Alcohol at Be Our Guest

[buffettgirl]

Walt was a brilliant man with brilliant ideas, but giving him credit for all the success Walt Disney World has experienced over the last 40 or so years would be like saying Alexander Graham Bell is responsible for the success of the
iPhone. He had the start of a great idea, but many years and many people perfected it. With that being said, I can't wait to have a glass of Cabernet with my dinner at BOG ;p

Thank you. I was trying to find an appropriate analogy.

 

[flicx]

I would agree that Walt Disney would have had no influence on Disney, if the day after he died, they removed all of his creations, park layout designs, intellectual property and funds from his past successes.

Do believe an individual can be responsible for achieving great success, or that anyone could have been successful in his situation? Do you think if you had the opportunity, you could have created more popular attractions?

 

[flicx]

Yes it is laughable to say this is a money grab. You could possibly call it that is they made it available throughout the park in the same manner as the others. The amount of revenue generated from this venture will not be large enough to call it a grab. It is most likely due to their research that showed customers were looking for a restaurant at MK that would serve alcohol with their meals.

We will just have to disagree.

 

[declansdad]

We will just have to disagree.

How much money do you think adding alcohol to one restaurant that was booked at or near capacity going to add to the bottom line?

 

[flicx]

How much money do you think adding alcohol to one restaurant that was booked at or near capacity going to add to the bottom line?

As I have stated continually this is a soft opening, a get you use to the idea of alcohol at MK. They will put it in others too(IMO). Then lookout, care to guess how much the revenue potential is. They are gonna tread lightly on this, it was a 41 year policy. That is my stance,take it or leave it.

 

[KellyNY]

It does not matter how much money alcohol will add but I do not understand what is so wrong with company making money. If company did not do it, we would probably have original Walts attractions and nothing else, if company even survived till today. Please remember that while Walt had a vision, he was very bad businessman. If not his brother, we would not have what we have now, and if not after Walt management decisions, Disney would not became a full vacation destination.
I am just surprised how people speak of profit, are you working for free, don't you have expenses?

 

[buffettgirl]

I would agree that Walt Disney would have had no influence on Disney, if the day after he died, they removed all of his creations, park layout designs, intellectual property and funds from his past successes.

Do believe an individual can be responsible for achieving great success, or that anyone could have been successful in his situation? Do you think if you had the opportunity, you could have created more popular attractions?

I'm not sure how many times it can be said, but I'll.say it again. Creation of the park and influence in the parks origination can be attributed to disney. And certainly disney achieved great success in his day. But its success since is attributed to those who have run the company, changed the company, directed the company.


I have never said that "anyone" can achieve those things. I never said disney"s original attractions are not popular. I'm saying that the success of the parks today is the direct result of all that has transpired since disney's death.

None of this, however, has ANY bearing on the fact that alcohol is going to be served in MK. MK is a successful park and will continue to be a successful park. Mk is successful because it has continually evolved with the times.

 

[buffettgirl]

As I have stated continually this is a soft opening, a get you use to the idea of alcohol at MK. They will put it in others too(IMO). Then lookout, care to guess how much the revenue potential is. They are gonna tread lightly on this, it was a 41 year policy. That is my stance,take it or leave it.

And with that, I will completely agree with you.this new restaurant in the new expansion was the perfect opportunity to introduce alcohol into the mk. And 41 year plan or not I fully believe this is the ultimate goal.

Where we differ is whether this is a problem or not.

 

[flicx]

And with that, I will completely agree with you.this new restaurant in the new expansion was the perfect opportunity to introduce alcohol into the mk. And 41 year plan or not I fully believe this is the ultimate goal.

Where we differ is whether this is a problem or not.

Yes I am afraid so,many of us feel alcohol should have no presence in MK.

 

[cmwade77]

I think alcohol should be kept completely out of the MK, the problem is that once it starts at one place, it ends up everywhere and you end up with drunks throughout the park. I have to say that as someone who doesn't drink, it has always been nice to have a park that you can go to and not have anyone else drinking, it make everything a lot more comfortable.

 

[buffettgirl]

I think alcohol should be kept completely out of the MK, the problem is that once it starts at one place, it ends up everywhere and you end up with drunks throughout the park. I have to say that as someone who doesn't drink, it has always been nice to have a park that you can go to and not have anyone else drinking, it make everything a lot more comfortable.

Except for the fact that there have always been drunk people in the mk. And people who drank with dinner and came into the mk, no different than what is going to happen now.

 

[DVCPAT]

Walt was a brilliant man with brilliant ideas, but giving him credit for all the success Walt Disney World has experienced over the last 40 or so years would be like saying Alexander Graham Bell is responsible for the success of the
iPhone. He had the start of a great idea, but many years and many people perfected it. With that being said, I can't wait to have a glass of Cabernet with my dinner at BOG ;p

Lets set aside Walt Disney’s massive copyright protected product line and loyal customer base. Can you name one other company founder that had the foresight to purchase 47 square miles of development property (with infrastructure) for future development? You have to admit, he really paved the way for his predecessors.

 

[declansdad]

As I have stated continually this is a soft opening, a get you use to the idea of alcohol at MK. They will put it in others too(IMO). Then lookout, care to guess how much the revenue potential is. They are gonna tread lightly on this, it was a 41 year policy. That is my stance,take it or leave it.

Oh I see, it will be a money grab when they sell it park wide. Something that hasn't been announced or even hinted at. Got it.

 

[DVCPAT]

Oh I see, it will be a money grab when they sell it park wide. Something that hasn't been announced or even hinted at. Got it.

If it’s a good decision, why on earth would it be limited to one location? It will be a profitable addition to the dining plan. I wouldn’t be surprised if they roped of an area for fireworks viewing and served drinks …..it would be great money maker.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

And with that, I will completely agree with you.this new restaurant in the new expansion was the perfect opportunity to introduce alcohol into the mk. And 41 year plan or not I fully believe this is the ultimate goal.

Where we differ is whether this is a problem or not.

Love it! Can't wait to drink around the Kingdom. Let's see, a grog o' rum in Adventureland, a lager in Liberty Square, some Mead in Fantasyland, shots in Frontierland, and something electric blue in Tomorrowland.

 

[southern_belle21]

I think alcohol should be kept completely out of the MK, the problem is that once it starts at one place, it ends up everywhere and you end up with drunks throughout the park. I have to say that as someone who doesn't drink, it has always been nice to have a park that you can go to and not have anyone else drinking, it make everything a lot more comfortable.

No one cares what we think, or don't think. As long as the majority is happy, and comfortable, what we think isn't important. Disney is going to do whatever is popular, and drinking is.

 

[Waltgirl]

The constitution has been amended 27 times since it was written.

Why is the alcohol thing the only one of Walt's wishes that must be protected even long after his death? What about his wish to have a tobacco shop on main street? What about his wish to have no cotton candy in the parks? What about his wish to have no round sticks that people could trip on? Why have we so cavalierly disregarded his wishes on those topics, but must respect them on the alcohol topic?

Because TDC chose to uphold this wish for over 40 years. They chose to honor this one choice by Walt, even though they could have changed it years ago and made whatever money off it. TDC upheld that tradition for reason. They knew that it stood for something. I cannot speak for why they chose to uphold it. I could say it spoke to company's image or that it supported their reputation as family friendly, a place where a family could enjoy their day without being worried about being exposed to "adult fun." But those are just guesses, only company insiders would know the real reason why. It is just a shame to see them move away from that.

I have seen some pretty drunk people in Epcot, not only during F & W or NYE but also just on regular days in July. So have others. There is a thread about Food and Wine right now where people are warning not to go on the weekend because of all the drunkeness. So it is there. Count yourself lucky if you've never seen it or had to deal with it. I wish I never had. It is not what I want to have to deal with when I walk around WDW. Sure, it is easy for anyone to say well just don't go but why should I have to remove myself when I am not the one causing issues for others? I paid my money just as they have. It is not my lack of self control, I am not the one disturbing others. I drink. I love the Sangria at Via Napoli. The Pina Colada at the Contemporary. My husband loves the Bloody Mary at the WL. But we are mature enough not to overindulge. We respect the right of others to enjoy their vacation, but drunken behavior and vomiting are not safe, healthy or respectful of others.

I do not think that serving alcohol in one single restaurant will cause a rash of drunken people. However it is opening the door for WDW to expand it throughout the MK. That is where I believe it will change the atmosphere. It is what it is. I have written my email and typed up my letters. I have made my feelings known to TDC, as a guest and a shareholder. Just like the other changes I have seen throughout the past few years, I feel that the current management team is taking WDW down the wrong path and I am terribly saddened.

Waltgirl

 

[Waltgirl]

I disagree.
I have a family. I have children. I am a DVC owner and have heavily invested in WDW. I am a Disney lover.
I did not come to love WDW, nor choose to purchase DVC, because of Walt's vision. I love Disney for what it is, how it has evolved and what it continues to grow to be.
I have been able to teach my children strong morals and good values in spite of the fact that we also frequent Epcot, DHS and AK. None of us needs a social lubricant.
I was fine with the MK being dry. I am also fine with wine and beer being served at a nice TS restaurant.
It truly isn't the end of the world as you know it.
Get a Grip.

What is sad is that you don't realize that is that you DID. Without Walt's vision, WDW would not exist. Amazing.

No one ever said it was the end of the world. This is a discussion on a message board. Get a grip? Lol.

 

[Waltgirl]

In the end, this is the single most important thing to consider. This was not a decision made in a vacuum. There is a 30 year history at Epcot, a 23 year history at DHS and a 14 year history at AK that the folks in the board room can reflect back on to ascertain what the overall impact is of alcohol sales at its parks. Do you think they did this blindfolded. A lot of people who know a lot more about this than we do concluded that alcohol sales were not negatively impacting the Disney magic at any of these parks. Otherwise, they would have halted sales there, and would not have decided to go in this direction at BoG. You all are seeing a problem. The people who have their very corporate existence riding on the perceived reputation of their brand do not. I choose to follow their lead, not yours.

Haha. Somebody got fired for John Carter didn't they? Have you ever worked in the corporate world? People make bad decisions all the time. I am sure someone made this decision, but it may or may not work out. New Coke? Susan G Komen and Planned Parenthood? There is backlash all the time. Don't follow anyone blindly, you could fall off a cliff.

 

[Waltgirl]

That is laughable. How much revenue will really be generated by adding alcohol to a restaurant that was all ready difficult to get an ADR?

Hmm. How many people have posted in his thread that they weren't going to eat there, but now they will? I am too lazy to count but there were quite a few. Or do you think they were just trying to make a point?