Just back and holy wah did someone get over served!!!!

[maxiesmom]

Could be either one I suppose. The loudest woman was bragging about how she was at some country music festival in Boston and got kicked out three times due to her behavior and just kept coming right back in the front door. I guess an argument could be made that they weren't drunk at all that they were just super obnoxious and inconsiderate sober people but I think that's a big stretch.

I think some like to play that they are super-drunk so they can act the fool and blame it on alcohol. As for someone puking in the bushes, I've come close at WDW and it wasn't due to alcohol.

 

[maxiesmom]

Yuck.

That all sounds so very un-Disney. Glad I’m not going during F&W.

There are few things I hate more than being around drunk people. I expect that garbage at other theme parks, but not at Disney. What a shame.

Ehh, reports of drunks at the Food and Wine Festival are always HIGHLY EXAGGERATED. I've been to many many F&W festivals, and can count on one hand the number of people I have run into that were obviously drunk.

 

[Dumbo7]

I just got back and I felt people were more civilized than last year. On any given day at Epcot people can get rowdy and out of control. I was actually pleasantly surprised!

 

[JerseyJanice]

I agree. It's always the people who have an issue with alcohol being served that encounter the drunks.

I have no issues with alcohol and I love getting a buzz on, but "drink around the world" has become a thing. My biggest concern is that rowdy drunks are going to ruin it for calm, mature imbibers like myself.

This is the minority. Majority of patrons are not obnoxiously drunk and making a scene.

I say that because those that have never been to the F&W festival might interpret it as it's just a park full of plastered people throwing up everywhere and making scenes.

True. The park is def not full of drunks, but I did encounter some the past two trips during F&W. Now the wine and beer samples have been shrunken into thimble sizes and the prices are ridiculous. Is that Disney's typical greed? Or a response to some people overdoing it at the Festival? IDK.

I could have gotten into an altercation at Epcot myself last month with a well-dressed woman my own age who clearly had too much to drink. At one of the kiosks, I got on line behind her and a couple of men she was with. One of the guys couldn't decide what to order, and he turned around and told me to go in front of him. I piped up to order, and she yelled at me for cutting the line.

Had I been inebriated and aggressive myself, it could have gotten ugly. And I agree with those who feel that school age children shouldn't be exposed to behavior like that.

 

[slpeters]

I have to say if one is just going to use Epcot as a big ol' bar it just seems like such a waste. I mean the drinks don't appear to be cheap and that bar's got one hell of a cover charge!

 

[JerseyJanice]

I have to say if one is just going to use Epcot as a big ol' bar it just seems like such a waste. I mean the drinks don't appear to be cheap and that bar's got one hell of a cover charge!

I suspect that Disney's reasoning with the itty-bitty beer and wine samples this year was that if the booze is too expensive, people won't over do it. But that doesn't seem to be the case so I don't know what they will do next.

 

[goofy4tink]

I don't know, I mean if all they're doing is throwing up in a bush, it just doesn't impact my life in any meaningful way.

But, what if they miss the bushes??? I've seen it happen, and I really don't need to!

Not all of us from the Boston area behave this way!!! Just putting that out there. I agree with some others though...I think a lot of people 'act' drunk to get away with bad behaviour. I remember one bus ride from Epcot to OKW. Man, those people were happy. It wasn't during Food and Wine though. They were singing Christmas carols at the top of their lungs....after about 10 mins, it got real old. But, at least they were happy, not abusive. I have seen that abusive behaviour though. And when you're on a packed bus, it's pretty hard to ignore.
People say that the drunkeness during Food and Wine is overstated. Perhaps. I've been many times...and have seen some pretty outrageous behaviour!!! Not by everyone, by no means. But, all it takes are one or two obnoxious guests.

 

[DisneyCAL]

The problem is there are so many venues around WS especially more with f&W that a server can't know how many drinks were served to a particular person. It becomes a judgment call based on behavior. Perhaps Disney could use tickets/magicbands to track drinks purchased and the timing of those drinks.

 

[hllb]

Drunk and rowdy behavior is one thing, but the issue truly is doing so at a theme park aimed at young children. I wouldn't want my 7 year old to see that. Less concerned about my 13 and 14 yr olds. It would make sense for Disney to create adult themed evening at Epcot during F&W where they discourage children under a certain age. Then, you can knowingly choose whether to go there w your child or not

 

[Capang]

I guess I'm weird that I don't see the big deal. Of course, I live in Chicago, and I see people puking all the time on a Friday/Saturday night. This just wouldn't phase me at all.

On a normal day at home it might not bother me. In a place that caters to everyone, especially kids, it does bother me to see people so drunk they can't function. If I take my kids to a Browns game I expect to see a lot of this. At Disney not so much.

 

[Disneylover99]

I suspect that Disney's reasoning with the itty-bitty beer and wine samples this year was that if the booze is too expensive, people won't over do it. But that doesn't seem to be the case so I don't know what they will do next.

Charge more, pour less. A win-win for Disney. People just keep on buying.

 

[Farro]

Sad that that is considered normal behavior to the point it doesn’t even phase you.

I live in Chicago too. When you live in a neighborhood with a lot of bars, especially down certain streets, it is common to see the younger adults acting...drunk and disorderly.
All part of the fun of growing up here, I lived in those neighborhoods, drank in the bars! Ah, the 90's.

Now I've graduated to great restaurants and better cocktails.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

This has been going on for years. I remember going to EP one night during F&W back in 2008 when two guys got kicked off of Gran Fiesta because the CM operating the ride thought they were going to puke in the water. Everyone in the line applauded her, LOL! And it's not just relegated to F&W either. I remember after the Dine and Dash a few years ago (is that what's it's called?), DH, DS and I walked into EP to have dinner at MP. When we walked out, EP was packed with runners drinking copious amounts of alcohol and simply throwing their cups everywhere. I remember France was littered with plastic champagne flutes. We hightailed it out of there. My DS has seen so many 21st b-day parties in EP. I've used all of these as "teachable moments". DS knows what alcohol is, that it's for adults only and, if not drunk in moderation, can have seriously harmful health affects, so, I guess there is a good and bad side to witnessing this kind of stuff. I just wonder at what point someone gets hurt and Disney gets sued.

 

[Zbornak]

It really doesn't, I just walk right past. I don't even give it a second thought.

I see your point, and think it's good that you don't let it bother you (you shouldn't). My issue is that it's at Disney. Whether you're traveling with children, or alone, or are an adults-only group, it's likely unexpected. I can see this catching a lot of individuals and families off guard. Being visibly buzzed or drunk and not obnoxious is worlds apart from being loud, rowdy, and obnoxious (drunk or not). Throwing up in the bushes happens. I don't think anyone plans to do that. But the carrying-on that took place in OP's post is totally unacceptable.

I guess the question is how does Disney police this?

 

[stinkpickle]

It was me. Sorry. I started the evening out wearing pants, I promise...

 

[yulilin3]

Lots of great opinions on this thread. The fact is that it is not as simple as pour less/police more/charge more...
First thinking that Disney World is aimed at little kids is NOT true. Saying that Epcot is geared to little kids is even less true. Epcot is the more grown up driven of all 4 parks.
Disney makes a TON of money off of alcohol sale, that's why these "festivals" keep popping up and adding more and more food and drink options
There is a much heavier and visible presence of Orange County police, not Disney security, but actual police, during F&W. For example the other day I watched Illuminations standing right next to 2 police officers (I was behaving, I promise )
I can tell you that horrible, drunken behavior is NOT the norm. You can see people being tipsy, loud and a bit rowdy, but on a day to day basis you won't see people puking in bushes or dropping down drunk.
I have seen 3 drunk young guys actually going int the Fountain of Nations area (not the actual water) and getting caught almost instantly by Disney security and police
I think the problem with the OP situation was that they were inside a bus, no options to walk away or head in the other direction. There should be more security presence at the bus stop, especially during F&W and not allow people to use the buses if they are this drunk, it is endangering everyone in there.

 

[rpb718]

We've only been to F&W once, a couple years ago, and made sure we only went to EP between Monday and Thursday just to avoid the Friday night and weekend crowds.

When it comes to someone throwing up anywhere within my vicinity, I'm one of those who I classify as a "joiner". Just the sound of someone throwing up is enough to get me nauseous. And if I unfortunately get a whiff of it, I would really need to summon the strength to suppress the urge.

 

[Zbornak]

Lots of great opinions on this thread. The fact is that it is not as simple as pour less/police more/charge more...
First thinking that Disney World is aimed at little kids is NOT true. Saying that Epcot is geared to little kids is even less true. Epcot is the more grown up driven of all 4 parks.
Disney makes a TON of money off of alcohol sale, that's why these "festivals" keep popping up and adding more and more food and drink options
There is a much heavier and visible presence of Orange County police, not Disney security, but actual police, during F&W. For example the other day I watched Illuminations standing right next to 2 police officers (I was behaving, I promise )
I can tell you that horrible, drunken behavior is NOT the norm. You can see people being tipsy, loud and a bit rowdy, but on a day to day basis you won't see people puking in bushes or dropping down drunk.
I have seen 3 drunk young guys actually going int the Fountain of Nations area (not the actual water) and getting caught almost instantly by Disney security and police
I think the problem with the OP situation was that they were inside a bus, no options to walk away or head in the other direction. There should be more security presence at the bus stop, especially during F&W and not allow people to use the buses if they are this drunk, it is endangering everyone in there.

Excellent suggestion for the bus stops. Initially, I was thinking to have security on each bus, but better to keep them from getting on in the first place (unless the alcohol starts to overtake them after they're already on it).

 

[dalt01]

I don't think that's very fair since some of us can handle ourselves in a normal fashion and still have a few double shot drinks in a short period of time.

sorry but people just THINK they are acting normal after 3 double shots. there is nothing more eye opening than being in a room and being the only one not drinking.

 

[PetePanMan]

I've heard that the new F&W special is popular - Mission Space Orange with jello shots