Originally Posted By leemac For me I don't have an issue as: 1) Sales are limited to an a la carte restaurant - this isn't a casual serve or ODV situation 2) Appropriate for the theme 3) Limited to just one venue The key to me is that we don't see ODV with alcohol - it just shouldn't happen in MK IMHO. Too many families and the long operating hours could cause people to drink to excess if it was freely available. I've not been to a DLR corporate event for a while but if I recall correctly there is the option of alcohol - both at the event sales locations like the Ranch and for land buy-outs and whole park closures. It isn't just limited to Club 33. I still think that DL is missing a signature dining experience - Blue Bayou isn't Napa Rose or CC - and I'd expect any future fine dining establishment at DL to offer alcohol.
Originally Posted By sjhym333 Remember at one time each World Showcase pavillion had its own liquor license which meant that the drink had to be consumed within the confines of the pavillion area. I remember when I was in mgmt at EPCOT we had CM's who stood on the promenade asking guests to finish their drinks before leaving the area. That changes many years ago and now people are free to roam the park with a drink in their hand.
Originally Posted By DlandDug >> When Walt was a kid/young adult, alcohol was completely banned from the US. When he was an adult, it was legal, but still viewed largely as something for the riff raff. Julia Child was one of the first Americans to really promote wine with dinner...<< Walt was 32 when Prohibition ended. And alcohol was viewed in a wide variety of ways. Julia Child introduced gourmet cooking into the home, but not the idea of alcohol with meals. Walt was a social drinker all his life, and had no issues with drinking per se. When he was creating Disneyland, there was a wide perception that amusement parks were a haven for heavy drinking-- mostly beer, beer, beer. Walt wanted to reassure people that Disneyland was NOT like that. So... no alcohol. Interestingly, Walt's own edict for "Holidayland" (a corporate picnic area directly adjacent to Frontierland) was "all the beer you can drink." He felt it just wasn't a picnic without beer! But after a memorable incident with drunken revelers storming the park, that was rescinded. As far as whether the alcohol policy represents a higher or lower standard, I don't believe anyone is arguing about alcohol itself, just the policy about alcohol in a Disney theme park. It's not possible to second-guess what Walt Disney would want today. It is true that an existing standard is being changed-- and that some people find it distressing shouldn't be such an object of criticism. Personally, I would prefer that at least one park in each resort be left alcohol-free. It's not as if there aren't plenty of options (Downtown Disney, Resort hotels, other parks) for those who prefer a drink with their meal. And really-- does anyone associate the MK parks with fine dining? Or, put more plainly, is it red wine with burgers and white wine with chicken nuggets?
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan I am sure that the folks at Disney will monitor the situation and adjust as needed. If having a drink with dinner turns into a problem, it will go away. But I suspect they've already noted that there has been very little fuss at various other Disney parks where alcohol is available, and that offering an adult beverage with a meal is something guests are asking for.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I've got no problem with the MK selling alcohol. I appreciate a good beer or glass of wine. At the prices they will be charging I doubt too many people will be getting drunk. And, in all honesty, a drink or two might help me survive the chaos that is Fantasyland. They sell alcohol in the other WDW parks and are they really any less kid friendly than the MK? Of course not. I don't see drunk people running around any of the parks outside of maybe a very rare occurence. I was intrigued to see the Lasseter Family Wine listed on the menu. Didn't realize he was a wine maker until I tracked down the winery website.
Originally Posted By u k fan I'm not surprised by this. DLP is my home park and I don't think I've ever seen alcohol related problems there. That said I do think it's a shame that a rule that has lasted for such a long time is going away. Has not serving alcohol in fine dining locations at MK ever really been a problem?!!!
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Has not serving alcohol in fine dining locations at MK ever really been a problem?!!!>> Has Fine Dining previously existed at the MK? Not that I'm aware of!!
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I had a beer at the pizza place in Hollywood Studios on my last visit and the beer was awesome on the hot summer day. I wouldn't call Planet Pizza fine dining but the experience was finer because of the suds.
Originally Posted By danyoung The nicer sitdown dining in the MK includes the Liberty Tree Tavern and Tony's Town Square, neither of which would ever be considered fine dining. Cinderella's Royal Table could easily upgrade their food offerings and move into the fine dining category, so beer & wine available there might be proper. But then there's that whole princess thing, so maybe not.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Personally, I would prefer that at least one park in each resort be left alcohol-free. It's not as if there aren't plenty of options (Downtown Disney, Resort hotels, other parks) for those who prefer a drink with their meal." This is a legitimate point. At the MK the nearest bar are or restaurant with adult beverages is not within walking distance. DL is a completely different story. However, I do think it's rather silly that NOS doesn't have at least one restaurant with beer and wine.
Originally Posted By danyoung >At the MK the nearest bar are or restaurant with adult beverages is not within walking distance.< This isn't entirely true. The Contemporary is within easy walking distance. And of course you have access to all of the monorail hotels very easily. So I don't think it's any harder at the MK to get a drink than it is at DL to walk to Downtown Disney.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "So I don't think it's any harder at the MK to get a drink than it is at DL to walk to Downtown Disney." It may not be "harder", but it is more troublesome. DTD is literally right outside the door of DL and the Carthay Circle Lounge is approximately the same distance from Main Street as the ferry landing at WDW.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<The nicer sitdown dining in the MK includes the Liberty Tree Tavern and Tony's Town Square, neither of which would ever be considered fine dining. Cinderella's Royal Table could easily upgrade their food offerings and move into the fine dining category, so beer & wine available there might be proper.>> Yes, I've eaten at all three and would never consider any of them "fine dining". Liberty Tree is pretty good for "buffet food" served family style. Tony's is usually way over-crowded and the quality varies from pretty good to marginal. I was at Cindy's for breakfast, and it was my least favorite of any character breakfast I've gone to.
Originally Posted By u k fan Quibbling over whether MK restaurants are fine dining really is "you say potato". By Disney park standards they are as fine as you'll get!!!
Originally Posted By danyoung I don't agree with this, u k fan. In my opinion, there is currently no "fine dining" location inside WDW's MK. This new BOG restaurant should qualify as the first one ever in that location.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance "I did a character breakfast once. Never again." Why not, Hans?
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt CC I like children on a one on one basis, but I don't do well with large groups of them, especially if there are toddlers and babies in the mix. That's number one. Second, I couldn't care less about characters, especially when I'm in a restaurant. I find them and the hullabaloo they create a nuisance when I'm eating.
