turn the corner and start letting you buy beer and wine everywhere and walk around with it, seems harmless to me.

 

[MichWolv]

That's not the point. The Magic Kingdom is different.

So is Epcot. So is DHS. So DAK. So is DCA. They are all different. Saying "it's different" isn't making a point. The question is wether it is "different" in a way that should eliminate alchohol. Other than tradition, I don't see how one could reach that conclusion. MK isn't designed just for, or even predominantly for, children. If it were, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Thunder Mountain wouldn't belong, because so many children can't ride them. Sure, it's probably correct to say that MK, more than other parks, is aimed at families with children, but just about every nice restaurant outside of MK that is designed for families with children has beer and wine, and we don't tell the owners of those restaurants that their place is "different" and shouldn't have alcohol.

So we're left with "tradition" as the thing that is different about the MK. I certainly never complained about the lack of alcohol at MK. I like the tradition, and I don't feel the need to have drinks nearby all the time, but the breaking of that tradition won't bother me either.

 

[captainkidd]

I do not see a problem with this, to serve beer and wine in a sit down restaurant where they can control how much you have to drink seems pretty harmless. As long as they do not turn the corner and start letting you buy beer and wine everywhere and walk around with it, seems harmless to me.

Give it 6 months.

 

[flynnibus]

Haven't read many books about Walt's visions for the park I guess.

Walt also opened his park with limited food, and almost no real sit down restaurants, and only added them sparingly later. Somethings change.. and people need to change with them. Unfortunately Uncle Walt is no longer with us to enlighten us on his view on sit down dining in the parks. But its very clear from the other parks that there is no slippery slope here to worry about.

 

[captainkidd]

So is Epcot. So is DHS. So DAK. So is DCA. They are all different. Saying "it's different" isn't making a point. The question is wether it is "different" in a way that should eliminate alchohol. Other than tradition, I don't see how one could reach that conclusion. MK isn't designed just for, or even predominantly for, children. If it were, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Thunder Mountain wouldn't belong, because so many children can't ride them. Sure, it's probably correct to say that MK, more than other parks, is aimed at families with children, but just about every nice restaurant outside of MK that is designed for families with children has beer and wine, and we don't tell the owners of those restaurants that their place is "different" and shouldn't have alcohol.

So we're left with "tradition" as the thing that is different about the MK. I certainly never complained about the lack of alcohol at MK. I like the tradition, and I don't feel the need to have drinks nearby all the time, but the breaking of that tradition won't bother me either.

That is my point. It's all about tradition. And to me, this is TDO just spitting on it to make a few bucks.

 

[flynnibus]

Give it 6 months.

Really? DHS has had alchohol since opening. Yet there is no open carry there. So why do you think all of a sudden Disney has this hard-on for letting open container?

The only area on property where this is really open is Epcot World Showcase and the entertainment districts.

 

[captainkidd]

Walt also opened his park with limited food, and almost no real sit down restaurants, and only added them sparingly later. Somethings change.. and people need to change with them. Unfortunately Uncle Walt is no longer with us to enlighten us on his view on sit down dining in the parks. But its very clear from the other parks that there is no slippery slope here to worry about.

Walt never made it a point to express his feeling on having sit-down restaurants in the parks. At least not in any of the books I've read about him.

 

[orky8]

Call me crazy, but going 20 years without adding a new E-ticket to the park is a bigger deal than serving wine and beer at a restaurant in Fantasyland.

Actually, I think the two are very much related. The same incompetent management that goes 20 years without adding an E-ticket is the same one willing to abandon all the traditions and charm that made Magic Kingdom what it was in the first place. Mark my words, within 5 years (and probably much sooner), you will be able to get alcohol just about anywhere in the Magic Kingdom. Once this door is cracked open, and TDO has no longer the excuse of tradition to stop if from pouncing on the money making opportunities alcohol presents, there will be no stopping it.

 

[flynnibus]

That is my point. It's all about tradition. And to me, this is TDO just spitting on it to make a few bucks.

Tradition also said we should only run the parks a few days a week, and shutdown in the off-season.

Some things change... if you fail to adapt you often get left behind.

 

[nytimez]

Sure, a drink here or there and next thing you know they'll be letting women vote.

 

[captainkidd]

Really? DHS has had alchohol since opening. Yet there is no open carry there. So why do you think all of a sudden Disney has this hard-on for letting open container?

The only area on property where this is really open is Epcot World Showcase and the entertainment districts.

Yeah, they just have beer vendors selling it in Fantasmic like you're at a Cubs game.

 

[rkelly42]

Give it 6 months.

I am afraid of this happening and I am sure it is only a matter of time, but if they do have self control and keep it to one restaurant or two then I find it harmless.

 

[orky8]

Tradition also said we should only run the parks a few days a week, and shutdown in the off-season.

Some things change... if you fail to adapt you often get left behind.

That explains why it is the most visited park in the world... Oh, but they might lose that status unless they serve alcohol?!? Are you kidding me?

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

I was sad to read the news of this new addition. There are so many places in Walt Disney World that serve alcohol. It wasn't hurting anyone to keep the Magic Kingdom "dry".

I think it is especially sad that the first addition of alcohol is in Fantasyland, a land devoted to children, in my mind.

PS...I am not opposed to having a drink here or there at all. I just think it is sad that someone in management said "let's ignore tradition and make more money".

 

[RSoxNo1]

Interesting. This was the standard when EPCOT first opened. Alcohol could only be purchased at TS restaurants with food,and could not be removed from the premises. I can't remember when the change was made to include counter service restaurants, and then eventually they added the kiosks.

I wouldn't be surprised to see this be the case. Magic Kingdom opens up a new stream of revenue where all TS restaurants now serve alcohol.

 

[flynnibus]

Yeah, they just have beer vendors selling it in Fantasmic like you're at a Cubs game.

The same style is selling popcorn and light-toys too. Is it the drink or vendor that bothers you?

 

[wdwfan22]

I really hope that all of the people complaining about this will also not be the first to order and adult beverage at the restaurant when it opens in November

 

[lazyboy97o]

Context. I think Walt's exclusion of alcohol had more to do with concerns regarding the view of amusement parks at the time. He himself enjoyed a drink. Walt also was not the one selling most of the food when Disneyland opened, that was handled by outsourced concessionaires. I do miss the bit of tradition, but its not a big issue and not even much of a detail in my book.