EPCOT to become “more Disney”

[Farro]

Also maybe a 3 drink limit at EPCOT? They could do it pretty easily by scanning a ticket or AP.

3 drinks? That's nothing when spending a whole day at the park.

I'd wipe out 3 in 3 hours ...
Peach Moscato in Italy
Sparkling sake in Japan
Kir Royale in France

 

[amwhitaker]

EPCOT really needed an overhaul. I have no problem with them bringing in IP to the park because it makes it more interesting. I totally walk by some of the countries because there is nothing to draw me in, if there was a ride, I would be more inclined to stop and ride.

 

[yulilin3]

In the early days, yes, but then there wasn't much in EPCOT like it. I think once people had seen it and started walking through the post-ride show in droves, it's days were numbered. I loved it, I know that. The Norwegians that ran it really made a huge difference.

exactly, no one said ooh I want to go to Epcot just to ride Maelstrom.
Families are now making the trip with the priority to ride FEA

 

[Missingmypooh]

Agree. I really want to explore the WS at night, but have no interest in taking my kids to what is basically a drunken party. I agree with another poster that this is exactly why Walt never wanted alcohol in the parks and it's sad they let it turn into this. But how do you change it? Adding IP won't do anything, people who are so inconsiderate to walk around drunk in a family theme park are going to do so with or without IP.

They need to ditch the Florida resident after 4 annual passes for Epcot. UCF students and many others get just that pass to enjoy drinks around world showcase with their buddies.

either you cough up the 400-800 for an annual Florida pass, or you don’t get the privilege to drink around WS on the weekends and during festivals.

 

[umichigan10]

Also maybe a 3 drink limit at EPCOT? They could do it pretty easily by scanning a ticket or AP.

That’s what I was thinking. If they can do it at a football game, they can do it at Disney

 

[Eric Smith]

Agree. I really want to explore the WS at night, but have no interest in taking my kids to what is basically a drunken party. I agree with another poster that this is exactly why Walt never wanted alcohol in the parks and it's sad they let it turn into this. But how do you change it? Adding IP won't do anything, people who are so inconsiderate to walk around drunk in a family theme park are going to do so with or without IP.

Go on a weekday. It’s really not that bad. The weekends are the only time I’ve noticed drunk people.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Also maybe a 3 drink limit at EPCOT? They could do it pretty easily by scanning a ticket or AP.

They won’t. They make too much money to limit it and have developed festivals that focus on it. And I don’t see how they’d come up with a reasonable limit. I am not a big drinker at all and I could reasonably have a margarita in Mexico, a drink at dinner, and a grand marnier slush in France over the course of an evening. That’s not outrageous at all. The bad apples are having many more than 3 drinks.

I really think it’s the festival atmosphere that draws more debauchery. A few years ago we witnessed worse behavior during Food & Wine on a Saturday night than we did when we went on NYE. I’m not kidding. When there isn’t a festival going on, the drinking around the world stuff really isn’t much of a problem.

 

[mshanson3121]

They need to ditch the Florida resident after 4 annual passes for Epcot. UCF students and many others get just that pass to enjoy drinks around world showcase with their buddies.

either you cough up the 400-800 for an annual Florida pass, or you don’t get the privilege to drink around WS on the weekends and during festivals.

Goodness, yeah that would do it. I didn't know those exist.

That’s what I was thinking. If they can do it at a football game, they can do it at Disney

I had this thought cross my mind as well. With their technology surely there's a way to track how many you get. Though I agree with others, they wouldn't want to do it because of the money they'd lose. 'Course they could always raise the price on drinks....

 

[Moliphino]

I really think it’s the festival atmosphere that draws more debauchery. A few years ago we witnessed worse behavior during Food & Wine on a Saturday night than we did when we went on NYE. I’m not kidding. When there isn’t a festival going on, the drinking around the world stuff really isn’t much of a problem.

Which is kind of funny, as the times I've drank around the world there were no festivals going on. There are way too many countries for it to be feasible during a festival, at least as an organized one-drink-per-country event.

 

[JC1984]

They won’t. They make too much money to limit it and have developed festivals that focus on it. And I don’t see how they’d come up with a reasonable limit. I am not a big drinker at all and I could reasonably have a margarita in Mexico, a drink at dinner, and a grand marnier slush in France over the course of an evening. That’s not outrageous at all. The bad apples are having many more than 3 drinks.

I really think it’s the festival atmosphere that draws more debauchery. A few years ago we witnessed worse behavior during Food & Wine on a Saturday night than we did when we went on NYE. I’m not kidding. When there isn’t a festival going on, the drinking around the world stuff really isn’t much of a problem.

It may be a money maker but there seems to be a real feeling on here and with WDC EPCOT needs to be more family friendly so why not? I know it will never happen but it seems to be an issue. I drink so I don’t think having a drink is a bad thing. But there has to be a way to limit the consumption. A drink an hour? A total cap on the day? It’s not that hard.

 

[Missingmypooh]

They won’t. They make too much money to limit it and have developed festivals that focus on it. And I don’t see how they’d come up with a reasonable limit. I am not a big drinker at all and I could reasonably have a margarita in Mexico, a drink at dinner, and a grand marnier slush in France over the course of an evening. That’s not outrageous at all. The bad apples are having many more than 3 drinks.

I really think it’s the festival atmosphere that draws more debauchery. A few years ago we witnessed worse behavior during Food & Wine on a Saturday night than we did when we went on NYE. I’m not kidding. When there isn’t a festival going on, the drinking around the world stuff really isn’t much of a problem.

As a local, I can assure you this happens most weekend regardless of festivals.

it’s certainly a combination of the Florida sun, the fun atmosphere, the many drink options, and the abundance of sugary treats.

and really, for young adults and old alike, it IS kinda fun to get sloshed and eat 6k calories and hop on frozen with your fastpass then head to japan and eat fried rice before you camp out to watch the fire works. The real issue is that they don’t have a DD (or responsibilities like kids) to keep them in check from overimbibing.

the bachelorettes from Nevada are just as guilty as the frat boys from UCF.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

As a local, I can assure you this happens most weekend regardless of festivals.

it’s certainly a combination of the Florida sun, the fun atmosphere, the many drink options, and the abundance of sugary treats.

and really, for young adults and old alike, it IS kinda fun to get sloshed and eat 6k calories and hop on frozen with your fastpass then head to japan and eat fried rice before you camp out to watch the fire works. The real issue is that they don’t have a DD (or responsibilities like kids) to keep them in check from overimbibing.

the bachelorettes from Nevada are just as guilty as the frat boys from UCF.

Well then I guess we must be lucky. Sometimes we’re there during festivals, sometimes not, and have only run into weekend issues during the festivals

 

[Missingmypooh]

Well then I guess we must be lucky. Sometimes we’re there during festivals, sometimes not, and have only run into issues during the festivals.

I think the difference is that it’s easier for Disney to escort the party to a restaurant to sober up with some food (which I’ve seen with my own two eyes) on a regular weekend VS a festival weekend when they are just trying to hide the throw up in the flowers.

interesting side note , depending on where and how much throw up is in the plants, Disney will just dig the whole plot up and replant it. They really are prepared for just about everything.

 

[mshanson3121]

interesting side note , depending on where and how much throw up is in the plants, Disney will just dig the whole plot up and replant it. They really are prepared for just about everything.

That is so, SO pathetic that anyone would ever drink like that at Disney, and that it's something they have to be prepared for.

 

[Moliphino]

The only time I've seen someone vomiting at Epcot it was a child, and I've spent a lot of time at Epcot (and a lot of time drinking at Epcot).

 

[JC1984]

Just think of how bored all the kids would of been if they built EPCOT like Walt envisioned.

 

[BrianL]

Sure, there are some people who take the drinking too far at Epcot, but I don't think it's a major issue. I've really never seen anyone vomiting or anything - I know it happens, but it seems pretty rare and Disney takes care of any real troublemakers. I'm not a drinker myself, but I don't really see a big issue with it.

 

[Marthasor]

I think people who long for the "original" EPCOT maybe don't remember it or never experienced it. It was certainly different; imagine no Test Track, Soarin', or Mission: Space. I absolutely loved World of Motion and Horizons but it wasn't enough. It's not that Disney wasn't trying, it's that the model didn't work. There were only so many large corporations and countries that wanted to sponsor the different attractions and they only had so much of a vested interest to continue funding the attractions as the years went on. The Disney way is synergy and always has been. You may not like the Frozen overlay, but that overlay sells the Frozen franchise, and draws in the kids that already love it. That has more value to Disney than keeping the ride based on Norway, and Norway isn't paying for the ride going forward - Disney is. No kid is walking into EPCOT thinking, "boy, I sure would like to know a lot more about Norwegian culture", and racing over to the Norway pavilion to get their fill. For Frozen though, the race was on at rope drop, as was the character meet-and-greet next door.

The other thing I think you are going to see dramatically reduced, if not eliminated is the extensive pre and post ride experiences. Sure, you could spend an hour waiting to ride Test Track, but you could spend another hour going through the exhibits after the ride. The only direct benefit Disney sees from that is the gift shop right before you leave the building. Test Track, Mission: Space and Spaceship Earth all have sponsors that pay for those spaces (or at least they did pre-COVID) but I think Disney would much rather you moved on to the gift shop and on to the next attraction. Could be when the sponsor contract is up, you'll see those spaces change too.

The highlight of my first trip to EP was using the WorldKey Kiosks in Earth Station to make dining reservations and then eating at San Angel Inn and Alfredo's and meeting all the CMs from around the world. I get that the original concept of FW, particularly, wasn't sustainable, but those touchscreen computers were sure magical when I was a tween!

 

[New Mouse]

exactly, no one said ooh I want to go to Epcot just to ride Maelstrom.
Families are now making the trip with the priority to ride FEA

Thats actually not true. When maelstrom was announced, it was a huge thing along with a huge marketing campaign. It could have been executed better (thrill ride), but overall it was a unique draw. 40 years from now Frozen would likely seem stale as well. You dont need IP to draw guests, you need it to sell merch.

 

[JC1984]

Sure, there are some people who take the drinking too far at Epcot, bu tI don't think it's a major issue. I've really never seen anyone vomiting or anything - I know it happens, but it seems pretty rare and Disney takes care of any real troublemakers. I'm not a drinker myself, but I don't really see a big issue with it.

I remember before DCA opened DL has a zero policy tolerance if They even suspected you of being intoxicated. I know someone who was “banned for life”.