by Walt Disney created the modern theme park, but his vision actually touched on a very old-fashioned set of values. Disney the man, built Walt Disney (DIS) – Get a free report the company around the idea of family entertainment. His version of family entertainment was rated G with a certain kind of naivety that may have once been considered lovable.
The creator of the Disney brand not only wanted entertainment that the whole family could enjoy together, he believed everyone could enjoy it equally. That may have been true when Disneyland opened in 1955. Perhaps in the 1960s and 1970s, entertainment was so limited that adults found “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride,” “Mad Tea Party,” and other opening day Disneyland attractions as delightful as young children. find them today.
Disney certainly believed that, for he had a rigid policy when it came to something that has now become a staple – even a major feature – of theme parks.
“No liquor, no beer, nothing. Because that brings in a noisy element. That brings in people that we don’t want and I think they don’t need,” Disney told the “Saturday Evening Post.”
Perhaps those comments didn’t sound so sanctimonious in 1955, but Disney’s alcohol ban remained in effect for decades at Disneyland and Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.
Disneyland remains largely true to Walt’s vision
Disneyland maintained a strict alcohol-free policy from 1955 through 2018. That’s 63 years of adults having to sit through the theme park’s kid-oriented rides, parades, shows and character encounters without so much as a beer or glass of wine.
The policy changed in 2018 when the company opened “Star Wars: Galaxy Edge”, which serves alcohol at Oga’s Cantina Pub.
“Just as our theme parks have evolved since Disneyland opened, so have the needs of our guests,” Disneyland spokeswoman Liz Jaeger told the Los Angeles Times. Disney wanted to achieve something and we think Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge will provide that kind of experience.”
Disney World is bringing alcohol to a new place
Disney World began adding beer and wine to select Magic Kingdom sitdown restaurants in 2012. Not doing that seemed a bit silly with Epcot – a park built around alcohol (and food) – right next door. Still, the Magic Kingdom does not offer quick-serve alcohol. Drinks are only served in certain restaurants and spirits were only introduced last September.
That seems impossibly outdated, but Disney has long been protecting Walt’s vision at Magic Kingdom. That’s why the park still has the “Carousel of Progress,” a ride where progress ends circa 1984, and other hokey throwbacks to a bygone era.
Disney has generally kept parts of Magic Kingdom intact and that has included protecting the company’s characters. Only Skipper Canteen, Liberty Tree Tavern, The Diamond Horseshoe and Tony’s Town Square Restaurant serve cocktails at Magic Kingdom. None of these are thematic character experiences.
Now the company has done something the straightforward founder would probably hate. It has added alcohol to two restaurants built around some of the company’s most iconic characters.
“Even more restaurants have received specialty cocktails at Magic Kingdom. Guests can now enjoy whiskey, gin and vodka in specialty cocktails at Cinderella’s Castle’s Cinderella Royal Table and Be Our Guest Restaurant in Fantasyland,” reported Blog Mickey.
This isn’t Mickey Mouse selling beer from a cart or Goofy making tequila shots, but it’s a notable relaxation of a long-standing policy.
Walt wouldn’t like it, but even in a theme park that until recently had no issues with the theme of “Jungle Cruise” or “Splash Mountain’s” questionable “Jungle Cruise” tapes, change is inevitable.
