Epcot Drunks

The Epcot Food and Wine Festival is over for yet another year. So this is my final entry as to the Drinking problems at the Epcot Festival. Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of great things about the Festival… wholesome family things to see and do. BUT… Disney has promoted and cultivated a huge negative (drinking) that taints everything that is good about Disney. They have tainted the Festival, and the Disney reputation for wholesome family entertainment. We have attended lots of Festivals over he years, and go into Epcot several times during each festival. Each passing year the drinking situation gets worse and more and more out of control. We love all the positive aspects, but truly not sure if we will continue to return, or simply avoid the festival in the future. Disney calls it the “Food & Wine Festival”… and it’s a shame, but it is fast becoming know as the “Beer & Wine Festival”… or worse yet… “The Drunk Fest”.  Disney has done such a over the top promotion of the festival, and every year encourages, in every possible venue, for you to enjoy “Drinking Your Way Around the World”! Given today’s social climate, and the many that are prone to drinking too much, I’m am surprised by Disney at the lack to controls, supervision, monitoring, and better procedures to maintain order and a “family atmosphere” at Epcot. The presence of managers or Disney Security observing the crowds was greatly lacking, and almost non existent. And those that are there, seeing and watching the crowds, need to have better guidelines and latitude as to dealing with those that have drank too much. The current guidelines seem to be too lax, or simply not acted upon.  I’m sure profits from the sale of alcohol is extremely lucrative, BUT is Disney really will to trade reputation for profits? If so, this is truly a shame and a black eye on the entire foundation and philosophy of Disney as wholesome family entertainment.

Nobody does it better… Promoting!!!
(only this is promoting a negative)

Beer, wine, and beer, beer, and more beer!

Using Disney Characters promoting drinking.

Snow White serving beer!

Mickey promoting mixed drinks…

Drink you way around Epcot…

who’s having a party time…

woohoo… it’s a party…cheers!

and who’s suffering for their drunken party!

No shortage of alcohol around the world of Epcot

some in multiple doses!

Wine, mixed drinks, straight liquor, and

beer, beer, and more beer!  

Anything you want… as much as you want…

Multiple drinks to ensure your drinking pleasure

PROMOTION !!!

Try then all… be a world class beer connoisseur…

Cheers!! You’ll never run out of new things to try.

While you conquer the world… drinking!

Big time promoting of what makes big profits!

and give then as much as they want. 

Here’s what others are saying…

so don’t just take my opinion about it…

The check list!
(try them all)

 They don’t want you to miss anything.

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Many have voiced their concerns about the drinking at the festival.

This year, last year, and in several years past.

Drinking Your Way Around the World

is promoted more then ever… Why?

I agree with many others, this kind of drinking has a place…

and I don’t view it as being wholesome family entertainment

when multiple groups of those that have drank too much…

roam around Epcot… shouting at the top of their lungs…

WooHoo… Hey, it’s a party… Cheers!

Being rude, disruptive, and using foul language and behavior.

If I want to put up with this behavior I’ll go to a bar!

and NOT pay good money to endure this a Disney.

You may say it’s all a point of perspective.

Some may say they have never seen a problem.
(this doesn’t mean there isn’t one)
(plus, are you blind, drunk or got your head in the sand)

Some people drink responsibly
(and that’s okay)

Many view drinking to excess as being misplaced at Disney
(and rightfully so)

Some drink too much to see anything
(so they think everything is fine)

Some think non drinkers are just prejudice
(not against drinkers… just drunks)

So, it is all about your perspective…

and what you consider appropriate…

especially as to the place and time.

And that decision is up to you!

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I voiced my concerns at guest relations as we left the park earlier then we planned. They encouraged me to put it in writing and send to Guest Communications Services. It sounded like they too have heard too many guests complaints about the drinking and drunkenness. Here’s a copy of the letter.

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First off... We love everything Disney, save one thing that seems to be an ever increasing problem. Epcot “Beer & Wine” Festival. Disney calls it the Food & Wine Festival... but the actual emphasis truly seems to be on the beer consumption and those that overly indulge, and drink their way around the world... or more accurately get drunk around the world. Over the years, Disney promotions have been very effective in promoting “drinking your way around the world”. Some would say that the alcohol is not the problem in itself, it’s those that lack self control, and over indulgence. Realistically, there are many that don’t drink, and many that drink but do not get drunk. BUT, there are some, a small percentage in comparison to the total attendance, that drink to excess, get drunk, act rude, get loud, disruptive, and in general, taint the entire Disney Epcot experience. You really can not go far around World Showcase before running into them, time and time again, especially in the later hours, when they have been drinking since 11am. Generally we tell friends to leave Epcot before 4pm to avoid the drunks. Our most recent visit to Epcot was Saturday, November 9th, the last weekend of the Festival. We went mainly to see Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and planned to enjoy the evening at Epcot. The mix of being the weekend, plus the last weekend of the festival, plus the marathon, proved to a recipe for huge crowds... and also a greater number of drinkers. As I sat waiting to see the concert, I closely observed the crowds walking by. Did you know that 3 of every 10 groups of people were carrying a beer... wow, that’s 30%. Disney has done too good a job of promoting beer sales! Somewhere admits the drinkers, more and more drunks emerged as the evening progressed. Now, long lines and large crowds are one thing to deal with, but groups of folks that have had too much to drink, everywhere, well, it’s a bit too much, and not expected at Disney. We have been to this years festival several times, for all the wholesome aspects of the Food Festival, the Eat to the Beat Concerts, and the Epcot experience. It’s one of our favorite parks. Each time we have seen an ever increasing number of folks that have had too much too drink. Perhaps we have the wrong impression, but we have always thought of Disney, and all the parks as wholesome family entertainment. Epcot is getting more and more away from those family values that seemed to be the foundation set forth by Walt Disney himself. We truly could not walk more then 50 feet with out running into, sometimes literally, running into those that have had too much to drink. Aside from NOT being family oriented... loud, rude, and disruptive is not conducive to anyone except drunks. So why would I want to be there, or bring my family or grandkids to witness such negative behavior? Getting to specifics... walking from the American Pavilion, around past Canada, and to the World Showcase entrance, I was looking for managers. None were anywhere to be found, except for one past Canada. With all these crowds, the the mass consumption of beer, and the known potential for drunken behavior... why were there no managers “policing” the areas. Either they were occupied with business responsibilities, hiding, or grossly understaffed... or perhaps a mixture of all these. Either way, there was no supervision or control of disruptive guests that have had too much to drink. For my perspective, it’s like taking a bad situation of huge crowds, mixing it with excessive drinking, and neglecting to monitor or control any situations that get out of hand. And that’s exactly what happened... pretty much the worst case scenario short of physical fighting breaking out. On an earlier visit, which was not as bad as the last weekend, we observed a group of drinkers that had obliviously had too much, and needed to be cut off. Loud, vocal, disruptive, and using foul language. Three managers walked by... I stopped them to convey my concerns (complain if you will) about them. The managers said they would watch them... and they did... watched them shout out “WooHoo... Hey, it‘s a Party! ”... being loud and disruptive, to guests passing by... then watched them go right over to get more beer to advance their drunken behavior. Maybe the managers need tighter guidelines to follow to control this issue. Perhaps I should explain my point of perception... but I consider them drunk when they get loud, rude, and disruptive to other guests. They party in their drunkenness, walk into you, line jump, and exhibit behavior more suited for a bar... which many feel should have no place at Disney, and rightfully so. I have looked at the negative posts on the internet, and I’m sure you have too. I’m also certain that as managers you have seen this first hand, heard of this, and know that this it is a problem. Drinkers going from one location to another, as they go around World Showcase, are essentially bar hopping. The primary goal of the cast members at the stands is to move guests through the lines as quickly as possible. In a normal drinking environment, the server of alcohol can observe the guests, and slow down the ones that are drinking too much, too fast... at Epcot Beer Fest, this control is negated by guests going from one stand to another. Plus, I observed one guest, the purchaser, giving their beer purchase to another in their party. I didn’t see anyone underage drinking, but with lack of control and supervision, it would easily be possible. Has alcohol become this important to the bottom line at Disney that wholesome family values are being tossed to the wind? We went to sit in one of our favorite places, on the water front behind Fish n Chips. Again, tainted by a group of drunks that were loud and using bad language. After I had had enough of every other sentence using the “F” word, and no managers to monitor of control the madness, I asked the guests to please watch their language, children were  nearby, and I really didn’t want to hear it myself. Two wanted to be argumentative, and one tried to control their friends and spoke as if they were a cast member and didn’t want to get in trouble and loose their job. REALLY !!! ??? As I said, we love everything Disney, but the availability of alcohol at Epcot, the lack of controls, monitoring and supervision, and the ever increasing amount of drunks with their apprehensible behavior... well... it has gone beyond getting out of hand. Bar room and saloon behavior have a place, and it shouldn’t be at Disney!... or perhaps that is an opinion shared by a minority. Perhaps with the advent of electronics, each person wishing to drink could have a card limiting them to no more then 5 drinks for the day... something... anything... to control the drinkers self abusive nature, and ensure that guests looking for Disney Family Entertainment and enjoyment can once again enjoy the Epcot Festivals. I might would normally ask for a reply, but a standard “PR” response stating that my concerns have been passed to the appropriate department... well... again, this would only prove to add insult to injury. The best response would be to make positive changes so that the festivals are once again family oriented. It is certainly a true shame that a letter of this nature would be necessary at Disney. Are alcohol profits worth The Disney Family reputation? If so, perhaps they need to promote “drunk” nights on selected days... then the rest of us will know to stay away. Truly a real shame.   
                                   

                                                                                                                                                  A long time Disney Park Fan... looking for a resolution.

So I guess if they get enough complaints… the voice of the guests might over rule the motive to have ever increasing profits from alcohol… and the resulting drunken party goers at the Beer Festival. Or at least effect changes to result in better controls, monitoring, and having security remove those that are getting rude, loud, and disruptive from the park. Perhaps if you had a negative experience at the festival, you should make your concerns know… ya never know… it just might change things for the better.
There’s a few links to my previous posts:
“The Good and the Bad”
http://www.rvkamping.blogspot.com/2013/10/epcot-food-wine.html
“The First sign of trouble, again”
http://www.rvkamping.blogspot.com/2013/10/epcot-alcohol.html
Enlightening, disheartening, and a real shame. But perhaps information you’d like to know. There are many good family aspects to the festivals… Disney just needs to control and eject those that drink too much and are disruptive to other guests. Or just plainly bill the particular evenings as “Adult Drinking Party Time”… so the rest of us know to stay away! … and we don’t waste our time, our money, and be disappointed by the rude party atmosphere.
We love Disney, and would actively promote the great experiences that Disney has there… but, the problems at the Beer & Wine Festival is completely contrary to anything near a wholesome family entertainment experience. We can, and have defended Disney on everything that may not have gone completely right… BUT the roaming drunk party around the world showcase is not excusable in any context. Despite the huge crowds of a weekend, plus it’s the last weekend of the festival, plus crowds attracted to the Concert series, plus the marathon weekend… then add that there were very few managers or security to control all the potential problems… disaster!
Just as stated above by  Theme Park Insider…. Theme Parks + Alcohol = TROUBLE!
Upset? … Yes! But, I call them as I experience them… It is what it is… a bad experience! Which should be under control, but isn’t…. despite years of knowing the potential problems… and not taking steps to control them.