With no plans to return anytime soon, I can only wonder if a cold beer would’ve helped me tolerate the 90-degree heat and long, snaking lines at Disney’s Magic Kingdom on my two visits there when my kids were young. I happily stuck it out with lemonade, but understand that a bit of change in the world of Mickey and Minnie could add some potential interest–for parents, that is.
After 41 years with a no-alcohol policy, the Magic Kingdom is about to get more magical. In response to popular demand, the Disney Park will soon introduce beer and wine at one location only–Be Our Guest, the new “Beauty and the Beast” themed restaurant, due to open in the park this November.
As explained on Jezebel, “This is happening because Disney likes to make its rides, shows, and ‘experiences’ as authentically bastardized as possible, and Be Our Guest is, but of course, a French restaurant, and no self-respecting French restaurant would deny wine to its patrons.”
According to Maribeth Bisienere, vice president of food and beverage for Walt Disney Parks, the Jezebel post continues, “the people have spoken and the people — overwrought parents who blew all their vacation time on a misguided family-fun adventure to Disney World, the alternate universe where adults can ride the monorail while their dreams of a more fulfilling life recede into the swampy South Florida landscape — want a glass of wine at dinner. ‘You cannot,’ insists Bisienere, ‘walk into a French restaurant and not get a glass of wine or beer. It made more sense to do it than not to do it.’”
Disneyland Paris (naturally) sells alcohol freely. Orlando’s Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Epcot all sell alcohol. And until now, Disney remained cautious about associating its brand with alcohol. But come November, the new wine and beer offerings will make their mark on the Magic Kingdom menu. Let’s just hope the new addition won’t turn any beauties into beasts.
